Opinion
Case No. 17-cv-03906-MMC
11-06-2019
N.Y., Plaintiff, v. SAN RAMON VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al., Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART MOTIONS TO DISMISS FOURTH AMENDED COMPLAINT; AFFORDING PLAINTIFF LIMITED LEAVE TO AMEND
Re: Dkt. Nos. 123, 124
Before the Court are two motions: (1) "Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Fourth Amended Complaint," filed July 29, 2019, by defendants San Ramon Valley Unified School District ("District"), Rick Schmitt ("Schmitt"), Jason Reimann ("Reimann"), Ruth Steele ("Steele"), Jason Krolikowski ("Krolikowski"), Jamie Keith ("Keith"), Dearborn Ramos ("Ramos"), and Bernie Phelan ("Phelan") (collectively, "Administration Defendants"); and (2) "Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Fourth Amended Complaint," filed July 29, 2019, by defendant Janet Willford ("Willford"). The motions have been fully briefed. Having read and considered the papers filed in support of and in opposition to the motions, the Court rules as follows.
By order filed September 3, 2019, the Court took the matters under submission.
BACKGROUND
In the operative complaint, the Fourth Amended Complaint ("4AC"), plaintiff N.Y., who previously was a student attending San Ramon Valley High School ("SRVHS"), alleges he was deprived of his federal constitutional and state rights in connection with a student election conducted in 2017 and events following the election.
N.Y. graduated in 2018. (See 4AC ¶ 28.)
Specifically, N.Y. alleges, in February 2017, when he was Junior Class President, he ran for Associated Student Body ("ASB") President (see 4AC ¶¶ 29, 32, 35) and that, shortly before the election, he and a "group of his friends," while at the home of one of the friends, filmed a video that was intended to "increase N.Y.'s name recognition" (see 4AC ¶ 39), which video subsequently was uploaded to the "personal YouTube webpage" of one of the friends (see 4AC ¶ 44). According to N.Y., the video depicted him "as a James Bond-type hero who rescues a person kidnapped by two members of an extremist group who attempted to force the victim to participate in a video game competition" (see 4AC ¶ 2), and that two of his friends, "who happen to be practicing Muslims, conceived and developed the idea for the antagonists" and "voluntarily decided to play the antagonists" (see 4AC ¶ 40).
The "Campaign Rules" applicable to the election included the following provision: "Please have discretion when creating campaign signs and slogans, as any inappropriate material will be removed and the candidate is subject to be pulled from the election." (See 4AC ¶ 36.) N.Y. alleges defendants determined the video to be "inappropriate" (see 4AC ¶ 7) and, in light of such determination, "stripped him of his position as Junior Class President" and "expelled" him from the school's "Leadership Class" (see 4AC ¶ 6); additionally, N.Y. alleges, defendants "disqualified him in the election for [ASB] President" (see id.), even though he "received the most votes" (see 4AC ¶ 11).
N.Y. alleges the Leadership Class is a graded class for which students enrolled therein receive "ten hours of credit toward graduation." (See 4AC ¶ 6, n.11.)
N.Y. alleges that, thereafter, he "filed an ex parte petition for writ of mandamus" in state court, which petition was "denied" for failure to meet the "requirements for writ relief" (see 4AC ¶¶ 66-67), and that his counsel next "informed the District in writing that N.Y. intended to file a lawsuit based on [d]efendants' unconstitutional acts" (see 4AC ¶ 68). According to N.Y., although the District then "permitted" him to "return" to the Leadership Class, "reinstated" him as Junior Class President, and stated he would be "permitted" to serve as ASB President during his senior year (see 4AC ¶ 69), defendants "retaliated" against him by, for example, "intentionally withholding N.Y.'s semester grades throughout the summer of 2017" and "transferring" the ASB President's "powers and privileges" to another student (see 4AC ¶ 134).
Based on the allegations set forth above, N.Y. asserts five claims arising under federal law and five claims arising under state law.
LEGAL STANDARD
Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure "can be based on the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory." See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). Rule 8(a)(2), however, "requires only 'a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.'" See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2)). Consequently, "a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations." See id. Nonetheless, "a plaintiff's obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do." See id. (internal quotation, citation, and alteration omitted).
In analyzing a motion to dismiss, a district court must accept as true all material allegations in the complaint and construe them in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See NL Indus., Inc. v. Kaplan, 792 F.2d 896, 898 (9th Cir. 1986). "To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual material, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). "Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level[.]" Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. Courts "are not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation." See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (internal quotation and citation omitted).
DISCUSSION
A. Federal Claims
The Administration Defendants seek dismissal of N.Y.'s federal claims, which claims the Court considers in turn.
Each of the federal claims is also asserted against Willford, who does not seek dismissal of any of those claims. Consequently, the Court, in its discussion of the federal claims, limits its discussion to the allegations made against the Administration Defendants.
The 4AC does not have a First Cause of Action. As noted in the 4AC, the First Cause of Action "was dismissed by court order." (See 4AC at 36:13-15; Order, filed September 21, 2018 (dismissing without leave to amend First Cause of Action, as alleged in Second Amended Complaint).) Instead of renumbering his claims, N.Y. begins the 4AC with his former Second Cause of Action.
In the Second Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, deprived him of his First Amendment rights when they "punished" him for violating the campaign rule prohibiting the use of "inappropriate" material. (See 4AC ¶ 121.) According to N.Y., the Administration Defendants' imposition of punishment was in violation of the standard set forth in Tinker v. v. Des Moines Independent Community School Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969). (See 4AC ¶¶ 1, 105.)
In Tinker, the Supreme Court held schools cannot prohibit student speech, "even on controversial subjects," unless the speech "materially disrupts classwork or involves substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of others." See Tinker, 393 U.S. at 512-13. The Administration Defendants do not contend N.Y. fails to state a claim if such standard applies. Rather, they argue, he fails to state a claim or, alternatively, they are entitled to qualified immunity, in light of a different standard, specifically, the standard set forth in Hazelwood School Dist. v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988). // //
In Hazelwood, the Supreme Court considered the standard applicable to school regulation of student speech "disseminated under [the school's] auspices," such as speech in "school-sponsored publications," e.g., school newspapers, as well as speech in "theatrical productions" and "other expressive activities that students, parents, and members of the public might reasonably perceive to bear the imprimatur of the school." See id. at 271. In resolving that issue, the Supreme Court held "the standard articulated in Tinker for determining when a school may punish student expression need not also be the standard for determining when a school may refuse to lend its name and resources to the dissemination of student expression"; in the latter situation, the Supreme Court concluded, schools do not violate the First Amendment by "exercising editorial control over the style and content of student speech . . . so long as their actions are reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns." See id. at 272-73.
At this stage of the proceedings, the Court finds the Administration Defendants' reliance on Hazelwood as a ground for dismissal is premature. The instant motion challenges the claims as pleaded, and the 4AC does not include facts sufficient to support a finding that the video constitutes speech akin to that made in school-sponsored newspapers or theatrical productions, or that persons who viewed the video reasonably would have perceived the content therein to "bear the imprimatur of the school." See id. at 271. Indeed, N.Y alleges the video was uploaded to the personal YouTube page of a student (see 4AC ¶ 44), that it "[did] not feature [the] School's or the Leadership Class's name, logo, or other indicia," that no "School property or equipment" was used to create it, and that "neither the School nor the Leadership Class [were] mentioned" in it (see 4AC ¶ 41).
The Administration Defendants next argue the 4AC includes no facts that could support a finding either Schmitt, the Superintendent of the District, or Reimann, the District's Director of Education Services, played any role in deciding N.Y. had violated the campaign rule or in imposing punishment. //
"A plaintiff must allege facts, not simply conclusions, that show that an individual was personally involved in the deprivation of his civil rights." Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir. 1998). Consequently, "a plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official's own individual actions, has violated the Constitution." See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676; see also Barren, 152 F.3d at 1194 (affirming dismissal of § 1983 claim, where plaintiff "fail[ed] to allege any facts which would support his allegations that the defendants had conspired to violate his [civil] rights").
In his opposition, N.Y. points to no factual allegations that could support a finding that Schmitt or Reimann engaged in the conduct on which the Second Cause of Action is based, and the Court, having reviewed the 4AC, finds none. Indeed, the 4AC includes no factual allegations of any kind concerning Schmitt, other than an allegation that he is the Superintendent (see 4AC ¶ 20), and the factual allegations against Reimann pertain solely to conduct that, although asserted by N.Y. to be retaliatory in nature, occurred after the District set aside SRVHS's decision to impose punishment (see 4AC ¶ 70).
Accordingly, although the Second Cause of Action is not subject to dismissal in its entirety, such claim is subject to dismissal to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt and Reimann.
2. Third Cause of Action
In the Third Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Krolikowski, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan, in violation of § 1983, "retaliated" against him for creating and uploading the video (see 4AC ¶ 135), as well as for his filing a "state court petition" and notifying the Administration Defendants of "his intent" to file another action (see 4AC ¶¶ 134-135).
The Administration Defendants argue the standard set forth in Hazelwood applies to their consideration of the video, and, consequently, that N.Y. fails to state a retaliation // // claim, or, alternatively, that they are entitled to qualified immunity. As set forth above, such argument is premature. As also set forth above, however, the 4AC includes no facts about Schmitt, let alone that he engaged in any assertedly retaliatory acts.
The Administration Defendants do not appear to argue Hazelwood bars the Third Cause of Action to the extent it is based on retaliation for N.Y.'s filing a lawsuit and his stated intent to file another. Indeed, a student's filing or stating an intent to file a civil action against a school cannot be understood to constitute student speech "disseminated under [the school's] auspices." See Hazelwood, 484 U.S. at 271.
Accordingly, the Third Cause of Action is subject to dismissal only to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt.
3. Fourth Cause of Action
In the Fourth Cause of Action, NY alleges Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan, in violation of § 1983, deprived him of due process (1) by enforcing the prohibition against "inappropriate" campaign speech, which prohibition, N.Y. alleges, is vague and failed to give him notice of the speech in which he could not engage (see 4AC ¶¶ 142-143), and (2) by "suspending or expelling" him from the Leadership Class without following procedures required by state law (see 4AC ¶¶ 147-148).
The Administration Defendants argue N.Y. fails to state a due process deprivation claim because the "Campaign Rules had provided notice that removal from the course was possible for violation of the Campaign Rules." (See Admin. Defs.' Mot. at 14:1-2.) The Fourth Cause of Action, however, is, as set forth above, based on the theory that the Campaign Rules did not adequately give notice of the type of conduct that would give rise to punishment and that a number of administrative procedural requirements were not met, not that the Campaign Rules failed to give notice that a violation might result in the imposition of a particular punishment.
The Court notes, however, that the Campaign Rules, at least as set forth in the 4AC, only provided that, if a student campaigned using "inappropriate material," the student could be "pulled from the election." (See 4AC ¶ 36.)
The Administration Defendants also argue that the 4AC's allegations only support a finding that N.Y. was "briefly removed" from the Leadership Class, and, consequently, that N.Y has failed to plead facts to support a finding that "he actually was 'suspended or expelled' as those terms are defined by the California Education Code." (See id. at 13:26-27.) Such argument is not persuasive. As relevant thereto, N.Y. alleges he was prohibited from attending the Leadership Class from March 10, 2017, to May 16, 2017. (See 4AC ¶¶ 62, 69.) Even assuming said period of approximately two months can be described as "brief," a "suspension," under the Education Code, can include prohibiting a student from attending a class for a period of as little as two days. See, e.g., Cal. Educ. Code § 48910(a) (setting forth procedure whereby teacher may "suspend any pupil from class" for "the day of the suspension and the day following").
As to Schmitt and Reimann, however, given that the Fourth Cause of Action is based on the decision to impose punishment for N.Y.'s alleged violation of a campaign rule, such claim is subject to dismissal for the reasons set forth above with respect to the Second Cause of Action.
Accordingly, the Fourth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal only to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt and Reimann.
4. Fifth Cause of Action
In the Fifth Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan, in violation of § 1983, deprived him of equal protection. Specifically, N.Y. alleges, other "students who created films and material that certain individuals would find 'inappropriate'" were not subjected to punishment. (See 4AC ¶ 155; see also 4AC ¶¶ 88-91, 94-98 (identifying content of arguably "inappropriate" videos and materials, and describing game played on campus with "imitation guns").) According to N.Y., the defendants named in the Fifth Cause of Action punished N.Y., but not the other students, because of "the content of his speech" (see 4AC ¶ 160) and N.Y.'s "race and religion" (see id.), identified by N.Y. as Asian and Catholic (see 4AC ¶ 155).
The Administration Defendants argue the 4AC lacks factual allegations to support a finding that any of them were involved in the decisions not to impose punishment on the other students referenced by N.Y. In his opposition, N.Y. identifies no such factual allegations, and the Court, having reviewed the 4AC, finds none. Indeed, the 4AC includes no factual allegations to support a finding that Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, or Phelan were even aware of the conduct of the other students.
N.Y. does cite to allegations that refer generally to "[d]efendants" (see, e.g., 4AC ¶ 93 (alleging "[d]efendants did not punish the [other] students")), but such collective allegations fail to set forth the requisite "individual actions" of any defendant alleged to have engaged in the challenged conduct. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676; see also Eunice v. United States, 2013 WL 756168, at *3 (S.D. Cal. February 26, 2013) (holding "[l]umping all 'defendants' together" fails to "put a particular defendant on notice" as to grounds for claim).
Accordingly, the Fifth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
As noted above, Willford did not move to dismiss N.Y.'s federal claims.
5. Sixth Cause of Action
In the Sixth Cause of Action, plaintiff alleges the District, as well as Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan, discriminated against him on the basis of race, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Title VI provides: "No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." See 42 U.S.C. § 2000d. N.Y. alleges the District receives federal financial assistance. (See 4AC ¶ 164.)
Title VI "proscribes only those racial classifications that would violate the Equal Protection Clause." See Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306, 343 (2003) (internal quotation, citation and alteration omitted). Consequently, where a plaintiff's claim that he was deprived of equal protection on account of his race fails, a Title VI claim based on the same facts likewise fails. See id. Here, as noted, N.Y.'s equal protection claim against the individual Administration Defendants is subject to dismissal but remains to the extent alleged against Willford, and the Administration Defendants have not argued the District cannot be held liable for the alleged actions of Willford. See United States v. County of Maricopa, 889 F.3d 648, 652 (9th Cir. 2018) (setting forth circumstances under which "entity" can be held liable under Title VI for acts of "official" or for acts of any employee taken pursuant to "official policy").
Accordingly, the Sixth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
B. State Law Claims
In their respective motions, defendants seek dismissal of the state law claims, which the Court next considers in turn.
1. Seventh Cause of Action
In the Seventh Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges all defendants violated the Bane Act, California Civil Code § 52.1, which Act prohibits any person from "interfer[ing] by threat, intimidation, or coercion, or attempt[ing] to interfere by threat, intimidation, or coercion, with the exercise or enjoyment by any individual . . . of the rights secured by [federal or state law]." See Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1(b); see also Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1(c) (providing private cause action for violation of § 52.1(b)). The rights on which N.Y. bases the Seventh Cause of Action are his federal and state constitutional rights to free speech. (See 4AC ¶¶ 173, 174.)
In her motion, Willford seeks dismissal of said claim in reliance on § 52.1(k), which provides that "[s]peech alone is not sufficient to support an action [under the Bane Act], except upon a showing that the speech itself threatens violence against a specific person or group of persons[,] and the person or group of persons against whom the threat is directed reasonably fears that, because of the speech, violence will be committed against them or their property and that the person threatening violence had the apparent ability to carry out the threat." See Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1(j).
As clarified by N.Y. in his opposition, the Seventh Cause of Action, to the extent asserted against Willford, is based on her sending N.Y. a text message (see 4AC ¶ 48 (alleging Willford "texted N.Y., stating that she wanted to 'protect' him, but that she needed to view the [video] to do so")), making a proposal at a meeting (see 4AC ¶ 62 (alleging Willford, during a meeting with N.Y., his parents, and his attorney, "proposed that N.Y. revise the Campaign Rules to remove [an] ambiguity as part of his punishment")), talking to other defendants (see 4AC ¶ 7 (alleging Willford "recommended" to other defendants that they "punish[ ]" N.Y.)), and making statements in a class she taught (see 4AC ¶¶ 27, 61 (alleging Willford requested students provide her with their opinions of N.Y.'s video)). As such alleged acts consist of speech only and do not threaten violence, the Seventh Cause of Action, to the extent asserted against Willford, fails.
N.Y. does not allege such proposed punishment was ever imposed.
The Administration Defendants likewise argue the Seventh Cause of Action is subject to dismissal under § 52.1(k). As N.Y. points out, however, the Administration Defendants are alleged to have engaged in acts that cannot be characterized as "speech alone," i.e., the decision to impose on him various punishments, namely, "expelling him from Leadership Class, stripping him of his position as Junior Class President, [and] preventing him from assuming the position of [ASB] President" (see 4AC ¶ 174) and engaging in retaliatory conduct, such as "stripping him of the rights and privileges afforded to the student elected to the position [of ASB President]" (see id.). As a threat of violence is only required when a Bane Act claim is based on "speech alone," the Administration Defendants, with the exception of Schmitt and Reimann, have failed to show the Seventh Cause of Action is subject to dismissal. As to Schmitt, the claim is subject to dismissal, given the absence of any factual allegations against him; as to Reimann, the claim is subject to dismissal because the sole act of retaliation alleged is his having "spoke[n] with the Leadership Class about N.Y." (See 4AC ¶ 70.)
Accordingly, the Seventh Cause of Action is subject to dismissal only to the extent it is asserted against Willford, Schmitt, and Reimann.
2. Eighth Cause of Action
In the Eighth Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges a second Bane Act claim, which claim is based on the theory that all defendants deprived him of his statutory right to free speech under the Education Code. See Cal. Educ. Code § 48950(a) (providing, subject to specified exceptions, students have "right to exercise freedom of speech").
Defendants seek dismissal of the Eighth Cause of Action for the same reasons they seek dismissal of the Seventh Cause of Action.
Accordingly, for the reasons stated above with respect to the Seventh Cause of Action, the Eighth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal only to the extent it is asserted against Willford, Schmitt, and Reimann.
3. Ninth Cause of Action
In the Ninth Cause of Action, N.Y. asserts against all defendants a claim for "intentional infliction of emotion distress" ("IIED") (see 4AC ¶ 182), based on said parties allegedly having taken "deliberate steps to chill and punish N.Y. for exercising his constitutional rights" (see 4AC ¶ 183).
In their respective motions, defendants argue the 4AC fails to include facts to support a finding they engaged in the type of "outrageous conduct" necessary for such a claim, i.e., conduct "so outrageous in character and so extreme in degree as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community." See Melorich Builders, Inc. v. Superior Court, 160 Cal. App. 3d 931, 936 (1984).
As noted, N.Y. alleges, as his Fifth Cause of Action, an equal protection claim based on the theory that he was punished by reason of his race and religion, and, as his Sixth Cause of Action, that he was punished by reason of his race. As Willford has not challenged the sufficiency of the Fifth and Sixth Causes of Action as pleaded, and the California Supreme Court has held "discriminatory actions may constitute . . . outrageous conduct redressable under a theory of [IIED]," see Rojo v. Kliger, 52 Cal. 3d 65, 81 (1990), the Ninth Cause of Action, to the extent asserted against Willford, is not subject to dismissal.
With respect to the individual Administration Defendants, however, the Fifth and Sixth Causes of Action have been dismissed. Although the First Amendment claims against all said individuals other than Schmitt remain, and the Due Process claims against all said individuals other than Schmitt and Reimann remain, N.Y. has not cited to any authority holding a defendant's violation of the First Amendment and/or Due Process Clause can, by itself, support an IIED claim. Consequently, the Court next considers whether the factual allegations made in support of such claims describe what can be characterized as extreme and outrageous behavior.
As to Steele, who served as Principal of SRVHS at the time the punishment was imposed, the 4AC alleges said defendant informed N.Y. that he would be punished and that her decision was "final and not subject to review or appeal." (See 4AC ¶ 62) As to Keith, Ramos, and Phelan, all of whom were Assistant Principals at the time the punishment was imposed, the 4AC alleges each said defendant questioned N.Y. for several hours about the video, without informing his parents, and ultimately decided he should be "expel[led" from the Leadership Class (see 4AC ¶¶ 56, 58); in addition, the 4AC alleges Keith, at a meeting with N.Y. and his parents, "alluded to the need to make an example out of N.Y." (see 4AC ¶ 58). As to Reimann, the 4AC alleges that, after the District set aside the punishments imposed by SRVHS, said defendant spoke to the Leadership Class and "implied" the punishments were set aside "solely to avoid litigation" and not because of any "error" by the school. (See 4AC ¶ 70.) As to Krolikowski, who became Principal after Steele had imposed the punishments, the 4AC alleges said defendant "did nothing" to address either a "media frenzy" or "death threats" arising after the District set aside the punishments (see 4AC ¶ 75) and that he caused "graffiti" on N.Y.'s car to be "removed without documentation or investigation" (see 4AC ¶ 80). The Court finds the above-referenced allegations fall short of identifying conduct that is "so extreme in degree as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency." See Melorich Builders, 160 Cal. App. 3d at 936.
Lastly, with respect to the District, "[a] public entity is liable for injury proximately caused by an act or omission of an employee of the public entity within the scope of his employment if the act or omission would . . . have given rise to a cause of action against that employee." See Cal. Gov't Code § 815.2(a). As set forth above, the Ninth Cause of Action is not subject to dismissal to the extent alleged against Willford, a District employee, and, consequently is not subject to dismissal to the extent alleged against the District.
The Administration Defendants have not argued the 4AC fails to sufficiently allege Willford was acting within the scope of her employment when she engaged in the challenged conduct.
Accordingly, the Ninth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Krolikowski, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
4. Tenth Cause of Action
In the Tenth Cause of Action, N.Y. asserts against all defendants a claim of "negligent infliction of emotional distress," which, as N.Y. acknowledges in the 4AC (see 4AC ¶ 188), is a negligence claim. See Huggins v. Longs Drug Stores California, Inc., 6 Cal. 4th 124, 129 (1993) (holding "[n]egligent infliction of emotional distress is a form of the tort of negligence")
The Administration Defendants argue N.Y. has failed to allege facts to support a finding that any of them engaged in a negligent act. As set forth below, the Court agrees.
The Tenth Cause of Action alleges "[d]efendants" failed to comply with two duties, specifically, "the duty not to disseminate N.Y.'s personal and private information to third parties" and "the duty not to interfere with [N.Y.'s] right to exercise free speech." (See 4AC ¶¶ 189-190.) As set forth below with respect to the Eleventh Cause of Action, however, the 4AC fails to include facts to support a finding that any individual defendant disseminated N.Y.'s personal and private information to third parties. Although the 4AC does allege the individual Administration Defendants either punished N.Y. for the video and/or engaged in acts of retaliation in response to N.Y.'s alleged free speech activities, the 4AC includes no facts to support a finding that any of those acts was negligent as opposed to intentional and/or retaliatory. See Hawaiian Pineapple Co. v. Industrial Acc. Comm'n, 40 Cal. 2d 656, 663 (1953) (holding "serious and willful misconduct is basically the antithesis of negligence" and that those "two types of behavior are mutually exclusive").
Next, although Willford does not expressly request dismissal of the Tenth Cause of Action, the claim against Willford is subject to dismissal for the same reasons as stated above with respect to the Administration Defendants. See Silverton v. Dep't of Treasury, 644 F.2d 1341, 1345 (9th Cir. 1981) (holding, where court grants motion to dismiss complaint as to one defendant, court may dismiss complaint against non-moving defendant "in a position similar to that of moving defendants").
Accordingly, the Tenth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal.
5. Eleventh Cause of Action
In the Eleventh Cause of Action, titled "invasion of privacy," N.Y. alleges all defendants "disclos[ed] or ratif[ied] the disclosure of N.Y.'s personal and private information" to "third parties." (See 4AC ¶ 194-195.)
In their respective motions, defendants argue the 4AC fails to allege facts to support a finding that any of them disclosed or ratified the disclosure of any of N.Y.'s personal and private information.
The Eleventh Cause of Action does not itself identify the nature of the subject personal and private information. In his oppositions to the motions, N.Y., citing paragraphs 72-80 of the 4AC, each of which is incorporated by reference in the Eleventh Cause of Action, states the personal and private information is "his identity and discourse with the District regarding the [video]." (See Pl.'s Opp. to Willford Mot. at 10:4-5; Pl.'s Opp. to Adm. Defs.' Mot. at 21:14-15.) The portions of paragraphs 72-80 that arguably refer to any such assertedly personal and private information are as follows:
(1) Karen Pearce, a parent of a student at SRVHS, posted a message on Facebook in which she stated she "heard from students" that the "parents of a junior who ran for SRVHS ASB President using a racially offensive 'joke' video" had "changed their (losing) lawsuit to a freedom of speech lawsuit and asked for big $$$," and that the District then "caved" and allowed him to be the "new ASB President" (see 4AC ¶ 72); //
(2) Karen Pearce posted a similar message on Instagram, stating "the parents of a SRVHS student who used a racially insensitive video against Muslims" had 'brought multiple suits against the District," which caused the District to "cave[ ]" and "forc[ed]" the school "to have this boy as their role model and leader next year" (see 4AC ¶ 73);
(3) "N.Y.'s attorney and the attorney for the District only discussed the fact that N.Y.'s parents were considering further legal action" and, "[s]omehow, [d]efendants transmitted, or allowed it to be transmitted to, [Karen] Pearce" (see 4AC ¶ 74; see also 4AC ¶ 66-67); and
(4) "[d]efendants and other District officials (with the help of [Karen] Pierce and others) . . . allow[ed] N.Y.'s personal information to be released" (see 4AC ¶ 75).
The portions of the 4AC on which N.Y. relies do not include facts alleging any defendant disclosed N.Y.'s identity to anyone, and the Court has located no other section of the 4AC that does. Nor does the 4AC include any facts to show any defendant disclosed to anyone the nature of N.Y.'s discourse with the District, other than "defendants" alleged disclosure that N.Y.'s parents were considering further legal action. As to that one alleged disclosure, N.Y. cites no authority, and the Court has located none, supporting the proposition that disclosing an attorney's threat to file a lawsuit against a school district is the type of "personal and private information" that school district employees are precluded from disclosing. Moreover, even if disclosure of such a threat could be considered an invasion of privacy, the 4AC fails to allege a cognizable claim against any of the individual defendants, as N.Y. does not allege which of the defendants conveyed such information to Karen Pearce or anyone else, but, rather, lumps all eight of them together. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676 (holding, where plaintiff alleged federal civil rights claim, plaintiff failed to state claim against government officials in absence of factual allegations showing each official, "through the official's own individual actions," violated law).
Accordingly, the Eleventh Cause of Action is subject to dismissal. //
C. Prayer for Relief
In seeking entry of judgment against all defendants, N.Y. includes a request for "punitive" damages. (See 4AC, Prayer ¶ B.) The Administration Defendants argue such prayer for relief, to the extent asserted against them, should be dismissed.
In their motion, the Administration Defendants also assert that, under state law, a plaintiff may not seek punitive damages against a public entity, such as the District. As N.Y. clarifies in his opposition, however, he does not seek such damages against the District. (See Pl.'s Opp. to Admin. Defs.' Mot. at 24:27-28.)
In that regard, the Administration Defendants contend the 4AC "cannot sustain a prayer for punitive damages against any of the [individual Administration] Defendants for the simple fact that they have not violated any of [N.Y.'s] federally protected rights as a matter of law." (See Admin. Defs.' Mot. at 20:1-3.) As to Schmitt, such argument is well-taken; as to the other individual Administration Defendants, however, the argument is premature, in that various claims against them remain. To the extent the Administration Defendants argue they cannot be liable for punitive damages for the additional reason that they are entitled to qualified immunity under the principles set forth in Hazelwood, said argument, for the reasons stated above, likewise is premature.
The Administration Defendants also argue the 4AC has "technical omissions," specifically, the absence of a legal conclusion that any of them had an "evil motive or intent" or, alternatively, that any of them acted with "reckless or callous indifference to the federally protected rights of others." See Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 56 (1983) (setting forth alternative bases for award of punitive damages in § 1983 actions). Assuming, arguendo, a prayer for punitive damages requires the addition of such a conclusory allegation, the 4AC alleges the functional equivalent thereof, specifically, that defendants "knew their conduct violated N.Y's clearly established rights at all relevant times" (see 4AC ¶ 128) and "undertook their conduct knowingly, intentionally, and maliciously, for the purpose of harassment, oppression, and retaliation against N.Y., in reckless, wanton, and callous disregard for his safety, security, and constitutional rights" (see 4AC ¶ 185).
Accordingly, the prayer for punitive damages is subject to dismissal only to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt.
D. Leave to Amend
The deficiencies addressed herein were raised by defendants for the first time in the instant motions to dismiss. Under such circumstances, and because the deficiencies are potentially curable, the Court will afford N.Y. further leave to amend, for the sole purpose of curing, if he can do so, any one or more of those deficiencies.
As the state law claims were asserted for the first time in the 4AC, challenges thereto could not have been brought previously. The deficiencies in the federal claims, however, appear to have existed in prior versions of the complaint.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, defendants' motions to dismiss are hereby GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as follows:
1. The Second Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt and Reimann.
2. The Third Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt.
3. The Fourth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt and Reimann.
4. The Fifth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
5. The Sixth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
6. The Seventh Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against Willford, Schmitt, and Reimann.
7. The Eighth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against Willford, Schmitt, and Reimann.
8. The Ninth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Krolikowski, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
9. The Tenth Cause of Action is DISMISSED.
10. The Eleventh Cause of Action is DISMISSED.
11. The prayer for punitive damages is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt.
12. In all other respects, the motions are DENIED.
If N.Y. wishes to file a Fifth Amended Complaint, solely for purposes of amending the deficiencies identified above, he shall do so no later than November 22, 2019.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: November 6, 2019
/s/_________
MAXINE M. CHESNEY
United States District Judge