FI L ED

U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S

EL EVENTH CI RCUI T

NOV 10, 2008

THOMAS K. KAH

N

CL ERK [ D O N O T P U B L I S H ]

I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C I R C U I T

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o

. 0 7

- 1 5 0 2 5

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

D

. C

. D o c k e t N o

. 0 0

- 0 0 7 5 3

- C V

- C G

C

. C

. , a m i n o r

, b y

h e r p a r e n t s a n d n a t u r a l g u a r d i a n s

, A r e t h a a n d C h r i s A n d r e w s

,

R

. S

. H

. , a m i n o r

, b y h e r p a r e n t a n d n a t u r a l g u a r d i a n

,

B e t t y J e a n M u r p h y

,

P l a i n t i f f s

- A p p e l l e e s

,

v e r s u s

M O N R O E C O U N T Y B O A R D O F E D U C A T I O N

,

M I K E F L O Y D

,

D e f e n d a n t s

,

D A R E N E L L P A Y N E

,

D e f e n d a n t

- A p p e l l a n t

._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A p p e a l f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t

f o r t h e S o u t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f A l a b a m a

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

( N o v e m b e r 1 0

, 2 0 0 8 )

B e f o r e B A R K E T T a n d W I L S O N

, C i r c u i t J u d g e s

, a n d P O G U E

, J u d g e

. *

P E R C U R I A M :

O n i n t e r l o c u t o r y a p p e a l

, D a r e n e l l P a y n e

, a p u b l i c s c h o o l p r i n c i p a l a t

M o n r o e v i l l e M i d d l e S c h o o l i n M o n r o e C o u n t y

, A l a b a m a

, a p p e a l s t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t ’ s d e n i a l o f ( 1 ) q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y f

o r v i o l a t i o n o f t h e E q u a l P r o t e c t i o n

C l a u s e o f t h e F o u r t e e n t h A m e n d m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n b y w a y o f

4 2 U

. S

. C

. § 1 9 8 3 a n d ( 2 ) s t a t e a g e n t i m m u n i t y f o r o u t r a g e u n d e r A l a b a m a l a w

.

W e r e v e r s e a n d r e m a n d a s t o q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y a n d a f

f i r m a s t o s t a t e

- a g e n t

i m m u n i t y

.

T h e f a c t s a r i s e f

r o m t h e a l l e g e d s e x u a l m o l e s t a t i o n a n d h a r a s s m e n t o f

A p p e l l e e s C

. C

. a n d R

. H

. ( m i n o r s ) b y a t e a c h e r

, M i c h a e l F l o y d

, u n d e r P a y n e ’ s

s u p e r v i s i o n

. O n o r a b o u t J a n u a r y 2 1

, 2 0 0 0

, R

. H

. ’ s m o t h e r w e n t t o t h e M o n r o e v i l l e

M i d d l e S c h o o l t o i n f

o r m P a y n e o f h e r d a u g h t e r ’ s a l l e g a t i o n s o f s e x u a l m o l e s t a t i o n

b y a t e a c h e r

. P a y n e i m m e d i a t e l y c o n v e n e d a m e e t i n g o f t h e t e a c h e r

, R

. H

. a n d h e r

Honora ble Donald C. Pog ue, United States Court of I nterna tional Trade J udg e, sitting by *

desig nation.

2m o t h e r

, d u r i n g w h i c h R

. H

. r e p e a t e d h e r a c c u s a t i o n s

. T h e t e a c h e r d e n i e d t h e

a l l e g a t i o n s a s w e l l a s a l l e g a t i o n s m a d e b y a n o t h e r s t u d e n t

. P a y n e t h e r e a f t e r

o c c a s i o n a l l y l o o k e d i n o n F l o y d ’ s c l a s s r o o m a n d m o n i t o r e d F l o y d ’ s i n t e r a c t i o n

w i t h s t u d e n t s b e t w e e n c l a s s e s i n t h e h a l l w a y s

. R

. H

. a l l e g e s t h a t s h e w a s f u r t h e r

a b u s e d b y F l o y d a f

t e r t h e m e e t i n g w i t h P a y n e

.

I n o r a b o u t M a y o f 2 0 0 0

, t h e t e a c h e r a l l e g e d l y s e x u a l l y m o l e s t e d C

. C

. i n a n

e m p t y c l a s s r o o m

. C

. C

. u n s u c c e s s f u l l y a t t e m p t e d t o r e p o r t t h e i n c i d e n t t o P a y n e

.

C

. C

. t o l d h e r p a r e n t s a b o u t t h e i n c i d e n t a n d t h e y r e p o r t e d t h e t e a c h e r t o t h e p o l i c e

d e p a r t m e n t

. O n M a y 8

, 2 0 0 0

, P a y n e l e a r n e d o f C

. C

. ’ s c o m p l a i n t s a g a i n s t t h e

t e a c h e r w h e n t h e d i s t r i c t a t t o r n e y ’ s o f f i c e c o n t a c t e d h i m a n d t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t

.

E i t h e r o n t h e s a m e d a y o r t h e n e x t d a y

, t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t s u s p e n d e d t h e t e a c h e r

p e n d i n g a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n

. S i n c e t h a t t i m e

, t h e t e a c h e r h a s n o t r e t u r n e d t o

M o n r o e v i l l e M i d d l e S c h o o l

.

T h e M o n r o e v i l l e M i d d l e S c h o o l s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t p o l i c y ( t h e “ P o l i c y ” )

r e q u i r e s

, i n r e l e v a n t p a r t

, t h a t ( 1 ) u p o n l e a r n i n g o f a c o m p l a i n t

, t h e p r i n c i p a l s h a l l

s t a r t a n i m m e d i a t e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o t h e m a t t e r

, a n d ( 2 ) t h e c o m p l e t e d

i n v e s t i g a t i o n s h a l l b e r e v i e w e d b y t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o r d e s i g n e e a n d l e g a l

c o u n s e l f o r p r o m p t a n d a p p r o p r i a t e a c t i o n

, i f w a r r a n t e d

.

O n S e p t e m b e r 1 8

, 2 0 0 1

, P a y n e m o v e d f o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t o n t h e

3g r o u n d s o f

, i n t e r a l i a

, q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y a n d s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y

, w h i c h t h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d o n S e p t e m b e r 2 8

, 2 0 0 7

. A s t o q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y o n t h e

e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n c l a i m

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e t e r m i n e d t h a t P a y n e f a i l e d t o m e e t h i s

i n i t i a l b u r d e n t o p r o v e t h a t h e a c t e d w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f h i s d i s c r e t i o n a r y a u t h o r i t y

.

T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f

o u n d t h a t t h e P o l i c y “ v i r t u a l l y e l i m i n a t e d ” P a y n e ’ s d i s c r e t i o n

“ w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e h a n d l i n g o f s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t a l l e g a t i o n s

. ” A s t o s t a t e

- a g e n t

i m m u n i t y o n t h e o u t r a g e c l a i m

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t l i k e w i s e f o u n d t h a t A p p e l l a n t w a 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 t h e P o l i c y r e q u i r e d h i m t o i n v e s t i g a t e

t h e m a t t e r a n d r e p o r t t h e c o m p l e t e d i n v e s t i g a t i o n t o t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o r

d e s i g n e e

, a n d h e d i d n o t d o e i t h e r

. T h i s a p p e a l f o l l o w e d

.

P a y n e a r g u e s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g h i m q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y

a n d s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y b a s e d o n i t s f i n d i n g t h a t h e l a c k e d d i s c r e t i o n u n d e r t h e

t e r m s o f t h e P o l i c y t h a t r e q u i r e d h i m t o i n v e s t i g a t e a n d r e p o r t c o m p l a i n t s o f s e x u a l

h a r a s s m e n t

. “ W e

. . . r e v i e w t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e n i a l o f a m o t i o n f o r s u m m a r y

j u d g m e n t o n t h e b a s i s o f q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y d e n o v o

, v i e w i n g t h e f a c t s i n t h e l i g h t

m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o t h e n o n

- m o v i n g p a r t y

. ” B a t e s v

. H a r v e y

, 5 1 8 F

. 3 d 1 2 3 3

, 1 2 3 9

( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 ) ( c i t i n g K e s i n g e r e x r e l

. E s t a t e o f K e s i n g e r v

. H

e r r i n g t o n

, 3 8 1 F

. 3 d

1 2 4 3

, 1 2 4 7 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 4 ) )

. W e r e v i e w d e n o v o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s r u l i n g s o n

s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y

. S e e T i n k e r v

. B e a s l e

y

, 4 2 9 F

. 3 d 1 3 2 4

, 1 3 2 9 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 5 )

4( p e r c u r i a m ) ( c i t a t i o n o m i t t e d )

.

D I S C U S S I O N

A s a t h r e s h o l d m a t t e r

, w e h a v e j u r i s d i c t i o n t o c o n s i d e r t h i s a p p e a l i n s o f a r a s

i t p r e s e n t s a l e g a l q u e s t i o n ( w h e t h e r P a y n e a c t e d o u t s i d e h i s d i s c r e t i o n a r y

a u t h o r i t y ) a p p l i e d t o a g i v e n s e t o f f a c t s ( v i e w e d i n f

a v o r t o t h e n o n

- m o v i n g p a r t y )

t h a t m a y b e d e c i d e d a p a r t f r o m c o n s i d e r i n g t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e

. S e e

K o c h v

. R u g

g

, 2 2 1 F

. 3 d 1 2 8 3

, 1 2 9 5

- 9 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 0 )

. T h e s a m e h o l d s t r u e a s t o

s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y

. S e e T a y l o r v

. A d a m s

, 2 2 1 F

. 3 d 1 2 5 4

, 1 2 6 0 n

. 9 ( 1 1 t h C i r

.

2 0 0 0 )

. W e w i l l a d d r e s s q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y a n d s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y i n t u r n

.

I

. Q u a l i

f i e d i m m u n i t

y 1

T o e s t a b l i s h t h e d e f

e n s e o f q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y

, t h e b u r d e n i s f i r s t o n t h e

d e f e n d a n t t o e s t a b l i s h “ t h a t t h e a l l e g e d l y u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c o n d u c t o c c u r r e d w h i l e

h e w a s 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 i s c r e t i o n a r y a u t h o r i t y

. ” H a r b e r t I n t ’ l

, I n c

. v

.

J a m e s

, 1 5 7 F

. 3 d 1 2 7 1

, 1 2 8 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 8 ) ( c i t i n g E v a n s v

. H i g h t o w e r

, 1 1 7 F

. 3 d

1 3 1 8

, 1 3 2 0 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 7 ) )

. I n t u r n

, t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e c h a l l e n g e d a c t i o n s w e r e

w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f h i s d i s c r e t i o n a r y a u t h o r i t y

, “ a d e f e n d a n t m u s t s h o w t h a t t h o s e

We note that the district court de nied qualified immunity only as to the equa l protection 1

claims but g rante d qualified immunity as to the substantive due pr ocess c laims. As to the latter,

the district court found tha t Pay ne did not violate either

Appellee s’ substantive due pr ocess

rig hts as “he did not ca

use the de privation of their r ights.” The district cour t made no mention of

discretionar

y authority as to the substantive due pr ocess c laims.

5a c t i o n s w e r e ( 1 ) u n d e r t a k e n p u r s u a n t t o t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f h i s d u t i e s

, a n d ( 2 )

w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f h i s a u t h o r i t y

. ” I d

. a t 1 2 8 2 ( c i t i n g L e n z v

. W i n b u r n

, 5 1 F

. 3 d

1 5 4 0

, 1 5 4 5 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 5 ) )

. S e e a l s o H o l l o m a n e x r e l

. H

o l l o m a n v

. H

a r l a n d

,

3 7 0 F

. 3 d 1 2 5 2

, 1 2 6 5

- 6 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 4 ) ( “ W e a s k w h e t h e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t

e m p l o y e e w a s ( a ) p e r f

o r m i n g a l e g i t i m a t e j o b

- r e l a t e d f u n c t i o n ( t h a t i s

, p u r s u i n g a

j o b

- r e l a t e d g o a l )

, ( b ) t h r o u g h m e a n s t h a t w e r e w i t h i n h i s p o w e r t o u t i l i z e

. ” )

.

“ I n a p p l y i n g e a c h p r o n g o f t h i s t e s t

, w e l o o k t o t h e g e n e r a l n a t u r e o f t h e

d e f e n d a n t ’ s a c t i o n

, t e m p o r a r i l y p u t t i n g a s i d e t h e f a c t t h a t i t m a y h a v e b e e n

c o m m i t t e d f

o r a n u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p u r p o s e

, i n a n u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m a n n e r

, t o a n

u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l e x t e n t

, o r u n d e r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y i n a p p r o p r i a t e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. ” I d

.

a t 1 2 6 6 ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )

. I n o t h e r w o r d s

, w h e n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e s c o p e o f

d i s c r e t i o n a r y a u t h o r i t y

, a c o u r t l o o k s t o t h e g e n e r a l n a t u r e o f a d e f e n d a n t ’ s a c t i o n

,

n o t t h e s p e c i f

i c u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c o n d u c t

. S e e H a r b e r t I n t ’ l

, 1 5 7 F

. 3 d a t 1 2 8 2

( p r o v i d i n g t h a t “ [ t ] h e i n q u i r y i s n o t w h e t h e r i t w a s w i t h i n t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s a u t h o r i t y

t o c o m m i t t h e a l l e g e d l y i l l e g a l a c t ” )

. “ O f c o u r s e

, w e m u s t b e s u r e n o t t o

c h a r a c t e r i z e a n d a s s e s s t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s a c t a t t o o h i g h a l e v e l o f g e n e r a l i t y ” b u t

i n s t e a d “ w e c o n s i d e r a g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l ’ s a c t i o n s a t t h e m i n i m u m l e v e l o f

g e n e r a l i t y n e c e s s a r y t o r e m o v e t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l t a i n t

. ” H a r l a n d

, 3 7 0 F

. 3 d a t

1 2 6 6

. A p p l i e d h e r e

, t h e p r o p e r s c o p e o f t h e i n q u i r y i s w h e t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i n g a n d

6r e p o r t i n g s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t c o m p l a i n t s g e n e r a l l y f e l l w i t h i n P a y n e ’ s d u t i e s a n d

a u t h o r i t y

.

H a v i n g d e f

i n e d t h e p r o p e r s c o p e o f t h e i n q u i r y

, w e t u r n t o t h e t w o

- p r o n g

t e s t

. T h e f

i r s t p r o n g a s k s w h e t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i n g a n d r e p o r t i n g c o m p l a i n t s o f s e x u a l

h a r a s s m e n t i s w i t h i n P a y n e ’ s d u t i e s a s a p r i n c i p a l

. S e e i d

. a t 1 2 6 6 ( “ P u t a n o t h e r

w a y

, t o p a s s t h e f

i r s t s t e p o f t h e d i s c r e t i o n a r y f u n c t i o n t e s t f

o r q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y

,

t h e d e f e n d a n t m u s t h a v e b e e n p e r f o r m i n g a f

u n c t i o n t h a t

, b u t f

o r t h e a l l e g e d

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i n f

i r m i t y

, w o u l d h a v e f

a l l e n w i t h h i s l e g i t i m a t e j o b d e s c r i p t i o n

. ” )

.

B u t f o r P a y n e ’ s a l l e g e d f

a i l u r e t o a c t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e P o l i c y

, i n v e s t i g a t i n g

a n d r e p o r t i n g s u c h c o m p l a i n t s f a l l s w e l l w i t h i n P a y n e ’ s d u t i e s a s a p r i n c i p a l

. T h e 1

s e c o n d p r o n g a s k s w h e t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i n g a n d r e p o r t i n g c o m p l a i n t s o f s e x u a l

h a r a s s m e n t i n v o l v e d m e a n s t h a t w e r e w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f P a y n e ’ s a u t h o r i t y a s a

p r i n c i p a l

. A p p e l l e e s r e s p o n d t h a t t h e P o l i c y e l i m i n a t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l ’ s d i s c r e t i o n

.

A g o v e r n m e n t e m p l o y e e

, h o w e v e r

, m a y e n j o y t h e b e n e f

i t o f q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y

e v e n f o r m i n i s t e r i a l a c t i o n s s o l o n g a s h i s o r h e r a c t i o n s m e e t t h e t w o

- p r o n g t e s t

.

S e e M c C o y v

. W e b s t e r

, 4 7 F

. 3 d 4 0 4

, 4 0 7 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 5 ) ( p e r c u r i a m )

. T h e

i n v e s t i g a t i o n a n d r e p o r t i n g o f c o m p l a i n t s ( s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t o r o t h e r w i s e ) a l s o

Appellee s offe r little resistance to the first prong of the test. See Br ief of A ppellee C.C. 1

et al. at 19 ( “He re, e ven if Pay ne wa s perf

orming a job re lated func tion, Pay ne ca nnot pass the

second step of

the Hallowman inquiry .”).

7f

a l l s w i t h i n t h e p e r i m e t e r o f P a y n e ’ s j o b

- r e l a t e d f u n c t i o n s

. I n a d d i t i o n

, t h e m e a n s

u t i l i z e d

– m e e t i n g w i t h s t u d e n t s a n d p a r e n t s

– w e r e a l s o w i t h i n P a y n e ’ s a u t h o r i t y

a s p r i n c i p a l

, e v e n i f P a y n e d i d n o t d o a l l t h a t w a s r e q u i r e d o f h i m

.

H a v i n g d e t e r m i n e d t h a t P a y n e a c t e d w i t h i n h i s d i s c r e t i o n a r y a u t h o r i t y

, t h e 2

b u r d e n n o w s h i f

t s t o t h e A p p e l l e e s t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t P a y n e ’ s a c t i o n s v i o l a t e d

c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l a w

. S e e H a r b e r t

, 1 5 7 F

. 3 d a t 1 2 8 1

. T h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t

, h o w e v e r

, n e v e r r e a c h e d t h i s q u e s t i o n a n d

, t h u s

, w e h a v e n o r e c o r d t o

r e v i e w

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, w e r e m a n d t h i s c a s e t o g i v e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t h e f i r s t 3

o p p o r t u n i t y t o a p p l y t h e q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y t e s t a s p r o v i d e d i n S a u c i e r v

. K a t z

,

5 3 3 U

. S

. 1 9 4

, 2 0 1 ( 2 0 0 1 )

.

I I

. S t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y

I n E x p a r t e C r a n m a n

, 7 9 2 S o

. 2 d 3 9 2 ( A l a

. 2 0 0 0 ) ( p l u r a l i t y o p i n i o n )

, t h e

The district cour

t’s denial of qua lified immunit y based on Pay

ne’s f ailure to c omply 2

with the Policy

appea rs to only implicate qualified immunity with respec t to R.H.’s equal

protec tion claim insofar a s Pay ne did not lear

n of C.C.’s alleg ations until m uch later . I n other

words, the r equire ments of the Policy wer e neve r trig g ere d as to C.C. unti l Pay ne lea rned of the

alleg ations made by

C.C., at which point the Superintendent suspende d the teac her a nd a

criminal investig ation beg an, re ndering moot Pay ne’s r equire ments under the Policy . The

district court, howe ver, dr ew no distinction betwee n its analy sis as to the Appellee s’ re spective

claims. We theref

ore a ssume that the district court’s a naly sis applied to both Appellees’ c laims

and, likewise, our

analy sis applies to the same.

I n considering the Appellee s’ Title I X ca use of a ction, the district court c oncluded that, 3

“viewing the alleg ations in a light most favor able to plaintiffs, a jury could find that def

endant

Pay ne wa s delibera tely

indiffer ent” to R.H.’s a lleg ations of sexual abuse.” T his conclusion

might re asonably

be construe d to to sugg est that R.H.’s rig hts were clea rly established, or a t

least to imply

such a c onclusion. As noted above , howeve r, it is not our place to make this

deter mination in the first instance.

8A l a b a m a S u p r e m e C o u r t r e s t a t e d 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

,

p r o v i d i n g

, i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t

, t h a t “ [ a ] S t a t e a g e n t s h a l l b e i m m u n e 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 w h e n t h e c o n d u c t m a d e 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 u p o n t h e a g e n t ’ s

. . . 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

. . . e d u c a t i n g

s t u d e n t s

. ” 7 9 2 S o

. 2 d a t 4 0 5 ( e m p h a s i s i n o r i g i n a l )

. T h e c o u r t t e m p e r e d t h e n e w 4

r u l e w i t h t h e f

o l l o w i n g e x c e p t i o n 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 b e i m m u n e 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

. . . w h e n 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

. ” I d

. ( e m p h a s i s i n o r i g i n a l )

.

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

, P a y n e 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 A p p e l l e e s ’ c l a i m f o r o u t r a g e a r i s e s 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 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

, 8 7 4 S o

. 2 d 1 0 4 6

, 1 0 5 2

( A l a

. 2 0 0 3 ) ( c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d )

. I f h e m a k e s s u c h a s h o w i n g

, t h e b u r d e n s h i f t s t o

t h e A p p e l l e e s w h o m u s t e s t a b l i s h t h a t P a y n e 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

, b e y o n d h i s 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 l a w

. I d

. ( c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d )

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f o u n d t h a t P a y n e w a s n o t e n t i t l e d

The Ala bama Supre me Court has adopte d the test for de termining state-a g ent immunity 4

as re stated in Cranman

. See E x parte Butts , 775 So.2d 173 (Ala. 2000).

9t o s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y

, r e a s o n i n g t h a t “ P a y n e ’ s a c t s w e r e n o t d i s c r e t i o n a r y

b e c a u s e t h e B o a r d ’ s a n t i

- h a r a s s m e n t p o l i c y d o e s n o t p r o v i d e a n y l e e w a y f o r

c h o i c e

. ” A s s u c h

, i t a p p e a r s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t P a y n e a c t e d

b e y o n d h i s a u t h o r i t y

. 5

W e f i n d n o e r r o r i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e n i a l o f s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y u n d e r

A l a b a m a l a w

. C r a n m a n c r e a t e d a n e x c e p t i o n t o t h e s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y t e s t f o r

w h e n a s t a t e a c t o r a c t s b e y o n d h i s o r h e r a u t h o r i t y

. C r a n m a n

, 7 9 2 S o

. 2 d a t 4 0 5

.

U n d e r A l a b a m a l a w

, “ [ 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 a n d i s t h e r e f o r e n o t

i m m u n e w h e n h e o r s h e ‘ 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 a s t h o s e s t a t e d o n a c h e c k l i s t

. ’ ” G i a m b r o n e

, 8 7 4 S o

. 2 d a t 1 0 5 2

( q u o t i n g B u t t

s

, 7 7 5 S o

. 2 d a t 1 7 8 )

. H e r e

, t h e P o l i c y i m p o s e d a f f i r m a t i v e d u t i e s o n

P a y n e t o i n v e s t i g a t e c o m p l a i n t s o f s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t a n d t o s u b m i t a c o m p l e t e d

i n v e s t i g a t i o n t o t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o r d e s i g n e e f o r r e v i e w

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f o u n d

t h a t P a y n e f

a i l e d t o d o s o

. U n d e r A l a b a m a l a w

, P a y n e a c t e d b e y o n d h i s a u t h o r i t y

b y f a i l i n g t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e P o l i c y

. S e e A l a

. D e p ’ t o f C o r r

. v

.

T h o m p s o n

, 8 5 5 S o

. 2 d 1 0 1 6

, 1 0 2 0

- 2 1 ( A l a

. 2 0 0 3 ) ( f i n d i n g t h a t a w a r d e n ’ s

v i o l a t i o n o f a r e g u l a t i o n p r o h i b i t i n g v e h i c l e s o n g r o u n d s o f c o r r e c t i o n a l f a c i l i t y b y

Whil e somewha t unclear

as to the basis of its denial of sta te-a g ent immunity , the district 5

court a ppear ed to re ly

on the re cog nized ex ception of a cting bey ond his or her a uthority in that it

quoted that lang uag e fr om Cranman and under lined the re levant passa g e.

10m a i n t a i n i n g a c o n t r a d i c t o r y u n w r i t t e n p r o c e d u r e c o n s t i t u t e d a c t i o n “ b e y o n d h i s

a u t h o r i t y ” ) ; B a

y l e s v

. M a r r i o t t

, 8 1 6 S o

. 2 d 3 8

, 4 1

- 4 2 ( A l a

. C i v

. A p p

. 2 0 0 1 )

( a f f i r m i n g s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y b u t n o t i n g t h a t “ [ w ] e m i g h t r e a c h a d i f f e r e n t r e s u l t

i f

, i n s t e a d o f t h e b r o a d l y s t a t e d

, g e n e r a l s a f e t y p o l i c y

, [ t h e s t a t e a g e n t ] h a d i n s t e a d

b e e n r e s p o n s i b l e f

o r f o l l o w i n g a d e t a i l e d r u l e o r c h e c k l i s t a n d h a d f a i l e d i n t h i s

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ” )

. A s s u c h

, P a y n e 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

. 6 7

C O N C L U S I O N

I n l i g h t o f t h e f

o r e g o i n g

, w e R E V E R S E a n d R E M A N D t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s

d e c i s i o n a s t o q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o a p p l y t h e t e s t f o r q u a l i f i e d

i m m u n i t y u n d e r S a u c i e r a n d A F F I R M t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n a s t o s t a t e

We note that, under f

eder al law, we asked a

differ ent question in determining whether 6

Pay ne’s a ctions were outside the scope of his discretionary

authority than we a sked under

Alabama law in apply ing the exception to state-ag ent immunity of ac ting be y ond his or her

authority . For

qualified immunity , we a sked (in the se cond prong ) whe ther the na ture of Pay ne’s

actions we re outside his authority and whe ther he used mea ns that were within his authority to

achie ve an othe rwise a cce ptable end? As not ed above , Pay ne ac ted within his discretionary

authority . For

state-a g ent immunity , howeve r, we asked a slightly differ ent question in apply ing

the “be y ond his or her a

uthority ” exception: whether Pay ne’s a ctions actua lly

proce eded be y ond

his authority ? Her e, we do not consider only the nature of the a ctions that Pay ne took; rathe r, we

also consider

Pay ne’s de cision not to take furthe r steps, spec ifically , his decision (1) not to

conduct a ny meaning ful investigation of R.H.’s complaint and (2) not to notify the

superintende nt of R.H.’s complaint. B eca use of the Policy , Pay

ne lac ked the a

uthority to decide

not to take these a ctions. There fore , while none of the ac tions P ay

ne took wer e outside the scope

of his discretionar

y authority or by means that we re not within his power to utiliz e for purposes

of qualified immunity , his decision not to act furthe r and to c urtail the investig ation when he did

wer e not within his authority under state law.

Pay ne also re lies upon a ser ies of ca ses (pre

- Cranman ) involving sc hool supervisors and 7

simil ar a lleg ations to the ones sub judice . I n addition to apply ing the discretionar y function test

as opposed to the state -ag ent immunity test as set for

th in Cranman , none of those c ases a lleg e

that the school super

visor failed to a ct in the fa ce of a cle ar r ule.

11a g e n t i m m u n i t y

.

R E V E R S E D a n d R E M A N D E D i n p a r t

, a n d A F F I R M E D i n p a r t

.

12