UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
John Briand
v. Civil No. 19-cv-877-LM Opinion No. 2021 DNH 024 P Town of Conway et al.
ORDER
Proceeding pro se, John Briand brings this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against
the Town of Conway (the “Town”), David S. Pandora, and Thomas Holmes.1 Briand
filed an amended complaint on May 19, 2020, alleging that Pandora required
Briand to remove a car lift and a membrane tent from land he owns within the
boundaries of the Town’s Floodplain Conservation Overlay District. Briand
concedes that the Town’s applicable zoning ordinances and other regulations
prohibit the placement of such structures on his land. However, he alleges that
other landowners in the Floodplain Conservation Overlay District have placed
similar structures on their properties, and that defendants have not required the
removal of those other structures. Briand asserts that, by selectively requiring his
compliance with the Town’s regulations and by threatening to impose fines “without
due process” in the event of his noncompliance, defendants violated his “right to life,
1 Pandora is a building inspector for the Town of Conway and Holmes is its Town Manager. Briand brings his claims against Pandora and Holmes in both their individual and their official capacities. liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as guaranteed under the Fifth, Eighth, and
Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. Briand does not
otherwise specify the nature of his claims in this action.
Defendants move to dismiss Briand’s claims. Briand objects. For the reasons
discussed below, the court construes Briand’s amended complaint as intended to
state an equal protection claim and a procedural due process claim, and grants
defendants’ motion to dismiss (doc. no. 17) as to both claims.
LEGAL STANDARD
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), the court must accept the
factual allegations in the complaint as true, construe reasonable inferences in the
plaintiff's favor, and determine whether the factual allegations in the complaint set
forth a plausible claim upon which relief may be granted. See Breiding v.
Eversource Energy, 939 F.3d 47, 49 (1st Cir. 2019). A claim is facially plausible
“when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the
reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”
Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009).
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
Except where otherwise noted, the following facts are drawn from Briand’s
amended complaint (doc. no. 16). In addition, the court takes judicial notice of
certain adjudicative facts contained in the Municipal Code of the Town of Conway,
pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 201. 2 Briand owns land in the Town. Briand’s land falls within an area Briand
refers to as the “Transvale Acres” community, which in turn falls within an area the
Town has designated as its Floodplain Conservation Overlay District. It appears
that the Transvale Acres community was originally developed as a seasonal
campground, but that some parcels of land within the community may have been
approved (or grandfathered in) for different uses.
The Town’s zoning ordinances prohibit landowners from placing “structures”
anywhere in the Floodplain Conservation Overlay District, where “structure” is
defined in relevant part as “[a]nything constructed or erected” on the ground or as
“an attachment to something having a fixed location on the ground.” Conway Mun.
C. §§ 190-26(B), 190-31. The Town’s public health regulations also prohibit
landowners from placing such “structures” on land designated solely for camping.
See Conway Mun. C. § 99-3(F)(5). The Town’s public health regulations
additionally provide that “residential use” of areas designated for camping is
“strictly prohibited,” and that land designated for camping “shall not be occupied . . .
for more than 180 calendar days per year.” Id. §§ 99-3(F)(7), 3(F)(8). Finally, the
Town’s public health regulations provide that only one “camping unit” shall be
allowed on any lot designated for camping, and that any such camping unit must be
“readily transportable in the case of a flood or other emergency.” Id. § 99-3(F)(1). A
“camping unit” is defined for purposes of the Town’s public health regulations as a
tent or other structure “developed, marketed and used by the camping trade for use
3 as temporary living quarters or shelter during periods of recreation, vacation,
leisure time, or travel.” Id. § 99-8.
Briand purchased his land in Transvale Acres pursuant to a warranty deed
which provided that only one “dwelling,” and no residential building costing in
excess of $4,000, could be erected on the land. Briand subsequently placed a
“membrane tent” costing less than $4,000 on the land. It further appears that
Briand also placed a car lift there.
On June 13, 2019, Briand received a letter from Town building inspector
Pandora directing him to remove the car lift. On June 27, 2019, Briand received a
Notice of Violation of the Town’s zoning ordinances, together with a second letter
from Pandora. The second letter directed Briand to remove both the car lift and the
membrane tent from his property, advising him that he would be subject to fines in
the amount of $225 per day of noncompliance. On July 17, 2019, Briand received a
second Notice of Violation of the Town’s zoning ordinances, again directing Briand
to remove the car lift and membrane tent from his land in the Floodplain
Conservation Overlay District. The second Notice of Violation advised Briand that
in the event of his noncompliance, he would face fines of $275 per day “for the first
offense” and $550 per day “for each subsequent offense.”
On July 23, 2019, Briand met with Pandora at Pandora’s personal residence
to discuss the Town’s zoning ordinances. Pandora discouraged Briand from
appealing to the Town’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, stating that such appeal
would be futile because the Board would follow Pandora’s recommendation in
4 matters involving the Floodplain Conservation Overlay District. The following day,
Briand removed the car lift and the membrane tent from his land, successfully
avoiding the imposition of fines.
Other landowners have erected membrane tents or constructed additions to
existing structures on land located in Transvale Acres. The Town has not required
the removal of these other landowners’ membrane tents or additions.
Based on these allegations, Briand asserts that the defendants2 are liable
under Section 1983 for the violation of his Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth
Amendment rights.
DISCUSSION
Defendants argue that Briand’s amended complaint should be dismissed in
its entirety for failure to comply with the pleading requirements of Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 8(a). Defendants alternatively argue that, to the extent Briand may
intend to state a Fourteenth Amendment equal protection or procedural due process
claim, he has failed to allege the required elements of those claims. As to Briand’s
claims against Pandora and Holmes in their official capacities, defendants
additionally argue that the claims are subject to dismissal because the Town of
Conway is the real defendant in interest. Finally, as to Briand’s claims against
2 Briand’s only allegations specifically regarding Holmes are that he
“allowed” Pandora to enforce the Town’s ordinances and regulations against Briand and that he is liable for Pandora’s actions as Pandora’s supervisor. Briand’s only allegations regarding the Town are that it promulgated the ordinances and regulations at issue and “financed” Pandora’s complained-of conduct. 5 Holmes, defendants further argue that the claims must be dismissed because
Holmes’s only alleged involvement in the complained-of conduct is as Pandora’s
supervisor, and there is no supervisory liability under Section 1983. Briand objects
in general terms to all of defendants’ arguments. The court addresses each
argument below.
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a), a pleading that states a
claim for relief must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that
the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). The purpose of the Rule
8(a) pleading standard “is to give a defendant fair notice of the claim and its basis
as well as to provide an opportunity for a cogent answer and defense.” Belanger v.
BNY Mellon Asset Mgmt., LLC, 307 F.R.D. 55, 57 (D. Mass. 2015); see also Calvi v.
Knox County, 470 F.3d 422, 430 (1st Cir. 2006). To satisfy the requirements of Rule
8(a), a claim for relief need only “be stated with brevity, conciseness, and clarity.”
Charles Alan Wright and Arthur R. Miller, 5 Federal Practice and Procedure,
§ 1215 (3d ed. Apr. 2017 update). District courts have broad discretion to dismiss a
complaint that fails to comply with Rule 8(a)’s requirements. See Kuehl v. F.D.I.C.,
8 F.3d 905, 908 (1st Cir. 1993).
Here, the amended complaint states that Briand’s right to relief in this action
arises under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and that his rights at issue are guaranteed under the
Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. See
6 id. at 3, 6, 7. The amended complaint additionally alleges that Briand suffered
deprivation of “his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Doc. no. 16 at
6.
Although the courts afford pro se litigants’ submissions a liberal construction,
see Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-521 (1972), pro se plaintiffs are not exempt
from compliance with procedural rules, see Rivera v. Riley, 209 F.3d 24, 28 n.2 (1st
Cir. 2000). “Even a pro se complainant is required to describe the essential nature
of the claim and to identify the core facts on which it rests.” Lattimore v. Polaroid
Corp., 99 F.3d 456, 464 (1st Cir. 1996). However, courts normally invoke the
dismissal sanction to remedy violations of Rule 8(a) only where “the complaint is so
confused, ambiguous, vague, or otherwise unintelligible that its true substance, if
any, is well disguised,” such that it would be “unreasonable to expect defendants to
frame a response to it.” Sayied v. White, 89 Fed. App’x 284, 2004 WL 489060, at *1
(1st Cir. 2004) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Salahuddin v. Cuomo,
861 F.2d 40, 42 (2nd Cir. 1988)).
Although Briand’s amended complaint lacks a plain statement describing the
nature of his claims, at least some operative facts are readily discernable from
Briand’s pleading. That factual context permits defendants to make reasonable
inferences regarding the claims Briand most likely intends to bring (as defendants’
cogent motion establishes). Specifically, defendants glean from Briand’s pleading
that he likely intends to bring an equal protection claim and a due process claim.
The court agrees with defendants’ construction of Briand’s amended complaint as
7 alleging: (1) that defendants “singled out the plaintiff” for selective enforcement of
the Town’s ordinances and regulations, doc. no. 16 at 5, 7, suggesting that he
intends to state an equal protection claim; and (2) that defendants attempted to
subject him to “excessive fines without due process,” id. at 6, 7, suggesting that he
intends to state a procedural due process claim.
Because the nature of Briand’s claims may be inferred from his pleading with
sufficient certainty to permit defendants to offer a reasoned response, the court
declines to dismiss Briand’s amended complaint under Rule 8(a).
II. Failure to State a Claim
As noted, the court construes Briand’s complaint as stating an equal
protection claim and a procedural due process claim. However, for the reasons
explained below, Briand’s allegations are insufficient to support either claim.
A. Equal Protection
Briand alleges that defendants “maliciously and negligently singled out the
plaintiff” for selective enforcement of the Town’s zoning ordinances and public
health regulations, by requiring him to remove structures from his land in the
Floodplain Conservation Overlay District while not requiring other landowners to
remove similar structures from their neighboring land. Doc. no. 16 at 5. He does
not allege that defendants did so because he is a member of any of the classes
8 traditionally protected by the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment, but rather that they did so in order “to seek their own desires.” Id.
The Equal Protection Clause is usually deployed in cases involving state or local curtailment of personal constitutional rights (e.g., against racial discrimination) and ordinarily against generic distinctions made in statutes or regulations. But economic interests can also be protected, although more latitude is allowed to the government; and individual inequalities, as opposed to ones imposed generically, are potentially—although not easily—reached by so-called “class of one” discrimination claims.
Rectrix Aerodrome Ctrs., Inc. v. Barnstable Mun. Airport Comm’n, 610 F.3d 8, 15
(1st Cir. 2010) (citations omitted). However, the decisions of the First Circuit cast
considerable doubt on the viability of “class of one” equal protection claims in the
context of land-use disputes between property owners and local government
agencies. See PFZ Properties, Inc. v. Rodriguez, 928 F.2d 28, 32-33 (1st Cir. 1991);
Nestor Colon Medina & Sucesores, Inc. v. Custodio, 964 F.2d 32, 43-45 (1st Cir.
1992). In PFZ Properties, the First Circuit affirmed, in the land-use dispute
context, “that an equal protection claim ‘may be presented in situations involving
gross abuse of power, invidious discrimination or fundamentally unfair
procedures.’” PFZ Properties, 928 F.2d at 32 (quoting Creative Env'ts, Inc. v.
Estabrook, 680 F.2d 822, 832 n.9 (1st Cir. 1982)). However, absent either
discrimination on the basis of “an invidious classification such as race or sex” or
“egregious procedural irregularities or abuse of power,” the court found that a
dispute over an agency’s land-use decisions could not “conceivably ris[e] to the level
of a federal equal protection violation.” Id. The court held that, to state an equal
protection claim, a plaintiff must offer “allegations reflective of more fundamental
9 discrimination.” Id. at 33; see also SFW Arecibo, Ltd. v. Rodriguez, 415 F.3d 135,
142 (1st Cir. 2005) (explaining that “a land use dispute may give rise to an equal
protection claim in extreme circumstances,” as where the plaintiff alleges “facts that
suggest invidious discrimination based on a prohibited category” or “an egregious
procedural irregularity or abuse of power”). No such allegations are present here.
Here, Briand alleges only that defendants took action to enforce a zoning ordinance
enacted to prevent the installation of permanent structures in a floodplain.
Moreover, assuming for the sake of argument that the First Circuit would
recognize a “class of one” equal protection claim in the context of a land-use dispute,
Briand has not adequately alleged that he was treated differently from others
similarly situated. “A claim for a class of one equal protection violation is
cognizable when—and only when—a plaintiff alleges that []he has been
intentionally treated differently from others similarly situated and that there is no
rational basis for the difference in treatment.” SBT Holdings, LLC v. Town of
Westminster, 547 F.3d 28, 34 (1st Cir. 2008) (quoting Cordi-Allen v. Conlon, 494
F.3d 245, 250 (1st Cir. 2007)) (internal quotation marks omitted). “[T]he burden [is]
on the plaintiff in [a] class-of-one case[ ] to show . . . identity of entities and
circumstances to a high degree.” Rectrix, 610 F.3d at 16. Thus, “[t]o carry the
burden of proving substantial similarity, ‘plaintiffs must show an extremely high
degree of similarity between themselves and the persons to whom they compare
themselves.’” Cordi-Allen, 494 F.3d at 251 (quoting Clubside, Inc. v. Valentin, 468
F.3d 144, 159 (1st Cir. 2006)). Here, Briand has failed to allege identity of
10 circumstances with his “neighbors” who have been permitted to maintain
membrane tents or other structures on their land. That is, he alleges no facts
suggesting that his neighbors’ land has not been “grandfathered” or otherwise
approved by town officials for uses that would permit the installation of permanent
structures, or that his neighbors do not benefit from zoning variances granted by
the town’s Zoning Board of Adjustment (as is expressly permitted under the Town’s
Floodplain Conservation Overlay District ordinance, see Conway Mun. C. § 190-
26(D)). Absent any such allegations, Briand has not met his burden to allege the
requisite high degree of similarity with his comparators.
B. Procedural Due Process
Briand alleges that defendants threatened to impose “excessive fines without
due process” in the event he refused to remove the car lift and membrane tent from
his land in the Floodplain Conservation Overlay District. Doc. no. 16 at 6, 7. “To
establish a procedural due process violation, the plaintiff ‘must identify a protected
liberty or property interest and allege that the defendants, acting under color of
state law, deprived him of that interest without constitutionally adequate process.’”
Gonzalez-Droz v. Gonzalez-Colon, 660 F.3d 1, 13 (1st Cir. 2011) (quoting Aponte-
Torres v. Univ. of P.R., 445 F.3d 50, 56 (1st Cir. 2006)) (internal modifications
omitted).
Briand has not adequately alleged the requisite protected interest. Although
it may reasonably be inferred from Briand’s allegations that he had an ownership
11 interest in the car lift and membrane tent,3 he identifies no authority suggesting
that he could have had any form of protected interest in keeping his car lift or his
membrane tent within the Floodplain Conservation Overlay District, and the court
is aware of none. Indeed, in light of the Town’s zoning ordinance prohibiting
placement of permanent structures in the District, it appears highly unlikely that
Briand could have had any such protected interest. Absent any factual allegation
suggesting that Briand had a protected interest in maintaining the car lift or
membrane tent on his Transvale Acres property, he cannot state a procedural due
process claim premised on defendants’ conduct in requiring him to move them. The
court therefore need not consider whether Briand has adequately alleged the
absence of constitutionally adequate due process.
III. Briand’s Claims Against Pandora and Holmes in Their Official Capacities
It is well settled that a suit against a municipal officer in his official capacity
is a suit against the municipality itself. See, e.g., Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S.
159, 166 (1985); Surprenant v. Rivas, 424 F.3d 5, 19 (1st Cir. 2005). Where a
plaintiff sues municipal officers and the officers’ municipality in the same action,
the claims against the municipal officers in their official capacities are redundant
and may properly be dismissed. See Decotiis v. Whittemore, 635 F.3d 22, 26, 38 (1st
3 Although Briand plainly has a protected interest in his ownership of the car
lift and the membrane tent, he does not allege that defendants deprived him of the right to own them; he alleges only that defendants required him to remove them from the Floodplain Conservation Overlay District. 12 Cir. 2011). Accordingly, because they are duplicative of his claims against the
Town, Briand’s claims against Pandora and Holmes in their official capacities are
subject to dismissal with prejudice. See id.
IV. Holmes’s Supervisory Liability
Briand’s claims against Holmes are expressly predicated on a theory of
supervisory liability. See doc. no. 16 at 6, 7 (alleging Holmes’s liability for
Pandora’s conduct as Pandora’s “superior”). However, it is well settled that
supervisory liability under Section 1983 cannot be predicated solely on the basis of
the supervisor’s position of authority over another defendant. See Penate v.
Hanchett, 944 F.3d 358, 367 (1st Cir. 2019). The courts of the First Circuit
recognize only two ways in which a supervisory defendant may be liable under
Section 1983. First, such a defendant may be liable under Section 1983 where the
defendant’s own actions or omissions caused a deprivation of the plaintiff’s
constitutional rights. See id. Second, a supervisory defendant may be liable if there
is such a strong affirmative connection between the supervisor’s conduct and the
subordinate’s conduct that, although the subordinate’s conduct was the immediate
cause of the deprivation, the supervisor’s conduct nevertheless “led inexorably to
the constitutional violation.” Id. (quoting Feliciano-Hernández v. Pereira-Castillo,
663 F.3d 527, 533 (1st Cir. 2011). Here, Briand alleges neither that Holmes directly
participated in the deprivation of Briand’s rights nor that Holmes’s actions or
13 omissions made Pandora’s complained-of conduct inevitable. For these reasons,
Briand fails to state a claim against Holmes in his individual capacity.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, defendants’ motion to dismiss (doc. no. 17) is
granted. Because the deficiencies the court has identified in Briand’s claims
against Pandora and Holmes in their official capacities cannot be cured by
amendment, those claims are dismissed with prejudice. In the event Briand
believes he can cure the deficiencies the court has identified, he is directed to file a
second amended complaint by not later than March 15, 2021. Such second amended
complaint shall state his claims in a manner compliant with Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 8(a) and consistent with the discussion above. In the event Briand does
not file a second amended complaint by March 15, 2021, the court will dismiss the
case.
SO ORDERED.
__________________________ Landya McCafferty United States District Judge
January 28, 2021
cc: Counsel of Record