Johnson v. City of Tarpon Springs

758 F. Supp. 1473, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3351, 57 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 41,004, 1991 WL 37666
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedMarch 19, 1991
Docket89-1634-CIV-T-17C
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 758 F. Supp. 1473 (Johnson v. City of Tarpon Springs) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. City of Tarpon Springs, 758 F. Supp. 1473, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3351, 57 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 41,004, 1991 WL 37666 (M.D. Fla. 1991).

Opinion

ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

KOVACHEVICH, District Judge.

This cause is before the Court on Defendant’s, motion for summary judgment, filed September 9, 1990, and response thereto, filed December 20, 1990.

This circuit clearly holds that summary judgment should only be entered when the moving party has sustained its burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue as to any material fact when all the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Sweat v. The Miller Brewing Co., 708 F.2d 655 (11th Cir.1983). All doubt as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact must be resolved against the moving party, not assessing the probative value of any evidence. Hayden v. First National Bank of Mt. Pleasant, 595 F.2d 994, 996-97 (5th Cir.1979), quoting Gross v. Southern Railroad Co., 414 F.2d 292 (5th Cir.1969). Factual disputes preclude summary judgment.

The Supreme Court of the United States held, in Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265, (1986):

In our view the plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. Id. 477 U.S. at 322, 106 S.Ct. at 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d at 273.

The Court also said, “Rule 56(e) therefore requires that nonmoving party to go beyond the pleadings and by her own affidavits, or by the ‘depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,’ designate ‘specific facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial’ ” Celotex Corp., at p. 324, 106 S.Ct. at p. 2553, 91 L.Ed.2d at p. 274.

In this case, the Court is satisfied there are no material facts at issue. Defendant’s motion is well-taken, well supported and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Plaintiff raises two grounds in his complaint alleging violation of his civil rights: (1) Plaintiff asserts a violation of due process under the Fourteenth Amendment and that his property rights to a supervisory position, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, were violated when he was reassigned to special projects without cause, without notice and without hearing; further, his demotion due to weight was a violation of equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. (2) Plaintiff claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 that he was deprived of his liberty interest in a good reputation as an efficient and productive police supervisory employee, as secured by the Fourteenth *1475 Amendment of the United States Constitution. Plaintiff further alleges that Defendants’ statements about Plaintiffs job incompetence and overweight condition violated his liberty interests.

In this Court, Plaintiff is barred from relitigating issues of fact determined by a state administrative hearing, when it is acting in a judicial capacity to resolve issues of fact properly before it and the parties have a full and fair opportunity to litigate. University of Tennessee v. Elliott, 478 U.S. 788, 106 S.Ct. 3220, 92 L.Ed.2d 635 (1986); United States v. Utah Construction & Mining Co., 384 U.S. 394, 86 S.Ct. 1545, 16 L.Ed.2d 642 (1966). This preclusive effect prevents this Court from re-hearing the now undisputed facts Plaintiff presents in his complaint to support his claims.

The same parties in this case received an administrative hearing pursuant to Article III, Section 1(a) of the Tarpon Springs Civil Service Board Rules and Regulations, regarding Plaintiff’s termination. B.F. Johnson v. City of Tarpon Springs, Case No. 90-1030, June 20-22, 1990. It is clear from the transcripts that the hearing officer acted in a judicial capacity, that the parties were represented by counsel and had an opportunity to present witnesses and argument, introduce exhibits, testify and cross-examine witnesses. At this hearing, Hearing Officer Conn, of the Department of Administrative Hearings, determined the factual issues based on Plaintiff’s employment history with the City of Tarpon Springs, his job performance, the actions of his superiors, and Plaintiff’s response to those actions. These are the same factual issues that are material and necessary to the complaint before this Court. The twenty-six undisputed facts determined at this hearing are found in the September 26, 1990, recommended order, as adopted by the Civil Service Board of the City of Tarpon Springs, Florida, on October 23, 1990.

1.On or about October 22, 1968, the Petitioner began his employment with Respondent’s Police Department as a police officer, reaching the position of second in command in the early 1970s. At all time material hereto, the Petitioner has held the rank of Captain, reporting directly to the Chief of Police as second in command of the Police Department. The duties of Captain include: (a) the supervision and coordination of subordinate personnel engaged in law enforcement activities; (b) planning, organizing, evaluating and directing personnel involved in station and field operations; (c) evaluating assigned personnel for efficiency and effectiveness; (d) reviewing all reports for accuracy; (e) representing the Police Department at civic, community and law enforcement meetings; (f) determining situations requiring personal attention and exercising optional command over dispatch operations; and (g) supervising general direction and procedures of investigative actions. In addition, other duties may be assigned to the Captain by the Chief.

2. Blain LeCouris was the Chief of Police from 1975 to 1985. During the latter years of his tenure as Chief, LeCouris observed a reduction in Petitioner’s performance in 1984 while he was serving as Acting City Manager and Petitioner was in charge of the day to day operations of the Police Department. Petitioner was frequently absent from duty, and could not be reached. LeCouris removed certain training duties from Petitioner because of his dissatisfaction with his performance, and reassigned them to a subordinate officer.

3. From August 1985 until April 1987, Carl Hernandez served as Chief of Police. During this time, the Petitioner did not carry out his duties in a satisfactory manner. He needed constant supervision and was regularly absent without explanation, showed little initiative, had a careless attitude, and was suspended for two days over an incident involving the police dispatcher.

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758 F. Supp. 1473, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3351, 57 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 41,004, 1991 WL 37666, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-city-of-tarpon-springs-flmd-1991.