Hutchinson v. Bear Valley Community Services District

191 F. Supp. 3d 1117, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76727, 2016 WL 3254033
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. California
DecidedJune 13, 2016
DocketCase No.: 1:15-cv-01047-JLT
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 191 F. Supp. 3d 1117 (Hutchinson v. Bear Valley Community Services District) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hutchinson v. Bear Valley Community Services District, 191 F. Supp. 3d 1117, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76727, 2016 WL 3254033 (E.D. Cal. 2016).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS

Jennifer L. Thurston, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Defendants Bear Valley Community Services District and David Edmonds seek of the first claim for relief in the Third Amended Complaint filed by Plaintiff Laura Hutchinson pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. 34) Defendants assert Plaintiff is unable to. state.a claim for a violation of her First Amendment rights, because the police report she made was not a “protected speech.” Plaintiff opposes the dismissal, arguing the factual allegations are sufficient to support her claims. (Doc. 34)

Because the police report did not raise a matter of public concern, Defendants’ motion to dismiss is GRANTED, and the first cause of action is DISMISSED without leave to amend.

I. Allegations of the Third Amended Complaint

Plaintiff alleges she began working as a police officer for the Bear Valley Police [1119]*1119Department, which is operated- by the Bear Valley Community Services District, in August 2007. (Doc. 30 at 2, ¶¶4, 8) Plaintiff took pregnancy leave in 2008. (Id. at 8, ¶ 9) When Plaintiff returned from leave, she was not required to undergo field training. (Id.)

According to Plaintiff, “she experienced discrimination on the job as well as retaliation,” which resulted in her “filing a lawsuit under FEHA in March 2012.” (Doc. 30 at 2, ¶ 8) Plaintiff reports the lawsuit settled in October 2012. (Id. at 3, ¶ 9).

' Plaintiff alleges that she “was taken off work by her physician due to a high risk pregnancy” in January 2013. (Doc. 30 at 3, ¶ 10) In April 2013, “Plaintiff filed a charge with the DFEH complaining about discrimination and retaliation that are made unlawful by FEHA.” (Id.)

In September 2013, Plaintiff returned to work. (Doc. 30 at 3, ¶ 12) Plaintiff alleges that upon her return, she “was forced to undergo remedial training (again) after her return from maternity leave.” (Id.) Plaintiff asserts she “was the most senior patrol ■ officer, but was then told the department no longer recognized seniority.” (Id.)

According to Plaintiff, she was “the only female patrol officer,” and the fact that the department did not recognize her seniority “adversely affected' [her] by disallowing her to bid for more favorable shifts, which affected her ability to obtain reasonable child care.” (Doc. 30 at 3, ¶ 12)'She reports Police Chief Walthers “told Plaintiff that her children do not qualify for ‘hardships’ which prevented Plaintiff from qualifying for a more favorable day shift.” (Id.) In addition, Plaintiff contends the failure to recognize her seniority adversely affected her training opportunities, vacation requests, and new patrol car assignments. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges the “coveted positions were given to male officers and [she] was refused the right to even test for such positions.” (Id.)

Plaintiff asserts that in September 2013, she “had a discussion with Senior [0]fficer Richey about not being able to apply for promotions (detective ‘and senior position) and she felt this was due to gender discrimination.” (Doc. 30 at 4, ¶ 13) Plaintiff reports she then “filled out and submitted an application for an intermediate post certificate, which would provide a pay increase.” (Id., ¶ 14) However, the application, which included her college transcripts,' “was never sent in by Chief Walthers, which is a perfunctory step for Walthers to perform.” -(Id.) Plaintiff alleges Officer Richey told her that “Chief Walthers ‘did not agree’ with her transcripts.” (Id.) According to Plaintiff, “[a]t least one male officer (Pierce) received an advance post without question by Chief Walthers.” (Id.)

Plaintiff alleges that in October 2013, she “passed remedial training and began patrolling on her own.” (Doc. 30 at 4, ¶ 15) However, “BVCSD altered shift schedules so that Plaintiffs shift involved no ‘double coverage’ or backup for her,” though all other officers had backup. (Id.) In addition, Plaintiff reports her shift was at night, rather than the day as she was previously scheduled. (Id.) She maintains that if “BVCSD recognized [her] seniority, she would have been given a more favorable daytime shift with backup.” (Id.)

She alleges that in November 2013, she again had a discussion regarding gender discrimination with Officer Richey and the assistant manager for the district, Sandy Janzen. (Doc. 30 at 4, ¶ 13) Plaintiff alleges that “Janzen told [her] not to complaint about the district,” and reported her complaints to Walthers. (Id.)

According to Plaintiff, in November 2013, she “was called into the office of defendant.” (Doc. 30 at 4, ¶ 16) Sandy Jan-[1120]*1120zen informed that Plaintiff she “had been recommended for termination and [instructed her to] not to ask for her annual evaluation.” (Id.) Plaintiff alleges Janzen told her “it would not be a good evaluation because the chief (Walthers) did not want to give Plaintiff an evaluation at all, notwithstanding the positive daily evaluations she received in relation to her remedial training.” (Id. at 4-5, ¶ 16)

“In December. 2013, Plaintiff was told by third parties that a detective’s wife had told them that Chief Walthers and. senior officer Richey and detective Damon Pierce were going to ‘get rid of Plaintiff through psychological testing.” (Doc. 30 at 5, ¶ 17) Plaintiff reports she “sent an email to Chief Walthers to let him know that she would be looking at other departments,” and began to look for another position. (Id.) She asserts that after sending the email to Chief Walthers, she learned “the detective’s wife had threatened to beat Plaintiff.” (Id.) Plaintiff alleges she then “filed a written complaint with the district for gender discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, and violation of her police officer Bill of Rights.” (Id.)

Plaintiff alleges that in January 2014, she “was supposed to get Personal Time Off (PTO time) and it was withheld.” (Doc,' 30 at 5, ¶ 18)

' In April 2014, “Plaintiff suffered an injury to her back (on the job) and reported this to her supervisor.” (Doc. 30 at 5, ¶ 19) She reports the “injury involved herniated disks in her back, which causes back pain, back spasms, numbness in Plaintiffs foot, compression on Plaintiffs nerve that causes sciatic pain, and weakness in her right leg.” (Id.) According to Plaintiff, her injury “affected Plaintiffs walking and ability to perform her job and also take care of her children.” (Id.)

Plaintiff alleges that in May 2014, she “was put on duty at the guard station next to the gate to the community without her firearm and out of uniform.” (Doc. 30 at 6, ¶ 20) Plaintiff asserts that her “change of job involved a civilian position where she would have not advancement opportunities within the police department and in fact was outside the police department where she worked.” (Id.)

She reports that on May 29, 2014, she “was served with a notice of investigation regarding alleged performance issues and allegedly falsifying documents.” (Doc. 30 at 6, ¶ 22) In addition, she reports that she received a second notice of investigation in June 2014, which indicated “tenants who were renting property owned by Plaintiff ...

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
191 F. Supp. 3d 1117, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76727, 2016 WL 3254033, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hutchinson-v-bear-valley-community-services-district-caed-2016.