Opinion ID: 2971441
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Mayor Ann Durham

Text: Tucker’s allegations against Mayor Durham are as follows: (1) she personally authorized some of the investigatory actions taken by the police; (2) during a speech in a City Commission meeting, she No. 03-6336 Tucker v. City of Richmond, Kentucky, et al. Page 7 mentioned Tucker’s name, among others, saying that “[w]e should never have to be insulted or threatened by the Kay Jones[es], the Steve Womacks, the Jim Blakes, the Greg Tuckers, the Dwayne Roadens of this World . . . .”; and (3) following Tucker’s filing of an ethics complaint over what he perceived to be improper conduct by City officials, Mayor Durham voted for, and the City adopted, an ordinance that requires a party who files a frivolous ethics complaint to pay the attorneys’ fees of the accused official. With regard to the first allegation, we have already held that none of the police activities complained of rose to the level of a constitutional violation. Therefore, Mayor Durham cannot be held liable for her role in authorizing any of the activities. Mayor Durham’s comment about Tucker, which apparently was made in response to some of the protected flyers’ allegations of public corruption, does not constitute an adverse action that is capable of the requisite chilling effect. The comment merely indicated Mayor Durham’s view that “we should never have to be insulted or threatened” by people who make allegations such as Tucker made in the protected flyers. It conveyed no threat and simply could not have deterred Tucker or anyone else from engaging in constitutionally-protected speech. Therefore, Mayor Durham is entitled to qualified immunity for this comment. Finally, Mayor Durham is entitled to absolute immunity with regard to her vote on the ordinance providing that a party who files a frivolous lawsuit ethics complaint must pay attorneys’ fees to the accused official. “Absolute legislative immunity attaches to all actions taken ‘in the sphere of legitimate legislative activity.’” Bogan v. Scott-Harris, 523 U.S. 44, 54 (1998) (quoting Tenney v. Brandhove, 341 U.S. 376, 376 (1951)). Absolute immunity extends to local mayors who are acting in official “legislative capacit[y],” and passing an ordinance is an example of an action taken in official legislative capacity. Shoultes v. Laidlaw, 886 F.2d 114, 117 (6th Cir. 1989).