Cook v. Talladega College

908 F. Supp. 2d 1214, 2012 WL 5426274, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156555
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Alabama
DecidedNovember 1, 2012
DocketCase No. 1:11-CV-3761-VEH
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 908 F. Supp. 2d 1214 (Cook v. Talladega College) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cook v. Talladega College, 908 F. Supp. 2d 1214, 2012 WL 5426274, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156555 (N.D. Ala. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

VIRGINIA EMERSON HOPKINS, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The exact scope of Ms. Cook’s collection of federal and state law claims is not entirely clear to the court. With that disclaimer in mind, Ms. Cook’s amended complaint (Doc. 8) filed on February 15, 2012, lists five separate counts. Count one indicates that it is for injunctive relief premised upon a deprivation of federal first amendment freedom of speech rights. (Doc. 8 ¶¶ 1-13). Count two indicates that it is for mandamus relief premised upon a violation of federal due process rights. (Id. ¶¶ 14-20).

Count three is for breach of duty/negligence arising under Alabama law. (Id. ¶¶ 21-31). Count four indicates that it is for violations of federal procedural and substantive due process rights as redressed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.1 (Id. ¶¶ 32-37). Finally, count five is for breach of contract arising under Alabama law. (Id. ¶¶ 38^3).

Pending before the court is Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 13) (the “Motion”) filed on August 27, 2012. Defendants filed their supporting brief and evidence at the same time as their Motion. (Docs. 14,15).

Ms. Cook responded with her opposing materials on September 17, 2012. (Docs. 16-32). Defendants followed with their reply (Doc. 33) on September 28, 2012. Accordingly, the Motion is now under submission, and, for the reasons explained below, is due to be granted.

Plaintiff Ametress Cook (“Ms. Cook”) initiated this lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Talladega County, Alabama, on October 7, 2011, stemming from her expulsion as a student from Defendant Talladega College (“Talladega”) without a disciplinary hearing. (See CM/ECF margin entry dated Oct. 28, 2011 (“COMPLAINT ... Deemed filed 10/7/2011....”)). Defendants Talladega and Billy C. Hawkins (“Mr. Haw[1217]*1217kins”), who Ms. Cook has sued individually and officially in his capacity as President of Talladega, removed her state circuit action to this court on October 28, 2011, pursuant to federal question jurisdiction. (Doc. 1).

II. BACKGROUND2

A. Talladega

Talladega is a private liberal arts college located in Talladega County, Alabama. AF No. l.l.3 As a private college, it is not a state, county, municipal or other governmental entity or agency of any kind. AF No. 1.2.

Mr. Hawkins serves as the President of Talladega. AF No. 2.1. Mr. Hawkins is not an employee or agent of the State of Alabama, Talladega County, the City of Talladega or any other governmental entity or agency. AF No. 2.2.

B. Ms. Cook Becomes Talladega Student

Ms. Cook became enrolled at Talladega in the fall semester of 2010. AF No. 4.1. Prior to coming to Talladega, Ms. Cook had attended Georgia College and State University and Kennesaw State University. AF No. 4.2.

Ms. Cook attended Talladega in the fall of 2010, spring of 2011 and summer of 2011 without experiencing any major problems. AF No. 5.1. According to Ms. Cook, she made good grades, served as a residence hall assistant, and ran for student government. AF No. 5.2.

C. Ms. Cook Receives Talladega College Student Handbook

As a student, Ms. Cook received a copy of the Talladega College Student Handbook (the “Handbook”). AF No. 5.3. As stated in the Handbook, it “is a compilation of college rules, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to students.” AF No. 6.1. The Handbook and the policies contained therein are subject to change at the discretion of the college. AF No. 6.2. The stated purpose of the Handbook “is to provide students with vital information needed in making decisions relating to college life and in finding answers to common problems and/or concerns relating to matriculation at Talladega College.” AF No. 6.3.

The Handbook does not state that it is a contract between the college and the students, and it is not intended to be a contract between the college and the students. AF No. 7.1. Students have no ability to [1218]*1218negotiate the terms of the handbook and students do not give or receive anything of value in exchange for the handbook. AF No. 7.2.

D. Ms. Cook Begins Sending Anonymous Letters

At the beginning of the fall semester of 2011, Ms. Cook began writing a series of letters to Talladega’s Vice-President for Student Affairs, Jacqueline Paddio (“Ms. Paddio”). AF No. 3.1; AF No. 8.1. All of the letters were sent anonymously under the pseudonym of “TC Jane Doe.” AF No. 8.2. Prior to sending the letters, Ms. Cook had only one limited interaction with Ms. Paddio and Ms. Paddio had done nothing to her that was objectionable or upsetting. AF No. 8.3.

Ms. Paddio maintained an office at Seymour Hall as well as a personal residence on campus. AF No. 9.1; AF No. 9.2. The first letter Ms. Cook wrote to Ms. Paddio was hand delivered on August 22, 2011, by Ms. Cook’s placing the correspondence in an envelope and slipping it under Ms. Paddio’s office door after business hours. AF No. 10.1.

On the outside page of the letter, it stated, “Thanks for the Support Dean Paddio”. AF No. 10.2. On the envelope in which the letter was contained was written the e-mail address: TCDoeJane@gmail. com. AF No. 10.3. The correspondence expressed concerns about being bullied, fairness of school elections and dorm assignments. AF No. 10.4.

On the next day, August 23, 2011, Ms. Cook delivered a similar letter under Ms. Paddio’s office door. AF No. 11.1. The second letter referenced issues related to students not being allowed to speak to the media, the honors program and the difficulty of transferring from the school. AF No. 11.2. The correspondence concluded with the statement “I WISH I COULD TELL YOU MY MIND JUST ONCE ... FACE TO FACE,” and was again signed by TCJaneDoe. AF No. 11.3.

Ms. Cook delivered another letter under Ms. Paddio’s door two days later on August 25, 2011. AF No. 12.1. The correspondence identified Ms. Paddio as “THE GREAT DEAN PADDIO” and referred to “THE SNEAKY STUFF THE STUDENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT DOES.” AF No. 12.2.

After having three letters placed under her office door after hours over a four-day period, Ms. Paddio felt as if she was being harassed, and began to have concern about her personal safety. AF No. 13.1. Although the letters had not been overtly threatening, she was concerned about the rambling and insulting nature of the letters. AF No. 13.2.

Ms. Paddio contacted Mr. Hawkins and the Chief of the Talladega College Police Department, Jefferson Walker (“Chief Walker”), about the letters. AF No. 3.3; AF No. 13.3. Ms. Paddio also asked Chief Walker to authorize additional security to monitor outside of her office. AF No. 13.3.

When Ms. Cook noticed that Talladega police officers were providing security to Ms. Paddio’s office, she stopped hand delivering letters and began sending them through the intra-campus mail system. AF No. 14.1. Ms. Cook believes that the fourth letter to Ms. Paddio was sent over the weekend of August 26, 2011, through August 28, 2011. AF No. 14.2.

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908 F. Supp. 2d 1214, 2012 WL 5426274, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156555, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cook-v-talladega-college-alnd-2012.