Source: http://pa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19880208_0041241.C03.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-10 18:51:55
Document Index: 633901201

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1983', '§ 10908', '§ 10508', '§ 1983', '§ 1291', '§ 1983', '§ 1291']

| W.D.D. Inc. v. Thornbury Township
W.D.D., INC.v.THORNBURY TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY AND COPELAND, JOHN G., JR., APPELLANTS
Greenberg, Scirica, and Hunter, Circuit Judges.
This is an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Appellee W.D.D., Inc. ("WDD") alleged that its civil rights were violated in connection with certain land use restrictions imposed by a municipality. Appellants Thornbury Township and John G. Copeland, Jr. appeal the denial of their motion for reconsideration of the denial of summary judgment in their favor. For reasons stated below, we will dismiss the Township's appeal for lack of appellate jurisdiction, and reverse the denial of summary judgment with regard to appellant Copeland.
On April 22, 1986, Copeland sent a letter to WDD advising that the Board had not approved the plan. At that time however, the Board had not yet taken any formal action at a public meeting with respect to the plan. The Board's formal action did not come until it held a special meeting on May 21, 1986. At that meeting the Board voted, pursuant to 53 P.S. § 10908(3), to intervene in the Duling's appeal of the Zoning Hearing Board's grant of variances. The Board also at that meeting formally voted to deny the subdivision plan. Both decisions were passed by a 2-1 vote, with Supervisors Copeland and John C. Budzinski*fn1 in the majority, and Supervisor Pauley, who had consistently supported WDD, dissenting.
The day after the meeting, WDD commenced an action in the Court of Common Pleas, seeking to force the Township to approve its original plan. On June 13, 1986, the court decided that because the township had not acted on the plan within the time prescribed by 53 P.S. § 10508, the Board must "approve [the original] plan in terms as submitted." Appendix at 270.
While the dispute between WDD and the township continued to wind its way through the state courts for another year after this ruling,*fn2 it was at this point that the instant matter entered the federal court. WDD filed a complaint in state court against the Township and Copeland, alleging violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, on June 18, 1986; the defendants then removed the case to the District Court, and later moved for summary judgment. The motion was denied as to both defendants on March 19, 1987.
Generally, 28 U.S.C. § 1291 does not give this court jurisdiction to consider the denial of a motion for summary judgment. Metex Corp. v. ACS Industries, Inc., 748 F.2d 150, 153 (3d Cir. 1984); Forsyth v. Kleindienst, 599 F.2d 1203, 1207 (3d Cir. 1979), cert. denied sub nom. Mitchell v. Forsyth, 453 U.S. 913, 69 L. Ed. 2d 997, 101 S. Ct. 3147 (1981). As discussed below in Part III, there is an exception to this rule when the appeal centers on the denial of a claim of immunity. Appellant Thornbury Township, however, does not claim immunity from suit. Its entire argument, both in the District Court and on appeal to this court, is that under the applicable law of § 1983 claims it is entitled to summary judgment.*fn3 Since there has been no final judgment in this case, and since the township does not raise a claim of immunity, this court has no jurisdiction to decide whether the District Court properly denied the motion to reconsider its denial of summary judgment.
Unlike WDD, appellant Copeland does raise an issue which is appealable at this point. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, a party may appeal to this court before the entry of a final judgment if the District Court has made a "collateral order" which is effectively a final determination of the party's rights on a particular issue. See Cohen v. Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp., 337 U.S. 541, 546, 93 L. Ed. 1528, 69 S. Ct. 1221 (1949). Under this collateral order doctrine, a public official claiming qualified immunity from suit may appeal a denial of summary judgment, where there are no disputes of fact material to the official's qualified immunity claim. Mitchell v. Forsyth, 472 U.S. 511, 524-30, 86 L. Ed. 2d 411, 105 S. Ct. 2806 (1985); Chinchello v. Fenton, 805 F.2d 126, 129 (3d Cir. 1986). The sole issue that may be raised on appeal in such a case is whether the official's conduct violated a legal norm which was clearly established at the time of the allegedly illegal conduct; this is a "purely legal" question, and this court has plenary review. Mitchell, 472 U.S. at 528 & n.9; Chinchello, 805 F.2d at 130-31.
The question for this court, then, is whether Copeland violated any right of WDD's which was clearly established at the time of the alleged violation. Review of this question in this court must begin with an identification of the right which WDD claims was violated by Copeland, and whether that right was clearly established at the time of the acts at issue. If WDD had no clearly established right, then Copeland is immune from suit and is entitled to summary judgment. If there was a clearly established right, the next question is whether Copeland in fact violated WDD's rights and whether Copeland "knew or reasonably should have known that the action he took within the sphere of official responsibility would violate the constitutional rights of the plaintiff, or if he took the action with the malicious intention to cause a deprivation of constitutional rights or other injury." Wood v. Strickland, 420 U.S. 308, 322, 43 L. Ed. 2d 214, 95 S. Ct. 992 (1975).
Because WDD does not effectively allege any connection between Copeland's actions and the violation of any clearly established right, this court will reverse and remand for an entry of summary judgment in favor of Copeland; there seems to be no need to resolve the second question described above by having a full trial.*fn4 WDD alleges that Copeland used his position as Supervisor of Thornbury Township to intimidate, harass, and conspire with other township officials to deprive WDD of its constitutional right to have its plans heard by a fair and impartial tribunal. Appellants argue, conversely, that since Supervisor Copeland was authorized to vote on land development proposals, his opposition to WDD's land development plan was a proper exercise of his discretion.
The question comes down to the nature of WDD's right to receive a hearing before a "fair and impartial tribunal." WDD is quite correct in contending that it does have such a right. However, its later contention, that a tribunal with a member "personally interested" is not impartial, is irrelevant because WDD makes no claim whatsoever that Copeland is or was personally interested. At the most it claims that Copeland was "strongly opposed" to WDD's plan, but it makes no allegation that this opposition was due to personal interest. For all that WDD has told the court, Copeland may simply be strongly opposed to the plan because he believes it not to be in the township's best interests. Opposition to a plan by a Board member, however, is not violative of due process; it is entirely proper for members of such legislative bodies to have strong opinions about the matters before them. And because it appears that Copeland was within his legal rights in voting to join the Duling appeal, WDD has failed to show that Copeland's actions could have violated any clearly established right.*fn5 Consequently, Copeland is immune to suit and should be granted summary judgment.