Corporate America Car Wash System v. City of Birmingham

165 F. Supp. 3d 1117, 2016 WL 837718
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Alabama
DecidedMarch 4, 2016
DocketCase No.: 2:14-cv-781-RDP, Case No.: 2:14-cv-866-RDP
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 165 F. Supp. 3d 1117 (Corporate America Car Wash System v. City of Birmingham) 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
Corporate America Car Wash System v. City of Birmingham, 165 F. Supp. 3d 1117, 2016 WL 837718 (N.D. Ala. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

R. DAVID PROCTOR, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

This case is before the court on Defendants’1 Motion for Summary Judgment. (Case No 2:14-cv-00781-RDP Doc. # 38; Case No 2:14-cv-00866-RDP Doc. #54). Plaintiff has had an opportunity to respond to the Motion and submit evidence, and Defendants have replied. (Case No 2:14r-cv-00781-RDP Docs. # 45, 46 and 49; Gase No 2:14-cv-00866-RDP Docs. 63, 64 and 68).

I. Summary of Relevant Facts2

The Birmingham Parking Authority was created by an act of the Alabama Legislature to manage off street parking for the City of Birmingham. The BPA currently manages eight parking decks and one parking lot, all of which are owned by the City. Kevin Owens and Larry Ward are members of the Board of Directors of the BPA. Lynn Thomas is the Executive Director of the BPA, and Wanda Knight is her Executive Assistant.

A. The Agreement

On November 16, 2012, Plaintiff Michael Williams, doing business as Corporate America Car Wash, and the BPA entered into an Agreement for Corporate America Car Wash to Provide Services to Customers of The Birmingham Parking Authority. (Doc. # 39-1). No money was exchanged between Plaintiff and the BPA in connection with the Agreement. (Doe. # 39-2). The Agreement was designed to memorialize that Plaintiff would be allowed to clean [1121]*1121vehicles of his customers who parked in decks managed by the BPA and the terms under which he would be allowed to do so. (Doc. # 39-2).

The Agreement included the following provisions:

1. Corporate America Car Wash (CACW) shall abide by all rules posted in City Parking Decks.
3. This agreement may be terminated for breach of the terms provided herein. The Authority reserves the right to evaluate the continuation of services under this agreement and establish additional terms as required by the Board of Directors.

(Doc. # 39-1).

The Agreement did not authorize Plaintiff to store any equipment in BPA’s parking decks, nor did it allow Plaintiff to advertise in the decks, or harass or intimidate members of the BPA staff or employees of local businesses. (Doc. # 39-2).

The Rules and Regulations of the Birmingham Parking Authority, which the Agreement required Plaintiff to follow, provided the following:

3. Trespass and Loitering are not permitted. Unauthorized presence in the Parking Deck or Lot is not permitted. Persons who engage in any unlawful activity in the Deck or Lot will be prosecuted.

(Doc. # 39-3).

B. The Birmingham Business Alliance’s Complaint and the BPA’s First Warning to Plaintiff

On August 2, 2013, the Birmingham Business Alliance (“BBA”) emailed a complaint to the BPA about Plaintiff. (Doc. # 39-4, ¶ 4). According to the BBA complaint, Plaintiff entered the second floor offices of the BBA on several occasions, seeking publicity in magazines published by the BBA. (Id.). The complaint further alleged that, while on BBA premises, Plaintiff “exhibited aggressive, rude and threatening behavior. He speaks loudly and in an intimidating way to our receptionist and to others who have tried to communicate with him. He will not leave us alone.” (Id. at Ex. A). The BBA asked that the BPA tell Plaintiff not to return to the BBA. (Id.). The BBA advised that if Plaintiffs behavior continued, it would request assistance from the Birmingham Police Department. (Id.).

On August 2, 2013, Defendant Lynn Thomas, the executive director of the BPA, sent a warning letter to Plaintiff advising him of the BBA’s complaint. (Doc. # 39-5). Thomas’s letter noted that Plaintiff had acted in a similar manner in BPA’s office several times C demanding to advertise, and that he had been told no. (Id.). Thomas further reminded Plaintiff that he had been given permission to wash cars only, and that if this type of behavior continued, the Agreement to provide car wash services would be terminated. (Docs. # 39-5, 39-2).

C. Additional Incidents Involving Plaintiff

Tony Blackerby, a cashier supervisor at the BPA, first noticed strange behavior by Plaintiff when Plaintiff placed a sign on the sidewalk advertising that Plaintiffs business was for sale for $25 million. (Doc. # 39-6, ¶ 4). Blackerby also heard Plaintiff speaking loudly and harshly to James Merkerson, the BPA maintenance supervisor. (Doc. # 39-6, ¶ 5). Plaintiff was apparently upset that Merkerson had told him he could not put fliers on the cars in the deck. (Id.). After that incident, Blackerby heard Plaintiff say he was going to buy the BPA and everyone would work for him, except for Merkerson, whom he would fire. (Doc. # 39-6, ¶ 6). Plaintiff also placed a sign in front of the BPA office stating that [1122]*1122he would pay $1 million to anyone who could inform him of investors to purchase the BPA. (Id.).

Another BPA employee, Sonja Mitchell witnessed Plaintiff come to the BPA office on several occasions with a “strong and unprofessional, aggressive attitude.” (Doc. # 39-7, ¶ 4). Plaintiff asked to speak to Merkerson, who explained to Plaintiff the rules and regulations for the BPA decks. (Id.). This appeared to anger Plaintiff. (Id.).

On September 20, 2013, at approximately 6:40 a.m., Judy Butler, a cashier supervisor at the BPA, was in an office and overheard Plaintiff say “when I buy this place the n*** in the back ain’t going to have nothing to say. The n*** in the back don’t know that I talked to the board president and he’s going to meet me here to walk the deck. I ain’t studying Lynn Thomas and that n*** in the back.” (Doc. # 39-8, ¶4). Later that day, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Plaintiff placed a sign in front of the BPA office offering $1 million for help finding investors to buy the BPA. (Doc. # 39-8, ¶ 5). Plaintiff had a long stick, was waiving it around, and banged on the door of the BPA. (Id.). Butler was concerned because Plaintiff “had been bombarding BPA employees all morning and cussing, walking around with the big stick.” (Doc. # 39-8, ¶ 6). Other BPA employees asked Plaintiff to leave and called the police. (Doc. # 39-8, ¶ 6).

The police arrived and spoke with Plaintiff. (Doc. # 39-8, ¶ 7). The police later told the BPA “that they had experienced problems with [Plaintiff] in the past” and that his demeanor “was escalating.” (Id.). Notably, Plaintiff had been arrested for First Degree Burglary and Assault and'was indicted on May 23, 2013. (Docs. # 39-12-39-14). Plaintiff also had multiple prior felony convictions in his past. (Id.).

The September 20, 2013 incident was also observed by Mitchell, who felt that Plaintiffs behavior showed that he was becoming “extremely unraveled.” (Doc. # 39-7, ¶ 6). Mitchell believed that Plaintiff presented a danger to both BPA employees and individuals who parked in the decks managed by the BPA. (Id.).

D. Removal of Plaintiffs Property by Personnel of the City of Birmingham

On October 2, 2013, Plaintiff placed signs in front of the BPA office and in front of the Wells Fargo office building, advertising that Plaintiff was looking for investors to buy the BPA. (Docs. # 39-9, ¶ 5 and 39-6, ¶ 8).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Leblanc v. MIS Inc.
S.D. Alabama, 2025

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
165 F. Supp. 3d 1117, 2016 WL 837718, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/corporate-america-car-wash-system-v-city-of-birmingham-alnd-2016.