Opinion
Civil Action 19-1847 (FYP)
09-08-2022
STEPHEN OLLAR, et al., Plaintiffs, v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, et al., Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
FLORENCE Y. PAN, United States District Judge.
Plaintiffs have moved for reconsideration, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e), of the Court's Memorandum Opinion and Order granting Defendants' Motions to Dismiss. See ECF No. 52 (Order dated February 10, 2022); ECF No. 53 (Mem. Op.); ECF No. 54 (Pls. Mot.). Because Plaintiffs have not identified any proper basis for the Court to alter or set aside its judgment, Plaintiffs' Motion for Reconsideration is denied.
BACKGROUND
The District of Columbia has a robust statutory framework for protecting children from abuse and neglect. When child abuse or neglect is suspected, the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency (“CFSA”) is duty-bound to investigate the case and to take steps to protect the child. See D.C. Code § 4-1301.07(a) (“In cases in which a child is alleged to be a neglected . . . child [CFSA] shall determine whether the child should be removed.”); id. § 4-1301.09(a) (“A social investigation shall be commenced immediately by [CFSA] in all cases of an allegedly abused child.”); id. § 4-1303.03(a)(1) (listing the duties of the Director of CFSA, including to “investigate reports of abuse or neglect”). Mandatory reporters, such as doctors, who are confronted with evidence that a child has been abused or neglected are required to report the suspected abuse or neglect to CFSA for investigation. See id. § 4-1321.02 (requiring “every physician” who knows or suspects that a child is in immediate danger of abuse or neglect to “immediately report” the suspected abuse or neglect to CFSA). The statute authorizes CFSA to take a child into custody when the agency has “reasonable grounds to believe that the child is in immediate danger from [her] surroundings and that the removal of the child from [her] surroundings is necessary.” See id. § 16-2309(a)(3).
CFSA must complete its investigation “no more than 30 days after the receipt of the first notice of the suspected abuse or neglect.” See D.C. Code § 4-1301.06(a). The investigation must determine, inter alia: (1) the “nature, extent, and cause of the abuse or neglect;” (2) the “identity of the person responsible for the abuse or neglect;” (3) the “name, age, sex, and condition of the abused or neglected child;” (4) the “conditions in the home at the time of the alleged abuse or neglect;” (5) “[w]hether there is any child in the home whose health, safety, or welfare is at risk;” and (6) “[w]hether any child who is at risk should be removed from the home.” See id. § 4-1301.06(b).
The District of Columbia must file a petition alleging neglect in the D.C. Superior Court if CFSA determines that doing so is in the best interests of the child or the public. See id. § 16-2305(a). The petition initiating judicial action must be verified; and it must be prepared by the Office of the Attorney General “after an inquiry into the facts and a determination of the legal basis for the petition.” See id. § 16-2305(b), (c). Once a child is taken into custody, a hearing must be commenced within 72 hours to determine whether the child should be placed in shelter care. See id. § 16-2312(a)(1)(B). If the court determines that shelter care is required because “continuation in the child's home would be contrary to the welfare of the child,” the court must then hear evidence presented by an Assistant Attorney General to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the allegations in the petition are true. See id. §§ 16-2312(d)(3)(B), (e). The parent, guardian, or custodian is entitled to counsel at the hearing and may present evidence on the issues and be heard on their own behalf. See id. §§ 16-2312(c), (e). At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge must order shelter care, setting forth her reasons in writing, if she finds that the shelter care is required to protect the person of the child. See id. §§ 16-2312(d)(1)(a), 2310(b)(1) (child may be placed in shelter care prior to a factfinding hearing or a dispositional hearing if shelter care is required “to protect the person of the child”).
The court must conduct a fact-finding and dispositional hearing within 45 days to determine, by a preponderance of the evidence, whether the child is neglected. See id. § 162316.01. At the hearing, the Office of the Attorney General “present[s] evidence in support” of the petition; all evidence that is “competent, material, and relevant” is admissible. See D.C. Code §§ 16-2316(a), (b). When the petition alleges that a child is a neglected child by reason of abuse, “evidence of illness or injury to a child who was in the custody of [her] parent, guardian, or custodian for which the parent, guardian or custodian can give no satisfactory explanation shall be sufficient to justify an inference of neglect.” See id. § 16-2316(c). After the factfinding hearing, the judge must make and file written findings as to the truth of the allegations in the petition and whether the child is neglected. See id. § 16-2317(b). Respondent parents, guardians, or custodians are entitled to appeal a judgment of abuse or neglect to an associate judge of the Superior Court; and may further appeal the judgment to the D.C. Court of Appeals (“DCCA”). See D.C. R. Fam. Div. Rule D(e), (f).
If the judge finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the child is neglected, she must proceed to hold a dispositional hearing to determine whether the child is in need of care. See id. § 16-2317(c)(2). Prior to the dispositional hearing, the Director of Social Services or other qualified agency must file a predisposition study and report, which must include, inter alia, the recommended type of placement for a child being removed from her parents, the reasons why the child cannot be protected in her home, the likely harm resulting from separation, and the plans for maintaining contact between the child and parents. See id. §§ 16-2319(a), (c). In her dispositional order for a child adjudicated neglected, the judge must address the recommendations in the predisposition report and must include a determination of whether “reasonable efforts” were made to prevent the need for removal and whether “[c]ontinuation of the child in the child's home would be contrary to the welfare of the child.” See id. § 2320(f). At the conclusion of the dispositional hearing, the judge may order any disposition that “is not prohibited by law” and that it “deems to be in the best interests of the child.” See D.C. Code § 2320(a)(5).
In the instant case, the foregoing statutorily prescribed process was triggered when a doctor at Sibley Memorial Hospital examined Plaintiffs' infant daughter, D.O., and suspected child abuse. See ECF No. 13-2 (In re D.O., No. 17-FS-444 (D.C. Court of Appeals, August 23, 2019) (“DCCA Op.”)), at 2-3. The doctor, a mandatory reporter, informed CFSA of the suspected abuse. See id.; ECF No. 33 (Am. Compl.), ¶ 11. After D.O. was transferred to Children's National Medical Center, CFSA assigned social worker Chanelle Reddrick to investigate Plaintiffs for possible child abuse; child protection supervisor Brooke Beander supervised Reddrick. See DCCA Op. at 3; Am. Compl., ¶¶ 7, 11. As part of that investigation, Reddrick asked child abuse pediatrician Norrell Atkinson to evaluate D.O., in connection with the CFSA investigation. See DCCA Op. at 3, 7-9; Am. Compl., ¶ 16. Over the course of two days, Dr. Atkinson interviewed Plaintiffs, physically examined D.O., and performed or ordered a number of tests, including a blood test and an MRI, to provide CFSA with “medical information and medical findings” for use in its “determination and investigation.” See Am. Compl., ¶¶ 1619, 24.
Contrary to the decision of the D.C. Court of Appeals, the Amended Complaint indicates that it was a nurse, rather than a doctor, who suspected abuse and contacted CFSA. See ECF No. 33 (Am. Compl.), ¶¶ 10-11. The Court need not resolve this discrepancy because the identity of this initial reporter is immaterial to the disposition of the case.
On June 29, 2016, CFSA decided to remove D.O. from Plaintiffs' custody based on “the medical evidence” of abuse and Plaintiffs' “unwillingness to answer [] questions from investigators.” See DCCA Op. at 3; Am. Compl., ¶ 24. The District of Columbia then filed a neglect petition on behalf of D.O.; and within 72 hours, on July 2, 2016, the D.C. Superior Court held an initial hearing to determine “if there was probable cause to believe the allegations in the petition were true.” See DCCA Op. at 3; Am. Compl., ¶¶ 30-32. Assistant Attorney General Lynsey Nix drafted the petition and represented the District at the probable cause hearing, where she called social worker Beander to testify. See Am. Compl., ¶¶ 30-33. A D.C. Superior Court judge found probable cause to believe that D.O. had been neglected and ordered that D.O. be placed in shelter care. See DCCA Op. at 3.
Pursuant to D.C. Code § 16-2316.01, a Superior Court magistrate judge then held a fifteen-day trial on the District's neglect petition. See id. at 4. During that trial, Plaintiffs hotly contested the evidence of abuse and neglect. See DCCA Op. at 4-5; Am. Compl., ¶¶ 38-43. The magistrate judge found that Plaintiffs' lacked credibility and ruled that D.O. was a neglected child because she had been abused, under D.C. Code § 16-2301(9)(A)(i), and because she had not been properly cared for, under D.C. Code § 16-2301(9)(A)(ii). See DCCA Op. at 5. Plaintiffs appealed to an Associate Judge of the D.C. Superior Court, who affirmed the judgment. See id. Plaintiffs then appealed to the DCCA, again challenging the finding of neglect and raising claims of “fabricated evidence and perjured testimony.” See DCCA Op. at 7; Am. Compl., ¶ 45. The DCCA affirmed. See DCCA Op. at 10.
Despite the affirmance of the judgment of abuse and neglect by the DCCA, Plaintiffs brought a civil suit challenging the government's actions in prosecuting the abuse and neglect case. Plaintiffs assert that the District of Columbia and four individuals involved in the neglect proceedings - Beander, Reddrick, Nix, and Atkinson - violated Plaintiffs' rights and committed various common law torts when investigating and litigating the case. See Am. Compl., ¶¶ 48-54 (Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983); ¶¶ 55 (negligence); ¶¶ 62-64 (abuse of process); ¶¶ 65-70 (intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress (“IIED” and “NIED”)); ¶¶ 71-73 (negligent training, supervision, and retention); ¶ 74 (punitive damages).
On February 10, 2022, this Court issued an opinion granting Defendants' motions to dismiss. See Mem. Op. at 24. The Court ruled as follows:
Because the well-established procedures of the child-neglect system were followed here, with the active participation of Plaintiffs, and because that lawful process yielded judicial findings and rulings that clearly contradict Plaintiffs' present allegations, Plaintiffs' myriad claims are barred - both by the doctrine of issue preclusion, which forecloses relitigation of issues already determined by courts of competent jurisdiction; and by the absolute and statutory immunity enjoyed by government employees and professionals who take part in neglect proceedings.See id. at 14. With respect to issue preclusion, the Court explained that because “Plaintiffs' claims of governmental misconduct [in the instant case] are predicated on allegations that the child-abuse investigation and the neglect proceeding were baseless,” Plaintiffs' claims were precluded by the valid, final judgment of the Superior Court that Plaintiffs abused and neglected D.O. See id. at 14-19. The Court further noted that “[e]ven if Plaintiffs' claims were not foreclosed under the doctrine of issue preclusion, the individual Defendants in this case are protected by immunity doctrines;” namely, that Defendants Nix, Reddrick, and Beander were shielded by absolute immunity, and Defendant Atkinson by statutory immunity under D.C. Code § 4-1321.04. See id. at 20-24.
On March 7, 2022, Plaintiffs filed their Motion for Reconsideration, asserting that the Court “applied the incorrect standard of review” and “made a grievously inaccurate generalization of the stated allegations in the Amended Complaint.” See Pls. Mot. at 1.
All the Defendants oppose Plaintiffs' Motion: Defendant Atkinson filed her Opposition on March 21, 2022, see ECF No. 57, and the District of Columbia and its employees (“District Defendants”) filed their Opposition on April 4, 2022, see ECF No. 59.
LEGAL STANDARD
“Motions under Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e) are disfavored and relief from judgment is granted only when the moving party establishes extraordinary circumstances.” See Niedermeier v. Office of Max S. Baucus, 153 F.Supp.2d 23, 28 (D.D.C. 2001) (citing Anyanwutaku v. Moore, 151 F.3d 1053, 1057 (D.C. Cir. 1998)). Specifically, “[a] Rule 59(e) motion is discretionary and need not be granted unless the district court finds that there is an intervening change of controlling law, the availability of new evidence, or the need to correct a clear error or prevent manifest injustice.” See Ciralsky v. CIA, 355 F.3d 661, 671 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (quoting Firestone v. Firestone, 76 F.3d 1205, 1208 (D.C. Cir. 1996)).
“Rule 59(e) . . . ‘may not be used to relitigate old matters, or to raise arguments or present evidence that could have been raised prior to the entry of judgment.'” See Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker, 554 U.S. 471, 485 n.5 (2008) (quoting 11 Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2810.1 (2d ed. 1995)); see also Estate of Gaither ex rel. Gaither v. Dist. of Columbia, 771 F.Supp.2d 5, 10 (D.D.C. 2011) (“In this Circuit, it is well-established that motions for reconsideration, whatever their procedural basis, cannot be used as an opportunity to reargue facts and theories upon which a court has already ruled, nor as a vehicle for presenting theories or arguments that could have been advanced earlier.” (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)).
ANALYSIS
As the Court explained in its previous opinion, the flaw in Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint and other filings is their failure to acknowledge that the government's actions were taken in the context of an official investigation of child abuse and the subsequent prosecution of two counts of child abuse and neglect. In the course of those legal proceedings, a magistrate judge held that Plaintiffs abused and neglected their child, based on findings of fact and conclusions of law that were adverse to Plaintiffs. The judgment of the trial court was affirmed by an associate judge of the D.C. Superior Court and by the DCCA. Plaintiffs' claims in the instant suit cannot succeed absent re-litigation of issues already resolved in the neglect proceedings. Because such re-litigation is precluded, the Amended Complaint must be dismissed. Moreover, the defendants are immune from suit for actions that they took while performing their statutory duties during the neglect proceedings. See generally Mem. Op.
I. Issue Preclusion
The factual allegations and claims in the Amended Complaint contradict the findings and conclusions of both the D.C. Superior Court and the DCCA. Even though the precise legal claims that Plaintiffs now seek to bring were not previously addressed by the D.C. courts, the facts underlying the legal claims have been litigated. As stated by Plaintiffs in their Motion for Reconsideration, the Amended Complaint
alleges six acts by Defendants that deprived Plaintiffs of their clearly established federal Constitutional rights: 1) performing medically unnecessary and harmful tests on the Plaintiffs' daughter in violation of Plaintiffs' right to make medical decisions on her behalf, 2) unlawfully seizing the Plaintiffs' daughter, 3) fabricating evidence, 4) falsely swearing the petition, 5) perjury and the subornation of perjury at the probable cause hearing, and 6) destroying and withholding evidence.See Pls. Mem. at 2-3 (citing Am. Compl., ¶¶ 50(a)-(f)).
Plaintiffs combined their motion for reconsideration and memorandum in support into one document. Their memorandum can be found at pages 5-15 of ECF No. 54.
Issue preclusion, also known as collateral estoppel, “generally confines plaintiffs to one bite at the litigation apple.” See Capitol Servs. Mgmt., Inc. v. Vesta Corp., 933 F.3d 784, 794 (D.C. Cir. 2019) (citing B&B Hardware, Inc. v. Hargis Indus., Inc., 575 U.S. 138, 147 (2015)). The doctrine bars “successive litigation of an issue of fact or law actually litigated and resolved in a valid court determination essential to the prior judgment, even if the issue recurs in the context of a different claim.” See Taylor v. Sturgell, 553 U.S. 880, 892 (2008) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted); see also B&B Hardware, Inc., 575 U.S. at 147 (explaining that issue preclusion makes “the determination of a question directly involved in one action . . . conclusive as to that question in a second suit” (citation omitted)).
Specifically, issue preclusion bars successive litigation of an issue of fact or law when “‘(1) the issue is actually litigated; (2) determined by a valid, final judgment on the merits; (3) after a full and fair opportunity for litigation by the parties or their privies; and (4) under circumstances where the determination was essential to the judgment, and not merely dictum.'” See Capitol Servs. Mgmt., Inc., 933 F.3d at 794 (quoting Walker v. FedEx Office & Print Servs., Inc., 123 A.3d 160, 164 (D.C. 2015)). Also precluded are arguments and issues that could have been raised in the prior proceeding. See Drake v. FAA, 291 F.3d 59, 66 (D.C. Cir. 2002) (“[A] final judgment on the merits of an action precludes the parties . . . from relitigating issues that were or could have been raised in that action.” (emphasis in original) (quoting Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90, 94 (1980))).
A. Act 1: Performing Medically Unnecessary and Harmful Tests on D.O.
Plaintiffs assert that “Defendant Reddrick directed Defendant Atkinson to conduct the District's investigation under the false pretext of necessary medical treatment,” which resulted in Defendant Atkinson “harm[ing]” D.O. by ordering a series of unnecessary and painful medical tests including x-ray and MRI examinations, blood tests, and the administration of anesthesia. See Pls. Mem. at 2 (citing Am. Compl., ¶¶ 16, 18-21); see also Am. Compl., ¶ 50(a). According to Plaintiffs, those actions, taken without their “consent or judicial authorization after reasonable notice or opportunity to be heard,” violated their Fifth Amendment “right to make medical decisions” on behalf of their daughter. See Am. Compl., ¶ 50.
As noted, however, the investigation of suspected child abuse by CFSA is authorized by statute. See D.C. Code §§ 4-1301.07, 4-1301.09, 4-1303.03. More specifically, CFSA's initial investigation in this case, which included the medical procedures cited by Plaintiffs, complied with statutory provisions. See id.; see also D.C. Code § 4-1301.08 (“As part of the investigation required by this part, any person responsible for the investigation may . . . have radiological examinations, including full skeletal x-rays, performed on the child.”). The Superior Court's finding at the initial hearing that the evidence gleaned in the investigation supported a finding of probable cause that Plaintiffs abused and neglected D.O. further validated the actions Defendants took during the initial investigation. See DCCA Op. at 3.
The statutory framework for the government's actions is consistent with the Constitution. The Supreme Court has recognized that “a state is not without constitutional control over parental discretion in dealing with children when their physical or mental health is jeopardized.” See Parham v. J.R., 442 U.S. 584, 603 (1979) (first citing Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205, 230 (1972); and then citing Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158, 166 (1944)); see also Prince, 321 U.S. at 167 (“[T]he state has a wide range of power for limiting parental freedom and authority in things affecting the child's welfare.”). “[S]o long as a parent adequately cares for his or her children (i.e., is fit), there will normally be no reason for the State to inject itself into the private realm of the family to further question the ability of that parent to make the best decisions concerning the rearing of that parent's children.” See Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 68-69 (2000). When, however, the state has probable cause to believe that a child is in imminent danger, a parent's constitutional rights do not prevent the state from investigating and acting to protect the child. See Doe v. Dist. of Columbia, 796 F.3d 96, 103 (D.C. Cir. 2015); see also J.C. v. Dist. of Columbia, 199 A.3d 192, 200-02, 205 (D.C. 2018) (rejecting parent's Fourth and Fifth Amendment claims because District had probable cause to seize abused and neglected children).
Accordingly, Plaintiffs cannot prevail on any Fifth Amendment claim related to the medical tests performed on D.O. unless Plaintiffs demonstrate that CFSA did not have probable cause to believe that D.O. was in imminent danger when the agency commenced the child-abuse investigation. Plaintiffs are unable to make that required showing because the Superior Court found at the initial hearing that there was, in fact, probable cause to believe that D.O. was neglected; and that her placement in shelter care was necessary to protect her person. See DCCA Op. at 3. D.O.'s skull was fractured, and doctors in the emergency room determined that the injury was not consistent with the accidental fall that Plaintiffs described to explain it. See id. at 4-5. The court's finding of probable cause and its decision to place D.O. in shelter care pending further proceedings rested on the conclusion that D.O. was in imminent danger. See J.C., 199 A.3d at 201; Doe, 796 F.3d at 103. Thus, the principles of issue preclusion bar the very argument that Plaintiffs must make in order to pursue their constitutional claim. See Taylor, 553 U.S. at 892 n.5 (explaining that issue preclusion bars “successive litigation of an issue of fact or law actually litigated and resolved in a valid court determination essential to the prior judgment, even if the issue recurs in the context of a different claim”) (cleaned up).
Plaintiffs also allege that the administration of the tests caused them emotional distress. See Am. Compl., ¶¶ 65(1)(a), (e), 69. But Plaintiffs cannot succeed on such claims. The DCCA's opinion established that there was probable cause to believe that D.O. had been abused and neglected. Under those circumstances, the testing complained of does not constitute the kind of “extreme and outrageous conduct” necessary to plead an IIED claim. See Kerrigan v. Britches of Georgetowne, Inc., 705 A.2d 624, 628 (D.C. 1997); cf. Campbell v. Dist. of Columbia, 245 F.Supp.3d 78, 90 (D.D.C. 2017) (holding that police “officers' use of reasonable force in effectuating an arrest [supported by probable cause] does not constitute extreme and outrageous conduct and the distress suffered from a lawful arrest does not entitle [a plaintiff] to recovery.”). Moreover, Plaintiffs plainly fail to plead the elements of a NIED claim. See Hedgepeth v. Whitman Walker Clinic, 22 A.3d 789, 810-11 (D.C. 2011) (en banc) (explicating standard for NIED claim by plaintiff who was not physically endangered by defendant's actions).
B. Act 2: Removing D.O. from Plaintiffs' Custody
According to Plaintiffs, the District and its officials violated their Fourth Amendment and Fifth Amendment rights when they seized D.O. from Plaintiffs' care and removed her from the hospital without exigent circumstances or judicial authorization. See Am. Compl., ¶¶ 50(b), 51(b); Pls. Mem. at 2. Plaintiffs' claims of negligence, See Am. Compl., ¶ 58(1)(d), abuse of process, see id., ¶ 63(1)(a), and emotional distress, see id., ¶¶ 65(1)(c)-(d), 69, also rely in part on the District's seizure of D.O.
Like the investigation itself, however, the statutorily authorized seizure of D.O. was within the constitutional bounds of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. See J.C., 199 A.3d at 201.
Under the Fourth Amendment, a warrant or a pre-removal hearing is not required when the government acts in response to an “exigency.” See Doe, 796 F.3d at 103 (first citing Doe v. Kearney, 329 F.3d 1286, 1293-95 & 1294 n.10 (11th Cir. 2003); then citing Brokaw v. Mercer Cnty., 235 F.3d 1000, 1010-11 (7th Cir. 2000)). To be sure, the Fifth Amendment does require that, before parents may be deprived of the custody “of their children without their consent, due process - ordinarily a court proceeding resulting in an order permitting removal - must be accorded to them.” See id. (quoting Tenenbaum v. Williams, 193 F.3d 581, 593 (2d Cir. 1999)); see also Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 649-51 (1972). Nevertheless, “extraordinary situations where some valid governmental interest is at stake,” such as the health and welfare of a child, may justify “postponing the hearing until after the event.” See Smith v. Org. of Foster Families for Equal. & Reform, 431 U.S. 816, 848 (1977) (quoting Bd. of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 570 n.7 (1972)); see also Doe, 796 F.3d at 103 (noting that the state has a valid “interest in the health and welfare of its children” (citation omitted)).
Here, Plaintiffs brought D.O. to the emergency room with a fractured skull, and CFSA reasonably believed that the injury was evidence of child abuse. See DCCA Op. at 2-3; Am. Compl., ¶¶ 10-11. Exigent circumstances justified the immediate seizure of D.O., with the commencement of a court hearing to determine probable cause within 72 hours - as required by the statutory scheme. See D.C. Code § 16-2309(b) (authorizing CFSA to seize a child when it has “reasonable grounds to believe that the child is in immediate danger”); id. § 16-2312(a)(i)(B), (f) (requiring a hearing within 72 hours of seizure where the government must show probable cause to believe child is abused or neglected). The District was justified in not returning D.O. to the suspected perpetrators of her abuse. See DCCA Op. at 3 (finding probable cause to believe D.O. was neglected and ordering her placement in shelter care).
Plaintiffs' legal claims under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments are based on allegations that “[d]espite Defendant Atkinson's investigation not revealing any evidence of abuse, Defendants Atkinson and Reddrick agreed to remove Plaintiffs from the hospital,” See Am. Compl., ¶ 23, and that Defendants participated in this removal even “when faced with actual or constructive knowledge that the removal lacked probable cause, exigent circumstances, or judicial authorization,” id., ¶ 29. Such allegations are precluded where the Superior Court, at the initial hearing, determined that there was, in fact, sufficient evidence of abuse from the initial investigation to meet the probable-cause standard, and found that removal of D.O. from Plaintiffs' care was justified to protect D.O. See DCCA Op. at 3. Contrary to Plaintiff's contentions, “probable cause” was found, “exigent circumstances” were demonstrated, and “judicial authorization” was provided at the probable cause hearing. See Am. Compl., ¶ 27; Pls. Mem. at 2, 4.
For similar reasons, Plaintiffs' barrage of tort claims must also fail. As to Plaintiff's abuse of process claim, Plaintiffs must demonstrate the “use of the [child removal] process for an immediate purpose other than that for which it was designed and intended.” See Doe, 796 F.3d at 108 (quoting Scott v. Dist. of Columbia, 101 F.3d 748, 755 (D.C. Cir. 1996)). “But something quite nearly the opposite is what occurred here. The legal system was employed to safeguard [a child] who had been the victim[] of [abuse].” See id. Plaintiffs similarly cannot make out an IIED claim based on the lawful conduct of a CFSA investigation. See id. (“The Does' allegations hardly rise to the level of atrocious and utterly intolerable behavior.”). Nor is the lawful removal of a child a negligent act that could give rise to a NIED or negligence claim.
C. Acts 3, 4, & 5: Fabricating Evidence, Falsely Swearing the Petition, Perjury, and Subornation of Perjury at the Probable Cause Hearing
Plaintiffs allege that Defendant Nix, in her role as Assistant Attorney General, drafted a false petition for D.O.'s removal and “then had Defendant Reddrick,” a CFSA social worker, falsely swear to its accuracy. See Am. Compl., ¶ 31. According to Plaintiffs, Nix then made false representations to the Superior Court during the probable cause hearing, and Defendant Beander, a supervisory social worker, gave perjured testimony, all resulting in the Superior Court's finding of probable cause to believe that D.O. had been neglected. See id., ¶¶ 32-35. Through these alleged actions, Defendants allegedly “violated the Plaintiffs' right to have life, liberty, and the sanctity of the family protected by due process of law, by fabricating evidence, and conspiring to fabricate evidence, that D.O.'s injuries were ‘not medically possible' and that Plaintiffs' account of an accidental fall did not satisfactorily explain D.O.'s injuries.” See id., ¶¶ 50(c)-(e). The false-evidence allegations also bleed into Plaintiffs' tort claims. See id., ¶¶ 58(1)(e)-(f) (negligence); id., ¶¶ 63(2)(c)-(e) (abuse of process); id., ¶¶ 65(1)(k), (m) (IIED); id., ¶ 69 (NIED).
In the appeal of the judgment of neglect to the DCCA, Plaintiffs brought to the court's attention “Defendants' use of fabricated evidence and perjured testimony” and the implications of that on “several due process issues.” See Am. Comp., ¶ 45. The DCCA rejected those arguments. See DCCA Op. at 2 n.5 (rejecting the “additional arguments” made by Plaintiffs regarding due process issues at the probable cause hearing); id. (noting that Plaintiffs had the opportunity to immediately appeal the probable cause finding but failed to do so). The DCCA considered Plaintiffs' arguments challenging the propriety of the probable cause hearing and found that they “lack[ed] merit.” See id. Thus, Plaintiffs are precluded from relying on allegations of fabricated evidence, perjured testimony, or improprieties at the probable cause hearing here, even if they now purport to prove different legal theories, because those factual contentions have already been rejected in another judicial proceeding.
D. Act 6: Destroying and Withholding Evidence
Finally, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants are liable for “destroying and withholding evidence.” See Pls. Mem. at 3. More specifically, Plaintiffs claim that Defendant Reddrick shredded her investigation notes, in violation of Plaintiffs' Fifth Amendment due process rights, See Am. Compl., ¶¶ 39, 50(f); and that the District and its employees refused to turn over certain documents and communications that Plaintiffs requested in a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) request, See id., ¶¶ 44. These allegations also underlie Plaintiffs' claims of negligence, See id., ¶ 58(2)(m), and infliction of emotional distress, See id., ¶¶ 65(1)(l) (IIED), 69 (NIED).
Once again, the Court need only look to the issues that were squarely presented to the D.C. Superior Court and the DCCA to reject this claim on issue-preclusion grounds. As Plaintiffs recognize in their own Amended Complaint, they fully litigated their access to the District's evidence during the neglect proceedings. See id., ¶¶ 39-40, 44-45. According to the Amended Complaint, “Plaintiffs continually fought to obtain access to [Defendant Reddrick's notes] throughout the entire neglect proceeding and thereafter.” See id., ¶ 39. When Plaintiffs filed their appellate brief with the DCCA, they included their allegations of due process violations. See id., ¶ 45. Plaintiffs thus have already fully and fairly litigated, or have had the opportunity to litigate, the facts underlying their claim that they were entitled to evidence that was withheld or destroyed by Defendants. The DCCA rejected their arguments and affirmed the judgment against them in a valid, final judgment on the merits, which rested on the conclusion that they abused and neglected D.O. See Sec. Indus. Ass'n v. Bd. of Governors of Fed. Rsrv. Sys., 900 F.2d 360, 364 (D.C. Cir. 1990). Plaintiffs' vehement disagreement with the findings and conclusions of the D.C. courts is not sufficient to overcome the principles of issue preclusion.
II. Applicable Immunity Doctrines
In its initial opinion, the Court held in the alternative that “[e]ven if Plaintiffs' claims were not foreclosed under the doctrine of issue preclusion, the individual Defendants in this case are protected by various and overlapping immunity doctrines.” See Mem. Op. at 20. Plaintiffs, in their Motion for Reconsideration, also challenge that ruling, arguing that “Defendants were not entitled to blanket immunity.” See Pls. Mem. at 7 (cleaned up).
A. District Defendants
Plaintiffs allege that Defendant Nix, in her role as Assistant Attorney General, drafted a false petition for removal of D.O. and “then had Defendant Reddrick,” a CFSA social worker, falsely swear to its accuracy. See Am. Compl., ¶ 31. According to Plaintiffs, Nix then made false representations to the Court during the probable cause hearing and Defendant Beander, a supervisory social worker, provided perjured testimony, all resulting in the Court's finding of probable cause to believe that D.O. had been neglected. See id., ¶¶ 32-35. Based on those allegations, Plaintiffs allege that the three District defendants violated their Fifth Amendment rights, and are liable for many kinds of tortious conduct. See id., ¶¶ 50(c)-(e), 58(1)(f), (h), 63(2)(c)-(d), 65(1)(b), (m), 69.
With respect to their actions related to the probable cause hearing, the Court held that Defendants Nix, Reddrick, and Beander are shielded by absolute immunity. See Mem. Op. at 20-22. On their Motion for Reconsideration, Plaintiffs must show “that there is an intervening change of controlling law, the availability of new evidence, or the need to correct a clear error or prevent manifest injustice.” See Ciralsky, 355 F.3d at 671 (quoting Firestone, 76 F.3d at 1208). They have not done so.
In attacking the absolute immunity enjoyed by Defendant Nix, Plaintiffs assert that Defendant Nix is not entitled to immunity because she “fabricated” evidence before the initial probable cause hearing; and absolute immunity only applies to actions taken during the neglect proceedings. See Pls. Mem. at 8-9. Plaintiffs made this same argument in their Opposition to the District's Motion to Dismiss. See ECF No. 41 (Pl. Opp'n) at 15-16 (asserting that Nix violated Plaintiffs' rights “prior to performing any prosecutorial function” and therefore was not entitled to absolute immunity). They cannot now “reargue [a theory] upon which [the Court] has already ruled.” See Estate of Gaither, 771 F.Supp.2d at 10.
In any event, the argument fails on its face. Defendant Nix's immunity as a prosecutor is not limited to what she said and did during the hearing itself. See Buckley v. Fitzsimmons, 509 U.S. 259, 272 (1993) (rejecting the “extreme position” that prosecutorial immunity “extends only to the act of initiation itself and to conduct occurring in the courtroom”). Instead, it extends to anything she does in her “‘role as advocate for the State,'” including her out-of-court efforts to investigate Plaintiffs' neglect and draft the neglect petition. See id. at 272-73 (quoting Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 431 n.33 (1976)). Accordingly, all of Plaintiffs' claims against Defendant Nix fall within the scope of her absolute immunity.
Pursuant to the long-standing rule that defendants are immune from suit based on their testimony in a judicial proceeding, the Court also held that absolute immunity barred claims against social worker Reddrick for allegedly “falsely sign[ing] an affidavit in support of the District's neglect petition and provid[ing] false testimony in support of the same,” See Mem. Op. at 20-21 (citing Am. Compl., ¶¶ 31, 63(d)); and supervisor Beander for “perjur[ing] herself at the probable cause hearing,” See id. (citing Am. Compl., ¶¶ 33-35). In their Motion for Reconsideration, Plaintiffs concede that Defendants Reddrick and Beander are entitled to absolute immunity for those actions. See Pls. Mem. at 7 (failing to address Beander's conduct); id. (agreeing that Defendant Reddrick's allegedly false swearing of the neglect petition falls within the scope of her absolute immunity).
To the extent that Plaintiffs allege common law torts based on acts not connected to the judicial proceeding at issue, the Court takes this opportunity to further clarify that the District Defendants are also entitled to absolute immunity against such claims. Even assuming away the absolute immunity arising from judicial testimony, the District Defendants acted in their discretionary capacities in the carrying out of official duties, and so are entitled to absolute immunity under well-established D.C. law. See Dist. of Columbia v. Jones, 919 A.2d 604, 608 (D.C. 2007); Moss v. Stockard, 580 A.2d 1011, 1020 (D.C. 1990); Dist. of Columbia v. Thompson, 570 A.2d 277, 293 (D.C. 1990), vac'd on other grounds, 593 A.2d 621 (D.C. 1991).
Lest there be any lingering uncertainty, District Defendants Nix, Reddrick, and Beander also are entitled to qualified immunity from Plaintiffs' constitutional claims for the actions they took to investigate D.O.'s neglect and to litigate the neglect proceedings against Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs bring their constitutional claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; they seek $5,000,000 in damages. See Am. Compl., ¶¶ 48-54. Public officials - like Defendants Beander, Nix, and Reddrick - are entitled to qualified immunity from damages claims under Section 1983. See, e.g., City of Escondido v. Emmons, 139 S.Ct. 500 (2019) (per curiam). “To overcome a claim of qualified immunity, plaintiffs must show both (1) that an official ‘violated a constitutional right' and (2) that ‘the right was clearly established' at the time of the violation.” See Johnson v. Gov't of the Dist. of Columbia, 734 F.3d 1194, 1201-02 (D.C. Cir. 2013) (quoting Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 200-01 (2001)).
Under either prong of the analysis, Plaintiffs cannot prevail, as established by the Court's analysis supra. To overcome Defendants' qualified immunity on the first prong, Plaintiffs must show that the individual District Defendants violated their constitutional rights. See Johnson, 734 F.3d at 1201-02. As the Court has already discussed, however, Plaintiffs are precluded from making that showing for any of the constitutional violations enumerated in the Amended Complaint. See supra. Without showing any constitutional violation at all, Plaintiffs a fortiori cannot show the violation of any “clearly established” right. See Johnson, 734 F.3d at 1201-02.
In any event, Plaintiffs are unable to show that the government violated any “clearly established” constitutional rights where the actions of the District Defendants were taken in the context of a statutorily authorized neglect proceeding, the judgment of which was affirmed on appeal. Thus, the District Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity. See Pearson, 555 U.S. at 244-45; Johnson, 734 F.3d at 1201-02.
B. Child Abuse Pediatrician Norrell Atkinson
The absolute and qualified immunity doctrines that shield the District defendants from liability do not extend to private actors like Defendant Atkinson - the physician who examined D.O. See Am. Compl., ¶¶ 16-17, 19-20, 23, 28, 37, 41; Richardson v. McKnight, 521 U.S. 399, 403 (1997) (explaining that § 1983 immunities extend only to state actors); ECF No. 13 (Mot. to Dismiss and Mem. in Supp.) at 3 n.4 (“Atkinson[] is not an employee of the District of Columbia and is not a state actor.”). Dr. Atkinson is instead immunized from liability by the statutory scheme for protecting children from abuse and neglect in the District, which the Court discussed at length in its previous opinion. See Mem. Op. at 22-24.
Plaintiffs have maintained throughout this litigation that Dr. Atkinson should be considered a state actor. See Pls. Mem. at 9-10 (“Atkinson . . . was at all times acting as a state actor [and the District] never intended D.C. Code § 4-1321.04 to protect state actors like Defendant Atkinson.”); ECF No. 22 (Pls. Opp'n to Atkinson Mot. to Dismiss) at 14-15. A private party is properly deemed a state actor where the private actor is subjected to the “coercive power” of the state or “significant encouragement, either overt or covert” by the state; when the party is controlled by an agency of the State; when a private actor is “entwined with governmental policies or when government is entwined in its management or control;” or when a “private actor has been delegated a public function by the State.” See Brentwood Acad. v. Tenn. Secondary Sch. Athletic Ass'n, 531 U.S. 288, 295-96 (2001). Here, Atkinson was not employed by the District, she did not receive funds from the District, and her medical decisions were not directed by the District. See generally Am. Compl.; Simms v. District of Columbia, 699 F.Supp.2d 217, 225 (D.D.C. 2010). But even if the Court agreed with Plaintiffs that Atkinson is a state actor based on her role in assisting the CFSA in its investigation of D.O.'s case, that would not save Plaintiffs' claims, as Atkinson (like Beander and Reddick) would then be shielded by qualified immunity and public official immunity for discretionary actions, in addition to the statutory immunity under D.C. Code § 4-1321.04. See Moss, 580 A.2d at 1020-21 (discussing public official immunity to common law tort claims); D.C. Code § 4-1321.02(b) (listing mandatory reporters entitled to immunity, including state employees and actors).
In seeking reconsideration of the Court's ruling that Dr. Atkinson is shielded from liability by D.C. law, Plaintiffs put forward several arguments that they claim the Court did not consider: i.e., that Atkinson is not a mandatory reporter; that she never participated in the making of any report; that Atkinson acted in bad faith; and that the Court's ruling sweeps too far, extending immunity to individuals who should not be shielded for various policy reasons. See Pls. Mem. at 9-10. As with Plaintiffs' other immunity arguments, the Court has seen these contentions before, in Plaintiffs' Opposition to Atkinson's Motion to Dismiss. See ECF No. 22 (Pls. Opp'n to Atkinson Mot. to Dismiss) at 9-13 (arguing that Atkinson was not a mandatory reporter, did not participate in the making of any report, acted in bad faith, and should not be extended immunity for policy reasons). The Court need not traverse this ground again.
Plaintiffs also argue that the Court “abused its discretion by not providing a hearing” prior to ruling on the motions to dismiss. See Pls. Mem. at 10. It is well established under the local rules that holding a hearing on a motion is within the discretion of the Court. See LCvR 7(f); Ndoromo v. Barr, 486 F.Supp.3d 388, 395 (D.D.C. 2020). Indeed, Plaintiffs themselves acknowledge that a hearing is “not required.” See Pls. Mem. at 10. In a case such as this, where Plaintiffs' claims are precluded on multiple grounds, the Court plainly did not abuse its discretion in declining to schedule an oral argument on the motion.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will deny Plaintiffs' Motion for Reconsideration. A separate Order will issue this day.