Reel et al v. Johnson et al, No. 3:2022cv00526 - Document 18 (S.D. Cal. 2022)
Court Description: ORDER Granting in Part and Denying in Part 7 Motion to Dismiss With Leave to Amend. If Plaintiff elects to file an amended complaint, it must be filed on or before November 11, 2022. Signed by Judge Thomas J. Whelan on 10/25/22. (dlg)
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Reel et al v. Johnson et al Doc. 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 11 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 12 13 AARON REEL, Case No.: 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) Plaintiff, 14 15 v. 16 THE CITY OF EL CENTRO, et. al, 17 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS [DOC. 7] WITH LEAVE TO AMEND Defendants. 18 19 20 Pending before the Court is a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim brought 21 by Defendants City of El Centro (the “City”), Chief of Police Brian Johnson (“Johnson”), 22 and Marcela Piedra (“Piedra”) (collectively, “Defendants”) under Federal Rule of Civil 23 Procedure 12(b)(6). Plaintiff opposes the motion. 24 The Court decides the matter on the papers submitted and without oral argument. 25 See Civ. L.R. 7.1(d.1). For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND 26 DENIES IN PART Defendants’ motion [Doc. 7] WITH LEAVE TO AMEND. 27 28 1 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) Dockets.Justia.com 1 2 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND Plaintiff was employed as a Commander of the Police Department of defendant, 3 City of El Centro (the “City”). (Compl. [Doc. 1] ¶ 1.) Defendant Brian Johnson was 4 Chief of Police. ¶ 3. Marcela Piedra was City Manager. (Compl. ¶ 4.) Both individuals 5 are sued in their individual and official capacities. ¶¶ 3-4. Plaintiff believes Johnson and 6 Piedra were involved in a personal relationship and conspired to deprive him of his 7 constitutional rights. (Compl. ¶ 4.) From November 24, 2019, through the date of filing 8 this lawsuit, Plaintiff either closed his investigations and/or had right to sue notices issued 9 regarding all adverse employment actions. (Compl. ¶ 8.) On October 8, 2021, Plaintiff 10 filed a claim for damages for retaliatory adverse employment actions resulting in his 11 termination and received a rejection on October 27, 2021. (Compl. ¶ 8.) 12 Plaintiff has served in law enforcement for 25 years with City. (Compl. ¶ 9.) In 13 2013, Reel was promoted to Commander, and was acting Executive Commander for 14 14 months. (Id.) Thereafter, he was the Commander directly under Executive Commander 15 and the Chief of Police. (Id.) In 2021, Plaintiff’s career came to an end after he was 16 terminated following his report that Johnson was discriminating against female 17 employees, retaliating against him for his reports, and had jeopardized the safety of 18 police officers by not following Covid-19 protocols. (Compl. ¶¶ 9.) Plaintiff received 19 awards, promotions, was an instructor/training officer, team leader of the SWAT team, 20 led successful drug enforcement investigations and arrests. He served as Acting 21 Executive Commander. (Compl. ¶¶ 10-14.) In July 2017, Alvaro Ramirez became 22 official Executive Commander. In December 2017, Chief Eddie Madueno retired, during 23 which time Ramirez was Acting Chief of Police. (Compl. ¶ 16.) 24 In April 2018, Brian Johnson was hired as the new Chief, after serving only 2 ½ 25 years as Chief of Upland Police Dept. (Compl. ¶ 17.) The City, by and through City 26 Manager, Marcela Piedra, failed to perform a mandatory POST background check, as 27 required by CCR Tit. 11§ 1953. (Compl. ¶ 17.) POST checks ensure the candidates are 28 screened for their moral character, communication skills, interpersonal skills and 2 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 trustworthiness. (Compl. ¶ 17.) The City failed to administer a polygraph to Johnson. 2 (Compl. ¶ 18.) Had these measures been taken, the City would have discovered that 3 Johnson had been forced to resign as Chief of Upland PD in Oct. 2017 due to a vote of no 4 confidence by the Upland POA. (Compl. ¶ 18.) The impetus was Johnson’s retaliatory 5 terminations of 29-year veteran Captain Anthony Yoakum and 23-year veteran Sgt. 6 Marcus Simpson, after they reported Johnson’s misconduct. (Compl. ¶ 18.) These 7 officers had reported Johnson for violating officer safety protocols and for exposing 8 Upland PD to liability for his illegal actions for false arrests at a marijuana dispensary. 9 (Compl. ¶ 18.) Plaintiff is informed and believes Johnson was reprimanded for his 10 officer safety violations and other illegalities, which were placed in his personnel file. 11 (Compl. ¶ 18.) A POST background check would have revealed a pattern and practice of 12 retaliatory conduct unbecoming of the Chief of Police. (Compl. ¶ 18.) Both Yoakum and 13 Simpson were falsely accused of misconduct after reporting Johnson’s conduct and 14 terminated. Both officers sued alleging numerous violations of their civil rights. (Compl. 15 ¶ 19.) Further investigation would have shown that Johnson was at odds with nearly 16 four-fifths of his officers who either resigned or were unfairly terminated, that he was out 17 of step with the men and women he commanded, resulting in his forced resignation. 18 (Compl. ¶¶ 19-20.) 19 At the time Johnson became Chief, the second in command was Executive 20 Commander Ramirez, and there were two commanders, Reel and Robert Sawyer. 21 (Compl. ¶ 21.) Administrative staff assistant, Amanda Curiel, who had served under the 22 prior two chiefs, was not serving under Johnson, and had worked with Plaintiff for 23 several years. (Compl. ¶ 21.) Initially, Johnson and Plaintiff got on well, with Johnson 24 giving Reel the highest recommendation to attend the POST Command College Program. 25 (Compl. ¶ 22.) 26 However, Plaintiff observed Johnson had an aggressive management style with a 27 quick temper and often using foul and vulgar language. (Compl. ¶ 23.) Johnson’s 28 disrespectful treatment of women often caused the female staff to be left in tears. 3 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 (Compl. ¶ 23.) When Plaintiff tried to make Johnson understand that female staff were 2 upset by his demeaning and degrading comments, Johnson threatened Plaintiff by telling 3 him that he was lucky he had made those comments in a closed-door meeting. (Compl. ¶ 4 23.) Johnson’s inappropriate conduct continued into 2019. (Compl. ¶ 24.) He yelled at 5 Ms. Curiel, who submitted a budget request for training to him, yelling, “Aaron is 6 fucking working for me, he needs to ask my permission” in front of other staff. (Compl. 7 ¶ 24.) Plaintiff tried to get Johnson to apologize to Ms. Curiel. (Compl. ¶ 24.) There 8 were several other instances where Plaintiff and staff witnessed Johnson verbally abuse 9 Ms. Curiel. (Compl. ¶ 24.) In July 2019, Executive Commander Alvaro Ramirez 10 abruptly resigned. Many staff members believe this was prompted by the hostile 11 environment created by Johnson. (Compl. ¶ 24.) 12 Matters came to a head on August 16, 2019, when Johnson accused Plaintiff of not 13 apprising him of a school threat, which Plaintiff believed he had under control, and which 14 in fact, turned out not to be a real threat. (Compl. ¶ 25.) Johnson screamed at Plaintiff, 15 using the “f” word, and mocking him. Johnson stated he would never promote Plaintiff 16 to the Executive Commander position. (Compl. ¶ 25.) On August 16, 2019, Reel made a 17 formal complaint against Johnson with the Director of HR based on Johnson’s 18 discriminatory conduct toward female employees, Johnson’s hostility towards him, and 19 Plaintiff’s inability to work out a remedy with the Chief. Plaintiff stated he feared 20 retaliation. (Compl. ¶ 26.) The HR Director hired an outside investigator to investigate 21 Plaintiff’s claims. (Compl. ¶ 26.) On September 3, 2019, Johnson informed Reel that a 22 decision had been made to change the Executive Commander position into a Deputy 23 position that would serve at will without any due process protections. (Compl. ¶ 27.) 24 Despite Johnson stating he would never promote Reel, he offered Reel the at-will 25 position of Deputy Chief, which Plaintiff declined. (Compl. ¶ 27.) Plaintiff believes the 26 offer was made so that he could be terminated without affording him due process. 27 (Compl. ¶ 27.) 28 4 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 On September 19, 2019, Johnson violated Police Dept. policy by failing to place 2 Plaintiff in the position of Acting Chief during Johnson’s absence, with a 10% increase in 3 pay. (Compl. ¶ 28.) Instead, Johnson selected Commander Ray Bonillas, who had only 4 been in the position for less than a year, instead of Plaintiff, who had six years’ seniority. 5 (Compl. ¶ 28.) When Johnson returned on September 23, 2019, he informed Plaintiff that 6 Officer Thompson had filed a complaint of unfair treatment against Plaintiff. (Compl. ¶ 7 28.) The complaint stated that Curiel and Reel were trying to undermine the Chief, that 8 Reel was being “insubordinate to the Chief,” when in fact there was an investigation as to 9 the Chief’s discriminatory and retaliatory animus toward Commander Reel and Curiel. 10 (Compl. ¶ 28.) The Director of HR believed that Johnson was behind Thompson’s 11 allegations. (Compl. ¶ 28.) 12 Thompson had only been under Plaintiff’s supervision for seventeen days when he 13 made the complaint. (Compl. ¶ 29.) In addition, the City had settled the largest police 14 misconduct and wrongful death settlement of $4.1 million in the history of the Southern 15 District of California for the negligent supervision and training of Thompson. (Compl. ¶ 16 29.) Thompson had also been involved in a lawsuit in prior years for engaging in sexual 17 harassment resulting in another million-dollar settlement. (Compl. ¶ 29.) Thompson had 18 serious performance issues prior to being supervised by Reel, and the HR Director 19 warned Johnson that he should review Thompson’s personnel file prior to promoting him. 20 (Compl. ¶ 29.) In fact, Johnson had encouraged Reel to issue Thompson a counseling 21 memo for performance deficiencies on August 13, 2019, prior to Reel complaining about 22 Johnson. (Compl. ¶ 29.) Johnson failed to include Plaintiff’s 2-page list of 23 accomplishments in his performance review for 2018-2019. (Compl. ¶ 30.) 24 On November 6, 2019, the investigator sustained two findings: 1) Johnson has 25 used inappropriate language and raised his voice in the presence of subordinate 26 employees in 2019 and 2) Johnson violated department policy concerning succession of 27 command on Sept. 19, 2019. (Compl. ¶ 31.) Despite these sustained findings, no one 28 informed Plaintiff of the results of the investigation. (Compl. ¶ 31.) Unbeknownst to 5 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 Plaintiff, Johnson was issued a reprimand in his personnel file. Reel was not immediately 2 compensated for the loss of pay when deprived of the role of Acting Chief. (Compl. ¶ 3 31.) 4 After completing an audit, the California Commission on Police Officers and 5 Training determined that City failed to perform a background investigation on Johnson, 6 in violation of law, and was ordered to complete a POST background by December 20, 7 2019, or they would order him to resign. (Compl. ¶ 32.) The City and Johnson 8 deliberately failed to obtain the appropriate background information, which would have 9 demonstrated Johnson’s pattern of retaliation to officers who engage in protected activity 10 11 by reporting his illegal conduct. (Compl. ¶ 32.) On November 25, 2019, Plaintiff filed a DFEH Complaint alleging Johnson’s 12 harassing conduct. (Compl. ¶ 33.) On November 28, 2019, Johnson went on vacation 13 and again intentionally retaliated against Plaintiff by selecting the other junior 14 commander, Ray Bonillas, for Acting Chief, in violation of Department policy. Plaintiff 15 again reported this to HR. (Compl. ¶ 34.) 16 In further retaliation, in December 2019, Johnson deliberately changed Dept. 17 policy, approved by Piedra, so the Chief now had discretion to choose the Commander he 18 wished to be in charge in the event of his absence. (Compl. ¶ 35.) This was done 19 intentionally to deprive Plaintiff of his rights and was in violation of the law. (Compl. ¶ 20 35.) On December 11, 2019, Plaintiff was informed by several of his direct reports that 21 they had been interrogated by Johnson while Reel had been out taking care of one of his 22 little girls, who was sick. (Compl. ¶ 36.) Johnson was trying to make an issue out of the 23 detail regarding a Christmas parade in an attempt to find some fault with Reel while he 24 was out of the office. (Compl. ¶ 36.) When Plaintiff returned to the office, Curiel 25 informed Reel that “he needed to watch his back” because Johnson was after him. 26 (Compl. ¶ 36.) 27 On December 11, 2019, Plaintiff complained to HR that the stress under Johnson 28 had taken a toll. (Compl. ¶ 37.) Pursuant to instruction from the HR Director, Plaintiff 6 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 filed a W/C claim due to Johnson’s discriminatory and retaliatory actions. Plaintiff had 2 never had any treatment or symptoms prior to that time. (Compl. ¶ 38.) On December 11, 3 2019, Plaintiff was placed on Ativan and sent for a psychological assessment. (Compl. ¶ 4 38.) He was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and placed on medical leave. 5 (Compl. ¶ 38.) 6 After returning from six and a half weeks of medical leave on January 27, 2020, 7 Plaintiff learned that his office belongings had been packed and his office had been 8 moved to a much smaller office next to the Chief’s office. (Compl. ¶ 39.) Plaintiff was 9 also stripped of all his previous job duties: field operations, SWAT, field training 10 program and all areas related to police operations. (Compl. ¶ 39.) Johnson told him he 11 was to assume the duties of “administrative” commander, which is the less attractive of 12 assignments and usually given to the junior commander. (Compl. ¶ 39.) Plaintiff was 13 shut out of important meetings and was informed that he would find out what his duties 14 were once the new Deputy Chief was hired. (Compl. ¶ 39.) Johnson refused to meet 15 with Plaintiff one on one. (Compl. ¶ 39.) 16 On January 28, 2020, Plaintiff was finally informed that his original complaint had 17 been sustained and he was entitled to the pay of Acting Chief that he had been deprived 18 of. (Compl. ¶ 40.) Johnson still refused to pay Plaintiff. (Compl. ¶ 40.) 19 On Feb. 11, 2020, Plaintiff received his PE from Johnson which was favorable and 20 did not contain any deficiencies. (Compl. ¶ 41.) However, unbeknownst to Plaintiff, 21 Johnson was re-hiring former Commander Robert Sawyer to fill the position of Deputy 22 Chief to get rid of Plaintiff. (Compl. ¶ 41.) Johnson admitted this was his strategy to the 23 Director of HR and other City management officials. (Compl. ¶ 42.) Prior to the arrival 24 of Deputy Chief Sawyer, the HR Director informed Plaintiff that there were no sustained 25 findings regarding Thompson’s complaints. (Compl. ¶ 42.) Johnson directly contacted 26 the outside investigator and directed him to begin interviewing additional witnesses to 27 compile derogatory information in order to build a case against Plaintiff. (Compl. ¶ 42.) 28 7 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 Johnson directed Sawyer to collect any information against Reel which was condoned by 2 Piedra. (Compl. ¶ 42.) 3 On March 13, 2020, City declared a state of emergency and Plaintiff took an active 4 role as Planning Chief for the Emergency Operations Center. (Compl. ¶ 43.) During a 5 command staff meeting on March 30, 2020, Plaintiff identified two police officers who 6 met the criteria of high-risk individuals who should be protected from the risk of Covid- 7 19. (Compl. ¶ 44.) When Plaintiff said that the two officers should be relieved of field 8 duties, he received immediate pushback because it would strain staffing levels on patrol. 9 (Compl. ¶ 44.) As a result, no one acted on his recommendation, and both officers tested 10 positive for Covid-19. (Compl. ¶ 44.) Plaintiff was also concerned that the department 11 did not have N-95 masks for its officers. (Compl. ¶ 44.) By May 27, 2020 one of the 12 officers whom Plaintiff had identified was in critical condition. (Compl. ¶ 45.) The same 13 day, Johnson instituted new safety protocols, which Plaintiff had been trying to 14 implement since March. (Compl. ¶ 45.) On June 2, 2020, the officer was in grave 15 condition. (Compl. ¶ 46.) Plaintiff went behind closed doors with Deputy Chief Sawyer 16 and stated, “I f*ing told you this was going to happen.” (Compl. ¶ 46.) The officer died 17 the next day. (Compl. ¶ 46.) 18 Plaintiff sought legal advice as to his reporting his reasonable belief that 19 Command Management had not properly protected the officer by removing him from the 20 field. (Compl. ¶ 46.) At this point, Plaintiff was acting as a private citizen. (Compl. ¶ 21 46.) 22 Johnson humiliated plaintiff on June 8, 2020 during the transport of the officer’s 23 body from the mortuary. (Compl. ¶ 47.) Plaintiff reported this threat to HR Director and 24 asked to meet with her. (Compl. ¶ 48.) On June 9, 2020, Plaintiff met with the HR 25 director, who instructed plaintiff to put his complaints in writing. (Compl. ¶ 49.) The 26 first complaint was for continuous retaliation and hostile environment due to earlier 27 reports of Johnson’s conduct and the second was for officer safety violations which 28 8 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 contributed to the deceased officer’s contracting Covid-19. The complaints were turned 2 in on June 15, 2020. (Compl. ¶ 49.) 3 On July 7, 2020, the HR Director notified Johnson of Plaintiff’s complaints, 4 Johnson went on the defensive, suggesting he intended to place plaintiff on 5 administrative leave, but could not articulate any valid reasons for this action to the HR 6 Director. (Compl. ¶ 50.) The HR Director so became aware that Johnson was falsely 7 spreading information that the officer had requested to stay in the field, which his wife 8 denied. (Compl. ¶ 50.) 9 On July 8, 2020, the HR Director asked plaintiff if there was a possibility to 10 mediate the complaints. (Compl. ¶ 51.) Plaintiff said he was unsure if he could continue 11 to work with Johnson due to the retaliation from Johnson. (Compl. ¶ 51.) On July 9, 12 2020, Reel was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into potential 13 misconduct and policy violations. (Compl. ¶ 51.) The City violated Gov. Code section 14 3303(c) by failing to properly notify Plaintiff of the allegations against him. (Compl. ¶ 15 51.) Johnson had made the complaint against Plaintiff but lied to plaintiff and stated it 16 was due to another employee complaining against him. (Compl. ¶ 52.) 17 On July 10, 2020, Plaintiff followed up with DFEH regarding his 2019 complaint, 18 and was notified it was still being investigated. (Compl. ¶ 53.) He also contacted DOL 19 to file an OSHA complaint for them to investigate the lack of Covid-19 field protocols 20 and death of the officer. (Compl. ¶ 53.) 21 On August 25, 2020, Johnson finally came up with false allegations against 22 Plaintiff, which were based on interviews and collection of information of which he had 23 no first-hand knowledge. (Compl. ¶ 54.) Johnson emailed his allegations to the HR 24 Director. (Compl. ¶ 54.) The email contained allegations of dishonesty, false and 25 misleading statements while on duty; insubordination, conduct unbecoming an officer 26 and unprofessional behavior in violation of department and City policy, and an allegation 27 that Plaintiff made a false complaint against Johnson. Also, Johnson inquired as to the 28 status of Thompson’s complaint. (Compl. ¶ 54.) 9 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 The City’s response to Plaintiff’s 2018 DFEH Complaint indicated that two 2 findings were sustained against Johnson and that Reel was in the process of being paid 3 for each time he was not designated acting Police Chief. (Compl. ¶ 55.) But Reel was 4 not paid until October 2020. (Compl. ¶ 55.) The City Attorney also stated that City was 5 investigating other complaints by Reel against Johnson for retaliation, but this was false 6 as no investigation had started. (Compl. ¶ 55.) Rather, there was an investigation on 7 Johnson’s trumped-up false allegations regarding plaintiff’s performance. (Compl. ¶ 55.) 8 On September 18, 2020, while Plaintiff was on administrative leave pending 9 investigation of Johnson’s allegations, Plaintiff received a notice of intended 10 disciplinary action—written reprimand and a 20-day suspension on Thompson’s 11 complaints which had been closed. (Compl. ¶ 56.) This disciplinary action was based on 12 the earlier investigation that had been reopened by Johnson, who had gone behind the HR 13 director’s back and poisoned the investigation by adding new charges and witnesses that 14 Plaintiff never had an opportunity to defend himself against. (Compl. ¶ 56.) 15 On September 24, 20202, the City began an investigation through an outside 16 investigator for what Plaintiff believed was for his two complaints regarding continual 17 retaliation and officer safety violations. (Compl. ¶ 57.) Instead, the investigation focused 18 on Johnson’s unsupported allegations against Plaintiff regarding dishonesty, 19 insubordination, and false complaints against Johnson. (Compl. ¶ 57.) As Johnson had 20 done with the previous Thompson investigation, he manipulated and coerced his 21 command staff to make false allegations and went to lunch with the investigation. 22 (Compl. ¶ 57.) At no time were Plaintiff’s complaints addressed during the investigation; 23 it was one sided and none of Plaintiff’s witnesses were interviewed. (Compl. ¶ 57.) The 24 City also did not provide an independent investigation with a separate investigator 25 regarding the continuous retaliation and the reporting of officer safety protocols. (Compl. 26 ¶ 57.) 27 28 10 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 On October 1, 2020, Mr. Reel contacted the Employee’s Assistance Program for a 2 face-to-face counseling referral for stress and anxiety. (Compl. ¶ 58.) At an appointment 3 with a counselor on October 9 he was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. 4 (Compl. ¶ 58.) 5 On November 24, 2020, the suspension was reduced to a 3-day suspension by the 6 HR Director based on the lack of evidence and tainted investigation. (Compl. ¶ 59.) 7 However, on February 1, 2021, Piedra, who had an intimate personal relationship with 8 Defendant Johnson, reversed the HR Director’s decision and reinstated the twenty-day 9 suspension, resulting in a monetary loss of approximately $10,000.00 to Plaintiff. 10 (Compl. ¶ 60.) 11 On February 11, 2021, Plaintiff received another notice of intended disciplinary 12 action—termination from employment. (Compl. ¶ 61.) The basis for this disciplinary 13 action was that Plaintiff had violated ECPD’s Policies and Procedures and the City’s 14 Personnel Rules and Regulation by engaging in: dishonesty regarding his medical 15 restrictions and other reasons regarding a vehicle that had been on a removal from service 16 list, insubordination for informing the Chief during the transport of the deceased officer 17 that plaintiff did not know about the parking situation, and bringing false complaints 18 about retaliation and regarding officer safety protocols not being followed for Covid-19 19 because that made the department look bad. (Compl. ¶ 61.) Plaintiff contacted DFEH 20 concerning this development and was told to file another complaint, which he did. 21 (Compl. ¶ 61.) 22 Plaintiff appealed this notice through the Skelly process, and the HR Director was 23 named as the Skelly Officer, a role she had never performed. (Compl. ¶ 62.) While the 24 Skelly process was pending, both the HR Director and the City Attorney disagreed with 25 the decision to terminate Plaintiff because the reasons did not substantiate a termination 26 of Plaintiff’s twenty-five-year employment career. (Compl. ¶ 62.) The HR Director 27 informed the City Attorney, Piedra, and the City Council that the Chief of Police should 28 be fired for lying and Plaintiff should retain his position. (Compl. ¶ 62.) Despite the 11 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 recommendations of the HR Director and the CA, the City terminated Plaintiff effective 2 April 15, 2021. (Compl. ¶ 63.) 3 On March 24, 2021, Johnson issued another letter of intent to terminate, which 4 containted the same reasons of dishonesty over a stored vehicle. (Compl. ¶ 64.) During 5 the Skelly hearing, the HR Director told Plaintiff’s representative that she was going to 6 dismiss this claim and was going to resign due to Johnson’s illegal actions towards 7 plaintiff and hostility she had experienced first-hand. (Compl. ¶ 64.) The HR Director 8 resigned after complaining to Piedra regarding Johnson’s conduct and discriminatory 9 behavior. (Compl. ¶ 64.) After the dismissal, Plaintiff filed another DFEH Complaint 10 11 based on harm occurring on June 9, 2021. (Compl. ¶ 64.) Johnson improperly contacted the investigator regarding Thompson’s complaint 12 behind the HR Director’s back, interviewing additional witnesses to elicit false and 13 damaging information without giving plaintiff an opportunity to be heard regarding these 14 new allegations. (Compl. ¶ 65.) Plaintiff was never given a copy of the Reprimand. 15 (Compl. ¶ 65.) He was given a defective notice related to his administrative leave as he 16 was not given the reasons he was placed on leave. (Compl. ¶ 65.) Further, Defendants 17 attempted to discipline him twice for the same violation regarding dishonesty about a 18 stored vehicle which had no basis in fact. (Compl. ¶ 66.) Plaintiff did not receive an 19 impartial investigation regarding his claims of retaliation and officer safety violations 20 regarding lack of Covid-19 precautions. (Compl. ¶ 66.) Defendants failed to provide an 21 independent investigator to investigate his claims as opposed to the same investigator 22 who was being directed by Johnson in a blatant attempt to trump up baseless charges to 23 terminate Plaintiff. (Compl. ¶ 65.) As to the Skelly process, the HR Director, who had 24 never been involved in the process, was under order to terminate plaintiff despite her 25 objections to the City Manager, City Attorney and City Council that the Chief was lying 26 and it was the Chief who should have been fired. (Compl. ¶ 66.) Therefore, the Skelly 27 process was tainted and the Chief of Police, Johnson, and Piedra were integral in the 28 discharge of plaintiff and the violation of his due process to a fair and impartial hearing. 12 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 (Compl. ¶ 66.) Defendants, and each of them and/or their agents/employees supervised, 2 authorized, condoned and ratified the unlawful conduct of Defendant Johnson. (Compl. ¶ 3 67.) 4 5 II. 6 LEGAL STANDARD Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) allows a defendant to file a motion to 7 dismiss for failing “to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 8 12(b)(6). A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) tests the complaint’s sufficiency. See 9 N. Star Int’l v. Ariz. Corp. Comm’n., 720 F.2d 578, 581 (9th Cir. 1983). A complaint 10 may be dismissed as a matter of law either for lack of a cognizable legal theory or for 11 insufficient facts under a cognizable theory. Balisteri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t., 901 F.2d 12 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). In ruling on the motion, a court must “accept all material 13 allegations of fact as true and construe the complaint in a light most favorable to the non- 14 moving party.” Vasquez v. L.A. Cnty., 487 F.3d 1246, 1249 (9th Cir. 2007). 15 To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain “a short and plain 16 statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 17 8(a)(2). The Supreme Court has interpreted this rule to mean that “[f]actual allegations 18 must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. 19 Twombly, 550 U.S. 554, 555 (2007). The allegations in the complaint must “contain 20 sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its 21 face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). 22 Well-pled allegations in the complaint are assumed true, but a court is not required 23 to accept legal conclusions couched as facts, unwarranted deductions, or unreasonable 24 inferences. Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986); Sprewell v. Golden State 25 Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001). 26 // 27 // 28 // 13 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 III. DISCUSSION 2 A. 3 Plaintiff brings this cause of action against Defendant City of El Centro, Defendant 4 Piedra, and DOES 1 through 10. Defendants move to dismiss this cause of action. (MTD 5 [Doc. 7] at 22.) Defendants argue Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief 6 can be granted because: 1) a public entity has no liability for this common law claim; 2) 7 to the extent the statutes cited impose a mandatory duty, they were not intended to 8 prevent the harm claimed by Plaintiff; 3) the statutes do not themselves create a private 9 right of action; 4) Piedra was not Johnson’s employer, and 5) Plaintiff has not identified 10 any legal disqualification which would have prevented Johnson from being hired, even if 11 city had complied with the purported mandatory duties. (Id.) 12 13 First Cause of Action: Negligent Hiring, Supervision and Training. 1. Against the City “In California, a governmental entity can only be sued in tort pursuant to an 14 authorizing statute or enactment.” Van Ort v. Est. of Stanewich, 92 F.3d 831, 840 (9th 15 Cir. 1996) (citing Lopez v. S. Cal. Rapid Transit Dist., 40 Cal. 3d 780, 785 n.2 (1985); 16 Searcy v. Hemet Unified Sch. Dist., 177 Cal. App. 3d 792, 798 (1986)). California law is 17 clear that direct liability of a public entity “must be based on a specific statute declaring 18 [the public entity] to be liable, or at least creating some specific duty of care[.]” de 19 Villers v. County of San Diego, 156 Cal. App. 4th 238, 251. 20 California courts have held that a public entity cannot be held directly liable for the 21 negligent hiring, retention, or supervision of police officers or other public employees 22 because there is no statutory authority for imposing such liability. See Munoz v. City of 23 Union City, 120 Cal.App.4th 1077, 1112-13 (2004) (holding that no “statutory basis 24 [exists] either declaring [the city] directly liable under the circumstances of this case or, 25 at least, one creating a specific duty of care” and reversing a judgment finding a 26 California city and its police chief directly liable for negligence in the selection, training, 27 retention, supervision, and discipline of police officers). Under California law, “a direct 28 14 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 claim against a governmental entity asserting negligent hiring and supervision, when not 2 grounded in the breach of a statutorily imposed duty owed by the entity to the injured 3 party, may not be maintained.” de Villers, 156 Cal. App. 4th at 255-56. 4 Applying California law, the Ninth Circuit and district courts have repeatedly held 5 that a public entity cannot be directly liable for negligent hiring, retention, or supervision. 6 See Blair v. City of Pomona, 223 F.3d 1074, 1076, 1079, 1081 (9th Cir. 2000) (affirming 7 dismissal of a California state law claim for negligent supervision against a California 8 city on the grounds that the California Government Code does not create such a cause of 9 action against a public entity); Heflin v. County of Los Angeles, 438 Fed. Appx. 596, 597, 10 2011 WL 2412582, at *1 (9th Cir. Jun. 16, 2011) (affirming the dismissal of a claim 11 against a California county on the ground that the county was not directly liable for its 12 negligent hiring and supervision of a deputy sheriff who allegedly assaulted the plaintiff 13 and explaining that the plaintiff “points to no statutory language supporting a negligent 14 hiring or supervision claim against a public entity”). 15 Plaintiff argues that the City is directly liable based on a breach of a mandatory 16 duty, citing Cal. Gov. Code § 815.6. (Opp. to MTD [Doc. 12] at 11.) Section 815.6 17 provides that “[w]here a public entity is under a mandatory duty imposed by an 18 enactment that is designed to protect against the risk of a particular kind of injury, the 19 public entity is liable for an injury of that kind proximately caused by its failure to 20 discharge the duty unless the public entity establishes that it exercised reasonable 21 diligence to discharge the duty.” CAL. GOV. CODE § 815.6. 22 Though § 815.6 may provide the basis for a separate cause of action for violation 23 of a mandatory duty, it does not provide a basis for direct liability for negligent hiring, 24 supervision and training against the City. See de Villers, 156 Cal. App. 4th at 256 25 (holding that a direct claim against a governmental entity for negligent hiring and 26 supervision “may not be maintained” and analyzing the breach of a mandatory duty as a 27 separate claim). As explained above, a public entity can be held directly liable for 28 negligence in California only if liability is based on a specific statute declaring them to be 15 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 liable or creating some specific duty of care. See Munoz, 120 Cal.App.4th at 1112-13. 2 Section 815.6 provides that a public entity may be liable for failing to discharge a 3 mandatory duty, but it does not declare that a public entity can be liable for negligent 4 hiring or supervision. 5 Because a cause of action for direct liability for negligent hiring, supervision and 6 training cannot be maintained against a public entity under California law, the Complaint 7 fails to state a claim for this cause of action. Accordingly, the Court will DISMISS 8 Plaintiff’s first cause of action against the City WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 9 10 2. Against Piedra Defendants argue that Piedra cannot be liable for negligent hiring, supervision and 11 training because “she is not Johnson or plaintiff’s employer.” (MTD at 28.) But the 12 Complaint alleges that Piedra was Johnson’s supervisor, failed to perform a mandatory 13 POST background check on Johnson, and owed a duty of care to the City’s employees 14 (which includes Plaintiff). Plaintiff alleges that Piedra “was at all times relevant the City 15 Manager for the City of El Centro” (Compl. ¶ 4), had “official policy-making authority 16 over actions such as the ones at issue in this Complaint” (Id.), and was “responsible for 17 the hiring, supervision and control of [the City’s] employees . . . including . . . Defendant 18 Brian Johnson” (Compl. ¶ 69). 19 The California Supreme Court has recognized that a supervisor may be liable for 20 negligent hiring and supervision. See C.A. v. William S. Hart Union High School Dist., 21 53 Cal.4th 861, 875 (2012) (holding that “public school administrators and supervisors 22 may be held legally responsible for their negligence in hiring and retaining . . . school 23 staff”). Accordingly, at this stage in the litigation, the Court finds Plaintiff has 24 sufficiently stated a negligence claim against Piedra for negligent hiring, supervision and 25 training of Johnson. 26 Defendants’ motion to dismiss this claim as to Piedra is therefore DENIED. 27 28 16 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 B. 2 California Labor Code § 6310 and Seventh Cause of Action: Violation of 3 California Labor Code § 1102.5. 4 As to the sixth and seventh causes of action, Defendant argues that they should be Sixth Cause of Action: Violation of Statutory Duty Pursuant to 5 dismissed because Plaintiff did not satisfy the government claim requirements that are 6 conditions precedent to bringing a civil action. (MTD at 29; see CAL. GOV. CODE §§ 7 945.4, 910.) The Court disagrees. 8 Section 945.4 simply states that no action may be commenced unless a claim 9 which satisfies § 910 has been submitted and denied. CAL. GOV. CODE § 945.4. Section 10 910 prescribes the information that the claim must contain. The statute requires that the 11 claimant set forth: “(c) The date, place and other circumstances of the occurrence or 12 transaction which gave rise to the claim asserted. [¶] (d) A general description of the ... 13 injury, damage or loss incurred.... [¶] (e) The name or names of the public employee or 14 employees causing the injury ... if known.” CAL. GOV. CODE § 910. Defendant does not 15 identify, and the Court did not find, any authority suggesting that the claim must comply 16 with formal pleading standards. According to the California Supreme Court, the purpose 17 of a § 910 claim is to present sufficient detail “to reasonably enable the public entity to 18 make an adequate investigation of the merits of the claim and to settle it without the 19 expense of a lawsuit.” City of San Jose v. Superior Court, 12 Cal.3d 447, 456 (1974). 20 The Court finds that Plaintiff’s claim meets the minimum requirements of Section 21 910 and presents sufficient detail to have enabled the City to make an adequate 22 investigation of the merits of the claim. It sets forth the date, place, and circumstances of 23 the incident; it provides a “general description of the . . . injury, damage, or loss 24 incurred[;]” and it provides the names of the public employees causing the injury. (See 25 Exhibit 4 to Compl.) Accordingly, Defendant’s motion as to the sixth and seventh causes 26 of action is DENIED. 27 28 17 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 C. 2 Retaliation 3 Defendants argue that the eighth cause of action should be dismissed because Eighth Cause of Action: Violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 First Amendment 4 Plaintiff’s allegations do not state a claim for § 1983 First Amendment Retaliation 5 against the City. (MTD at 31.) Defendants state that the Complaint’s allegations as to 6 this cause of action are directed against the individual defendants, not the City. The 7 Complaint shows as much, and Plaintiff does not argue otherwise. (See Compl. at ¶¶ 8 117-125; Opp. to MTD at 18-19.) Instead, Plaintiff seems to argue that the City is liable 9 for the other defendants’ conduct by way of a ratification by a final policymaker theory 10 under Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs. of City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 690 (1978). (See 11 Opp. to MTD at 18.) 12 Plaintiff is correct that Monell liability can be made through the actions of a final 13 policymaker. Monell liability can be demonstrated through “decisions of a final policy- 14 making official who commits the federal law violation himself or ratifies the unlawful act 15 of a delegate.” Lytle v. Carl, 382 F.3d 978, 986 (9th Cir. 2004). 16 To impose liability based on this theory, a plaintiff must establish that a municipal 17 employee bearing “final policy-making” authority ratified the violation of Plaintiff’s 18 constitutional rights with actual knowledge of the violation. Christie v. Iopa, 176 F.3d. 19 1231, 1239 (9th Cir. 1999). In determining whether an official is a final policymaker, 20 “courts consider whether the official’s discretionary decisions are ‘constrained by 21 policies not of that official’s making’ and whether the official’s decisions are ‘subject to 22 review by the municipality’s authorized policymakers.’” Id. at 1236–37. 23 “[W]hether a particular official has final policy-making authority is a question of 24 state law.” Jett v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., 491 U.S. 701, 737 (1989). Courts, therefore, 25 look to applicable state laws and regulations to determine if the defendant is a final 26 policymaker. See Lytle, 382 F. 3d 978 (examining school district regulations to 27 determine if assistant superintendent was the final policymaker with respect to 28 employment-related decisions). Additionally, “[a]uthority to make municipal policy may 18 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 be granted directly by a legislative enactment or may be delegated by an official who 2 possesses such authority . . ..” Pembaur, 475 U.S. at 483. 3 The Complaint does not state a claim for Monell liability based on ratification of a 4 final policymaker. Though Plaintiff’s opposition to the motion to dismiss at times 5 discusses Piedra’s policymaking authority as city manager, the Complaint does not allege 6 sufficient facts as to Piedra’s or Johnson’s final policy-making authority. Furthermore, 7 the Complaint fails to allege facts as to whether Piedra had actual knowledge of the 8 alleged violation of constitutional rights or whether Piedra “approve[d] the subordinate’s 9 decision and the basis for it.” Christie, 176 F.3d at 1239. 10 Because the Complaint is devoid of factual allegations as to several necessary 11 elements of a claim for Monell liability based on ratification by a final policymaker, this 12 cause of action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 13 D. 14 Defendants argue that Plaintiff’s ninth cause of action should be dismissed because 15 Ninth Cause of Action: Violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 - Due Process Plaintiff failed to seek writ relief pursuant to Cal. Civ. Pro. § 1094.5. (MTD at 31.) 16 A § 1983 claim is precluded where a plaintiff has failed to exhaust judicial 17 remedies in state court. Doe v. Regents of the Univ. of California, 891 F.3d 1147, 1154 18 (9th Cir. 2018). “Under federal common law, federal courts accord preclusive effect to 19 state administrative proceedings that meet the fairness requirements of United States v. 20 Utah Construction & Mining Co., 384 U.S. 394, 86 S. Ct. 1545, 16 L.Ed.2d 642 (1966).” 21 Id. This Court therefore must “give preclusive effect to a state administrative decision if 22 the California courts would do so.” Id. at 1155. In California, .... [a] party must exhaust 23 judicial remedies by filing a § 1094.5 petition, the exclusive and ‘established process for 24 judicial review’ of an agency decision.” Id. at 1155 (quoting Johnson v. City of Loma 25 Linda, 24 Cal. 4th 61, 70 (2000)). To exhaust judicial remedies, a party must file a 26 petition for a writ of administrative mandate under California Code of Civil Procedure 27 section 1094.5. Id. An administrative decision that is entitled to preclusive effect under 28 these principles will bar federal claims, including § 1983 claims, that fall within that 19 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 decision’s preclusive scope. Id. at 1154-55. A municipality’s disciplinary decision is 2 “the sort of ‘adjudicatory, quasi-judicial decision’ that is subject to the judicial 3 exhaustion requirement.” Id. (quoting Y.K.A. Indus., Inc. v. Redev. Agency of San Jose, 4 174 Cal. App. 4th 339, 361 (2009). 5 Plaintiff does not allege or argue that he did file a writ pursuant to Cal. Civ. Pro. § 6 1094.5. To exhaust his judicial remedies, Plaintiff was required to file a petition of for a 7 writ of administrative mandate under California Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5 8 challenging his termination. Failure to do so bars a civil action challenging the 9 termination decision. See Regents of the Univ. of California, 891 F.3d at 1154; Loera v. 10 Cty. of Imperial, 256 F. App'x 961, 963 (9th Cir. 2007) (failure to seek state judicial 11 review of the administrative board's decision by administrative mandamus action 12 precluded plaintiff from relitigating issues in his Section 1983 and state law claims). 13 Since the Complaint fails to allege that Plaintiff filed a petition for a writ of 14 administrative mandate under California Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5, 15 Defendant’s motion to dismiss the ninth cause of action is granted. Plaintiff’s 42 U.S.C. 16 § 1983 cause of action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 17 Since the Court dismisses this cause of action based on Plaintiff’s failure to 18 exhaust judicial remedies, the Court does not reach Defendant’s arguments as to the Fifth 19 Amendment and violation of state law. 20 21 22 IV. CONCLUSION & ORDER For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion to dismiss 23 [Doc. 7] as to the first cause of action against the City WITH LEAVE TO AMEND but 24 DENIES the motion to dismiss the first cause of action against Piedra. Additionally, the 25 Court DENIES Defendants’ motion to dismiss the sixth and seventh causes of action, 26 GRANTS Defendants’ motion to dismiss the eighth cause of action WITH LEAVE TO 27 AMEND, and GRANTS Defendants’ motion to dismiss the ninth cause of action WITH 28 20 22-cv-526-W-(KSC) 1 LEAVE TO AMEND. If Plaintiff elects to file an amended complaint, it must be filed 2 on or before November 11, 2022. 3 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: October 25, 2022 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 21 22-cv-526-W-(KSC)
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