Horton v. Westling

284 F. Supp. 3d 213
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedFebruary 15, 2018
Docket5:17–cv–45 (MAD/ATB)
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 284 F. Supp. 3d 213 (Horton v. Westling) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Horton v. Westling, 284 F. Supp. 3d 213 (N.D.N.Y. 2018).

Opinion

Mae A. D'Agostino, U.S. District Judge

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff commenced this action on January 16, 2017, asserting two claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, arising out of a student disciplinary proceeding that occurred while Plaintiff was a student of the Sherburne-Earlville Central School District (the "District") during the 2014-2015 school year. See Dkt. No. 1. The complaint alleges that Plaintiff was deprived substantive and procedural due process by the imposition of an out of school suspension after Plaintiff was found in a superintendent's hearing held pursuant to New York Education Law § 3214 to have committed acts that violated the District's student code of conduct. Id. at ¶ 28. Plaintiff alleges that he was deprived of his property interest in receiving his education without due process. Id. Plaintiff also contends that he was deprived of his liberty interest in his good name and reputation by wrongful suspension from school without due process. Id. at ¶ 38.

On March 9, 2017, Defendants Board of Education of Sherburne-Earlville Central School District and Eric A. Schnabl, as Superintendent of Schools, moved pursuant to Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for dismissal of the complaint in its entirety. See Dkt. No. 15. After the motion was fully briefed, on April 20, 2017, the Court held oral argument. Defendant Schnabl and the Board of Education's motion for judgment on the pleadings was granted and they were dismissed from this action. On April 14, 2017, Defendant Susan T. Westling ("Defendant") moved pursuant to Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for dismissal of the complaint in its entirety. See Dkt. No. 26. As set forth below, Defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings is granted.

II. BACKGROUND

According to the complaint, Plaintiff was a student of the District who was suspended from school through the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year. See Dkt. No. 1 at ¶ 8. Plaintiff's suspension was initially imposed following a hearing held pursuant to New York Education Law § 3214 on November 13, 2014, at which Defendant Susan Westling, Esq., presided as hearing officer. See id. at ¶¶ 11-21. Upon receiving notice of Superintendent Schnabl's decision to suspend Plaintiff after the November 13 hearing, Plaintiff requested that the *217hearing be reopened to consider additional evidence. See id. at ¶¶ 20-23. The District granted Plaintiff's request and a second day of testimony was held on January 27, 2015, during which additional evidence was entered into evidence and Plaintiff, who was represented by counsel, was provided the opportunity to testify in his defense. See id. After the rehearing, Defendant Westling issued supplemental findings of fact and recommendations and ultimately confirmed the findings and penalty recommended after the November hearing. Superintendent Schnabl accepted Defendant Westling's recommendations and confirmed the suspension by letter dated January 29, 2015. See id. at ¶ 22.

Plaintiff appealed Superintendent Schnabl's decision to the Board of Education, which heard the appeal on February 9, 2015. See id. at ¶ 24. The Board upheld the suspension. See id.

On February 16, 2015, Plaintiff appealed these adverse decisions to the New York State Commissioner of Education ("Commissioner"). See Dkt. No. 15-5 at 1-19. On October 5, 2015, Plaintiff sent a letter to the Commissioner indicating that, since Plaintiff graduated in June of 2015, the appeal is now moot. See Dkt. No. 22 at 19. As such, Plaintiff indicated that he wished to "withdraw this appeal, without prejudice, and [would] proceed in Federal Court where his constitutional claims may be heard." Id. In a letter dated October 8, 2015, the Commissioner accepted Plaintiff's request to discontinue his appeal. See id. at 22.

On January 16, 2017, Plaintiff commenced this action alleging procedural and substantive due process violations. See Dkt. No. 1. Currently before the Court is Defendant Westling's motion for judgment on the pleadings.

III. DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that "after the pleadings are closed-but early enough not to delay trial-a party may move for judgment on the pleadings." Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). When a party makes a Rule 12(c) motion, the court applies the same standard as when a party files a Rule 12(b)(6) motion. See Hayden v. Paterson , 594 F.3d 150, 160 (2d Cir.

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Bluebook (online)
284 F. Supp. 3d 213, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/horton-v-westling-nynd-2018.