Gilbert v. Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

2006 SD 109, 725 N.W.2d 249, 2006 S.D. LEXIS 194, 2006 WL 3445608

• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: November 29, 2006
• Docket: 23733
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEIERHENRY, Justice.

[¶ 1.] Gilbert was denied unemployment insurance (UI) benefits after a referee determined she had been terminated for work-related misconduct under SDCL 61-6-14.1. Gilbert claimed the South Dakota Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance Division’s (Department) denial violated her state and federal constitutional rights of free speech. The circuit court affirmed the denial and Gilbert appeals. We affirm.

FACTS

[¶ 2.] Helen Gilbert (Gilbert) was employed by the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (Tribe) as an education coordinator from November 13, 2000 to August 10, 2004. Gilbert supervised a federal wellness program for grades 7-12. Gilbert’s discharge was based on a letter she wrote to the Tribal Executive Committee in reference to the committee’s political appointment of Donalda “Neldie” Montoya (Montoya) to the Office of Tribal Secretary, an office also sought by Gilbert. The letter sharply criticized Montoya’s appointment. Gilbert’s complaint about Montoya stemmed from an earlier incident concerning defamatory statements Montoya allegedly had made about Gilbert.

[¶ 3.] After learning of Montoya’s appointment and before writing the letter, Gilbert telephoned Montoya. In the phone call, Gilbert told Montoya that she was going to “sue her for slander for the statement she made in May, and that she should write this conversation date and time down and let ... her supervisor know.”

[¶ 4.] After the phone call, Gilbert wrote a letter during work hours on tribal stationery to the Tribal Executive Committee. The heading of the letter indicated that it was to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe from Helen Gilbert, education coordinator, in reference to “8/10/04 Inci-denb-Neldie Montoya appointment as FSST Secretary.” The letter began with the following paragraph:

I received a phone call at approximately 2:00 pm on 8/10/04 from an employee who stated that they were just told that Neldie Montoya has just been appointed as Secretary for the tribe. Neldie, during the election petition process had stated to Elizabeth Shortman that the Council was going to block my nomination based on allegations that I was charged as a prostitute. The knowingly false charge such as this sent me over the edge. I have never received any follow up after I complained about Nel-die’s statement.

Additionally, the letter criticized the tribal chairman of neglect of duty as follows:

[He is] unwilling and neglectful in upholding the duties of Tribal Chair by not managing the problems that fall within the purview of his office. Problem employees literally get away with murder, employees who are vocal and know their rights are persecuted.

She then went on to name several other employees who she thought were problem employees and pointedly accused the employees of such things as “violent, hysterical public performances,” “violence in the workplace,” “violation of the political activity policy,” “embezzlement,” drug and alcohol violations, and incompetence.

[¶ 5.] Before sending the letter, Gilbert had her supervisor review it. When asked whether her supervisor okayed the letter, Gilbert stated, “her only reaction or statement was, ‘oh my God, Helen,’ that was it.” As a result of sending the letter to the executive committee, the Tribe decided to suspend Gilbert for violating the political activity policy. 1 Gilbert was admittedly aware of the policy but felt that writing the letter was within the parameters of her employment and refused to accept the suspension order. The Tribe subsequently terminated Gilbert’s employment.

[¶ 6.] As a result, Gilbert filed for UI benefits with the Department on September 2, 2004. The Department initially determined that the conditions of Gilbert’s termination did not disqualify her from receiving UI benefits. The Tribe appealed the Department’s determination.

[¶ 7.] Gilbert claimed that she wrote the letter to the tribal council in her capacity as education coordinator and followed the chain of command before submitting it. After a hearing on the matter, the referee denied Gilbert UI benefits based on a finding that she had been discharged for work-connected misconduct as defined by SDCL 61-6-14.1. 2 The referee specifically found that Gilbert was aware of the Tribe’s political policy, that she wrote a letter to the executive committee on tribal stationary while she was at work, that the letter was critical of the tribal chairman and other tribal employees and that her conduct violated the Tribe’s political activity policy. Gilbert appealed the referee’s decision to circuit court.

[¶ 8.] On appeal, Gilbert did not claim that the referee’s findings were clearly erroneous. Gilbert’s only contention was that she could not be denied UI benefits based upon work-connected misconduct, i.e. violation of the political activity policy, because of her constitutional right to freedom of speech. The circuit court noted that the basic facts were not in dispute, that there was no question that Gilbert’s letter violated the political activity policy and that she violated the policy during working hours utilizing tribal stationery. The circuit court affirmed the referee’s decision and concluded that there was no violation of Gilbert’s constitutional right to freedom of speech. Gilbert appeals the decision claiming that her letter to the tribal council is constitutionally protected free speech for which she cannot be disqualified from receiving UI benefits.

DECISION

[¶ 9.] The Tribe’s reason for dismissing Gilbert was that the letter she wrote to the Tribe allegedly violated its political activity policy. 3 Gilbert does not dispute that she wrote the letter on tribal stationery during work hours using tribal equipment. In fact, she does not appear to dispute the referee’s and trial court’s conclusions that her actions and complaints violated the Tribe’s policy. Consequently, the only issue before us is whether her federal or state constitutional right to freedom of speech protects her from being denied UI benefits.

[¶ 10.] This Court has never analyzed the First Amendment right to free speech in the context of a state’s denial of UI benefits. The United States Supreme Court has, however, recognized that the First Amendment protects religious freedom in the context of UI benefits. In Sherbert v. Vernier, the Court found that a claimant’s refusal to work on her faith’s Sabbath day was protected and could not serve as a basis for denying UI benefits. 374 U.S. 398, 403-04, 83 S.Ct. 1790, 1793-94, 10 L.Ed.2d 965 (1963). Additionally, the Court has long recognized a public employee’s protection of freedom of speech in cases of discharge from employment. As recently stated in Garcetti v. Ceballos, “It is well settled that ‘a State cannot condition public employment on a basis that infringes the employee’s constitutionally protected interest in freedom of expression.’ ” — U.S. —, —, 126 S.Ct. 1951, 1955, 164 L.Ed.2d 689 (2006) (quoting Connick v. Myers, 461 U.S. 138, 142, 103 S.Ct. 1684, 1687, 75 L.Ed.2d 708 (1983)). “[T]he First Amendment protects a public employee’s right, in certain circumstances, to speak as a citizen addressing matters of public concern.” Id. Thus in determining whether Gilbert can be denied UI benefits, we follow the method of inquiry set forth by the United States Supreme Court. The Court identifies two inquiries that guide a constitutional analysis as follows:

Pickering and the cases decided in its wake identify two inquiries to guide interpretation of the constitutional protections accorded to public employee speech. The first requires determining whether the employee spoke as a citizen on a matter of public concern. If the answer is no, the employee has no First Amendment cause of action based on his or her employer’s reaction to the speech. If the answer is yes, then the possibility of a First Amendment claim arises. The question becomes whether the relevant government entity had an adequate justification for treating the employee differently from any other member of the general public. This consideration reflects the importance of the relationship between the speaker’s expressions and employment. A government entity has broader discretion to restrict speech when it acts in its role as employer, but the restrictions it imposes must be directed at speech that has some potential to affect the entity’s operations.

Id., (citing Pickering v. Board of Ed. of Tp. High School Dist. Will. Co., Ill., 205, 391 U.S. 563, 568, 88 S.Ct. 1731, 20 L.Ed.2d 811 (1968) and Connick, 461 U.S. at 147,103 S.Ct. at 1690).

[¶ 11.] Accordingly, our first inquiry is whether Gilbert spoke “as a citizen on a matter of public concern.” Id.; see also Rankin v. McPherson, 483 U.S. 378, 384, 107 S.Ct. 2891, 2897, 97 L.Ed.2d 315 (1987); State v. Springer-Ertl, 2000 SD 56, ¶¶ 16-17, 610 N.W.2d 768, 773. The employee bears the initial burden of demonstrating that the speech involves matters of public concern. See Connick, 461 U.S. 138, 103 S.Ct. 1684, 75 L.Ed.2d 708. The United States Supreme Court defined public concern “as relating to any matter of political, social, or other concern to the community.” Id. at 146, 103 S.Ct. at 1690. In evaluating whether statements are a matter of public concern, we look to their content, form, and context, as revealed by the entire record. Rankin v. McPherson, 483 U.S. 378, 385, 107 S.Ct. 2891, 2897, 97 L.Ed.2d 315 (1987). An employee acting “as a concerned citizen interested in bringing problems to light more likely raises a matter of public concern than one who attempts to rectify work-place problems.” Wilson v. Washington, 84 Wash.App. 332, 929 P.2d 448, 454 (1996). Statements concerning internal grievances are an example of such attempts to rectify work-place problems and are not generally considered matters of public concern. See Connick, 461 U.S. at 147-48, 103 S.Ct. at 1690-91. Likewise, an employee that offers his or her personal opinions or beliefs, especially in the work setting, does not implicate matters of public concern. Wilson, 929 P.2d at 454; see also Koch v. City of Hutchinson, 847 F.2d 1436, 1446-47 (10th Cir.1988) cert. denied, 488 U.S. 909, 109 S.Ct. 262, 102 L.Ed.2d 250 (1988); Keating v. University of South Dakota, 386 F.Supp.2d 1096, 1107 (D.S.D. 2005). We cannot “presume that all matters which transpire within a government office are of a public concern ... [because] every remark — and certainly every criticism directed at a public offieial-would plant the seed of a constitutional case.” Connick, 461 U.S. at 149,103 S.Ct. at 1691. Instead, the content, context and form of the letter determine whether the speech addresses a matter of public concern thereby implicating the First Amendment.

[¶ 12.] In Connick v. Myers, the United States Supreme Court found that a questionnaire distributed by an assistant district attorney during work hours to other assistant district attorneys containing questions about office transfer policy, office morale, the need for a grievance committee, and the level of confidence in supervisors did not address a matter of public concern. Id. at 148, 103 S.Ct. at 1690 (finding, however, that the question of whether employees felt pressured to work in political campaigns was a matter of public concern). Although the dispute with her supervisor centered on office transfer policy, the Court viewed many of the additional issues addressed by the questionnaire as mere extensions of that dispute. Id. The fact that the employee dispersed these questionnaires during work hours because she was upset over her recent transfer led the Court to determine that her concerns were simply “one employee’s dissatisfaction with a transfer and an attempt to turn that displeasure into a cause celebre.” Id. at 148, 103 S.Ct. at 1691.

[¶ 13.] Gilbert claims in her response letter to the Department that she wrote the letter to the tribal council in her “capacity as education coordinator.” In Garcetti v. Ceballos, the United States Supreme Court held that “when public em ployees make statements pursuant to their official duties, the employees are not speaking as citizens for First Amendment purposes.” 126 S.Ct. at 1960. While Gilbert’s official duties as education coordinator did not require her to criticize the tribal chairman or her fellow employees, she claims that her position as education coordinator gave her the authority to make such a critique. While not dispositive, this fact is relevant to the context and content of Gilbert’s letter. See id. at 1959. Gilbert also indicated that the context of the letter involved her complaint about Montoya’s alleged statement about her and Montoya’s recent appointment as secretary to the tribal council. Gilbert explained her motive in her reply letter to the Department:

In May of 2004, prior to run-off elections for the tribe, it was reported to me that Donalda Montoya, Payroll Clerk, made a statement to an employee at the Clinic, that she was told by a member of Council that if I decided to run for election for a position on Council that my nominating petition would be thrown out due to my conviction as a prostitute. This statement was made on company time, was vicious, untrue and malicious slander. I reported the incident to my supervisor and expected Donalda to be disciplined. I later found that nothing was done, by my supervisor or HR, Deb Wakeman on my behalf.

Nothing in her explanation to the Department or in her testimony indicated that she was speaking as a citizen on a matter of public concern. In fact, she claimed to be speaking in her capacity as education coordinator.

[¶ 14.] Additionally, the content and form of Gilbert’s letter involved internal complaints about other employees and particularly the political appointment of Montoya as tribal secretary. Gilbert addressed these internal complaints to the Tribe’s executive committee. Although the internal nature of her letter is not dispositive, when coupled with the nature of her complaints, we conclude that when Gilbert wrote the letter, she was not speaking as a citizen on matters of public concern. See id.

[¶ 15.] Thus considering the context, content and form of Gilbert’s letter, we cannot say that the trial court erred when it concluded that the letter did not contain matters of public concern. Since Gilbert’s statements were not of public concern, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution is not applicable and our inquiry ends.

Violation of Gilbert’s Right to Free Speech Under Article VI, Section 5 of the South Dakota Constitution

[¶ 16.] Gilbert contends that Article VI, Section 5 of South Dakota’s Constitution provides broader protection than the United States Constitution’s First Amendment. 4 Based on this contention, Gilbert argues that the Department’s denial of UI benefits violated her right to freedom of speech under South Dakota’s Constitution. While we have held that the press is afforded no greater rights under Article VI, Section 5, the facts before us present a matter of first impression. See Rapid City Journal Co. v. Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, 283 N.W.2d 563, 568 (S.D.1979) (considering the right afforded to members of the press to access jury voir dire proceedings).

[¶ 17.] In considering whether to apply a broader interpretation of our state constitution, we consider the text, history, and purpose of the constitutional provision. State v. Schwartz, 2004 SD 123, ¶ 57, 689 N.W.2d 430, 445 (Konenkamp, J., concurring). In doing so, we are not bound to reach the same result as the United States Supreme Court finds in the Federal Constitution. See City of Mesquite v. Aladdin’s Castle, Inc., 455 U.S. 283, 293, 102 S.Ct. 1070, 1077, 71 L.Ed.2d 152 (1982). The provisions of South Dakota’s Constitution have legal force apart from the federal constitution. Schwartz, 2004 SD 123, ¶ 33, 689 N.W.2d 430, 438 (Konenkamp, J., concurring).

[¶ 18.] The best argument for interpreting our State Constitution differently from the Federal Constitution is that the texts of the parallel provisions are different. The relevant portion of Article VI, Section 5 reads as follows:

Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right.

The federal counterpart to Article VI, Section 5, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, reads:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

U.S. Const, amend. I. Although worded differently, both provisions guarantee freedom of speech and the press. However, it is not clear whether this difference in language was intended to provide broader protection under South Dakota’s Constitution.

[¶ 19.] Article VI, Section 5 of South Dakota’s Constitution originated at South Dakota’s Constitutional Convention of 1885. On September 14,1885, the committee on the Bill of Rights submitted a draft of the Bill of Rights to the convention. The proposed language of Article VT, Section 5 mirrored the language in South Dakota’s Constitution, which was adopted on October 1, 1889 by popular vote. Article VI, Section 5 remains the same today.

[¶ 20.] On September 17, 1885, the Convention discussed a report on the Bill of Rights and addressed each provision of South Dakota’s Bill of Rights individually. However, the original manuscript of the discussions regarding Article VI, Section 5 was lost and could not be included in the published debates. 5 This unfortunately gives us no insight into the thoughts and reasoning of the individuals who debated Section 5 of South Dakota’s Bill of Rights.

[¶ 21.] Despite the absence of this particular debate, it is clear that whatever debate took place regarding Section 5, there were no changes made to the language of Section 5 proposed by the committee on September 14, 1885. We also note that the manuscripts of the debates regarding other provisions in the Bill of Rights centered on the language of similar guarantees found in other state’s constitutions at that time. 6 Therefore, we find no indication that the framers intended to provide more expansive protection through South Dakota’s Bill of Rights than that provided by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

[¶ 22.] It is also evident that other states’ constitutions played a role in the drafting of South Dakota’s Bill of Rights since the majority of states have free speech provisions similar to that of South Dakota. In the early part of the twentieth century, this Court noted that nearly all of the American states had adopted a similarly worded free speech amendment. State v. Kirby, 36 S.D. 188, 154 N.W. 284, 286 (1915); see also American Bush v. City of South Salt Lake, 140 P.3d 1235, 1247 (Utah 2006)(noting that “[a]s of the year 2000, 43 state constitutions contained the ‘freedom of speech’ tempered by a ‘responsibility for abuse’ clause.”); State v. Wicklund, 589 N.W.2d 793, 799 (Minn.1999) (noting that 33 states’ free speech provisions contained the following language: “all persons may freely speak ... on all subjects being responsible for the abuse of such right.”). The majority of states with almost identical language have interpreted their state constitutional free speech provisions as coextensive with their federal counterparts. 7 As pointed out by Justice Konenkamp, although we must address questions of constitutional interpretation “autonomously [to] develop a coherent body of South Dakota constitutional law,” we do look to other states for guidance. Schwartz, 2004 SD 123, ¶33, 689 N.W.2d 430, 438 (Konenkamp, J., concurring).

[¶ 23.] The only authority Gilbert advances for a broader interpretation of South Dakota’s Constitution is California’s interpretation of their similarly worded constitutional provision on free speech. 8 However, California has made such determinations in the context of compelled speech, obscene speech, and the absence of state action. See Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Lyons, 24 Cal.4th 468, 101 Cal.Rptr.2d 470, 12 P.3d 720, 735 (2000) (stating that the California right to free speech, unlike the First Amendment, runs against the world and is unlimited in scope). In Gilbert’s case, there is no question that there is state action because the South Dakota Unemployment Insurance Division denied Gilbert UI benefits. Furthermore, even if we interpret “public concern” liberally, we could not conclude that her speech was more than the airing of internal grievances. Interpreting South Dakota’s constitution as affording greater protection than the Federal Constitution is a “significant undertaking for any state court.” Wicklund, 589 N.W.2d at 799. Under the facts of this case, we do not find greater protection in Article VI, Section 5 and decline to extend its protection further than the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

[¶ 24.] Gilbert also argues that the administrative law judge’s findings were “clearly erroneous in light of the entire evidence in the record.” However, Gilbert cites to nothing in the record nor any authority to support her argument. Therefore, we find her argument is without merit. Chapman v. Chapman, 2006 SD 36, ¶ 31, 713 N.W.2d 572, 580.

[¶ 25.] Affirmed.

[¶ 26.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and SABERS, KONENKAMP, and ZINTER, Justices, concur.

1 . The Tribe instituted the political activity policy because of a compact the Tribe entered into with the State of South Dakota on gambling which also prohibits the Tribe and its employees from engaging in political activity.

2 .Misconduct is defined by SDCL 61-6-14.1 as:

1. Failure to obey orders, rules or instructions, or failure to discharge the duties for which an individual was employed; or

2. Substantial disregard of the employer's interest or of the employee’s duties and obligations to the employer; or

3. Conduct evincing such willful or wanton disregard of an employer's interests as is found in deliberate violations or disregard of standards of behavior which the employer has the right to expect of the employee; or

4. Carelessness or negligence of such degree or recurrence as to manifest equal culpability or wrongful intent.

However, mere inefficiency, unsatisfactory conduct, failure to perform as the result of inability or incapacity, a good faith error in judgment or discretion, or conduct mandated by a religious belief which belief cannot be reasonably accommodated by the employer is not misconduct.

3 .The Tribe’s political activity policy reads as follows:

The tribal administration must be able to operate as fairly and effectively as possible and to protect the rights of its employees by ensuring that they are free from political influence and are able to administer programs without bias or favoritism. It is therefore the policy of the Tribe that employees not engage in political activities during work hours. Employees are strictly prohibited from engaging in political activity during work hours or from using tribal equipment or property for political activity as defined below. Employee shall not be subject to influence or pressure from Executive Committee members or candidates for office.

Political activity includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following: preparing, circulating, signing, or soliciting signatures to petition for recall, referendum or initiative, enrollment petitions, election petitions or any other petition involving tribal matters or affairs; any activity intended to influence the out-come of a tribal election or a vote on a matter involving tribal affairs, whether verbal or written, that is intended to be divisive towards the tribal government.

Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

4 . In its entirety, Article VI, Section 5 of South Dakota’s Constitution provides:

Every person may freely speak, write, and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right. In all trials for libel, both civil and criminal, the truth, when published with good motives and for justifiable ends, shall be a sufficient defense. The jury shall have the right to determine the fact and the law under the direction of the court.

5 . In volume one, page 281, of South Dakota’s Constitutional Debates, there is a note from the Editor that reads: "A page of the original manuscript of the debates has evidently been lost at this point, covering the consideration of Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5, of the bill of rights.”

6 . When a comparison was made, it was usually with the constitutions of California, Illinois, or Iowa.

7 . See, e.g., Fiesta Mall Venture v. Mecham Recall Committee, 159 Ariz. 371, 767 P.2d 719, 724 (Ariz.Ct.App.1988); Citizens for Ethical Government, Inc. v. Gwinnett Place Assocs., L.P., 260 Ga. 245, 392 S.E.2d 8, 9-10 (1990); People v. DiGuida, 152 Ill.2d 104, 178 Ill.Dec. 80, 604 N.E.2d 336, 344-45 (1992); State v. Milner, 571 N.W.2d 7, 12 (Iowa 1997); Woodland v. Michigan Citizen’ Lobby, 423 Mich. 188, 378 N.W.2d 337, 346-47 (1985); State v. Wicklund, 589 N.W.2d 793, 799-801 (Minn.1999); State v. Felmet, 302 N.C. 173, 273 S.E.2d 708, 712 (N.C.1981); Eastwood Mall Inc. v. Slanco, 68 Ohio St.3d 221, 626 N.E.2d 59, 61 (Ohio 1994); Charleston Joint Venture v. McPherson, 308 S.C. 145, 417 S.E.2d 544, 548 n. 7 (SC.1992); South-center Joint Venture v. National Democratic Policy Comm., 113 Wash.2d 413, 780 P.2d 1282, 1291-92 (1989); Jacobs v. Major, 139 Wis.2d 492, 407 N.W.2d 832, 836-37 (1987).

8 . Article I, Section 2 of California’s Constitution provides: “Every person may freely speak, write and publish his or her sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of this right. A law may not restrain or abridge liberty of speech or press.”

The California Court of Appeals recently noted that the "state Constitution’s free speech clause is at least as broad, and in some ways broader, than the comparable provision of the federal Constitution.” ARP Pharmacy Serv., Inc., v. Gallagher Bassett Serv., Inc., 138 Cal.App.4th 1307, 1314, 42 Cal.Rptr.3d 256 (2006).