Ernst v. Hinchliff

129 F. Supp. 3d 695, 2015 WL 5255322
CourtDistrict Court, D. Minnesota
DecidedSeptember 8, 2015
DocketCase No. 14-cv-4923 (SRN/TNL)
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 129 F. Supp. 3d 695 (Ernst v. Hinchliff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ernst v. Hinchliff, 129 F. Supp. 3d 695, 2015 WL 5255322 (mnd 2015).

Opinion

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

SUSAN RICHARD NELSON, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs Objection to. Recommendation to Dismiss (“Objections”) [Doc,. No. 76]. to Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung’s July 15, 2015 Report and Recommendation (“R & R”) [Doc. No. 75] granting Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss [Doc. Nos. 13, 18, 30, 40], dismissing the State of Minnesota and the Department of Corrections (“DOC”) as an arm of the State of Minnesota, and declining to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over any remaining state claims, including Plaintiffs Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (“MGDPA”) claim against Defendant Moen, dismissing these state claims without prejudice. For the reasons set forth below, the Court overrules Plaintiffs objections and adopts the R & R in its entirety.“

I. BACKGROUND

The factual and procedural background of this case is well documented in the R & R and is incorporated herein by reference. (R & R at 712-20 [Doc. No. 75].) In general terms, this case involves information distributed to various communities regarding Plaintiff Ronald Ernst’s sex offender status. Plaintiff is required to register as a sex offender under Minn. Stat. § 243.166 as he was convicted of a gross-misdemeanor offense which mandates registration. See Ernst v. State, No. A03-63, 2003 WL 23023992, at *1 n. 1 (Minn.App. Dec. 30, 2003).

A. Plaintiffs Prior Offenses

In 1984, Plaintiff plead guilty to a charge of Criminal Attempt to Commit Sexual Assault on a Child in the State of Colorado. (R & R at 713-14.) The child was eleven (11) years old, but the Plaintiff asserts he only touched the child on the abdomen. (Id.; see also Objections at 3 [Doc. No. 76] (describing what is presumably the conduct undeiiying the 1984 conviction).)

In 1997, Plaintiff was charged with several criminal charges (collectively, “1997 Charges”) in Scott County, Minnesota including felony indecent exposure. (R & R at 714.) See Ernst, 2003 WL 23023992, at *1. Although several of the charges were dismissed,' Plaintiff plead guilty to one count of félony indecent exposure for exposing himself to a minor child. (R & R at 714.) See Ernst, 2003 WL 23023992, at *1. Subsequently, it was determined errors in the pre-sentencing investigation resulted in an unwarranted felony enhancement and the indecent-exposure offense was reduced to a gross misdemeanor. (R & R at 714.) See Ernst, 2003 WL 23023992, at *1.

Prior to his release from incarceration on the indecent-exposure conviction, Plaintiff claims he completed a Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Sex Offender Notification and Registration Form — Minnesota Statute 243.166; (R & R at 714-15.) However, after his release, he discovered his “Staff social worker” had allegedly altered this form to include the dismissed charges from Scott County, (Id.) He also claims this same social worker told him that if the felony indecent-exposure had [701]*701been charged as a gross misdemeanor, the Plaintiff would not have to register.2 (Id.)

In 2001, Plaintiff was arrested and convicted in Minnesota for failure to register as a predatory offender. (Id. at 714-15.) Soon after, in 2002, Plaintiff received a Level III designation from the Minnesota Department of Correction's’ end-of-confinement review committee (“ECRC”). (Id. at 715.) See Minn.Stat. § 244.052, subd. 3.

B. Minneapolis: February 2010

In February 2010, Defendant Jon Hinchliff (“Hinchliff’), an officer with the Minneapolis Police Department, publicly distributed a fact sheet3 regarding the Plaintiffs prior sexual offenses. (R & R at 715.) Plaintiff disputes the accuracy of this fact sheet, specifically challenging its description of his prior offenses, victim pool, and the fact it including dismissed charges. (Id. at 715-16.)

C. Bloomington: March 2010

In March 2010, Defendant Ed Hanson (“Hanson”), a detective with the Blooming-ton Police Department, also distributed fact sheets regarding Plaintiffs sex offender status. (Id. at 715.) These fact sheets described Plaintiffs charged offenses, including the 1997 Charges, and including those that were ultimately dismissed. (Id.) Plaintiff again disputes the accuracy of the information contained on this fact sheet and also claims to have received a threatening phone call from a Bloomington resident. (Id. at 715-16.)

D. DOC Documents

In April 2010, Plaintiff requested and received “a stack of papers” from the DOC constituting his file with that agency. (Id. at 715.) This included a 2002 End of Confinement Risk Assessment issued by the ECRC; ‘ a 2002 Sex Offender Risk Assessment Recommendation prepared by Defendant Jack Rusinoff (“Rusinoff’) for the ECRC; a 1999 Risk Level Recommendation prepared by Defendant Dwight Close (“Close”) for the ECRC; and a 2010 memorandum from Defendant Jeremy Britzius (“Britzius”)4 regarding the Plaintiffs request for a risk-level-reduction (collectively, “DOC Documents”). (Id.) Plaintiff disputes the accuracy of the information contained in these reports. (See id. at 716-18.) According to the Plaintiff, the inaccuracies are a violation of his “constitutional rights” and evidence a conspiracy amongst the various Defendants to commit said violations. (See id.)

E. 2010 Risk Level Determination and Appeal

Also in 2010, the ECRC re-assesséd the Plaintiff and issued a new Risk Assessment Report. (Id. at 718.) Plaintiff alleges that as part of this re-assessment, he questioned whether Defendant Michélle Murphy (“Murphy”) was going to use the “false ‘official’” documents in the DOC’s file.5 (Id.) According to the Plaintiff, Murphy said the Minnesota legislature had given the ECRC the authority to do whatever it wanted and thus they would consid[702]*702er these “false” documents. (Id.) The ECRC decided to maintain Plaintiffs Level III designation, which Plaintiff claims is a further violation of his “constitutional rights.” (Id.)

Plaintiff appealed the ECRC’s Risk Assessment Report and the matter was heard by Defendant Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) Barbara Neilson (“ALJ Neilson”). (Id. at 718.)' In affirming the ECRC’s decision, ALJ Neilson made numerous findings and discussed Plaintiffs 1984 conviction as well as the DOC Documents.6 (Id.) Plaintiff asserts these findings are false and constitute a violation of his constitutional rights and a continuation of the conspiracy against him. (Id.)

F. Center City: February 2011

Plaintiff moved to Center City Minnesota in February 2011. (Id.) A public meeting was held at which information about the Plaintiff was presented by Defendant Patricia Moen (“Moen”), a Minnesota state official. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges Moen not only disseminated false information about his offense history, but also required he provide his cell phone number, which was then made publicly available. (Id.

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129 F. Supp. 3d 695, 2015 WL 5255322, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ernst-v-hinchliff-mnd-2015.