Down v. Ann Arbor Public Schools

29 F. Supp. 3d 1030, 30 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 948, 2014 WL 3054613, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91567
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedJuly 7, 2014
DocketCase No. 14-10086
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 29 F. Supp. 3d 1030 (Down v. Ann Arbor Public Schools) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Down v. Ann Arbor Public Schools, 29 F. Supp. 3d 1030, 30 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 948, 2014 WL 3054613, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91567 (E.D. Mich. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION [13]

NANCY G. EDMUNDS, District Judge.

At a hearing held on July 1, 2014, this matter came before the Court on Plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction. (Dkt. 13.) Plaintiffs complaint alleges one federal (violation of Fourth Amendment rights) and one state law claim (violation of Michigan’s Persons With Disabilities Civil Rights Act, as amended, Mich. Comp. Laws § 37.1101 et al.). Plaintiffs motion seeking a preliminary injunction addresses her federal civil rights claim, brought pursuant to 42 U..S.C. § 1983, alleging that Defendants’ requirement that Plaintiff submit to an Independent Medical Examination conducted by a psychologist violates her Fourth Amendment right prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures.

Plaintiff filed her complaint and initial motion for a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) and preliminary injunction on January 9, 2014. (Dkt. 1, 3.) Plaintiff subsequently withdrew her motion for a TRO and preliminary injunction because the parties agreed that the medical examination would be postponed.

On May 22, 2014, Plaintiff filed a renewed motion for a TRO and preliminary injunction. (Dkt. 13.) At a status conference held that same day, the Court informed Plaintiff that her motion for a TRO was denied, and she should proceed on her renewed motion for a preliminary injunction as set out in the Court’s detailed Scheduling Order. (Dkt. 15.) This matter is now before the Court.

Because Plaintiff has not met her burden, her motion for preliminary injunction is DENIED.

[1032]*1032I.Findings of Fact

1. Plaintiff Dianne Down applied for a position with the Ann Arbor Public Schools (“AAPS”) and was hired in September 1999. (Def.’s Ex. 501, 9/14/99 Appl.)

2. Upon being hired, Dianne Down was provided a series of documents, including the master agreement between AAPS and the applicable union. (Def.’s Ex. 501, 9/14/99 Appl.)

3. After her first semester of teaching, Ms. Down received a performance review. It was generally positive, although it stressed certain areas in which improvement was necessary, i.e., that she should “work on classroom management, which would lessen the student/teaeher confrontation.” (Def.’s Ex. 502, 12/08/99 Prof. Staff Eval. at 4.)

4. Out of concern for Plaintiffs continued development and correction of any. issues, the AAPS placed Plaintiff on an individualized development plan (“IDP”) for the 2000-2001 school year. (Def.’s Ex. 503, 5/17/01 IDP Type: Developmental (Probationary).)

5. On October 22, 2004, the AAPS issued a formal written reprimand to Plaintiff for her conduct toward a particular student. It summarized an incident involving two students that occurred in Plaintiffs classroom. Rather than stop the name-calling from the initiating student, Plaintiff joined in against the targeted student, telling him to “Shut up, chipmunk,” which was one of the names the targeted student was called by the initiating student. (Def.’s Ex. 504, 10/22/04 Ltr.' of Reprimand from Huron High Sch. Asst. Principal.)

6. Plaintiff received additional IDPs for the 2004-2005 school year and the 2005-2006 school year. (Def.’s Ex. 505, 11/22/04 IDP Type: Enhancement (Tenured teacher wit satisfactory evaluation); Ex. 506, 4/24/06 Prof. Staff Eval.)

7. Cynthia Ryan, Executive Director of Human Resources for the Ann Arbor School District, testified at the July 1, 2014 hearing. The Court found her to be a credible witness.

8. According to Cynthia Ryan’s testimony, which this Court found credible, IDPs are not issued for every teacher for each year of their employment. Rather, they are generally issued only for teachers having difficulty with student/parent complaints about teaching performance and/or class management issues. Plaintiffs mul-ti-year IDP (Def.’s Ex. 505) was issued because she exhibited areas that needed improvement, i.e., teaching performance and classroom management skills.

9. During the summer of 2008, Plaintiff was contracted to teach mathematics during summer school. Several students, however, complained about her performance deficiencies, withdrew from Plaintiffs class, and forfeited their $250 enrollment fees. The Co-Summer School Principals subsequently informed Plaintiff that “[t]he withdrawal and forfeitures causes a significant adverse effect on students, families, and the Ann Arbor Public School System; and, “[a]s a consequence of your behavior your supplemental contract for summer school teaching programs shall not be renewed.” (Def.’s Ex. 507, 10/23/08 ltr. from Co-Summer School Principals.) It also reminded Plaintiff that she had “been placed on notice, and received Individualized Development Plan goals in the past, to decrease the number of student withdrawals from your classroom.” (Id.) As Ms. Ryan testified at the July 1, 2014 hearing, there were numerous student/parent complaints about Plaintiffs performance and classroom management during summer school in 2008.

[1033]*103310. On October 23, 2008, Plaintiff received a written letter of reprimand from the Co-Summer School Principals for demeaning behavior directed to students and was “placed on notice that similar incidents in the future could lead to discipline up to and including discharge.” (Def.’s Ex. 509, 10/23/08 ltr. of reprimand.) The letter of reprimand informed Plaintiff that, on July 16, 2008, a student and his mother filed a formal complaint about Plaintiffs behavior. They characterized Plaintiff as “a very rude teacher” who reportedly interrupted repeatedly in a phone conversation, caused the student to “feel humiliated, ignorant, and stupid” by yelling at him, telling him that hers was not a calculator class, not providing the student with assistance, and embarrassing him by commenting that he probably wanted a bathroom pass so he could make a phone call. (Id.) Plaintiff was further notified that she had “continually received reoccurring parental complaints, that she received IDPs for the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years that included the objective of allowing “students to feel free to discuss with teacher areas of concern without feeling demeaned,” and was reminded that “[ejstab-lishing a positive rapport with parents is an integral part of your job duties.” ■ (Id.)

11. On October 2, 2008, Plaintiff received a written letter of reprimand from the Assistant Principal of Huron High School, Virginia Bell, for failing “to maintain appropriate standards of professional behavior when you participated in a student conversation about another student’s negative behavior” on September 2, 2008. (Def.’s Ex. 508, 10/2/08 ltr. of reprimand.) The letter of reprimand also warned Plaintiff that “[fjailure to behave in a professional way in the future will result in further discipline up to and including termination.” (Id.) Ms. Ryan testified that Assistant Principal Bell investigated the allegations before issuing the letter of reprimand.

12. On October 8, 2013, Plaintiff met with Dr. Arthur Williams, the Principal of Huron High School. They discussed various parent and student complaints about her interactions with students. (See, e.g., PL’s Ex. 112-16 through 112-22, parent emails detailing complaints about Plaintiff and inquiring about the School District’s response to those complaints.) Plaintiff submitted a written response to those complaints on October 13, 2013. (Pl.’s Mot., Ex. 4, 10/13/13 Ltr. Resp. from Plaintiff.) Ms.

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29 F. Supp. 3d 1030, 30 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 948, 2014 WL 3054613, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91567, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/down-v-ann-arbor-public-schools-mied-2014.