Luce v. Town of Campbell

113 F. Supp. 3d 1002, 2015 WL 3767616, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77934
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Wisconsin
DecidedJune 16, 2015
DocketNo. 14-cv-046-wmc
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 113 F. Supp. 3d 1002 (Luce v. Town of Campbell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Luce v. Town of Campbell, 113 F. Supp. 3d 1002, 2015 WL 3767616, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77934 (W.D. Wis. 2015).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

WILLIAM M. CONLEY, District Judge.

In this suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, plaintiffs Gregory Luce and Nicholas Newman challenge a Town of Campbell ordinance prohibiting signs, banners and other items from overpasses on Interstate 90 within the town limits. Plaintiffs contend that this new ordinance, which was adopted in October 2013, violates their First Amendment rights. In addition, Luce claims that defendant Tim Kelemen, then Chief of Police for the Town of Campbell, violated his right to petition without retaliation, invaded his privacy and committed civil identity theft. The Town’s insurer, Community Insurance Corporation, subsequently intervened, seeking a declaratory judgment that it has no duty to defend or cover the claims asserted against defendant Kelemen alone.

Each party has moved for summary judgment. For the reasons explained more fully below, the court will grant the Town’s and Kelemen’s motions for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ claims for violation of their rights to free speech and assemble under the First Amendment (dkt. # 60, 65), finding no genuine issue of material fact that the challenged ordinance constitutes a reasonable time, place and manner restriction. As explained more fully below, the court will also grant intervening defendant CIC’s motion for summary judgment (dkt. #70), finding that the claims asserted against Kelemen alone were all premised on his posting of internet comments about Fuce and using Fuce’s personal identifying information to sign him up for unwanted websites. Because these actions plainly fall outside the scope of Kelemen’s employment, CIC has no duty to defend or cover them.

[1005]*1005Finally, the court is inclined to grant judgment on Fuee’s remaining retaliation claim under the First Amendment asserted against Kelemen on the grounds that Kelemen was not acting under color of state law when he retaliated against Fuce. Because defendant did not directly assert this defense, however, the court will provide Fuce with an opportunity to explain why judgment should not be entered in Kelemen’s favor on this last federal claim.1 Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f).

UNDISPUTED FACTS 2

I. The Parties

Plaintiff Gregory Luce is a resident of La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Lor some time, Luce has been involved with the La Crosse Tea Party — a group of individuals who share common political beliefs, including a desire for lower taxes and limited government. In keeping with his religious beliefs as a practicing Catholic, Luce also actively opposes abortion, including President Obama’s position on abortion. Particularly relevant to this lawsuit, Luce participates in protests against abortion and President Obama’s policies on the pedestrian overpass that spans Interstate 90 in the Town of Campbell. Plaintiff Nicholas Newman is also a resident of La Crosse County and involved with the La Crosse Tea Party. Like Luce, Newman protested with signs and banners on the pedestrian overpass, and wishes to do so in the future.

The Town of Campbell is located in western Wisconsin near the Mississippi River, just north of La Crosse. Defendant Tim Kelemen was the Chief of Police for the Town when it passed Ordinance 9.12 and during all times relevant to this action. Kelemen has since resigned from his position as Chief of Police and is no longer employed by the Town.

Intervenor defendant Community Insurance Corporation (“CIC”) issued a public entity liability insurance policy to the Town of Campbell covering the time relevant to this lawsuit. The Town and Kele-men tendered their defense of the claims asserted in plaintiffs’ complaint to CIC, seeking insurance coverage. CIC accepted the defense for both defendants, but now seeks a declaratory judgment that it has no duty to defend or cover Kelemen for any of the claims asserted against him.

II. Facts Relevant to Plaintiffs’ First Amendment Claim

A. Interstate 90 and Overpasses in the Town of Campbell

Interstate 90 passes through the Town of Campbell just east of the Wisconsin-Minnesota state line. There are two vehicular overpasses and one pedestrian overpass above Interstate 90 within the town’s limits. The pedestrian overpass connects Bainbridge Street and stretches over 1-90, as illustrated below:

[1006]*1006[[Image here]]

(Declaration of Scott Johnson, Ex. 1 (dkt. # 62-1) 1.) As reflected in the picture, this overpass is located near traffic lanes exiting and merging from Dawson Avenue, as shown by the third lane in both directions of traffic. The two vehicular overpasses are similarly located in areas where traffic is merging onto and/or off of Interstate 90.

A 2008 traffic study shows that between 23,100 and 29,500 vehicles travel on Interstate 90 running through Campbell on a daily basis. During his employment with the -Town, Kelemen responded to numerous traffic accidents on this stretch of I-90, and classified it as a significant risk area given the volume of traffic and frequency of accidents. For their part, plaintiffs view this same traffic flow below the overpasses as a “unique opportunity to share théir message to both a local' audience and an out-of-state audience.” (Pis.’ Reply to Pis.’ PFOFs (dkt. #101) ¶24.) Plaintiffs also dispute the assertion that this stretch of interstate has a “high accident rate.” (Pis.’1 Resp. to Campbell’s PFOFs (dkt. # 89) ¶ 33.)

The Town of Campbell has never permitted advertisements to be displayed from an overpass, though plaintiffs point out that there is a Days Inn sign located 101.5 feet from the Bainbridge pedestrian overpass.3

B. Protest Activities

On August 6, August 17, September 11, and September 24, 2013, protests occurred on the pedestrian overpass.4 Defendants submitted photographs and a video of one [1007]*1007of the protests. (Declaration of Justin H. Lessner, Exs. 1-5. (dkt. #63-1 to 63-5).) These exhibits -show people standing on the overpass holding or otherwise affixing large “IMPEACH • OBAMA” signs, other small signs stating “HONK TO IMPEACH OBAMA,” and American flags. In the video taken fr,om the La Crosse Tea Party website, vehicles can be heard honking their horn as they pass under the signs and other displays. (Pis.’ Resp. to Campbell’s PFOFs (dkt. # 89) ¶¶ 130,149.)

C. Justification for Sign Ordinance

As Chief of Police at that time, Kelemen personally witnessed these protests and observed traffic slowing and braking in response to the .signs, banners, and other items displayed on the overpass. He also observed vehicles pulling over onto the shoulder of Interstate 90 to take photographs and observé the signs. ■ In addition, Kelemen received several phone calls from residents and travelling motorists complaining about traffic safety issues caused by these protests.5 In particular, individuals complained that drivers had to slam on-their brakes at or near the overpass.

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Related

One Wis. Now v. Kremer
354 F. Supp. 3d 940 (W.D. Wisconsin, 2019)
Luce v. Town of Campbell
872 F.3d 512 (Seventh Circuit, 2017)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
113 F. Supp. 3d 1002, 2015 WL 3767616, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77934, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/luce-v-town-of-campbell-wiwd-2015.