K.D. v. Swafford

353 F. Supp. 3d 606
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Kentucky
DecidedNovember 9, 2018
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 7:17-132-KKC
StatusPublished

This text of 353 F. Supp. 3d 606 (K.D. v. Swafford) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
K.D. v. Swafford, 353 F. Supp. 3d 606 (E.D. Ky. 2018).

Opinion

KAREN K. CALDWELL, CHIEF JUDGE

This matter originates from the sexual assault of K.D. by her school's plant superintendent *610and custodial supervisor, Jerry Swafford. (DE 1; DE 144 at 6). Today, the Court considers the defendants' motions for summary judgment and motion to dismiss, for which K.D. has submitted one consolidated response. (DE 143; DE 163; DE 164; DE 165; DE 167). The Court also considers K.D.'s motion to sanction Defendant Mark Gannon. (DE 148).

While there is no doubt that the plaintiff suffered a tragic injury, the law does not permit her to seek a remedy from the Pike County Board of Education, Reed Adkins, or Mark Gannon. Accordingly, for the reasons that follow, the Pike County Board of Education's, Reed Adkins', and Mark Gannon's motions for summary judgment are GRANTED . (DE 164; DE 163; DE 143). Jerry Swafford's motion to dismiss/for summary judgment is DENIED . (DE 165). And K.D.'s motion for sanctions is DENIED . (DE 148).

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The following facts are undisputed.

Defendant Swafford was employed by the Pike County Board of Education as a janitor at Belfry High School, where K.D. was a student. (See, e.g. , DE 167 at 1). On Saturday, October 15, 2016, Swafford threw himself a birthday party at his residence, to which Belfry High School students were invited. (DE 163-1 at 2). At the party, Swafford served K.D. an alcoholic beverage, and she passed out. Id. Swafford then sexually assaulted K.D. in a bedroom. As a result, Swafford pleaded guilty to criminal sexual assault charges and is now serving a prison sentence in West Virginia. (Id. at 2-5; see also DE 144 at 17).

Cindy Andersen, a Belfry High School parent, attempted to stop Swafford's party before it began. Andersen became aware of the party plans on Friday, October 14, 2016, by reading text messages on her daughters' phones and through information shared by two male classmates1 of her daughters'. Id. at 3.2 Concerned about Swafford's behavior, Andersen telephoned the Pike County School Board, Belfry High School, and a policeman. Id. at 4. Andersen first spoke with Principal Gannon of Belfry High School, who scheduled a meeting with Anderson for the morning of October 17, 2016, the Monday after the party. Id. Gannon did nothing, however, to prevent the party from occurring. Id. at 4-5.

Although Andersen never spoke with Superintendent Adkins, she did speak with Nee Jackson, a member of the Pike County Board of Education, that same Friday afternoon. Id. at 5. Jackson counselled Andersen to meet with Gannon and to contact the police. Jackson, too, took no measures to stop the party. Id.

The following night, on Saturday, October 15, 2018, Swafford sexually assaulted K.D. (Id. ; see also DE 144 at 17).

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A moving party is entitled to summary judgment "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material *611fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). In order to defeat a summary judgment motion, "[t]he nonmoving party must provide more than a scintilla of evidence," or, in other words, "sufficient evidence to permit a reasonable jury to find in that party's favor." Van Gorder v. Grand Trunk W. R.R., Inc. , 509 F.3d 265, 268 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. , 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986) ). Summary judgment must be entered if, "after adequate opportunity for discovery," a party "fails to make a showing sufficient 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." Tolton v. American Biodyne, Inc. , 48 F.3d 937, 940 (6th Cir. 1995) (quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett , 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (internal quotation marks omitted) ).

III. ANALYSIS OF SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTIONS

A. Count I: 42 U.S.C. § 1983

i. The Pike County Board of Education

K.D. asserts that the Pike County Board of Education violated her Fourteenth Amendment right to be free from sexual abuse at the hands of a public school employee. (DE 1 at 6 ("COUNT I") ). "[A] schoolchild's right to personal security and to bodily integrity manifestly embraces the right to be free from sexual abuse at the hands of a public school employee." Doe v. Claiborne Cnty. , 103 F.3d 495, 506 (6th Cir. 1996). A violation of this right may give rise to a Monell claim against a school board. Id. at 507 (citing Monell v. Dep't of Social Servs. , 436 U.S. 658, 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978) ). Such a claim, however, may not rest on respondeat superior as a theory of recovery.

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Bluebook (online)
353 F. Supp. 3d 606, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kd-v-swafford-kyed-2018.