Boulware v. Battaglia

344 F. Supp. 889, 1972 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13051
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedJune 26, 1972
DocketCiv. A. 3869
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 344 F. Supp. 889 (Boulware v. Battaglia) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Boulware v. Battaglia, 344 F. Supp. 889, 1972 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13051 (D. Del. 1972).

Opinion

OPINION

CALEB M. WRIGHT, Chief Judge.

During the period in which the incidents underlying this action occurred, the five plaintiffs were police officers with the City of Wilmington, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Police (Department). The defendants were and continue to be the City Solicitor, the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Chief of Police and seven other police officers for the City of Wilmington. The plaintiffs brought this action seeking a judgment for certain alleged violations of their federal constitutional and statutory rights in the course of a disciplinary proceeding prosecuted by the defendants concerning the plaintiffs’ performance of their duties as police officers. Raising numerous factual allegations of infringements of constitutional and civil rights, the plaintiffs’ complaint relied upon three federal statutes: 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 42 U.S.C. § 1985 and 47 U.S.C. § 605. In a previous opinion, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss all claims under the latter two statutes, and held that the allegations charged in the complaint under 42 U.S. C. § 1983 were sufficient to state a cause of action. 1 After extensive discovery, the case is presently before the Court on the defendants’ motion for summary judgment directed toward the remaining 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims.

As noted in the prior opinion, jurisdiction is based on 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3). The defendants have argued that jurisdiction is not conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3) because the plaintiffs’ claims are predicated upon property rights, see Tichon v. Harder, 438 F.2d 1396 (2nd Cir. 1971). However, the Supreme Court in the recently decided ease, Lynch v. Household Finance Corp., 405 U.S. 538, 92 S.Ct. 1113, 31 L.Ed.2d 424 (1972), rejected the contention that 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3) supported a jurisdictional distinction between personal liberties and property rights. The Supreme Court’s observation regarding the impossibility of applying the Tichon rule because no cognizable dichotomy exists between personal and property rights is especially pertinent in this case since the plaintiffs’ underlying claim arises from their employment, while the self-incrimination, search and seizure and procedural due process rights they raise are personal in nature.

To prevail on a motion for summary judgment, the moving party must *893 assume the burden of proving that there are no disputed issues of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment on all matters of law. F.R.Civ.P. 56(c). See 6 Moore, Federal Practice ([56.15 [3] (2nd Ed. 1971). Moreover, in cases raising federal constitutional claims, a court must rigorously insure against granting summary judgment when any doubt exists concerning disputed material facts. See Sindermann v. Perry, 430 F.2d 939, 943 (5th Cir. 1970).

THE FACTS

In December 1968, four of the plaintiffs, Lieutenant Edwin D. Boulware (Boulware), Sergeant Lenox J. K. Smith (Smith), Patrolman Frank J. Shahan (Shahan), Patrolman Michael J. Maloney (Maloney) and the defendant, Patrolman Samuel P. Chickadel (Chickadel) comprised the Vice Squad of the Department. The fifth plaintiff, Joseph M. McNair (McNair), joined the Vice Squad in January 1969. These six men comprised the Vice Squad between January and March 1969.

In mid-March 1969, Chickadel informed certain of his superiors and the City Solicitor, Victor F. Battaglia (Battaglia) that two members of the Vice Squad, Smith and Shahan, were involved in a conspiracy to photograph Battaglia in a compromising position with a woman.

In essence, Chickadel stated that, in December in the presence of all the members of the Vice Squad, Smith related the contents of a meeting he had had with Emmett J. Conte, Jr., Esquire, in which they discussed a plan to place Battaglia in a compromising position with a female for purposes of obtaining pictures to use against the City Solicitor. Smith was to select the individuals to take the pictures at the appropriate time. This plan was discussed by members of the Vice Squad on several occasions between December 1968 and March 1969, and Shahan indicated a willingness to take the desired pictures. Chickadel maintained that although he was doubtful that the proposed conspiracy would be undertaken when it was initially presented, the recurring references to the plan and his inability to dissuade Shahan from joining it led Chickadel to conclude that the plan was likely to be implemented. This conclusion precipitated his reporting the conspiracy.

On Friday, April 11, 1969, the Office of the City Solicitor issued a subpoena directed to Chickadel requiring him to appear for questioning at the office of the City Solicitor on the following Monday. Although the subpoena did not indicate the nature of the inquiry, it is clear that Chickadel was apprised of the fact that the conspiracy which he had divulged would be investigated. During the weekend, Chickadel taped a series of telephone calls he made to and received from certain of the plaintiffs concerning his receipt of the subpoena and the possible subject matter of the Solicitor’s investigation. The telephone calls were made and taped with the knowledge of Battaglia and in the presence of Sergeant Nicholas M. Valíante (Valíante), who had been assigend by Battaglia to observe Chickadel’s actions. While there is some dispute concerning whether Chickadel recorded the conversations on his own initiative or at Battaglia’s request, it is clear that the tapes were made in an effort to obtain corroboration of Chickadel’s account of the prospective conspiracy.

On April 14, 1969, Chickadel testified before Battaglia, Stephen P. Cassarino, an assistant City Solicitor (Cassarino), William J. O’Rourke, Commissioner of Public Safety (O’Rourke), John T. McCool, Chief of Police (McCool), and then Police Captains James F. White (White) and Edward A. Sylwestrzuk (Sylwestrzuk) concerning the nature of the alleged plot and the plaintiffs’ roles therein. After Chickadel had testified, the above listed individuals, all of whom are defendants with the exception of Cassarino, proceeded to interrogate each of the plaintiffs concerning the allegations asserted by Chickadel.

*894 With the exception of the questioning of McNair, the interrogation of each of the plaintiffs was preceded by a description of the subject matter of the inquiry and a recitation of the Miranda warnings. 2 McNair was the first plaintiff interrogated and answered a number of questions prior to being informed of his rights and the nature of the investigation.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
344 F. Supp. 889, 1972 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13051, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/boulware-v-battaglia-ded-1972.