Aubin v. Columbia Casualty Co.

272 F. Supp. 3d 828
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Louisiana
DecidedSeptember 28, 2017
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO.: 16-00290-BAJ-EWD
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 272 F. Supp. 3d 828 (Aubin v. Columbia Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aubin v. Columbia Casualty Co., 272 F. Supp. 3d 828 (M.D. La. 2017).

Opinion

RULING AND ORDER

BRIAN A. JACKSON, CHIEF JUDGE

The right to criticize police without risk of arrest distinguishes a democracy from a [832]*832police state. Here, however, a Sheriffs Deputy arrested Plaintiff for announcing “I’m gonna get you fired” and “I’m gonna have your job.” The Livingston Parish Sheriff allegedly adopted a policy condoning this practice, permitting officers to arrest anyone who threatens an officer’s employment. Yet our Constitution guarantees a citizen’s right to’ criticize government officials without fear of retribution.

**

Before the Court is the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. 41), and the Motion to Strike (Doc. 81) filed by Plaintiffs William Aubin and April Aubin, and the Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 119) filed by Defendant Sheriff Jason Ard. Each party filed oppositions, (Docs. 77, 85, 124), and replies (Docs. 87, 94). For the following reasons, the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. 41) and the Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 119) are GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. The Motion to Strike (Doc. 81) is DENIED.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs allege that on April 30, 2015, Deputy William Durkin arrived in their neighborhood near Denham Springs, Louisiana in response to a complaint about their neighbor. (Doc. 117 at ¶ 6-7). Plaintiffs claim that when they approached Deputy Durkin, the Deputy told Mr. Aubin to “stand back and shut his mouth.” Id. at ¶ 8-9. Plaintiffs allege that Deputy Durkin then called Ms. Aubin a “pussy” and when Mr. Aubin asked Deputy Durkin not to curse in front of his wife, Deputy Durkin said “one more time and your pussy ass is going to jail.” Id. at ¶ 10-11. Plaintiffs assert that Mr. Aubin then told Deputy Durkin that he was going to call the Deputy’s supervisor to complain about him and that he said “I’m gonna get you fired” and “I’m gonna have your job.” Id. at ¶¶ 14-15, 58.

Plaintiffs claim that Deputy Durkin then hit Mr. Aubin in the head with his handcuffs, twisted his arm behind his back, kicked him in the legs and buttocks, and threw him on his patrol car. Id. at ¶ 15-18. Plaintiffs allege that when Ms. Aubin asked what was happening, Deputy Durkin said “Shut up bitch before I take you with the dumb ass.” Id. at ¶ 24. Plaintiffs allege that Mr. Aubin was charged with resisting an officer, interfering with a law enforcement investigation, and public intimidation. Id. at ¶ 27. Plaintiffs claim that the charges were later dismissed. Id. at ¶ 28.

Plaintiffs filed suit against Deputy Dur-kin, in his individual capacity, against Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard, individually and in his official capacity, and against Columbia Casualty Company. (Doc. 117 at p. 1). Mr. Aubin claims that Deputy Dur-kin is liable for battery, assault, false arrest, false imprisonment, unlawful seizure, cruel treatment, excessive and unreasonable use of force, and malicious prosecution. Id. at ¶29. Ms. Aubin claims that Deputy Durkin is liable for assault and for loss of consortium. Id. at ¶ 30-32. Plaintiffs allege that Sheriff Ard is also vicariously liable for Deputy Durkin’s actions and for his failure to adequately train and supervise Deputy Durkin. Id. at ¶ 33-34. Plaintiffs further allege that Louisiana’s public intimidation statute is unconstitutional. Id. at ¶ 41-45.

On March 24, 2017, the Court denied Sheriff Ard’s Motion to Dismiss, in which he sought to dismiss all federal and certain state law claims against him. (Doc. 88). On June 12, 2017, the Magistrate Judge granted Plaintiffs Motion for Leave to File a Second Amended Complaint. (Doc. 116). On September 15, 2017, the Court stayed the constitutional challenge to the public [833]*833intimidation statute pending the resolution of a related appeal. (Doe. 132).

II. DISCUSSION

A. Sheriff Ard’s Motion to Dismiss

Sheriff Ard moves to dismiss the official and individual capacity claims brought against him under § 1983, as well as a state law claim for failure to train.1 (Doc. 119-1 at p. 1). A motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) tests the sufficiency of the complaint against the legal standard set forth in Rule 8, which requires “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Rule 8(a)(2). “To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’ ” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief [is] ... a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense.” Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937.

“[F]aeial plausibility” exists “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable, inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955). Hence, the complaint need not set out “detailed factual allegations,” but something “more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action” is required. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. When conducting its inquiry, the Court “accepts all well-pleaded facts as true and views those facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Bustos v. Martini Club Inc., 599 F.3d 458, 461 (5th Cir. 2010) (quotation marks omitted).

1. Official Capacity Claim

Plaintiffs claim that Sheriff Ard is liable in his official capacity because he has an official policy or custom that his deputies may arrest anyone who makes threats against their jobs. (Doc. 117 at ¶61). Municipalities and other local government entities may be held liable under § 1983 for the constitutional torts of its agents only when an official policy of the entity itself caused the deprivation of the plaintiffs’ rights. Pembaur v. City of Cincinnati, 475 U.S. 469, 477-79, 106 S.Ct. 1292, 89 L.Ed.2d 452 (1986). To succeed on such a claim, a plaintiff must establish: “(1) an official policy (or custom), of which (2) a policy maker2 can be charged with actual or constructive knowledge, and (3) a constitutional violation whose ‘moving force’ is that policy or custom.” Pineda v. City of Houston, 291 F.3d 325, 328 (5th Cir. 2002).

An official policy includes:

1. A policy statement, ordinance, regulation, or decision that is officially adopted and promulgated by the municipality’s lawmaking officers or by an official to whom the lawmakers have delegated policy-making authority; or
[834]*834.2.

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Bluebook (online)
272 F. Supp. 3d 828, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aubin-v-columbia-casualty-co-lamd-2017.