Adams v. City of Alexandria

878 F. Supp. 2d 685, 2012 WL 2871163, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97059
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Louisiana
DecidedJuly 12, 2012
DocketCivil Action No. 11-1484
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 878 F. Supp. 2d 685 (Adams v. City of Alexandria) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Adams v. City of Alexandria, 878 F. Supp. 2d 685, 2012 WL 2871163, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97059 (W.D. La. 2012).

Opinion

JUDGMENT

DEE D. DRELL, District Judge.

For the reasons contained in the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge filed previously herein, noting the absence of objections thereto, and concurring with the Magistrate Judge’s findings under the applicable law;

IT IS ORDERED that a declaratory judgment is entered and the City of Alexandria Ordinance 15-127 is declared unconstitutional as violating citizens’ rights under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The request for injunctive relief is PRETERMITTED and may be reurged if necessary.

In so ruling we do note by way of supplement to footnote 1, that tarot cards come in many forms, some dating back centuries, having evolved from European card games in the medieval period. Tarot decks are often 78 card decks, consisting of face cards (sometimes called Major Arcana) and number cards, much like a modern card deck. Modern card decks of 52 [687]*687cards evolved probably from the early tarock, tarocchi or tarot decks. It is usually the 22 face cards that are used in fortune telling. We note also with interest that the “art” of fortune telling proliferates in front of St. Louis Cathedral, in the City of New Orleans, apparently without incident.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

JAMES D. KIRK, United States Magistrate Judge.

Before the court is plaintiffs motion for summary judgment, doc. # 5, referred to me by the district judge for report and recommendation.

This is a § 1983 suit for declaratory judgment and injunction by Rachel J. Adams (Adams) in which she asserts that she is under imminent threat of arrest by City of Alexandria (City) officials as a result of her exercise of her free speech and other Constitutional' rights. Plaintiff claims that she was born with the ability to “understand and appreciate Tarot cards1, telling of futures, psychic abilities and palmistry 2.” She practices card reading, fortune telling, telling of futures, and palmistry in Alexandria. She asserts in brief that she does not charge a fee but accepts donations.3

Plaintiff alleges that she procured a building in Alexandria zoned for commercial purposes and attempted to obtain the necessary permits for it. What she didn’t foresee, however, was that City officials would tell her that such business was prohibited by City of Alexandria Code of Ordinances, § 15-127. Shortly thereafter, plaintiff was visited by an Alexandria City police officer who issued her a summons for fortune-telling in violation of the ordinance. She was ordered to appear in criminal court on September ,13, 2011, according to her complaint. The parties have not favored the court with information as to the outcome of that proceeding.

Plaintiff claims that the ordinance is arbitrary, capricious, overly broad, vague and unconstitutional. Specifically, plaintiff claims that the ordinance violates her due process rights and right to privacy as provided in Art. I § 2 and 5, respectively, of the Louisiana Constitution, her due process rights under the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, her equal protection rights under the' 14th Amendment, her right to life and liberty under Article 13, as well as her right to privacy under other provisions of the Constitution. She also asserts that her free speech rights were violated and her right to the free exercise of her religion under the First Athendment to the United States Constitution were violated.

No evidence was submitted by either party and the parties have informed the court that they believe the case 'simply presents a legal question. Statements of material fact were submitted.

The law of summary judgment

As the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals explained in Seacor Holdings, Inc. v. Commonwealth Ins. Co., 635 F.3d 675, 680 (5th Cir.2011):

A court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d [688]*688265 (1986). Effective December 1, 2010, Rule 56 has been amended, and the summary judgment standard is now reflected in Rule 56(a). The amended rule contains no substantive change to the standard. An issue as to a material fact is genuine if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby. Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). [W]e consider all evidence in the light most favorable to the party resisting the motion. Trevino v. Celanese Corp., 701 F.2d 397, 407 (5th Cir.1983). (Quotations and internal footnote references omitted.)

Local Rule 56.2W also provides that all material facts set forth in a statement of undisputed facts submitted by the moving party will be deemed admitted for purposes of a motion for summary judgment unless the opposing party controverts those facts by filing a short and concise statement of material facts as to which that party contends there exists a genuine issue to be tried.

If the dispositive issue is one on which the nonmoving party will bear the burden of proof at trial, the moving party may satisfy its burden by merely pointing out that the evidence in the record contains insufficient proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party’s claim. See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The burden then shifts to the non-moving party, who must, by submitting or referring to evidence, set out specific facts showing that a genuine issue exists. See Celotex, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The nonmovant may not rest upon the pleadings, but must identify specific facts that establish a genuine issue exists for trial. See id. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548; Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir.1994); Austin v. Will-Burt Company, 361 F.3d 862 (5th Cir.2004). This burden is not satisfied with “some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts,” by “conclusory allegations,” by “unsubstantiated assertions,” or by only a “scintilla” of evidence. Little, 37 F.3d at 1075.

All evidence must be considered, but the court does not make credibility determinations. If the movant fails to meet her initial burden, summary judgment should be denied. Id.

Analysis

Plaintiff has limited the bases for her motion for summary judgment to the issues of freedom of speech violations, equal protection violations because of selective enforcement, and vagueness of the ordinance.

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Bluebook (online)
878 F. Supp. 2d 685, 2012 WL 2871163, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97059, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/adams-v-city-of-alexandria-lawd-2012.