HERMAN J. WEBER, Senior District Judge.
Two motions to dismiss are pending: 1) the "Motion to Dismiss" (doc. no. 9) by West Chester Police Officer Michelle Berling, West Chester Police Sgt. Herb Hood, and West Chester Township (the "West Chester defendants"); and 2) the "Motion to Dismiss" (doc. no. 15) by Beckett Ridge Golf Club, LLC, and Kier McEachern (the "Beckett defendants"). Plaintiff opposes both motions. Having fully considered the record, including the pleadings and the parties' briefs, the Court will
In his complaint, attorney Joseph Wessendarp ("plaintiff") asserts six claims under state and federal law. He sues five defendants: a privately-owned golf club, a female employee who operated a beverage cart at the golf club, two police officers (in their individual and official capacities), and the township that employed the officers.
Plaintiff alleges he purchased a life membership in the Beckett Ridge Golf Club LLC ("Beckett") in 1985 (doc. no. 1, ¶ 1). He does not attach a copy of any purchase contract. The next alleged event occurred 25 years later. Plaintiff alleges that, after playing golf at the club on July 21, 2010, Kier McEachern, the female operator of a beverage cart, attempted to engage him in conversation (¶ 2). After exchanging pleasantries, he walked away. According to plaintiff, McEachern made unwelcome "personal and sexual remarks" and followed him into the cart barn. He claims that when he stopped, she negligently bumped into his golf bag. Plaintiff alleges that his head jerked back and that he felt "a sharp shooting pain" in his neck and shoulder (¶ 4).
According to plaintiff, he told McEachern that he "wished to talk for ten minutes," and they went into a dark unused office (¶¶ 6-7). He alleges he "allowed her" to go in first. He alleges that McEachern "tried to sit on his lap" but that he told her to "sit in that chair" instead (¶ 10). He claims he told her she needed to "stop" and that when he tried to close the door, she stepped outside. He indicates he "motioned and said to go back in so they could talk for ten minutes" (¶ 11), but McEachern said she did not want to "talk" with him and walked away (¶ 13). He asked her again "so you really don't want to talk to me" and she replied "No" (¶ 13). Plaintiff alleges he then went home (¶ 14).
Plaintiff indicates that the police attempted to contact him about the incident. Officer Berling left him a telephone message on July 23, 2010, advising that she wished to speak with him about the incident and that plaintiff was "trespassed" from Beckett (¶ 15). On July 25, 2010, plaintiff went to the police department at 7 a.m. (¶ 17). West Chester Police Sgt. Herb Hood spoke with plaintiff and, according to plaintiff, told him "never to play golf at Beckett" (¶ 19). When plaintiff insisted that he had a "life membership," Sgt. Hood allegedly told plaintiff that he would be jailed if he went there.
That same day, plaintiff went to the golf club and spoke with Kevin Dietsch, Beckett's general manager, about the July 21, 2010 incident (¶ 20). Dietsch asked him for a written statement, which plaintiff later provided (¶¶ 21, 23). According to plaintiff, Dietsch told him the police had ordered him "not to permit plaintiff to play golf at Beckett" (¶ 22). On July 26, 2010, plaintiff spoke with Officer Berling by telephone, but as the investigation was ongoing, she would not answer questions about about "what was alleged" (¶¶ 24-25). Plaintiff insisted that "his rights as a member could not be taken away by police" (¶ 26). Officer Berling spoke with plaintiff again on August 18, 2010 to ask if he would submit to a polygraph test regarding his version of the July 21, 2010 incident (¶ 27).
Although the complaint does not mention plaintiff's other lawsuits against the golf club, Beckett asks the Court to take judicial notice of the fact that plaintiff has previously sued the golf club and its past and current corporate owners for alleged breach of contract and violation of OCSPA with respect to his alleged "life membership" (doc. no. 19, Exs. A, B Complaints). Plaintiff agreed to voluntarily dismiss the first lawsuit in 2008 after he was served with discovery, but subsequently refiled the case. The Court of Common Pleas for Butler County, Ohio, dismissed the second lawsuit with prejudice on August 27, 2010, pursuant to the parties' "Stipulation of Dismissal" (Ex. C). A court "must take judicial notice if a party requests it and the court is supplied with the necessary information." Fed.R.Evid. 201(c)(2);
The following year, on March 24, 2011, plaintiff played golf at Beckett, which had a new general manager (Chad Barnhorst). The next day, Officer Berling telephoned plaintiff, said she was aware he had played golf at Beckett, reminded him that he was not allowed on the property, and told plaintiff he "would be jailed if he did so" (¶ 29).
On July 23, 2012, plaintiff filed the present federal complaint. In its introductory paragraph, plaintiff indicates that he bases this action on 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985(3), 1986, 1988, and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution (doc. no. 1 at 2, ¶ 1). He also asserts claims under Ohio law and the Ohio Constitution. Plaintiff recites that jurisdiction in this case is based on 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 (federal question) and 1343(a)(3)(4) (civil rights and elective franchise). This case does not concern the "right to vote," and plaintiff does not explain how § 1343(a)(4) would relate to this case. Plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys fees, costs, unspecified "declaratory and injunctive relief and specific enforcement of plaintiff's rights," and any other "appropriate relief" (doc. no. 1 at 10).
The "West Chester" and "Beckett" defendants have filed separate motions to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). Plaintiff has responded (doc. no. 13, 18), and the defendants have replied (doc. no. 17, 19). The motions are fully briefed and ripe for consideration.
Motions to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim for which relief may be granted test the sufficiency of a complaint, and the first step is to identify any conclusory allegations.
In considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the court must focus on whether plaintiff is entitled to offer evidence to support his claims, rather than whether he will ultimately prevail.
Initially, the Court observes that plaintiff concedes that several claims should be dismissed. In Claim Three, plaintiff alleges that the defendants violated his "property rights set out in Article § 1.01" and his "freedom of speech under Article § 1.11" of the Ohio Constitution (doc. no. 1 at 8, ¶¶ 1-3). The defendants correctly point out that plaintiff may not assert a private right of action for alleged violation of the Ohio Constitution (doc. nos. 9 at 11-13; 15 at 9). In response, plaintiff concedes that the defendants are "correct concerning the Ohio Constitutional claims" (doc. no. 18 at 6).
In Claim Six, plaintiff alleges that McEachern "harassed" him and that Beckett did not stop the "outrageous harassment" (doc. no. 1 at 9-10, ¶¶ 1-4). The Beckett defendants point out that there is no such cause of action under Ohio law (doc. no. 15 at 5). In response, plaintiff acknowledges that "Ohio does not recognize an independent tort of Outrageous Harassment" (doc. no. 18 at 6). Plaintiff concedes that, as alleged (i.e., a golf club patron alleging "harassment" by a beverage cart operator), he has not asserted a viable cause of action.
In short, plaintiff acknowledges that Claims Three and Six fail to assert cognizable causes of action. The Court will therefore dismiss them.
In Claim Four, plaintiff alleges "breach of contract" and/or "violation of OCSPA" by Beckett with respect to plaintiff's alleged "life membership" in the golf club. The Beckett defendants point out that plaintiff has already twice sued Beckett (and its past and current owners) over the terms and existence of his life membership. Specifically, plaintiff alleged that Beckett (and its corporate owners) "have and continue to breach and fail to perform the life membership and other agreements" with plaintiff (doc. no. 19-2 at 4, ¶ 9). On August 27, 2010, the state court dismissed that lawsuit with prejudice, including plaintiff's claim against Beckett for "breach of contract and violation of OCSPA." Plaintiff does not dispute this, and the Court may properly take judicial notice of such dismissal.
The "Stipulation of Dismissal" indicates that plaintiff expressly agreed to dismissal with prejudice of "all matters asserted by or against any and all parties" in that second lawsuit. "Generally, a consent judgment operates as res judicata to the same extent as a judgment on the merits."
Federal courts give a state judgment the same preclusive effect that it would have in state courts.
Rather tellingly, plaintiff offers no argument regarding preclusion and completely ignores the fact that his prior breach of contract/OCSPA claim was dismissed with prejudice. In his response, plaintiff concentrates only on the timeliness issue and the § 1983 claims. Given the prior state court dismissal and given plaintiff's failure to even address the preclusion argument, plaintiff has apparently waived and/or abandoned Claim Four.
Next, the Beckett defendants argue that Claims One and Two (construed under § 1983), Claim Four (OCSPA and/or breach of contract), and Claim Five (negligent personal injury), are all time-barred (doc. no. 15 at 4-5, 12). As discussed below, this argument lacks merit.
Section 1983 does not contain a statute of limitations, and thus, federal courts apply the relevant state personal injury statute of limitations.
Plaintiff responds that the last day of the applicable two-year period fell on a Saturday, and thus, he could timely file on the next filing day, Monday, July 23, 2012. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(a)()(1)(C) ("if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday"). A simple check of the calendar confirms this. The Beckett defendants' "untimeliness" argument under the two-year statute of limitations provides no basis to dismiss these claims.
In reply, the Beckett defendants suggest that Claim Five ("negligent injury") may be construed as a claim of "intentional assault" (doc. no. 19 at 2-4). If so construed, a one-year statute of limitations would apply, see Ohio R.C. § 2305.111, and the claim would be time-barred. The Beckett defendants cite
The complaint initially recites in its jurisdictional paragraph that plaintiff is bringing this case under a variety of federal statutes, but mentions no statute in Claims One and Two. In Claim One, plaintiff alleges that the "West Chester defendants" violated his "freedom from unlawful interference by police" and violated his "property rights in his life membership" at Beckett. He alleges that the private golf club acted under "color of law" (doc. no. 1 at 7, ¶ 33). In his response, plaintiff explains that he is alleging a § 1983 claim for deprivation of what he describes as a "constitutionally protected liberty and property interest" (doc. no. 18 at 4). In Claim Two, plaintiff again identifies no statute, but alleges that the Township "failed to train" its police officers "in the proper use of the police powers. . . [and] in the applicable provisions of the Ohio penal law, the Ohio Constitution, and the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights" (doc. no. 1 at 7-8, ¶¶ 1-8). Claims One and Two will therefore be analyzed under § 1983.
Before turning to analysis under § 1983, the Court notes that the complaint initially recites that this action is also based on "sections 1985(3), 1986, and 1988" (doc. no. 1 at ¶ 1). Plaintiff makes no further mention of these statutes anywhere else in the complaint, and the facts alleged in the complaint do not support a claim under these statutes. Section 1985(3) is directed at conspiracies to deprive persons or classes of persons of federally protected rights based on some protected class, such as race, gender, or religion. To state a claim under § 1985(3), plaintiff must allege: 1) a conspiracy; 2) for the purpose of depriving any person or class of persons of the equal protection of the laws; and 3) an act in furtherance of the conspiracy; 4) which deprives the individual of any right.
The present complaint contains no facts or allegations about any "conspiracy" or "class-based animus" of any kind.
Absent a plausible § 1985 claim, any derivative claim under § 1986 for "neglecting to prevent conspiracy to interfere with civil rights" is also subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim.
Section 1983 provides a federal cause of action for civil damages against a person acting "under color of state law" who deprives another of "rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws." 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In considering whether a complaint states a § 1983 claim for purposes of Rule 12(b)(6), courts inquire: (1) whether the conduct complained of was committed by a person acting under color of state law; and (2) whether this conduct deprived a person of rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
To the extent plaintiff is attempting to assert a § 1983 claim against the private golf club, the allegations of the complaint, even when taken as true for purposes of Rule 12(b)(6), do not state a claim against Beckett. The sum total of plaintiff's factual allegations against Beckett are: 1) that its beverage cart operator "harassed" him and bumped into his golf bag; 2) that plaintiff met with the club's general manager (Dietsch), who asked plaintiff to supply a written statement about the incident and indicated that the police had told him "not to permit plaintiff to play golf at Beckett" (¶¶ 21-22); and 3) that the following year on March 24, 2011, the club's new general manager (Barnhorst) "checked in plaintiff to play that day and issued plaintiff his receipt ticket" (¶ 29). These allegations state no plausible claim for relief under § 1983.
Although plaintiff alleges that the privately-owned golf club acted "under color of law" (¶ 33), this allegation is entirely conclusory. Beckett emphasizes that it is not a "state actor" (doc. no. 15 at 6; 19 at 9). The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly explained that "the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits the states from denying federal constitutional rights and which guarantees due process, applies to acts of the states, not to acts of private persons or entities."
"State action requires both an alleged constitutional deprivation caused by acts taken pursuant to state law and that the allegedly unconstitutional conduct be fairly attributable to the State."
Even taking the allegations of the complaint as true for purposes of Rule 12(b)(6), neither the golf club, nor its employees, were "state actors." Although Beckett employees, such as McEachern and Dietsch, may have spoken with police during the investigation of the July 2010 incident, this does not make them "state actors." Beckett correctly points out that "the law permits private individuals and entities to discuss criminal investigations with the police without fear of liability under Section 1983" (doc. no. 19 at 9). See
To the extent plaintiff attempts to attribute the golf club's actions to the West Chester defendants, a private entity's conduct can be attributable to the state only if one of the following exceptions is met: (1) the public function test; (2) the state-compulsion test; or (3) the nexus or symbiotic-relationship test.
In his response, plaintiff argues that "Beckett's General Manager, relying on instructions from West Chester Township Police, prohibited Wessendarp from playing golf at Beckett" (doc. no. 18 at 2). Under the facts alleged in the complaint, Beckett did nothing but exclude plaintiff from its premises and cooperate with police in their investigation of potentially criminal conduct involving plaintiff. The complaint alleges no actions by the Beckett defendants that would make them "state actors" for purposes of § 1983.
Even assuming that the golf club "excluded" plaintiff from its premises, Beckett possessed the right to exclude persons from its own private property. "A private landowner is the sole possessor of private property," unlike public property which "is owned by the taxpayers and is accessible to all."
Several cases cited by plaintiff are inapposite because they involved exclusion from public places. See, e.g.,
The additional cases cited by plaintiff are "takings" cases. The complaint does not mention the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, and such cases have no discernible relevance to the plaintiff's claim against the private golf club. The alleged impairment of plaintiff's ability to use his "life membership" does not present the situation where the government "appropriates private property for its own use."
Any dispute over rights that plaintiff may have in an alleged "life membership" in a private golf club is essentially a matter of contract for which he has adequate remedies under state law. Indeed, the record reflects that he has already conclusively litigated the terms and existence of his "life membership" in state court (doc. no. 19, Exs. A-C).
As for the West Chester defendants, plaintiff alleges the police officers "interfered" with his alleged "property rights in his life membership at Beckett" (¶ 31). Although plaintiff vaguely asserts that he has a right to what he describes as "freedom from unlawful interference by police," the officers obviously have the authority to investigate a report of potentially criminal behavior at the golf club and to enforce the state's laws, including the law against trespass, regardless of the existence of any purported "life membership." Plaintiff cites no authority suggesting otherwise.
Moreover, the defendants assert that the police officers in their individual capacity would be entitled to qualified immunity. The United States Supreme Court has explained:
In determining whether the officers are entitled qualified immunity, the Court must ask "whether, considering the allegations in a light most favorable to the party injured, a constitutional right has been violated" and "whether that right was clearly established."
The Due Process Clause guarantees "substantive due process, which is the right to be free from government infringement against certain liberties such as personal security regardless of the process used, as well as procedural due process, which is the right to a fair procedure when the government deprives a person of protected liberties."
The facts alleged in the complaint do not amount to a constitutional violation, but even supposing that plaintiff had pleaded some sort of due process violation, plaintiff has pointed to nothing that would suggest the police officers exceeded the bounds of their professional duties. They were carrying out their duties and investigating potentially criminal behavior in the July 21, 2010 incident and, according to plaintiff, told him to "stay away" from the golf club. While the general constitutional guarantee of due process is clearly established, it was not clearly established that the officers' instruction to stay away from the golf club (i.e., to not trespass at a private premises) violated any "statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known."
On last point bear mentioning. To the extent plaintiff insists that he has a life membership (and thus was not "trespassing"), the doctrine of "qualified immunity allows for reasonable mistakes by law enforcement officials."
To the extent plaintiff alleges that he is suing the officers in their official capacities, a suit against a government employee in "official capacity" is essentially a suit against the government entity itself. It is well-settled that a § 1983 action brought against a governmental entity cannot be maintained on a theory of respondeat superior.
"Congress did not intend municipalities to be held liable unless action pursuant to official municipal policy of some nature caused a constitutional tort."
The Township's liability "depends solely on whether the plaintiff's constitutional rights have been violated as a result of a policy or custom attributable to the county or local government."
Plaintiff has failed to allege a plausible § 1983 claim against the Township. Plaintiff merely makes the generalized and conclusory allegation that the Township "failed to train" its officers in the "proper use of the police powers" and the applicable state and federal law (doc. no. 1 at 7, ¶¶ 4-5). Plaintiff also claims in conclusory fashion that his "treatment" was an "abuse of authority" and was "consistent with the institutionalized practice of the West Chester Township Police" (¶¶ 2, 7). He does not specify what those purported "institutionalized practices" might be. Plaintiff has not pointed to any specific policy or practice that led to the alleged violation of his constitutional rights. Plaintiff's conclusory allegations fail to allege any basis for Township liability. See, e.g.,
Finally, when a district court dismisses all of the pending federal claims, it will generally decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over any remaining state law claims. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3);
Local Rule 7.1(b)(2) provides that courts have discretion whether to grant requests for oral argument. The parties have fully briefed the motions. The Court finds that the pleadings and exhibits are clear on their face and that oral argument is not warranted.
Accordingly, the Court will
IT IS SO ORDERED.