JOAN A. LENARD, District Judge.
This is a case related to the destruction of a vessel called the "METIS 0." Plaintiff James Edward Hoefling, Jr. ("Hoefling") owned the "METIS 0," lived on the vessel, and stored all of his personal possessions on the vessel. Hoefling alleges that on August 20, 2010, two officers from the City of Miami Police Department's Marine Patrol Detail, Sergeant Jose Gonzalez ("Gonzalez"), and Officer Ricardo Roque ("Roque"), searched the "METIS 0" and subsequently ordered that the vessel be destroyed. Based on this order, the vessel and all of Hoefling's personal belongings, with the exception of a generator, were crushed and placed in a
Plaintiff provided as an exhibit to his original Complaint a document entitled "City of Miami Office of Code Enforcement NOTICE," which was signed by Officer Alejandro Macias and dated May 27, 2010. (Compl., D.E. 1, Ex. 3 (Notice).) This Notice was attached to Plaintiff's vessel and informed Plaintiff that the vessel was unlawfully on the property. (See id.)
Plaintiff provided as an exhibit to his Amended Complaint three City of Miami Police Department Incident Reports, dated May 27, 2010, August 20, 2010, and September 20, 2010 (Exhibit 3). The narrative from the May 27, 2010 City of Miami Police Department Incident Report shows that Hoefling had notice of the derelict condition of the vessel and provides the following description of the events:
(Am. Compl. Ex. 3 (May 27, 2010 Incident Report).)
(Am. Compl. Ex. 3 (August 20, 2010 Incident Report).) The report indicates that the item recovered from the vessel was a "red inverter." (Id.) The September 20, 2010 City of Miami Police Department Incident Report narrative provides the following description of the events:
(Am. Compl. Ex. 3 (September 20, 2010 Incident Report).)
Hoefling's Amended Complaint contains four counts against Defendants City of Miami, Gonzalez and Roque: (1) "intentional destruction of Plaintiff's property," (2) "negligent destruction of Plaintiff's property," (3) "violation of Plaintiff's constitutional rights of procedural due process," and (4) "violation of Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment right to protection from unreasonable searches and seizures." (See id. ¶¶ 18-32.) The Amended Complaint also contains a "demand for punitive damages" that is "[b]ased on Defendants' willful, wanton and egregious conduct" and "Defendants' intentional disregard for Plaintiff's property rights as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution."
On January 27, 2012, Defendants moved to dismiss the Amended Complaint and, in the alternative, moved to strike the demand for punitive damages. (Motion, D.E. 37.) In their Motion, Defendants appear to make the following arguments: (1) the Amended Complaint should be dismissed because it is a "shotgun pleading;" (2) Counts 1 and 2 should be dismissed because the general maritime law does not impose a duty of reasonable care upon a law enforcement officer with respect to the enforcement of the law; (3) Count 3 should be dismissed because Plaintiff has a post-deprivation remedy, and accordingly does not have a procedural due process claim under the Fourteenth Amendment; (4) Plaintiff has no claim under the Fifth Amendment because that amendment only applies to the federal government; (5) Plaintiff cannot bring a claim for unreasonable seizure under the Fourteenth Amendment; (6) Gonzalez and Roque are entitled to qualified immunity; and (7) Plaintiff is not entitled to punitive damages against the City of Miami. (See Motion 2-15.)
In response, Plaintiff appears to make the following arguments: (1) the Amended Complaint only contains four counts and thirty-three paragraphs and is therefore not a "shotgun pleading;" (2) because the Amended Complaint does not mention "enforcement of the law" the Court cannot consider the issue; (3) Plaintiff has pled this is a matter of admiralty and maritime law within the meaning of Rule 9(h) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; (4) Plaintiff has a claim under the Fourteenth Amendment because he alleges that the officers acted under the color of state law when they searched and seized his vessel; (5) Gonzalez and Roque are not entitled to qualified immunity because clearly established law required that the officers give Plaintiff notice before destroying his possessions,
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), a court may dismiss a claim for "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." "To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to `state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). Conclusory statements, assertions or labels will not survive a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. Id. "A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Id.; see also Edwards v. Prime, Inc., 602 F.3d 1276, 1291 (11th Cir.2010) (setting forth the plausibility standard). In recent decisions, the Eleventh Circuit further advised that courts may make reasonable inferences in a plaintiff's favor, but they are not required to draw plaintiff's inference. Sinaltrainal v. Coca-Cola, 578 F.3d 1252, 1260 (11th Cir.2009) (quotations omitted).
The Eleventh Circuit has set forth a heightened pleading standard for claims brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, stating as follows:
Keating v. City of Miami, 598 F.3d 753, 762-63 (11th Cir.2010) (internal citations and quotations omitted).
In their Motion to Dismiss, Defendants Roque and Gonzalez assert that they are entitled to qualified immunity on the non-constitutional tort claims (Counts 1 and 2) and the claims based on violations of the Fourteenth and Fourth Amendments (Counts 3 and 4).
"Because qualified immunity is an entitlement not to stand trial or face the other burdens of litigation, ... questions of qualified immunity must be resolved at the earliest possible stage in litigation." Gonzalez v. Reno, 325 F.3d 1228, 1233 (11th Cir.2003); see also Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 376 n. 2, 127 S.Ct. 1769, 167 L.Ed.2d 686 (2007) (stating that "[q]ualified immunity is an immunity from
"Unless the plaintiff's allegations state a claim of violation of clearly established law, a defendant pleading qualified immunity is entitled to dismissal before the commencement of discovery." Behrens v. Pelletier, 516 U.S. 299, 306, 116 S.Ct. 834, 133 L.Ed.2d 773 (1996) (quoting Mitchell v. Forsyth, 472 U.S. 511, 526, 105 S.Ct. 2806, 86 L.Ed.2d 411 (1985)) (internal quotations omitted). To receive qualified immunity, the government official must first prove that he was acting within his discretionary authority. Gonzalez, 325 F.3d at 1234 (citing Vinyard v. Wilson, 311 F.3d 1340, 1346 (11th Cir.2002)). "A government official acts within his or her discretionary authority if objective circumstances compel the conclusion that challenged actions occurred in the performance of the official's duties and within the scope of this authority." Hill v. Dekalb Reg'l Youth Detention Ctr., 40 F.3d 1176, 1185 n. 17 (11th Cir.1994). Here, the parties do not dispute that Officer Roque and Sergeant Gonzalez were acting within their discretionary authority at all relevant times.
"Once the defendants have established that they were acting within their discretionary authority, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to show that qualified immunity is not appropriate." Gonzalez, 325 F.3d at 1234 (citing Vinyard, 311 F.3d at 1346). On a motion to dismiss, "[t]o evaluate claims of qualified immunity, the Court considers whether (1) the plaintiff has alleged a violation of a constitutional right; and (2) whether the right was `clearly established' at the time of the defendant's misconduct."
Here, Plaintiff has not met his burden of showing that Officer Roque and Sergeant Gonzalez are not entitled to qualified immunity because he has not shown that Defendants violated his "clearly established" rights. Plaintiff cites to only two cases — only one of which the Court may consider
Plaintiff relies on Soldal v. Cook County, Illinois, 506 U.S. 56, 113 S.Ct. 538, 121 L.Ed.2d 450 (1992). In Soldal, the Supreme Court held that the seizure and removal of a trailer home implicated the petitioners' Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable seizures. The petitioners, Edward Soldal and his family, lived in a trailer home that was located on land owned by Terrace Properties. Soldal, 506 U.S. at 57-58, 113 S.Ct. 538. Terrace Properties and its manager, Margaret Hale, filed an eviction proceeding against the Soldals in state court. Id. at 58, 113 S.Ct. 538. Before the state court issued a judgment, and contrary to state law,
Id. at 61, 113 S.Ct. 538. However, the Supreme Court made no finding as to whether the sheriffs' actions violated the Fourth Amendment and remanded the case for a determination as to whether the seizure was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. Id. at 72, 113 S.Ct. 538.
The facts in Soldal are distinguishable from those in this case. In Soldal, the deputy sheriffs were acting contrary to an Illinois state statute, which provided that a tenant could not be dispossessed without an order of eviction from a court. The Supreme Court found that while the deputy sheriffs were watching employees of Terrace Properties physically tear the mobile home from its foundation and tow it to another lot, "the deputy sheriffs knew that Terrace Properties did not have an eviction order and that its actions were unlawful." Id. at 59, 113 S.Ct. 538. Furthermore, the Supreme Court decided only that the deputy sheriffs' actions constituted a "seizure" under the Fourth Amendment; the Supreme Court made no determination as to whether the seizure was
In contrast, here, the City of Miami Police Department Incident Reports provided in Exhibit 3 to the Amended Complaint and the City of Miami Office of Code Enforcement Notice attached as Exhibit 3 to the original Complaint show that at all relevant times Officer Roque and Sergeant Gonzalez were carrying out state law as set forth in Florida Statute Section 823.11. (See Am. Compl. Ex. 3 (May 27, 2010 Incident Report).) Florida Statute Section 823.11 addresses removal of abandoned and derelict vessels from public waters. The statute makes it "unlawful for any person ... to store, leave, or abandon any derelict vessel as defined in this section in this state." FLA. STAT. § 823.11(2). The statute defines a "derelict vessel" as "any vessel, as defined in s. 327.02, that is left, stored, or abandoned ... [i]n a wrecked, junked, or substantially dismantled condition upon any public waters of this state."
Chapter 705 of the Florida Statutes provides procedures for the disposition of abandoned property by local governments when that property is found on public property. Pursuant to Florida Statute Section 705.103, when a law enforcement officer ascertains that an article of lost or abandoned property is present on public property and is of such nature that it can be easily removed, the officer shall take such article into custody and shall make a reasonable attempt to ascertain the rightful owner pursuant to the provisions of the statute. FLA. STAT. § 705.103(1). If the article of abandoned property present on public property cannot be easily removed, the statute directs the officer to place a notice on the article directing the owner to remove the article within five days; if the owner does not comply within the five days, the article will be removed and disposed of. FLA. STAT. § 705.103(2). Florida statutes define lost property and abandoned property as follows;
FLA. STAT. § 705.101(2), (3) (emphasis added).
In the May 27, 2010 Incident Report, Officer Macias noted that Hoefling's sailboat "is derelict, in that it is left stored and abandoned in an substantially dismantled condition upon public state waters." (Am. Compl. Ex. 3 (May 27, 2010 Incident Report).) The Incident Report further stated that the "sailboat has no motor, sails, helm or rudder for propulsion or steering." (Id.) Officer Macias noted that on May 27, 2010, he contacted Hoefling, spoke with him "about the condition of his vessel," and "advised him that it needs to be removed or brought into compliance with the law as per Florida State Statute 823.11." (Id.) Finally, the Incident Report indicated that Hoefling told Officer Macias that "he was going to comply with the law as soon as he was able." (Id.) Furthermore, on May 27, 2010, Officer Macias left a notice on Hoefling's sailboat which stated that the vessel was unlawfully on the property. (See Compl., D.E. 1, Ex. 3 (Notice).) Nearly three months after Hoefling received notice that his vessel was considered "derelict" and subject to removal pursuant to Florida Statute 823.11, on August 20, 2010 Officer Roque observed the vessel "covered with garbage." (Am. Compl. Ex. 3 (August 20, 2010 Incident Report).) After recovering a generator from the vessel because it may "possibly have value," id., Officer Roque had the vessel "removed from state waters and destroyed by a city contractor." (Am. Compl. Ex. 3 (September 20, 2010 Incident Report).)
Accordingly, the facts of this case show that on May 27, 2010, Officer Macias provided proper notice to Hoefling pursuant to Florida Statute Section 705.103(2) because he left a City of Miami Office of Code Enforcement Notice on the vessel and he additionally spoke with Hoefling about the derelict condition of the vessel and told him that the vessel must be brought into compliance or removed under Florida Statute Section 823.11. The statute requires only that the owner of the derelict vessel be given five days notice to remove the vessel before the municipality removes and destroys the vessel. See FLA. STAT. § 705.103(2). Here, Hoefling was provided nearly three months to remove the vessel. Because he failed to do so, Officer Roque, ordered the vessel to be destroyed pursuant to Florida Statutes 823.11 and 705.103(2). Before ordering the vessel to be removed from public waters and destroyed, Officer Roque complied with Florida Statute 705.103(1), in that he boarded the vessel, removed a generator which he believed "possibly [had] value," and took the generator into custody under Hoefling's name.
Plaintiff has cited to no case from the United States Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, or the Florida Supreme Court that holds that an officer complying with the procedures for derelict vessels and abandoned property as set forth in Florida Statute 823.11 and/or Florida Statute 705.103 violates a
Although there is very little case law on the issue, in the Eleventh Circuit, the doctrine of qualified immunity also appears to apply to non-constitutional maritime torts. See Harrell v. United States, 875 F.2d 828, 831 (11th Cir.1989) (summarily stating that "[t]he same considerations which apply to the constitutional claims demonstrate Lt. Atkin's entitlement to qualified immunity for the alleged non-constitutional maritime torts" and remanding the case to the district court "with instructions to dismiss the claims against Lt. Atkin on the grounds of qualified immunity"). The qualified immunity issues in maritime tort cases are governed by the same legal principles that apply when a government agent is sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Sol v. City of Miami, 776 F.Supp.2d 1375, 1380 (S.D.Fla.2011); see Harrell, 875 F.2d at 831.
Plaintiff has not met his burden of showing that Officer Roque and Sergeant Gonzalez are not entitled to qualified immunity because he has not shown that Defendants violated his "clearly established" rights. Plaintiff again only cites to Soldal, 506 U.S. 56, 113 S.Ct. 538, which is distinguishable from this case, see supra Part III.A.1, and to Pottinger, 810 F.Supp. 1551, which, because it is a district court case, cannot "clearly establish" constitutional rights; see supra n. 9. Plaintiff's only other argument is that the officers violated his "clearly established" rights because they failed to follow Florida Statute Section 823.11. However, the Court already found that Officer Roque and Sergeant Gonzalez complied with the procedures for derelict vessels and abandoned property as set forth in Florida Statute Sections 823.11 and 705.103. See supra Part III.A.1. Accordingly, because Plaintiff has failed to meet his burden of showing that the officers violated his "clearly established" rights, Officer Roque and Sergeant Gonzalez are entitled to qualified immunity on the non-constitutional maritime tort claims.
In Counts 3 and 4 of the Amended Complaint, Hoefling attempts to allege two claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the City of Miami. "The Supreme Court has placed strict limitations on municipal liability under section 1983." Gold v. City of Miami, 151 F.3d 1346, 1350 (11th Cir. 1998). "[A] municipality may be held liable for the actions of a police officer only when municipal `official policy' causes a constitutional violation." Id. (citing Monell v. Dep't of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694-95, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978)); see also Leatherman v. Tarrant Cnty. Narcotics Intelligence & Coordination Unit, 507 U.S. 163, 166, 113 S.Ct. 1160, 122 L.Ed.2d 517 (1993) (stating that "a municipality can be sued under § 1983, but it cannot be held liable unless a municipal policy or custom caused the constitutional injury"). A plaintiff may show a policy by identifying either 1) "an officially
Here, in Counts 3 and 4 of the Amended Complaint, Hoefling claims that the City of Miami violated his constitutional rights as set forth in the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. However, Hoefling fails to allege the two other necessary elements for a § 1983 claim against a city; Hoefling does not identify an official practice or custom that is the moving force behind the alleged constitutional violations, and he does not identify a responsible city official who speaks with final policymaking authority for City of Miami concerning the act alleged to have caused the particular constitutional violations at issue. See Reyes, 2008 WL 686958, at *12. Accordingly, because Hoefling has failed to allege the necessary elements of a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the City of Miami, Counts 3 and 4 of the Amended Complaint against the City of Miami are dismissed pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Hoefling's Amended Complaint contains two tort counts against Defendants: (1) "intentional destruction of Plaintiff's property," and (2) "negligent destruction of Plaintiff's property." (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 18-25.) A local government entity cannot assert sovereign immunity as a defense to an admiralty suit. See Northern Ins. Co. of New York v. Chatham Cnty., Ga., 547 U.S. 189, 196-97, 126 S.Ct. 1689, 164 L.Ed.2d 367 (2006). Local governments have been held liable for the maritime torts of their employees. See Workman v. City of New York, 179 U.S. 552, 573, 21 S.Ct. 212, 45 L.Ed. 314 (1900) (stating that "[a] recovery can be had in personam ... for a maritime tort when the relation existing between the owner and the master and crew of the vessel, at the time of the negligent collision, was that of master and servant" and further finding that the City of New York could be held liable for its employees' negligence resulting in a collision of its fireboat with another vessel); cf. Central Rivers Towing, Inc. v. City of Beardstown, 750 F.2d 565, 570 (7th Cir. 1984) (finding that the City of Beardstown was liable for damages to a vessel because "the City was negligent in failing to remove the pier remains after they became a hazard to navigation"); Pelican Marine
"General maritime law incorporates the general law of torts when not inconsistent with the law of admiralty." Harrison v. Flota Mercante Grancolombiana, S.A., 577 F.2d 968, 977 (5th Cir.1978) (citations omitted).
Plaintiff alleges that "Defendants had a duty to protect Plaintiff's property, including his vessel and his personal belongings from intentional and unreasonable search and seizures, and that they "intentionally breached their duty when they unlawfully and intentionally searched, seized and destroyed Plaintiff's property and ordered the destruction of Plaintiff's vessel and his personal property without legal authority." (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 19, 20, 23, 24.) Defendants argue that "general maritime law does not impose a duty of reasonable care upon a law enforcement officer with respect to the enforcement of the law." (Motion 4). In his Response, Plaintiff merely asserts that his Amended Complaint did not make any allegation regarding "the enforcement of the law." (See Response 3-5.) However, Plaintiff overlooks the fact that he attached to his Amended Complaint three City of Miami Police Department Incident Reports. In those Incident Reports, Officer Macias noted on May 27, 2010 that Hoefling's vessel "is derelict," and "advised [Hoefling] that it needs to be removed or brought into compliance with the law as per Florida State Statute 823.11." (Am. Compl. Ex. 3 (Incident Reports).) In the September 20, 2010 Incident Report, Officer Macias noted that "on Friday, August
Accordingly, it is