# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

No. 1 7- 22 79

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

Anm ari e Cal ga ro ,

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

,

v.

St . Lou is Co un ty; Lin ne a Mi rs ch , in di vi du al ly and in he r of fic ia l ca pa ci ty as Dire ct or of S t. Lo ui s C ou nt y Pu bl ic Heal th an d Hu m an Serv ic es ; Fa irv ie w Healt h
Serv ic es , a Mi nn es ot a n on pr of it co rp or at io n; Park Nico ll et Heal th Serv ic es , a

no np ro fit co rp or at io n; St. Lo ui s C ou nt y Sch oo l Di st ric t; Mi ch ael Jo hn so n, in di vi du al ly and in hi s o ffi ci al cap aci ty as Pri nc ip al of t he Ch erry Scho ol , St.

Lou is Co un ty Scho ol Dis tri ct ; E.J .K.,

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an ts - App el le es

.

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

W or ld Pro fes si on al Ass oc ia ti on for Tran sg en de r Heal th

,

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l

Amicu s o n Beh al

f o f Ap pe ll ee(s )

,

Fo un da ti on for Mo ral Law,

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l

Amicu s o n Beh al

f o f Ap pe ll an t(s )

.

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Dis tri ct of M in ne so ta - Mi nn eap ol is

__ __ __ __ __ __Su bm it te d: Octo be r 16 , 20 18
Fi le d: Marc h 2 5, 2 01 9

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re WOL LMAN, COLLOTON , and BENTON, Circu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

COLLOTON, Ci rcu it Ju dg e.

Anm ari e Cal ga ro su ed se ve ral pa rti es al le gi ng vi ol at io ns of he r pa ren ta l rig ht s

ov er on e of he r m in or ch il dr en un de r th e Du e P r o c e s s C la us e of th e Fo ur te en th

Am en dm en t. The di st ric t co ur t 1 gr an te d th e de fen da nt s’ di sp os i t i v e m ot io ns an d

di sm is se d t he co m

pl ai nt wit h p reju di ce. Cal ga ro ap pe al s, an d we a ffi rm

.

Acco rd in g to Cal ga ro ’s c o m pl ai nt

, sh e is th e m ot he r of E.J.K. an d th ree

y ou ng er, m in or ch il dr en

. In May 2 01 5, E.J.K. m ov ed ou t of Cal ga ro ’s h o me i n S t.

Lou is Co un ty, Mi nn es ot a. Cal ga ro ne ve r su rren de red he r pa ren ta l rig ht s, bu t E.J.K.

ob ta in ed a le tt er fro m Mi d- Mi nn es ot a Leg al Aid de sc rib in g E.J.K.’s fat he r an d

Cal ga ro as “ ha v[ in g] gi ve n up co nt ro l an d cu st od y o f th ei r ch il d.” The le tt er

co nc lu de d t ha t E.J .K. was t he refo re “ le ga ll y em an ci pa te d u nd er Mi nn es ot a la w.”

A l t h o u g h th is le tt er fro m a le ga l ai d as so ci at io n ha d no le ga l effe ct

, E.J.K

.
pr es en te d th e le tt er to se ve r a l s t at e ag en ci es as ev id en ce of em an ci pa ti on

. Und er

Mi nn es ot a la w, a ch il d un de r ag e ei gh te en is el ig ib le fo r ge ne ral pu bl ic as si st an ce if

sh e is “ l e g a l l y em an ci pa te d.” Mi nn

. St at

. § 25 6D.0 5, su bd iv

. 1( a)(9 ). Bas ed on

E.J.K.’s cl ai m s of em an ci pa ti on , St

. Lou is Co un ty pr ov id ed E.J.K. wit h fun di ng fo r

m ed ic al se rv ic es an d ot he r li vi ng ex pe ns es , an d E

. J .K. ob ta in ed ge nd er tra ns it io n care

fro m Park Nico ll et Heal th Serv ic es

. E.J.K. al so rece iv ed pr es cri pt io n m ed ic at io n

1 The Hon or ab le Pau l A. Mag nu so n, Uni te d St at es D i st ric t Ju dg e fo r th e Dis tri ct of Mi nn es ot a.

-2

-fro m Fai rv ie w Heal th Serv ic es . Bot h p ro vi de rs th ou gh t E.J .K. cou ld gi ve effe ct iv e

c o n s e nt to tre at m en t un de r Mi nn es ot a la w be cau se sh e was li vi ng ap art fro m h e r

pa ren ts an d m an ag in g h er p ers on al fin an ci al m at te rs

. Se e Mi nn . Sta t. § 14 4.3 41

.

W he n Ca lga ro at te m pte d to acq ui re E.J.K.’s m ed ic al reco rd s fro m Park N ic oll e t

an d Fai rv ie w, bo th pr ov id ers de n ie d he r req ue st un de r th e st an da rd of Mi nn es ot a

St at ut es § 14 4.3 46

. Tha t pr ov is io n al lo ws di sc lo su re of tre at m en t i n f o rm at io n if

“ fai lu re to in fo rm th e pa ren t or gu ard ia n wou ld se rio us ly jeop ard iz e th e he al th of th e

m in or pa ti en t.” Id

. Cal ga ro al so ap pr oa ch ed th e St

. Lou is Co un ty Sch oo l Dis tri ct an d

Mi ch ael Jo hn so n, th e pr in ci pa l of E.J.K.’s hi gh sc ho ol

, req ue st in g acce ss to E.J.K.’s

ed uc at io na l reco rd s an d an op po rtu ni ty to pa rti ci pa te in cert a in ed uc at io na l de ci si on s.

Jo hn so n a nd th e Sch oo l Di st ric t d en ie d t ho se req ue st s.

Cal ga ro th en su ed St. Lo ui s Co un ty, th e in te rim di rect or of St

. Lou is Co un ty

Pu bl ic Heal th an d Hum an Serv ic es (in di vi du al ly an d in he r of fic ia l cap aci ty), m ed ic al

pr ov id ers Fai rv ie w an d Park Nico ll et

, th e St

. Lou is Co un ty Sch oo l Dis tri ct

, Pri nc ip al

Jo hn so n (in di vi du al ly an d in hi s of fic ia l cap aci ty), an d E.J.K., as an in te res te d pa rty.

Sh e al le ge d th at th e de fen da nt s ha d vi ol at ed a fu nd am en ta l rig ht o f a p a r e n t

, un de r

th e Due Pro ces s Cl au se , to m ak e de ci si on s co nc ern in g th e care , cu st od y , an d co nt ro l

of he r ch il dr en

. Cal ga ro cl ai m ed da m ag es an d al so so ug ht de cl arat or y an d in jun ct iv e
rel ie f th at wou ld pr ev en t th e de fen da nt s fro m pr ov id in g se rv ic es to an y of he r m in or
ch il dr en un ti l a s ta te co ur t ad jud ic at ed th e sc op e o f he r pa ren ta l ri gh ts

.

Cal ga ro m ov ed fo r su m

m ary jud gm en t, an d th e de fen da nt s fil ed cro ss -m ot io ns

in res po ns e. St

. Lou is Co un ty m ov ed fo r jud gm en t on th e pl ead in gs an d fo r su m m ary jud gm en t, an d th e ot he r de fen da nt s m ov ed to di sm is s fo r fai lu re to st at e a cl ai m

. The

di st ric t co ur t gr an te d th e de fen da nt s’ m ot io ns , de ni ed C al ga ro ’s m ot io n, an d

di sm is se d t he co m

pl ai nt wit h p reju di ce. We revi ew th os e d is m is sa ls de no vo

.

-3

-The di st ric t co ur t pr op erl y gr an te d j ud gm en t on th e pl ead in gs fo r St

. Lou is

Co un ty (in cl ud in g th e of fic ia l-c ap aci ty cl ai m ag ai ns t th e in te rim di r e c t o r ) b ecau se
Cal ga ro di d no t ad eq ua te ly pl ead a cl ai m un de r § 19 83

. A co un ty m ay be li ab le fo r

a co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n un de r § 19 83 on ly if th e vi ol at io n res ul te d fro m a po li cy or

cu st om of th e m

un ic ip al it y

. Mon el l v. Dep ’t of So c. Se rv s. , 43 6 U.S. 65 8, 69 4 (1 97 8)

. The re i s n o re sp on de at

su pe ri or li ab il it y

for act io ns of an in di vi du al em pl oyee. Id

.
at 69 1. Alt ho ug h Cal ga ro al le ge s th at th e Co un ty’ s “ po li ci es , cu st om s, pr act ic es , or

pr oc ed ur es (o r la ck of pr oc ed ur es )” le d to vi ol at io ns of he r du e pr oc e s s rig ht s, sh e

ne ve r sp eci fie d a po li cy or cu st om th at was th e m ov in g fo rce be hi nd th e a l l e ge d

vi ol at io n. Sh e pl ead s on ly th at th e Co un ty “ de te rm in ed ” th at E.J.K. was em an ci pa te d

an d pa id fo r he r med i c a l s e r v ic es

. Bu t on e erro ne ou s de te rm in at io n by a co un ty

em pl oyee th at E.J.K. was em an ci p a te d do es no t es ta bl is h a po li cy or cu st om of th e

C o un ty th at de pr iv es pa ren ts of th ei r co ns ti tu ti on al rig ht s. Cal ga ro ’s co nc lu so r y

as se rti on th at th e Co un ty act ed ba se d o n a po li cy or cu st om is in su ffi ci en t to st at e a
cl ai m , and th e d is tri ct co ur t co rrec tl y gra nt ed jud gm en t o n t he pl ead in gs

.

Cal ga ro al so fai ls to st at e a cl ai m fo r da m ag es ag ai ns t th e th en -in te rim di rect or

of Pu bl ic Heal th an d Hum an Serv ic es , Lin ne a Mi rs ch

. The co m pl ai nt li st s Mi rs ch ’s

po si ti on an d ti tl e, an d al le ge s th at “ [t]he di rect or i s t h e f i na l de ci si on an d po li cy

m ak er fo r th e Dep art m en t.” Bu t th e co m pl ai nt do es no t al le ge th at Mi rs ch pe rs on al ly

to ok an y act io n th at vi ol at ed Cal ga ro ’s co ns ti tu ti on al rig ht s, an d Mi rs ch can no t be

h e l d l i a b l e fo r th e un co ns ti tu ti on al act s of he r su bo rd in at es

. Ash cr of t v. Iq ba l , 5 5 6

U

. S

. 6 6 2

, 67 6 (2 00 9)

. The di st ric t co ur t co rrec tl y ru le d th at Cal ga ro fai le d to st a t e
a cl ai m ag ai ns t M irs ch in he r in di vi du al cap aci ty.

Cal ga ro ’s cl ai m s fo r m on ey da m ag es ag ai n s t t he m ed ic al pr ov id ers fare no
b e t t e r

. To st at e a cl ai m un de r § 19 83

, Cal ga ro m us t sh ow th at Park Nico ll e t a n d

Fai rv ie w act ed “ un de r co lo r of st at e la w.” Am. Mf rs . Mu t. In s. Co . v. Su ll iv an , 52 6

U.S. 40

, 49 -5 0 (1 99 9)

. Alt ho ug h bo th faci li ti es pr ov id ed m ed ic al se rv ic es to E.J.K.

wit ho ut pa ren ta l co ns en t, an d al le ge dl y ho no red E.J.K.’s co ns en t in acco rd an ce wit h

-4

-§ 1 44 .34 1 of th e Mi nn es ot a St at ut es , th es e act io ns di d n ot tra ns fo rm eit he r m ed ic al

pr ov i d e r i n t o a st at e act or

. 52 6 U.S. at 52

. Cal ga ro co nt en ds th at th e pr ov id ers

ex erci se d a “p u b l i c fu nc ti on ” by te rm in at in g he r pa ren ta l rig ht s co nc ern in g he al th

care de ci si on s, but thi s cl ai m m isc ha ract eri zes wha t ha pp en ed

. Sect io n 14 4.3 41 st at es

th at cert ai n m in or s m ay g i v e effe ct iv e co ns en t to m ed ic al se rv ic es , bu t a pr ov id er
do es no t te rm in at e pa ren ta l rig ht s by reco gn iz in g a m in or ’s co ns en t, ev en if th e

pr ov id er is m is ta ke n. Onl y a Mi nn es ot a co ur t can te rm in at e pa ren ta l r i g h t s. Se e

Mi nn . Sta t. § 26 0C .30 1.

Cal ga ro ne xt cl ai m s th at th e St

. Lou is C o u n t y Sch oo l Dis tri ct (in cl ud in g

Pri nc ip al Jo hn so n in h i s o f fic ia l cap aci ty) vi ol at ed he r rig ht s by carr y in g ou t a “p o l i c y, p r a ct ic e, an d cu st om ” of de cl in in g to gi ve no ti ce or to ho ld a he ari ng wi t h

pa ren ts be fo re d et erm in in g t ha t a m in or st ud en t i s em an ci pa te d. W e ag ree wi th th e
di st ric t co ur t th at Cal ga ro al le ge d on ly a le ga l co nc lu s i o n o n t h is po in t. The

co m pl ai nt id en ti fie s no act ua l po li cy or es ta bl is he d cu st o m o f t h e D is tri ct ab ou t

m ak in g em an ci pa ti on de te rm in at io ns

. Cal ga ro ci te s on ly th e si ng le in ci de nt at is su e
he re, in whi ch th e Dis tri ct refu se d to di sc lo se E.J.K.’s ed uc at io na l reco rd s or to al lo w
Cal g a r o t o pa rti ci pa te in E.J.K.’s ed uc at io na l de ci si on s. The Dis tri ct ’s al le ge d

ha nd li ng of th is pa rti cu la r cas e, ev en as su m in g th at it in te rfer ed wit h Cal ga ro ’s

c o n s t i t ut io na l rig ht s, is in su ffi ci en t to es ta bl is h a cu st om or pr act ic e un de r Mon el l

. 43 6 U.S. at 69 4.

Cal ga ro al so su ed Jo hn so n in di v i d u a l l y fo r da m ag es on th e gr ou nd th at he

vi ol at ed he r co ns ti tu ti on al r i g ht s by de nyin g acce ss to ed uc at io na l reco rd s an d

ex cl ud in g he r fro m ed uc at io na l de ci si on s. Bu t it rem ai ns “ op en to qu es ti on whe th er

an d to wha t ex te nt th e fu nd am en ta l li be r t y i n t e res t in th e cu st od y , care , an d

m an ag em en t of on e’s ch il dr en m an da te s pa ren ta l acce ss to sc ho ol reco rd s.” Sc hmi dt

v

. Des Moi ne s Pub

. Sc h.

, 65 5 F.3 d 81 1, 81 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ). Nor is it cl ear l y

es ta bl is he d th at pa ren ts ha ve a co ns ti t u t i o n a l rig ht to m an ag e al l de ta il s of th ei r
ch il dr en ’s ed uc at io n or to o b t ai n co ns ul ta ti on wit h sc ho ol of fic ia ls on ev eryday

-5

-m at te rs

. Se e St even so n v. Blyt he vi ll e Sc h. Dis t. #5

, 80 0 F.3 d 95 5, 96 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 15 ).

Bec au se ex is ti ng pr eced en t do es no t cl earl y es ta bl is h th e rig ht s th at Cal ga ro as se rts

, Jo hn so n is e n t i t l e d t o qu al ifi ed im m un it y

. Ash cr of

t v. al -Ki dd

, 56 3 U.S. 73 1, 74 1
(2 01 1)

.

Cal ga ro ’s rem ai ni ng cl ai m s fo r de cl arat or y an d in jun ct iv e rel ie f ag ai ns t th e

se ve ral de fen da nt s are m oo t. E.J.K. ha s tu rn ed ei gh te en y ears ol d, ceas ed to be a

m in or un de r M i n n e s ot a la w, an d co m pl et ed he r ed uc at io n in th e St

. Lou is Co un ty

Sch oo l Di st ric t. Se e Mi nn . Sta t. § 64 5.4 51 , s ub di v. 2. The re is no on go in g c as e o r

co nt ro ve rs y ov er Cal ga ro ’s pa ren ta l rig ht s to m ak e de ci si on s fo r E.J.K. as a m in or or

to acce ss he r m ed ic al o r e du cat io na l reco rd s. Tha t Cal ga ro ha s th ree ot he r m in or
ch il dr en do es no t pr es erv e a co nt ro ve rs y

. The re is an ex cep ti on to m oo tn es s fo r cas es

th at are cap ab le of rep et it io n y et ev ad in g rev ie w, bu t th e ex cep ti on ap pl ie s on ly whe n

th ere is a reas on ab le ex pe ct at io n th at th e al le ge d act io ns of th e de fen da nt wil l recu r.

Mur ph y v. Hun t

, 45 5 U.S. 47 8, 48 2 (1 98 2) (p er cu ria m ). Cal ga ro se ek s an in jun ct io n

ag ai n s t a c t io ns di rect ed to ward “ th e m in or ch il dr en of Ms

. Cal ga ro de em ed

em an ci pa te d by Defen da nt s wit ho ut Ms

. Cal ga ro ’s co ns en t.” Bu t Cal g a r o h a s no t

es ta b l i s h e d a r eas on ab le ex pe ct at io n th at an y of he r th ree m in or ch il dr en wil l be

de em ed em an ci pa te d by th e de fen da nt s. The cl ai m s fo r de cl arat or y a n d in jun ct iv e
rel ie f are th eref

or e m oo t.

E.J.K. was joi ne d in th e la wsu it as an in te res te d p a r t y u n d er Fed eral Ru le of

Ci vi l Pro ced ur e 19 (a)( 1) (B)( i). Giv en th at no ne of Cal ga ro ’s cl ai m s ag ai ns t th e ot he r
de fen da nt s m ay pr oc eed

, th e di st ric t co ur t pr op erl y di sm is se d an y cl ai m s ag ai ns t

E.J.K. as well

.

The jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t i s af fir m ed

.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

-6

-