Case Title: N.C. v. P.R. Caldwell

Citation: 

Docket Number: 1081434

State: alabama

Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Date: 2011-04-22T00:00:00Z

Document:
REL: 04/22/2011 
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama 
A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r 
Avenue, Montgomery, 
Alabama 
36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e 
o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2010-2011 
1081434 
N.C. 
v. 
P.R. C a l d w e l l 
Appeal from T a l l a p o o s a C i r c u i t 
Court 
(CV-07-900015) 
WISE, 
J u s t i c e . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f , 
N.C.,
1 
a p p e a l s 
f r o m a summary 
j u d g m e n t 
e n t e r e d b y t h e T a l l a p o o s a 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t , i n f a v o r o f P.R. 
1N.C.'s 
c o m p l a i n t 
f i l e d i n 2 0 0 7 a n d i n t h e T a l l a p o o s a 
C i r c u i t C o u r t was f i l e d i n 
t h e 
name o f 
"N.C., a m i n o r 
c h i l d , 
by a n d 
t h r o u g h h e r g u a r d i a n , J . C . " The n o t i c e o f a p p e a l 
f i l e d 
i n 2 0 0 9 was f i l e d i n 
t h e 
name "N.C." I t 
does n o t 
a p p e a r f r o m 
a n y t h i n g i n 
t h e r e c o r d , h o w e v e r , t h a t N.C. 
h a s 
r e a c h e d t h e age 
o f m a j o r i t y o r 
h a s 
b e e n e m a n c i p a t e d . 
1081434 
C a l d w e l l , h e r p h y s i c a l - e d u c a t i o n 
t e a c h e r , 
as t o a l l o f h e r 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t C a l d w e l l . 
We r e v e r s e a n d remand. 
F a c t s a n d P r o c e d u r a l 
H i s t o r y 
I n O c t o b e r 2005, N.C. was a s t u d e n t i n 
t h e s e v e n t h 
g r a d e 
a t E d w a r d B e l l 
S c h o o l ; she h a d a p h y s i c a l - e d u c a t i o n c l a s s i n 
t h e 
s c h o o l gym d u r i n g t h e f i f t h 
p e r i o d o f t h e s c h o o l d a y , 
w h i c h was t a u g h t b y C a l d w e l l . 
On O c t o b e r 3 1 , 2005, a f t e r t h e 
b e l l r a n g a t t h e 
e n d o f t h e 
p h y s i c a l - e d u c a t i o n c l a s s , 
C a l d w e l l 
a c c o m p a n i e d t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e s t u d e n t s 
o u t s i d e t h e gym, 
w h i c h was l o c a t e d i n a s e p a r a t e 
b u i l d i n g , a n d made s u r e 
t h e y 
went i n t o t h e o t h e r s c h o o l b u i l d i n g s r a t h e r t h a n i n t o a n e a r b y 
p a r k i n g 
l o t . 
N.C. 
was 
g e t t i n g h e r b o o k b a g 
f r o m t h e 
b l e a c h e r s , a n d most o f t h e o t h e r 
s t u d e n t s h a d l e f t t h e gym. 
A.H., 
a m a l e 
s t u d e n t 
i n t h e 1 2 t h g r a d e 
a t t h e 
s c h o o l , 
a p p r o a c h e d N.C. a n d s t a r t e d 
p u l l i n g 
h e r t o w a r d t h e b o y s ' 
l o c k e r room w i t h h i m . S h o r t l y b e f o r e he t u r n e d h i s a t t e n t i o n 
t o N.C., A.H. h a d made s u g g e s t i v e 
comments t o a n o t h e r 
g i r l , 
b u t 
she r a n o u t o f t h e gym. 
A.H. a n d W.G., 
a n o t h e r 
m a l e 
s t u d e n t , 
p u l l e d N.C. t o w a r d t h e b o y s ' l o c k e r room, w h i c h was 
l o c a t e d u n d e r t h e gym. 
She t o l d them t o s t o p a n d t r i e d t o 
p u s h away f r o m them, b u t was n o t a b l e t o . A.H. p u s h e d N.C. 
2 
1081434 
down t h e 
s t e p s 
i n t o 
t h e b o y s ' l o c k e r room, and 
she 
f e l l 
and 
h i t 
h e r h e a d on t h e 
r a i l . 
He t h e n p u l l e d h e r 
i n t o t h e s h o w e r 
and 
r a p e d h e r w h i l e W.G. 
s t o o d 
w a t c h .
2 
A f t e r 
t h e 
i n c i d e n t , N.C. 
l e f t 
t h e 
gym 
and 
went 
t o 
h e r 
s i x t h - p e r i o d 
c l a s s 
w i t h o u t 
r e p o r t i n g 
t h e 
i n c i d e n t 
t o 
any 
t e a c h e r o r s c h o o l 
o f f i c i a l . 
C a l d w e l l was 
o u t s i d e t h e gym when 
she 
l e f t . 
N.C. 
t o l d 
some 
o f 
h e r 
g i r l f r i e n d s 
what 
had 
h a p p e n e d , b u t a s k e d them n o t t o s a y a n y t h i n g . 
N.C. 
p r e s e n t e d 
e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t C a l d w e l l had 
a p p o i n t e d 
A.H. 
t o 
s e r v e 
as a s t u d e n t a i d e i n t h e f i f t h - p e r i o d p h y s i c a l - e d u c a t i o n c l a s s 
and 
a l s o e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t b e f o r e 
t h e i n c i d e n t s e v e r a l 
f e m a l e s t u d e n t s had c o m p l a i n e d t o C a l d w e l l t h a t A.H. 
h a d 
a c t e d 
i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y 
t o w a r d 
them. 
On 
November 
9, 
2005, 
t h e 
i n c i d e n t w i t h N.C. 
was 
r e p o r t e d 
t o s c h o o l 
o f f i c i a l s . 
N.C., 
by and t h r o u g h h e r g r a n d f a t h e r 
and 
g u a r d i a n , 
J.C., 
f i l e d 
a p e r s o n a l - i n j u r y a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e T a l l a p o o s a 
C o u n t y 
B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n 
and 
a g a i n s t C a l d w e l l and G l e n d a M e n n i e f e e , 
t h e p r i n c i p a l o f t h e s c h o o l , i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
and 
i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t i e s . 
C a l d w e l l 
and 
M e n n i e f e e 
f i l e d 
a m o t i o n 
f o r 
a 
summary j u d g m e n t , w i t h 
s u p p o r t i n g 
m a t e r i a l s ; t h e B o a r d 
a l s o 
2 T h e 
r e c o r d 
i n d i c a t e s t h a t 
A.H. 
p l e a d e d 
g u i l t y 
t o 
t h e 
f i r s t - d e g r e e r a p e o f 
N.C. 
3 
1081434 
f i l e d 
a 
m o t i o n 
f o r a summary 
j u d g m e n t , 
w i t h 
s u p p o r t i n g 
m a t e r i a l s . 
I n t h e m o t i o n f o r 
a summary j u d g m e n t , C a l d w e l l and 
M e n n i e f e e 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
a s s e r t e d , 
among 
o t h e r 
t h i n g s , 
t h a t 
N.C.'s 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
them were b a r r e d by t h e d o c t r i n e o f 
S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y . 
N.C. 
f i l e d a m o t i o n i n o p p o s i t i o n t o 
t h e 
m o t i o n f o r 
a summary j u d g m e n t as t o C a l d w e l l and a t t a c h e d 
a d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s t o s u p p o r t h e r m o t i o n ; she a p p a r e n t l y d i d 
n o t o p p o s e t h e e n t r y o f a summary j u d g m e n t f o r 
t h e B o a r d and 
M e n n i e f e e . 
C a l d w e l l 
t h e n 
f i l e d 
m o t i o n s 
t o s t r i k e 
v a r i o u s 
e v i d e n t i a r y i t e m s and a r e s p o n s e t o N.C.'s 
o p p o s i t i o n . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
c o n d u c t e d 
a 
h e a r i n g on t h e 
v a r i o u s 
m o t i o n s . 
A f t e r w a r d , i t 
e n t e r e d t h e f o l l o w i n g o r d e r : 
" T h i s m a t t e r h a s come b e f o r e t h e C o u r t on t h e 
M o t i o n 
f o r Summary 
Judgment 
f o r t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
G l e n d a M e n n i e f e e and P.R. 
C a l d w e l l , t h e M o t i o n f o r 
Summary Judgment f o r 
t h e T a l l a p o o s a C o u n t y B o a r d o f 
E d u c a t i o n , and t h r e e M o t i o n s t o S t r i k e 
f i l e d by P.R. 
C a l d w e l l . 
A l l p a r t i e s 
have 
b r i e f e d 
t h e 
i s s u e s 
p r o p o s e d and p r o v i d e d t h e i r e v i d e n c e t o t h e C o u r t . 
The C o u r t h e l d l e n g t h y o r a l a r g u m e n t on F e b r u a r y 17, 
2009. 
" [ N . C . ' s ] C o m p l a i n t a l l e g e d t h a t t h e 
T a l l a p o o s a 
C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n was i n v i o l a t i o n o f T i t l e 
I X f o r a l l e g e d l y 
s u b j e c t i n g t h e m i n o r 
p l a i n t i f f 
t o 
s e x u a l 
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n 
t h r o u g h 
a 
h o s t i l e 
s e x u a l 
e n v i r o n m e n t 
o r was 
d e l i b e r a t e l y 
i n d i f f e r e n t 
t o a 
h o s t i l e 
s e x u a l 
e n v i r o n m e n t . 
[ N . C . ] a l s o 
s t a t e d 
a 
c l a i m , p u r s u a n t t o 42 U.S.C. § 1983, t h a t d e f e n d a n t s 
M e n n i e f e e 
and 
C a l d w e l l 
v i o l a t e d 
t h e 
m i n o r 
4 
1081434 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
F o u r t e e n t h 
Amendment 
Due 
P r o c e s s 
and 
E q u a l 
P r o t e c t i o n 
r i g h t s 
by 
f a i l i n g 
t o 
t a k e 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
c o r r e c t i v e a c t i o n 
a f t e r h a v i n g 
a c t u a l 
k n o w l e d g e 
t h a t 
[ A . H . ] 
was 
s e x u a l l y 
h a r a s s i n g 
s t u d e n t s . 
[ N . C . ] 
a l s o 
c l a i m e d 
t h a t 
d e f e n d a n t s 
M e n n i e f e e 
and 
C a l d w e l l 
n e g l i g e n t l y 
o r 
w a n t o n l y 
s u p e r v i s e d 
t h e m i n o r 
p l a i n t i f f 
and 
t h e 
s t u d e n t s 
i n 
t h e 
m i n o r 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
c l a s s ; 
l e f t 
[ A . H . ] 
u n s u p e r v i s e d 
i n a c l a s s r o o m 
s e t t i n g w i t h 
t h e 
m i n o r 
p l a i n t i f f 
and 
o t h e r 
s t u d e n t s ; 
and 
f a i l e d 
t o 
r e p o r t 
p u r s u a n t t o A l a b a m a Code (1975) § 2 6 - 1 4 - 3 . 
" [ N . C . ] has r e s p o n d e d s e p a r a t e l y t o t h e M o t i o n s 
f o r 
Summary J u d g m e n t . [ N . C . ' s ] 
f i l i n g 
on 
F e b r u a r y 
13, 
2009, 
s t a t e s 
t h a t [ N . C . ] has 
no 
o b j e c t i o n 
t o 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
g r a n t i n g summary j u d g m e n t 
on 
b e h a l f 
o f 
t h e 
T a l l a p o o s a 
C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n 
and 
G l e n d a 
M e n n i e f e e . 
N e v e r t h e l e s s , 
s i n c e [ N . C . ] i s a m i n o r 
and c a n n o t c o n t r a c t t o s e t t l e c a s e s w i t h o u t 
a p p r o v a l 
o f 
t h e 
C o u r t , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
has 
r e v i e w e d 
t h e 
l a w 
and 
e v i d e n c e 
t o 
d e t e r m i n e 
w h e t h e r 
summary 
j u d g m e n t 
s h o u l d be e n t e r e d 
f o r t h e T a l l a p o o s a C o u n t y B o a r d 
o f 
E d u c a t i o n 
and G l e n d a M e n n i e f e e . 
" [ N . C . ] 
c o n t e s t s 
summary 
j u d g m e n t 
f o r 
Mr. 
C a l d w e l l , 
c a n d i d l y 
s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
i t s 
s t r o n g e s t 
o p p o s i t i o n i s t o summary j u d g m e n t on t h e 
s t a t e 
t o r t 
c l a i m s , 
n o t 
t h e 
f e d e r a l 
c l a i m . 
P.R. 
C a l d w e l l ' s 
p r i n c i p a l 
d e f e n s e 
i s 
i m m u n i t y . 
[ N . C . ] 
has 
n o t 
r e s p o n d e d 
t o 
Mr. 
C a l d w e l l ' s 
a r g u m e n t s 
t h a t 
t h e 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t y 
c l a i m a g a i n s t 
h i m 
i s d u p l i c a t i v e 
o f 
t h e 
c l a i m 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
B o a r d 
o f 
E d u c a t i o n , 
t h a t 
t h e r e 
i s no 
p r i v a t e 
r i g h t 
o f 
a c t i o n u n d e r A l a b a m a 
Code (1975) § 2 6 - 1 4 - 3 , t h a t 
t h e r e 
i s no 
e x p r e s s 
o r 
i m p l i e d d u t y t o p r o v i d e 
a s a f e e n v i r o n m e n t , and 
t h a t 
[ N . C . ' s ] r e q u e s t 
f o r an ' o b e y t h e l a w ' i n j u n c t i o n i s 
due 
t o 
f a i l . 
" I m m u n i t y , 
b o t h 
s t a t e 
and 
f e d e r a l , 
i s 
q u i t e 
s t r o n g . 
Our 
Supreme 
C o u r t 
has 
b e e n 
p a r t i c u l a r l y 
r e l u c t a n t t o h o l d an e d u c a t o r r e s p o n s i b l e f o r 
s e x u a l 
m i s c o n d u c t 
by 
a n o t h e r . 
The 
C o u r t 
has 
s a i d 
t h a t , 
5 
1081434 
w i t h o u t 
i m m u n i t y , 
e d u c a t o r s 
'may 
a c t 
n o t 
on 
t h e 
b a s i s 
o f 
p o l i c y , 
b u t 
w i t h 
t h e 
g o a l 
o f 
a v o i d i n g 
p e r s o n a l 
l i a b i l i t y 
o r 
v e x a t i o u s 
s u i t s , ' 
Nance 
v. 
 
M a t t h e w s , 622 So. 2d 297, 302 
( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) . 
I n 
s u i t s 
where 
a 
s t u d e n t 
was 
s e x u a l l y 
a s s a u l t e d e i t h e r 
by 
a n o t h e r s t u d e n t o r o u t s i d e r and where t h e e d u c a t o r s 
were a c c u s e d 
o f 
i m p r o p e r 
s u p e r v i s i o n , 
t h e 
Supreme 
C o u r t has c o n s i s t e n t l y f o u n d t h e e d u c a t o r s immune on 
summary j u d g m e n t . 
I n c a s e s where e m p l o y e e s 
o f 
a 
b o a r d 
o f e d u c a t i o n s e x u a l l y a s s a u l t e d s t u d e n t s 
and 
t h e 
s u p e r v i s o r y 
e d u c a t o r s 
were 
s a i d 
t o 
h a v e 
k n o w l e d g e o f e i t h e r t h e s p e c i f i c s e x u a l a s s a u l t s 
o r 
t h a t 
t h e 
b o a r d 
e m p l o y e e 
w o u l d 
s e x u a l l y 
a s s a u l t 
s t u d e n t s , 
t h e Supreme C o u r t 
has 
r u l e d 
i n f a v o r o f 
t h e e d u c a t o r s on b o t h a m o t i o n 
f o r j u d g m e n t on 
t h e 
p l e a d i n g s and a m o t i o n 
t o d i s m i s s . 
I n c a s e s where 
t h e r e 
i s n o t i c e 
t o t h e 
s u p e r v i s o r y e d u c a t o r s 
o f 
a 
p o t e n t i a l f o r s e x u a l o r o t h e r p h y s i c a l m i s c o n d u c t 
by 
one 
s t u d e n t 
on 
a n o t h e r 
o r 
by 
an 
e d u c a t o r 
on 
a 
s t u d e n t , t h e Supreme C o u r t has c o n s i s t e n t l y r u l e d i n 
f a v o r o f t h e s u p e r v i s o r y e d u c a t o r s , e i t h e r 
a f f i r m i n g 
summary j u d g m e n t o r , by o r d e r o f mandamus, r e q u i r i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t t o e n t e r summary j u d g m e n t . 
T h e s e 
c a s e s 
i n c l u d e 
d e c i s i o n s 
t h a t 
e i t h e r 
t h e r e 
i s 
no 
l e g a l b r e a c h o f d u t y o r t h a t b r e a c h o f any d u t y d i d 
n o t 
p r o x i m a t e l y 
c a u s e 
t h e 
s e x u a l 
m i s c o n d u c t 
o r 
p h y s i c a l 
m i s c o n d u c t . 
"The 
f e d e r a l 
c l a i m 
a g a i n s t Mr. 
C a l d w e l l i s a 
f e d e r a l 
c i v i l r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n . 
To be 
l i a b l e , C o a c h 
C a l d w e l l 
must 
b o t h 
h a v e 
a c t e d 
w i t h 
d e l i b e r a t e 
i n d i f f e r e n c e 
and 
have 
l o s t 
q u a l i f i e d 
i m m u n i t y . 
[ N . C . ] c a n n o t w i n on e i t h e r a r g u m e n t , g i v e n t h e 
l a w 
f r o m t h e A l a b a m a Supreme C o u r t , as n o t e d a b o v e , 
and 
f e d e r a l 
c a s e l a w . 
I m p o r t a n t l y , 
f o r 
a 
g o v e r n m e n t 
e m p l o y e e 
t o 
l o s e 
q u a l i f i e d 
i m m u n i t y , 
t h e E l e v e n t h 
C i r c u i t s a y s a c o u r t must c o n s i d e r d e c i s i o n s o f t h e 
A l a b a m a 
Supreme 
C o u r t , 
U.S. 
Supreme 
C o u r t , 
o r 
E l e v e n t h 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
o f 
A p p e a l s . 
[ N . C . ] 
c a n n o t 
p r e s e n t s u c h c a s e l a w , 
and 
t h i s C o u r t has 
n o t 
f o u n d 
c a s e l a w 
s u p p o r t i n g 
[ N . C . ] 
i n 
t h e 
C o u r t ' s 
own 
e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h i s 
m a t t e r . 
6 
1081434 
" P e n d i n g b e f o r e t h e C o u r t a r e t h r e e M o t i o n s t o 
S t r i k e . 
The C o u r t h a s c o n s i d e r e d e a c h 
and 
f i n d s 
p o r t i o n s o f t h o s e m o t i o n s w e l l t a k e n . 
I n r e s o l u t i o n 
o f 
t h o s e 
M o t i o n s 
t o 
S t r i k e , 
t h e C o u r t 
h a s n o t 
c o n s i d e r e d 
any i m p r o p e r 
e v i d e n c e 
i n r e a c h i n g 
i t s 
d e c i s i o n . 
H o w e v e r , 
s h o u l d 
t h e 
C o u r t 
deny 
t h e 
M o t i o n s 
t o 
S t r i k e , 
t h e C o u r t 
f i n d s 
t h a t 
n o t h i n g 
p r e s e n t e d by [ N . C . ] o v e r c o m e s t h e i m m u n i t y 
p o s s e s s e d 
by t h e d e f e n d a n t s . 
" F u r t h e r , t h e c l a i m f o r e q u i t a b l e 
r e l i e f 
f o u n d 
i n P a r a g r a p h s 43 t h r o u g h 47 o f [ N . C . ' s ] C o m p l a i n t i s 
due 
t o be 
d e n i e d 
f o r t h e r e a s o n 
s t a t e d 
i n t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s ' 
a r g u m e n t s . 
" H a v i n g e x a m i n e d t h e l a w , r e v i e w e d t h e e v i d e n c e 
p r e s e n t e d b y p a r t i e s , and a n a l y z e d t h e a r g u m e n t s o f 
t h e p a r t i e s , t h e C o u r t f i n d s t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s t h e 
T a l l a p o o s a 
C o u n t y 
B o a r d 
o f 
E d u c a t i o n , 
G l e n d a 
M e n n i e f e e , 
and 
P.R. 
C a l d w e l l , 
w h e t h e r 
s u e d 
o f f i c i a l l y o r i n d i v i d u a l l y , a r e e n t i t l e d t o summary 
j u d g m e n t on a l l c l a i m s o f [ N . C . ] . 
T h e r e f o r e , i t i s 
ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED t h a t summary j u d g m e n t 
i s e n t e r e d i n f a v o r o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s t h e T a l l a p o o s a 
C o u n t y 
B o a r d 
o f E d u c a t i o n , 
G l e n d a 
M e n n i e f e e , 
and 
P.R. 
C a l d w e l l , on a l l c l a i m s o f [ N . C . ] . 
C o s t s o f 
c o u r t i n c u r r e d a r e t a x e d as p a i d . " 
N.C. 
f i l e d 
a m o t i o n 
t o a l t e r , 
amend, o r v a c a t e , w h i c h 
was 
d e n i e d by o p e r a t i o n o f l a w . 
T h i s a p p e a l 
f o l l o w e d . 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
" ' " T h i s 
C o u r t ' s 
r e v i e w o f a summary 
j u d g m e n t i s de n o v o . 
W i l l i a m s v. 
S t a t e  
Farm Mut. A u t o . I n s . 
Co., 886 So. 2d 72, 74 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) . 
We a p p l y t h e same s t a n d a r d o f 
r e v i e w 
as 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
a p p l i e d . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , we must d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e 
movant h a s made a p r i m a 
f a c i e s h o w i n g 
t h a t 
no 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l 
f a c t 
e x i s t s 
7 
1081434 
and 
t h a t 
t h e movant 
i s 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a 
j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f l a w . 
R u l e 5 6 ( c ) , 
A l a . R. C i v . P.; B l u e C r o s s & B l u e 
S h i e l d 
 
o f A l a b a m a v. H o d u r s k i , 8 
99 So. 2d 949, 
952-53 
( A l a . 2 0 0 4 ) . 
I n m a k i n g 
s u c h 
a 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n , we must r e v i e w t h e e v i d e n c e 
i n 
t h e 
l i g h t 
most 
f a v o r a b l e 
t o 
t h e 
n o n m o v a n t . 
W i l s o n v . B r o w n , 496 So. 2d 
756, 
758 
( A l a . 1 9 8 6 ) . 
Once t h e movant 
makes a p r i m a 
f a c i e s h o w i n g 
t h a t t h e r e i s 
no 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t , 
t h e 
b u r d e n 
t h e n 
s h i f t s 
t o t h e nonmovant 
t o 
p r o d u c e 
' s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e ' as t o t h e 
e x i s t e n c e o f a g e n u i n e 
i s s u e o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t . 
B a s s v. S o u t h T r u s t Bank o f B a l d w i n  
C o u n t y , 538 So. 2d 794, 797-98 ( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) ; 
A l a . Code 1975, § 1 2 - 2 1 - 1 2 . 
' [ S ] u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
i s e v i d e n c e 
o f s u c h 
w e i g h t 
and 
q u a l i t y 
t h a t 
f a i r - m i n d e d p e r s o n s 
i n t h e 
e x e r c i s e 
o f 
i m p a r t i a l 
j u d g m e n t 
c a n 
r e a s o n a b l y i n f e r t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e f a c t 
s o u g h t 
t o be p r o v e d . ' 
West v . 
F o u n d e r s 
 
L i f e A s s u r . Co. o f F l a . , 547 So. 2d 870 
, 
871 ( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) . " ' 
" P r i n c e v . P o o l e , 935 So. 2d 431 
, 442 
( A l a . 
200 6) 
( q u o t i n g Dow v. A l a b a m a D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y , 897 So. 2d 
1035, 
1038-39 ( A l a . 2 0 0 4 ) ) . " 
Brown v . W.P. 
M e d i a , I n c . , 17 So. 3d 1167, 1169 ( A l a . 2 0 0 9 ) . 
D i s c u s s i o n 
I n Ex p a r t e Cranman, 7 
92 So. 2d 392, 405 ( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) , t h e 
r u l e g o v e r n i n g S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y was r e s t a t e d as 
f o l l o w s :
3 
3Cranman was a p l u r a l i t y o p i n i o n . 
The t e s t s e t f o r t h i n 
Cranman was s u b s e q u e n t l y a d o p t e d by a m a j o r i t y o f t h e C o u r t i n 
Ex p a r t e B u t t s , 775 So. 2d 173, 178 ( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 
8 
1081434 
"A 
S t a t e 
a g e n t 
s h a l l 
be 
immune 
f r o m 
c i v i l 
l i a b i l i t y i n h i s o r h e r p e r s o n a l 
c a p a c i t y when t h e 
c o n d u c t made t h e b a s i s 
o f t h e c l a i m 
a g a i n s t t h e 
a g e n t i s b a s e d upon t h e a g e n t ' s 
"(1) 
f o r m u l a t i n g p l a n s , p o l i c i e s , o r d e s i g n s ; o r 
"(2) 
e x e r c i s i n g h i s o r h e r j u d g m e n t 
i n t h e 
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n 
o f 
a 
d e p a r t m e n t 
o r 
a g e n c y 
o f 
g o v e r n m e n t , 
i n c l u d i n g , b u t n o t l i m i t e d t o , e x a m p l e s 
s u c h a s : 
" ( a ) 
m a k i n g 
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e 
a d j u d i c a t i o n s ; 
"(b) 
a l l o c a t i n g 
r e s o u r c e s ; 
" ( c ) 
n e g o t i a t i n g 
c o n t r a c t s ; 
"(d) 
h i r i n g , 
f i r i n g , 
t r a n s f e r r i n g , 
a s s i g n i n g , o r s u p e r v i s i n g p e r s o n n e l ; 
o r 
o r 
as 
"(3) 
d i s c h a r g i n g 
d u t i e s i m p o s e d on a d e p a r t m e n t 
a g e n c y b y s t a t u t e , 
r u l e , o r r e g u l a t i o n , 
i n s o f a r 
t h e 
s t a t u t e , 
r u l e o r r e g u l a t i o n 
p r e s c r i b e s t h e 
manner f o r 
p e r f o r m i n g t h e d u t i e s and t h e S t a t e 
a g e n t 
p e r f o r m s t h e d u t i e s i n t h a t manner; o r 
"(4) 
e x e r c i s i n g j u d g m e n t i n t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f 
t h e 
c r i m i n a l l a w s o f t h e S t a t e , 
i n c l u d i n g , b u t n o t 
l i m i t e d t o , l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t 
o f f i c e r s ' 
a r r e s t i n g o r 
a t t e m p t i n g t o a r r e s t p e r s o n s ; o r 
"(5) 
e x e r c i s i n g j u d g m e n t 
i n t h e d i s c h a r g e o f 
d u t i e s 
i m p o s e d b y s t a t u t e , 
r u l e , o r r e g u l a t i o n i n 
r e l e a s i n g p r i s o n e r s , c o u n s e l i n g o r r e l e a s i n g p e r s o n s 
o f u n s o u n d m i n d , o r e d u c a t i n g 
s t u d e n t s . 
" N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a n y t h i n g t o t h e c o n t r a r y i n t h e 
f o r e g o i n g s t a t e m e n t o f t h e r u l e , a S t a t e a g e n t 
s h a l l  
n o t be immune f r o m 
c i v i l 
l i a b i l i t y 
i n h i s o r h e r 
p e r s o n a l 
c a p a c i t y 
9 
1081434 
" ( 1 ) when t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o r l a w s o f t h e U n i t e d 
S t a t e s , o r t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h i s 
S t a t e , o r l a w s , 
r u l e s , 
o r 
r e g u l a t i o n s 
o f 
t h i s 
S t a t e 
e n a c t e d o r 
p r o m u l g a t e d 
f o r t h e 
p u r p o s e 
o f 
r e g u l a t i n g 
t h e 
a c t i v i t i e s 
o f 
a 
g o v e r n m e n t a l 
a g e n c y 
r e q u i r e 
o t h e r w i s e ; 
o r 
" ( 2 ) 
when 
t h e 
S t a t e 
a g e n t 
a c t s 
w i l l f u l l y , 
m a l i c i o u s l y , 
f r a u d u l e n t l y , i n 
b a d f a i t h , 
b e y o n d h i s 
o r h e r a u t h o r i t y , o r u n d e r a m i s t a k e n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n 
o f t h e 
l a w . " 
792 So. 2d a t 405. 
A l s o , 
" [ t ] h i s 
C o u r t 
h a s 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
a 
' b u r d e n - s h i f t i n g ' 
p r o c e s s when a p a r t y 
r a i s e s t h e 
d e f e n s e 
o f 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y . 
G i a m b r o n e 
v .  
D o u g l a s , 
874 So. 2d 104 
6, 
1052 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) . 
I n 
o r d e r t o c l a i m S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y , a S t a t e 
a g e n t 
b e a r s 
t h e 
b u r d e n 
o f 
d e m o n s t r a t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
c l a i m s 
a r i s e f r o m a f u n c t i o n t h a t 
w o u l d 
e n t i t l e t h e S t a t e a g e n t t o i m m u n i t y . 
G i a m b r o n e , 
874 
So. 2d a t 1052; Ex p a r t e Wood, 852 So. 2d 705, 709 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 2 ) . 
I f t h e S t a t e 
a g e n t 
makes 
s u c h 
a 
s h o w i n g , t h e b u r d e n t h e n s h i f t s t o t h e p l a i n t i f f t o 
show 
t h a t 
t h e 
S t a t e 
a g e n t 
a c t e d 
w i l l f u l l y , 
m a l i c i o u s l y , 
f r a u d u l e n t l y , i n b a d f a i t h , 
o r b e y o n d 
h i s 
o r h e r a u t h o r i t y . 
G i a m b r o n e , 
874 So. 2d a t 
1052; Wood, 852 So. 2d a t 709; Ex p a r t e 
D a v i s , 
721 
So. 2d 685, 68 
9 ( A l a . 1 
998 
) . 
'A S t a t e 
a g e n t 
a c t s 
b e y o n d 
a u t h o r i t y and i s t h e r e f o r e n o t immune when he 
o r 
she 
" f a i l [ s ] 
t o d i s c h a r g e 
d u t i e s 
p u r s u a n t t o 
d e t a i l e d r u l e s o r r e g u l a t i o n s , s u c h as t h o s e 
s t a t e d 
on a c h e c k l i s t . " ' 
G i a m b r o n e , 
874 So. 2d a t 1052 
( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e 
B u t t s , 775 So. 2d 173, 178 
( A l a . 
2 
0 
0 
0 ) ) . " 
Ex p a r t e 
E s t a t e o f R e y n o l d s , 946 So. 2d 450, 452 ( A l a . 2 0 0 6 ) . 
" S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y 
p r o t e c t s 
a g e n t s o f t h e S t a t e i n t h e i r 
e x e r c i s e o f d i s c r e t i o n i n e d u c a t i n g 
s t u d e n t s . 
We 
w i l l n o t 
10 
1081434 
second-guess t h e i r d e c i s i o n s . " 
Ex p a r t e B l a n k e n s h i p , 806 So. 
2d 1186, 1190 ( A l a . 
2000). 
However, " [ o ] n c e i t 
i s d e t e r m i n e d 
t h a t 
S t a t e - a g e n t immunity 
a p p l i e s , 
S t a t e - a g e n t immunity i s 
w i t h h e l d upon a showing t h a t t h e S t a t e agent a c t e d w i l l f u l l y , 
m a l i c i o u s l y , 
f r a u d u l e n t l y , i n bad f a i t h , o r beyond h i s o r h e r 
a u t h o r i t y . 
Cranman, 792 So. 2d a t 405." 
Ex p a r t e B i t e l , 45 
So. 3 d 1252, 1257-58 ( A l a . 
2010). 
N.C. d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o t a k e 
i s s u e w i t h t h e f a c t 
t h a t 
C a l d w e l l w o u l d o r d i n a r i l y be e n t i t l e d t o S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y 
u n d e r Ex p a r t e Cranman. 
However, she a r g u e s 
t h a t , i n t h i s 
c a s e , 
C a l d w e l l 
i s n o t 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y 
b e c a u s e , she a l l e g e s , 
t h e r e i s a g e n u i n e 
i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l 
f a c t as t o w h e t h e r , i n h i s a c t s and o m i s s i o n s , he was a c t i n g 
b e y o n d t h e s c o p e o f h i s 
a u t h o r i t y . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , she c o n t e n d s 
t h a t 
C a l d w e l l a c t e d b e y o n d h i s a u t h o r i t y when he 
a l l e g e d l y 
f a i l e d t o p r o p e r l y s u p e r v i s e h e r , 
A.H., and W.G. 
a t t h e t i m e 
o f t h e r a p e ; 
when he 
a l l e g e d l y 
a l l o w e d A.H. t o a c t as a 
t e a c h e r ' s 
a i d e ; and when he 
i g n o r e d 
and 
f a i l e d t o r e p o r t 
p r e v i o u s c l a i m s b y o t h e r f e m a l e 
s t u d e n t s o f s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t 
by A.H. 
T h e r e f o r e , she c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n 
11 
1081434 
e n t e r i n g 
a summary j u d g m e n t f o r C a l d w e l l 
on t h e b a s i s 
o f 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y .
4 
I n h e r d e p o s i t i o n , 
N.C. 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
A.H. 
a p p r o a c h e d h e r a f t e r t h e f i f t h - p e r i o d d i s m i s s a l b e l l h a d r u n g . 
She 
a l s o s t a t e d t h a t C a l d w e l l and t h e o t h e r s t u d e n t s h a d 
l e f t 
t h e gym and t h a t s h e , 
A.H., and W.G. were t h e o n l y ones i n 
t h e 
gym when A.H. a p p r o a c h e d h e r . 
F i n a l l y , N.C. s t a t e d t h a t , when 
she 
l e f t t h e gym a f t e r t h e r a p e , C a l d w e l l was o u t s i d e 
w a l k i n g 
by t h e s t a i r s . 
C a l d w e l l 
p r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t a t t h e t i m e 
t h e r a p e o c c u r r e d he was e x e r c i s i n g j u d g m e n t i n a c c o m p a n y i n g 
t h e s t u d e n t s away f r o m t h e gym and e n s u r i n g 
t h a t t h e y went t o 
o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e s c h o o l . 
I n h i s a f f i d a v i t , C a l d w e l l 
s t a t e d , 
i n 
p a r t : 
"My 
name 
i s P.R. 
C a l d w e l l . 
A t 
a l l t i m e s 
r e l e v a n t 
t o 
t h i s 
s u i t , 
I was 
e m p l o y e d 
by t h e 
T a l l a p o o s a 
C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n as a p h y s i c a l 
e d u c a t i o n 
t e a c h e r 
f o r 
h i g h 
s c h o o l 
s t u d e n t s , 
4N.C. 
a l s o 
a d d r e s s e s 
t h e 
a d m i s s i b i l i t y 
o f 
s e v e r a l 
e v i d e n t i a r y 
i t e m s . 
A l t h o u g h 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
p o r t i o n s o f C a l d w e l l ' s 
m o t i o n s t o s t r i k e were w e l l t a k e n , i t 
d i d 
n o t s p e c i f y w h i c h , i f a n y , o f t h e e v i d e n t i a r y 
i t e m s i t 
s t r u c k . 
F o r p u r p o s e s o f t h i s o p i n i o n , we h a v e t r e a t e d a l l 
t h e 
i t e m s c o n s i d e r e d 
as h a v i n g b e e n a d m i t t e d . 
T h e r e f o r e , we 
w i l l 
n o t 
a d d r e s s N.C.'s a r g u m e n t s 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e a d m i s s i b i l i t y o f 
t h e 
e v i d e n t i a r y 
i t e m s . 
12 
1081434 
a s s i s t a n t 
b a s k e t b a l l 
c o a c h 
a n d 
t h e 
a t h l e t i c s 
d i r e c t o r a t E d w a r d B e l l H i g h 
S c h o o l . 
"On 
O c t o b e r 
3 1 , 2005, 
t h e m i n o r 
p l a i n t i f f 
i d e n t i f i e d 
as 'N.C.' was a 
s t u d e n t 
i n my 
f i f t h 
p e r i o d h i g h s c h o o l p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n 
c l a s s . 
T h e r e 
were t w e n t y - o n e 
s t u d e n t s 
i n my 
f i f t h 
p e r i o d 
c l a s s 
t h a t 
s c h o o l y e a r . 
The f i f t h 
p e r i o d c l a s s was h e l d 
i n t h e s c h o o l ' s gym, w h i c h c o n s i s t s o f a c o m p e t i t i o n 
s i z e 
gymnasium, 
s e p a r a t e 
w e i g h t 
room, 
l o b b y a n d 
r e s t r o o m s a n d g i r l s ' 
a n d b o y s ' l o c k e r rooms. 
T h e r e 
a r e a l s o two s t a i r w e l l s a n d b l e a c h e r s . 
A l l o f t h e s e 
a r e s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e r e s t 
o f t h e s c h o o l , w i t h t h e 
d i s t a n c e m e a n i n g t h a t , u n l e s s I s t o o d n e a r t h e f r o n t 
o f t h e gym, I c o u l d n o t h e a r t h e s c h o o l ' s 
b e l l s o r 
[ p u b i c - a n n o u n c e m e n t ] s y s t e m , w h i c h was a l s o u s e d 
f o r 
s e c u r i t y 
p u r p o s e s . 
The l o c k e r rooms a r e l o c a t e d 
u n d e r n e a t h t h e gym so n e i t h e r s e t 
o f s t a i r s 
l e a d i n g 
t o t h e l o c k e r rooms n o r t h e l o c k e r rooms t h e m s e l v e s 
a r e 
v i s i b l e 
f r o m t h e gym. 
L i k e w i s e , 
a r e a s o f t h e 
l o b b y , t h e e n t i r e b a t h r o o m s , i n b e t w e e n c a r s i n t h e 
p a r k i n g l o t 
a n d t h e o u t s i d e o f t h e b u i l d i n g 
c a n n o t 
be 
s e e n 
f r o m 
i n s i d e t h e gym. 
B a s e d upon my own 
j u d g m e n t 
a n d d i s c r e t i o n 
u n d e r t h e 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s , 
t a k i n g 
i n t o a c c o u n t t h e w e a t h e r , number o f s t u d e n t s 
p r e s e n t i n t h e gym a n d c u r r i c u l u m a n d s k i l l s t o be 
t a u g h t on a p a r t i c u l a r d a y , I d e t e r m i n e d where t h e 
s t u d e n t s 
w o u l d be d u r i n g 
c l a s s 
( e i t h e r 
o u t s i d e , i n 
t h e gym o r i n 
t h e w e i g h t room) a n d how t h e y w o u l d be 
s u p e r v i s e d . 
I 
h a d 
b e e n 
g i v e n 
no 
s p e c i f i c 
i n s t r u c t i o n s , 
e i t h e r 
w r i t t e n o r 
v e r b a l , b y t h e 
T a l l a p o o s a C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n o r b y any o f my 
s u p e r i o r s 
( o r anyone 
e l s e ) 
r e g a r d i n g 
how 
t o 
s u p e r v i s e t h e s t u d e n t s i n t h e gym, l o c k e r rooms a n d 
w e i g h t room p r i o r t o t h e i n c i d e n t made t h e b a s i s o f 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t . 
I a l s o h a d b e e n g i v e n no 
s p e c i f i c 
i n s t r u c t i o n s 
o r 
g u i d e l i n e s 
on how 
t o 
s u p e r v i s e 
s t u d e n t s 
i n t h e 
d i f f e r e n t 
a r e a s 
when 
i t was 
n e c e s s a r y 
f o r 
me t o d i v i d e them b e t w e e n t h e gym, 
l o c k e r rooms a n d w e i g h t room. 
I was n o t g i v e n any 
s p e c i f i c 
i n s t r u c t i o n s 
o r 
g u i d e l i n e s 
on how t o 
d i s m i s s s t u d e n t s a t t h e 
e n d o f t h e c l a s s p e r i o d f r o m 
13 
1081434 
t h e gym. 
T h e r e a r e no B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n 
p o l i c i e s 
w h i c h 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
i n s t r u c t me on how t o do 
t h i s . 
I n d e t e r m i n i n g how t o a l l o c a t e my t i m e b e t w e e n t h e 
s t u d e n t s so t h a t t h e y were a d e q u a t e l y m o n i t o r e d and 
s u p e r v i s e d , 
I 
r e l i e d 
upon my own j u d g m e n t . 
The 
2005-06 s c h o o l y e a r was t h e o n l y y e a r i n w h i c h I was 
n o t p r o v i d e d an a i d e t o a s s i s t me i n m o n i t o r i n g t h e 
a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e s t u d e n t s i n my 
c l a s s e s . 
" I 
b e l i e v e t h a t y o u n g a d u l t s and h i g h 
s c h o o l 
s t u d e n t s 
p o s s e s s 
t h e m a t u r i t y and k n o w l e d g e t o be 
a b l e t o w o r k on t h e s k i l l s 
a s s i g n e d 
t h a t d a y i f 
I 
s t e p o u t o f t h e gym and i n t o t h e w e i g h t room o r v i c e 
v e r s a . 
I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y 
a l s o know how t o 
e x i t 
t h e gym a t t h e e n d o f t h e c l a s s p e r i o d and p r o c e e d 
t o 
t h e i r 
l o c k e r s and n e x t 
c l a s s e s . 
I know f r o m my 
e x p e r i e n c e and t r a i n i n g 
t h a t h i g h 
s c h o o l 
s t u d e n t s 
n e e d n o t be i n d i v i d u a l l y s u p e r v i s e d a t a l l 
t i m e s n o r 
do t h e s e 
s t u d e n t s 
r e q u i r e an e d u c a t o r t o be 
w i t h i n 
t h e i r 
v i e w 
c o n s t a n t l y when 
p e r f o r m i n g 
p h y s i c a l 
e d u c a t i o n 
a c t i v i t i e s . 
When 
c l a s s 
i s o v e r , 
my 
e x p e r i e n c e 
t e l l s 
me 
t h a t 
s t u d e n t s 
l e a v e t o go t o 
t h e i r 
n e x t 
c l a s s . 
I , t o o , am 
a l l o w e d t o l e a v e , 
i n c l u d i n g t o go t o t h e o f f i c e t o r e t r i e v e my 
m a i l . 
I must 
r e g u l a r l y 
c h e c k my 
m a i l b o x 
f o r m a i l and 
n o t i c e s , 
i n c l u d i n g 
a b s e n t e e 
n o t i c e s 
d u r i n g 
t h e 
s c h o o l d a y . 
F u r t h e r m o r e , 
w a l k i n g away f r o m t h e gym 
when t h e c l a s s e s c h a n g e a l l o w s me t o b e t t e r m o n i t o r 
t h e c h a n g e o f c l a s s e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y s i n c e t h e gym i s 
i n a s e p a r a t e 
b u i l d i n g 
f r o m 
t h e r e m a i n d e r 
o f t h e 
s c h o o l . 
My 
p r e s e n c e 
o u t s i d e 
t h e 
gym 
a l s o 
d i s c o u r a g e s s t u d e n t s f r o m g o i n g t o t h e p a r k i n g 
l o t . " 
M e n n i e f e e 
a l s o 
p r o v i d e d 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
showed 
t h a t 
C a l d w e l l was a c t i n g 
w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f h i s d u t i e s when t h e 
r a p e o c c u r r e d . 
I n h e r a f f i d a v i t , she s t a t e d : 
" I t 
i s my 
u n d e r s t a n d i n g 
t h a t 
t h e r e 
were 
no 
s t u d e n t s 
a s s i g n e d t o C o a c h C a l d w e l l i n t h e 
s i x t h 
p e r i o d 
d u r i n g 
t h e 2005-06 
s c h o o l 
y e a r . 
I t was 
14 
1081434 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
f o r C o a c h C a l d w e l l 
t o w a l k 
o u t 
o f 
t h e 
gym 
w i t h 
t h e 
s t u d e n t s 
f r o m h i s 
f i f t h 
p e r i o d 
c l a s s 
a f t e r t h e d i s m i s s a l b e l l h a d 
r u n g t o c h e c k h i s m a i l 
b e t w e e n 
c l a s s p e r i o d s . 
I f 
s i x t h 
p e r i o d 
was 
C o a c h 
C a l d w e l l ' s 
p l a n n i n g p e r i o d t h a t 
y e a r , he w o u l d 
n o t 
h a v e b e e n r e q u i r e d t o r e m a i n i n t h e gym 
d u r i n g 
s i x t h 
p e r i o d . " 
N.C. 
d i d 
n o t 
d i s p u t e 
C a l d w e l l ' s 
a s s e r t i o n s 
i n 
h i s 
a f f i d a v i t 
t h a t he 
was 
a c t i n g w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f h i s 
d u t i e s 
when he 
l e f t t h e gym 
w i t h t h e o t h e r s t u d e n t s 
a f t e r t h e 
f i f t h -
p e r i o d d i s m i s s a l b e l l r a n g . 
B a s e d on t h e u n d i s p u t e d 
e v i d e n c e 
p r e s e n t e d , C a l d w e l l s a t i s f i e d h i s b u r d e n o f e s t a b l i s h i n g t h a t , 
a t t h e t i m e o f t h e r a p e , w h i c h o c c u r r e d 
a f t e r t h e 
f i f t h - p e r i o d  
d i s m i s s a l 
b e l l 
had 
r u n g , 
he 
was 
e x e r c i s i n g j u d g m e n t 
i n 
t h e 
d i s c h a r g e 
o f 
h i s d u t y 
t o 
s u p e r v i s e 
and 
e d u c a t e 
s t u d e n t s 
by 
a c c o m p a n y i n g them o u t 
o f t h e gym, 
e n s u r i n g 
t h a t t h e y 
d i d 
n o t 
go 
t o t h e p a r k i n g 
l o t b u t went b a c k t o t h e 
s c h o o l b u i l d i n g , 
and 
t h e r e a f t e r g o i n g t o t h e m a i n s c h o o l b u i l d i n g t o c h e c k h i s 
m a i l . 
H o w e v e r , N.C. 
a l s o a r g u e s t h a t C a l d w e l l a c t e d b e y o n d h i s 
a u t h o r i t y by 
a p p o i n t i n g A.H. 
as a s t u d e n t 
a i d e t o a s s i s t 
h i m 
w i t h h i s f i f t h - p e r i o d p h y s i c a l - e d u c a t i o n c l a s s . 
I n s u p p o r t 
o f 
h e r m o t i o n 
i n o p p o s i t i o n t o C a l d w e l l ' s m o t i o n 
f o r a summary 
j u d g m e n t , N.C. 
p r e s e n t e d 
a f f i d a v i t s 
f r o m t h r e e 
s t u d e n t s 
who 
15 
1081434 
s t a t e d t h a t C a l d w e l l h a d t o l d them t h a t A.H. was g o i n g t o be 
i n c h a r g e o f t h e c l a s s a few d a y s a week b e c a u s e C a l d w e l l d i d 
n o t 
h a v e an 
a i d e 
t o a s s i s t 
h i m w i t h 
t h e c l a s s . 
She 
a l s o 
p r e s e n t e d 
an 
a f f i d a v i t 
f r o m A.H. 
i n w h i c h he 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
C a l d w e l l h a d a s k e d h i m t o s u p e r v i s e 
s t u d e n t s 
i n t h e gym and 
w e i g h t room f r o m noon 
u n t i l 3:00 p.m. 
on c e r t a i n d a y s , 
t h a t 
C a l d w e l l 
went 
i n t o h i s o f f i c e 
o r 
l e f t 
campus 
d u r i n g 
t h o s e 
t i m e s , and t h a t M e n n i e f e e was aware t h a t A.H. was 
s u p e r v i s i n g 
s t u d e n t s 
b e c a u s e 
C a l d w e l l h a d a l l e g e d l y t o l d h e r a b o u t t h e 
a r r a n g e m e n t . 
C a l d w e l l 
d i d s t a t e 
t h a t t h e 2005-2006 
s c h o o l 
y e a r was 
t h e 
f i r s t 
y e a r he h a d n o t b e e n 
g i v e n 
an 
a i d e 
t o 
a s s i s t h i m and t h a t he d i d n o t h a v e a t e a c h i n g 
a s s i s t a n t o r 
o t h e r 
t e a c h e r 
t o 
h e l p 
h i m 
w i t h 
m o n i t o r i n g 
h i s 
s t u d e n t s . 
H o w e v e r , he n e v e r i n d i c a t e d t h a t he a p p o i n t e d 
A.H. t o a c t as 
a 
s t u d e n t 
a i d e 
d u r i n g 
C a l d w e l l ' s 
f i f t h - p e r i o d 
p h y s i c a l -
e d u c a t i o n 
c l a s s . R a t h e r , when he was a s k e d i f 
he a l l o w e d 
A.H. 
t o be i n t h e gym 
a f t e r A.H. was 
f i n i s h e d w i t h 
s c h o o l on any 
g i v e n 
d a y ,
5 
C a l d w e l l 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
t h e y 
a l w a y s 
t r i e d t o r u n o t h e r s t u d e n t s o u t o f t h e gym and t h a t he h a d , i n 
f a c t , 
a s k e d 
A.H. 
t o 
l e a v e 
t h e gym 
on 
p r e v i o u s 
o c c a s i o n s 
5 T h e 
r e c o r d 
i n d i c a t e s 
t h a t A.H. 
was 
f i n i s h e d w i t h h i s 
s c h o o l day a r o u n d 
l u n c h t i m e . 
16 
1081434 
b e c a u s e he was n o t s u p p o s e d t o be t h e r e . 
He f u r t h e r 
s t a t e d 
t h a t he d i d n o t know t h a t A.H. was i n t h e gym on t h e d a y o f 
t h e 
i n c i d e n t ; t h a t , 
t o h i s k n o w l e d g e , 
A.H. 
d i d n o t h a v e 
p e r m i s s i o n 
f r o m anyone t o be i n t h e gym on t h e d a y o f t h e 
i n c i d e n t ; and t h a t , i f 
he h a d known A.H. was t h e r e , he w o u l d 
h a v e a s k e d h i m t o r e p o r t t o t h e o f f i c e . 
A l s o , t h e 
f a c u l t y 
h a n d b o o k f o r E d w a r d 
B e l l 
S c h o o l p r o v i d e s : 
"Any s t u d e n t n o t 
s c h e d u l e d f o r 
a c l a s s s h o u l d n o t a t t e n d t h a t c l a s s . " 
F u r t h e r , 
M e n n i e f e e t e s t i f i e d t h a t A.H. s h o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n i n t h e gym 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
t h e 
i n c i d e n t 
o c c u r r e d . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
she 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t he g o t o u t o f s c h o o l 
a t 11:45 a.m. 
and was 
r e q u i r e d t o l e a v e 
campus a t t h a t 
t i m e 
u n l e s s 
he was 
e a t i n g 
l u n c h . 
F i n a l l y , 
M e n n i e f e e 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
she 
c o n d u c t e d 
t e a c h e r 
e v a l u a t i o n s 
o f C a l d w e l l 
and t h a t , 
d u r i n g 
h e r w a l k ¬
t h r o u g h 
v i s i t s t o t h e gym, he was p e r f o r m i n g h i s d u t i e s and 
s u p e r v i s i n g t h e s t u d e n t s i n h i s c l a s s e s and was n o t i n 
h i s 
o f f i c e 
o r o f f campus. 
T h u s , 
t h e r e 
a r e g e n u i n e 
i s s u e s 
o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t as t o w h e t h e r C a l d w e l l 
a c t u a l l y a p p o i n t e d A.H. 
as a s t u d e n t a i d e a n d , i f 
he d i d , w h e t h e r he a c t e d b e y o n d h i s 
a u t h o r i t y i n d o i n g s o . 
17 
1081434 
F i n a l l y , 
N.C. 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
C a l d w e l l 
a c t e d 
b e y o n d 
h i s 
a u t h o r i t y b e c a u s e he 
a l l e g e d l y i g n o r e d 
and 
f a i l e d 
t o 
r e p o r t 
p r i o r c l a i m s by o t h e r f e m a l e s t u d e n t s o f s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t 
by 
A.H. 
The 
T a l l a p o o s a C o u n t y S c h o o l s 2005-2006 Code o f C o n d u c t 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t " [ i ] t 
s h a l l a l s o be 
a v i o l a t i o n o f b o a r d 
p o l i c y 
f o r 
any 
t e a c h e r 
... 
t o 
t o l e r a t e 
s e x u a l 
h a r a s s m e n t 
" 
M e n n i e f e e t e s t i f i e d t h a t , i f C a l d w e l l had b e e n aware t h a t 
A.H. 
was 
s e x u a l l y h a r a s s i n g 
f e m a l e 
s t u d e n t s , 
he 
w o u l d h a v e 
b e e n 
r e q u i r e d t o r e p o r t 
i t . 
She 
a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t C a l d w e l l n e v e r 
r e p o r t e d 
any s u c h s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t by A.H. 
t o h e r . 
F u r t h e r , 
C a l d w e l l 
s t a t e d t h a t he was 
n o t aware t h a t A.H. 
was 
s e x u a l l y 
h a r a s s i n g 
anyone 
and 
t h a t 
he 
had 
n o t 
r e c e i v e d 
any 
s p e c i f i c 
c o m p l a i n t s 
t o 
t h a t 
e f f e c t . 
He 
a d d e d t h a t , 
i f he 
had 
known 
t h a t 
A.H. 
was 
s e x u a l l y h a r a s s i n g 
f e m a l e 
s t u d e n t s , 
he 
w o u l d 
h a v e t a k e n 
d i s c i p l i n a r y 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
A.H. 
However, 
N.C. 
p r e s e n t e d a f f i d a v i t s f r o m two f e m a l e s t u d e n t s who 
a l l e g e d t h a t 
A.H. 
made 
i n a p p r o p r i a t e 
comments 
o f 
a 
s e x u a l l y 
h a r a s s i n g 
n a t u r e t o them and 
t h a t t h e y c o m p l a i n e d t o C a l d w e l l t h a t 
A.H. 
was 
" h a r a s s i n g " them. 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e r e a r e g e n u i n e i s s u e s 
o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t as t o w h e t h e r C a l d w e l l was 
a c t u a l l y aware 
t h a t 
18 
1081434 
A.H. 
was 
s e x u a l l y h a r a s s i n g 
o t h e r 
f e m a l e s t u d e n t s a n d , 
i f he 
w a s , 
w h e t h e r he 
f a i l e d 
t o r e s p o n d t o t h e 
a l l e g a t i o n s . 
C a l d w e l l 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
t h a t N.C.'s 
c l a i m s 
a r o s e 
f r o m 
a 
f u n c t i o n t h a t w o u l d e n t i t l e h i m 
t o S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y . 
See 
B l a n k e n s h i p , 
s u p r a ; 
Cranman, s u p r a . 
However, N.C. 
p r o d u c e d 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t , 
i f b e l i e v e d , 
c o u l d 
e s t a b l i s h 
t h a t 
C a l d w e l l 
a c t e d 
b e y o n d 
h i s 
a u t h o r i t y 
i n a p p o i n t i n g 
A.H. 
as 
a 
s t u d e n t 
a i d e 
and 
i n i g n o r i n g 
and 
f a i l i n g 
t o 
r e p o r t 
o t h e r 
c l a i m s 
o f 
s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t by A.H. 
See 
B i t e l , 
s u p r a ; 
Cranman, 
s u p r a . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e r e 
a r e 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e s 
o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t 
as 
t o 
w h e t h e r 
C a l d w e l l 
i s e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a summary j u d g e m e n t 
on 
t h e 
b a s i s o f t h e d o c t r i n e o f S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y . 
See, 
e.g., 
Ex 
p a r t e 
J o n e s , 52 
So. 
3d 
475 
( A l a . 2 0 1 0 ) . 
" ' I f 
t h e r e 
i s a g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
as 
t o 
any 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t on 
t h e q u e s t i o n 
w h e t h e r t h e movant i s 
e n t i t l e d 
t o i m m u n i t y , t h e n t h e m o v i n g p a r t y 
i s n o t 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a summary j u d g m e n t . 
R u l e 
56, 
A l a . R. 
C i v . 
P.' 
Ex 
p a r t e 
Wood, 
852 
So. 
2d 
705, 
708 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 2 ) ; 
B l a c k w o o d v. C i t y o f H a n c e v i l l e , 936 
So. 
2d 495, 
507 
( A l a . 
2006) 
( h o l d i n g t h a t t h e r e 
was 
a g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
o f m a t e r i a l 
f a c t 
as 
t o 
t h e 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
r a t e o f s p e e d ; a j u r y ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
o f t h a t 
s p e e d 
w o u l d d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e 
d e f e n d a n t was 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y 
and 
p r i v i l e g e 
u n d e r 
A l a . 
Code 1975, 
§ 6-5-338(a) and 
§ 
3 2 - 5 A - 7 ( b ) ( 3 ) ) . " 
S u t t l e s 
v. 
Roy, 
[Ms. 
1071453, May 
21, 
2010] 
So. 
3d 
, 
___ 
( A l a . 2 0 1 0 ) . 
19 
1081434 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B e c a u s e t h e r e r e m a i n g e n u i n e i s s u e s o f m a t e r i a l f a c t 
t h a t 
c o u l d 
d e f e a t 
C a l d w e l l ' s 
c l a i m o f S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y , t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t e r r e d i n e n t e r i n g a summary j u d g m e n t f o r C a l d w e l l 
on 
t h a t 
g r o u n d . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
we 
r e v e r s e 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t and remand t h i s c a s e f o r f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s . 
REVERSED AND REMANDED. 
Cobb, C . J . , 
and W o o d a l l , S t u a r t , B o l i n , P a r k e r , Shaw, and 
M a i n , J J . , c o n c u r . 
M u r d o c k , J . , d i s s e n t s . 
20 
1081434 
MURDOCK, J u s t i c e ( d i s s e n t i n g ) . 
I 
r e s p e c t f u l l y d i s s e n t . 
I 
c a n n o t 
f i n d 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
i n t h e r e c o r d 
t h a t 
t h e p r e - i n c i d e n t 
c o m p l a i n t s 
by 
o t h e r 
s t u d e n t s were s p e c i f i c enough t o p u t C a l d w e l l on n o t i c e 
t h a t 
A.H.'s 
" h a r a s s i n g " 
o f 
t h e s e 
s t u d e n t s 
was 
s e x u a l 
i n 
n a t u r e . 
Nor 
does 
t h e r e 
a p p e a r 
t o be 
s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e 
s h o w i n g t h a t t h e r e was i n p l a c e an e s t a b l i s h e d s c h o o l p o l i c y , 
w r i t t e n o r o t h e r w i s e , 
f o r b i d d i n g C a l d w e l l 
f r o m a p p o i n t i n g 
a 
s t u d e n t 
t o 
a s s i s t 
h i m 
o r 
t h a t 
C a l d w e l l 
was 
aware 
o f 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
t h a t w o u l d have e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t A.H. 
s h o u l d 
n o t 
be a l l o w e d 
t o s e r v e as a s t u d e n t 
a i d e . 
A p a r t f r o m t h e f o r e g o i n g , I q u e s t i o n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g 
o f 
t h e 
" b e y o n d 
h i s o r h e r 
a u t h o r i t y " e l e m e n t e m p l o y e d 
by 
t h e 
C o u r t i n t h e m a i n o p i n i o n . 
See Ex p a r t e Monroe C o u n t y Bd. o f  
E d u c . , 48 So. 3d 621, 630 ( A l a . 
2010) 
( M u r d o c k , J . , c o n c u r r i n g 
i n p a r t and d i s s e n t i n g i n p a r t ) ; Ex p a r t e W a t s o n , 
37 So. 
3d 
752, 765-66 ( A l a . 2009) ( M u r d o c k , J . , c o n c u r r i n g 
i n p a r t 
and 
d i s s e n t i n g i n p a r t ) . 
21