Lindell v. City of Mercer Island

833 F. Supp. 2d 1276, 2011 WL 2535147, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68537
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Washington
DecidedJune 27, 2011
DocketCase No. C08-1827JLR
StatusPublished

This text of 833 F. Supp. 2d 1276 (Lindell v. City of Mercer Island) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lindell v. City of Mercer Island, 833 F. Supp. 2d 1276, 2011 WL 2535147, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68537 (W.D. Wash. 2011).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON PUBLIC RECORDS ACT CLAIM

JAMES L. ROB ART, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Before the court is Plaintiff Londi K. Lindell’s motion for partial summary judgment on her claim against Defendant City of Mercer Island (“the City”) for violation of the Washington Public Records Act (“PRA”) (Dkt. #273). Having reviewed the pleadings filed in support and opposition to the motion, the declarations and exhibits attached thereto, the balance of the record, and having heard the argument of counsel, the court GRANTS the motion (Dkt. # 273) and awards Ms. Lindell $90,560 in penalties plus reasonable attorney fees and costs.

II. BACKGROUND1

On December 23, 2008, Ms. Lindell filed a complaint with this court against the City and individual Defendants claiming that the Defendants retaliated against and sexually harassed her in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983; the Washington Law Against Discrimination (“WLAD”), RCW Chapter 49.60; and 42 U.S.C. § 2000e (“Title VII”). (See Compl. ¶¶ 48-91.) In addition to her employment claims, Ms. Lindell also alleged that the City had violated the PRA by failing or refusing to permit her access to information she requested on May 6, 2008.2 (Id. ¶ 91.)

The parties resolved all of Ms. Lindell’s claims except her PRA claim. By filing the instant motion, Ms. Lindell seeks summary judgment on this remaining claim. In order to put the current motion in context, however, the court must explain the facts surrounding Ms. Lin-dell’s employment relationship with the City, as well as the court’s prior rulings [1279]*1279on the City’s claims of attorney-client privilege and protection of the work product doctrine. Thus, at the outset, the court explains the significance of the “Segle Matter,” the “Sterbank Memo,” and the resulting “Reed Investigation,” before beginning its analysis of the PRA claim.

The court was not asked in this motion to reconsider its prior rulings with respect to the privilege claims made by the City. The City concedes that, given the court’s prior rulings, the issue of whether the documents were wrongfully withheld has been determined adversely to it. Nevertheless, the court offers an explanation of the Segle Matter, the Sterbank Memo and the Reed Investigation for both background and as necessary to its analysis of mitigating and aggravating factors under the PRA.

A. Ms. Lindell’s Employment With the City

Ms. Lindell began working for the City in July 2000 and remained there for approximately eight years until her termination in April 2008. (Lindell Decl. (Dkt. # 286) ¶¶ 3, 53.) Ms. Lindell was originally hired as the City Attorney for Mercer Island but was promoted to Deputy City Manager in January 2007. (Id. at ¶ 3.) In both positions with the City, Ms. Lindell directly reported to the City Manager, Rich Conrad. When Ms. Lindell was promoted to Deputy City Manager, the City hired Bob Sterbank in April 2007 as Ms. Lindell’s replacement. (Mayer Decl. (Dkt. # 54) ¶¶ 3-4.)

After the incidents discussed below, Mr. Sterbank resigned from his position as City Attorney in February 2008. (Lindell Decl., Ex. UU (Sterbank Separation Agreement).) Ms. Lindell was terminated as Deputy City Manager in April 2008. Mr. Sterbank was replaced by an internal candidate, Katie Knight, as City Attorney. It is not clear from the record who replaced Ms. Lindell as Deputy Manager.

B. The Segle Matter and Sterbank Memo

In June 2007, shortly after Mr. Sterbank became the City Attorney, Ms. Lindell commenced an investigation of certain male employees from the maintenance department who were observed, while on duty for the City, watching a video of animals having sex. (Lindell Decl. ¶ 27.) While watching the video, the male employees were heard making comments regarding the anatomy of the animals as well as the animals’ enthusiasm. (Id.) One of the male employees watching the video was Johnny Segle, the husband of the City’s Human Resources Director, Kryss Segle. (Id.) At a subsequent meeting wherein the male employees were being counseled on appropriate work place behavior, Mr. Segle stated in front of the group, “What, no more boobies?” (Id.)

As a result of Mr. Segle’s conduct, Ms. Lindell — filling in as the Human Resource Director for Ms. Segle, who was conflicted out of the proceedings as they involved her husband — recommended that Mr. Segle receive a reminder notice and written reprimand as a result of his participation in the video watching and his comment regarding “no more boobies.” (Id., Ex. P.) According to Ms. Lindell, her recommendations regarding Mr. Segle’s discipline had a negative impact on Rich Conrad because of his close relationship to Mr. Segle’s wife. (Id. ¶ 29.)

Kryss Segle was also upset with the recommended discipline of her husband so she drafted a union grievance on his behalf and allegedly asked Mr. Conrad to intervene in the matter. (Id., Ex. G.) Ms. Segle also threatened to resign, which prompted Mr. Conrad’s offer to tear up the reprimand, “break all the rules,” and try to [1280]*1280resolve the harassment issue informally. (Id., Exs. S-U (emails between Ms. Segle and Rich Conrad).) When Ms. Lindell learned of Mr. Conrad’s plan to not follow the City’s anti-harassment policies, she spoke to Mr. Conrad and Mr. Sterbank about the City’s potential liability for not taking the issue seriously. (Id. ¶ 31.)

Mr. Sterbank was concerned about Mr. Conrad’s actions regarding the Segle Matter and drafted a legal memorandum on October 3, 2007 (“the Sterbank Memo”) advising Mr. Conrad that the conduct at issue could expose the City to risk for tolerating sexual harassment. (Id. ¶ 31 & Ex. V.) Mr. Sterbank also outlined the potential claims for quid pro quo harassment or hostile work environment arising out of Mr. Conrad’s personal relationship with Ms. Segle. (Id.) The stated purpose of the Sterbank Memo was to give Mr. Conrad “legal advice concerning the potential risks and consequences to the City, and to him personally, arising from actions and proposed actions concerning a discipline matter involving John Segle, the husband of Mercer Island Human Resources Director Kryss Segle.” (Youssef Decl. (Dkt. # 277) Ex. ZZ at 1.)

C. The Reed Investigation

Ultimately, the City decided to hire a neutral third-party to conduct an outside investigation into the concerns raised in the Sterbank Memo. (Mayer Decl. ¶ 12.) The City first hired outside counsel, Mike Bolasina, to act as the Spécial City Attorney in coordinating' the investigation because Mr. Sterbank, as the author of the memo, had a conflict of interest and could not coordinate the investigation. (Id.) Mr. Bolasina, in turn, hired Marcella Flemming Reed to conduct the investigation (“the Reed Investigation”). (Lindell Decl. ¶ 35.)

Ms. Reed conducted her investigation and presented her preliminary findings to the City Council on December 3, 2007. (Youssef Deck, Ex. EEE.) Ms. Reed’s findings included concerns that Mr. Conrad and Ms.

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Bluebook (online)
833 F. Supp. 2d 1276, 2011 WL 2535147, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68537, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lindell-v-city-of-mercer-island-wawd-2011.