Franklin v. Clarke et al
Filing
137
ORDER: Granting in Part Denying in Part Motion for Summary Judgment 51 ; Finding as Moot Motion to Strike 114 . Plaintiff's claims are dismissed with the exception of his state claims for violation of Of OR. REV. STAT. §§ 659A.199 and 659A.203. Signed on 9/9/2011 by Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke. (dkj)
FlLED'll SEP '3 1362lJSDC·O~Jl
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
MEDFORD DIVISION
Civ. No. 1O-00382-CL
JACOB FRANKLIN,
Plaintiff,
ORDER
v.
MARTY CLARKE; COLIN FAGAN;
MICHAEL S. WINTERS; GLENN FORD;
TERRY LARSON; and JACKSON COUNTY,
OREGON,
Defendants.
CLARKE, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff Jacob Franklin filed his Amended Complaint against Defendants alleging
violation of his civil rights, particularly his due process and equal protection rights, as well as
state law claims for violation of the Oregon whistle-blower statutes. Plaintiff also brings
common law claims for wrongful discharge and intentional infliction of emotional distress. This
court has jurisdiction pursuantto 28 U.S.c. §§ 1331, 1343 and 1367. The parties have executed
written consents to entry ofjudgment by a magistrate judge (#60). 28 U.S.c. § 636(c). Before
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the court is Defendants' motion for summary judgment (#51). For the reasons explained, the
court grants in part and denies in part Defendants' motion for summary judgment.
BACKGROUND
Construing the facts in the light most favorable to the non-movant, the record reveals the
following] :
On November 26, 2007, Plaintiff Jacob Franklin was hired as a probationary employee of
the Jackson County Sheriffs Office (JCSO). On the same day, Plaintiff signed the Jackson
County At-Will Employment Statement of Policy. Plaintiff was subject to the Jackson County
Sheriffs Employee's Association Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Plaintiffwas
employed as a patrol deputy by the JCSO.
On March 31, 2009, Plaintiff conducted a traffic stop on Ron Oachs (Oachs). After
pulling to the side of the road, Oachs exited his vehicle. Plaintiff ordered Oachs to get back
inside the vehicle. Oachs refused. Plaintiff ordered Oachs to walk to the back of the truck.
Oachs complied. Oachs took out a wallet or billfold and began to search through it. Plaintiff
seized Oachs and forced him to the ground. JCSO Deputy Linda Crook (Crook) arrived on the
scene. Deputy Crook assisted Plaintiff in handcuffing Oachs. Deputy Crook recognized Oachs
as a retired deputy sheriff with the JCSO. Deputy Crook informed Plaintiff that Oachs was a
retired deputy. Shortly afterwards Defendant JCSO Deputy Sergeant Marty Clark (Clark)2
] The court does not rely on any evidence which was the subject of Defendants' motion to
strike (#114) or which was contained in Plaintiffs July 11, 2011, declaration (#127, allowed by
#128). See infra.
Defendant Clark is named as "Marty Clarke" in the caption of the case. The record
reveals that his name is properly "Marty Clark."
2
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arrived on the scene. Plaintiff did not issue a citation to Oachs. Oachs was subsequently
released.
After returning to the JCSO, Defendant Clark watched video footage of the encounter
between Plaintiff and Oachs taken by the dashboard camera in Plaintiffs patrol car. Plaintiff
prepared an Incident Report describing the Oachs traffic stop. Defendant Clark suggested
alterations to the report. Defendant Clark then showed the dashboard camera video to his
superior, Defendant Lieutenant (now Captain) Terry Larson (Larson). On either March 31 or
Aprill, 2009, Defendant Larson showed the video to the command staff of the JCSO, including
Defendant Sheriff Mike Winters (Winters). On April 2, 2009, Plaintiff was placed on
administrative leave. Defendant Winters also ordered an Internal Affairs (IA) investigation.
Defendant Winters consulted with the Jackson County Human Resources Department and
determined that Plaintiff was still a probationary employee.
On April 2, 2009, Defendant Detective Sergeant Colin Fagan (Fagan) was assigned to
conduct the IA investigation. On April 7, 2009, Defendant Fagan interviewed Plaintiff in
conjunction with the IA investigation. Immediately after Plaintiffs April 7 interview with
Defendant Fagan, Administrative Sergeant Glenn Ford3 gave Plaintiff a letter from Winters
terminating Plaintiffs employment. Plaintiff has been unable to find new employment with
Oregon law enforcement agencies. Plaintiff has been unemployed since his termination by the
JCSO.
3Although Sergeant Ford is named as a defendant in the caption, he is no longer a
defendant in this case.
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Defendant Fagan completed his IA investigation on July 6,2009, and submitted an
Internal Affairs Report detailing the findings of the IA investigation to Defendant Winters and
the JCSO command staff. Sometime in August or September of 2009, Jackson County Attorney
Akin Blitz advised Undersheriff Rod Countryman (Countryman) that he was required by law to
send a copy ofthe completed IA report to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and
Training (DPSST). On September 11,2009, Countryman submitted the IA Report to the DPSST.
1
Under Oregon law, the DPSST considers IA reports to be exempted from Oregon public
disclosure laws and maintains the confidentiality ofIA reports. The DPSST will not release an
IA report unless presented with a signed waiver or required to do so by law.
Plaintiff filed his complaint in this case on April 6, 2010. Defendant Jackson County
received Plaintiffs Tort Claims Notice on October 2,2009.
LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment is appropriate "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute
as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law." FED.
R. CIV. P. 56(a), The materiality of a fact is detennined by the substantive law on the issue. T.W.
Elec. Servo, Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass'n, 809 F.2d 626,630 (9th Cir. 1987). The
authenticity of a dispute is detennined by whether the evidence is such that a reasonable jury
could return a verdict for the non-moving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242,
248, 106 S. Ct. 2505 (1986).
The moving party has the burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of
material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S. Ct. 2548 (1986). If the moving
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party shows the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, the nonmoving party must go beyond
the pleadings and identify facts which show a genuine issue for trial. Id. at 324.
Special rules of construction apply to evaluating summary judgment motions: (1) all
reasonable doubts as to the existence of genuine issues of material fact should be resolved against
the moving party; and (2) all inferences to be drawn from the underlying facts must be viewed in
the light most favorable to the non-moving party. T.W. Elec., 809 F.2d at 630.
DISCUSSION
DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO STRIKE AND PLAINTIFF'S SUPPLEMENTAL
AFFIDAVIT
Defendants have filed a motion to strike certain evidence offered by Plaintiff having to do
with Plaintiffs applications for employment following his termination and his explanation in his
affidavit of why he ordered Oachs back into his vehicle. Because the court does not reach these
issues in the resolution of Defendants' motion, Defendants' motion is moot.
Plaintiff offers his July 18, 2011, affidavit offering evidence that he was not a
probationary employee at the time of his discharge. Under the relevant law, this evidence does
not change the court's ruling as to Plaintiffs due process claim, discussed infra.
DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
I. Plaintiff's Federal Claims
A plaintiff who asserts a claim under § 1983 must establish "(1) that a right secured by
the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that the alleged violation was
committed by a person acting under the color of State law." Long v. Cnty. of L.A., 442 F.3d
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1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006). On the merits, Defendants' claim that there is no issue of material
fact as to Plaintiffs claims under § 1983 and that they are entitled to summary judgment as a
matter of law and, even if Plaintiff proves that there is a material issue as to whether a
constitutional violation occurred, Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity. Plaintiff
contends that Defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity and that there are issues of
material fact as to their claims under § 1983.
A. Qualified Immunity
Qualified immunity shields government agents from suit for damages if a reasonable
official performing discretionary functions could have believed that his or her conduct was
lawful in light of clearly established law and the information possessed by the official. Anderson
v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635, 637-39, 641, 107 S. Ct 3034 (1987); Hunter v. Bryant, 502 U.S. 224,
112 S. Ct. 534 (1991) (per curiam). This standard shields all government officials except those
who are either plainly incompetent or knowingly violate the law. Malley v. Briggs, 475 U.S.
335,341,106 S. Ct. 1092 (1986). Ordinarily, the courts employ the sequential analysis set forth
in Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 121 S. Ct. 2151 (2001), first determining whether the facts
alleged by plaintiff, taken in the light most favorable to plaintiff, establish a constitutional
violation; and, if a violation could be established under the facts alleged, then considering
whether the right was clearly established. Id. at 201. Ifno constitutional right would have been
violated under the facts alleged, the analysis ends. Id. However, in Pearson v. Callahan, 555
U.S. 223,236, 129 S. Ct. 808 (2009), the Supreme Court receded from the mandated Saucier
analysis, holding that, "while the sequence set forth there is often appropriate, it should no longer
be regarded as mandatory." Instead, courts "should be permitted to exercise their sound
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discretion in deciding which of the two prongs of the qualified immunity analysis should be
addressed first in light of the circumstances in the particular case at hand." Id. In the
circumstances of this case, the court will address the first prong.
For the reasons discussed below, the record, construed in the light most favorable to
Plaintiff, does not reveal a constitutional violation. Following the guidance of Saucier, no further
inquiry into the issue of qualified immunity is necessary.
B. Plaintiff's Due Process Claims
Plaintiff asserts that the Defendants terminated him without due process of law in
violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of due process
applies when a constitutionally protected liberty or property interest is at stake. Board of Regents
of State ColIs. v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 569, 92 S. Ct. 2701 (1972). Plaintiff asserts that both his
property and liberty interests were implicated in the termination.
1. Property Interest
Defendants argue that Plaintiff has no protected property interest in his continued
employment with the JCSO because he was an at-will, probationary employee. Plaintiff claims
that the JCSO Standard Operating Procedures vested him with a protected property interest in his
position and entitled him to a hearing prior to his termination. Defendants contend that Plaintiff
signed the Jackson County At-Will Employment Statement of Policy acknowledging Plaintiff's
at-will employment status. Defendants further argue that Plaintiff was subject to the CBA, which
states that probationary employees are at-will employees without protected property interests.
Individuals who have a property interest created by an "independent source, such as state
law" are entitled to procedural due process protections. Roth, 408 U.S. at 577; Lawson v.
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Umatilla County, 139 F.3d 690, 692 (9th Cir. 1998). In Oregon, a property right can be created
by a statute or regulation, see Brady v, Gebbie, 859 F.2d 1543, 1549 (9th Cir. 1988), or by city
personnel policies or handbooks, see Brunick v. Ciatsop Cnty., 204 Or. App. 326, 332-33, 129
P.2d 738 (2006). "At-will" employees are not entitled to constitutional due process protection.
Lawson 139 F.3d at 692 (citing Portman v. Cnty. of Santa Clara, 995 F.2d 898, 904 (9th Cir.
1993)).
Even if an employee handbook or personnel policy seems to create a property interest in a
job, "Oregon courts have consistently held that a disclaimer in an employee handbook or
personnel polic[y] is sufficient to retain an employee's at-will status." Lawson, 139 F.3d at 693.
Plaintiffs retain their "at-will" status even when the employee handbook or other policy provides
that the employees should only be terminated for certain reasons or after certain procedures, id.
(citing Gilbert v. Tektronix, Inc. 112 Or. App. 34, 827 P.2d 919,920-21 (1992)), or when the city
had a "standard practice of affording hearings," Curtis v. City of Redmond, 303 F.App'x 560,
562 (9th Cir. 2008).
In Lawson, the plaintiff, Lawson, was an employee of Umatilla County who was
terminated by the County. Lawson, 139 F.3d at 691. At the time of his termination, Lawson had
passed his probationary period and was classified as a "permanent" employee. Id. Umatilla
County Personnel Policies laid out the circumstances and procedure for the termination of a
permanent employee, but also contained a disclaimer preserving Lawson's at-will status. Id.
Following his termination, Lawson sued, alleging that the terms of the County's Personnel
Policies conferred a protected property interest in his continued employment. Id. The trial court
ruled in favor of Lawson on the property interest issue, but the Ninth Circuit reversed, holding
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that, because the Personnel Policies contained a disclaimer, Lawson was still an at-will
employee. Id. at 694. Because they contained a disclaimer, the County's rules about termination
of permanent employees "merely provide a framework for disciplining at-will employees which
is not binding on the County." Id. at 693-94. As an at-will employee, Lawson had no protected
property interest in his continued employment. Id. at 692.
In the present case, Plaintiff argues that the termination procedures outlined in the JCSO
Standard Operating Procedures confer a protected property interest and that Plaintiff was entitled
to a hearing before he was terminated. The Jackson County At-Will Employment Statement of
Policy provides that "all employees are at-will employees" and that completion of a probationary
period or conference ofregular status does not change the employee's status as an at-will
employee. (Le Gore Aff. Ex. 1.) Plaintiff admits to having signed this Policy, acknowledging
that he was an at-will employee. Plaintiff was further subject to the CBA which states:
"Probationary employees are 'at will' employees who serve at the pleasure of the Sheriff and
who may be terminated at any time during the probationary period with no recourse whatsoever."
(#107-10, Defs. Ex. 28,4). Like the County Personnel Policies in Lawson, JCSO Standard
Operating Procedures merely provide a non-binding framework for disciplining at-will
employees and do not create a protected property interest.
Because nothing in the record confers on Plaintiff any protected property interest in his
continued employment and because Plaintiff acknowledged his at-will employment status in
writing, Plaintiff's claim for deprivation of his property interest in violation of due process fails
as a matter oflaw.
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2. Liberty Interest
Defendants argue that Plaintiff cannot demonstrate a violation of his liberty interest,
either in his termination or in the creation of the IA Report. Plaintiff argues that his liberty
interest was violated when he was denied the opportunity of a name-clearing hearing prior to the
creation of the IA Report and that the IA Report has significantly foreclosed his employment
opportunities. Defendants counter-argue that Plaintiff was not entitled to a name-clearing
hearing before the IA Report was printed and that the IA Report contains no stigmatizing charges
or allegations which would implicate Plaintiff s liberty interest. Defendants also contend that
there was no publication of the IA Report.
The liberty interest prong of the due process clause "encompasses an individual's
freedom to work and earn a living." Bollow v. Fed. Reserve Bank ofS. F., 650 F.2d 1093, 1100
(9th Cir. 1981). Accordingly, a public employee is entitled to due process protection if the
government stigmatizes the employee by making a charge against him which "impairs [the
employee's] reputation for honesty or morality." Matthews v. Harney Cnty. Or. Sch. Dist. No.4,
819 F.2d 889, 891 (9th Cir. 1987). A stigmatizing charge is one which "'seriously damages a
person's reputation'" or '''significantly forecloses his freedom to take advantage of other
employment opportunities. '" Bollow, 650 F.2d at 110 1 (quoting Jablon v. Irs. of Cal. State
ColIs., 482 F.2d 997, 1000 (9th Cir. 1973). Whether an employer's statements stigmatize an
employee is generally a question of fact. Campanelli v. Bockrath, 100 F.3d 1476, 1480 (9th Cir.
1996).
In addition to the stigma, the plaintiff must show that '" 1) the accuracy of the charge is
contested; 2) there is some public disclosure of the charge; and 3) the charge is made in
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I
connection with termination of employment.'" Brady, 859 F.2d at 1552 (quoting Matthews, 819
F.2d at 891-92). "When reasons are not given [for dismissal], inferences drawn from dismissal
alone are simply insufficient to implicate liberty interests." Bollow, 650 F .2d at 1101. The
inclusion of stigmatizing information in an individual's personnel file can qualify as a "public
disclosure" and require a name-clearing hearing ifthe personnel file is a public record. Cox v.
Roskelley, 359 F.3d 1105,1112 (9th Cir. 2004). However, Oregon law exempts "[a] personnel
discipline action, or materials or documents supporting that action" from public disclosure,
unless public interest requires disclosure. OR. REv. STAT. § 192.501(12). Because such files are
not public records subject to disclosure under Oregon law, "the mere placement of stigmatizing
information in an employee's personnel file does not constitute publication under Oregon law
sufficient to require notice and a name-clearing hearing." Boggs v. Hoover, Civil No. 09-116-ST
2009 WL 2447553, at *8 (D. Or. Aug. 6,2009).
In this case, Plaintiff contests the accuracy of the IA Report. Additionally, there may
exist a genuine factual dispute regarding whether the information contained in the IA Report is
stigmatizing, as well as whether the charges were made "in connection with the termination."
Plaintiffs liberty interest has not been implicated, however, as there is no evidence that the
JCSO ever publically disclosed the information contained in the IA Report.
Plaintiff argues that the transmission of the IA Report from the JCSO to the DPSST
qualifies as public disclosure. However, there is no evidence that the DPSST has broken the
confidentiality of its records or made any public disclosure of the contents of the IA Report.
Because there was no public disclosure of the IA Report, Plaintiff was not entitled to a name
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clearing hearing prior to the creation of the report, or its transmission to the DPSST. Plaintiffs
liberty interests have not been violated by Defendants' actions.
C. Plaintiff's Equal Protecti.on Claim
Defendants argue that Plaintiff has brought a "class of one" equal protection claim and
that, as "class of one" claims are impermissible in public employment disputes, they are entitled
to summary judgment. Plaintiff argues that his claim is not a "class of one" claim, but that he
was terminated "in retribution for arresting an ex-deputy sheriff." (#92 PI. Opp'n Mem., 21).
Defendants counter-argue that Plaintiff has not stated a valid equal protection claim and that they
are entitled to summary judgment on the issue.
To establish an equal protection claim under the Fourteenth Amendment, Plaintiff must
either establish that he is part of a protected class or that he is entitled to protection as a "class of
one." Engquist v. Or. Dep't of Agric., 553 U.S. 591, 601, 128 S. Ct. 2146 (2008). Under either
theory, Plaintiff must prove that he was intentionally treated differently from others similarly
situated and that there is no rational basis for the difference in treatment. Id.
Plaintiff does not claim membership in a protected class, but in certain limited
circumstances, plaintiffs are permitted to bring Equal Protection claims without alleging
membership in a class or group. Under the "class of one" theory of equal protection, a plaintiff
must show that he or she was "intentionally treated differently from others similarly situated and
that there is no rational basis for the difference in treatment." Village of Willowbrook v. Olech,
528 U.S. 562, 564, 120 S. Ct. 1073 (2000) (per curiam).
The situation is significantly different in the context of public employment. "[T]he
government as employer indeed has far broader powers than does the government as sovereign."
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Waters v. Churchill, 511 U.S. 661, 671, 114 S. Ct. 1878 (1994). Public employees are protected
by the Equal Protection Clause in situations where "the government makes class-based decisions
in the employment context, treating distinct groups of individuals categorically differently."
Engquist, 553 U.S. at 605. However, the "'class-of-one' theory of equal protection has no place
in the public employment context." Id. at 594.
Our traditional view of the core concern of the Equal Protection Clause as a shield
against arbitrary classifications, combined with unique considerations applicable
when the government acts as employer as opposed to sovereign, lead us to
conclude that the class-of-one theory of equal protection does not apply in the
public employment context.
Id. at 598.
Plaintiff alleges that he was fired for arresting an ex-law enforcement officer while those
deputies who arrest civilians with no connection to law enforcement are not penalized. Plaintiff
alleges that this disparity in treatment is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment. Plaintiff is unable to meaningfully distinguish his claims from a "class
of one" equal protection claim.
Under Engquist, "class of one" equal protection claims are not permitted in the public
employment context. Plaintiff has not claimed membership in a protected class or group.
Plaintiffs equal protection claim, therefore, fails as a matter oflaw.
II. Plaintiff's State Claims
Plaintiff makes several claims under the Oregon whistle-blower statutes, as well as
common law claims for wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Plaintiff has conceded that the individual Defendants are not proper defendants under the Oregon
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Tort Claims Act or the Oregon Whistle-blower Statute and proceeds against Defendant Jackson
County only.
A. Statute of Limitations.
Defendants assert that both Plaintiffs statutory claims and common law claims are
limited by their statutes of limitation. Defendants contend that OR. REv. STAT. § 659A.875(l)
limits Defendants' liability for Plaintiffs claims under OR. REv. STAT. §§ 659A.199, 659A.203
and 659A.230. Defendants also contend that Plaintiffs common law claims are limited by the
date of the Tort Claims Notice under OR. REv. STAT. § 30.275(2).
1. OR. REV. STAT. § 659A.875(1)
OR. REV. STAT. § 659A.875(l) requires that the plaintiff must commence his action
within one year after the occurrence of the unlawful employment practice. In the present case,
Plaintiff alleges that he was unlawfully terminated on April 7, 2009. Plaintiff filed his initial
Complaint on April 6, 2010 (#1). Plaintiff is therefore within the statutory time frame and his
claim is timely.
2. OR. REV. STAT. § 30.275(2)
OR. REv. STAT. § 30.275(2) requires that the plaintiff give notice of his claim within 180
days of the alleged loss or injury. Plaintiff gave his Tort Claims Notice on October 2,2009.
Plaintiff alleges that he suffered a wrongful discharge, which occurred on April 7, 2009.
Plaintiffs wrongful discharge claim is therefore within the statutorily mandated 180 days.
Plaintiff s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress is based upon the creation of the
IA Report and its transmission to the DPSST. The IA Report was completed on July 6, 2009,
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and was transmitted to the DPSST on September 11,2009. Both dates are within the statutorily
required 180 days. Plaintiff's Tort Claims Notice is therefore timely.
B. Plaintifrs Whistle-hlower Claims
Plaintiff alleges that he was fired for making a good faith report of violation of law, rule,
or regulation by Oachs and Defendant Clark and that his termination was in violation of OR.
REv. STAT. §§ 659A.199 and 659A.203. Plaintiff alleges that he made his good faith report to
Defendants Fagan and Winters. He also alleges that he was fired for making a good faith report
of criminal conduct by Oachs and Defendant in violation of OR. REv. STAT. § 659A.230.
Defendants contend on summary judgment that Plaintiff's claim fails because Defendant Winters
did not know about any allegation of criminal activity by Defendant Clark when he terminated
Plaintiff's employment, and that Plaintiff did not report or intimate that Defendant Clark had
engaged in official misconduct or any other criminal activity to Defendant Fagan during the IA
interview.
Oregon's whistle-blower laws, OR. REv. STAT. §§ 659A.199, 659A.203 and 659A.230,
prohibit employers from imposing certain employment actions on individuals who make good
faith reports of misconduct. OR. REv. STAT. § 659A.199 prohibits employers from, in relevant
part, discriminating or retaliating against employees who "in good faith reported information that
the employee believes is evidence of a violation of a state or federal law, rule or regulation." OR.
REv. STAT. § 659A.199(l). OR. REv. STAT. § 659A.203 prohibits employers from, in relevant
part, taking or threatening to take disciplinary action against employees for disclosing
information of evidence of violations of law or regulations or "[m Jismanagement" or "abuse of
authority" resulting from action of the state, agency or political subdivision. OR. REv. STAT. §
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203(1)(b)(A)(B). OR. REv. STAT. § 659A230 prohibits, in relevant part, retaliation or
discrimination against employees who have in good faith reported criminal activity of any
person, or caused a criminal or civil case to be initiated. OR. REv. STAT. § 659A.230(1).
In order to survive summary judgment on a statutory whistle-blower retaliation claim, a
plaintiff must show the existence of facts from which a reasonable fact-finder could conclude
that he engaged in the protected activity and that the defendants retaliated against him in
response to that activity. Merrill v. M.LT.C.R. Charter School Tigard, Civil No.1 0-219-HA,
2011 WL 1457461, at *7 (D. Or. Apr. 4, 2011). "[I]fthe employer asserts a non-discriminatory
reason for the employee's termination, the plaintiff must show that the employer would not have
made the same decision absent a discriminatory motive." Id. (citing EI-Hakem v. BJY Inc., 415
F.3d 1068, 1076 (9th Cir. 2005».
In Bjurstrom v. Oregon Lottery. 202 Or. App. 162, 168, 169, 171, 120 P.3d 1235 (2005),
the Oregon Court of Appeals found that "the term 'disclose' may be understood to mean, in a
general sense to 'make known' or to 'open up to general knowledge,'" and that protected
disclosures include "reports of wrongdoing within an agency or department," as well as to
outsiders. However, reports of wrongdoing are not "disclosures" unless they are made "to a
person who was previously unaware of the information, meaning someone 'in a supervisory
position, other than the wrongdoer himself.'" Clarke v. Multnomah County, No. CV -06-229-HU
2007 WL 915175, at *14 (D. Or. Mar. 23, 2007) (quoting Huffman v. Office of Personnel
Mgmt., 263 F.3d 1341, 1351 (Fed. Cir. 2001), affd, 303 F.Appx. 512 (9 th Cir. 2008».
Further, this district has concluded that OR. REv. STAT. § 659A199 "protects employees
who make an external or internal report that is intended or likely to result in the employer's
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enforcement or compliance with state and federal law." Merrill, 2011 WL 1457461, at *S. The
district has also concluded that the word "report," as used in OR. REv. STAT. § 659A.230,
"contemplates some action that is intended to or likely to result in a criminal or civil proceeding."
Roche v. La Cie, Ltd., No. CV OS-1180-MO, 2009 WL 4825419, at *7 (D. Or. Dec. 4,2009)
(internal quotation omitted); Beauchamp v. AGC Heat Transfer, Inc., No. CV-09-1407-HU, 2010
WL 4641684, at *3-*5 (D. Or. Nov. 8,2010).
Here, plaintiff offers his declaration in which he declares that, at the scene of his stop of
Oachs on March 31, he told Defendant Clark he wanted to arrest Oachs for interfering,
disobeying an order, resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer. Plaintiff recites in his
declaration certain behavior and statements by Defendant Clark which Plaintiff interpreted as
Defendant Clark "us[ing] his authority to allow Oachs to go free." He declares that Defendant
Clark "ordered" him to redo the incident report he had prepared, telling him to remove certain
statements about what had happened at the scene. (Franklin Decl. at 9-11
~
10, at 12 ~ 12.)
Plaintiff states that he provided the report to Defendant Clark, who read it, and provided it to
Defendant Larson, who glanced at it, stating, '''Good, that's what I want.'" (Franklin DecL at 11
~
11.) Plaintiff declares that Defendant Clark told Defendant Larson that Plaintiff had accused
Oachs of several crimes and of violating a traffic law; Plaintiff states that he had made his
accusation in good faith based upon the facts of the incident. (Franklin Decl. at 21
~
29.)
Plaintiff also declares that, on April 1, Defendant Clark told him that he owed Plaintiff an
explanation for his conduct at the scene. Plaintiff states that, in that conversation, Defendant
Clark told him he had been angry at the scene because Oachs was his friend and he was biased.
Clark told Plaintiff that, after he had reviewed the video with some instructors and sergeants,
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they had all agreed that Plaintiff s conduct during the incident was according to training and his
use of force was reasonable and justified, and he was cleared from any suggestion of improper
conduct. (Franklin Decl. at 12 ~ 13.) Plaintiff also declares that, during his April 7,2009, IA
interview by Defendant Fagan, Defendant Fagan appeared to be distracted and was "frequently
textinglemailingand reading on his cell phone." (Franklin Decl. at 14 ~ 16.) Plaintiff further
declares in his declaration that, within a week of his termination, he and Defendant Winters had a
telephone conversation in which Defendant Winters communicated to him: "if Ron Oachs was
just another citizen rather than an ex-deputy Sheriff, I would not have been terminated or
disciplined in any fashion." (Franklin Decl. at 1 ~ 2.)
While defendants offer contradictory evidence, drawing all reasonable inferences and
considering the evidence in the light most favorable t? Plaintiff, a jury could conclude that
Plaintiff's termination of employment was due to his accusation of a former sheriffs deputy of
criminal activity and/or his accusation that Defendant Clark had abused his authority by requiring
him to change his official incident report of his encounter with Oachs and was not due to any
alleged violation of Oachs' constitutional rights during the March 31 stop and/or with any prior
incidents Plaintiff was involved in. Plaintiff s evidence is that Defendant Clark apologized to
Plaintiff for his conduct at the scene and told Plaintiff that nothing was wrong with what he had
done at the scene and that Winters told him that he would not have been disciplined or
discharged except for the fact that Oachs was a former deputy sheriff. Plaintiff s evidence raises
the reasonable inference that information somehow filtered up the chain to Sheriff Winters of
Plaintiffs accusations against Oachs and lor Defendant Clark prior to Plaintiffs termination.
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Although the court acknowledges that serious questions exist about what Defendant
Winters knew prior to his termination of Plaintiffs employment, the court finds that plaintiffs
evidence is sufficient to go forward to trial as to claims that Defendant Jackson County retaliated
against Plaintiff in violation of OR. REv. STAT. §§ 659A.199 and 659A.203.
Defendants offer evidence from Defendant Winters that Plaintiff was terminated because
of unsatisfactory job performance based upon Winter's review of Plaintiffs conduct observed in
the Oachs video which he believed to be unconstitutional and two prior incidents of Plaintiffs
interactions with citizens. (Winters Decl.) However, Plaintiff offers his evidence that Defendant
Winters had told him after he was terminated that he would not have been terminated but for the
fact that Oachs was an ex-deputy Sheriff, which is evidence that Defendants' reason for
terminating Plaintiff was pretextual.
Plaintiff offers evidence which raises a genuine issue of material fact as to his statutory
whistle-blower retaliation claims, OR. REv. STAT. §§ 659A.199 and 659A.203. Accordingly,
Defendants motion for summary judgment as to these claims are denied and their motion as to
Plaintiffs OR. REv. STAT. §§ 659A.230 claim is granted.
C. Plaintiff's Wrongful Discharge Claim
Plaintiff claims that he was terminated for reporting misconduct by Oachs and Defendant
Clark. Plaintiff argues that his termination was against public policy and is therefore a wrongful
discharge. Defendants argue that Plaintiff s claim for wrongful discharge fails for lack of
evidence. Defendants contend that the statutory protections for whistle-blowers provide an
adequate and even a greater remedy than the common law wrongful discharge action, which
supersedes Plaintiff s common law cause of action.
19 - ORDER
I
In Oregon, wrongful discharge serves as a narrow exception to the at-will employment
doctrine where the discharge is against public policy. Draper v. Astoria Sch. Dist. No. lC, 995 F.
Supp. 1122,1127 (D. Or. 1998) (citing Walsh v. Consol. Freightways, Inc., 278 Or. 347,351-52,
563 P.2d 1205 (1977», abrogated in part on other grounds by Rabkin v. Or. Health Scis. Univ.,
350 F.3d 967 (9th Cir. 2003). Plaintiffs claim for wrongful termination rests on the same
ground as his claims under the whistle-blowing statutes, OR. REV. STAT. §§ 659A.199, 659A.203
and 659A.230. If Plaintiff was terminated in retaliation for reporting violation oflaw or abuse of
authority, such a termination would be against public policy.
There is some disagreement between courts within this district and the Oregon Court of
Appeals as to whether the availability of a statutory remedy in the form of Oregon's whistleblower statutes preclude a claim for wrongful discharge. In Hutton v. Jackson County, No. 09
3090-CL, 2010 WL 4906205, at *11 (D. Or. Nov. 23,2010), this court relied on Olsen v.
Deschutes County, 204 Or. App. 7, 14, 127 P.2d 655, review denied, 341 Or. 80 (2006), to hold
that a wrongful discharge claim could proceed in addition to a state statutory whistle blowing
claim. 4 The court has since reviewed the conflicting decisions and agrees with the reasoning of
the majority of the district's decisions which hold that '''if an adequate statutory remedy exists, a
common law wrongful discharge claim based on the same conduct is precluded. '" Whitley v.
City of Portland, 654 F. Supp.2d 1194, 1224 (D. Or. 2009) (quoting Reid v. Evergreen Aviation
Ground Logistics Enters., Inc., Civ. No. 07-1641-AC, 2009 WL 136019, at *16 (D. Or. Jan. 20,
2009) and citing Draper, 995 F. Supp. at 1130-31); Duran v. Window Prods., Inc., CV No.
4 This determination made no difference in the result because the court found that the
claim failed on its merits. Id.
20-0RDER
1O-125-ST, 2011 WL 1261190, at *2-*3 (D. Or. Mar. 29,2011); but see Krouse v. Ply Gem Pac.
Windows Corp., _
F. Supp.2d _ , Civil No. 1O-111-HA, 2011 WL 2971774, at *8 (D. Or.
July 19,2011).
Because Plaintiff has an adequate remedy in his state statutory whistle-blower claims, his
wrongful discharge claim is precluded. For this reason, Defendants are entitled to summary
judgment as to Plaintiff s wrongful discharge claim.
D. Plaintiff's Claim for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
Plaintiff alleges that, by creating the IA Report and transmitting it to the DPSST, they
have caused him to suffer intentional infliction of emotional distress (liED). Defendants argue
that Plaintiffs claim fails for complete lack of evidence. Plaintiff argues that the creation of the
IA Report, as well as its transmission to the DPSST by the JCSO, were done with the intent to
inflict emotional distress on the Plaintiff and that the claim should survive. Defendants contend
that the transmission of the IA Report to the DPSST was done in a standard manner and does not
meet the requirements of an liED claim. Defendants claim that they are entitled to summary
judgment on this issue.
The tort of nED requires "(1) the defendant intended to inflict severe emotional distress
on the plaintiff, (2) the defendant's acts were the cause ofthe plaintiffs severe emotional
distress, and (3) the defendant's acts constituted an extraordinary transgression of the bounds of
socially tolerable conduct." McGanty v. Staudenraus, 321 Or. 532, 543, 901 P.2d 841 (1995).
"Because proof of intent is often indirect and evidence of psychic harm is usually self-serving,
proof ofthis tort largely turns on ... whether a defendant's conduct is sufficiently outrageous."
21-0RDER
House v. Hicks, 218 Or. App. 348, 358, 179 P.3d 730 (2008). The trial court plays a
"gatekeeper" role in making the determination of whether the defendant's conduct "goes beyond
the farthest reaches of socially tolerable behavior." Id. "[C]ourts are more likely to consider
behavior outrageous if it is inflicted on the vulnerable partner in a 'special relationship' such as
employer-employee." Clemente v. Oregon, 227 Or. App. 434, 442, 206 P.3d 249, 255 (2009).
However, "managerial decisions that might give rise to conventional employment-related actions
do not necessarily qualify as intentional infliction of severe mental distress unless they are also
the kind of aggravated acts of persecution that a jury could find beyond all tolerable bound of
civilized behavior." Id. (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Hall v. May Dept. Stores,
292 Or. 131, 139,637 P.2d 126 (1981), abrogated on other grounds by McGanty, 321 Or. 532
(1995».
In Clemente, the plaintiff was a female employee of the Department of Corrections who
alleged that she faced gender-based discriminatory treatment at the hands of her supervisor.
Clemente, 227 Or. App. at 443. The plaintiff alleged, among other things, that she was the target
of false accusations and that her supervisor never properly cleared her name. Id. at 441. The
Court of Appeals found the conditions suffered by the plaintiff to be insufficient to sustain an
lIED claim. rd. at 443. The court held that, in order for an lIED claim to succeed, the employer
must have engaged in more serious conduct, such as using racial slurs or forcing the employee to
engage in illegal activities. rd. Mere managerial actions, however "insensitive" and "mean
spirited" did not rise to the requisite level of "aggravated acts of persecution" needed to sustain
an IIED claim. Id.
22 - ORDER
In this case, Plaintiff claims that the creation of the IA Report and its subsequent
transmission to the DPSST constitute an extraordinary transgression of the bounds of socially
tolerable conduct. Plaintiff contends that the requisite intent to cause emotional distress may be
inferred from the Defendant's conduct. The record shows that the creation of the IA Report was
a managerial response to an incident that might have exposed the County to liability. It is
uncontested that the transmission of the IA Report to the DPSST was done on the advice of the
County Attorney. It is further uncontested that the JCSO declined to send the IA Report to the
DPSST until they were advised by the County Attorney that they were legally obligated to do so.
Plaintiff has not alleged any facts indicating that Defendant engaged in the "aggravated acts of
persecution" needed to sustain an lIED claim. As in Clemente, the managerial actions of the
JCSO as shown in the record could not reasonably be categorized as "extraordinary
transgressions" of socially tolerable conduct.
Because Plaintiff is unable to demonstrate that Defendant Jackson County engaged in an
extraordinary transgression of the bounds of socially tolerable conduct, Plaintiff s claim must fail
as a matter of law. Defendant is entitled to summary judgment on this claim.
ORDER
Based on the foregoing, it is ordered that Defendants' motion to strike (#114) is moot and
that Defendants' motion for summary judgment (#51) is granted in part and denied in part.
Plaintiffs claims are dismissed with the exception of his state claims for violation of OR. REV.
STAT. §§ 659A.199 and 659A.203.
II
23 -ORDER
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this - -
MARK D. CLARKE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
24 - ORDER
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