Buck v. Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra Corp.

849 F. Supp. 141, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5654, 1994 WL 160472
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedApril 20, 1994
DocketCiv. 90-2618 (PG)
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 849 F. Supp. 141 (Buck v. Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Buck v. Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra Corp., 849 F. Supp. 141, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5654, 1994 WL 160472 (prd 1994).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

PEREZ-GIMENEZ, District Judge.

I.

Facts and Procedural History

Plaintiffs were hired in 1987 to serve as violinists in the Puerto Rico Symphony Or *143 chestra (“PRSOC”). Pursuant to the terms of a labor agreement between the American Federation of Musicians and the PRSOC, on January 19, 1990, plaintiffs applied by audition for tenured positions with the PRSOC. The audition committee consisted of Odón Alonso, José Figueroa, Joaquin Vidaechea, Federico Silva, and Francisco Moría. Plaintiffs failed the audition, but were granted a second audition on March 23, 1990. The second audition committee was comprised of the same members, with the exception of Guillermo Figueroa’s presence and Vidae-chea’s absence. Defendant Griselle Báez Muñoz, PRSOC director, attended the second audition, allegedly distributing and collecting the ballots. The audition committee again denied plaintiffs tenure. Plaintiffs filed an arbitration complaint. On April 17, 1990, defendant Báez offered plaintiffs a contract to remain with PRSOC until December 31, 1990, by which time the parties anticipated that the arbitration complaint would be resolved. Although the arbitration complaint was not resolved, on January. 4, 1991, defendant Báez discharged plaintiffs from employment with PRSOC.

Plaintiffs brought suit against PRSOC; PRSOC’s parent, the Musical Arts Corporation (“CAM”); Báez; Carlos Alicea, Director of PRSOC until February 28, 1990; Jorge Martínez Solá, Executive Director of CAM until May 15, 1991; and all members of both audition committees. Plaintiffs allege that the audition committee members discriminated against plaintiffs because plaintiffs are not of Puerto Rican or Hispanic ancestry; that defendant Báez participated in the second audition in a manner contrary to the traditions and practices of PRSOC, and later discharged plaintiffs prior to the conclusion of the arbitration proceeding; and that defendant Martinez was aware of Báez’ actions. 1

This case has steadily worn a trail between the judge to whom it was assigned until recently, and the magistrate judge on whose shoulders fell the lions share of the work. Without delving into the details of the case’s arduous journey, suffice it to say that among the motions pending in this case are the following:

Docket # Motion (party) Filing Date

56 Motion for summary judgment (D) May 6, 1992

71 Opposition (P) June 26, 1992

77 Leave to reply to opposition (D) July 6, 1992

86 Magistrate’s Report and Recommendation May 21, 1993

89 Objections (P) June 1, 1993

92 Objections (D) June 9, 1993

Objections (D) June 11, 1993

Defendants CAM and PRSOC moved for summary judgment on the basis that they are entitled to sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment, and therefore are protected from an action for damages. Defendants CAM, PRSOC, Alicea, Alonso, Báez, and Martinez moved for summary judgment on the ’grounds that plaintiffs did not possess property interest sufficient to trigger due process protections. The same defendants moved for summary judgment “on the merits,” apparently alleging that plaintiffs failed to state a claim. Defendants Alicea, Alonso, Báez, and Martinez also moved for summary judgment on the basis that they are protected by qualified immunity from plaintiffs’ claims in this litigation. 2

The magistrate judge found that CAM and PRSOC were not entitled to sovereign immu *144 nity, and recommended that the motion for summary judgment be denied as to these defendants. The magistrate judge also found that defendants Alicea, Báez, and Martinez — but not defendant Alonso — should be shielded from this action by a grant of qualified immunity, and recommended that the motion for summary judgment is granted as to the former three defendants and denied as to the latter. I agree with some, but not all, aspects of the magistrate judge’s Report and Recommendation.. Thus, for the reasons set forth below, defendants’ motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

II.

The Eleventh Amendment

A.

Discussion

The Eleventh Amendment was enacted in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Chisholm v. Georgia, holding that a South Carolina citizen could bring an action against the State of Georgia in federal court. 2 U.S. (2 Dall.) 419, 1 L.Ed. 440 (1793). 3 The Eleventh Amendment has been construed to guard a state against claims brought in fed eral court by citizens of that or any other state. Employees of Dept. of Public Health & Welfare v. Dept. of Public Health & Welfare, 411 U.S. 279, 280, 93 S.Ct. 1614, 1616, 36 L.Ed.2d 251 (1973). 4 A state may by express statement waive the sovereign immu nity protected by the Eleventh Amendment. Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651, 673, 94 S.Ct. 1347, 1360, 39 L.Ed.2d 662 (1974). Sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment extends beyond the core of the state government to “arms of the state.” Metcalf & Eddy v. Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority, 991 F.2d 935, 939 (1st Cir.1993). CAM and PRSOC seek a determination that they are “arms of the state,” immune from suit.

B.

The Test

I must determine the extent to which CAM and PRSOC are “entangled” with the government, Metcalf & Eddy, 991 F.2d at 940. Factors relevant to the general issue of an institution’s autonomy with respect to the government include the following:

(1) whether the agency has the funding power to enable it to satisfy judgments without direct state participation or guarantees; (2) whether the agency’s function is governmental or proprietary; (3) whether the agency is separately incorporated; (4) whether the state exerts control over the agency, and if so, to what extent; (5) whether the agency has the power to sue, be sued, and enter contracts in its own name and right; (6) whether the agency’s property is subject to state taxation; and (7) whether the state has immunized itself from responsibility for the agency’s acts or omissions.

Metcalf & Eddy, 991 F.2d at 939-40. These factors provide grounds on which to evaluate whether the entity “acted more like a private company, or more like the Commonwealth’s government” in the circumstances from which arose plaintiffs claim. Royal Caribbean v. Puerto Rico Ports Authority,

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849 F. Supp. 141, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5654, 1994 WL 160472, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/buck-v-puerto-rico-symphony-orchestra-corp-prd-1994.