Spreadbury v. Bitterroot Public Library et al

Filing 122

REPLY to Response to Motion re 119 MOTION for Leave to File Under Seal filed by Kenneth S. Bell, Bitterroot Public Library, Robert Brophy, Steven Bruner-Murphy, City of Hamilton, Jennifer B. Lint, Ryan Oster, Nansu Roddy, Trista Smith, Steve Snavely, Jerry Steele. (Leonard, Thomas)

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William L. Crowley Natasha Prinzing Jones Thomas J. Leonard BOONE KARLBERG P.C. 201 West Main, Suite 300 P.O. Box 9199 Missoula, MT 59807-9199 Telephone: (406)543-6646 Facsimile: (406) 549-6804 bcrowley@boonekarlberg.com npjones@boonekarlberg.com tleonard@boonekarlberg.com Attorneys for Defendants Bitterroot Public Library, City of Hamilton and Boone Karlberg P.C. IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA MISSOULA DIVISION MICHAEL E. SPREADBURY, Cause No. CV-11-064-M-DWM Plaintiff, CITY DEFENDANTS’ REPLY BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO FILE UNDER SEAL v. BITTERROOT PUBLIC LIBRARY, CITY OF HAMILTON, LEE ENTERPRISES, INC., BOONE KARLBERG P.C., DR. ROBERT BROPHY, TRISTA SMITH, NANSU RODDY, JERRY STEELE, STEVE SNAVELY, STEVEN BRUNERMURPHY, RYAN OSTER, KENNETH S. BELL, and JENNIFER LINT, Defendants. F:\Files\4293\4085\00212881.WPD 1 Pursuant to Local Rule 1.8(b), the City Defendants moved the Court for its Order allowing the filing of the City Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Facts under seal. The Order is necessary because the City Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Facts refers to and attaches a number of police reports, which are confidential criminal justice information. See Mont. Code Ann. § 44-5-303. Plaintiff has now “responded” to the motion, although his response is just another tirade against the City Defendants, its counsel, and this Court. He has concurrently filed a motion for sanctions against Boone Karlberg, P.C.1 That motion, as well as his latest allegations concerning an alleged unlawful entry into his home on October 4, 2011, will be addressed separately. Important here, Plaintiff has not substantively responded to the Motion To File Under Seal. Plaintiff presents no argument or rationale as to why the Statement of Undisputed Facts, with its attached police reports, should not be filed under seal. He does not dispute – nor could he – that the police reports are confidential criminal justice information. See Mont. Code Ann. § 44-5-303. He likewise presents no authority suggesting the police reports should not be considered on summary judgment. See, e.g., Sudberry v. Arizona, 2010 WL 1654140, *4 (D. Arizona 2010) (summary judgment based in part on police reports was proper, 1 Notably, at the same time he moves for sanctions against Boone Karlberg, P.C., Plaintiff blatantly misrepresents to the Court that “Spreadbury is not under investigation, nor has ever committed a crime in Montana.” (Spreadbury’s Response, p. 3 (emphasis added).) That is patently false. See State v. Spreadbury, 257 P.3d 392 (Mont. 2011). F:\Files\4293\4085\00212881.WPD 2 as factual findings resulting from an investigation made pursuant to authority granted by law are admissible under exception to hearsay rule.) Plaintiff’s only argument against the City Defendants’ Motion To File Under Seal appears to be that any kind of evidence that is unfavorable to him is irrelevant: “Only fact remains is Spreadbury’s fundamental right not upheld.” (Spreadbury’s Response, p. 3.) Oddly, in support of this claim, he attaches a January 12, 2008 letter from FEMA finding him “suitable for continued employment,” which he calls “Spreadbury National Security Clearance.” (Plaintiff’s Response, p. 3.) In any event, there can be no question the City Defendants are entitled to present evidence to the Court establishing their entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. For these reasons, the City Defendants’ Motion To File Under Seal should be granted. DATED this 18th day of October, 2011. /s/Thomas J. Leonard Thomas J. Leonard BOONE KARLBERG P.C. Attorneys for Defendants Bitterroot Public Library, City of Hamilton and Boone Karlberg P.C. F:\Files\4293\4085\00212881.WPD 3 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that, on the 18th day of October, 2011, a copy of the foregoing document was served on the following persons by the following means: __1____ CM/ECF _______ Hand Delivery __2____ Mail _______ Overnight Delivery Service _______ Fax _______ E-Mail 1. Clerk, U.S. District Court 2. Michael E. Spreadbury 700 South Fourth Street Hamilton, MT 59840 /s/ Thomas J. Leonard Thomas J. Leonard BOONE KARLBERG P.C. Attorneys for Defendants Bitterroot Public Library, City of Hamilton, and Boone Karlberg P.C. F:\Files\4293\4085\00212881.WPD 4

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