Opinion ID: 2314184
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Violet

Text: One does not have to go beyond the face of the complaint to conclude that the claim against Attorney General Violet was frivolous. The two counts directed against her (i.e., Counts III and IV) charge sex discrimination during the 1985-1986 Training Academy. In order to prevail on either of those claims, the plaintiffs were required to prove that Violet treated women less favorably on account of their gender. Such claims are patently groundless because Violet, herself, is a woman. Moreover, the only factual allegations made to support those claims were that Violet failed to take action to redress the complaints made by several female candidates. (Compl. ¶¶ 37-48). The Complaint is devoid of any allegations that Violet was motivated by any intent to discriminate against women. In fact, plaintiffs' counsel admitted that no such contention was being made. (Tr. 8/25/88 at 27-28). In addition, in order to prevail under Title VII, the plaintiffs were required to prove that Violet was their employer. Any such claim is without foundation in this case because, as the plaintiffs' counsel concedes, the Rhode Island Attorney General plays no role in hiring or directing state troopers. (Tr. 8/25/88 at 24). Supervision of the State Police is vested in the Governor who is a separately elected official and heads an entirely different department of government. See R.I.Gen.Laws § 42-28-1 and § 42-28-5 (1956) (1988 Reenactment). It was for those reasons that this Court granted Violet's motion for judgment on the pleadings. It is also for those reasons that the Court now concludes that the claims asserted against Violet were frivolous. They might further be characterized as brought to harass and embarrass because, as previously noted, the letter of May 25, 1986, from Ms. Schiff to the then president of the Lodge suggests that the plaintiffs brought this suit not to seek redress for alleged sex discrimination but rather as part of a continuing labor/management struggle between the Lodge and the official leadership of the Rhode Island State Police. See supra pp. 21-22 [1135-36]. This Court is in no position to make any judgments regarding the merits of that dispute, and, in any event, such a judgment would be irrelevant in this case. What is relevant is that an effort to accomplish a goal completely unrelated to the stated purpose of litigation by making unsupportable claims against their persons constitutes the kind of bad faith that warrants an award of attorneys' fees. The amount that should be awarded to Violet is easily determined. Neither the number of hours documented by her counsel nor the reasonableness of the hourly rates claimed are in dispute. (Tr. 8/18/89 at 42). Therefore, the Court finds that Violet is entitled to attorneys' fees of $54,168.50, the full amount claimed.