Case ID: f-appx_668/html/0435-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Thomas I. Vanaskie, Circuit Judge", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Jeffrey J. HEFFERNAN, Appellant v. CITY OF PATERSON; Mayor Jose Terres; Police Chief James Wittig; Police Director Michael Walker
    No. 14-1610
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Dated: August 25, 2016
    
      Alexandra M. Antoniou, Mark B. Frost, Esq., Ryan M. Lockman, Esq., Emily K. Murbarger, Mark B. Frost & Associates, Philadelphia, PA, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
    Victor A. Afanador, Esq., Lite DePalma Greenberg, Newark, NJ, for Defendants-Appellee City of Paterson, Police Director Michael Walker.
    Susana Cruz-Hodge, Esq., Erik E. Sar-dina, Esq., Lite DePalma Greenberg, Newark, NJ, for Defendant-Appellee City of Paterson.
    Albert C. Lisbona, Esq., Dwyer Connell & Lisbona, Fairfield, NJ, for Defendants-Appellees City of Paterson, Mayor Jose Terres.
    Gary Potters, Esq., Potters & Della Pei-tra, Fairfield, NJ, for Defendant-Appellee Mayor Jose Terres.
    Anthony V. D’Elia, Esq., Mitzy R. Galis-Menendez, Esq., Roosevelt Jean, Esq., Chasan Leyner & Lamparello, Secaucus, NJ, Thomas P. Scrivo, Esq., McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter, Newark, NJ, for Defendant-Appellee Police Chief James Wittig.
    Before: VANASKIE, GREENBERG, and COWEN, Circuit Judges.
   ORDER

Thomas I. Vanaskie, Circuit Judge

AND NOW, upon issuance of the mandate of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Heffernan v. City of Paterson, N.J., — U.S. -, 136 S.Ct. 1412, 194 L.Ed.2d 508 (2016), reversing the judgment entered by this Court, and remanding for further proceedings;

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the order of the District Court entered on March 5, 2014 is vacated insofar as it granted the motions for summary judgment filed by Defendants, and this matter is remanded for further proceedings. This Court holds that the waiver doctrine does not apply to the issues identified by the United States Supreme Court. We further hold that, if, at the time Plaintiff was disciplined, the City of Paterson had in effect (whether written or unwritten) a neutral policy prohibiting police officers assigned to the Office of the Chief of Police from overt involvement in political campaigns, such a policy meets constitutional standards.

We direct the District Court following discovery to conduct a trial (1) to determine whether there was in fact such a neutral policy prohibiting police officers assigned to the Office of the Chief of Police from overt involvement in any political campaign of which Plaintiff was aware or reasonably should have been aware; and, if the answer to Question (1) is yes, (2) to determine whether Plaintiff was disciplined for what reasonably appeared to be a violation of that policy. If both Questions (1) and (2) are answered in the affirmative, a judgment should be entered in favor of Defendants. If either Question (1) or Question (2) is answered in the negative, Defendants are liable for any resulting damages.

We recommend, but do not hold, that the District Court first try the liability phase of this matter. Thereafter, a bifurcated determination should be made as to damages if that be necessary. We leave the bifurcation decision to the sound discretion of the District Court.

Pursuant to Local Appellate Rule 38.4, the Court refers this matter to Mr. Joseph A. Torregrossa, Chief Appellate Mediator, for mediation. To allow for appellate mediation, issuance of the mandate is stayed pending further order by this Court.