Opinion ID: 2680601
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: From 1991 until his termination on November 3, 2010, Nord was employed as a deputy sheriff in Walsh County, North Dakota. He served at the pleasure of Sheriff Lauren Wild, who had been the duly elected sheriff since 1989. In early 2010, Nord entered the sheriff election, running against Wild. Both Nord and Wild earned 1 Wild apparently did not raise qualified immunity as a defense to the alleged Fourteenth Amendment violation. Accordingly, that issue is not before us in this appeal. 2 We have jurisdiction under the collateral order doctrine to hear this interlocutory appeal of the district court's denial of Wild's qualified immunity defense. Robbins v. Becker, 715 F.3d 691, 693 (8th Cir. 2013); see also Owen v. City of Independence, Mo., 445 U.S. 622, 638-39 (1980) (recognizing that the qualified immunity defense is available to individuals, not to local government units). We 'may not consider summary judgment on the merits of the case at this interlocutory stage.' Lockridge v. Bd. of Trs., of the Univ. of Ark., 315 F.3d 1005, 1012 (8th Cir. 2003) (en banc) (quoting Mettler v. Whitledge, 165 F.3d 1197, 1202 (8th Cir. 1999)). Accordingly, our jurisdiction in this appeal does not extend to the denial of summary judgment on the other federal and state law claims in this appeal. The County and Wild also appeal the district court's findings related to the municipality liability claim. We will exercise pendent [appellate] jurisdiction over such an appeal only in the 'exceptional circumstance' in which it is 'inextricably intertwined' with the qualified immunity appeal, which occurs when the resolution of the qualified immunity claim 'necessarily resolves the pendent claims as well.' S.L. ex. rel. Lenderman v. St. Louis Metro. Police Dep't Bd. of Police Comm'rs, 725 F.3d 843, 854 (8th Cir. 2013) (quoting Lockridge, 315 F.3d at 1012). We decline to exercise our pendent appellate jurisdiction here. Therefore, the only claim properly before us in this appeal is Wild's qualified immunity defense to Nord's First Amendment claim. -2- enough votes in the primary election to appear on the general election ballot.3 During Nord's campaign, he maintained his position as deputy sheriff without any change in pay or benefits and, according to Wild's deposition testimony, performed his duties as deputy sheriff. Nord does not assert that Wild in any way interfered with his campaign efforts. On November 2, 2010, Wild won the election. The day following the election Wild called Nord into the office at 8:00 a.m., rather than his scheduled 1:00 p.m. shift, and terminated Nord's employment. Prior to terminating Nord, Wild consulted Tanya Wieler, the County's human resources consultant, and Barbara Whelan, the Walsh County attorney, regarding Nord's tenure. Both Wieler and Whelan told Wild he was within his authority as sheriff to terminate Nord. Nord's termination caused some unrest in the County and resulted in a recall election, which Wild also won. During the recall election, Wild made statements that Nord was fired in accordance with an unwritten rule that deputy sheriffs who run against the sheriff will be fired and for certain statements Nord made during the campaign. After his termination, Nord searched for another job, and in May 2011, was hired as a deputy in the Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department. On December 17, 2010, Nord filed this § 1983 lawsuit against Walsh County and Wild. Nord alleged that he was fired in retaliation for the statements he made along the campaign trail, statements, he claims, that were protected by the First Amendment. Wild moved for summary judgment asserting a qualified immunity defense, which the district court denied. Wild appeals the denial of qualified immunity. 3 In North Dakota, sheriff elections are conducted using a non-partisan ballot which excludes political party designations. N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-11-08. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary advance to the general election. Id. § 16.1-11-37. -3-