Opinion ID: 153608
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 4 Appellants filed this action for declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and damages as next of friends and guardians of their son, Veltran Trujillo, Jr. (Trujillo), based on alleged violations of Trujillo's constitutional rights, laws of the United States, breach of contract, and prima facie tort. Appellants' claims arose out of the circumstances surrounding the permanent expulsion of Trujillo from Taos Municipal Schools by appellee, Ruben R. Quintana (Quintana), Principal of Taos Junior High School. The undisputed facts are as follows. 5 In November, 1993, Trujillo was enrolled in the seventh grade at Taos Junior High School. On November 15, 1993, Trujillo carried a .22 caliber pistol to school. When confronted by school officials, Trujillo admitted that he had a gun in his physical education locker and turned it over to them. 6 On November 17, 1993, Assistant Principal Irene Hern (Hern) sent a notice of hearing to Trujillo's parents, appellants. The notice of hearing indicated that Trujillo had violated the weapons policy by carrying a gun on campus and that the purpose of the hearing was [t]o determine if student shall ... [b]e recommended for expulsion. (Plaintiff-Appellant's Corrected Brief in Chief at 263). 7 At the hearing, appellants were informed that Trujillo was being suspended or expelled from Taos Municipal Schools. Shortly thereafter, Gloria Trujillo visited Quintana and asked how long Trujillo was expelled. Quintana responded that Trujillo was expelled for the remainder of the school year and advised her to enroll him in the Questa or Penasco public schools. On December 17, 1993, a written decision was mailed to appellants in which Quintana upheld the recommendation of Hern and expelled Trujillo from Taos Municipal Schools. 8 On February 4, 1994, Trujillo, by letter and through counsel, requested that Quintana advise him of the exact period of his expulsion. On March 10, 1994, Trujillo again wrote Quintana and requested a Grievance Hearing. A grievance hearing was set for April 14, 1994. At the hearing, Quintana refused to reconsider Trujillo's expulsion and advised appellants to see Superintendent Aragon if they were unsatisfied with his decision. 9 On April 20, 1994, Trujillo requested Superintendent Aragon reconsider his expulsion. Superintendent Aragon responded by letter of April 26, 1994, that he would notify appellants of the time and date for a meeting as soon as he met with the appropriate staff and reviewed the case. No meeting was ever scheduled or held. 10 Thereafter, appellants initiated this action. Appellees moved for summary judgment on the grounds that they are entitled to qualified immunity, appellants were provided due process, and appellants failed to exhaust their post-deprivation administrative remedies. Appellants moved for summary judgment on their claims of violation of their right to procedural due process, equal protection, and breach of contract. 11 On August 10, 1995, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of appellees on appellants' due process and equal protection claims and dismissed without prejudice appellants state law breach of contract and tort claims.