Opinion ID: 171452
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Did The Mayor Personally Participate in Mr. Thomas's Dismissal?

Text: Mr. Sacchieri won summary judgment in district court on the ground that he had not personally participated in the firing of Mr. Thomas. Our review of the court's decision on Mr. Sacchieri is de novo. Seamons v. Snow, 206 F.3d 1021, 1026 (10th Cir.2000). For Mr. Sacchieri to be personally liable for Mr. Thomas's termination, we must find a causal connection between Mr. Sacchieri's actions and a violation of Mr. Thomas's constitutional rights. See Wulf v. Wichita, 883 F.2d 842, 864 (10th Cir.1989). Finding none, we affirm the district court's summary judgment as to Mr. Sacchieri. Mr. Thomas admits that his case is circumstantial, but he correctly maintains this is no barrier to proving causation. He cites: The history of Mayor Sacchieri violating the building rules, Sacchieri's request for a certification on the house in question prior to final inspection, Edwards['] treatment of the Mayor as his boss, Edwards' statement to Thomas in connection with the critical incident that we all have bosses, Sacchieri's conduct in attending the inspection and trying to get his house passed when it was not compliant and the firing of Mr. Thomas on the day scheduled for closing of the house.... Aplt. Br. 35-36 But none of these facts, even viewing them in the light most favorable to Mr. Thomas, ties Mr. Sacchieri to Mr. Thomas's termination. They show grounds for frustration on Mr. Sacchieri's part, and perhaps even pressure on Mr. Edwards to get the certificate. Nothing, however, links the decision to fire Mr. Thomas to Mr. Sacchierino statement is offered as evidence of Mr. Sacchieri's role, not even an indirect one. Even if we assume that Mr. Edward and Mr. Ketchum fired Mr. Thomas in order to curry favor with the Mayor, this is not sufficient to hold the latter responsible. See, e.g., Tonkovich v. Kansas Bd. of Regents, 159 F.3d 504, 533 (10th Cir.1998) (plaintiff must allege specific facts showing an agreement and concerted action amongst defendants). Unless an official participates personally in a constitutional violation, as by instructions or improper training, he cannot be held responsible for the acts of his subordinates even if those acts were committed for his benefit. The record on summary judgment contains nothing to show that Mr. Sacchieri was a participant in the decision-making process that led up to Mr. Thomas's termination. As the district court concluded, Mr. Thomas offered no evidence that Sacchieri requested plaintiff's termination or that he was involved in any way in the decision to terminate plaintiff. In fact, the evidence shows that he was not aware that plaintiff had been terminated until several days after the fact.