City of Anderson v. Weatherford

714 N.E.2d 181, 1999 Ind. App. LEXIS 944, 1999 WL 382952

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 14, 1999
• Docket: 48A04-9811-CV-534
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

BAILEY, Judge

Case Summary

Appellants-Defendants, the City of Anderson, Police Chief Ed Leonard, Sergeant David Sieg, Officer Scott Clendenen, Officer Ron Crouse and Lieutenant Terry Richwine (referred to collectively as “the defendants”) bring this interlocutory appeal of the trial court’s denial of their Ind. Trial Rule 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss Appellee-Plaintiff Gary A. Weatherford’s (“Weather-ford”) claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress. We reverse.

Issue

Defendants raise one issue on appeal which we restate as whether the trial court properly denied their Motion to Dismiss.

Facts¹

On February 1, 1997, officers of the Anderson Police Department responded to a complaint of a loud party at Weatherford’s residence. Sergeant David Sieg (“Sergeant Sieg”) and two other officers proceeded to enter the premises without permission, probable cause or a warrant. Thereafter, the officers threatened Weatherford and his family with arrest. As a result of this incident, Weatherford filed misconduct charges with Lieutenant Terry Richwine (“Lieutenant Ri-chwine”) against these officers.

One week later, on February 8, 1997, several officers again went to Weatherford’s home and attempted to enter. The officers became irritated when Weatherford informed his guests that they were not required to speak with the officers. The officers became further irritated when Weatherford taped the conversations and statements of certain officers that evening.

Prior to March 8, 1997, the date of Weath-erford’s arrest, Chief Ed Leonard (“Chief Leonard”) informed Lieutenant Richwine that any charges against Weatherford were to be brought¹ by summons and not by an arrest warrant. These instructions were in accordance with the usual manner in which a misdemeanor of this nature, namely, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, were dealt with by the department. However, contrary to Chief Leonard’s instructions, Lieutenant Richwine approved a warrant to be issued for Weatherford’s arrest.

At least one or more days before Weather-ford’s arrest, Sergeant Sieg commented to his colleagues that it would be nice if Weath-erford were arrested at the Anderson Wigwam during the Anderson regional basketball game. Subsequently, on March 8, 1997, Weatherford was arrested by Officer Ron Crouse (“Officer Crouse”), pursuant to a warrant, at the regional basketball game while watching his ward compete in the game. Following Weatherford’s arrest, Sergeant Sieg, Officer Clendenen and Officer Crouse were - disciplined by Chief 'Léonard.

Procedural History

Weatherford filed a complaint for damages on April 1, 1998, claiming false arrest, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. With regard to the claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress, Weatherford specifically alleged, in addition to the above facts, that Sergeant Sieg, Officer Clendenen and Officer Crouse conspired to ignore standard procedure and improperly arrested and humiliated Weatherford in a public place in retaliation for Weatherford having filed a citizen’s complaint.

On May 26, 1998, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that Weatherford could not have been falsely arrested and incarcerated because his arrest was pursuant to a valid arrest warrant; and, in any event, the officers were immune from liability under the Indiana Tort Claims Act. The trial court conducted a hearing on this motion, and on September 80, 1998, the trial court granted the defendants’.motion in part by dismissing Weatherford’s claims for false arrest and false imprisonment. However, the trial court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss with regard to Weatherford’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Thereafter, the defendants petitioned the trial court, pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 4(B)(6), for certification of “this interlocutory order of appeal.² The trial court certified the order on October 21,1998, and we granted the City's Petition For Leave To Appeal From Interlocutory Order on November 30, 1998. This permissive interlocutory appeal ensued.

Discussion and Decision

I. Standard of Review

A. Indiana Trial Rule 12(B)(6)

When reviewing a T.R.12(B)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, we accept as true the facts as alleged in the complaint. Hudgins v. McAtee, 596 N.E.2d 286, 288 (Ind.Ct.App.1992). A T.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss tests the legal sufficiency of the complaint. Right Reason Publications v. Silva, 691 N.E.2d 1347, 1349 (Ind.Ct.App.1998). When reviewing such a motion, we view the pleadings in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and draw every reasonable inference in favor of that party. Id. We will affirm the denial of a T.R. 12(B)(6) motion unless it is apparent that the facts alleged in the complaint are incapable of supporting relief under any set of circumstances. Borgman v. Aikens, 681 N.E.2d 213, 217 (Ind.Ct.App.1997), trans. denied.

B. Governmental Immunity

Governmental immunity from suit is regulated by the Indiana Tort Claims Act. Yerkes v. Heartland Career Ctr., 661 N.E.2d 558, 560 (Ind.Ct.App.1995), trans. denied. Pursuant to the Act, governmental entities and their employees are subject to liability for torts committed by them unless they can prove that one of the immunity provisions of the Act applies. Id. However, we narrowly construe governmental immunity against a claimant’s right to bring suit. Barnes v. Antich, 700 N.E.2d 262, 265 (Ind.Ct.App.1998), trans. denied. Moreover, whether a governmental entity is immune from liability under the Act is a question of law for the courts, although it may include an extended factual development. State v. Livengood by Livengood, 688 N.E.2d 189, 192 (Ind.Ct.App.1997).

Here, the defendants seek immunity from liability under subsection (7) of the Tort Claims Act, which reads as follows:

A governmental entity or an employee acting within the scope of the employee’s employment is not liable if a loss results from:

(7) the adoption and enforcement of or failure to adopt or enforce a law (including rules and regulations), unless the act of enforcement constitutes false arrest or false imprisonment;

Ind.Code § 34-13-3-3(7).

II. Argument and Analysis

A. Intentional Infliction Of Emotional Distress 3 As An Independent Claim

The defendants contend that Weather-ford’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress cannot be proven independently of his false arrest and false imprisonment claims, which were dismissed by the trial court. Therefore, the defendants assert that because the false arrest and false imprisonment allegations were dismissed by the trial court, the remaining intentional infliction of emotional distress claim must also be dismissed, as it was not independently stated.

After providing the factual basis in his complaint, Weatherford stated the following:

11. That Lt. Terry Richwine, Sgt. David Sieg, Officer Scott Clendenen and Officer Ron Crouse, together with other officers of the Anderson Police Department, sought to [purposefully] arrest Mr. Weatherford when the standard procedure would have been the issuance of a Summons and did so in retaliation for Mr. Weatherford filing a citizen’s complaint on officers of the Anderson Police Department with the Chief of said Department, Ed Leonard.

12. That the actions of Sgt. David Sieg, Officer Scott Clendenen and Officer Ron Crouse were a result of a conspiracy among officers of the Anderson Police Department to illegally and improperly arrest the Plaintiff in a public place, therefore intentionally inflicting upon him humiliation and emotional and mental distress.

13. That as [sic] direct result of the wrongful conduct of-the named members of the Anderson Police Department, Plaintiff suffered damages for his wrongful arrest arid incarceration, for loss of funds in having to post bond, significant funds expended to hire counsel and intentional infliction of humiliation, emotional distress, loss of freedom and monetary damages, all of which were occasioned by the named officers of the Anderson Police Department.

(R. 9-10). While one may envision a more artfully drafted complaint, we remind the defendants that Indiana is a notice pleading state. Grzan v. Charter Hospital of Northwest Indiana, 702 N.E.2d 786, 793 (Ind.Ct.App.1998). As such, Ind. Trial Rule 8(A) simply requires “(1) a short and plain statement of the claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief, and (2) a demand for relief to which the pleader deems entitled....” Id.; T.R. 8(A). Thus, a plaintiff basically need only plead the operative facts involved in the litigation. Grzan, 702 N.E.2d at 794. Moreover, “[a] complaint’s allegations are sufficient if they put a reasonable person on notice as to why a plaintiff sues.” Id.

Here, a reasonable person would be put on notice that Weatherford’s claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress is not solely based on the false arrest or false imprisonment claims. Weatherford’s claim is premised on the officers’ alleged intentional retaliation and abuse of power and process when they violated standard police procedure, disregarded Chief Leonard’s instructions and conspired to intentionally and publicly humiliate Weatherford. Furthermore, we note that Indiana now recognizes a separate cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress, without the need for an accompanying tort. See Cullison v. Medley, 570 N.E.2d 27, 30-31 (Ind.1991) (recognizing the tort of intentional infliction of emotion distress for the first time in Indiana). Therefore, we find that Weatherford suffi-eiently stated a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

B. Indiana Tort Claims Act

Despite our conclusion that Weatherford sufficiently stated an independent claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, we must next consider whether Weatherford’s claim is barred by the Indiana Tort Claims Act in order to resolve the ultimate issue on appeal, namely, whether the trial court properly denied the defendants’ Motion to Dismiss.

In seeking “shelter” from liability under subsection (7) of the Torts Claim Act, the defendants argue that they are immune from liability because Officer Crouse was on duty and acting within the scope of his employment as a police officer when he placed Weatherford under arrest. Specifically, the defendants note that Weatherford did not challenge the validity of the warrant in his complaint and that the trial court recognized the warrant’s validity when it dismissed Weatherford’s claims for false arrest and false imprisonment. Moreover, the defendants correctly assert that a valid arrest warrant may be executed by any law enforcement officer, on any day of the week and at any time of the day. Ind.Code § 35-33-2-3(a).

Weatherford counters, arguing that the Tort Claims Act does not apply to all conduct of law enforceriient officers, that “the Act is clear on its face that immunity will only apply if the Defendants' were acting within the scope of their employment” and that the defendants’ “extreme” and “outrageous” conduct fell outside the scope of their employment. (Appellee’s brief at 3-4). Thus, Weatherford concludes, the defendants may not avoid liability by claiming immunity under Indiana’s Tort Claims Act.

While the record clearly demonstrates that in arresting Weatherford, the defendants blatantly disregarded Chief Leonard’s instructions, as well as standard departmental procedure, thereby subjecting themselves to internal disciplinary procedures, we cannot conclude that the officers’ conduct in the ease at bar served to remove them from the cover of the Tort Claims Act.

The officers arrested Weatherford pursuant to a valid arrest warrant. Moreover, such action was done in furtherance of then-employer’s business, that is, to execute a duly issued warrant. Our supreme court has clarified that “[i]n Indiana, an employee’s tortious act may fall within the scope of his employment if his purpose was, to an appreciable extent, to further his employer’s business.” Kemezy v. Peters, 622 N.E.2d 1296, 1298 (Ind.1993) (quotation omitted). Moreover, our supreme court has explained that:

[e]ven the commission of an intentional criminal act may be considered as being within the scope of employment if the criminal acts originated in activities so closely associated with the employment relationship as to fall within its scope....

Even willful or wanton behavior does not necessarily remove one from the scope of his employment.

Id.

Thus, while we do not condone the officers’ callous behavior in the case at bar, we cannot conclude that, as a matter of law, the officers’ arrest of Weatherford was so incompatible with the performance of their employment as to be deemed outside the scope of their employment thereby depriving them of the protection specifically set forth in Ind.Code § 34-13-3-3(7). Cf. City of Fort Wayne v. Moore, 706 N.E.2d 604 (Ind.Ct.App.1999) (conduct of non-uniformed, off-duty police officer who initiated physical confrontation with motorist while driving his personal vehicle was egregious as to be outside scope of employment), trans. pending. Accordingly, we remand this cause to the trial court with instructions to dismiss.

Reversed.

NAJAM, J. concurs. BAKER, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with separate opinion.

1 . Oral argument was held on April 21, 1999, at Saint Mary of the Woods College in Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana. The facts set forth are those alleged in Weatherford's complaint.

2 . In this appeal, Weatherford has chosen not to pursue the trial court’s dismissal of his claims for false arrest and false imprisonment.

3 . Intentional infliction of emotional distress occurs when "one who by extreme and outrageous conduct intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress to another." Conwell v. Beatty, 667 N.E.2d 768, 775-76 (Ind.Ct.App.1996) (quotation marks omitted).