Source: http://ky.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190208_0000105.WKY.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-04-07 18:06:20
Document Index: 556703923

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 1983', '§ 1983']

FindACase™ | Fletcher-Hope v. Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government
Fletcher-Hope v. Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government
CYNTHIA FLETCHER-HOPE Plaintiff
Plaintiff Cynthia Fletcher-Hope brings this action against Defendants Louisville-Jefferson County Metropolitan Government (the “Metro Government”), Captain Darrell Goodlett, Lieutenant Timothy Huber, Officer Kenneth Bennett, and unknown defendants alleging sexual harassment under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count One), retaliation under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count Two), racial discrimination under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count Three), violation of Fletcher-Hope's rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Section 10 of the Kentucky Constitution (Count Four), assault and battery (Count Five), age discrimination under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count Six), gender discrimination under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count Seven), negligent supervision (Count Eight), and defamation (Count Nine). [DE 1-2, Compl. at ¶¶ 21-83]. The Metro Government now moves to dismiss Fletcher-Hope's claims against it under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). [DE 5]. The matter is ripe for judgment. Having considered the parties' filings and the applicable law, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART the Metro Government's Motion to Dismiss.
The following facts are set out in the Complaint and accepted as true for purposes of the Metro Government's Motion. Davis v. Prison Health Servs., 679 F.3d 433, 440 (6th Cir. 2012).
Fletcher-Hope is an African American woman employed by the Metro Government, d/b/a Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (the “LMDC”) as a corrections officer at the Community Corrections Center (the “CCC”). [DE 1-2 at ¶¶ 1, 10]. On June 28, 2017, Fletcher-Hope's assigned government truck and trailer were parked on the street in front of the CCC. Id. at ¶ 10. Fletcher-Hope observed Captain Goodlett outside with a K-9 dog, which was sniffing Fletcher-Hope's truck and trailer. Id. at ¶ 11. Captain Goodlett directed Fletcher-Hope to unlock the trailer to allow the dog to sniff inside. Id. The dog did not find any drugs or contraband in the trailer or on nearby inmates who were cutting grass outside of the CCC. Id. at ¶ 12.
Captain Goodlett then ordered the K-9 dog to sniff Fletcher-Hope. Id. at ¶ 13. The dog sniffed Fletcher-Hope as she stood on the sidewalk on Chestnut Street in front of other officers, the inmates, and the public. Id. Fletcher-Hope has been “terrified” of dogs since she was seven years old, when she was attacked by a dog that left her with scars. Id. at ¶ 14. Captain Goodlett yelled at Fletcher-Hope as the dog searched her, and in total the search lasted more than one hour. Id. at ¶¶ 15-16. No. drugs or contraband were found. Id. at ¶ 16.
Fletcher-Hope claims that she was traumatized by the search and continues to suffer emotional injury that requires counseling and necessitates time away from her employment. Id. at ¶ 17. Fletcher-Hope filed a union grievance, which the LMDC denied. Id. at ¶ 18. Fletcher-Hope then filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights alleging discrimination because of her race, gender, and age, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. Id. at ¶ 19. On May 9, 2018, Fletcher-Hope received an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) Notice of Right to Sue, which indicated that the EEOC had terminated its processing of Fletcher-Hope's charge and that she had the right to sue in federal or state court. Id. at ¶ 20.
Fletcher-Hope timely filed suit in Jefferson County Circuit Court alleging sexual harassment under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count One), retaliation under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count Two), racial discrimination under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count Three), violation of Fletcher-Hope's rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Section 10 of the Kentucky Constitution (Count Four), assault and battery (Count Five), age discrimination under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count Six), gender discrimination under KRS § 344.010, et seq. (Count Seven), negligent supervision (Count Eight), and defamation (Count Nine). Id. at ¶¶ 21-83. The Metro Government moves to dismiss Fletcher-Hope's claims against it under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). [DE 5]. Fletcher-Hope did not file a response and the time for doing so has expired.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fletcher-Hope brings one federal claim against the Metro Government. In Count Four, Fletcher-Hope alleges that the Metro Government violated her rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution when the Metro Government&#39;s employees &ldquo;wrongfully, and without probable cause, illegally detained and searched&rdquo; her, &ldquo;effectively arrest[ing] her.&rdquo; [DE 1-2 at &para; 45]. Fletcher-Hope seeks damages for this alleged violation under 28 U.S.C. &sect; 1983. Id. at &para; 84. The Metro Government responds that Fletcher-Hope cannot base a Section 1983 claim on the conduct of its employees because respondeat superior is not an available theory of recovery under Section 1983. [DE 5-1 at 47-47]. Connick v. Thompson,563 U.S. 51, 60 (2011) (“[U]nder § 1983, local governments are responsible only for their own illegal acts. They are not vicariously liable under § 1983 for their employees' actions.”). Instead, a municipality is liable under Section 1983 only if the challenged conduct occurs pursuant to a municipality's “official ...