FREDERICK P. STAMP, JR., District Judge.
The plaintiff, David Jones, filed a complaint in this Court, in which he asserts five counts under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the five defendants. The complaint arises out of posts on the plaintiff's Facebook page that complain about local law enforcement officers and were viewed as an online threat made to multiple public officials. Defendant Michael S. White, II ("Trooper White") learned of a Facebook post about several public officials from another law enforcement officer, and then went to the plaintiff's house to ask him about the post. The plaintiff admitted that he had made the post, and Trooper White then arrested the plaintiff and charged him with one felony count of making terroristic threats. The initial charge was based on a Facebook post dated June 24, 2015. On the date of the preliminary hearing on the initial charge, the State voluntarily dismissed the initial charge and instead charged the plaintiff with two felony counts of retaliation against public officials.
The two new charges were based on two of the plaintiff's Facebook posts from the previous year. Trooper White obtained arrest warrants from the magistrate on the two new charges. Defendants James W. Davis, Jr., Esq. ("Mr. Davis") and Jack Wood, Esq. ("Mr. Wood"), the prosecutor and assistant prosecutor, issued a subpoena to have the plaintiff's nephew, an attorney, testify at the preliminary hearing on the two new charges. The plaintiff's nephew had visited the plaintiff in jail along with two other individuals. At the preliminary hearing on the two new charges, the magistrate found that there was probable cause to believe the plaintiff had committed both offenses and bound the case over to the Circuit Court of Hancock County, West Virginia. The plaintiff alleges that his bail was set at $200,000.00 for the initial charge and $50,000.00 for the two new charges. All charges against the plaintiff were later dismissed.
Count I of the complaint alleges violations of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article III, § 7 of the West Virginia Constitution; Count II alleges violations of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article III, § 6 of the West Virginia Constitution; Count III alleges violations of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution; Count IV alleges vindictive prosecution in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution; and Count V alleges excessive bail in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article III, § 5 of the West Virginia Constitution. For relief, the plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment that the defendants' alleged actions were unlawful and violated his rights, an injunction to prohibit the defendants from subjecting the plaintiff to the conduct alleged in the complaint in the future, compensatory damages, and attorneys' fees and costs.
Defendants Mr. Davis, Mr. Wood, and Hancock County, West Virginia ("Hancock County") have filed a motion to dismiss all counts against them in this matter. Defendants Trooper White and Colonel J. L. Cahill ("Colonel Cahill") (collectively, the "State Police defendants") have also filed a motion to dismiss with prejudice all claims against them. Both of the motions to dismiss are fully briefed and ripe for review. For the following reasons, both motions to dismiss must be granted.
In assessing a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), a court must accept all well-pled facts contained in the complaint as true.
The purpose of a motion under Rule 12(b)(6) is to test the formal sufficiency of the statement of the claim for relief; it is not a procedure for resolving a contest about the facts or the merits of the case. 5B Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller,
A complaint should be dismissed "if it does not allege `enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on is face.'"
This motion to dismiss first argues that the plaintiff has failed to plead any cognizable claim against Hancock County, and that the claims against Hancock County should be dismissed as a matter of law because the plaintiff has not satisfied the federal pleading standard. Next, the motion argues that all claims against Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood, who are and were county prosecutors at all relevant times, must be dismissed due to absolute prosecutorial immunity. The motion then contends that the defendants are also entitled to qualified immunity as to all claims. Lastly, the motion asserts that monetary damages are not available in regard to the West Virginia state constitutional claims, and that those claims are thus moot.
The plaintiff filed a response in opposition to the motion to dismiss. As a preliminary matter, the plaintiff withdraws his Sixth and Eighth Amendment claims against the prosecutor defendants. The plaintiff then argues that his Facebook posts were protected speech because the posts were nearly a year old, made in the context of political speech, and do not satisfy the test for incitement to imminent lawless action under
Specifically, the plaintiff contends that the motion to dismiss should be denied because (1) the complaint establishes the required elements of a § 1983 claim for retaliation in violation of the First Amendment; (2) the complaint states § 1983 claims for false arrest and malicious prosecution in violation of the Fourth Amendment because neither Facebook post constitutes probable cause for the commission of a crime; (3) the prosecutors are not entitled to prosecutorial immunity because of well-established law that prosecutors are not entitled to absolute immunity for investigations and other non-prosecutorial functions; (4) the prosecutors are not entitled to qualified immunity because there was no evidence that the Facebook posts met the requirements of any criminal statute, the plaintiff's First Amendment rights are clearly established, and the magistrate's issuance of a warrant did not insulate them; (5) Hancock County is a proper defendant in this action because the prosecutors' action were taken in accordance with the practices, policies, and procedures of Hancock County; (6) the complaint states a claim that Hancock County violated the plaintiff's Sixth Amendment rights by attempting to interfere with his right to the counsel of his choice; (7) the complaint states a claim that Hancock County violated his Eighth Amendment rights by setting his bail at an unconstitutionally high amount as part of a pattern, practice, or custom of Hancock County; (8) the complaint adequately states a claim for injunctive relief against Hancock County; and (9) the complaint adequately alleges violations of the West Virginia Constitution.
The defendants filed a reply to the plaintiff's response in opposition. In reply, the defendants argue that (1) the plaintiff's First Amendment claims must be dismissed because the defendants are immune from any claim based upon "giving legal advice" or their alleged involvement in any investigation, and they cannot be held liable in connection with allegations that the plaintiff was inappropriately held in jail; (2) the plaintiff's Sixth Amendment claim against Hancock County must be dismissed because the plaintiff had no constitutional right to be represented by his nephew, the plaintiff did not sufficiently plead a Sixth Amendment claim against Hancock County, and the plaintiff's Sixth Amendment claim is not viable simply based upon the alleged facts;
(3) the plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim against Hancock County must be dismissed because the plaintiff does not allege any such wrongdoing on the part of Hancock County; (4) any claim for injunctive relief is moot and cannot proceed in this case because the alleged damages do not amount to "irreparable harm" and it is unclear how any form of injunctive relief could provide a remedy in connection with the alleged damages; and (5) monetary damages are not available in connection with the West Virginia constitutional claims.
This Court finds that Hancock County is not a proper defendant in this action because the plaintiff does not allege that the prosecutors' actions were taken in accordance with any specific practice, policy, or procedure of Hancock County. Under
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has set forth the following pleading standard for a
Here, the plaintiff does not allege any persistent or widespread practice on the part of Hancock County in connection to his Sixth Amendment, Eighth Amendment, or any other claim. The plaintiff also does not allege that Hancock County policymakers had any actual or constructive knowledge of unconstitutional conduct, or that the policy makers were deliberately indifferent to any unconstitutional conduct. Thus, Hancock County cannot be sued under § 1983, and the plaintiff's claims against Hancock County fail under
This Court finds that Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood are entitled to prosecutorial immunity as to the First and Fourth Amendment claims against them. "In initiating a prosecution and in presenting the State's case, the prosecutor is immune from a civil suit for damages under [§] 1983."
Here, the plaintiff's allegations are based on Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood's actions as prosecutors and, thus, "fall squarely under the umbrella of absolute immunity."
This Court notes that the plaintiff has raised several arguments for the first time in his response. First, the plaintiff argues in his response that his First Amendment claims against the prosecutors should not be dismissed because the prosecutors provided legal advice to the State Police defendants. However, the plaintiff did not allege in his complaint that the prosecutors provided legal advice, and, thus, this Court cannot consider the argument in ruling on the motion to dismiss. Second, the plaintiff argues in his response that his claims are based upon the prosecutors' involvement in the investigation of his charges. The plaintiff also did not allege in his complaint that the prosecutors were involved in the investigation. Thus, that argument also fails.
Additionally, the plaintiff argues in his response that his claims should not be dismissed because they are based on the prosecutors holding him in jail for "hours" while new complaints against him were being prepared. This Court finds that this claim must be dismissed because it was not unconstitutional to hold the plaintiff in jail for several hours while the complaint was being prepared.
Even if Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood were not entitled to prosecutorial immunity, they would still be entitled to qualified immunity. "Government officials performing discretionary functions are entitled to qualified immunity from liability for civil damages to the extent that `their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.'"
Here, the plaintiff has not alleged that Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood clearly violated the law when they prosecuted the plaintiff for violations of West Virginia Code § 61-5-27(c)(1). Section 61-5-27(c)(1) provides that it is illegal for individuals to cause or threaten to cause harm to public officials in retaliation for the public official's performance or nonperformance of an official duty. This Court finds that the plaintiff's Facebook posts establish probable cause that the plaintiff violated § 61-5-27(c)(1).
The July 7, 2014 Facebook post includes a link to an article about Judge Martin J. Gaughan's work with teenage drug addicts. Above the link, the plaintiff writes in the post that "Hancock County Judge Martin J. Gaughan feels sympathetic to heroin users" and urges "heroin users" to go to Judge Gaughan's home, "take what you want, trash the place and terrorize HIS family." That post also urges the "heroin users" to not "forget the nasty New Cumberland mayor on Ridge Ave who hides behind her home security system." ECF No. 1-5. The August 24, 2014 Facebook post provides a link to an article about Representative Randy Swartzmiller's involvement with the State Dangerous Wild Animals Board. Along with the link to the article, the plaintiff includes in the post Representative Swartzmiller's home address and instructions to "criminals and crackheads" to go to the home and "do everything you have done to terrorize other citizens of Hancock County. Help yourself to his stuff. . . . Camp out in woods and stay as long as you like." ECF No. 1-7.
After reviewing both of these posts, this Court finds that the plaintiff did, in violation of the West Virginia statute, express dissatisfaction with public officials and then threaten to harm those public officials. Thus, the defendant prosecutors properly prosecuted the plaintiff for violating the statute. The plaintiff does not allege any facts that might show that Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood violated clearly established statutory or constitutional rights in prosecuting the plaintiff under the statute. Instead, the facts show that Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood had probable cause to believe that the plaintiff violated the statute. Accordingly, Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood are entitled to qualified immunity.
The plaintiff has alleged that Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood made inflammatory statements to the press. Specifically, the plaintiff alleges prosecutors made inflammatory statements in a certain newspaper article in which the prosecutors were asked to comment on the charges filed against the plaintiff. The article in question states:
ECF No. 1-11. This Court finds that none of the prosecutors' statements in the article can be characterized as inflammatory. The statements are simply a generic report to the press about the nature of the charges filed against the plaintiff. Thus, the plaintiff's inflammatory statements claim fails under
The plaintiff has withdrawn his Sixth Amendment claim as to
Mr. Wood and Mr. Davis, but maintains it as to Hancock County. For the reasons discussed previously, Hancock County is not a proper defendant in this case and all claims against it must be dismissed, including the Sixth Amendment claim. Even if Hancock County were not dismissed from the case and the plaintiff had not withdrawn the claim against Mr. Davis and Mr. Wood, the claim would still fail as to all three defendants on the merits.
In his Sixth Amendment claim, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants violated his constitutional right to counsel by subpoenaing his nephew, Jerry Krzys, who is an attorney. Jerry Krzys had visited the plaintiff in jail while he was being held on the two felony counts of retaliation under West Virginia Code § 61-5-27. However, at the time the subpoena was issued, attorney Philip Sbrolla, not Jerry Krzys, was the plaintiff's attorney of record. Furthermore, Jerry Krzys was not licensed to practice law in the state of West Virginia at the time the subpoena was issued. Thus, any conversation that Jerry Krzys had with the plaintiff at the jail was not protected by attorney-client privilege, and the plaintiff's Sixth Amendment right to counsel was not violated by the subpoena.
In his Eighth Amendment claim, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants conspired to set his bail at an unconstitutionally high amount in violation of the Eighth Amendment. However, Mr. Wood and Mr. Davis are prosecutors and, thus, do not set bail. Rather, the presiding judge set the plaintiff's bail.
The plaintiff has requested monetary damages in connection with his West Virginia state constitutional claims. However, the West Virginia Constitution does not contain any provision allowing for monetary damages as a result of alleged state constitutional violations.
The plaintiff has also requested an order enjoining the defendants from "subjecting [the plaintiff] to the conditions set forth in the Complaint." ECF No. 1 at 15. This Court first notes that
As to the claim against the prosecutor defendants for prospective injunctive relief, the Fourth Circuit has stated:
Here, this Court finds that the plaintiff has not shown any real or immediate threat that he will be wronged again in a similar way absent injunctive relief. Even assuming the prosecutor defendants had violated the plaintiff's constitutional rights, the past violation would not amount to a real and immediate threat of further constitutional violations. Thus, the plaintiff's allegation that he will be similarly injured in the immediate future is merely speculative and does not entitle him to injunctive relief.
In their motion to dismiss, the State Police defendants argue that the plaintiff pleads no facts that show that he has a plausible claim to relief against them under the Sixth and Eighth Amendments. Additionally, the State Police defendants argue that Trooper White is entitled to qualified immunity from the plaintiff's claims against him under the First and Fourth Amendments because he had at least arguable probable cause to arrest the plaintiff. Lastly, the State Police defendants contend that the official capacity claims against them fail as a matter of law because the plaintiff cannot seek monetary damages or retrospective declaratory relief against government officials sued in their official capacities, and he has pled no facts to show that there is an imminent threat of future harm to him that would warrant prospective injunctive relief.
The plaintiff filed a response in opposition to the motion to dismiss. As a preliminary matter, the plaintiff withdraws his Sixth and Eighth Amendment claims, but not his West Virginia constitutional claims, against Trooper White in his individual capacity. The plaintiff states that, with respect to those claims, he seeks only injunctive relief against the State Police defendants in their official capacities for their federal constitutional violations. The plaintiff then argues that Trooper White ignored fundamental First Amendment principles by arresting the plaintiff without a warrant for allegedly making a conditional threat in a political Facebook post. Next, the plaintiff argues that, after it was determined that the complaint would be dismissed, Trooper White looked for additional protected speech to retaliate against the plaintiff and conspired to keep the plaintiff in custody when no charges were pending. The plaintiff further contends that the State Police defendants fail to offer a single case supporting the conclusion that any of the speech at issue is unprotected or that the plaintiff could be twice arrested and incarcerated for engaging in protected speech.
Specifically, the plaintiff contends that the motion to dismiss should be denied because (1) the complaint establishes the required elements of a § 1983 claim for retaliation in violation of the First Amendment; (2) the complaint states § 1983 claims for false arrest and malicious prosecution in violation of the Fourth Amendment because neither Facebook post constitutes probable cause for the commission of a crime; (3) Trooper White is not entitled to qualified immunity because there was no evidence that the Facebook posts met the requirements of any criminal statute, the plaintiff's First Amendment rights are clearly established, and the magistrate's issuance of a warrant did not insulate him; (4) the complaint states a claim that the State Police defendants violated the plaintiff's Sixth Amendment rights by attempting to interfere with his right to the counsel of his choice; (5) the complaint states a claim that the plaintiff's Eighth Amendment rights were violated because his bail was set at an unconstitutionally high amount as part of a pattern, practice, or custom of the State Police; (6) the complaint adequately states a claim for injunctive relief against the State Police defendants; and (7) the West Virginia Constitution allows for monetary damages.
The State Police defendants filed a reply to the plaintiff's response in opposition. In reply, the State Police defendants argue that (1) the plaintiff does not allege any facts to overcome Trooper White's qualified immunity from his claims under the First and Fourth Amendments; (2) the plaintiff does not allege any facts to state a claim under the Sixth or Eighth Amendments against them; (3) the plaintiff does not allege any facts that would entitle him to injunctive relief; and (4) the plaintiff does not allege any claims under the West Virginia Constitution.
Like the prosecutor defendants, the State Police defendants are entitled to qualified immunity from the plaintiff's First and Fourth Amendment claims against them. The plaintiff alleges that the State Police defendants violated his First Amendment rights by arresting him in retaliation for engaging in constitutionallyprotected speech. The plaintiff alleges that the State Police defendants violated his Fourth Amendment rights because he was arrested without a warrant or exigent circumstances.
The Fourth Circuit has stated:
Here, the State Police defendants are entitled to qualified immunity because they had probable cause to support the arrest of the plaintiff and, thus, reasonably believed that their actions were lawful.
Furthermore, the First Amendment does not protect true threats, even if the threat is conditional in nature.
Based on the plaintiff's admission regarding the Facebook post, this Court finds that the State Police defendants had probable cause to believe the plaintiff had violated the West Virginia terroristic threat statute. Because the State Police defendants had probable cause for the arrest, they are entitled to qualified immunity from the plaintiff's First and Fourth Amendment claims against them.
Also like with the prosecutor defendants, this Court finds that the plaintiffs' Sixth and Eighth Amendment claims against the State Police defendants fail under
In his Eighth Amendment claim, the plaintiff alleges that his bail was set at an unreasonably high amount. However, the plaintiff also does not allege any facts to how the State Police defendants are were involved in setting the plaintiff's bail. Even if the plaintiff had alleged that the State Police defendants were involved, police officers do not have the authority to set bail. Rather, judges set bail. W. Va. Code § 62-1C-3. Thus, the plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim against the State Police defendants also fails.
As is discussed above regarding the prosecutor defendants' motion to dismiss, the West Virginia Constitution does not contain any provision allowing for monetary damages as a result of alleged state constitutional violations. Thus, the plaintiff's claim for monetary damages in connection with the alleged state constitutional violations also fails under
The plaintiff's claim for prospective injunctive relief also fails against the State Police defendants for the same reasons it failed against the prosecutor defendants. Under
For the reasons set forth above, J.L. Cahill and Michael S. White, II's motion to dismiss (ECF No. 9) and James W. Davis, Jr., Esq., Jack Wood, Esq. and Hancock County, West Virginia's motion to dismiss (ECF No. 12) are GRANTED. Additionally, Hancock County, West Virginia, James W. Davis, Jr., Esq., and Jack Wood, Esq.'s motion for a protective order (ECF No. 28) is DENIED AS MOOT. It is further ORDERED that this civil action be DISMISSED and STRICKEN from the active docket of this Court.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
The Clerk is DIRECTED to transmit a copy of this memorandum opinion and order to counsel of record herein. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58, the Clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment on this matter.