Filed: Jan. 26, 2001
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-50327 Summary Calendar RICARDO BOLANOS, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus YSLETA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; ET AL., Defendants, ARMENIA SMITH, Defendant-Appellant. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Consolidated with _ No. 00-50367 Summary Calendar _ RICARDO BOLANOS, Plaintiff-Appellant, V. YSLETA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; ET AL., Defendants, ARMENIA SMITH, Defendant-Appellee. - Appeals from the United States District Court fo
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-50327 Summary Calendar RICARDO BOLANOS, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus YSLETA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; ET AL., Defendants, ARMENIA SMITH, Defendant-Appellant. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Consolidated with _ No. 00-50367 Summary Calendar _ RICARDO BOLANOS, Plaintiff-Appellant, V. YSLETA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; ET AL., Defendants, ARMENIA SMITH, Defendant-Appellee. - Appeals from the United States District Court for..
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 00-50327
Summary Calendar
RICARDO BOLANOS,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
YSLETA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT; ET AL.,
Defendants,
ARMENIA SMITH,
Defendant-Appellant.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Consolidated with
____________________
No. 00-50367
Summary Calendar
____________________
RICARDO BOLANOS,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
V.
YSLETA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; ET AL.,
Defendants,
ARMENIA SMITH,
Defendant-Appellee.
--------------------
Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. EP-99-CV-141-DB
--------------------
January 24, 2001
No. 00-50327
c/w 00-50367
-2-
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, WIENER, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Armenia Smith argues that the district court erred in
denying her motion for summary judgment because she asserts that
the district court incorrectly applied the law to the summary
judgment evidence submitted by the parties. Smith argues that
even if the evidence submitted by appellee Bolanos in opposition
to her motion is assumed to be true, he failed to show that
Smith’s conduct was not objectively reasonable. Smith argues
that Bolanos did not present evidence to support a determination
that his coaching contract was not renewed in retaliation for
exercising his First Amendment right of free speech.
Ordinarily, this court lacks jurisdiction to review the
denial of summary judgment because such a decision is not a final
order under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Palmer v. Johnson,
193 F.3d 346,
350 (5th Cir. 1999). However,“[d]istrict court orders denying
summary judgment on the basis of qualified immunity are
immediately appealable under the collateral order doctrine,
notwithstanding their interlocutory character, when based on a
conclusion of law.” Lukan v. North Forest ISD,
183 F.3d 342, 345
(5th Cir. 1999) (internal quotations and citations omitted),
cert. denied,
120 S. Ct. 1420 (2000). The existence of disputed
issues of material fact does not necessarily preclude review of
the case if the appellant argues that the facts the district
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
No. 00-50327
c/w 00-50367
-3-
court deemed supported by the record reflect that the appellee’s
conduct was objectively reasonable under the circumstances
because, in that instance, the appellant is asserting that the
district court made an error of law rather than an error of fact.
Lukan, 183 F.3d at 345.
The district court denied Smith’s request for qualified
immunity because it determined that there was a genuine issue of
material fact with respect to Smith’s motive for not renewing
Bolanos’ coaching contract. The record reflects that there are
disputed factual issues with respect to the reason that Smith did
not renew Bolanos’ coaching contract. These issues of fact are
material because the resolution of that factual dispute will
determine whether Smith did not renew the contract because of
Bolanos’ poor coaching performance or in retaliation for Bolanos
exercising his First Amendment right of free speech.
Lukan, 183
F.3d at 345-46.
Because the denial of qualified immunity as to Smith was
based on a genuine issue of material fact rather than a question
of law, this court does not have jurisdiction over Smith’s
interlocutory appeal. Smith’s appeal is DISMISSED. See
Palmer,
193 F.3d at 351.
Because there has been no final judgment in the case and
because the appeal is dismissed, the court has no jurisdiction to
consider Bolanos’ cross-appeal from the district court’s order
denying his motion to remand. See Ford v. Elsbury,
32 F.3d 931,
935 (5th Cir. 1994). Thus, Bolanos’ cross-appeal is also
DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for lack of jurisdiction.