Casey v. Purser

385 F. Supp. 621, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7156
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Oklahoma
DecidedAugust 14, 1974
DocketNo. 74-183-D Civil
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 385 F. Supp. 621 (Casey v. Purser) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Casey v. Purser, 385 F. Supp. 621, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7156 (W.D. Okla. 1974).

Opinion

ORDER

DAUGHERTY, Chief Judge.

This ease is based on alleged Civil Rights Act violations and acts of negligence resulting from the arrest and detention of the Plaintiffs. It appears that on February 16, 1974 a confidential informer contacted the Oklahoma City Police Headquarters and in two telephone conversations stated that marijuana was being sold at a party then occurring at 3800 N.W. 34th Street in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. On the basis of this information Officer Lambert made an affidavit and obtained a search warrant. Officer Lambert then transferred the warrant to Officer Shahan, who in the company of other officers, proceeded to the stated address where the warrant was served by Officer Shahan, and all fifty-two persons present were arrested. They were taken to police headquarters where they were searched. After being detained for varying periods of time they were released. Everyone who was arrested was fingerprinted and booked. The search of the arrested persons and the house at the abovementioned address revealed a quantity of marijuana and barbiturates in the possession of three of the arrested persons. No evidence of the sale of marijuana was found.

28 U.S.C. § 1343(3) is relied on to provide the jurisdictional basis for this Court. 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1988 are relied on to provide the substantial basis required by 28 U. S.C. § 1343(3). The City of Oklahoma City, the Mayor of Oklahoma City and the members of the City Council of the City of Oklahoma City are named as Defendants in both their individual and official capacities. The City of Oklahoma City, its Mayor and the members of its City Council have moved to be dismissed from this lawsuit. Their Motions should be sustained.

For the purposes of a Motion To Dismiss, the material allegations of the Complaint are taken as true and the Complaint is to be liberally construed in favor of the Plaintiffs. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 89 S.Ct. 1843, 23 L.Ed.2d 404 (1969). Applying this standard, it is evident that Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim or cause of action against these Defendants upon which relief can be granted.

Plaintiffs have asserted causes of action against the Defendants, City of Oklahoma City, Mayor of Oklahoma City and members of the City Council of Oklahoma City under (1) the Civil Rights Act and (2) in tort.

[623]*623I. THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY

42 U.S.C. § 1983 is the only one of the Civil Rights Act statutes cited by Plaintiffs which is applicable to the facts alleged in the Complaint as to the Defendant City of Oklahoma City.

It is well settled that a city is not a person within the contemplation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and a cause of action will not lie against a city under said section. City of Kenosha v. Bruno, 412 U.S. 507, 93 S.Ct. 2222, 37 L.Ed.2d 109; Monroe v. Pape, 365 U.S. 167, 81 S.Ct. 473, 5 L.Ed.2d 492 (1961); Howell v. Cataldi, 464 F.2d 272 (Third Cir. 1972); Bush v. Robinson, 442 F.2d 393 (Third Cir. 1971).

The limited waiver of municipal immunity from suit for torts committed by its employees while engaging in governmental activities granted by the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Liability Act, 11 Oklahoma Statutes § 1751 et seq., does not affect the immunity of a city from suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Moor v. County of Alameda, 411 U.S. 693, 93 S.Ct. 1785, 36 L.Ed.2d 596 (1973); Dewell v. Lawson, 489 F.2d 877 (Tenth Cir. 1974).

Therefore, it must be concluded that Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim or cause of action based on the Civil Rights Act against the City of Oklahoma City upon which relief can be granted. Rule 12(b)(6), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Civil Rights Act claim against the City of Oklahoma City should be dismissed.

II. THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST THE MAYOR OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCIL

It is also settled that high city officials, such as the Mayor and Councilmen, cannot be held liable for the acts of lower city officers and employees in a Civil Rights Act case brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Boettger v. Moore, 483 F.2d 86 (Ninth Cir. 1973). Again, we find that 42 U.S.C. § 1983 is the only statute of those upon which Plaintiffs rely that is applicable to the facts alleged in the Complaint as to the Defendants Mayor and Councilmen.1

The doctrine of respondeat superior is inapplicable in actions brought pursuant to the Civil Rights Act. Johnson v. Glick, 481 F.2d 1028 (Second Cir. 1973), cert. denied 414 U.S. 1033, 94 S.Ct. 462, 38 L.Ed.2d 32; Christian v. An derson, Case No. 74-241, Aug. 9, 1974 (Tenth Cir. 1974); Battle v. Lawson, 352 F.Supp. 156 (W.D.Okl.1972); Barrows v. Faulkner, 327 F.Supp. 1190 (N.D.Okl.1971); Salazar v. Dowd, 256 F.Supp. 220 (D.Colo.1966); Ammlung v. City of Chester, 355 F.Supp. 1300 (E.D. Pa.1973). There being no allegation of direct personal involvement by the Defendants Mayor and Councilmen, respondeat superior or vicarious liability is the only possible basis for their liability. That doctrine being inapplicable to Civil Rights Act claims, Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim or cause of action founded on the Civil Rights Act against the Mayor and Council Members upon which relief may be granted. Rule 12(b)(6), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Therefore, the Civil Rights Act claim against the Mayor and Council Members should be dismissed.

III.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
385 F. Supp. 621, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7156, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/casey-v-purser-okwd-1974.