Haley v. Clarksville-Montgomery Cnty. Sch. Sys.

353 F. Supp. 3d 724
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Tennessee
DecidedDecember 17, 2018
DocketNO. 3:18-cv-00400
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 353 F. Supp. 3d 724 (Haley v. Clarksville-Montgomery Cnty. Sch. Sys.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Haley v. Clarksville-Montgomery Cnty. Sch. Sys., 353 F. Supp. 3d 724 (M.D. Tenn. 2018).

Opinion

WAVERLY D. CRENSHAW, JR., CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

*728Angela Haley, the former wrestling coach at Northeast High School, in Clarksville, Tennessee, brings this action arising out of (1) the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System's ("CMCSS") decision to replace her in that position with a male coach, and (2) dissatisfaction with CMCSS's treatment of female student-athletes. Haley brings claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. ; 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ; and Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. ("Title IX"). Before the Court is CMCSS' Motion to Dismiss certain claims pursuant to Federal Rule of Procedure 12(b)(6). (Doc. No. 8.) Haley has responded in opposition (Doc. Nos. 13-14), and CMCSS has replied (Doc. No. 19). For the following reasons, the Motion will be granted.

I. Legal Standard

To survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, " 'a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.' " Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) ).1 The plausibility standard is not akin to a 'probability requirement,' but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully." Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ). "If the plaintiffs do not nudge their claims across the line from conceivable to plausible, their complaint must be dismissed." Lutz v. Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C., 717 F.3d 459, 464 (6th Cir. 2013) (citation and brackets omitted). Dismissal is likewise appropriate where the complaint, however factually detailed, fails to state a claim as a matter of law. Mitchell v. McNeil, 487 F.3d 374, 379 (6th Cir. 2007). In deciding a motion to dismiss, the court is not required to accept summary allegations, legal conclusions, or unwarranted factual inferences. Mixon v. Ohio, 193 F.3d 389, 400 (6th Cir. 1999) ; Lillard v. Shelby Cty. Bd. of Educ., 76 F.3d 716, 726 (6th Cir. 1996).

II. Factual Allegations

CMCSS operates the public school system in Montgomery County, Tennessee. (Doc. No. 1 at ¶ 13.) Haley, a resident of Stewart County, Tennessee, is employed by CMCSS at Northeast High School ("Northeast") in Clarksville, Tennessee.

*729(Id. at ¶ 12.) According to the Complaint, CMCSS hired Haley as the Northeast wrestling coach, and Haley "was instrumental in getting wrestling sanctioned as a state sport within Tennessee." (Id. at ¶ 38.) According to Haley, she "had a very good track record" as a wrestling coach with CMCSS. (Id. at ¶ 39.) Haley sat on the board of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association ("TSSAA"). (Id. at ¶ 40.) However, Haley alleges that CMCSS did not allow her to attend TSSAA meetings unless she did so "on her own personal time" and without "reimbursement or supplement." (Id. at ¶ 42.) Haley also alleges that CMCSS "subjected [her] to a moldy closet as her coach office." (Id. at ¶ 41.)

According to the Complaint, CMCSS removed Haley from the position of head wrestling coach in March 2016, after the completion of "a very good season."2 (Id. at ¶¶ 35, 43.) Haley alleges that she repeatedly requested reinstatement, but CMCSS refused "to engage in any discussions, interviews, or restatement." (Id. at ¶ 44.) Haley alleges that she was replaced by a "less-qualified" male coach in August 2016, "in violation of [ ] school and [TSSAA] policies." (Id. at ¶ 37, 45.) Based upon these occurrences, Haley alleges that CMCSS failed "to provide female coaches with the same treatment and benefits as the male coaches" and failed "to provide equal athletic coaching instruction opportunities for female faculty." (Id. at ¶ 48.)

Haley also alleges that CMCSS has intentionally and consciously discriminated against female students at Northeast by failing to provide them with "treatment and benefits that are comparable to the treatment and benefits provided to male student athletes in areas including but not limited to: practice and competitive facilities, training facilities, locker rooms, coaches and coaching facilities, scheduling of games and practice times, publicity and funding." (Id. at ¶ 25.) The Complaint states that Haley "informed [CMCSS] that its actions constitute violations of Plaintiff's [ ] rights[,]" but "CMCSS has failed to remedy or address its violations." (Id. at ¶ 27.)

III. Discussion

A. Section 1983 Claim Pursuant to Equal Protection Clause

The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit allows a constitutional claim to be brought under Section 1983 even if that claim runs parallel to a claim brought under an analogous statute on similar facts. See Bullington v. Bedford Cty.

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353 F. Supp. 3d 724, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/haley-v-clarksville-montgomery-cnty-sch-sys-tnmd-2018.