MATTHEW W. BRANN, District Judge.
Pending before this Court is a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint filed by all
This action arises out of the termination
On June 19, 2014, Plaintiff was summoned to a meeting with Defendant Kelley, District Superintendent, but was given no advance notice as to the purpose of the meeting. Id. ¶ 25. Following the meeting
Several months later, in October 2014, Defendant Kelley was arrested in New York for aggravated DUI and for leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Id. ¶ 36. The Shikellamy school board
As a result of the letter and her subsequent termination, Plaintiff alleges that she has suffered damages to her reputation, and that her ability to continue to be employed as an elementary school principal has been impaired. Id. ¶ 39. She has, moreover, suffered damages in the form of loss of income, employment benefits, and the inability to obtain another position with another school district. Id. ¶ 40. Because she alleges that the actions of the Defendants were "outrageous, extremely offensive and intentional and discriminatory," and that they "were performed with malicious, reckless indifference, and/or wanton disregard of Plaintiff's civil rights," she seeks an award of punitive damages. Id. ¶ 41-42, 46, 49, 55, 66.
When considering a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), a court must view all allegations stated in the complaint as true and construe all inferences in the light most favorable to plaintiff. See Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73, 104 S.Ct. 2229, 81 L.Ed.2d 59 (1984); Kost v. Kozakiewicz, 1 F.3d 176, 183 (3d Cir.1993). However, "the tenet that a court must accept as true all of the [factual] allegations contained in the complaint is inapplicable to legal conclusions." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (internal citations omitted). In ruling on such a motion, the court primarily considers the allegations of the pleading, but is not required to consider legal conclusions alleged in the complaint. See Kost, 1 F.3d at 183. "Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. At the motion to dismiss stage, the court considers whether plaintiff is entitled to offer evidence to support the allegations in the complaint. Maio v. Aetna, Inc., 221 F.3d 472, 482 (3d Cir.2000).
A complaint should only be dismissed if, accepting as true all of the allegations in the amended complaint, plaintiff has not pled enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face. See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 561, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). "Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief will ... be a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 663-664, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
"In considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, we must be mindful that federal courts require notice pleading, as opposed to the heightened standard of fact pleading." Hellman v. Kercher, No. 07-1373, 2008 WL 1969311 at *3 (W.D.Pa. May 5, 2008) (Lancaster, J.). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 "requires only a `short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,' in order to `give the defendant fair notice of what the... claim is and the grounds on which it rests,'" Twombly, 550 U.S. at 554, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)). However, even under this lower notice pleading standard, a plaintiff must do more than recite the elements of a cause of action, and then make a blanket assertion of an entitlement to relief. See Hellman, 2008 WL 1969311 at *3. Instead, a plaintiff must make a factual showing of his entitlement to relief by alleging sufficient facts that, when taken as true, suggest the required elements of a particular legal theory. See Twombly, 550
The failure-to-state-a-claim standard of Rule 12(b)(6) "streamlines litigation by dispensing with needless discovery and fact-finding." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 326-27, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989). A court may dismiss a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) where there is a "dispositive issue of law." Id. at 326, 109 S.Ct. 1827. If it is beyond a doubt that the non-moving party can prove no set of facts in support of its allegations, then a claim must be dismissed "without regard to whether it is based on an outlandish legal theory or on a close but ultimately unavailing one." Id. at 327, 109 S.Ct. 1827.
Defendants initially argue that Plaintiff has not pled a procedural due process claim for several reasons. First, they contend that she did not request a hearing, as required under Pennsylvania law governing the dismissal of school district employees, and therefore she cannot allege that her failure to receive one was in violation of her procedural due process rights. Moreover, they argue, contrary to her assertions of constructive discharge, she actually resigned from her position and, accordingly, Defendants did not deprive her of her rights. Finally, Defendants argue that Plaintiff's conduct was tantamount to "immoral behavior" under Pennsylvania law and thus there was cause to dismiss her.
Plaintiff responds that she did have a constitutionally protected property interest in continued public employment pursuant to 24 P.S. § 11-1122, and that one DUI does not constitute an act of immorality sufficient to trigger the provisions of that law. Furthermore, she asserts that she had a protected liberty interest in her reputation which was violated when Defendants terminated her employment for allegedly engaging in conduct of intemperance, immorality and moral turpitude. Finally, she avers that she was denied her pre- and post-termination due process rights to sufficient notice and a hearing.
To begin with, § 1983 is not a source of substantive rights; rather, it merely provides a remedy for violations of constitutional rights. See City of Oklahoma City v. Tuttle, 471 U.S. 808, 815, 105 S.Ct. 2427, 85 L.Ed.2d 791 (1985). To establish a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Plaintiffs must initially demonstrate that: (1) the conduct complained of was committed by a person acting under color of state law; and (2) the conduct deprived the complainant of rights secured under the Constitution or federal law. See Sameric Corp. of Delaware, Inc. v. City of Philadelphia, 142 F.3d 582, 590 (3d Cir.1998). As a preliminary matter, Plaintiff has alleged that the Defendants were acting under color of state law when they committed the actions which allegedly violated her constitutional rights.
"Property interests, of course, are not created by the Constitution. Rather they are created and their dimensions are defined by existing rules or understandings that stem from an independent source such as state law-rules or understandings that secure certain benefits and that support claims of entitlement to those benefits." Bd. of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 577, 92 S.Ct. 2701, 33 L.Ed.2d 548 (1972). This means that courts are directed to look to state law in determining whether a property interest exists in any given scenario. Consequently, this Court must determine whether Plaintiff had, pursuant to Pennsylvania law, a property interest in continued employment as Elementary School Principal of Shikellamy School District.
Plaintiff alleges that she had a statutorily defined property interest in her continued employment as a professional employee under 24 P.S. § 11-1122. That section of the Public School Code of 1949 (hereinafter, the "School Code") provides, in pertinent part, "The only valid causes for termination of a contract heretofore or hereafter entered into with a professional employee (sic) shall be [certain enumerated causes]." 24 P.S. § 11-1122(a). Plaintiff qualifies as a professional employee pursuant to 24 P.S. § 11-1101(1) ("The term `professional employe (sic)' shall include those who are certificated as ... principals ..."). Plaintiff's argument regarding the applicability of § 11-1122 appears to rely solely on her status as a professional employee; however, Plaintiff fails to recognize that pursuant its explicit wording, this section of the School Code applies only to professional employees who are under contract with the School District.
Next, the Court must assess whether Plaintiff was deprived of that property interest. Defendants characterize Plaintiff's exit from her position as a voluntary resignation; Plaintiff, on the other hand, portrays her departure as one in which she was forced to resign and did so under protest, in a manner effectively amounting to a constructive discharge.
Leheny v. City of Pittsburgh, 183 F.3d 220, 227 (3d Cir.1999). The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has further articulated that there are two circumstances in which an employee's resignation will be considered involuntary, that is: "(1) when the employer forces the resignation or retirement by coercion or duress, or (2) when the employer obtains the resignation or retirement by deceiving or misrepresenting a material fact to the employee." Id. at 228. Since Plaintiff has alleged nothing to the effect that Defendants deceived her or misrepresented a material fact to procure her resignation, this Court interprets her complaint to allege that she was forced to resign under coercion or duress and will analyze it accordingly.
In determining whether a resignation was procured involuntarily due to coercion or duress, courts have considered several factors, including: (1) whether the employee was presented with an alternative to resignation; (2) whether the employee understood the nature of the choices she was given; (3) whether the employee had a reasonable time to choose; (4) whether the employee was permitted to select the effective date of resignation; and (5) whether the employee had the advice of counsel. See O'Connell v. County of Northampton, 79 F.Supp.2d 529, 533 (E.D.Pa.1999) (citing Hargray v. City of Hallandale, 57 F.3d 1560, 1568 (11th Cir. 1995)). In this case, Plaintiff has alleged that she was given approximately one day to choose whether she would resign or face termination proceedings. It is not clear to the Court whether Plaintiff had the advice of counsel in electing the former, nor whether she was permitted to select the
Finally, Plaintiff must also allege that her deprivation occurred without due process of law. Pursuant to Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill, an essential principle of due process is that a deprivation of life, liberty or property be preceded by notice and an opportunity for a hearing. 470 U.S. 532, 542, 105 S.Ct. 1487, 84 L.Ed.2d 494 (1985). This means that an employee who possesses a constitutionally protected property interest in employment must be given at least some way to respond to the charges against her prior to discharge. Id. Plaintiff alleges that she was not given any type of hearing but was, rather, summarily forced to resign.
Plaintiff also asserts a liberty interest in her reputation, of which she was deprived when Defendants terminated her employment because they claimed she had engaged in conduct of intemperance, immorality, and moral turpitude. Defendants do not respond to this argument. Effectively, Plaintiff is asserting a violation of her procedural due process rights based on a "stigma-plus" theory.
The United States Supreme Court has held that an individual has a protected interest in his or her reputation. See Wisconsin v. Constantineau, 400 U.S. 433, 437, 91 S.Ct. 507, 27 L.Ed.2d 515 (1971) ("Where a person's good name, reputation, honor, or integrity is at stake because of what the government is doing to him, notice and an opportunity to be heard are essential."). However, the Supreme Court has since clarified that reputation alone does not create a protected liberty interest; "[r]ather, to make out a due process claim for deprivation of a liberty interest in reputation, a plaintiff must show a stigma to his reputation plus deprivation of some additional right or interest." Hill v. Borough of Kutztown, 455 F.3d 225, 236 (3d Cir.2006) (citing Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 701, 96 S.Ct. 1155, 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976)). This is known as the stigma-plus test. In the public employment context,
In this case, Plaintiff alleges that she was discharged for failing to notify the school district about the possibility that she would be charged with a DUI. She attaches to her complaint the above-referenced letter from Defendant Kelley in which he characterizes her actions as ones involving immorality, intemperance, and moral turpitude. It is these characterizations to which she appears to take issue. However, Plaintiff has not alleged that these statements, which were sent to her in private letter from Defendant Kelley, were made public as required to state a deprivation of a liberty interest. See Chabal v. Reagan, 841 F.2d 1216, 1223 (3d Cir.1988) ("[A] plaintiff must plead that the allegedly stigmatizing information was `published' or otherwise disseminated by his government employer to the public.").
Defendant next argues that Plaintiff's claim for violation of her substantive due process rights must be dismissed for two reasons. First, they contend that the right to hold public employment is not a fundamental right and therefore not protected by substantive due process. Additionally, they argue that the conduct alleged could not possibly shock the conscience. Plaintiff responds only to the latter contention, arguing that a reasonable fact-finder could conclude that Defendants' conduct, as alleged, shocks the conscience and that she should be entitled to discover additional facts in support of her claim.
To prevail on a substantive due process claim challenging a state actor's conduct, "a plaintiff must establish as a threshold matter that he has a protected property interest to which the Fourteenth Amendment's due process protection applies." Nicholas v. Pennsylvania State Univ., 227 F.3d 133, 139-40 (3d Cir.2000). This Court has already found that Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged an established property interest in her employment pursuant to state law. However, "not all property interests worthy of procedural due process protection are protected by the concept of substantive due process." Reich v. Beharry, 883 F.2d 239, 243 (3d Cir.1989). Whether a property interest is protected for purposes of substantive due process is a question that is not answered by state law. See Hill, 455 F.3d at 234 n.12. Rather, a property interest is protected for the purposes of substantive due process only if it is considered "fundamental" under the United States Constitution. Nicholas, 227 F.3d at 140. "If the interest is not `fundamental,' however, the government action is entirely outside the ambit of substantive process and will be upheld so long as the state satisfies the requirements of procedural due process." Id. at 142.
With regard to the case at bar, the Third Circuit has explicitly determined that public employment is not a fundamental
Moreover, to the extent Plaintiff's substantive due process claim rests on reputational injury that decreased her ability to earn a living, it also fails.
Defendants next argue that Plaintiff's equal protection claim must be dismissed because she has failed to demonstrate facts sufficient to establish that she was treated differently from "similarly situated individuals." Rather, they argue, despite Plaintiffs' attempt to classify Defendant Kelley as such, he is not a similarly situated individual because he holds a completely different position. Plaintiff counters that the parties need not be identical, but rather must only be alike in all relevant respects. Moreover, she argues, determining whether an individual is "similarly situated" to another is a highly factual inquiry which is inappropriate at the motion to dismiss stage.
The Fourteenth Amendment "requires that all persons ... shall be treated alike, under like circumstances and conditions, both in the privileges conferred and in the liabilities imposed." Hayes v. Missouri, 120 U.S. 68, 71-72, 7 S.Ct. 350, 30 L.Ed. 578 (1887). Two theories exist upon which a plaintiff may assert an equal protection claim. "The traditional theory protects a plaintiff from discriminatory treatment based on membership in a protected class." D'Altilio v. Dover Twp., Civil Action No. 1:06-CV-1931, 2007 WL 2845073, at *8 (M.D.Pa. Sept. 26, 2007) (Conner, J.). To assert a claim under this theory, a plaintiff must allege the following elements: (1) that she is a member of a protected class; (2) that she was treated differently from similarly situated individuals; and (3) that this disparate treatment was based on her membership in the protected class. See Barnett v. School Dist. of Lancaster, Civil Action No. 14-2414, 2015 WL 1312730, at *3 (E.D.Pa. Mar. 24, 2015) (citing Kasper v. County of Bucks, 514 Fed.Appx. 210, 214 (3d Cir.2013)). Plaintiff has alleged no facts from which this Court can infer that she was a member of a protected class and that the disparate treatment she suffered was based upon her membership in that protected class. Moreover, she has failed to argue such a claim in her brief.
Defendant also argues that Plaintiff's claim for breach of contract must be dismissed because Plaintiff has failed to identify the nature and extent of her alleged contractual relationship with Defendants, its essential terms, and what specific terms Defendants may have breached. In her response, Plaintiff appears to rest her breach of contract claim on one of two possibilities: (1) an implied contract between her and the Defendants and/or (2) a statutorily obligated contractual relationship stemming from § 11-1122 of the Public School Code.
To plead a cause of action for breach of contract, a plaintiff must establish: (1) the existence of a contract, including its essential terms; (2) a breach of a duty imposed by that contract; and (3) resultant damages. See CoreStates Bank, N.A. v. Cutillo, 723 A.2d 1053, 1058 (Pa.Super.1999). "While not every term of a contract must be stated in complete detail, every element must be specifically pleaded." Id. (citing Snaith v. Snaith, 282 Pa.Super. 450, 422 A.2d 1379, 1382 (1980)).
As explained previously, Plaintiff has failed to allege the existence of an employment contract separate and apart from the application of Pennsylvania statutory law; she has also failed to specifically plead its essential terms. The existence of a contract is the preeminent element of a breach of contract claim, without which Plaintiff's claim must fail. Importantly, the existence of a Pennsylvania statute which provides for termination of public school employees only for specific causes does not create a contract between Plaintiff and her employer, the School District. If Plaintiff believes that Defendants have acted in contravention of that mandate, her remedy is statutory; she cannot claim a contractual remedy where there has been no actual contract.
Furthermore, to the extent Plaintiff attempts to aver in her brief that there was an implied contract of employment between her and the School District, this argument also fails. "The general rule in Pennsylvania is that employment is at-will unless there is a statutory or contractual provision to the contrary." Wallett v. Pennsylvania Turnpike Comm'n, 528 Fed.Appx. 175, 180 (3d Cir.2013). "The at-will employment doctrine provides that absent a statutory or contractual provision to the contrary, the employer and employee each have the power to terminate the employment relationship for any or no reason." Weaver v. Harpster, 601 Pa. 488, 975 A.2d 555, 557 n.3 (2009). In the absence of an express contract, "[a]n
Courts have found additional consideration sufficient to overcome the at-will presumption when the employee "affords his employer a substantial benefit other than the services which the employee is hired to perform, or when the employee undergoes a substantial hardship other than the services which he is hired to perform." Jones v. Flaster/Greenberg P.C., Civil Action No. 13-2771, 2013 WL 6846916, at *3 (E.D.Pa. Dec. 30, 2013). In the alternative, courts have also held that "[i]n the employment context, the communication to employees of certain rights, policies and procedures may constitute an offer of an employment contract with those terms. The employee signifies acceptance of the terms and conditions by continuing to perform the duties of his or her job; no additional or special consideration is required." Darlington v. General Electric, 350 Pa.Super. 183, 504 A.2d 306, 320 (1986).
Although generally the issue of whether parties intended to create an implied contract would be an issue for the finder of fact, see DiBonaventura v. Consolidated Rail Corp., 372 Pa.Super. 420, 539 A.2d 865, 868 (1988), Plaintiff must still set forth sufficient facts to allege the existence of an implied contract. See Hellman, 2008 WL 1969311, at *3 ("[E]ven under this lower notice pleading standard, a plaintiff must do more than recite the elements of a cause of action, and then make a blanket assertion of an entitlement to relief under it. Instead, a plaintiff must make a factual showing of his entitlement to relief by alleging sufficient facts that, when taken as true, suggest the required elements of a particular legal theory."). In this case, Plaintiff has set forth no facts which would demonstrate the existence of an implied contract. The Court will not infer a contract merely from Plaintiff's implied assertion that one existed.
Defendant argues that Plaintiff's claim for punitive damages must be dismissed because Plaintiff's complaint is devoid of any allegations of outrageous conduct by the Defendants to warrant the imposition of punitive damages. Plaintiff responds that she has set forth sufficient allegations to entitle her to request punitive damages, specifically, that Defendant Kelley and the school board as a whole acted with evil motive and intent when terminating her. She argues further that they recklessly disregarded the severe consequences of their actions in that their decision deprived Plaintiff of her means of livelihood and disparaged her reputation.
Punitive damages are available in a proper case asserted pursuant to § 1983. See Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 30, 103 S.Ct. 1625, 75 L.Ed.2d 632 (1983). A plaintiff in a § 1983 case may qualify for a punitive damages award when the defendant's conduct is, at a minimum, reckless or callous. See Savarese v. Agriss, 883 F.2d 1194,
However, this standard applies only to defendants sued in their individual capacities; neither municipalities nor defendants sued in their official capacities can be liable for punitive damages. See City of Newport v. Fact Concerts, Inc., 453 U.S. 247, 271, 101 S.Ct. 2748, 69 L.Ed.2d 616 (1981) (holding that punitive damages cannot be awarded against municipalities); Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 167 n. 13, 105 S.Ct. 3099, 87 L.Ed.2d 114 (1985) (holding that suits against individual defendants in their official capacities are equivalent to suits against the municipalities that employed them; therefore the individual defendants are immune from punitive damages); see also Gregory v. Chehi, 843 F.2d 111, 120 (3d Cir.1988) ("Punitive damages cannot be recovered from defendants in their official capacities"). It is undisputed that public school districts, such as Shikellamy, are considered municipal entities. See Doe v. Allentown Sch. Dist., Civil Action No. 06-cv-1926, 2009 WL 536671, at *5 (E.D.Pa. Mar. 2, 2009) (citing Jett v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., 491 U.S. 701, 109 S.Ct. 2702, 105 L.Ed.2d 598 (1989)). Accordingly, all requests for punitive damages against Defendant Shikellamy School District and the individual Defendants, to the extent they are sued in their official capacities, must be dismissed.
However, Plaintiff has also asserted claims against the individual Defendants in their individual capacities. Consequently, the Court must determine whether Plaintiff has adequately pled her multiple requests for punitive damages. It is well settled in Pennsylvania jurisprudence that "[p]unitive damages will not be assessed for a breach of mere contractual duties. Only where the person who breaks a contract also breaches some duty imposed by society will compensatory or punitive damages be imposed against the wrongdoer in order to punish the wrongful act and in order to serve as a deterrent." Daniel Adams Associates v. Rimbach Publishing Inc., 287 Pa.Super. 74, 429 A.2d 726, 728 (1981). This means that, in order to recover punitive damages, a plaintiff must plead some sort of recovery in tort which arises out of the same transaction. See Standard Pipeline Coating Co., Inc. v. Solomon & Teslovich, Inc., 344 Pa.Super. 367, 496 A.2d 840, 844 (1985). Because there are no allegations in the complaint to establish a breach of any societal duty, Defendants' motion to dismiss the punitive damages request is granted insofar as the request is asserted pursuant to Plaintiff's breach of contract claim.
However, as explained above, punitive damages are available in a proper case asserted pursuant to § 1983 when the defendant's conduct is, at a minimum, reckless or callous. See Wade, 461 U.S. at 30, 103 S.Ct. 1625. Plaintiff has alleged that the actions of the individual Defendants were "outrageous, extremely offensive and intentional and discriminatory toward [Plaintiff] and were performed with malicious,
Defendants next argue that this Court should dismiss all claims against the individual defendants asserted in their official capacities because such claims are redundant of the claims asserted against the School District. They contend that the law is clear that such parties must be dismissed from the action. Plaintiff responds that redundancy is not a proper basis for dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Moreover, she contends, dismissal is discretionary and in this case naming the individual Defendants in their official capacities would not unnecessarily confuse the issues or clutter the case. In their arguments, both parties appear to assume that the claims are only asserted against the individual Defendants in their official capacities, rather than in their individual capacities.
Section 1983 lawsuits against individuals in their official capacities "represent only another way of pleading an action against an entity of which an officer is an agent." Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165-66, 105 S.Ct. 3099, 87 L.Ed.2d 114 (1985). Defendants who are public officials can be sued in either their individual or their official capacities; the difference between the two is often unclear. As a result, the United States Supreme Court has attempted to distinguish them, holding that individual capacity suits "seek to impose personal liability upon a government official for actions he takes under color of state law." Id. at 165, 105 S.Ct. 3099. In such a case, the plaintiff need only show that the official, acting under color of state law, caused the deprivation of a federal right. Id. at 166, 105 S.Ct. 3099. On the other hand, in an official capacity suit, the suit is not against the official personally; rather, the real party in interest is the entity. See id. Therefore, because a governmental entity is only liable under § 1983 when it is a moving force behind the deprivation, "in an official-capacity suit the entity's `policy or custom' must have played a part in the violation of federal law." Id. (quoting Monell v. New York City Dep't of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 690 n.55, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978)).
Because official capacities suits are just another way of suing the entity itself, many courts in this and surrounding districts have held that claims asserted against individual defendants in their official capacities are redundant if the plaintiff has also sued the entity. See, e.g., Markovich v. Panther Valley School Dist., Civil Action No. 3:13-3096, 2014 WL 3735292, at *4 (M.D.Pa. July 28, 2014) (Mannion, J.) (citing Burton v. City of Philadelphia, 121 F.Supp.2d 810, 812 (E.D.Pa.2000)) ("To the extent that the claims against Ms. Prorembo in her official capacity, they are redundant of the claims against the governmental entity and may be dismissed."); E.B. v. Woodland Hills School Dist., Civil
Before doing so, however, this Court must address Plaintiff's argument that redundancy is not a proper basis for dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Plaintiff cites to only one case from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in support of her argument, Coffman v. Wilson Police Department. In that case, the court held that a Rule 12(b)(6) motion does not address the redundancy of claims; it only questions their validity. 739 F.Supp. 257, 261 (E.D.Pa.1990). However, the court did not cite to any case law in support of that proposition and it is clear from the multitude of cases cited above that a 12(b)(6) motion is, in fact, a proper avenue through which to dismiss redundant parties.
Be that as it may, despite Plaintiff's failure to make the argument in her brief, she has in fact sued each individual Defendant in both their individual and official capacities. Moreover, in her complaint she avers that at all times relevant, "Defendants were acting under color of law and color of their authority as officials of Shikellamy School District." She goes on to detail the specific actions that the individuals took which contributed to her constitutional injury. Though the Court today undertakes to dismiss all claims against the individual Defendants in their official capacities, at this stage of the litigation it cannot similarly dismiss all claims against them in their individual capacities on this basis. Accordingly, this Court will dismiss all claims asserted against the individual Defendants in their official capacities as duplicitous of the claims asserted against the school district.
Defendants also argue that the claims asserted by Plaintiff against the individual Defendants must be dismissed because these individual Defendants enjoy high public official immunity. Plaintiff responds first that the doctrine of high public official immunity does not apply to cases under § 1983 or breach of contract cases. Moreover, she contends, even if it did it would not apply to the instant action where the conduct of Defendants fell outside the scope of their official authority.
Pennsylvania recognizes a doctrine of absolute immunity for high public officials. See Lindner v. Mollan, 544 Pa. 487, 677 A.2d 1194, 1195 (Pa.1996). Generally, high public official immunity immunizes certain officials "from all civil suits arising out of false defamatory statements and even from statements or actions motivated by malice, provided the statements are made or the actions are taken in the
However, all of these enumerated claims for which high public officials are entitled to absolute immunity under Pennsylvania law are tort claims. See Kane v. Chester County Dept. of Children, Youth and Families, 10 F.Supp.3d 671, 697 (E.D.Pa.2014) ("Under Pennsylvania law, `high public officials' are absolutely immune from tort liability stemming from action taken within the scope of their authority." (emphasis added)). This Court is unable to find a single case in which a Pennsylvania court has extended the doctrine to include either contract or constitutional claims. Importantly, it is clear to this Court that Defendants cannot utilize a state immunity such as the one at issue to insulate themselves from the application of a federal law under § 1983. The United States Supreme Court has explicitly stated that "[a]s to persons that Congress subjected to liability, individual states may not exempt such persons from federal liability in state court by relying on their own common-law heritage; to hold otherwise would enable states to nullify for their own people the legislative decisions that congress has made on behalf of all the people." Howlett v. Rose, 496 U.S. 356, 110 S.Ct. 2430, 110 L.Ed.2d 332, (1990); see also Martinez v. State of California, 444 U.S. 277, 284 n.8, 100 S.Ct. 553, 62 L.Ed.2d 481 (1980) ("Conduct by persons acting under color of state law which is wrongful under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 or § 1985(3) cannot be immunized by state law. A construction of the federal statute which permitted a state immunity defense to have controlling effect would transmute a basic guarantee into an illusory promise; and the supremacy clause of the constitution insures that the proper construction may be enforced."). For these reasons, the Court declines to extend the application of Pennsylvania's high public official immunity in the instant case to shield Defendants from liability for any alleged constitutional or contractual violations. Accordingly, Defendants' motion to dismiss on this basis is denied.
Finally, the individual Defendants argue that they are entitled to qualified immunity on Plaintiffs' claims because it would not be unreasonable for the school board members or superintendent to believe that it is lawful to ask for the resignation of a principal who was faced with possible prosecution for DUI, and who failed to disclose the severity of her conduct to the School District because a principal is in a position of respect and authority and should be a positive role model for students. Thus, they contend, Defendants were not violating a clearly established statutory or constitutional right when they asked for Plaintiff's resignation. Plaintiff responds, in pertinent part, that she had a constitutionally protected property interest in continued employment and could only be terminated for cause, and upon notice and hearing, of which a reasonable person would be aware.
In determining whether a defendant is entitled to the protections of qualified immunity, courts employ a two-part test. First, the court must consider whether the facts that the plaintiff has demonstrated make out a violation of a constitutional right. See id., 533 U.S. at 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151. If the plaintiff has satisfied that inquiry, the court must next decide whether the constitutional right at issue was "clearly established" at the time of the defendant's alleged misconduct. See id. The Supreme Court has recently stressed that there is no mandatory order in which to consider the two prongs of this qualified immunity analysis. See Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 236, 129 S.Ct. 808, 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009) ("On reconsidering the procedure required in Saucier, we conclude that, while the sequence set forth there is often appropriate, it should no longer be regarded as mandatory. The judges of the district courts and the courts of appeals should be permitted to exercise their sound discretion in deciding which of the two prongs of the qualified immunity analysis should be addressed first in light of the circumstances in the particular case at hand.").
Defendant argues primarily that the rights at issue were not clearly established. In determining whether a constitutional right was clearly established, a broad and generalized declaration that a clearly established federal right was violated is insufficient. See Anderson v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635, 640, 107 S.Ct. 3034, 97 L.Ed.2d 523 (1987) (holding that the mere assertion that the Fourth Amendment prohibits warrantless searches without probable cause and exigent circumstances was not enough to demonstrate that the right was clearly established). Rather, in order for a constitutional right to be `clearly established,' "[t]he contours of the right must be sufficiently clear that a reasonable official would understand what he is doing violates that right." Id. at 640-41, 107 S.Ct. 3034. Put another way, for the purposes of the qualified immunity analysis, a right is considered clearly established if "it would be clear to a reasonable officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted." Saucier, 533 U.S. at 202, 121 S.Ct. 2151.
It is has often been assumed in the Third Circuit, without much comment, that if an employee is constructively discharged, he is entitled to certain due process protections, including a pre-discharge hearing. See Hill, 455 F.3d at 245-46 (holding, on a motion to dismiss, that Plaintiff had sufficiently stated a claim for
Moreover, the law on what constitutes a constructive discharge is even less clearly established, given the increasingly divergent situations in which employees have claimed or established constructive discharge. As far as this Court can discern, Plaintiff here rests her allegation of constructive discharge on the shortage of time that she was given to think about and respond to Defendant Kelley's request for resignation. At the same time, though Defendant Kelley provided Plaintiff with less than twenty-four (24) hours in which to determine whether she wanted to resign to procure a neutral reference, he also provided her with the reasonable alternative of foregoing resignation and allowing Defendants to issue a written statement of charges for dismissal. Pl.'s Complaint, Ex. A. He also informed her that these charges might result in an impact upon Plaintiff's status with the Department of Education. Id.
Plaintiff has cited to no law which would demonstrate that in such a situation it was clearly established that Defendants must have provided her with a hearing prior to her resignation, and this Court has found none that are factually similar, particularly considering Defendants' offer of a reasonable alternative to her resignation. In fact, the relevant case law would tend to suggest otherwise. See, e.g., Caruso v. Superior Court of Delaware, Civ. Action No. 12-277-GMS-CJB, 2013 WL 1558023, at *8 (D.Del. Apr. 12, 2013) ("It is important to note that when considering these factors [for constructive discharge claims], the mere fact that an employee is faced with a choice between resignation, on the one hand, and possible termination, on the other hand, is not enough to show that the separation was involuntary."); Leheny, 183 F.3d at 227 ("If an employee retires of his own free will, even though prompted to do so by some action of his employer, he is deemed to have relinquished his property interest in his continued employment for the government[.]"); Hargray, 57 F.3d at 1568 ("[R]esignations can be voluntary even where the only alternative to resignation is facing possible termination for cause or criminal charges[.]").
Accordingly, this Court holds that it is not a clearly established deprivation, for the purposes of procedural due process, to offer Plaintiff two alternatives — resignation with a neutral reference or dismissal charges with whatever negative consequences that might ensue — even though she was given little time to make her decision. A reasonable school board official in that situation would not know, especially without any case law on point, that it was unlawful to request Plaintiff's resignation in the face of such a reasonable alternative.
In accordance with the foregoing reasoning, Defendants' Motion to Dismiss is granted in part and denied in part. With respect to Plaintiff's procedural due process claim in Count I, to the extent it is predicated on her property interest in her job as codified by 24 P.S. § 11-1122 or upon Plaintiff's liberty interest in her reputation, Defendants' motion to dismiss is granted without prejudice, with leave to amend in accordance with this Court's decision. However, to the extent Plaintiff's procedural due process claim is predicated on her property interest in her job as codified by 24 P.S. § 5-514, Defendant's motion to dismiss is denied. In addition, Defendants' motion to dismiss is granted with prejudice with respect to Plaintiff's substantive due process and equal protection claims in Counts II and III. Moreover, Defendants' motion to dismiss is granted with respect to Plaintiff's breach of contract claim in Count IV without prejudice with leave to amend in accordance with the Court's decision. Finally, Plaintiff's claims for punitive damages are dismissed as against the School District and the individual Defendants to the extent they are sued in their official capacities.
With regard to the defenses of the individual Defendants, Defendants' request that the claims against the individual Defendants in their official capacities be dismissed on the basis of redundancy is granted. Their request for high public official immunity is denied. Finally, the individual Defendants are granted qualified immunity and accordingly dismissed from the instant action.
AND NOW, in accordance with the memorandum of this same date, it is HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
