Source: http://pa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20091215_0001199.MPA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-01-18 00:14:31
Document Index: 791752706

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', 'art, 436']

| Martsolf v. Brown
Martsolf v. Brown
JAMES MARTSOLF, PLAINTIFFv.LT. COL. JOHN BROWN, MAJ. TERRY SEILHAMER, CPT. ROBERT LIZIK, CPT. SUSAN BELL, LT. PETER VOGEL, LT. DON CARNAHAN, LT. MICHAEL PATRICK, SGT. MAX MOHNEY, SGT. GARY SCHULER, CPL. STEPHEN KREMPASKY, TPR. JAMES SHELDONE, AND ARTHUR WEILAND, DEFENDANTS
Plaintiff James Martsolf ("Martsolf"), an employee of the Pennsylvania State Police ("PSP"), brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which imposes civil liability upon any individual who deprives another of a constitutionally-protected right under the color of state law. Martsolf alleges that defendants*fn1 retaliated against him for exercising his First Amendment rights.*fn2 Presently before the court are defendants' motions for summary judgment (Docs. 48, 49, 50). For the reasons that follow, the motions will be granted in part and denied in part.
I. Statement of Facts and Procedural History*fn3
This case originates with sexual harassment complaints*fn4 that Connie Lantz ("Lantz") filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission ("PHRC") in May of 2005.*fn5 (Doc. 51 ¶¶ 155-56; Doc. 59 ¶¶ 155-56; see Doc. 55, Ex. K ¶ 25.) At the time, Lantz was plaintiff's wife (see Doc. 55, Ex. J at 9; Doc. 55, Ex. M ¶ 4), and she went by the name Connie Martsolf (See Doc. 55, Ex. K). Lantz and plaintiff both worked for PSP, albeit in different locations. (Doc. 51 ¶ 71; Doc. 59 ¶ 71; Doc. 51, Ex. J at 28, 31-32.) They claim that the defendants, current and former employees of PSP, retaliated against them as a result of Lantz's sexual harassment complaints. (Doc. 51 ¶ 161; Doc. 59 ¶ 161; see Doc. 1) They filed the instant suit together on September 26, 2005, (Doc. 1), but Lantz withdrew all her legal claims in April of 2006, (Doc. 51 ¶ 163; Doc. 59 ¶ 163; Doc. 9). Hence, the court will set forth only those facts relating to the alleged retaliation against Martsolf, the remaining plaintiff.
Plaintiff claims that he supported Lantz in her complaints and also voiced complaints himself. (See Doc. 35 ¶ 24.) He was interviewed, as part of the investigation that ensued from Lantz's EEOC/PHRC complaints, by PSP's Internal Affairs Division ("IAD"). (Doc. 51 ¶¶ 131, 136; Doc. 59 ¶¶ 131, 136.) Martsolf spoke to his interviewers about the events giving rise to Lantz's complaints, (Doc. 55, Ex. J at 58-59). Although plaintiff cannot recall whether he filed an EEOC complaint regarding the harassment of his wife, he did file an internal complaint on her behalf. (Doc. 51 ¶ 134; Doc. 59 ¶ 134.) Plaintiff complained to defendant Lizik about the inappropriate behavior of defendant Vogel, his wife's alleged harasser. (Doc. 51 ¶ 136; Doc. 59 ¶ 136.) To a "very limited" extent, plaintiff also discussed Lantz's complaints with other co-workers and friends. (Doc. 51 ¶ 150; Doc. 59 ¶ 150.) Finally, and most notably, plaintiff also "voiced" a complaint by filing the instant lawsuit. (See Doc. 1.)
Plaintiff alleges that he was subjected to retaliation as a result of his participation in the EEOC/PHRC complaints and the instant action. Specifically, plaintiff claims that defendant Lizik told him that supporting Lantz had jeopardized his career. (Id. ¶ 28.) Plaintiff also asserts that defendants "manipulated the IAD process" and conducted the IAD investigation in a retaliatory manner. (Doc. 35 at 2, ¶ 27.) In addition, plaintiff alleges that he was removed from the Special Emergency Response Team ("SERT"). (Id. ¶ 29; Doc. 55, Ex. J at 15), that he was denied a promotion for which he was purportedly qualified, (Doc. 35 ¶ 35), that he was stripped of his supervisory authority, (Id. ¶ 37), that he was transferred from the Operations Sergeant position he held to a position in the patrol section (see Doc. 61 at 3, 13; Doc. 55, Ex. J at 87-88), and that he was personally subjected to harassment, (Doc. 35 ¶ 38).
Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on July 18, 2006, (Doc. 14), and a second amended complaint on February 12, 2008, (Doc. 35). Defendants thereafter filed motions for summary judgment (Docs. 48, 49, 50) asserting that plaintiff cannot make out a claim of First Amendment retaliation. The parties have fully briefed the issues, which are now ripe for disposition.
Plaintiff advances a claim pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.*fn6 Section 1983 provides for civil liability when official action causes a "deprivation of rights protected by the Constitution." Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690 (1978). However, § 1983 is not an independent source of substantive rights. Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 144 n.3 (1979); Kneipp v. Tedder, 95 F.3d 1199, 1204 (3d Cir. 1996). Rather, "it provides only remedies for deprivations of rights established elsewhere in the Constitution or federal laws." Kneipp, 95 F.3d at 1204; see also Collins v. City of Harker Heights, 503 U.S. 115, 119 (1992) (stating that § 1983 "does not provide a remedy for abuses that do not violate federal law"). In order to establish a § 1983 claim, a plaintiff must demonstrate, first, the deprivation of a constitutional right, and, second, that a "person acting under the color of state law" is responsible for the alleged deprivation. Kneipp, 95 F.3d at 1204 (internal citations omitted); Collins, 503 U.S. at 120.
In the pending matter, plaintiff complains that defendants retaliated against him for exercising his First Amendment rights. To make out a First Amendment retaliation claim, "plaintiffs must show (1) that they engaged in a protected activity, (2) that defendants' retaliatory action was sufficient to deter a person of ordinary firmness from exercising his or her rights, and (3) that there was a causal connection between the protected activity and the retaliatory action."*fn7 Lauren v. DeFlaminis, 480 F.3d 259, 267 (3d Cir. 2007); see also Thomas v. Independence Twp., 463 F.3d 285, 296 (3d Cir. 2006). Defendants can rebut plaintiff's claim by establishing that the action or decision alleged to be retaliatory would have occurred "even in the absence of the protected conduct." Baldassare v. New Jersey, 250 F.3d 188, 195 (3d Cir. 2001); Springer v. Henry, 435 F.3d 268, 275 (3d Cir. 2006). Defendants contend that plaintiff has failed to show that he engaged in an activity protected by the First Amendment, or that any of the defendants were personally involved in retaliating against him, or that retaliatory acts occurred. The court will address these issues seriatim.
A. Failure to Establish a Protected Activity
According to plaintiff, the protected activities in which he engaged include supporting Lantz in her pursuit of her complaint, participating in her complaint, filing complaints himself, and contacting "a known civil rights attorney" who ultimately filed the instant action. (Doc. 61 at 10-12.) As a threshold matter, defendants claim that plaintiff's speech was a matter of private concern rather than citizen speech on a matter of public interest, and as such, it was not constitutionally protected. See Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410, 418 (2006). In Garcetti, the Supreme Court held that, in order to determine whether a public employee's speech is constitutionally protected, one must ascertain "whether the employee spoke as a citizen on a matter of public concern." Id. If he did not, then he "has no First Amendment cause of action" arising from the speech.*fn8 Id. In his opposition brief, plaintiff vaguely states that his "initial involvement in these matters . . . clearly rises to the level of conduct protected under Title VII principles, and is actionable in a Section 1983 First Amendment retaliation claim," (Doc. 61 at 11), but he fails to delineate an example of protected speech with the requisite precision. Plaintiff appears to focus on the filing of the instant lawsuit and Lantz's administrative complaints as his actions qualifying as "protected activity," (see id. at 10-12, 14). To the extent that plaintiff has not abandoned the Garcetti speech claim, the court finds that plaintiff's speech falls squarely in the realm of private concerns. Indeed, plaintiff has failed to identify any specific statements which could be construed as a citizen voicing his opinion on a matter of public concern. He does not have any record evidence of statements alleging, for example, rampant incidents of sexual harassment in the PSP. His expressions of concern relate solely to the treatment of his former spouse. (See, e.g., Doc. 55, Ex. J at 46-47, 58-59.)
Plaintff conflates the protected activity of Garcetti speech with the First Amendment petition clause. The gravamen of plaintiff's retaliation claim is retribution for filing the EEOC/PHRC complaints and the instant matter. It is hornbook law that the act of filing a grievance or a lawsuit is an activity protected as a matter of petitioning for redress. In Foraker v. Chaffinich, the Third Circuit held that a lawsuit is an example of a formal petition, and "when a formal petition is made, the employee need not show that the subject matter of the petition involved a matter of public concern." 501 F.3d 231, 236 (3d Cir. 2007). Accordingly, the court concludes that plaintiff did, indeed, engage in activity protected by the First Amendment by filing the instant action. The court will thus turn to the issues pertaining to defendants' alleged retaliation against plaintiff. Specifically, the court will address whether the retaliatory acts were sufficient to deter a person of ordinary firmness from exercising his rights and whether there is a causal connection between the activity and the retaliatory action. See Lauren, 480 F.3d at 267.
B. Failure to Establish Retaliatory Acts and/or Personal Involvement
Plaintiff alleges that defendants retaliated against him through the IAD investigation, by removing him from SERT, by denying him a promotion, by stripping him of his supervisory duties, by removing him from the position of Operations Sergeant, and by harassing him. (See Doc. 35 ¶ 42; Doc. 61 at 13-14.)
Plaintiff also claims that defendant Lizik directly stated that he "would never be promoted to Lieutenant because of his actions, and specifically, this litigation." (Doc. 61 at 13.) Defendants argue that "[p]laintiff has failed to demonstrate that any of the allegedly adverse actions taken against him were done in retaliation for his engaging in protected [conduct]." (Doc. 66 at 3.) Defendants also contend that plaintiff cannot establish the personal involvement*fn9 of the defendants-Bell, Brown, Lizik, Schuler, Seilhamer, or Weiland-in the alleged retaliation.
1. Investigation of the Complaints by the IAD
Plaintiff alleges that defendant Brown, as "the head of the internal affairs division," was involved in the internal investigations ensuing from the EEOC/PHRC complaints.*fn10 (See Doc. 61 at 4-5, 6, 13-14.) Plaintiff generally avers that the IAD investigation was retaliatory,*fn11 but he fails to bring to the court's attention any evidence substantiating this conclusory allegation. In Brennan v. Norton, 350 F.3d 399 (3d. Cir. 2003), the Third Circuit noted that "[d]etermining whether a plaintiff's First Amendment rights were adversely affected by retaliatory conduct is a fact intensive inquiry . . . ." Id. at 419 (quoting Suarez Corp. Industries v. McGraw, 202 F.3d 676, 686 (4th Cir. 2000)). Some actions-for instance, adverse employment decisions-clearly constitute retaliation when they occur on the basis of protected activity;*fn12 but other actions have no constitutional significance.*fn13 The Third Circuit has held that the "key question in determining whether a cognizable First Amendment claim has been stated is whether 'the alleged retaliatory conduct was sufficient to deter a person of ordinary firmness from exercising his First Amendment rights . . . .'" McKee v. Hart, 436 F.3d 165, 170 (3d Cir. 2006) (quoting Suppan, 203 F.3d at 235). Accordingly, the court will examine whether plaintiff's evidence is adequate to support a finding that the IAD investigation would have caused a "reasonably hardy" person to "refrain from protected activity." See Muti v. Schmidt, 96 F. App'x 69, 74 (3d Cir. 2004).
Plaintiff cannot persuade the court that mere inquiry into the facts pertaining to Lantz's harassment complaint constitutes retaliatory action. To the contrary, employers must investigate allegations of sexual harassment, lest they incur liability. See, e.g., Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775, 780 (1998) ("We hold that an employer is vicariously liable for actionable discrimination caused by a supervisor, but subject to an affirmative defense looking to the reasonableness of the employer's conduct . . . ."). Internal investigations routinely follow complaints like Lantz's, and the court finds no reason to conclude that they deter ordinary individuals from exercising their First Amendment rights. Plaintiff has not provided any evidence that the investigation in the instant case was out of the ordinary. In the absence of any record citations demonstrating impropriety in the IAD investigation, defendants cannot be subject to liability for pursuing their employer's obligation to conduct appropriate inquiry upon notice of such claims. Thus, plaintiff has failed to meet his burden of coming forward with evidence supporting his right to relief, see Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-23, and this allegedly retaliatory act does not present an issue for trial.
2. Removal of Plaintiff from SERT
Plaintiff contends that the defendants*fn14 removed him from SERT without justification, to retaliate against him for the complaints that he and Lantz filed. (See Doc. 59, Ex. 1 ¶ 2; Doc. 59, Ex. 7 ¶ 3; Doc. 59, Ex. 8A ¶ 2; Doc. 59, Ex. 8B ¶ 2.) However, Martsolf's own testimony undercuts this allegation; in his deposition, plaintiff indicated that he was removed from SERT in January of 2005,*fn15 several months before Lantz filed the EEOC/PHRC complaints in May of 2005. Although plaintiff expressed uncertainty regarding the dates on which he was removed from SERT, he has failed to present any evidence suggesting that the EEOC/PHRC complaints pre-dated his removal from SERT or otherwise contradicting his deposition testimony. In light of plaintiff's statement that his removal from SERT occurred in January of 2005, before any complaints were filed, and without evidence to the contrary, no reasonable jury could possibly conclude that the removal constituted retaliation for the complaints. Hence, plaintiff's claims involving his removal from SERT do not present a genuine issue for trial. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249 ("[T]here is no issue for trial unless there is sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party.")
3. Statement that Plaintiff's Complaints Jeopardized His Career
Plaintiff argues that "Lizic [sic] specifically advised Plaintiff . . . that making these complaints had a significant negative, impact on James's career by keeping him off the 'major case team' and hindering his promotion to Lieutenants [sic]." (Doc. 61 at 7; see also Doc. 61 at 4, 13, 14; Doc. 55, Ex. J at 77.) Plaintiff's testimony that Lizik made such a statement clearly supports plaintiff's claim of retaliation, but the court is not persuaded that the statement itself was retaliatory.
The comment purportedly made by Lizik is not a verbal reprimand, and it does not fall within the definition of retaliatory conduct; rather, it simply corroborates past retaliatory conduct. Stated differently, it is evidence that Martsolf's superiors already made retaliatory decisions relating to a promotion and work assignments. The court therefore concludes that the alleged statement does not qualify as retaliatory conduct, but is properly considered at trial as corroborative evidence of retaliation.
4. Denial of a Promotion
The second amended complaint alleges that plaintiff's supervisor, Captain Waters, recommended him for a promotion for which he was qualified, but the promotion was denied.*fn16 (Doc. 35 ¶ 35.) Plaintiff indicates that he believes the denial of a promotion was retaliatory, based on Lizik's statement. (Doc. 55, Ex. J at 101; see also Doc. 59, Ex. 1 ¶ 3.) Denying an employee a promotion for engaging in protected conduct undeniably meets the definition of a retaliatory action. See Brennan, 350 F.3d at 419 (quoting Suarez Corp., 202 F.3d at 686) (holding that an employer infringes an employee's rights when, inter alia, it makes promotion decisions "based on the exercise of an employee's First Amendment rights."). In light of Lizik's alleged statement, the court cannot conclude that a trial on this issue would be an empty and unnecessary formality. Thus, summary judgment is not warranted.
5. Stripping Plaintiff of Supervisory Duties
Plaintiff contends that he was stripped of his supervisory duties. (Doc. 35 ¶ 37.) According to plaintiff's testimony, he had certain authority as the crimes section special projects sergeant, (Doc. 55, Ex. J at 103)-for instance, he was in charge of the vice unit, (id.)-but in the fall of 2005, the vice unit started to answer to the crime lieutenant rather than to plaintiff (id. at 104; see also id. at 107). Plaintiff stated that he was stripped of his supervisory authority when he was assigned to a newly-created task force and relocated, although he asserts that he was still able to fulfill his supervisory duties in spite of his assignment and relocation. (Id. at 106-07, 109-10.) He accuses defendants Lizik, Seilhamer, and Schuler of personal involvement in this alleged retaliatory action.*fn17 (Id. at 107-08.) If proven, and causally connected to plaintiff's complaints, this loss of supervisory responsibility would qualify as retaliatory conduct. See Brennan, 350 F.3d at 419. Although plaintiff's evidence of defendants' personal involvement in stripping him of authority is circumstantial, it is sufficient to give rise to a genuine issue for trial. Thus, summary judgment is inappropriate.
6. Removal of Plaintiff from Operations Sergeant Position
Plaintiff alleges that Lizik directed his removal from the position of Operations Sergeant to a position in the patrol section. (Doc. 61 at 3, 13; Doc. 55, Ex. J at 87-88.) Hearsay statements by an individual named Captain Sheldon Epstein ("Epstein") form the basis for his claim.*fn18 The court will not consider such hearsay testimony as evidence of the truth of the matter asserted. See Shelton v. Univ. of Med. & Dentistry, 223 F.3d 220, 223 n.2 (3d Cir. 2000) ("In this circuit, hearsay statements can be considered on a motion for summary judgment if they are capable of admission at trial.") (citing Stelwagon Mfg. Co. v. Tarmac Roofing Sys., Inc., 63 F.3d 1267, 1275 n.17 (3d Cir. 1995)). However, considering Lizik's position in plaintiff's chain of command, and considering Lizik's alleged statement that plaintiff had jeopardized his career, there is sufficient circumstantial evidence that Lizik was personally involved in transferring plaintiff to present an issue for trial.
7. Harassment of Plaintiff
The basis for Plaintiff's claim that defendants harassed him is neither clearly articulated nor well-documented in the record before the court. Indeed, plaintiff has essentially abandoned the allegations in the second amended complaint in which he claimed that defendants harassed him.*fn19 The court notes, however, that plaintiff alleges that defendants Bell, Weiland, and Lizik harbored a retaliatory animus toward plaintiff (Doc. 61 at 3, 6, 8). Assuming, arguendo, that these allegations form the basis of plaintiff's harassment claim, the court finds that plaintiff has failed to come forward with sufficient supportive evidence to create a genuine issue of fact on said allegations. The court will discuss the inadequacy of plaintiff's evidence against each defendant's alleged harassment in turn.
With respect to defendant Bell, there is no dispute that she had an angry outburst at plaintiff.*fn20 However, plaintiff has provided no other evidence of harassment in the relevant time period.*fn21 (See Doc. 55, Ex. J at 73-74.) The evidence against Bell is therefore insufficient to support a finding that she committed a retaliatory act in violation of the First Amendment. See Hartley v. Pocono Mountain Reg'l Police Dep't, No. 3:04-CV-2045, 2007 WL 906180 at *6 (finding "no basis for a claim of retaliation" in a case in which "[p]laintiff presented evidence of only one discrete instance of alleged harassment").*fn22
Regarding defendant Weiland, plaintiff argues that "[h]e admits to making remarks reflecting an animus against Plaintiff," (Doc. 61 at 6), but he fails to cite to any record evidence of these purported admissions, and the court is unaware of any such evidence. The court notes that, in his deposition, plaintiff testified that Weiland did not harass plaintiff directly.*fn23 This testimony undermines any allegation that Weiland subjected plaintiff to harassment. Thus, plaintiff has failed to present adequate evidence as to Weiland.
Finally, plaintiff alleges that there is "direct evidence of . . . general animus on the part of Lizic [sic] personally." (Doc. 61 at 8). The actions discussed supra-such as Lizik's alleged statement that plaintiff's involvement in the complaints jeopardized his career, the creation of the special task force, and the transfer of plaintiff from the position Operations Sergeant to a position in the patrol section-serve as evidence of Lizik's retaliation.*fn24 However, plaintiff has not come forward with sufficient evidence of personal harassment distinct from plaintiff's claim of retaliation. Therefore, the court will grant summary judgment as to plaintiff's general allegations of harassment.
Plaintiff brings a claim of First Amendment retaliation, but he has abandoned his claims against some of the defendants. Plaintiff's proof is sufficient to support a finding that his conduct was protected under the First Amendment. With respect to the alleged acts of retaliation, plaintiff's evidence is inadequate to establish the retaliatory nature of the IAD investigation or his removal from SERT, or to demonstrate that any named defendants harassed him in retaliation for his protected activity. However, genuine issues of fact remain as to whether defendants Lizik, Seilhamer, or Schuler committed other acts of retaliation against plaintiff in violation of the First Amendment. Therefore, the court will grant defendants' motions for summary judgment in part and deny them in part.
AND NOW, this 15th day of December, 2009, upon consideration of defendants' motions for summary judgment (Docs. 48, 49, 50), and for the reasons set forth in the accompanying memorandum, it is hereby ORDERED that:
1. The motions for summary judgment (Docs. 48, 49, 50) are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as follows:
a. The motions are GRANTED with respect to defendants Vogel, Carnahan, Patrick, Mohney, Krempasky, Sheldone, Brown, Bell, and Weiland.
b. The motion is GRANTED insofar as plaintiff claims that defendants retaliated against him through the IAD investigation, his removal from SERT, or harassed him.
2. The Clerk of Court is instructed to defer entry of judgment until the conclusion of this case.