setting 18 forth alternative bases for award of punitive damages in § 1983 actions
How later courts described this case
- setting 18 forth alternative bases for award of punitive damages in § 1983 actions
- holding, where plaintiff alleged federal civil 24 rights claim, plaintiff failed to state claim against government officials in absence of 25 factual allegations showing each official, "through the official's own individual actions," 26 violated law
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
1
2
3
4 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
5 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
6
7 N.Y., Case No. 17-cv-03906-MMC
8 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND
DENYING IN PART MOTIONS TO
9 v. DISMISS FOURTH AMENDED
COMPLAINT; AFFORDING PLAINTIFF
10 SAN RAMON VALLEY UNIFIED LIMITED LEAVE TO AMEND
SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al.,
11 Re: Dkt. Nos. 123, 124
Defendants.
12
13 Before the Court are two motions: (1) "Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Fourth
14 Amended Complaint," filed July 29, 2019, by defendants San Ramon Valley Unified
15 School District ("District"), Rick Schmitt ("Schmitt"), Jason Reimann ("Reimann"), Ruth
16 Steele ("Steele"), Jason Krolikowski ("Krolikowski"), Jamie Keith ("Keith"), Dearborn
17 Ramos ("Ramos"), and Bernie Phelan ("Phelan") (collectively, "Administration
18 Defendants"); and (2) "Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Fourth Amended Complaint," filed
19 July 29, 2019, by defendant Janet Willford ("Willford"). The motions have been fully
20 briefed. Having read and considered the papers filed in support of and in opposition to
21 the motions, the Court rules as follows.1
22 BACKGROUND
23 In the operative complaint, the Fourth Amended Complaint ("4AC"), plaintiff N.Y.,
24 who previously was a student attending San Ramon Valley High School ("SRVHS"),2
25 alleges he was deprived of his federal constitutional and state rights in connection with a
26
1By order filed September 3, 2019, the Court took the matters under submission.
27
1 student election conducted in 2017 and events following the election.
2 Specifically, N.Y. alleges, in February 2017, when he was Junior Class President,
3 he ran for Associated Student Body ("ASB") President (see 4AC ¶¶ 29, 32, 35) and that,
4 shortly before the election, he and a "group of his friends," while at the home of one of
5 the friends, filmed a video that was intended to "increase N.Y.'s name recognition" (see
6 4AC ¶ 39), which video subsequently was uploaded to the "personal YouTube webpage"
7 of one of the friends (see 4AC ¶ 44). According to N.Y., the video depicted him "as a
8 James Bond-type hero who rescues a person kidnapped by two members of an extremist
9 group who attempted to force the victim to participate in a video game competition" (see
10 4AC ¶ 2), and that two of his friends, "who happen to be practicing Muslims, conceived
11 and developed the idea for the antagonists" and "voluntarily decided to play the
12 antagonists" (see 4AC ¶ 40).
13 The "Campaign Rules" applicable to the election included the following provision:
14 "Please have discretion when creating campaign signs and slogans, as any inappropriate
15 material will be removed and the candidate is subject to be pulled from the election."
16 (See 4AC ¶ 36.) N.Y. alleges defendants determined the video to be "inappropriate" (see
17 4AC ¶ 7) and, in light of such determination, "stripped him of his position as Junior Class
18 President" and "expelled" him from the school's "Leadership Class" (see 4AC ¶ 6);3
19 additionally, N.Y. alleges, defendants "disqualified him in the election for [ASB] President"
20 (see id.), even though he "received the most votes" (see 4AC ¶ 11).
21 N.Y. alleges that, thereafter, he "filed an ex parte petition for writ of mandamus" in
22 state court, which petition was "denied" for failure to meet the "requirements for writ
23 relief" (see 4AC ¶¶ 66-67), and that his counsel next "informed the District in writing that
24 N.Y. intended to file a lawsuit based on [d]efendants' unconstitutional acts" (see 4AC
25 ¶ 68). According to N.Y., although the District then "permitted" him to "return" to the
26
27
3N.Y. alleges the Leadership Class is a graded class for which students enrolled
1 Leadership Class, "reinstated" him as Junior Class President, and stated he would be
2 "permitted" to serve as ASB President during his senior year (see 4AC ¶ 69), defendants
3 "retaliated" against him by, for example, "intentionally withholding N.Y.'s semester grades
4 throughout the summer of 2017" and "transferring" the ASB President's "powers and
5 privileges" to another student (see 4AC ¶ 134).
6 Based on the allegations set forth above, N.Y. asserts five claims arising under
7 federal law and five claims arising under state law.
8 LEGAL STANDARD
9 Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure "can be
10 based on the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged
11 under a cognizable legal theory." See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696,
12 699 (9th Cir. 1990). Rule 8(a)(2), however, "requires only 'a short and plain statement of
13 the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.'" See Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
14 Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2)). Consequently, "a
15 complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual
16 allegations." See id. Nonetheless, "a plaintiff's obligation to provide the grounds of his
17 entitlement to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation
18 of the elements of a cause of action will not do." See id. (internal quotation, citation, and
19 alteration omitted).
20 In analyzing a motion to dismiss, a district court must accept as true all material
21 allegations in the complaint and construe them in the light most favorable to the
22 nonmoving party. See NL Indus., Inc. v. Kaplan, 792 F.2d 896, 898 (9th Cir. 1986). "To
23 survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual material, accepted
24 as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.
25 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). "Factual allegations must be
26 enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level[.]" Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.
27 Courts "are not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual
1 DISCUSSION
2 A. Federal Claims
3 The Administration Defendants seek dismissal of N.Y.'s federal claims, which
4 claims the Court considers in turn.4
5 1. Second Cause of Action5
6 In the Second Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith,
7 Ramos, and Phelan, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, deprived him of his First
8 Amendment rights when they "punished" him for violating the campaign rule prohibiting
9 the use of "inappropriate" material. (See 4AC ¶ 121.) According to N.Y., the
10 Administration Defendants' imposition of punishment was in violation of the standard set
11 forth in Tinker v. v. Des Moines Independent Community School Dist., 393 U.S. 503
12 (1969). (See 4AC ¶¶ 1, 105.)
13 In Tinker, the Supreme Court held schools cannot prohibit student speech, "even
14 on controversial subjects," unless the speech "materially disrupts classwork or involves
15 substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of others." See Tinker, 393 U.S. at 512-13.
16 The Administration Defendants do not contend N.Y. fails to state a claim if such standard
17 applies. Rather, they argue, he fails to state a claim or, alternatively, they are entitled to
18 qualified immunity, in light of a different standard, specifically, the standard set forth in
19 Hazelwood School Dist. v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).
20 //
21 //
22
23
4Each 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
24
claims, limits its discussion to the allegations made against the Administration
Defendants.
25
5The 4AC does not have a First Cause of Action. As noted in the 4AC, the First
26
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
27
in Second Amended Complaint).) Instead of renumbering his claims, N.Y. begins the
1 In Hazelwood, the Supreme Court considered the standard applicable to school
2 regulation of student speech "disseminated under [the school's] auspices," such as
3 speech in "school-sponsored publications," e.g., school newspapers, as well as speech in
4 "theatrical productions" and "other expressive activities that students, parents, and
5 members of the public might reasonably perceive to bear the imprimatur of the school."
6 See id. at 271. In resolving that issue, the Supreme Court held "the standard articulated
7 in Tinker for determining when a school may punish student expression need not also be
8 the standard for determining when a school may refuse to lend its name and resources to
9 the dissemination of student expression"; in the latter situation, the Supreme Court
10 concluded, schools do not violate the First Amendment by "exercising editorial control
11 over the style and content of student speech . . . so long as their actions are reasonably
12 related to legitimate pedagogical concerns." See id. at 272-73.
13 At this stage of the proceedings, the Court finds the Administration Defendants'
14 reliance on Hazelwood as a ground for dismissal is premature. The instant motion
15 challenges the claims as pleaded, and the 4AC does not include facts sufficient to
16 support a finding that the video constitutes speech akin to that made in school-sponsored
17 newspapers or theatrical productions, or that persons who viewed the video reasonably
18 would have perceived the content therein to "bear the imprimatur of the school." See id.
19 at 271. Indeed, N.Y alleges the video was uploaded to the personal YouTube page of a
20 student (see 4AC ¶ 44), that it "[did] not feature [the] School's or the Leadership Class's
21 name, logo, or other indicia," that no "School property or equipment" was used to create
22 it, and that "neither the School nor the Leadership Class [were] mentioned" in it (see 4AC
23 ¶ 41).
24 The Administration Defendants next argue the 4AC includes no facts that could
25 support a finding either Schmitt, the Superintendent of the District, or Reimann, the
26 District's Director of Education Services, played any role in deciding N.Y. had violated the
27 campaign rule or in imposing punishment.
1 "A plaintiff must allege facts, not simply conclusions, that show that an individual
2 was personally involved in the deprivation of his civil rights." Barren v. Harrington, 152
3 F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir. 1998). Consequently, "a plaintiff must plead that each
4 Government-official defendant, through the official's own individual actions, has violated
5 the Constitution." See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676; see also Barren, 152 F.3d at 1194
6 (affirming dismissal of § 1983 claim, where plaintiff "fail[ed] to allege any facts which
7 would support his allegations that the defendants had conspired to violate his [civil]
8 rights").
9 In his opposition, N.Y. points to no factual allegations that could support a finding
10 that Schmitt or Reimann engaged in the conduct on which the Second Cause of Action is
11 based, and the Court, having reviewed the 4AC, finds none. Indeed, the 4AC includes no
12 factual allegations of any kind concerning Schmitt, other than an allegation that he is the
13 Superintendent (see 4AC ¶ 20), and the factual allegations against Reimann pertain
14 solely to conduct that, although asserted by N.Y. to be retaliatory in nature, occurred after
15 the District set aside SRVHS's decision to impose punishment (see 4AC ¶ 70).
16 Accordingly, although the Second Cause of Action is not subject to dismissal in its
17 entirety, such claim is subject to dismissal to the extent it is asserted against Schmitt and
18 Reimann.
19 2. Third Cause of Action
20 In the Third Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Krolikowski,
21 Keith, Ramos, and Phelan, in violation of § 1983, "retaliated" against him for creating and
22 uploading the video (see 4AC ¶ 135), as well as for his filing a "state court petition" and
23 notifying the Administration Defendants of "his intent" to file another action (see 4AC
24 ¶¶ 134-135).
25 The Administration Defendants argue the standard set forth in Hazelwood applies
26 to their consideration of the video, and, consequently, that N.Y. fails to state a retaliation
27 //
1 claim, or, alternatively, that they are entitled to qualified immunity.6 As set forth above,
2 such argument is premature. As also set forth above, however, the 4AC includes no
3 facts about Schmitt, let alone that he engaged in any assertedly retaliatory acts.
4 Accordingly, the Third Cause of Action is subject to dismissal only to the extent it
5 is asserted against Schmitt.
6 3. Fourth Cause of Action
7 In the Fourth Cause of Action, NY alleges Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith,
8 Ramos, and Phelan, in violation of § 1983, deprived him of due process (1) by enforcing
9 the prohibition against "inappropriate" campaign speech, which prohibition, N.Y. alleges,
10 is vague and failed to give him notice of the speech in which he could not engage (see
11 4AC ¶¶ 142-143), and (2) by "suspending or expelling" him from the Leadership Class
12 without following procedures required by state law (see 4AC ¶¶ 147-148).
13 The Administration Defendants argue N.Y. fails to state a due process deprivation
14 claim because the "Campaign Rules had provided notice that removal from the course
15 was possible for violation of the Campaign Rules." (See Admin. Defs.' Mot. at 14:1-2.)
16 The Fourth Cause of Action, however, is, as set forth above, based on the theory that the
17 Campaign Rules did not adequately give notice of the type of conduct that would give rise
18 to punishment and that a number of administrative procedural requirements were not
19 met, not that the Campaign Rules failed to give notice that a violation might result in the
20 imposition of a particular punishment.7
21 The Administration Defendants also argue that the 4AC's allegations only support
22 a finding that N.Y. was "briefly removed" from the Leadership Class, and, consequently,
23
6The Administration Defendants do not appear to argue Hazelwood bars the Third
24
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
25
action against a school cannot be understood to constitute student speech "disseminated
under [the school's] auspices." See Hazelwood, 484 U.S. at 271.
26
7The Court notes, however, that the Campaign Rules, at least as set forth in the
27
4AC, only provided that, if a student campaigned using "inappropriate material," the
1 that N.Y has failed to plead facts to support a finding that "he actually was 'suspended or
2 expelled' as those terms are defined by the California Education Code." (See id. at
3 13:26-27.) Such argument is not persuasive. As relevant thereto, N.Y. alleges he was
4 prohibited from attending the Leadership Class from March 10, 2017, to May 16, 2017.
5 (See 4AC ¶¶ 62, 69.) Even assuming said period of approximately two months can be
6 described as "brief," a "suspension," under the Education Code, can include prohibiting a
7 student from attending a class for a period of as little as two days. See, e.g., Cal. Educ.
8 Code § 48910(a) (setting forth procedure whereby teacher may "suspend any pupil from
9 class" for "the day of the suspension and the day following").
10 As to Schmitt and Reimann, however, given that the Fourth Cause of Action is
11 based on the decision to impose punishment for N.Y.'s alleged violation of a campaign
12 rule, such claim is subject to dismissal for the reasons set forth above with respect to the
13 Second Cause of Action.
14 Accordingly, the Fourth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal only to the extent it
15 is asserted against Schmitt and Reimann.
16 4. Fifth Cause of Action
17 In the Fifth Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos,
18 and Phelan, in violation of § 1983, deprived him of equal protection. Specifically, N.Y.
19 alleges, other "students who created films and material that certain individuals would find
20 'inappropriate'" were not subjected to punishment. (See 4AC ¶ 155; see also 4AC
21 ¶¶ 88-91, 94-98 (identifying content of arguably "inappropriate" videos and materials, and
22 describing game played on campus with "imitation guns").) According to N.Y., the
23 defendants named in the Fifth Cause of Action punished N.Y., but not the other students,
24 because of "the content of his speech" (see 4AC ¶ 160) and N.Y.'s "race and religion"
25 (see id.), identified by N.Y. as Asian and Catholic (see 4AC ¶ 155).
26 The Administration Defendants argue the 4AC lacks factual allegations to support
27 a finding that any of them were involved in the decisions not to impose punishment on the
1 allegations,8 and the Court, having reviewed the 4AC, finds none. Indeed, the 4AC
2 includes no factual allegations to support a finding that Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith,
3 Ramos, or Phelan were even aware of the conduct of the other students.
4 Accordingly, the Fifth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal to the extent it is
5 asserted against Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.9
6 5. Sixth Cause of Action
7 In the Sixth Cause of Action, plaintiff alleges the District, as well as Schmitt,
8 Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan, discriminated against him on the basis of
9 race, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.10
10 Title VI "proscribes only those racial classifications that would violate the Equal
11 Protection Clause." See Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306, 343 (2003) (internal
12 quotation, citation and alteration omitted). Consequently, where a plaintiff's claim that he
13 was deprived of equal protection on account of his race fails, a Title VI claim based on
14 the same facts likewise fails. See id. Here, as noted, N.Y.'s equal protection claim
15 against the individual Administration Defendants is subject to dismissal but remains to the
16 extent alleged against Willford, and the Administration Defendants have not argued the
17 District cannot be held liable for the alleged actions of Willford. See United States v.
18 County of Maricopa, 889 F.3d 648, 652 (9th Cir. 2018) (setting forth circumstances under
19 which "entity" can be held liable under Title VI for acts of "official" or for acts of any
20
8N.Y. does cite to allegations that refer generally to "[d]efendants" (see, e.g., 4AC
21
¶ 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
22
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
23
all 'defendants' together" fails to "put a particular defendant on notice" as to grounds for
claim).
24
9As noted above, Willford did not move to dismiss N.Y.'s federal claims.
25
10Title VI provides: "No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race,
26
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
27
assistance." See 42 U.S.C. § 2000d. N.Y. alleges the District receives federal financial
1 employee taken pursuant to "official policy").
2 Accordingly, the Sixth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal to the extent it is
3 asserted against Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
4 B. State Law Claims
5 In their respective motions, defendants seek dismissal of the state law claims,
6 which the Court next considers in turn.
7 1. Seventh Cause of Action
8 In the Seventh Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges all defendants violated the Bane Act,
9 California Civil Code § 52.1, which Act prohibits any person from "interfer[ing] by threat,
10 intimidation, or coercion, or attempt[ing] to interfere by threat, intimidation, or coercion,
11 with the exercise or enjoyment by any individual . . . of the rights secured by [federal or
12 state law]." See Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1(b); see also Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1(c) (providing
13 private cause action for violation of § 52.1(b)). The rights on which N.Y. bases the
14 Seventh Cause of Action are his federal and state constitutional rights to free speech.
15 (See 4AC ¶¶ 173, 174.)
16 In her motion, Willford seeks dismissal of said claim in reliance on § 52.1(k), which
17 provides that "[s]peech alone is not sufficient to support an action [under the Bane Act],
18 except upon a showing that the speech itself threatens violence against a specific person
19 or group of persons[,] and the person or group of persons against whom the threat is
20 directed reasonably fears that, because of the speech, violence will be committed against
21 them or their property and that the person threatening violence had the apparent ability to
22 carry out the threat." See Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1(j).
23 As clarified by N.Y. in his opposition, the Seventh Cause of Action, to the extent
24 asserted against Willford, is based on her sending N.Y. a text message (see 4AC ¶ 48
25 (alleging Willford "texted N.Y., stating that she wanted to 'protect' him, but that she
26 needed to view the [video] to do so")), making a proposal at a meeting (see 4AC ¶ 62
27 (alleging Willford, during a meeting with N.Y., his parents, and his attorney, "proposed
1 punishment")),11 talking to other defendants (see 4AC ¶ 7 (alleging Willford
2 "recommended" to other defendants that they "punish[ ]" N.Y.)), and making statements
3 in a class she taught (see 4AC ¶¶ 27, 61 (alleging Willford requested students provide
4 her with their opinions of N.Y.'s video)). As such alleged acts consist of speech only and
5 do not threaten violence, the Seventh Cause of Action, to the extent asserted against
6 Willford, fails.
7 The Administration Defendants likewise argue the Seventh Cause of Action is
8 subject to dismissal under § 52.1(k). As N.Y. points out, however, the Administration
9 Defendants are alleged to have engaged in acts that cannot be characterized as "speech
10 alone," i.e., the decision to impose on him various punishments, namely, "expelling him
11 from Leadership Class, stripping him of his position as Junior Class President, [and]
12 preventing him from assuming the position of [ASB] President" (see 4AC ¶ 174) and
13 engaging in retaliatory conduct, such as "stripping him of the rights and privileges
14 afforded to the student elected to the position [of ASB President]" (see id.). As a threat of
15 violence is only required when a Bane Act claim is based on "speech alone," the
16 Administration Defendants, with the exception of Schmitt and Reimann, have failed to
17 show the Seventh Cause of Action is subject to dismissal. As to Schmitt, the claim is
18 subject to dismissal, given the absence of any factual allegations against him; as to
19 Reimann, the claim is subject to dismissal because the sole act of retaliation alleged is
20 his having "spoke[n] with the Leadership Class about N.Y." (See 4AC ¶ 70.)
21 Accordingly, the Seventh Cause of Action is subject to dismissal only to the extent
22 it is asserted against Willford, Schmitt, and Reimann.
23 2. Eighth Cause of Action
24 In the Eighth Cause of Action, N.Y. alleges a second Bane Act claim, which claim
25 is based on the theory that all defendants deprived him of his statutory right to free
26 speech under the Education Code. See Cal. Educ. Code § 48950(a) (providing, subject
27
1 to specified exceptions, students have "right to exercise freedom of speech").
2 Defendants seek dismissal of the Eighth Cause of Action for the same reasons
3 they seek dismissal of the Seventh Cause of Action.
4 Accordingly, for the reasons stated above with respect to the Seventh Cause of
5 Action, the Eighth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal only to the extent it is asserted
6 against Willford, Schmitt, and Reimann.
7 3. Ninth Cause of Action
8 In the Ninth Cause of Action, N.Y. asserts against all defendants a claim for
9 "intentional infliction of emotion distress" ("IIED") (see 4AC ¶ 182), based on said parties
10 allegedly having taken "deliberate steps to chill and punish N.Y. for exercising his
11 constitutional rights" (see 4AC ¶ 183).
12 In their respective motions, defendants argue the 4AC fails to include facts to
13 support a finding they engaged in the type of "outrageous conduct" necessary for such a
14 claim, i.e., conduct "so outrageous in character and so extreme in degree as to go
15 beyond all possible bounds of decency and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly
16 intolerable in a civilized community." See Melorich Builders, Inc. v. Superior Court, 160
17 Cal. App. 3d 931, 936 (1984).
18 As noted, N.Y. alleges, as his Fifth Cause of Action, an equal protection claim
19 based on the theory that he was punished by reason of his race and religion, and, as his
20 Sixth Cause of Action, that he was punished by reason of his race. As Willford has not
21 challenged the sufficiency of the Fifth and Sixth Causes of Action as pleaded, and the
22 California Supreme Court has held "discriminatory actions may constitute . . . outrageous
23 conduct redressable under a theory of [IIED]," see Rojo v. Kliger, 52 Cal. 3d 65, 81
24 (1990), the Ninth Cause of Action, to the extent asserted against Willford, is not subject to
25 dismissal.
26 With respect to the individual Administration Defendants, however, the Fifth and
27 Sixth Causes of Action have been dismissed. Although the First Amendment claims
1 against all said individuals other than Schmitt and Reimann remain, N.Y. has not cited to
2 any authority holding a defendant's violation of the First Amendment and/or Due Process
3 Clause can, by itself, support an IIED claim. Consequently, the Court next considers
4 whether the factual allegations made in support of such claims describe what can be
5 characterized as extreme and outrageous behavior.
6 As to Steele, who served as Principal of SRVHS at the time the punishment was
7 imposed, the 4AC alleges said defendant informed N.Y. that he would be punished and
8 that her decision was "final and not subject to review or appeal." (See 4AC ¶ 62) As to
9 Keith, Ramos, and Phelan, all of whom were Assistant Principals at the time the
10 punishment was imposed, the 4AC alleges each said defendant questioned N.Y. for
11 several hours about the video, without informing his parents, and ultimately decided he
12 should be "expel[led" from the Leadership Class (see 4AC ¶¶ 56, 58); in addition, the
13 4AC alleges Keith, at a meeting with N.Y. and his parents, "alluded to the need to make
14 an example out of N.Y." (see 4AC ¶ 58). As to Reimann, the 4AC alleges that, after the
15 District set aside the punishments imposed by SRVHS, said defendant spoke to the
16 Leadership Class and "implied" the punishments were set aside "solely to avoid litigation"
17 and not because of any "error" by the school. (See 4AC ¶ 70.) As to Krolikowski, who
18 became Principal after Steele had imposed the punishments, the 4AC alleges said
19 defendant "did nothing" to address either a "media frenzy" or "death threats" arising after
20 the District set aside the punishments (see 4AC ¶ 75) and that he caused "graffiti" on
21 N.Y.'s car to be "removed without documentation or investigation" (see 4AC ¶ 80). The
22 Court finds the above-referenced allegations fall short of identifying conduct that is "so
23 extreme in degree as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency." See Melorich
24 Builders, 160 Cal. App. 3d at 936.
25 Lastly, with respect to the District, "[a] public entity is liable for injury proximately
26 caused by an act or omission of an employee of the public entity within the scope of his
27 employment if the act or omission would . . . have given rise to a cause of action against
1 Action is not subject to dismissal to the extent alleged against Willford, a District
2 employee, and, consequently is not subject to dismissal to the extent alleged against the
3 District.12
4 Accordingly, the Ninth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal to the extent it is
5 asserted against Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Krolikowski, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
6 4. Tenth Cause of Action
7 In the Tenth Cause of Action, N.Y. asserts against all defendants a claim of
8 "negligent infliction of emotional distress," which, as N.Y. acknowledges in the 4AC (see
9 4AC ¶ 188), is a negligence claim. See Huggins v. Longs Drug Stores California, Inc., 6
10 Cal. 4th 124, 129 (1993) (holding "[n]egligent infliction of emotional distress is a form of
11 the tort of negligence")
12 The Administration Defendants argue N.Y. has failed to allege facts to support a
13 finding that any of them engaged in a negligent act. As set forth below, the Court agrees.
14 The Tenth Cause of Action alleges "[d]efendants" failed to comply with two duties,
15 specifically, "the duty not to disseminate N.Y.'s personal and private information to third
16 parties" and "the duty not to interfere with [N.Y.'s] right to exercise free speech." (See
17 4AC ¶¶ 189-190.) As set forth below with respect to the Eleventh Cause of Action,
18 however, the 4AC fails to include facts to support a finding that any individual defendant
19 disseminated N.Y.'s personal and private information to third parties. Although the 4AC
20 does allege the individual Administration Defendants either punished N.Y. for the video
21 and/or engaged in acts of retaliation in response to N.Y.'s alleged free speech activities,
22 the 4AC includes no facts to support a finding that any of those acts was negligent as
23 opposed to intentional and/or retaliatory. See Hawaiian Pineapple Co. v. Industrial Acc.
24 Comm'n, 40 Cal. 2d 656, 663 (1953) (holding "serious and willful misconduct is basically
25 the antithesis of negligence" and that those "two types of behavior are mutually
26
12The Administration Defendants have not argued the 4AC fails to sufficiently
27
allege Willford was acting within the scope of her employment when she engaged in the
1 exclusive").
2 Next, although Willford does not expressly request dismissal of the Tenth Cause of
3 Action, the claim against Willford is subject to dismissal for the same reasons as stated
4 above with respect to the Administration Defendants. See Silverton v. Dep't of Treasury,
5 644 F.2d 1341, 1345 (9th Cir. 1981) (holding, where court grants motion to dismiss
6 complaint as to one defendant, court may dismiss complaint against non-moving
7 defendant "in a position similar to that of moving defendants").
8 Accordingly, the Tenth Cause of Action is subject to dismissal.
9 5. Eleventh Cause of Action
10 In the Eleventh Cause of Action, titled "invasion of privacy," N.Y. alleges all
11 defendants "disclos[ed] or ratif[ied] the disclosure of N.Y.'s personal and private
12 information" to "third parties." (See 4AC ¶ 194-195.)
13 In their respective motions, defendants argue the 4AC fails to allege facts to
14 support a finding that any of them disclosed or ratified the disclosure of any of N.Y.'s
15 personal and private information.
16 The Eleventh Cause of Action does not itself identify the nature of the subject
17 personal and private information. In his oppositions to the motions, N.Y., citing
18 paragraphs 72-80 of the 4AC, each of which is incorporated by reference in the Eleventh
19 Cause of Action, states the personal and private information is "his identity and discourse
20 with the District regarding the [video]." (See Pl.'s Opp. to Willford Mot. at 10:4-5; Pl.'s
21 Opp. to Adm. Defs.' Mot. at 21:14-15.) The portions of paragraphs 72-80 that arguably
22 refer to any such assertedly personal and private information are as follows:
23 (1) Karen Pearce, a parent of a student at SRVHS, posted a message on
24 Facebook in which she stated she "heard from students" that the "parents of a junior who
25 ran for SRVHS ASB President using a racially offensive 'joke' video" had "changed their
26 (losing) lawsuit to a freedom of speech lawsuit and asked for big $$$," and that the
27 District then "caved" and allowed him to be the "new ASB President" (see 4AC ¶ 72);
1 (2) Karen Pearce posted a similar message on Instagram, stating "the parents of a
2 SRVHS student who used a racially insensitive video against Muslims" had 'brought
3 multiple suits against the District," which caused the District to "cave[ ]" and "forc[ed]" the
4 school "to have this boy as their role model and leader next year" (see 4AC ¶ 73);
5 (3) "N.Y.'s attorney and the attorney for the District only discussed the fact that
6 N.Y.'s parents were considering further legal action" and, "[s]omehow, [d]efendants
7 transmitted, or allowed it to be transmitted to, [Karen] Pearce" (see 4AC ¶ 74; see also
8 4AC ¶ 66-67); and
9 (4) "[d]efendants and other District officials (with the help of [Karen] Pierce and
10 others) . . . allow[ed] N.Y.'s personal information to be released" (see 4AC ¶ 75).
11 The portions of the 4AC on which N.Y. relies do not include facts alleging any
12 defendant disclosed N.Y.'s identity to anyone, and the Court has located no other section
13 of the 4AC that does. Nor does the 4AC include any facts to show any defendant
14 disclosed to anyone the nature of N.Y.'s discourse with the District, other than
15 "defendants" alleged disclosure that N.Y.'s parents were considering further legal action.
16 As to that one alleged disclosure, N.Y. cites no authority, and the Court has located none,
17 supporting the proposition that disclosing an attorney's threat to file a lawsuit against a
18 school district is the type of "personal and private information" that school district
19 employees are precluded from disclosing. Moreover, even if disclosure of such a threat
20 could be considered an invasion of privacy, the 4AC fails to allege a cognizable claim
21 against any of the individual defendants, as N.Y. does not allege which of the defendants
22 conveyed such information to Karen Pearce or anyone else, but, rather, lumps all eight of
23 them together. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676 (holding, where plaintiff alleged federal civil
24 rights claim, plaintiff failed to state claim against government officials in absence of
25 factual allegations showing each official, "through the official's own individual actions,"
26 violated law).
27 Accordingly, the Eleventh Cause of Action is subject to dismissal.
1 C. Prayer for Relief
2 In seeking entry of judgment against all defendants, N.Y. includes a request for
3 "punitive" damages. (See 4AC, Prayer ¶ B.) The Administration Defendants argue such
4 prayer for relief, to the extent asserted against them, should be dismissed.13
5 In that regard, the Administration Defendants contend the 4AC "cannot sustain a
6 prayer for punitive damages against any of the [individual Administration] Defendants for
7 the simple fact that they have not violated any of [N.Y.'s] federally protected rights as a
8 matter of law." (See Admin. Defs.' Mot. at 20:1-3.) As to Schmitt, such argument is well-
9 taken; as to the other individual Administration Defendants, however, the argument is
10 premature, in that various claims against them remain. To the extent the Administration
11 Defendants argue they cannot be liable for punitive damages for the additional reason
12 that they are entitled to qualified immunity under the principles set forth in Hazelwood,
13 said argument, for the reasons stated above, likewise is premature.
14 The Administration Defendants also argue the 4AC has "technical omissions,"
15 specifically, the absence of a legal conclusion that any of them had an "evil motive or
16 intent" or, alternatively, that any of them acted with "reckless or callous indifference to the
17 federally protected rights of others." See Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 56 (1983) (setting
18 forth alternative bases for award of punitive damages in § 1983 actions). Assuming,
19 arguendo, a prayer for punitive damages requires the addition of such a conclusory
20 allegation, the 4AC alleges the functional equivalent thereof, specifically, that defendants
21 "knew their conduct violated N.Y's clearly established rights at all relevant times" (see
22 4AC ¶ 128) and "undertook their conduct knowingly, intentionally, and maliciously, for the
23 purpose of harassment, oppression, and retaliation against N.Y., in reckless, wanton, and
24 callous disregard for his safety, security, and constitutional rights" (see 4AC ¶ 185).
25
26
13In 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
27
N.Y. clarifies in his opposition, however, he does not seek such damages against the
1 Accordingly, the prayer for punitive damages is subject to dismissal only to the
2 extent it is asserted against Schmitt.
3 D. Leave to Amend
4 The deficiencies addressed herein were raised by defendants for the first time in
5 the instant motions to dismiss.14 Under such circumstances, and because the
6 deficiencies are potentially curable, the Court will afford N.Y. further leave to amend, for
7 the sole purpose of curing, if he can do so, any one or more of those deficiencies.
8 CONCLUSION
9 For the reasons stated above, defendants' motions to dismiss are hereby
10 GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as follows:
11 1. The Second Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against
12 Schmitt and Reimann.
13 2. The Third Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against
14 Schmitt.
15 3. The Fourth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against
16 Schmitt and Reimann.
17 4. The Fifth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against
18 Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
19 5. The Sixth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against
20 Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
21 6. The Seventh Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against
22 Willford, Schmitt, and Reimann.
23 7. The Eighth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against
24 Willford, Schmitt, and Reimann.
25 8. The Ninth Cause of Action is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted against
26
14As the state law claims were asserted for the first time in the 4AC, challenges
27
thereto could not have been brought previously. The deficiencies in the federal claims,
1 Schmitt, Reimann, Steele, Krolikowski, Keith, Ramos, and Phelan.
2 9. The Tenth Cause of Action is DISMISSED.
3 10. The Eleventh Cause of Action is DISMISSED.
4 11. The prayer for punitive damages is DISMISSED to the extent it is asserted
5 |} against Schmitt.
6 12. In all other respects, the motions are DENIED.
7 If N.Y. wishes to file a Fifth Amended Complaint, solely for purposes of amending
8 || the deficiencies identified above, he shall do so no later than November 22, 2019.
9 IT IS SO ORDERED.
10
11 || Dated: November 6, 2019 .
INE M. CHESNEY
12 United States District Judge
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