Grenier v. Town of Shrewsbury

52 F. Supp. 3d 149, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136269, 2014 WL 5151260
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedSeptember 26, 2014
DocketCivil Action No. 12-40093-TSH
StatusPublished

This text of 52 F. Supp. 3d 149 (Grenier v. Town of Shrewsbury) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Grenier v. Town of Shrewsbury, 52 F. Supp. 3d 149, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136269, 2014 WL 5151260 (D. Mass. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER

HILLMAN, District Judge.

Background

Matthew A. Grenier (“Grenier”) has filed claims against the Town of Shrews-[152]*152bury (“Town”), John L. LeBeaux (“Le-Beaux”), Moira Miller (“Miller”), Bruce R. Card (“Card”), and Maruice M. DePalo (“DePalo” and, together with Lebeaux, Miller, and Card “Board Members”)1 under Section 1983 for violation of his due process rights (Count I), and violation of the interstate commerce clause (Count II). Grenier’s claims arise out of the denial by the Town’s Board of Selectmen (“Board”) of his application for a Class 2 used car dealer license. Grenier is suing the Board Members in their individual and official capacities. His Complaint seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages.

This Memorandum and Order of Decision addresses:

(1) Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment For Count 1: Violations Of Due Process Rights Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 (Docket No. 41);

(2) Defendants’ Motion For Summary Judgment (Docket No. 43); and

(3) Plaintiffs Motion To Strike (Docket No. 51).

For the reason set forth below, the motion to strike is denied. Plaintiffs motion for partial summary judgment is denied and Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is granted.

Standard of Review

Summary Judgment is appropriate where, “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Carroll v. Xerox Corp., 294 F.3d 231, 236 (1st Cir.2002) (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)). “ ‘A “genuine” issue is one that could be resolved in favor of either party, and a “material fact” is one that has the potential of affecting the outcome of the case.’” Sensing v. Outback Steakhouse of Florida, LLC, 575 F.3d 145, 152 (1st Cir.2009) (quoting Calero-Cerezo v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 355 F.3d 6, 19 (1st Cir.2004)).

When considering a motion for summary judgment, the Court construes the record in the light most favorable to the nonmov-ing party and makes all reasonable inferences in favor thereof. Sensing, 575 F.3d at 153. The moving party bears the burden to demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact within the record. Id. at 152. “ ‘Once the moving party has pointed to the absence of adequate evidence supporting the nonmoving party’s case, the nonmoving party must come forward with facts that show a genuine issue for trial.’” Id. (citation to quoted case omitted). “ ‘[T]he nonmoving party “may not rest upon mere allegations or denials of the [movant’s] pleading, but must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue of material fact as to each issue upon which [s/he] would bear the ultimate burden of proof at trial.” ’ ” Id. (citation to quoted case omitted). The nonmoving party cannot rely on “concluso-ry allegations” or “improbable inferences”. Id. (citation to quoted case omitted). “ ‘The test is whether, as to each essential element, there is “sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party.” ’ ” Id. (citation to quoted case omitted). “Cross-[153]*153motions for summary judgment require the district court to ‘consider each motion separately, drawing all inferences in favor of each non-moving party in turn.’ ” Green Mountain Realty Corp. v. Leonard, 750 F.3d 30, 38 (1st Cir.2014) (citation to quoted case omitted).

Plaintiff’s Motion To Strike

Plaintiff seeks to strike portions of Defendants’ material statement of facts. More specifically, Plaintiff seeks to strike paragraphs 29-31 of the Concise Statement Of Undisputed Material Facts In Sup. Of Defs. ’ Mot. For Sum. J. (Docket No. 45)(“Defs.’ Facts ”) which refer to the decision of the Massachusetts Superior Court. He argues that because the lower court’s holding was overturned by the Massachusetts Appeals Court (“MAC”), the lower court’s rationale and basis of decision are irrelevant. Plaintiff also seeks to strike Ex. M to Defs. ’ Facts, i.e., a copy of the Massachusetts Superior Court decision, on the same grounds. Defendants argue that the factual assertions and the copy of the lower court’s decisions are relevant to Grenier’s due process claims because it shows that post-deprivation remedies were available to him and that he availed himself of those remedies. The motion to strike paragraphs 29-31 of Defs. ’ Facts and Ex. M is denied.

Plaintiff also seeks to strike Ex. B. to Defs.’ Facts, i.e., the Town’s answer to interrogatories on the grounds that they are irrelevant, immaterial, hearsay and conclusory.” Pi’s Mot to Strike (Docket No. 57), at p. 1 Plaintiff does not cite to any specific interrogatory answers that he finds objectionable, cites no legal authority in support of his request and makes no further argument as to why the exhibit is objectionable. The motion to strike Ex. B is denied.2

Facts3

Grenier’s Application For A Class % Used Car License

On April 12, 1999, the Board adopted Policy Number 9 entitled “Limit the number of Class 2 used car licenses to a total of twenty (20)” (“Policy 9”). At all times relevant to this action, the following “Policy Statement Board of Selectman” was located on the Board’s website:

1. The Board of Selectmen on April 12, 1999 voted in favor of limiting the number of Class 2 used car dealer licenses to twenty (20). The Board of Selectmen conducted a public hearing on April 5, 1999. In addition, the board received public comments by telephone and surveyed surrounding Towns. It was then determined that limiting the number of Class 2 used car dealer licenses to twenty (20) would sufficiently meet the needs of the public for the Town of Shrewsbury.
2. The Board of Selectmen will not take away current class two license holders licenses for this reason. However, as businesses move away, new licenses will not be issued to replace these.
[154]*1543. The Board of Selectmen will still be required to accept Class 2 used car dealer license applications and hold hearings but could at any time deny a request based on the public’s interest already being met.
4. The policy is set by the current Board and can be subject to review and change as condition in the Town of Shrewsbury change.

Policy 9 was revised on January 8, 2001 to modify paragraph 2 as follows:

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

Related

Selevan v. New York Thruway Authority
584 F.3d 82 (Second Circuit, 2009)
Pike v. Bruce Church, Inc.
397 U.S. 137 (Supreme Court, 1970)
Monell v. New York City Dept. of Social Servs.
436 U.S. 658 (Supreme Court, 1978)
Iantosca v. Step Plan Services, Inc.
604 F.3d 24 (First Circuit, 2010)
Evans v. Avery
100 F.3d 1033 (First Circuit, 1996)
Collins v. Nuzzo
244 F.3d 246 (First Circuit, 2001)
Carroll v. Xerox Corp.
294 F.3d 231 (First Circuit, 2002)
Calero-Cerezo v. U.S. Dep of Justice
355 F.3d 6 (First Circuit, 2004)
Mongeau v. City of Marlborough
492 F.3d 14 (First Circuit, 2007)
Alvarado Aguilera v. Negron
509 F.3d 50 (First Circuit, 2007)
Sensing v. Outback Steakhouse of Florida, LLC
575 F.3d 145 (First Circuit, 2009)
Henry H. Amsden v. Thomas F. Moran, Etc.
904 F.2d 748 (First Circuit, 1990)
Cruz v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., PR, Inc.
699 F.3d 563 (First Circuit, 2012)
Roslindale Motor Sales, Inc. v. Police Commr. of Boston
538 N.E.2d 312 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1989)
Mongeau v. City of Marlborough
462 F. Supp. 2d 144 (D. Massachusetts, 2006)
Florida Transportation Service, Inc. v. Miami-Dade County
757 F. Supp. 2d 1260 (S.D. Florida, 2010)
Bolduc v. Town of Webster
629 F. Supp. 2d 132 (D. Massachusetts, 2009)
Green Mountain Realty Corp. v. Leonard
750 F.3d 30 (First Circuit, 2014)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
52 F. Supp. 3d 149, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136269, 2014 WL 5151260, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/grenier-v-town-of-shrewsbury-mad-2014.