Opinion ID: 8598
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Rocha's Remarks in the Witness Interviews

Text: 35 Cantu claims that Rocha's statements to the three witnesses violated the confidentiality branch of her right to privacy. The district court, denying defendants' motion for qualified immunity, relied exclusively on this ground, holding that Rocha's comments were so patently offensive and useless to his investigation that a reasonable officer would have known that he or she was violating Plaintiff's clearly established right of privacy. Engaging the balancing test, the district court noted that the alleged statements served no legitimate state interest because they were made gratuitously and could not have aided in apprehending the person who allegedly perpetrated the assault. 36 It is unclear what the district court meant to imply by stating that the comments were made gratuitously. Officer Rocha is not alleged to have disclosed any information about the assault or Cantu's behavior that the witnesses did not already know. See Cinel v. Connick, 15 F.3d 1338, 1343 (5th Cir.) ([a]ppellant cannot claim that his privacy has been invaded when allegedly private materials have been disclosed to those who already know the details of that material), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 189, 130 L.Ed.2d 122 (1994). Rather, it appears that Rocha was commenting upon information initially spoken of by the witnesses. In addition, the state's legitimate law enforcement interest is not limited to apprehending an alleged perpetrator. There is also a substantial interest in ferreting out the basis and veracity of criminal allegations. See Ramie v. City of Hedwig Village, 765 F.2d 490, 492-93 (5th Cir.1985) ([a]lthough in retrospect some question may be determined to be irrelevant and not within the government's proper sphere of concern, police officers must have the freedom at least to ask the questions they believe will aid them in the investigation and recognizing that asking otherwise proper questions in an abusive and harassing manner does not amount to invasion of privacy), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1062, 106 S.Ct. 809, 88 L.Ed.2d 784 (1986). 37 There is no invasion of privacy when the material disclosed was already known to the recipient. Cinel, 15 F.3d at 1343. Law enforcement must be allowed considerable latitude to explore the veracity of a complainant, as well as the identity of the alleged perpetrator, and to explore reasonable inferences raised by what witnesses offer in an investigatory context. See Ramie, 765 F.2d at 492-93. As measured by clearly established law, Cantu failed to alleged violation of the constitutional right to privacy. See Anderson, 483 U.S. at 639, 107 S.Ct. at 3039 (relevant legal rule which must be clearly established is identified with reference to the particularized facts and circumstances of the case). It follows that Rocha is entitled to summary judgment on the issue of qualified immunity from suit on Cantu's § 1983 claim that he invaded her privacy by making inappropriate remarks in the witness interviews. 38 Cantu also asserted a § 1983 claim against Salazar based on Rocha's objectionable remarks. Cantu argues that Salazar is liable for Rocha's misconduct because he failed to properly train, supervise or control Rocha's actions. Although supervisory officials cannot be held liable under § 1983 on a theory of respondeat superior, they may be liable if their own action or inaction, including a failure to properly supervise, amounts to gross negligence or deliberate indifference which is the proximate cause of a constitutional violation. Bowen v. Watkins, 669 F.2d 979, 988 (5th Cir.1982). Cantu attempts to demonstrate Salazar's independent culpability with evidence that Salazar was aware of other student complaints against Rocha. Our judgment that Cantu's allegations against Rocha with regard to the witness interviews failed to allege violation of clearly established law mandates the conclusion that Cantu's derivative claim against Salazar must also fail. Assuming, arguendo, that Salazar was grossly negligent or deliberately indifferent, Cantu failed to allege any proximately caused constitutional violation. Salazar is entitled to qualified immunity on Cantu's claim that his supervision of Rocha was negligent. 39