JOHN R. TUNHEIM, District Judge.
Plaintiff Stephanie Jenkins brings this action alleging various statutory and common law tort claims against Defendants the University of Minnesota ("the University"), Ted Swem, and David Andersen, arising out of sexual harassment that allegedly occurred while she was pursuing a Ph.D. at the University. Jenkins alleges that while she was conducting research for her Ph.D., Swem, a scientist from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ("USFWS") involved in her research project, made repeated unwanted sexual advances toward her. Jenkins also alleges that Andersen, her adviser at the University, did nothing to remedy the situation when it was brought to his attention and created a hostile work environment, ultimately forcing her to resign from her position.
Swem moves to substitute the United States as the proper defendant for the common law tort claims brought against him by Jenkins, arguing that at the time the alleged torts were committed Swem was acting within the scope of his employment with the USFWS, an agency of the federal government. Swem also brings a motion to dismiss Jenkins' hostile work environment claim brought against him under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, arguing that he is entitled to qualified immunity. The Court will deny the motion to substitute, because it concludes that Swem was acting outside the scope of his employment as a federal employee at the time he engaged in the acts forming the basis for Jenkins' tort claims. The Court will also deny the motion to dismiss, as Jenkins' complaint adequately alleges a violation of her clearly established statutory and constitutional rights.
In January 2011, the University accepted Jenkins into its Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology to pursue a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Science Management. (Aff. of Joseph A. Larson, Ex. B at 1, Nov. 22, 2013, Docket No. 61; Compl. ¶ 19, June 24, 2013, Docket No. 1)
In the summer of 2011, Jenkins travelled to Alaska for two seventeen-day field survey research trips along the Colville River in Alaska to conduct research on peregrine falcons. (Id. ¶ 27.) The survey area for these trips was in a remote field location in arctic Alaska almost completely uninhabited by humans. (Id. ¶ 28.) Defendant Swem, an employee of the USFWS and an expert on peregrine falcons, accompanied Jenkins on these research trips. (Id. ¶ 32.) Swem considered himself to be "a host" for Jenkins while she was conducting research in Alaska. (Decl. of Ted Swem ¶ 8, Nov. 1, 2013, Docket No. 47.)
Swem was the only person who accompanied Jenkins on the first survey trip. (Compl. ¶ 32.) Jenkins alleges that during this trip Swem made unwanted sexual advances toward her. Among other things, Jenkins alleges that Swem took a photograph of her butt as she was bending over a research nest (id. ¶ 36), asked several questions about Jenkins' dating life, and stated that he would like to be her ideal research partner or "pool boy" (id. ¶ 38). Jenkins alleges that these comments made her uncomfortable. (Id. ¶ 39.)
After the first survey trip concluded, Jenkins and Swem spent two weeks in Fairbanks, Alaska, analyzing the data collected during the first trip and preparing for the second. (Id. ¶¶ 40-41.) In Fairbanks, Jenkins stayed in an apartment provided by the University. (Id. ¶ 41.) During this time period Swem allegedly pursued Jenkins romantically and invited her on multiple social outings, including dinners and rappelling trips. (Id. ¶¶ 42-44.) After Swem invited Jenkins to go rappelling he claimed to have forgotten his rappelling gear, and took Jenkins to dinner instead. (Id. ¶ 44.) Jenkins also alleges that once, after the two had eaten dinner at his house, Swem turned off all of the lights, making Jenkins uncomfortable. (Id. ¶ 46.) Jenkins also alleges that during this two-week time period Swem continued to reference becoming Jenkins' pool boy, admitted that he was flirting with her (id. ¶ 47), stated he would like to give Jenkins a horse bite (when you grab someone on the thigh and squeeze) (id. ¶ 48), told Jenkins he was interested in her romantically (id. ¶ 50), suggested they bring only one tent on the second survey trip (id. ¶ 51), and acknowledged that his behavior could be construed as sexual harassment due to his position as her advisor and supervisor (id. ¶ 52). Swem also allegedly told Jenkins that "he would not make the `first move,'" but "she should just enter his tent if she wanted to." (Id. ¶ 53.) Jenkins told Swem "that his behavior made her uncomfortable, but was concerned about being too direct, as she thought it could affect her spot in the Program and her eventual career." (Id. ¶ 54.) She did, however, tell Swem "that she wanted their relationship to remain professional." (Id.)
Andersen accompanied Jenkins and Swem for the first seven days of the second survey trip. (Id. ¶ 56.) After Andersen left, Swem's unwanted sexual advances continued. (Id. ¶ 57.) For example, Jenkins alleges that Swem on several occasions asked her to explain why she was not romantically interested in him and once, when they were researching a remote nest site, described in detail to Jenkins what he
After the survey research trips concluded, Jenkins began the fall semester at the University. (Id. ¶ 69.) Jenkins learned that she and Swem would be sharing an office and was immediately uncomfortable with that prospect. (Id. ¶ 70.) During the fall semester, Jenkins alleges that Swem continued to pursue her romantically and persisted with his advances. (Id. ¶¶ 72-73, 77.) Jenkins alleges that during this time period her "studies began to suffer and she experienced physical signs of distress, including depression, inability to focus, inability to sleep and weight loss." (Id. ¶ 76.) After she failed a statistics midterm, Jenkins spoke with a counselor at the University's mental health clinic about the situation with Swem. (Id. ¶ 78.)
At the beginning of November 2011, Jenkins approached Andersen and requested that she no longer be required to share an office with Swem, explaining about Swem's advances towards her. (Id. ¶ 80.) A new work space was provided for Jenkins in December 2011. (Id. ¶ 82.) During this time period, Andersen told Jenkins on several occasions essentially that she needed to learn how to handle working with people like Swem. (Id. ¶¶ 83-86.) Shortly thereafter, Andersen and Kennedy began expressing concerns about Jenkins' approach to her Ph.D and became critical of her work. (Id. ¶¶ 87, 103.) Additionally, Andersen and Kennedy continued to discuss portions of Jenkins' work that she would be required to do alone with Swem. (Id. ¶¶ 93-98.) Andersen and Kennedy allegedly refused to implement possible alternatives suggested by the Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Office ("EOAA") at the University that would have prevented Jenkins from having to work alone with Swem. (Id. ¶ 99-104.) Jenkins ultimately resigned her position at the University on January 27, 2013. (Id. ¶ 105.)
On February 8, 2013, the EEOA released an official opinion, finding that Swem had violated the University's sexual harassment policy. (Id.) The EEOA opinion described certain admissions made by Swem during the course of the EEOA's investigation. Specifically, the opinion noted that Swem admitted to making an inappropriate comment about the photograph he had taken of Jenkins' butt. (Larson Aff., Ex. B at 3.) Swem also admitted to expressing a romantic interest in Jenkins "several times." (Id.) Swem conceded that he had told Jenkins that if she ever had an interest in him she could "just sit on my lap and kiss me," did not deny the horse bite incident, and admitted that he had turned the lights off in his home while the two were listening to music. (Id.) Swem admitted to making comments that he would apply to be Jenkins' pool boy and to continuing to express a romantic interest in Swem after the second field trip. (Id., Ex. B at 4-5.)
During the course of the EEOA investigation Swem also admitted, among other things, that he had two conversations with Jenkins about kissing her, acknowledged the power differential between himself and Jenkins, discussed how his actions could be viewed as sexual harassment, called her exceptionally beautiful, and developed a romantic interest in Jenkins. (Supplemental Aff. of Joseph A. Larson, Ex. K, Dec. 24, 2013, Docket No. 75.) Swem also admitted that Jenkins responded negatively to his advances, that he had a crush on Jenkins, and that he continued to ask why
Additionally, in a letter written by Defendant Andersen, Andersen memorialized a conversation he had with Swem on November 29, 2011, regarding Jenkins. (Id., Ex. L.) At the meeting Swem
(Id., Ex. L at 2.)
Swem is the Branch Chief of Endangered Species in the Fairbanks, Alaska, Fish and Wildlife Field Office of the USFWS, and held that position during the time of the events alleged in the complaint. (Compl. ¶ 22; Swem Decl. ¶ 2.) As part of his employment, Swem was engaged in the Project to monitor Arctic Peregrine Falcons
The Project is a collaboration between the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Geological Survey ("USGS") — Minnesota Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, and uses Swem's peregrine falcon nesting data. (Larson Aff., Ex. B at 2.) Pursuant to an interagency agreement, the USGS agreed to "[d]evelop a research project focused on Peregrine Falcons in the Colville River Special Area" and "[c]ollect data which will contribute to the improved management of the Colville River Special Area," while the Bureau of Land Management agreed to "[p]rovide information regarding the management needs and goals of the [Bureau] within the Colville River Special Area." (Larson Aff., Ex. C at 3.) Andersen served as the Project manager through the USGS Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. (Id.) Andersen, Kennedy, and Swem applied for a grant in July 2010 to fund the Project. The grant was issued to the University and specifically allocated $28,000 to fund Swem's work at the University processing research data gathered during the summer of 2011. (Larson Aff., Ex. A at 1.)
Swem's work on the Project was approved by his supervisors at the USFWS. (Decl. of Sarah Conn, ¶ 5, Nov. 1, 2013, Docket No. 45; Decl. of Geoffrey L. Haskett, ¶¶ 6-7, Nov. 1, 2013, Docket No. 46.) Swem was employed as a full time employee of the USFWS during the time period referenced in Jenkins' complaint. (Haskett Decl. ¶ 3.) Swem's supervisors indicated that his job duties at the USFWS included
(Id. ¶ 4.) Specifically, part of Swem's duties as an employee of the USFWS included conducting the two survey trips in the summer of 2011 and spending two semesters at the University to take classes and write up his peregrine falcon data for publication. (Conn. Decl. ¶ 5; Haskett Decl. ¶¶ 5-7.) During the time period of Jenkins' allegations, USFWS paid Swem's salary. (Haskett Decl. ¶ 4; Swem Decl. ¶ 7.)
On April 13, 2012, Jenkins brought a charge against the University through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") alleging sexual discrimination. (Compl. ¶ 114.) The EEOC issued a Notice of Right to Sue letter. (Id. ¶ 115.)
Jenkins filed a complaint in this Court on June 24, 2013. In the complaint, Jenkins brings claims against Swem under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for creating a hostile work environment in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment (Compl. ¶¶ 165-168), as well as common law tort claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotion distress, and assault (id. ¶¶ 169-189).
After Jenkins' complaint was filed, the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota certified that "Defendant Ted Swem was acting within the scope of his employment as an employee of the United States at the time of the conduct alleged in the complaint." (Certification, Nov. 1, 2013, Docket No. 42.) The certification
"The Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act of 1988, commonly known as the Westfall Act, accords federal employees absolute immunity from common-law tort claims arising out of acts they undertake in the course of their official duties." Osborn v. Haley, 549 U.S. 225, 229, 127 S.Ct. 881, 166 L.Ed.2d 819 (2007) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2679(b)(1)). Under the Act "an action against the United States is the only remedy for injuries caused by federal employees acting within the scope of their employment." Anthony v. Runyon, 76 F.3d 210, 212-13 (8th Cir.1996).
When a federal employee is sued, the Attorney General has the authority to certify that the employee "was acting within the scope of his office or employment at the time of the incident out of which the claim arose." 28 U.S.C. § 2679(d)(1). Under the Westfall Act's implementing regulations the United States Attorney for the district court in which the civil action at issue is brought "is authorized to make the statutory certification that the Federal employee was acting within the scope of his office or employment with the Federal Government at the time of the incident out of which the suit arose." 28 C.F.R. § 15.4(a).
Upon a motion for substitution, the statutory certification "although subject to judicial review, is prima facie evidence that the employee's challenged conduct was within the scope of employ." Brown v. Armstrong, 949 F.2d 1007, 1012 (8th Cir.1991); see also Gutierrez de Martinez v. Lamagno, 515 U.S. 417, 434, 115 S.Ct. 2227, 132 L.Ed.2d 375 (1995). A plaintiff opposing the certification bears the burden of "com[ing] forward with specific facts rebutting the government's scope-of-employment certification." Brown, 949 F.2d at 1012; see also Green v. Hall, 8 F.3d 695, 698 (9th Cir.1993) ("The Attorney General's decision regarding scope of employment certification is conclusive unless challenged. Accordingly, the party seeking review bears the burden of presenting evidence and disproving the Attorney General's decision to grant or deny scope of employment certification by a preponderance of the evidence." (footnote and citation omitted)). "If the court finds that the employee was acting outside of the scope of his employment, the court must refuse to substitute the United States." Heuton v. Anderson, 75 F.3d 357, 360 (8th Cir.1996).
Courts generally employ a two-part analysis when determining whether a particular defendant is covered under the Westfall Act. See Strei v. Blaine, Civ. No. 12-1095, 2013 WL 6243881, at *5 (D.Minn.
Jenkins first argues that the motion for substitution should be denied because Swem was not acting as a federal employee at the time of the alleged incidents, but rather was acting as an employee of the University during the relevant time period. As support for this proposition, Jenkins points to the grant that funded the Project, a statement from the EEOA opinion that Swem was "on sabbatical at the University," and the interagency agreement proposing the Project, which does not mention the USFWS. (Pl.'s Mem. in Opp'n to Mot. to Substitute at 6, 12, Nov. 22, 2013, Docket No. 59.)
The Court concludes that none of the documents relied upon by Jenkins suffice to rebut the certification that Swem was acting pursuant to his federal employment with the USFWS at the time of the alleged events. At most, Jenkins' arguments suggest that Swem may simultaneously have been employed by both the USFWS and the University. First, although some of the funding for the Project came from a grant issued to the University, that does not change the undisputed fact that Swem's salary was paid by the USFWS and he remained a full time employee of the agency during the entire time period at issue in the lawsuit. For example, it is a common practice for professors and other institutional employees to receive grant money dedicated to particular projects. That a professor at the University of Minnesota receives grant money does not, however, terminate that professor's employment relationship with the University.
Second, the statement from the EEOA opinion that Swem was on sabbatical says nothing about the status of Swem's employer-employee relationship with the USFWS. Both of Swem's supervisors submitted affidavits indicating that his work duties for the USFWS specifically included the trips he took with Jenkins, and also his time spent at the University in the 2011-2012 academic year.
Finally, it is unclear what conclusions Jenkins attempts to draw from the fact that the interagency agreement proposing the Project does not mention the USFWS. The interagency agreement designates work to Andersen in his role as an employee of the USGS. Swem was then brought in to work on the Project and contribute his peregrine falcon data. This contribution was approved by his federal employer, and cooperation with other agencies and research projects specifically constituted part of his job duties at the USFWS. Therefore, the Court concludes that Jenkins has identified no facts or legal authority that would prevent Swem from simultaneously
In this case, the United States argues, at least in part, that Swem was acting within the scope of his employment because he did not engage in the conduct alleged by Jenkins. (Mem. in Supp. of Mot. to Substitute at 16, Nov. 1, 2013, Docket No. 44.) The Eighth Circuit has held that the United States Attorney's scope of employment certification may be based upon its conclusion that the intentional tort alleged in a plaintiff's complaint did not take place. See Heuton, 75 F.3d at 360 ("Because it is illogical to assume that Congress intended to protect guilty employees but desert innocent ones, we decline to follow the holding [of the First Circuit] that the immunity provided by the Westfall Act is available only when the defendant-employee admits engaging in the harmful conduct."); see also Kimbro v. Velten, 30 F.3d 1501, 1505 (D.C.Cir.1994) ("The government, faced with an allegation of an intentional tort on the part of its employee, if it concludes that the tort did not take place, will understandably assert that the employee was acting within his or her scope of office or employment — in order to confer immunity on the employee — and deny the tort occurred."); Melo v. Hafer, 13 F.3d 736, 746 (3d Cir.1994) ("[T]he Attorney General may file a scope of employment certificate based on a finding that the defendant did not engage in the conduct alleged by the plaintiff, and... the court may grant substitution if the plaintiff fails to come forward with competent evidence of the alleged conduct."). By so holding, these courts have determined that a plaintiff's allegations are not entitled to an assumption of truth when the Court is deciding the question of whether substitution is appropriate. See Kimbro, 30 F.3d at 1509 ("The [First Circuit] focused on the allegations, assumed they were true, and then asked whether Congress would have intended immunity for such a defendant. We ... think such an approach puts a premium on skillful pleading and is quite unfair to the employee defendant. More important, it allows a plaintiff to nullify a government employee's immunity claim." (citation omitted)).
In such cases there will often be substantial, if not complete, overlap between the scope of employment question and the
Even where the scope of employment question (and thus the propriety of substitution) is coterminous with the merits of the case, it is widely recognized that whatever determination regarding the scope of employment must be made is always a question for the court, not a jury, and must "be resolved before trial, as soon after the motion for substitution as practicable, even if an evidentiary hearing is needed to resolve relevant fact disputes." Brown, 949 F.2d at 1012; see Kimbro, 30 F.3d at 1509. Therefore, where a certification has been filed the Court should proceed almost as if the motion for substitution was one for summary judgment, requiring the plaintiff to come forward with evidence to rebut the prima facie evidence of scope of employment provided by the certification. See Maron v. United States, 126 F.3d 317, 322 (4th Cir.1997) (approving the district court's statement that the substitution motion "constitutes, in effect, a motion for summary judgment and challenges the plaintiff to come forward with an evidentiary showing" (internal quotation marks omitted)). If the Court finds material factual disputes regarding the scope of employment it must hold an evidentiary hearing to resolve those factual disputes. McAdams v. Reno, 64 F.3d 1137, 1145 (8th Cir.1995); see also Taboas v. Mlynczak, 149 F.3d 576, 581 (7th Cir.1998) ("[W]hen the motion for substitution contests the facts pled in the complaint, as in a motion for summary judgment, and the summary judgment papers reveal disputed factual issues.... the district court may hold an evidentiary hearing to resolve material factual disputes related to the scope of employment."). At the evidentiary hearing the district court should decide all issues necessary to resolve the scope of employment question, regardless of whether those issues also go to the merits. See Heuton, 75 F.3d at 361; Melo, 13 F.3d at 747-48 & n. 8. With these standards in mind, the Court considers whether Jenkins has demonstrated that the alleged conduct occurred, and whether it fell within Swem's scope of employment.
"Scope of employment questions are governed by the law of the state where the alleged tortious acts took place." Johnson v. United States, 534 F.3d 958, 963 (8th Cir.2008). The majority of the conduct here occurred in Alaska, but Jenkins' complaint also contains allegations that Swem continued to make unwanted advances during their time at the University. Therefore, the Court has considered both Alaska and Minnesota law — which are both similar on this issue — in resolving the scope of employment question.
In determining whether an employee has acted within the scope of his employment, Alaska courts have adopted the Second Restatement of Agency, and apply a flexible multi-factored test. See Rosenbaum v. Burgess, Civ. No. 06-0144, 2007 WL 623795, at *4 (D.Alaska Feb. 23, 2007); see also Laidlaw Transit, Inc. v. Crouse ex rel. Crouse, 53 P.3d 1093, 1098-99 (Alaska 2002) (explaining that Alaska
Domke v. Alyeska Pipeline Serv. Co., 137 P.3d 295, 300 (Alaska 2006). None of these factors are dispositive, and are meant to serve only as relevant considerations. See Doe v. Samaritan Counseling Ctr., 791 P.2d 344, 346 (Alaska 1990). Minnesota's standard with respect to intentional torts considers fewer factors, requiring only that "the source of the attack is related to the duties of the employee and occurs within work related limits of time and place." Grozdanich v. Leisure Hills Health Ctr., Inc., 25 F.Supp.2d 953, 978 (D.Minn.1998) (alteration and internal quotation marks omitted).
With respect to claims that arise out of misconduct of a sexual nature specifically, Minnesota courts have reached different conclusions regarding scope of employment based on "whether such conduct should fairly have been foreseen from the nature of the employment and the duties relating to it." Marston v. Minneapolis Clinic of Psychiatry & Neurology, Ltd., 329 N.W.2d 306, 311 n. 3 (Minn.1982) (internal quotation marks omitted). For example, in P.L. v. Aubert, 545 N.W.2d 666, 667-68 (Minn.1996) the Minnesota Supreme Court found that a sexual assault by a teacher upon a student was not within the scope of employment, explaining that:
Id. at 668. The court further explained that "the sexual contact by the teacher toward the student could not be considered an `indivisible' act directly related to her teaching duties.... even though the acts were committed within work related time and place." Id. In Marston, however, the court found that a psychologist's sexual assault of a patient was foreseeable and therefore within the scope of employment. 329 N.W.2d at 309-11. In Marston the court explained that "[t]here was testimony that sexual relations between a psychologist and a patient is a well-known hazard and thus, to a degree, foreseeable and a risk of employment" and noted that "the acts occurred during or shortly after regular therapy sessions and were preceded by normal massages." Id. at 311. Courts have reconciled Aubert and Marston by explaining that "in the absence of evidence — such as the opinion of a qualified expert — that a sexual assault of the plaintiff, by the employee, was sufficiently likely so as to put the employer on notice, Minnesota Courts will not presume to impute liability for such conduct upon an
Similarly, the Alaska Supreme Court has determined that sexual assault occurring between a therapist and a patient may be within the scope of employment. Doe, 791 P.2d at 347-48. In particular, the Doe court determined that some sexual conduct occurring in the context of therapy satisfied the "motivation to serve" portion of the Second Restatement of Agency. Id. at 348. The particular type of counseling at issue had led to transference phenomenon, causing the patient to feel dependent on the counselor. Id. Therefore, "while the sexual acts themselves are purely self-serving, or caused by an unjustifiable loss of control by the aggressor, they have nonetheless been precipitated by the employee's performance of assigned duties." Id.
Under either Minnesota or Alaska law, the Court concludes that Swem's actions — as alleged in the complaint — fell outside the scope of his employment. The United States spends much of its brief discussing the types of duties that Swem was authorized to perform (going on field trips, acting as a host to University students, etc.). Jenkins does not dispute that Swem was authorized to perform these types of tasks. Nor does Jenkins dispute that the majority of the conduct complained of occurred during the authorized time and space limits of Swem's employment. The dispute therefore hinges largely on whether the conduct was sufficiently foreseeable in Swem's line of work or motivated, at least to some degree, by a desire to serve the USFWS. The Alaska and Minnesota courts' opinions finding actions involving sexual misconduct have drawn a relatively distinct line between sexual misconduct that occurs in the context of a counseling/therapist type relationship and sexual misconduct that occurs in other types of employment relationships. Such a distinction comports with the rule adopted by many other courts that, absent some particular feature of the job that makes sexual harassment or misconduct sufficiently foreseeable or in furtherance of the employer's business "an employee's sexual harassment of another employee is not within the scope of employment." Smith v. Am. Express Travel Related Servs. Co., 179 Ariz. 131, 876 P.2d 1166, 1171 (Ariz.Ct.App.1994) (collecting cases). The Court concludes that unwanted sexual advances between a research student and an advisor figure — a relationship similar to that of student and teacher — are not sufficiently foreseeable to fall within the scope of employment. See Aubert, 545 N.W.2d at 667-68; see also Davis v. River Region Health Sys., 903 F.Supp.2d 424, 425 (S.D.Miss.2012) (finding that sexual advances and offensive comments made by one surgical technologist to a coworker that was also a surgical technologist was outside the scope of employment because the conduct "was not authorized or in furtherance of River Region's business" nor was the assault "incidental" to employment as a surgical technologist (alteration and internal quotation marks omitted)); Francom v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 98 Wn.App. 845, 991 P.2d 1182, 1194-95 (2000) (finding sexual harassment not within the scope of employment where a Costco employee harassed a coworker because "[w]hatever Mr. Hathaway's reasons for his conduct, they were not job related but were solely to gratify his personal objectives or desires"). The United States suggested at oral argument that sexual harassment or assault will always be foreseeable where males and females work together in the wilderness. The Court finds, however, that such a rule would unduly expand the jurisprudence of the Alaska and Minnesota courts which hold that the sexual misconduct must have been
Furthermore, the Court concludes that Swem's conduct was not undertaken for the benefit of the USFWS. The United States argues that it does not believe that the "scope of employment certification should be denied to Mr. Swem because Plaintiff ate dinner at his house after she borrowed his car, took a shower at his apartment, or did her laundry there." (Mem. in Supp. of Mot. to Substitute at 13.) But this is not the conduct of which Jenkins complains. Although the actions cited by the United States may have been part of Swem's duty to host Jenkins, the Court concludes that there was no benefit to the USFWS, and Swem was not acting on behalf of the USFWS' interests when he took a photo of her butt, expressed a romantic interest in Jenkins, asked to be her pool boy, told her she can sit on his lap and kiss him, and repeatedly questioned why she was not interested in a romantic relationship with him. Mandy v. Quad/Graphics, Inc., 49 F.Supp.2d 1095, 1106 (E.D.Wis.1999) ("[S]exual harassment does not fall within the scope of employment unless it was motivated by a purpose to serve the employer. Because most instances of sexual harassment are not meant to serve the employer's interests, but rather involve personal motives often antithetical to the same, the general rule is that sexual harassment by a supervisor is not conduct within the scope of employment." (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)).
Whether substitution should be allowed therefore comes down to what the evidence shows at this point and what procedure the Court is required to follow in light of that evidence. In other words, if all of Jenkins' allegations are true, it appears clear that the allegations forming the basis of her tort claims, arise out of conduct that occurred outside of Swem's scope of employment.
The Court finds that Jenkins has demonstrated sufficient facts supporting her allegations to defeat the motion for substitution, because in the EOAA findings Swem made numerous admissions regarding his conduct. Swem admitted to making an inappropriate comment about the photograph he had taken of Jenkins' butt. Swem admitted to expressing a romantic interest in Jenkins "several times," discussed kissing Jenkins at least twice, conceded that he had told Jenkins if she ever had an interest in him she could "just sit on my lap and kiss me," did not deny the horse bite incident, and admitted that he had turned the lights off in his home while the two were listening to music. (Larson Aff., Ex. B; Supplemental Larson Aff., Exs. K-L.) Swem also admitted to making comments that he would apply to be Jenkins' pool boy and to continuing to express a romantic interest in Swem after the second field trip. These admissions are not disputed. Swem does state in his declaration that "I deny that I sexually harassed the Plaintiff or committed any other torts against her" (Swem Decl. ¶ 9) but that denial does not contradict any of the specific admissions of fact made in connection with the EOAA investigation and his discussion with Andersen.
Swem brings a motion for judgment on the pleadings under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) with respect to Jenkins' hostile work environment claim brought against him under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The hostile work environment claim is based on Jenkins' allegations that Swem and Andersen,
(Compl. ¶ 166.) Jenkins also alleges that Swem and Andersen "deprived Plaintiff of the equal protection of the law when Swem harassed Plaintiff, of which Andersen ... had actual notice of and deliberately failed to take effective measures to stop." (Id. ¶ 167.) Swem moves for judgment on the pleadings, arguing that he is entitled to qualified immunity with respect to this claim.
Qualified immunity shields government officials from liability if "their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known." Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982). To determine whether Swem is entitled to qualified immunity, the Court examines "(1) whether the facts alleged or shown, construed in the light most favorable to [Jenkins], establish a violation of a constitutional right, and (2) whether that constitutional right was clearly established at the time of the alleged misconduct, such that a reasonable official would have known that h[is] actions were unlawful."
"Sexual harassment by state actors violates the Fourteenth Amendment and establishes a section 1983 action." Tuggle v. Mangan, 348 F.3d 714, 720 (8th Cir.2003). "[S]ection 1983 sexual-harassment claims are treated the same as sexual-harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964." Williams v. Herron, 687 F.3d 971, 978 (8th Cir.2012). To establish a hostile work environment sexual harassment claim, Jenkins must show that
Crutcher-Sanchez v. Cnty. of Dakota, 687 F.3d 979, 985 (8th Cir.2012) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Swem does not appear to dispute that Jenkins has sufficiently alleged that she was a member of a protected group, that she was subject to unwelcome harassment, the harassment was based on sex, and the University should have known of the harassment and failed to take appropriate remedial action. The basis of Swem's motion to dismiss is therefore his contention that Jenkins has not alleged harassment sufficient to have affected a term, condition, or privilege of her employment.
In determining "whether the harassment affected a term, condition, or privilege of employment" the Court "considers the frequency of the behavior, its severity, whether physical threats are involved, and whether the behavior interferes with plaintiff's performance on the job." Duncan v. Cnty. of Dakota, Neb., 687 F.3d 955, 959 (8th Cir.2012) (internal quotation marks omitted). "Sexual harassment standards are demanding — to be actionable, conduct must be extreme and not merely rude or unpleasant." Crutcher-Sanchez, 687 F.3d at 986 (internal quotation marks omitted). "Simple teasing, offhand comments, and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not amount to discriminatory changes in the terms and conditions of employment." Wright v. Rolette Cnty., 417 F.3d 879, 885 (8th Cir.2005) (internal quotation marks omitted). "In order to affect the term, condition, or privilege of employment, the harassment must be sufficiently severe or pervasive to create an objectively hostile work environment, and in addition, must be subjectively perceived by the plaintiff as abusive." Id. The Court "examines the totality of the circumstances to determine
The Eighth Circuit has concluded that qualified immunity is appropriate where the conduct at issue is not severe or pervasive, and did not affect the plaintiff's employment. For example, in Crutcher-Sanchez, the court concluded that the defendant was entitled to qualified immunity because "[t]he only allegations against Wagner were that he offered [plaintiff] a box of chocolates and asked her out several times. While inappropriate, his acts do not reach the high threshold of so intimidating, offensive, or hostile that it poisoned the work environment." 687 F.3d at 988 (internal quotation marks omitted). Similarly, in Duncan the plaintiff Duncan pointed to extensive evidence of defendant Herron's sexual misconduct toward other women at work. 687 F.3d at 957-58. For example Herron had sex with several female employees, attempted to kiss and inappropriately touch other female employees, and promised a female employee an easier schedule if she would strip for him. Id. Duncan also pointed to evidence that "explicit emails, pornography, and sexual jokes were pervasive in the workplace," although she had never received such emails. Id. at 958. The court concluded that Herron was entitled to qualified immunity explaining:
Id. at 960 (emphasis in original) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Swem relies on these cases to argue that Jenkins' complaint does not allege a hostile work environment claim under § 1983 because
(Def.'s Mem. in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss at 18, Jan. 15, 2014, Docket No. 79.)
The Court concludes, however, that Jenkins' complaint — viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Jenkins — alleges conduct that is much more severe than the plaintiffs in either Crutcher-Sanchez or Duncan. In Crutcher-Sanchez the only conduct shown by plaintiff was that defendant offered her a box of chocolates and asked her out several times. Here, Jenkins has alleged that during two seventeen-day
Furthermore, unlike the plaintiff in Duncan, Jenkins has sufficiently alleged that this conduct was directed at her and did, in fact, unreasonably interfere with her work performance. Jenkins alleges that Swem's unwanted advances continued when she returned to Minnesota, and also that her studies began to suffer and she experienced physical signs of distress, including depression, inability to focus, inability to sleep and weight loss. After Jenkins also failed a statistics midterm she spoke with a counselor at the University's mental health clinic about the situation.
The Court finds the facts alleged in Jenkins' complaint to be similar to the facts of Wright v. Rolette County, in which the Eighth Circuit held that conduct can be actionable sexual harassment under § 1983 even in the absence of "physical touching or a request for sexual favors." 417 F.3d at 886. In Wright the court concluded that defendant was not entitled to qualified immunity where he harassed the plaintiff "in a highly sexualized way," explaining that:
Id. Similarly, in Kopman v. City of Centerville, 871 F.Supp.2d 875 (D.S.D.2012), the court found that defendant was not entitled to qualified immunity where plaintiff alleged sexual harassment from June 2008 to April 2009 where defendant would make inappropriate comments two to three times a week. Id. at 887. The comments were "blatantly directed at [plaintiff]'s body," defendant told plaintiff he would like to date her, and defendant would occasionally follow behind her and "leer at her rear end." Id. This type of pervasive verbal commentary of a sexual nature is the type that Jenkins alleges in her complaint. The Court concludes that, accepting the facts in Jenkins' complaint as true, Jenkins has adequately stated a claim that Swem violated her statutory and constitutional
With respect to whether that right was clearly established, the Court notes that "[t]his determination is undertaken in light of the law as it existed at the time and the `specific context of the case, not as a broad general proposition.'" Young v. Selk, 508 F.3d 868, 875 (8th Cir.2007) (quoting Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001)). In other words, "[i]t is not enough that a right be established in an abstract sense; rather the contours of the right must be sufficiently clear that a reasonable official would understand that what he is doing violates that right." Wagner v. Jones, 664 F.3d 259, 273 (8th Cir.2011) (internal quotation marks omitted). Swem argues that Jenkins' right to be free from this type of harassment was not clearly established because "[e]ven though, admittedly, Swem was attracted to Jenkins, nothing he did, or said, to Jenkins, would have been known by reasonable officials to be unlawful. He never touched her. He never said anything sexually explicit to her. He apologized for taking the picture of her clothed behind." (Def.'s Mem. in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss at 21.) The Court concludes, however, that this is both an inaccurate characterization of Jenkins' complaint and an overly narrow view of the Eighth Circuit's jurisprudence on sexual harassment which has specifically held that touching is not required in order to constitute a constitutional violation. See Wright, 417 F.3d at 886. Instead, the Eighth Circuit has broadly held that "[t]he right to be free of gender discrimination is clearly established." Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). In Wright, where the conduct alleged was sexually inappropriate verbal harassment, the court concluded that "[a] reasonable officer would have known that it was illegal to subject Wright to such treatment in the workplace." Id. Because the facts of this case are similar to Wright and the complaint alleges more egregious conduct than that found in cases granting officials qualified immunity, the Court concludes that Jenkins' right was clearly established. Accordingly, the Court will deny Swem's motion to dismiss.
As a final matter, the Court notes that on December 6, 2013, Jennifer Frisch, who was formerly listed as counsel of record for Defendant Andersen filed a motion to withdraw as counsel. The motion proposes that Assistant United States Attorney Ana Voss be substituted as counsel of record. (Mot. to Substitute Counsel, Dec. 6,
Based on the foregoing, and all the files, records, and proceedings herein,
1. Defendant Swem's Motion to Substitute the United States of America as Defendant [Docket No. 43] is
2. Defendant Swem's Motion to Dismiss [Docket No. 48] is
3. Defendant Andersen's Motion to Substitute Counsel [Docket No. 66] is
4. Defendant Swem's Motion to Dismiss Count VI [Docket No. 78] is
5. Defendant Swem's Appeal of the Magistrate Judge's Order [Docket No. 101] is
