E. RICHARD WEBBER, SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
This matter comes before the Court on the parties' separate Motions for Summary Judgment. Defendants Francis Slay, an ex-officio member of the Saint Louis Board of Police Commissioners, Richard Gray, Thomas Irwin, Bettye-Battle Turner, and Erwin Switzer, (collectively, "Board Defendants") filed a Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 53]; Defendants Francis Slay, in his official capacity as Mayor of Saint Louis; Tishaura Jones, Treasurer of the City of Saint Louis, and Darlene Green, Comptroller of the City of Saint Louis (collectively "City Defendants"); filed a Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 56]; and Plaintiffs Michael J. Banks ("Banks") and Antonia Rush-Banks ("Plaintiffs") also filed a Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 58].
The following account of the procedural history of this case is undisputed by the parties. Plaintiffs are Michael J. Banks ("Banks") and his wife, Antonia Rush-Banks. Former St. Louis City Police Officer Reginald Williams ("Williams") unlawfully arrested Banks, used false statements to justify the arrest, displayed a gun against Banks, without cause, and stole $750.00 in cash from Banks. Williams was convicted in federal court for his felonious acts against Banks, and he was sentenced to serve a seventy-eight month prison term which was affirmed in United States v. Williams, 177 Fed.Appx. 513 (8th Cir. 2006). Plaintiffs filed a petition in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis on August 23, 2005 styled Michael J. Banks
For their third petition, on January 22, 2009, Plaintiffs filed their Second Amended Petition naming solely police officer Williams as defendant in his personal and official capacity. [ECF No. 52 at ¶ 7]. Summons, accompanied by the Second Amended Petition, were served, by Plaintiffs, on individual Board Defendants on January 26, 2009, by serving a copy upon a legal assistant for the Board Defendants, who, it is admitted by the parties, was authorized to receive service of process for the individual Board Members. Id. at ¶ 9. Again, no responsive pleading was filed on behalf of Williams in either his individual or official capacity. Id. at ¶ 10.
On April 3, 2009, a judge for the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis entered an order, "Default and Inquiry," setting a hearing on April 27, 2009. Prior to that hearing, Plaintiffs' counsel sent a copy of that order to the Assistant Attorney General assigned to the case by e-mail. [ECF No. 54-5]. On April 27, 2009, a circuit judge conducted a hearing and entered judgment against Williams in his individual and official capacity in the amount of $1,487,553.49. [ECF Nos. 1-6, 52 at ¶ 15]. No attorney entered an appearance at the default hearing for either Williams or Board Defendants, notwithstanding the presence at the hearing of a separate Assistant Attorney General who remained silent and took no action on behalf of Board Defendants. [ECF No. 52 at ¶ 14]. The Missouri Attorney General was tasked with the duty to represent Board Defendants.
Plaintiffs now seek to enforce the judgment entered by default, against the City Defendants through a writ of mandamus. The Board Defendants represent the Saint Louis Board of Police Commissioners ("Police Board"), the entity for which Officer Williams worked. The City Defendants represent the City of Saint Louis, which, the parties agree, is the successor-in-interest in liability to the Police Board, based on a city ordinance, passed since the conclusion of underlying case. Id. at ¶¶ 16, 17.
Plaintiffs now seek to enforce the default judgment entered against Williams in his official capacity against the City Defendants, the successors in interest to the Board Defendants, who have refused to pay the judgment.
Summary judgment is proper only if there exists "no genuine issue as to any material fact" and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. of Civ. Proc. 56(c); Bores v. Domino's Pizza, LLC, 530 F.3d 671, 674 (8th Cir.2008). The burden of proof is on the party moving for summary judgment, and all facts and reasonable inferences are to be viewed in the light most-favorable to the non-moving party. Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Ry. Co. v. City of Orr, 529 F.3d 794, 797 (8th Cir.2008). "Although the moving party has the burden of demonstrating the absence of genuine issues of material fact, `the nonmoving party may not rest upon mere denials or allegations, but must instead set forth specific facts sufficient to raise a genuine issue for trial.'" Burchett v. Target Corp., 340 F.3d 510, 516 (8th Cir.2003) quoting Rose-Maston v. NME Hosps., Inc., 133 F.3d 1104, 1107 (8th Cir.1998).
Material facts are determined by substantive law, and factual disputes which are irrelevant or collateral do not preclude Summary Judgement. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A dispute is a genuine issue, where the evidence is such a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Id. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. If the non-moving party has failed to "make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, ... there can be `no genuine issue as to any material fact,' since a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the non-moving party's case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).
The moving party must show that "there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's case." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the moving party meets this initial burden, the non-moving party must then set forth affirmative evidence and specific facts that demonstrate a genuine dispute on that issue. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505. Instead, the non-moving party must demonstrate sufficient favorable evidence that could enable a jury to return a verdict for it. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505. "If the non-moving party fails to produce such evidence, summary judgment is proper." Olson v. Pennzoil Co., 943 F.2d 881, 883 (8th Cir.1991).
In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the Court may not "weigh the evidence in the summary judgment record, decide credibility questions, or determine the truth of any factual issue." Kampouris v. St. Louis Symphony Soc., 210 F.3d 845, 847 (8th Cir.2000). The Court instead "perform[s] only a gatekeeper function of determining whether there is evidence in the summary judgment record generating a genuine issue of material fact for trial on each essential element of a claim." Id.
Plaintiffs argue summary judgment is appropriate because they hold a clear and valid judgment, entitling them to a writ of mandamus, ordering the City Comptroller to pay the judgment along with post-judgment interest of nine percent. [ECF No. 59]. City Defendants and Board Defendants argue Plaintiffs are not entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law, because their judgment is not valid, since Defendants in the underlying case did not receive proper notice, and therefore, Plaintiffs do not have a clear right to relief entitling them to a writ of mandamus. Further, Defendants argue post-judgment interest is not appropriate because interest was not awarded in the initial judgment. [ECF No. 53, 56].
The primary issue in this case is whether Board Defendants had proper notice in the underlying case, to justify payment by the City of St. Louis for the judgment. The arguments regarding notice can be divided into two categories. First, Defendants argue Plaintiffs' course of conduct, in the underlying case, did not provide the notice required to establish an official capacity claim against the entity under Brandon v. Holt, 469 U.S. 464, 105 S.Ct. 873, 83 L.Ed.2d 878 (1985) and its progeny. Next, Defendants argue the holdings in Brandon and its progeny do not apply to the present case, because the present case is out-side the ambit of the holding in Brandon.
"[The Supreme Court has] plainly implied that a judgment against a public servant `in his official capacity' imposes liability on the entity that he represents provided, of course, the public entity received notice and an opportunity to respond." Brandon, 469 U.S. at 471-72, 105 S.Ct. 873; Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166, 105 S.Ct. 3099, 87 L.Ed.2d 114 (1985) ("[a]s long as the government entity receives notice and an opportunity to respond, an official-capacity suit is, in all respects other than name, to be treated as a suit against the entity.").Where a plaintiff sues a police officer in his official capacity, the plaintiff is "pleading an action against an entity of which the officer is an agent." Sow v. Fortville Police Dep't, 636 F.3d 293, 300 (7th Cir.2011). If Defendants had proper notice of their case, judgment against Williams is a judgment against City Defendants.
The City Defendants and the Board Defendants in their current summary judgment motions argue Plaintiffs' course of conduct in the underlying case, after the Board Defendants filed for summary judgment, prevented the Board Defendants from receiving proper notice of the action against them as required in Brandon. Plaintiffs argue Officer Williams was properly served in his official capacity, the Board Defendants were properly served with process and all received the due notice for the default judgment hearing. Arguments surrounding Plaintiffs' course of conduct can be divided into four issues: (1) did Plaintiffs' filings after receiving the Board Defendants' summary judgment motion prevent Defendants from receiving proper notice; (2) whether Plaintiffs, in failing to include the service information on the petition for the initial Board Defendants, prevented proper notice; (3) whether Plaintiffs' counsel's e-mail caused any notice deficiency; and (4) did the City Defendants receive proper notice as an individual group of defendants.
Defendants argue Plaintiffs' conduct, after the Board Defendants filed their summary judgment motion on the initial petition in the underlying suit, so obfuscated the proceedings, it prevented the Board Defendants from realizing proper notice had been served. Defendants also argue the summary judgment motion and the voluntary dismissal, together, had the effect of dismissing the claims against Officer Williams in his official capacity.
Defendants argue Plaintiffs' conduct, after Defendants filed their Motion for Summary Judgment on behalf of the individual board defendants, prevented the Board Defendants from gaining proper notice of the action. Defendants argue Plaintiffs' conduct seems to have been calculated to obfuscate the proceedings by: not similarly naming the parties in the second
Defendants have taken care to emphasize all of the ways in which the procedures in the state case were not straight forward, or commonly recognized in advocacy practice. The Court will address whether the Plaintiffs acted properly under the law.
Plaintiffs dismissed the initial petition and the first amended petition without prejudice, allowing them to refile another petition. [ECF No. 52 ¶ 5]. While the second amended petition only named Officer Williams as a defendant, Plaintiffs properly served the second amended petition on the individual members of the Board, although individual members of the Board were not named defendants. Id. at ¶ 7. The petition, on its face, indicated it was against Officer Williams in his official capacity. [ECF No. 1-1].
Plaintiffs also argue, by properly serving the Board Defendants the second amended petition, if there were problems with notice in the prior petitions, any deficiencies were cured when the underlying Board Defendants were properly served the second amended petition. It is undisputed Plaintiffs properly served the Board Defendants the seconded amended petition. The Court rejects Defendants' argument Plaintiffs' conduct was calculated to obfuscate the proceedings and prevent Defendants from achieving proper notice.
The Court next addresses Defendants' argument concerning Plaintiffs' dismissal of the case against Officer Williams in his official capacity, when Plaintiffs responded to the summary judgment motion by voluntarily dismissing the initial petition, without prejudice, against the Board Defendants. Official capacity suits are the equivalent of a suit against the entity employing the official, and claims against officials in their official capacity are properly dismissed as redundant to the claim against the entity. Artis v. Francis Howell N. Band Booster Ass'n, Inc., 161 F.3d 1178, 1182 (8th Cir.1998); see also Veatch v. Bartels Lutheran Home, 627 F.3d 1254, 1257 (8th Cir.2010). Courts disfavor motions amending the pleadings only in response to avoid summary judgment. Dueker v. Gill, 175 S.W.3d 662, 672 (Mo.Ct.App. 2005). Nevertheless, Missouri courts have also found it would be more unfair to have inequitable rulings on partial summary judgment motions, than to allow plaintiffs to voluntarily dismiss their case to avoid partial summary judgment. State ex rel. Fortner v. Rolf, 183 S.W.3d 249, 255 (Mo. Ct.App.2005).
The Court generally agrees dismissal of a claim is not the favored response to a motion for summary judgment. Here, the Circuit Court permitted the dismissal of Plaintiffs' claims in their original petition, without prejudice, without responding to the Board Defendants' motion for summary
Defendants also argue Plaintiffs failed to properly serve the underlying Board Defendants because the second amended petition did not contain names and service information for the individual members of the Board of Police Commissioners, thus, depriving them of the proper notice required under Brandon.
"Service of process refers to a formal delivery of documents that is legally sufficient to charge the defendant with notice of a pending action." Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft v. Schlunk, 486 U.S. 694, 700, 108 S.Ct. 2104, 100 L.Ed.2d 722 (1988). Therefore, where service is improper, courts lack jurisdiction. Printed Media Servs., Inc. v. Solna Web, Inc., 11 F.3d 838, 843 (8th Cir.1993). "Insufficient service is a proper basis for voiding an entry of default sua sponte because it deprives a court of proper jurisdiction." Cambria Co., LLC v. Pental Granite & Marble, Inc., CIV. 12-228, 2013 WL 1249216, at *9 (D.Minn. Mar. 27, 2013) (citing Printed Media Services, 11 F.3d at 843). "In regard to notice, the general rule is that notice to, or knowledge of, an agent while acting within the scope of his authority and with regard to any business over which his authority reaches, is notice to, or knowledge of, the principal." Fitzgerald v. State ex rel. Adamson, 987 S.W.2d 534, 536 (Mo.Ct.App.1999).
It is undisputed Plaintiffs properly served the initial petition and the second amended petition on the individual members of the Police Board. [ECF No. 52 ¶ 1-7]. Defendants argue not providing service information in the petition, and not naming Defendants, with their individual names, on the petition, prevented the underlying Board Defendants from realizing proper notice from the second amended petition. The Court cannot find any authority, nor do Defendants cite any authority, which requires Plaintiffs to provide this information in the petition. As noted, Board Defendants stipulated they were served with the second amended petition. The initial petition and the second amended petition clearly state a claim was being made against Officer Williams in his official capacity, giving Defendants required notice.
Plaintiffs took the necessary steps to serve the Board Defendants in the circuit court case. Defendants' contention Plaintiffs were legally required to specifically provide the Board Defendants' service information and names of Board Defendants in the second amended petition is without authority. The second amended petition was properly served, and failure to include the proper service information and names of Board Defendants does not nullify the judgment.
Defendants also argue Plaintiffs' counsel's e-mail to the Assistant Attorney General, Defendants' former counsel, had the effect of negating notice. The argument is there was no notice, but if there was it was negated. Plaintiffs' counsel e-mailed
The Assistant Attorney General never entered an appearance for Officer Williams in his official capacity, notwithstanding he received notice of the default hearing. Service was proper in this case, and the addition of this e-mail message does not detract from the legality of the stipulated service of process. The following is the text from the body of the e-mail:
[ECF No. 1-5]. The only manner in which the Court could interpret the e-mail as being deceitful, is to interpret the phrase "prior matter," to indicate this is a new case. However, such an interpretation is unreasonable because the cause number is in the subject line, and the attached default and inquiry, which clearly lists the party as Officer Williams in his individual and official capacities.
This e-mail was sent in addition to proper notification, was not deceitful or confusing, and contained the notice as an attachment. This e-mail did not negate any notice provided to Defendants, and Defendants had proper notice of the default hearing. Nothing the Court has stated in regard to the e-mail should be interpreted as an option for service of process or an enhancement to service of process.
The City Defendants independently argue they never received proper notice because they were not properly served with any petition in the underlying case, as the Mayor of the City of Saint Louis was only served in his capacity as a member of the Police Board, and never in his role as the Mayor of the City of Saint Louis. The City Defendants contend because they were not served, it does not meet the notice requirement in Brandon.
The City Defendants were not served in the underlying case because they were not defendants in that case. City Defendants are only parties in this action because they are a successor-in-interest to the Board Defendants. Courts have found that corporations acquiring an interest in property are bound to subsequent or prior judgments against that property, despite a lack of knowledge. Golden State Bottling Co. v. N.L.R.B., 414 U.S. 168, 179, 94 S.Ct. 414, 38 L.Ed.2d 388 (1973). While, the Court recognizes the City Defendants are not successor corporations, the Court uses this analyses as persuasive authority the City of Saint Louis is similarly bound. Further, City Defendants, in the statement of uncontroverted facts, admit they are a successor-in-interest
The City Defendants are correct in finding they were never served in the underlying case. However, the City Defendants were not the party-in-interest in the underlying case, and are merely successors-in-interest to the initial judgment. Therefore, it is not relevant the City Defendants were not properly served, because the proper notice inquiry is only pertinent to the defendants in the underlying case.
Plaintiffs' course of conduct did not deprive Defendants of the notice required under Brandon. Further, Plaintiffs' filings did not have the effect of dismissing the claim. Plaintiffs properly served Defendants the second amended petition, thus, providing proper notice; their other procedural filings did nothing to nullify this notice. Plaintiffs' counsel's e-mail did not abrogate the notice of default. While Board Defendants argue they had no notice of the hearing, an attorney from the governmental entity representing the underlying Board Defendants attended the hearing, and they were served with the petition and notice of the default. They also received notice to their counsel by Plaintiffs' counsel, and on the front page of the seconded amended petition, Plaintiffs stated they were bringing an official capacity claim. Finally, while the City Defendants were not served in the underlying case, they are the successors-in-liability to the Board Defendants. Plaintiffs' course of conduct did not prevent the defendants in the underlying case from receiving proper notice.
Defendants also argue this case is out-side of the ambit of the holdings of Brandon v. Holt, 469 U.S. 464, 105 S.Ct. 873, 83 L.Ed.2d 878 (1985), and its progeny. That case held a judgment against an official in his official capacity imposes liability on the entity. Defendants argue this case is not within the ambit of Brandon, because: the pleadings, in Brandon, were amended to conform to offers of proof and in summary judgment motions, Brandon plaintiffs' claim was against the City of Memphis and the primary defendant had policy-making authority, and Plaintiffs did not name the individual board members as defendants.
A closer look at Brandon v. Holt, 469 U.S. 464, 105 S.Ct. 873, 83 L.Ed.2d 878 (1985) is prudent. There, petitioners brought suit against Memphis police officer Robert J. Allen, who had a history of violent and irregular behavior well known to the Memphis Police Department. E. Winslow Chapman was Director of the Memphis Police Department when Allen attacked petitioners, who subsequently sought damages against Allen and Chapman. When Allen did not defend the action, default judgment was entered against him for compensatory and punitive damages. The award against Chapman was limited to compensatory damages. The district court found liability of Chapman was in his official capacity. The district court summarized, "This is a civil action against the Honorable E. Winslow Chapman in his official capacity as director of the Memphis Police Department and former Memphis Police Officer Robert J. Allen." Id. at 468, 105 S.Ct. 873.
Justice Stevens, writing for the Supreme Court, noted the petition in Brandon was filed before Monell v. New York City Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611, which overruled Monroe v. Pape, 365 U.S. 167, 81 S.Ct. 473, 5 L.Ed.2d 492 (1961) and held "this explains why the city of Memphis was not named as a defendant in this case.
The plain language of the opinion leaves no doubt, "a judgment against a public servant `in his official capacity' imposes liability on the entity that he represents provided, of course, the public entity received notice and an opportunity to respond." Id. at 471-472, 105 S.Ct. 873.In a footnote concerning the opportunity to respond, this very important language is cited: "Here, the Police Department and the City received notice; no claim is made that the Director of Police and the city were without due notice of the proceedings." Id. at 472-473, n. 20, 105 S.Ct. 873.
The following language from Brandon concludes, "In Monell, the City of New York was not itself expressly named as a defendant. The suit was nominally against the city's Department of Social Services, but that Department had no greater separate identity from the city than did the Director of the Department when he was acting in his official capacity. For the purpose of evaluating the city's potential liability under § 1983, our opinion clearly equated the actions of the Director of the Department in his official capacity with the actions of the city itself." Id. at 472, 105 S.Ct. 873.
The Board Defendants argue this case is outside of the ambit of the Brandon holding because Plaintiffs did not clarify their pleadings. The Brandon plaintiffs were allowed to amend their pleadings to conform to offers of proof, because, while they did not expressly allege they were suing the director in his official capacity, the course of proceedings made it clear the action was against him in his official capacity. Brandon 469 U.S. at 471, 105 S.Ct. 873. Further, in response to the defendants' motion for summary judgment, the plaintiffs clarified they intended to make a claim against the City of Memphis. Id. at 471, 105 S.Ct. 873.
Here, Defendants argue this lack of clarification prevents the Court from applying Brandon's holding because Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the initial petition and obfuscated the proceedings as opposed to clarifying them. While Defendants are correct, Plaintiffs dismissed Board Defendants upon their filing of a summary judgment motion, Plaintiffs never dismissed Officer Williams; Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed all of the parties who had filed summary judgment against them. The initial petition was properly dismissed, without prejudice.
Plaintiffs have always maintained a claim against Officer Williams in his official capacity, so there can be no doubt about the identity of the real party-in-interest.
Therefore, the differences between the Brandon plaintiffs and the present Plaintiffs' efforts to clarify their pleadings do not prevent the Court from applying the holding of Brandon. Here, Plaintiffs have received a judgment against a public servant in his official capacity, public officials were provided notice and the opportunity to respond, and therefore, it is appropriate to impose liability on the entity the official represents.
Defendants also seek to distinguish Brandon, because the primary defendant in Brandon was the director of police, an official with policy making authority, and here, Officer Williams had no policy making authority. Defendants argue because this important issue has not been considered by a court on the merits, Plaintiffs' judgment against the City of St. Louis is inappropriate. [ECF No. 57 at 4]. Plaintiffs contend the judgment was against Officer Williams, § 1983 suits are assumed to be against officials in their official capacity, and the Court should not give credence to a mistaken understanding of the law by Defendants.
In a § 1983 action, where a plaintiff's complaint is silent about whether she is suing an individual official in their official or individual capacity, the complaint is assumed to be an official capacity claim. Egerdahl v. Hibbing Cmty. Coll., 72 F.3d 615, 619 (8th Cir.1995); Murphy v. State of Ark., 127 F.3d 750, 755 (8th Cir.1997). "The real party in interest in an official capacity suit is the State." Andrus ex rel. Andrus v. Arkansas, 197 F.3d 953, 955 (8th Cir.1999) citing Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 25, 112 S.Ct. 358, 116 L.Ed.2d 301 (1991).
Plaintiffs also argue the underlying judgment is immune from Defendants' collateral attacks, and Defendants' Motions for Summary Judgment should be denied on this alone. "The law is clear that a court's order or judgment is immune from collateral attack if the court had jurisdiction of the parties and of the subject matter, and had the jurisdiction to enter the particular order entered." Todd v. Garrison, 417 F.Supp. 97, 101 (E.D.Mo.1976), aff'd, 553 F.2d 103 (8th Cir.1977) (citing Pearson v. Pearson, 369 S.W.2d 272 (Mo. App.1963)); Rodewald v. Rodewald, 297 S.W.2d 536 (Mo.1957).
Defendants make a merit-based argument in arguing this Court should address Officer Williams' lack of policy-making authority. This argument on Officer Williams' lack of policy making authority is an improper collateral attack because it attacks a possible error in legal judgment, and does not relate to notice. This is a prohibited merit-based argument, not an attack on jurisdiction, and therefore, Defendants will not prevail on this argument.
Defendants also argue Officer Williams's lack of policy making authority prevented Defendants from receiving proper notice, and this is not a prohibited collateral attack. There are multiple methods for a government entity to become liable which do not require the official to have policy making authority. Connick v. Thompson, 563 U.S. 51, 60-61, 131 S.Ct. 1350, 179 L.Ed.2d 417 (2011) (finding plaintiffs can prove liability under § 1983 by showing an action pursuant to a decision of government's lawmakers, the acts of its policymaking officials, or a practice so widespread as to practically have the force of law caused their injury). Defendants do not cite any authority which supports their argument notice was prevented by not naming a policy making official. For these reasons, the Court disagrees with Defendants' contentions and finding Defendants are liable, notwithstanding Officer Williams is not a policy making official.
Defendants argue Plaintiffs' failure to name the individual members of the Police Board as defendants prevented Plaintiffs from receiving proper notice of the action against them. Plaintiffs contend Best v. Schoemehl, 652 S.W.2d 740, 741-742 (Mo. Ct.App.1983), has no application to this case and is inapplicable after the Supreme Court's holdings in Brandon and Graham. [ECF No. 64 at 10-11].
Defendants argue this case is outside the holding in Brandon because Monell is now clearly established law. Therefore, Plaintiffs should have named the Police Board Commissioners as defendants. Plaintiffs point out the multiple cases since Brandon, holding a case against an official in his official capacity is an action against the entity itself. [ECF No. 59 at 6-9]. Defendants assert none of the cases Plaintiffs cited involve the collection of judgments or the obfuscation which has occurred in this case.
Official capacity suits represent an alternative way of pleading an action against an entity of which the officer is an agent. Monell, 436 U.S. at 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018. "As a judgment against a public servant in his individual capacity exposes him or her to compensatory and punitive damages, we have repeatedly stated that section 1983 litigants wishing to sue government agents in both capacities should simply use the following language: `Plaintiff sues each and all defendants in both their individual and official capacities.'" Nix v. Norman, 879 F.2d 429, 431 (8th Cir.1989) (quoting Rollins by Agosta v. Farmer, 731 F.2d 533, 536 n. 3 (8th Cir.1984)); see also Baker v. Chisom, 501 F.3d 920, 924 (8th Cir.2007).
Defendants do not challenge the holdings in Monell or Brandon, but argue this case is outside of the ambit of such holdings because the underlying Board Defendants were not named in the underlying case. Brandon was filed before the Supreme Court's decision in Monell, and the Supreme Court recognized this as a factor
The Supreme Court has considered the issue of claimed ambiguous pleadings. The Hafer Court's willingness to permit the suit to go forward without specific pleading allegations suggests rigid pleading formulas are not required. 1 Section 1983 Litigation in State Courts § 12:5; Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 24 n. *, 112 S.Ct. 358, 116 L.Ed.2d 301 (1991).
Defendants argue the Court should institute a rule when a Plaintiff sues a person in their official capacity, they must also sue the entity itself. However, there is no precedent to support this rule. The Court rejects Defendants' argument in light of the presumption a § 1983 action against an individual is presumed to be against someone in their official capacity, and because the Supreme Court has not instituted such a requirement, notwithstanding multiple opportunities to do so.
Plaintiffs' second amended petition clearly contains the language from Nix, intended to provide notice to the Board Defendants, and was properly served to the Board Defendants. The petition states it was an official capacity claim. A ruling concluding Defendants did not have proper notice is contrary to law and would allow Defendants to unjustly avoid their liability.
The Board Defendants in their Motion for Summary Judgment argue the second amended petition does not follow the holding of Best v. Schoemehl, a Missouri case holding the Police Board can only be sued by suing the individual members of the Board in their official capacities. Best v. Schoemehl, 652 S.W.2d 740, 741-742 (Mo. Ct.App.1983). Plaintiffs argue Best is not applicable to the present case because Best is not a § 1983 action, and does not involve a suit against a police officer in her official capacity.
In Best, the plaintiff brought an action against the individual members of the Police Board in their official capacities. The action was brought against the City of Saint Louis, and others, for injuries sustained in a vehicular collision allegedly caused by a negligent unknown police officer. Id. at 741-742. The appellate court reversed the circuit court and held the only method to bring claims against the Police Board was to bring an official capacity suit against each of the individual members. Id. at 741-742. The court found:
Id. at 742. The court in Best cites American Fire Alarm Co. v. Board of Police, to support a plaintiff's recourse against the Police Board is achieved through naming
However, the Eighth Circuit has cited Best, to support the proposition, the Police Board must be sued by suing its individual members. Edwards v. Baer, 863 F.2d 606, 609 (8th Cir.1988). The case comes after the decisions of Brandon and Graham. The Court will address this case, even though the parties did not.
Baer, 863 F.2d at 609. In Baer, plaintiff brought an action against the Police Board and the individual officers. The Eighth Circuit cited Best to support the concept suits cannot be brought against the Police Board, as an entity without naming the individual members. It did not address the issue of official liability through an officer. Further, Lawrence, which the Eighth Circuit also cites for support, found a person cannot sue the Police Board as a separate entity, but must sue its individual members. Lawrence, 604 F.Supp. at 1232. There is nothing to suggest the Eighth Circuit intended to make a determinative ruling the Police Board may only be sued by suing the individual members. It stressed the Police Board, by itself, is not a suable entity. Neither Best nor Baer are authority the Police Board may not be sued by naming a police officer in his official capacity without naming the individual members of the Police Board.
The Court has considered multiple arguments from Defendants Brandon v. Holt does not apply in this case. The Court determined, although the Brandon pleadings were clarified in summary judgment and the petition was amended to conform to the offers of proof, it does not prevent the holding of Brandon from applying in this case. Further, the Court found it was not a requirement for Officer Williams to be a policy-making official; his lack of policy making authority did not prevent proper notice, and other merit-based arguments on this topic would be a collateral attack. Finally, the Court found the judgment was appropriate without individual members of the Police Commissioner Board being named as individual defendants in the Second Amended Complaint. The Court found service of process was lawful to all of the individual board members under the unique facts of this case.
Plaintiffs argue they are entitled to a writ of mandamus to enforce their judgment, which the City of Saint Louis refuses to pay. [ECF No. 59 at 11]. Defendants
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 69, a money judgment is enforced by writ of execution, and the procedure on execution must be in accord of the state where the court is located.
Under Missouri law, a writ of mandamus may enforce a legal right which has already been established. State ex rel. Brentwood Sch. Dist. v. State Tax Comm'n, 589 S.W.2d 613, 614 (Mo.1979). Writs of mandamus are not to be utilized to create new rights, but only to establish or enforce a right which already exists. St. Louis Police Officers' Ass'n v. Sayad, 685 S.W.2d 913, 916 (Mo.Ct.App.1984). "The purpose of the extraordinary writ of mandamus is to compel the performance of a Ministerial duty that one charged with the duty has refused to perform." Furlong Companies, Inc. v. City of Kansas City, 189 S.W.3d 157, 165 (Mo.2006). "A litigant asking relief by mandamus must allege and prove that he has a clear, unequivocal, specific right to a thing claimed. He must show himself possessed of a clear and legal right to the remedy." Id. at 166.
Defendants also highlight Plaintiffs sought nearly identical relief in the Missouri courts and were denied. In Banks v. Slay, 410 S.W.3d 767 (Mo.Ct.App.2013), the Missouri Court of Appeals denied the same relief Plaintiffs requested be entered by a writ of mandamus. The Missouri Court of Appeals determined Plaintiffs were not entitled to a writ of mandamus because they did not have a clear and unequivocal right to their judgment, because Defendants were not provided sufficient notice under Brandon; the State Court found Brandon was distinguishable because the Brandon plaintiffs brought claims against the police director, where the underlying case only made allegations based on Officer Williams's individual actions; there was no discussion of qualified immunity; and finally, the state court found, by failing to name the individual Police Board members as named defendants, it prevented the parties from receiving proper notice. The Missouri Court of Appeals found these distinctions prevented the type of proper notice as required in Brandon. Id. at 769-771. The Eighth Circuit determined this Court maintains subject matter jurisdiction over this case because Plaintiffs are not seeking to overturn an injurious-state judgment, nor are there pending proceedings in state court. Banks v. Slay, 789 F.3d 919, 923 (8th Cir.2015).
For the Court to enter a writ of mandamus against Defendants, Plaintiffs need to establish a clear and unequivocal right for relief. Plaintiffs must also prove the payment of debt is a ministerial duty Defendants are refusing to pay, which Defendants do not dispute. Defendants argue the Court should not enter a writ of mandamus, because Defendants lacked notice of the default judgment and the Missouri Court of Appeals, when faced with the
The Board Defendants assert Plaintiffs do not request a writ of mandamus against the Board Defendants because Plaintiffs, in their summary judgment motion, only requested a writ of mandamus against City Defendants.
Plaintiffs also request post-judgment interest on the underlying judgment, asserting they have a non-tort judgment and interest is required at the statutory rate of nine percent per year. [ECF No. 75 at 7-8]. Defendants disagree, and argue interest is not payable unless it is included in the judgment, and the underlying judgment does not provide for interest. Further, Defendants argue even if the Court wanted to impose interest, it should provide interest at the statutory rate for tort actions which is the federal rate plus five percent per annum. [ECF Nos. 67 at 5, 62 at 9].
The original underlying judgment did not contain an award of interest, nor does it mention interest. [ECF No. 60-1]. Under Missouri law,
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 408.040.02. An award of post-judgment interest, even though mandated by statute, must be included in the original judgment or in a timely amendment to that judgment. Peterson v. Discover Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 460 S.W.3d 393, 413 (Mo.Ct.App.2015) (citing McGuire v. Kenoma, LLC, 447 S.W.3d 659, 666-67 (Mo.2014)).
Plaintiffs seek to distinguish these cases and the present case by asserting both Peterson and McGuire involved judgments for tort damages, as opposed to non-tort damages, and there is no statutory requirement
Accordingly,
So Ordered this 25th Day of July, 2016.
