The opinion
[PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
04/08/99
No. 96-4519 THOMAS K. KAHN
CLERK
D. C. Docket No. 87-6936-CIV-MOORE
MATHAS BROWN,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
CAROL COCHRAN, the personal
representative for the estate of Ron Cochran,
in his individual capacity,
Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
(April 8, 1999)
Before ANDERSON, DUBINA and BLACK, Circuit Judges.
DUBINA, Circuit Judge:
Plaintiff-Appellee Mathas Brown (“Brown”) filed a complaint against the City of
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (“City”), Constance Hoffman (“Hoffman”), individually and in
her official capacity as city manager, and Ron Cochran (“Cochran”)1, individually and in
his official capacity as police chief, alleging racial discrimination under 42 U.S.C. §§
1981 and 1983. Brown alleged that Cochran fired him from his position as a police
officer for the City because he is black. The district court in two separate orders
dismissed all of Brown’s claims on a motion to dismiss. Specifically, the district court
dismissed the § 1983 claims against Cochran and Hoffman finding that these defendants
were entitled to qualified immunity because Brown failed to allege facts demonstrating
that the constitutional right allegedly infringed was clearly established at the time of their
conduct or that these defendants knew or should have known that their conduct violated a
constitutional norm. On appeal, we vacated and remanded the case on the § 1983 claims
holding, among other things, that the district court erred in concluding that Hoffman and
Cochran were entitled to qualified immunity because Brown’s right to be free from a
racially motivated discharge unquestionably was clearly established before his
termination, and because factual questions remained concerning whether the decision to
fire him was racially motivated. See Brown v. City of Fort Lauderdale, 923 F.2d 1474,
1482 (11th Cir. 1991) (“Brown I”).
After we remanded the case, the district court permitted additional discovery.
Subsequently, the City, Hoffman and Cochran filed a motion for summary judgment,
1
During the pendency of this litigation Ron Cochran died. His widow, Carol
Cochran, as personal representative for the estate of Ron Cochran, is substituted as a party
defendant pursuant to Rule 25(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Accordingly,
the case is now referred to as Brown v. Jenne, et.al.
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supported by evidence relating to Brown’s poor job performance. Specifically, the
defendants submitted evidence of Brown’s unsatisfactory work performance ratings, and
evidence that Brown needed to receive writing instruction. The district court granted
Hoffman’s motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity, denied Cochran’s
motion for summary judgment, and dismissed Brown’s procedural due process claim.
After a second appeal, we vacated the district court’s order and remanded the case due to
the district court’s failure to provide Brown with notice before granting summary
judgment. See Brown v. City of Fort Lauderdale, 29 F.3d 639 (11th Cir. 1994) (table
decision) (“Brown II”).
After we remanded the case, the district court gave summary judgment notice and
again granted Hoffman’s motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity but
denied Cochran’s summary judgment motion, finding that Brown met his burden of
showing that there were facts sufficient to support an inference that Cochran intentionally
discriminated against him. The district court also dismissed Brown’s due process claim.
Cochran then perfected this appeal. We disagree with the district court’s analysis and
reverse its order.
FACTS
Brown was an officer on the Fort Lauderdale Police Force from 1981 until 1986.
Cochran was chief of police for the City of Fort Lauderdale from April 1983 until July
10, 1987. As chief of police, Cochran had the discretionary authority to recommend to
the city manager the dismissal or suspension of a police officer.
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In a letter dated June 19, 1986, Cochran states that he recommended Brown’s
dismissal because of deficiencies in performance and/or conduct. Cochran’s letter notes
the following about Brown’s performance: (1) Brown’s performance rating between 1981
and November 1985 was “overall satisfactory” in the employee performance rating
reports; (2) in his November 1985 rating report, Brown’s performance rating was
“marginal” with less than satisfactory ratings in 12 of 16 categories; (3) in Brown’s
November 1985 rating report, specific deficiencies noted included quality of work,
attendance, and self-expression; (4) a follow-up report conducted 90 days after the
November 1985 evaluation again rated Brown as unsatisfactory; (5) Brown’s attendance
at a required report improvement course was erratic; and (6) Brown had a disciplinary
record containing two written reprimands. Cochran recommended that Brown be
terminated and in July 1986, Hoffman approved the recommendation.
Brown alleges that Cochran dismissed him because of his race and not because of
his poor work performance. Brown contests many of the incidents discussed in
Cochran’s termination letter and argues that Cochran portrayed Brown unfairly in the
reports.
Brown points out that Cochran’s termination letter claimed that Brown was
reevaluated within 90 days of his November 1985 rating report. Brown indicates that
Cochran did not follow the procedures set forth in the collective bargaining agreement
between the City and the union representing the City’s police officers, which required the
City to reevaluate within 90 days from the date of the report an employee who received a
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marginal or unsatisfactory overall rating. Rather than reevaluate Brown within 90 days,
Cochran unilaterally extended the reevaluation period for four months and ordered Brown
to attend a report improvement course. Cochran contends that had he conducted the
evaluation within 90 days, he would have immediately terminated Brown because, in that
time frame, Brown would not have had the chance to improve his writing skills, which
were necessary in order to remain employed as a police officer.
Brown also points out that the termination letter noted that he had received a poor
attendance rating at the report improvement course. Brown claims that he had a valid
medical reason for not attending all the classes, but Cochran refused to excuse Brown
from the course and Brown was disciplined for the classes that he missed. Brown alleges
that white officers were allowed to miss work due to injuries and provides a list of other
officers who missed work because of injuries but had no disciplinary action taken against
them. Cochran alleges that there is no evidence of disparate treatment and Brown’s
attendance at the course was his last chance to show improvement.
DISCUSSION
We first note that we have jurisdiction over this appeal. See Mitchell v. Forsyth,
472 U.S. 511, 528, 105 S.Ct. 2806, 2818 (1985); Cottrell v. Caldwell, 85 F.3d 1480,
1484-85 (11th Cir. 1996). In Behrens v. Pelletier, the Supreme Court clarified that an
order denying a defendant qualified immunity is immediately appealable despite
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controverted issues of fact, except where the only disputed issue is whether the evidence
could support a finding that particular conduct occurred. 516 U.S. 299, 312, 116 S.Ct.
834, 842 (1996).
The question of qualified immunity rests on whether the law is “clearly
established” and whether the facts alleged violate that law. The plaintiff bears the burden
of demonstrating that the defendant violated clearly established law. See Jordan v. Doe,
38 F.3d 1559, 1565 (11th Cir. 1994). Whether the facts alleged violate clearly established
law is a purely legal question. However, if the district court denies summary judgment in
a qualified immunity case based on its resolution of a fact-related dispute – such as
whether the evidence is sufficient to show a genuine issue of fact for trial – the order is
not an immediately appealable final decision. See Johnson v. Jones, 515 U.S. 304, 311-
12, 115 S.Ct. 2151, 2155-56 (1995).
In Siegert v. Gilley, the Supreme Court set forth the analytical framework for
determining whether a plaintiff’s allegations are sufficient to overcome a defendant’s
summary judgment motion predicated on qualified immunity. 500 U.S. 226, 111 S.Ct.
1789 (1991). Seigert stated that a court must first decide whether the plaintiff has
presented a violation of a constitutional or statutory right. See Siegert, 500 U.S. at 231.
However, this is not an absolute rule. The Supreme Court only suggests that first
deciding whether the plaintiff has established a deprivation of a constitutional right at all
is the “better approach.” County of Sacramento v. Lewis, 118 S.Ct. 1708, 1714 n.5 (1998).
If there is a deprivation, the court must then determine whether the defendant’s conduct
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was objectively reasonable in light of the constitutional or statutory right. See Anderson
v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635, 638, 107 S.Ct. 3034, 3038 (1987). In deciding whether the
defendant’s conduct was objectively reasonable or not, the court must resolve all factual
disputes in favor of the plaintiff. See Johnson v. Jones, 515 U.S. at 317-20. If the court
determines that the “the only conclusion a rational jury could reach is that reasonable
officers would disagree about the legality of the defendant[’s] conduct under the
circumstances, summary judgment for the [defendant] is appropriate.” Lennon v. Miller,
66 F.3d 416, 421 (2nd Cir. 1995); see also Mt. Healthy City Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429
U.S. 274, 287, 97 S.Ct. 586, 576 (1977), superceded by statute as stated in Rivera v.
United States, 924 F.2d 948 (9th Cir. 1991). The plaintiff must present specific,
nonconclusory factual allegations that establish improper motive and must identify
affirmative evidence from which a jury could find that the plaintiff has carried his or her
burden of proving the improper motive. See Crawford-El v. Britton, 118 S.Ct.
1584,1596-98 (1998).
In Brown I, we stated that the law prohibiting racial discrimination was clearly
established. 923 F.2d at 1482; see e.g., Washington v. Davis, 426 U.S. 229, 239-41, 96
S.Ct. 2040, 2047-48 (1976). While the general proposition that it is illegal to discriminate
against a person on the basis of race is clearly established, whether the defendant violated
clearly established law depends on the particular facts of each case. The district court,
mistaken in its belief that our previous opinion bound it to examine only the undisputed
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facts set out at the pleadings stage, did not analyze the expanded fact-based record at the
summary judgment stage.
We also stated in Brown I that Brown’s complaint permitted the inference that
Cochran had knowledge of the racial implications of the various incidents cited by Brown
and that he also acted with racial animus. 923 F.2d at 1479. The expanded fact-based
record though, does not sufficiently support an inference of racial animus on Cochran’s
part. But even if Brown showed that racial animus was a “motivating factor” in the
adverse employment decision, Cochran would still prevail by showing that he would have
reached the same decision in the absence of any racial animus. See Mt. Healthy, 429 U.S.
at 287.
We follow the “better approach,” and address first whether or not Brown has
established a deprivation of a constitutional right at all. County of Sacramento, 118 S.Ct.
at 1714 n.5. The material facts in this summary judgment record are not in dispute. The
dispute lies in whether a reasonably objective trier of fact could find racial animus on
Cochran’s part in light of all the facts. In other words, the issue is whether or not Brown
has created a genuine issue of fact that Cochran acted out of racial animus and that
Cochran’s proffered reason (Brown’s poor performance record) was merely a pretext for
discrimination. After reviewing the record, we are persuaded that Brown has not created
a genuine issue of fact in this regard, and that a trier of fact would find Cochran’s actions
objectively reasonable. Therefore we conclude that Brown has failed to establish a
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deprivation of a constitutional right at all, and a fortiori has not established a violation of
any clearly-established constitutional right.
Accordingly, we reverse the district court’s order denying summary judgment to
Cochran, and remand this case with directions that the court enter summary judgment in
favor of Cochran.
REVERSED and REMANDED.
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