Merrick v. District of Columbia
Opinion
81,7('67$7(6',675,&7&2857 )257+(',675,&72)&2/80%,$ BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 7$0(&.$0(55,&.et al. 3ODLQWLIIV Y &LYLO$FWLRQ1R $%-
',675,&72)&2/80%,$ 'HIHQGDQW BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 0(025$1'8023,1,21
3ODLQWLIIV 7DPHFND 0HUULFN DQG KHU DGXOW VRQ 5RQDOG :DVKLQJWRQ EURXJKW WKLV DFWLRQ DJDLQVW GHIHQGDQW WKH 'LVWULFW RI &ROXPELD VHHNLQJ WR FROOHFW DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV LQFXUUHG ZKLOH EULQJLQJDVXFFHVVIXODGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQXQGHUWKH,QGLYLGXDOVZLWK'LVDELOLWLHV(GXFDWLRQ$FW ³,'($´ 86& et seq 1RZ SHQGLQJ EHIRUH WKH &RXUW LV SODLQWLIIV¶ PRWLRQ IRU DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGFRVWV3OV¶0RWIRU$WW¶\V¶)HHV>'NW@ ³3OV¶0RW´ 3OV¶0HPRI3 $LQ6XSSRI3OV¶0RW>'NW@ ³3OV¶0HP´ DW 3ODLQWLIIV DUH VHHNLQJ LQ DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV DQG LQ FRVWV UHODWHG WR WKH XQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQ&RPSO>'NW@ 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW([WR3OV¶ 0HP>'NW@ ³6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,´ DWLQDGGLWLRQWRLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHV DQG LQFRVWVIRUSXUVLQJWKLVDFWLRQLQIHGHUDOFRXUWSee 3OV¶0HPDW 6WDWHPHQWRI $FFRXQW([WR3OV¶6XSSO)LOLQJ>'NW@ ³6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,,´ DW
7KH SDUWLHV DJUHHG LQ WKHLU 5XOH 5HSRUW WKDW WKLV FDVH FDQ EH UHVROYHG WKURXJK D GLVSRVLWLYHPRWLRQIRUDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLQVWHDGRIDPRWLRQIRUVXPPDU\MXGJPHQWSee 5XOH 5HSRUW>'NW@DW )RU WKH IROORZLQJ UHDVRQV WKH PRWLRQ ZLOO EH JUDQWHG LQ SDUW 7KH &RXUW ZLOO DZDUG LQ DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV DQG LQ FRVWV IRU SXUVXLQJ WKH XQGHUO\LQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJDQGLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQG LQFRVWVIRUOLWLJDWLQJWKHIHHSHWLWLRQLQ WKLV&RXUW %$&.*5281'
5RQDOG :DVKLQJWRQ LV D GHDI DGXOW VWXGHQW ZKR UHTXLUHV LQVWUXFWLRQ WR EH SURYLGHG LQ $PHULFDQ6LJQ/DQJXDJH ³$6/´ +HDULQJ2IILFHU'HWHUPLQDWLRQ([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW @ ³+2'´ DW see also id.+HDOVRVXIIHUVIURPLPSXOVLYHDQGDQJHUEDVHGEHKDYLRUDO RXWEXUVWV Id. +H KDV DWWHQGHG PRUH WKDQ D GR]HQ SXEOLF QRQSXEOLF DQG UHVLGHQWLDO SODFHPHQWVLQWKHODVWVHYHQ\HDUVId. 3OV¶0HPDW± $WWKHHQGRI1RYHPEHU0U:DVKLQJWRQZDVUHOHDVHGIURPD'&'HSDUWPHQWRI <RXWK5HKDELOLWDWLRQ6HUYLFHV ³'<56´ VFKRRODQGZDVSODFHGLQDIRVWHUKRPHLQ0DU\ODQG +2' DW± see also id. 3ULRUWRKLVUHOHDVH6WHYLH1DERUV0U:DVKLQJWRQ¶VFRXUWDSSRLQWHG VSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQDGYRFDWHHPDLOHGWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELD3XEOLF6FKRROV¶'LUHFWRURI6SHFLDO (GXFDWLRQ DQG UHTXHVWHG DQ ,QGLYLGXDOL]HG (GXFDWLRQ 3URJUDP ³,(3´ PHHWLQJ IRU 0U :DVKLQJWRQ 3OV¶ 0HP DW see also ([ WR 3OV¶ 0HP >'NW @ 0U 1DERUV KDG D FRQIHUHQFH FDOO ZLWK VHYHUDO HPSOR\HHV DW 'LVWULFW RI &ROXPELD 3XEOLF 6FKRROV ³'&36´ EXW '&36GLGQRWDGRSWWKHSURJUDPKHSURSRVHGDQGLWGLGQRWRIIHUWRFRQYHQHDQ,(3PHHWLQJ3OV¶ 0HPDW )ROORZLQJ'&36¶UHIXVDOWRSURYLGHVHUYLFHVRUFRQYHQHDQ,(3PHHWLQJ0V0HUULFNILOHG DQDGPLQLVWUDWLYHGXHSURFHVVFRPSODLQWRQKHUVRQ¶VEHKDOI&RPSO 6KHDOOHJHGWKDW'&36 GHQLHGKHUVRQDIUHHDSSURSULDWHSXEOLFHGXFDWLRQ ³)$3(´ ZKHQLWIDLOHGWRSURYLGHKLPZLWK VSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQVHUYLFHVVXFKDV$6/WXWRULQJId. 3OV¶0HPDW +2'DW±)XUWKHU VKH UHTXHVWHG WKH IROORZLQJ IRUPV RI UHOLHI DQ RUGHU FRPSHOOLQJ '&36 WR SURYLGH 0U
:DVKLQJWRQZLWKVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQVHUYLFHVE\DQ$/6FHUWLILHGLQVWUXFWRUWKURXJK'&36¶+RPH DQG+RVSLWDO,QVWUXFWLRQ3URJUDP ³++,3´ DFRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQDZDUGLQWKHIRUPRI KRXUV RI LQVWUXFWLRQ LQ $6/ DQG DQ LQGHSHQGHQW HYDOXDWLRQ WR GHWHUPLQH DSSURSULDWH FRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQIRU0U:DVKLQJWRQ+2'DW ± 7KH+HDULQJ2IILFHUFRQFOXGHGWKDW'&36GLGLQGHHGGHQ\0U:DVKLQJWRQD)$3(ZKHQ LWIDLOHGWRLPSOHPHQWKLV,(3DIWHUKHZDVSODFHGLQDIRVWHUKRPHLQODWH1RYHPEHU+2' DW$QGRQ$SULOWKH+HDULQJ2IILFHURUGHUHGWKDW0U:DVKLQJWRQUHFHLYHKRXUV RI LQGLYLGXDO WXWRULQJ LQ $6/ HLWKHU WKURXJK '&36 RU WKURXJK DQ LQGHSHQGHQWWXWRU IXQGHG E\ '&36DWPDUNHWUDWHV+2'DW &RPSO± 3OV¶0HPDW 2Q2FWREHUSODLQWLIIVILOHGDFRPSODLQWLQWKLV&RXUWVHHNLQJWRFROOHFWIHHVDQG FRVWVLQFXUUHGDVSDUWRIWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHKHDULQJSee generally &RPSO3ODLQWLIIVILOHGDPRWLRQ IRUDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVRQ-DQXDU\see 3OV¶0RWDQGWKHPRWLRQLVIXOO\EULHIHG 67$1'$5'2)5(9,(:
8QGHUWKH,'($WKH&RXUWKDVWKHGLVFUHWLRQWR³DZDUGUHDVRQDEOHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDVSDUW RIWKHFRVWVWRDSUHYDLOLQJSDUW\´LQDQDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJ³ZKRLVWKHSDUHQWRIDFKLOG ZLWKDGLVDELOLW\´86& L %
L , ,IDFRXUWGHWHUPLQHVWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIVHHNLQJ DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLVDSUHYDLOLQJSDUW\LWPXVWGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUWKHUHTXHVWHGDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDUH UHDVRQDEOHReed v. District of Columbia)G '&&LU &RXUWVW\SLFDOO\ GHWHUPLQH WKH UHDVRQDEOHQHVV RI DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV EDVHG RQ WKH ³QXPEHU RI KRXUV UHDVRQDEO\ H[SHQGHGRQWKHOLWLJDWLRQPXOWLSOLHGE\DUHDVRQDEOHKRXUO\UDWH´Hensley v. Eckerhart86
'HI¶V2SSWR3OV¶0RW>'NW@ ³'HI¶V2SS´ 3OV¶5HSO\WR'HI¶V2SS>'NW @ ³3OV¶5HSO\´
$SODLQWLIIEHDUVWKHEXUGHQRIHVWDEOLVKLQJERWKWKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHKRXUO\UDWHDQG WKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVVSHQWRQDSDUWLFXODUWDVNEley v. District of Columbia )G '&&LU FLWLQJCovington v. District of Columbia)G± '& &LU see also In re North )G '& &LU 7R VKRZ WKH UHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHKRXUO\UDWHVDSODLQWLIIPXVWVXEPLWHYLGHQFHUHODWHGWR ³WKHDWWRUQH\V¶ ELOOLQJ SUDFWLFHV´ ³WKH DWWRUQH\V¶VNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQGUHSXWDWLRQ´ DQG ³WKHSUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHWUDWHVLQWKHUHOHYDQWFRPPXQLW\´Covington)GDW7RVKRZWKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVV RIKRXUVVSHQWRQDWDVNDSODLQWLIIPXVWVXEPLWD³VXIILFLHQWO\GHWDLOHG>LQYRLFH@WRSHUPLWWKH 'LVWULFW &RXUW WR PDNH DQ LQGHSHQGHQW GHWHUPLQDWLRQ ZKHWKHU RU QRW WKH KRXUV FODLPHG DUH MXVWLILHG´Nat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans v. Sec’y of Def.)G '&&LU $IWHUWKHPRYLQJSDUW\KDVPHWWKLVEXUGHQWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVDQGUDWHDUHSUHVXPHG UHDVRQDEOH DQG WKH QRQPRYLQJ SDUW\ PXVW UHEXW WKH PRYLQJ SDUW\¶V VKRZLQJ ZLWK ³HTXDOO\ VSHFLILF FRXQWHUYDLOLQJ HYLGHQFH´ Covington )G DW ± TXRWLQJ Nat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans)GDW $1$/<6,6
'HIHQGDQW GRHV QRW GLVSXWH WKDW SODLQWLIIV ZHUH WKH SUHYDLOLQJ SDUWLHV LQ WKH XQGHUO\LQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQZLWKLQWKHPHDQLQJRIWKH,'($DQGWKDWWKH\DUHWKHUHIRUHHQWLWOHGWRVRPH DPRXQWRIDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVSee 'HI¶V2SSDW7KHRQO\TXHVWLRQEHIRUHWKH&RXUWLVZKHWKHU WKHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVVRXJKWE\SODLQWLIIVDUHUHDVRQDEOH , 7KHKRXUVH[SHQGHGE\SODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOZHUHUHDVRQDEOH 3ODLQWLIIVDVNIRUIRU KRXUVRIZRUNSHUIRUPHGWROLWLJDWHWKHXQGHUO\LQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJ 'HIHQGDQW GRHV QRW WDNH LVVXH ZLWK WKH GRFXPHQWDWLRQ SURYLGHG LQ
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
81,7('67$7(6',675,&7&2857 )257+(',675,&72)&2/80%,$ BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 7$0(&.$0(55,&.et al. 3ODLQWLIIV Y &LYLO$FWLRQ1R $%-
',675,&72)&2/80%,$ 'HIHQGDQW BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 0(025$1'8023,1,21
3ODLQWLIIV 7DPHFND 0HUULFN DQG KHU DGXOW VRQ 5RQDOG :DVKLQJWRQ EURXJKW WKLV DFWLRQ DJDLQVW GHIHQGDQW WKH 'LVWULFW RI &ROXPELD VHHNLQJ WR FROOHFW DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV LQFXUUHG ZKLOH EULQJLQJDVXFFHVVIXODGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQXQGHUWKH,QGLYLGXDOVZLWK'LVDELOLWLHV(GXFDWLRQ$FW ³,'($´ 86& et seq 1RZ SHQGLQJ EHIRUH WKH &RXUW LV SODLQWLIIV¶ PRWLRQ IRU DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGFRVWV3OV¶0RWIRU$WW¶\V¶)HHV>'NW@ ³3OV¶0RW´ 3OV¶0HPRI3 $LQ6XSSRI3OV¶0RW>'NW@ ³3OV¶0HP´ DW 3ODLQWLIIV DUH VHHNLQJ LQ DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV DQG LQ FRVWV UHODWHG WR WKH XQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQ&RPSO>'NW@ 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW([WR3OV¶ 0HP>'NW@ ³6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,´ DWLQDGGLWLRQWRLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHV DQG LQFRVWVIRUSXUVLQJWKLVDFWLRQLQIHGHUDOFRXUWSee 3OV¶0HPDW 6WDWHPHQWRI $FFRXQW([WR3OV¶6XSSO)LOLQJ>'NW@ ³6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,,´ DW
7KH SDUWLHV DJUHHG LQ WKHLU 5XOH 5HSRUW WKDW WKLV FDVH FDQ EH UHVROYHG WKURXJK D GLVSRVLWLYHPRWLRQIRUDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLQVWHDGRIDPRWLRQIRUVXPPDU\MXGJPHQWSee 5XOH 5HSRUW>'NW@DW )RU WKH IROORZLQJ UHDVRQV WKH PRWLRQ ZLOO EH JUDQWHG LQ SDUW 7KH &RXUW ZLOO DZDUG LQ DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV DQG LQ FRVWV IRU SXUVXLQJ WKH XQGHUO\LQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJDQGLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQG LQFRVWVIRUOLWLJDWLQJWKHIHHSHWLWLRQLQ WKLV&RXUW %$&.*5281'
5RQDOG :DVKLQJWRQ LV D GHDI DGXOW VWXGHQW ZKR UHTXLUHV LQVWUXFWLRQ WR EH SURYLGHG LQ $PHULFDQ6LJQ/DQJXDJH ³$6/´ +HDULQJ2IILFHU'HWHUPLQDWLRQ([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW @ ³+2'´ DW see also id.+HDOVRVXIIHUVIURPLPSXOVLYHDQGDQJHUEDVHGEHKDYLRUDO RXWEXUVWV Id. +H KDV DWWHQGHG PRUH WKDQ D GR]HQ SXEOLF QRQSXEOLF DQG UHVLGHQWLDO SODFHPHQWVLQWKHODVWVHYHQ\HDUVId. 3OV¶0HPDW± $WWKHHQGRI1RYHPEHU0U:DVKLQJWRQZDVUHOHDVHGIURPD'&'HSDUWPHQWRI <RXWK5HKDELOLWDWLRQ6HUYLFHV ³'<56´ VFKRRODQGZDVSODFHGLQDIRVWHUKRPHLQ0DU\ODQG +2' DW± see also id. 3ULRUWRKLVUHOHDVH6WHYLH1DERUV0U:DVKLQJWRQ¶VFRXUWDSSRLQWHG VSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQDGYRFDWHHPDLOHGWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELD3XEOLF6FKRROV¶'LUHFWRURI6SHFLDO (GXFDWLRQ DQG UHTXHVWHG DQ ,QGLYLGXDOL]HG (GXFDWLRQ 3URJUDP ³,(3´ PHHWLQJ IRU 0U :DVKLQJWRQ 3OV¶ 0HP DW see also ([ WR 3OV¶ 0HP >'NW @ 0U 1DERUV KDG D FRQIHUHQFH FDOO ZLWK VHYHUDO HPSOR\HHV DW 'LVWULFW RI &ROXPELD 3XEOLF 6FKRROV ³'&36´ EXW '&36GLGQRWDGRSWWKHSURJUDPKHSURSRVHGDQGLWGLGQRWRIIHUWRFRQYHQHDQ,(3PHHWLQJ3OV¶ 0HPDW )ROORZLQJ'&36¶UHIXVDOWRSURYLGHVHUYLFHVRUFRQYHQHDQ,(3PHHWLQJ0V0HUULFNILOHG DQDGPLQLVWUDWLYHGXHSURFHVVFRPSODLQWRQKHUVRQ¶VEHKDOI&RPSO 6KHDOOHJHGWKDW'&36 GHQLHGKHUVRQDIUHHDSSURSULDWHSXEOLFHGXFDWLRQ ³)$3(´ ZKHQLWIDLOHGWRSURYLGHKLPZLWK VSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQVHUYLFHVVXFKDV$6/WXWRULQJId. 3OV¶0HPDW +2'DW±)XUWKHU VKH UHTXHVWHG WKH IROORZLQJ IRUPV RI UHOLHI DQ RUGHU FRPSHOOLQJ '&36 WR SURYLGH 0U
:DVKLQJWRQZLWKVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQVHUYLFHVE\DQ$/6FHUWLILHGLQVWUXFWRUWKURXJK'&36¶+RPH DQG+RVSLWDO,QVWUXFWLRQ3URJUDP ³++,3´ DFRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQDZDUGLQWKHIRUPRI KRXUV RI LQVWUXFWLRQ LQ $6/ DQG DQ LQGHSHQGHQW HYDOXDWLRQ WR GHWHUPLQH DSSURSULDWH FRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQIRU0U:DVKLQJWRQ+2'DW ± 7KH+HDULQJ2IILFHUFRQFOXGHGWKDW'&36GLGLQGHHGGHQ\0U:DVKLQJWRQD)$3(ZKHQ LWIDLOHGWRLPSOHPHQWKLV,(3DIWHUKHZDVSODFHGLQDIRVWHUKRPHLQODWH1RYHPEHU+2' DW$QGRQ$SULOWKH+HDULQJ2IILFHURUGHUHGWKDW0U:DVKLQJWRQUHFHLYHKRXUV RI LQGLYLGXDO WXWRULQJ LQ $6/ HLWKHU WKURXJK '&36 RU WKURXJK DQ LQGHSHQGHQWWXWRU IXQGHG E\ '&36DWPDUNHWUDWHV+2'DW &RPSO± 3OV¶0HPDW 2Q2FWREHUSODLQWLIIVILOHGDFRPSODLQWLQWKLV&RXUWVHHNLQJWRFROOHFWIHHVDQG FRVWVLQFXUUHGDVSDUWRIWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHKHDULQJSee generally &RPSO3ODLQWLIIVILOHGDPRWLRQ IRUDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVRQ-DQXDU\see 3OV¶0RWDQGWKHPRWLRQLVIXOO\EULHIHG 67$1'$5'2)5(9,(:
8QGHUWKH,'($WKH&RXUWKDVWKHGLVFUHWLRQWR³DZDUGUHDVRQDEOHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDVSDUW RIWKHFRVWVWRDSUHYDLOLQJSDUW\´LQDQDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJ³ZKRLVWKHSDUHQWRIDFKLOG ZLWKDGLVDELOLW\´86& L %
L , ,IDFRXUWGHWHUPLQHVWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIVHHNLQJ DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLVDSUHYDLOLQJSDUW\LWPXVWGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUWKHUHTXHVWHGDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDUH UHDVRQDEOHReed v. District of Columbia)G '&&LU &RXUWVW\SLFDOO\ GHWHUPLQH WKH UHDVRQDEOHQHVV RI DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV EDVHG RQ WKH ³QXPEHU RI KRXUV UHDVRQDEO\ H[SHQGHGRQWKHOLWLJDWLRQPXOWLSOLHGE\DUHDVRQDEOHKRXUO\UDWH´Hensley v. Eckerhart86
'HI¶V2SSWR3OV¶0RW>'NW@ ³'HI¶V2SS´ 3OV¶5HSO\WR'HI¶V2SS>'NW @ ³3OV¶5HSO\´
$SODLQWLIIEHDUVWKHEXUGHQRIHVWDEOLVKLQJERWKWKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHKRXUO\UDWHDQG WKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVVSHQWRQDSDUWLFXODUWDVNEley v. District of Columbia )G '&&LU FLWLQJCovington v. District of Columbia)G± '& &LU see also In re North )G '& &LU 7R VKRZ WKH UHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHKRXUO\UDWHVDSODLQWLIIPXVWVXEPLWHYLGHQFHUHODWHGWR ³WKHDWWRUQH\V¶ ELOOLQJ SUDFWLFHV´ ³WKH DWWRUQH\V¶VNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQGUHSXWDWLRQ´ DQG ³WKHSUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHWUDWHVLQWKHUHOHYDQWFRPPXQLW\´Covington)GDW7RVKRZWKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVV RIKRXUVVSHQWRQDWDVNDSODLQWLIIPXVWVXEPLWD³VXIILFLHQWO\GHWDLOHG>LQYRLFH@WRSHUPLWWKH 'LVWULFW &RXUW WR PDNH DQ LQGHSHQGHQW GHWHUPLQDWLRQ ZKHWKHU RU QRW WKH KRXUV FODLPHG DUH MXVWLILHG´Nat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans v. Sec’y of Def.)G '&&LU $IWHUWKHPRYLQJSDUW\KDVPHWWKLVEXUGHQWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVDQGUDWHDUHSUHVXPHG UHDVRQDEOH DQG WKH QRQPRYLQJ SDUW\ PXVW UHEXW WKH PRYLQJ SDUW\¶V VKRZLQJ ZLWK ³HTXDOO\ VSHFLILF FRXQWHUYDLOLQJ HYLGHQFH´ Covington )G DW ± TXRWLQJ Nat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans)GDW $1$/<6,6
'HIHQGDQW GRHV QRW GLVSXWH WKDW SODLQWLIIV ZHUH WKH SUHYDLOLQJ SDUWLHV LQ WKH XQGHUO\LQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQZLWKLQWKHPHDQLQJRIWKH,'($DQGWKDWWKH\DUHWKHUHIRUHHQWLWOHGWRVRPH DPRXQWRIDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVSee 'HI¶V2SSDW7KHRQO\TXHVWLRQEHIRUHWKH&RXUWLVZKHWKHU WKHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVVRXJKWE\SODLQWLIIVDUHUHDVRQDEOH , 7KHKRXUVH[SHQGHGE\SODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOZHUHUHDVRQDEOH 3ODLQWLIIVDVNIRUIRU KRXUVRIZRUNSHUIRUPHGWROLWLJDWHWKHXQGHUO\LQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJ 'HIHQGDQW GRHV QRW WDNH LVVXH ZLWK WKH GRFXPHQWDWLRQ SURYLGHG LQ
VXSSRUWRIWKLVUHTXHVWRUZLWKDQ\VSHFLILFKRXUVELOOHG+RZHYHULWDUJXHVWKDWD³UHGXFWLRQ LV DSSURSULDWH EHFDXVHPXFK RI WKH UHOLHI VRXJKW ZDV QRWREWDLQHG´ 'HI¶V 2SS DW $W D PLQLPXPGHIHQGDQWDVNVWKH&RXUWWR³UHGXFHWKHLQYRLFHE\WKHKRXUVGHYRWHGH[FOXVLYHO\WRWKH SODFHPHQWVRXJKWEXWQRWREWDLQHG´DQGLWSRLQWVWRDQHQWU\IRUKRXUVRIZRUNWKDWUHODWHG H[FOXVLYHO\WRWKH++,3SODFHPHQWUHTXHVWId see 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,DW ³/HJDOUHVHDUFK UHTXLUHPHQWVIRU+RPH+RVSLWDO,QVWUXFWLRQ3URJUDP ³++,3´ DQGZKHWKHU5:ZRXOGTXDOLI\´ 3ODLQWLIIV KDYH WKH EXUGHQ RI GHPRQVWUDWLQJ WKDW WKH QXPEHU RI KRXUV H[SHQGHG RQ SDUWLFXODUWDVNVE\WKHLUDWWRUQH\VZHUHUHDVRQDEOHNat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans)G DW $WWRUQH\V PXVW ³PDLQWDLQ FRQWHPSRUDQHRXV FRPSOHWH DQG VWDQGDUGL]HG WLPH UHFRUGV ZKLFKDFFXUDWHO\UHIOHFWWKHZRUNGRQHE\HDFKDWWRUQH\´Id.³:KHUHWKHGRFXPHQWDWLRQRIKRXUV LVLQDGHTXDWHWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWPD\UHGXFHWKHDZDUGDFFRUGLQJO\´Hensley86DW &RXUWVDOVRKDYHWKHGLVFUHWLRQWRUHGXFHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDZDUGVWRDFFRXQWIRUSDUWLDORU OLPLWHGVXFFHVVRQWKHPHULWVE\HLWKHUHOLPLQDWLQJVSHFLILFKRXUVRUUHGXFLQJWKHDZDUGDVDZKROH Hensley86DW±)RUSXUSRVHVRIUHGXFLQJWKHDZDUGDPRXQWEDVHGRQWKHODFNRI VXFFHVVDFRXUWVKRXOGFRQVLGHUZKHWKHU³WKHSODLQWLIIDFKLHYH>G@DOHYHORIVXFFHVVWKDWPDNHVWKH KRXUVUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHGDVDWLVIDFWRU\EDVLVIRUPDNLQJDIHHDZDUG´IdDW7KLVLVD
+RZHYHU WKH SDUWLHV DQG WKH &RXUW LGHQWLILHG FHUWDLQ W\SRJUDSKLFDO HUURUV DQG WKH IHH DZDUGZLOOEHDGMXVWHGDFFRUGLQJO\7KHILUVWPLVWDNHZDVDWLPHHQWU\PDGHRQ0DUFK WKDW ELOOHG 0U 0RUDQ¶V UHVHDUFK WLPH DW D UDWH RI SHU KRXU LQVWHDG RI See 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,DW7KHELOOVKRXOGUHIOHFWDFKDUJHRI LQVWHDGRI VRWKH ELOOZLOOEHUHGXFHGE\1H[WWKHUHLVDQHQWU\IURP0DUFKLQZKLFK0U1DERUV¶ WUDYHOWLPHZDVLQDGYHUWHQWO\ELOOHGDWSHUKRXULQVWHDGRISHUKRXUSee 6WDWHPHQW RI$FFRXQW,DW 'HI¶V2SSDW 3OV¶5HSO\DW7KHELOOUHIOHFWHGDFKDUJHRIIRU WUDYHOEXWLWVKRXOGKDYHRQO\FKDUJHG7KHWRWDOELOOZLOOEHUHGXFHGE\IRUWKLV HUURU,QDGGLWLRQSODLQWLIIVKDYHZLWKGUDZQD)HEUXDU\HQWU\LQZKLFKWKHLUDWWRUQH\V DFFLGHQWDOO\FKDUJHGKRXUVRIWLPHDWDUDWHRIIRUDWRWDORI3OV¶5HSO\DW 7KLVZLOOUHGXFHWKHELOOE\$OWRJHWKHUWKHIHHDZDUGZLOOEHUHGXFHGE\ ,WLVXQFOHDULIGHIHQGDQWLVDVNLQJIRUDILIWHHQSHUFHQWUHGXFWLRQLQKRXUVRUWRWKHWRWDOIHH DZDUG
UHVXOWVRULHQWHGLQTXLU\ ³LWLVWKHdegree RIWKHSODLQWLII¶VVXFFHVVWKDWLVWKHFULWLFDOIDFWRUWRWKH GHWHUPLQDWLRQRIWKHVL]HRIDUHDVRQDEOHIHH´A.S. v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ''& FLWLQJTex. State Teachers Ass’n v. Garland Indep. Sch. Dist. 86 +HUHWKHVWXGHQW¶VSDUHQWEURXJKWDQDGPLQLVWUDWLYHFRPSODLQWLQRUGHUWROLWLJDWHRQHLVVXH ZKHWKHU0U:DVKLQJWRQZDVGHQLHGD)$3(ZKHQ'&36IDLOHGWRLPSOHPHQWKLV,(3ZKHQKH PRYHGLQWRDIRVWHUKRPH7KHFRPSODLQWVRXJKWWKUHHIRUPVRIUHOLHIIRUWKHDOOHJHGYLRODWLRQRI WKH,'($ DQRUGHUFRPSHOOLQJ'&36WRSURYLGH0U:DVKLQJWRQZLWKDFHUWLILHG$6/WXWRU WKURXJKWKH+RPHDQG+RVSLWDO,QVWUXFWLRQ3URJUDP KRXUVRIFRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQ DQG DQLQGHSHQGHQWHGXFDWLRQHYDOXDWLRQ+2'DW ± )RUWKHUHDVRQVVHWRXWLQWKH+HDULQJ2IILFHU¶VGHFLVLRQWKHUHOLHIDZDUGHGZDVKRXUV RIFRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQLQ$6See +2'DW%XWWKH&RXUWGRHVQRWILQGLWWREHDSSURSULDWH WRUHGXFHWKHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDZDUGE\ILIWHHQSHUFHQW³$UHGXFHGIHHDZDUGLVDSSURSULDWHLIWKH UHOLHILVOLPLWHGLQFRPSDULVRQWRWKHVFRSHRIWKHOLWLJDWLRQDVDZKROH´Hensley86DW see, e.g.Young v. District of Columbia )6XSSG± ''& UHGXFLQJ WKHIHHDZDUGE\WZHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWEHFDXVHWKHSODLQWLIIRQO\SUHYDLOHGRQRQHRIWKHWKUHHLVVXHV SUHVHQWHG DQG WKH KHDULQJ RIILFHU GHQLHG DOO UHOLHI VRXJKW H[FHSW IRU FRPSHQVDWRU\ HGXFDWLRQ 7KDWLVQRWWKHFDVHKHUH8OWLPDWHO\0V0HUULFNZDVVXFFHVVIXORQWKHIXQGDPHQWDOLVVXHWKDW ZDVOLWLJDWHGEHIRUHWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHERDUGDQG0U:DVKLQJWRQUHFHLYHGWKHSULPDU\IRUPRI UHOLHI UHTXHVWHG FRQWLQXHG LQVWUXFWLRQ E\ D TXDOLILHG $6/ WXWRU WR PDNH XS IRU WKH KRXUV RI HGXFDWLRQKHKDGEHHQGHQLHG See+2'DW*HQHUDOO\DQDWWRUQH\³VKRXOGUHFRYHUDIXOO\ FRPSHQVDWRU\IHH´ZKHUH³DSODLQWLIIKDVREWDLQHGH[FHOOHQWUHVXOWV´Hensley86DW 0RUHRYHULWVHHPVDVLIWKHKRXUVRIFRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQZDVDZDUGHGLQSODFHRI
DQLQGHSHQGHQWHGXFDWLRQHYDOXDWLRQEHFDXVHDZDUGLQJERWKZRXOGKDYHEHHQGXSOLFDWLYHSee
'HI¶V 2SS DW ³7KH DZDUG ODFNHG DQ >LQGHSHQGHQW HGXFDWLRQ HYDOXDWLRQ@ EXW GLG SURYLGH FRPSHQVDWRU\ HGXFDWLRQ ZKLFK ZDV WKH SXUSRVH EHKLQG VHHNLQJ DQ >LQGHSHQGHQW HGXFDWLRQ HYDOXDWLRQ@´ $QGWKH+HDULQJ2IILFHUUHMHFWHG0V0HUULFN¶VUHTXHVWIRUVHUYLFHVWKURXJKWKH ++,3EHFDXVHWKDWZRXOGKDYHPDUNHGDVLJQLILFDQWFKDQJHLQWKHVWXGHQW¶VHGXFDWLRQDOSODFHPHQW +2'DW6LQFHKLV,(3WHDPZDVVFKHGXOHGWRPHHWVRRQWKH+HDULQJ2IILFHUFRQFOXGHGWKDW ³LWZRXOGQRWEHDSSURSULDWHWRGLFWDWH>0U:DVKLQJWRQ¶V@RQJRLQJSODFHPHQW´Id.DW± )LQDOO\WKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHKHDULQJLQYROYHGRQHFODLPEDVHGRQRQHVHWRIIDFWVDQGOHJDO WKHRULHVDQGWKHH[SHQGLWXUHRIDWWRUQH\WLPHZRXOGQRWKDYHFKDQJHGGUDPDWLFDOO\LIWKHKHDULQJ RIILFHUKDGDZDUGHGWKHRWKHUIRUPVRIUHTXHVWHGUHOLHISee Hensley86DW ³>7@KH GLVWULFW FRXUW VKRXOG IRFXV RQ WKH VLJQLILFDQFH RI WKH RYHUDOO UHOLHI REWDLQHG E\ WKH SODLQWLII LQ UHODWLRQWRWKHKRXUVUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHGRQWKHOLWLJDWLRQ´ +RZHYHUWKH&RXUWGRHVUHFRJQL]H WKDW 0U :DVKLQJWRQ ZDV QRW DZDUGHG VSHFLDO HGXFDWLRQ VHUYLFHV WKURXJK WKH ++,3 VR LW ZLOO UHGXFHWKHWRWDOKRXUVH[SHQGHGE\WKHKRXUWLPHHQWU\LGHQWLILHGE\GHIHQGDQWSee 6WDWHPHQW RI$FFRXQW,DW 7KHUHIRUHWKH&RXUWILQGVWKDWSODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHG KRXUVRIZRUN EXWLWZLOOUHGXFHWKHDZDUGE\ZKLFKUHIOHFWVWKHKRXUVFKDUJHGE\0U1DERUVRQ 2FWREHUIRUUHVHDUFKUHODWHGWRWKH+RPH+RVSLWDO,QVWUXFWLRQ3URJUDP ,, 3ODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOV¶UDWHVZHUHUHDVRQDEOH 3ODLQWLIIVEHDUWKHEXUGHQRIHVWDEOLVKLQJWKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHKRXUO\UDWHVFKDUJHGE\ WKHLU DWWRUQH\V IRU VHUYLFHV UHQGHUHG LQ WKH XQGHUO\LQJ SURFHHGLQJV Eley )G DW ³:KHWKHU DQ KRXUO\ UDWH LV UHDVRQDEOH WXUQV RQ WKUHH VXEHOHPHQWV µWKH DWWRUQH\¶V ELOOLQJ SUDFWLFHV¶ µWKHDWWRUQH\¶VVNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQGUHSXWDWLRQ¶DQG µWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHV LQWKHUHOHYDQWFRPPXQLW\¶´Id.TXRWLQJCovington)GDW
7RHVWDEOLVKWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHDSODLQWLIIPXVW³SURGXFHVDWLVIDFWRU\HYLGHQFH±in addition to WKHDWWRUQH\¶VRZQDIILGDYLWV± WKDWWKHUHTXHVWHGUDWHVDUHLQOLQHZLWKWKRVHSUHYDLOLQJ LQWKHFRPPXQLW\IRUVLPLODUVHUYLFHVE\ODZ\HUVRIUHDVRQDEO\FRPSDUDEOHVNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQG UHSXWDWLRQ¶´Eley )GDWTXRWLQJBlum v. Stenson86 Q )HH PDWULFHV DUH ³RQH W\SH RI HYLGHQFH WKDW µSURYLGHV D XVHIXO VWDUWLQJ SRLQW¶ LQ FDOFXODWLQJ WKH SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´Id.TXRWLQJCovington)GDW DOWHUQDWLRQLQRULJLQDO 7KH &RXUWRI$SSHDOVKDVQRWHGWKDWIHHPDWULFHVDUH³VRPHZKDWFUXGH´DQGFDQEHVXSSOHPHQWHGZLWK RWKHUIRUPVRIHYLGHQFHVXFKDVVXUYH\VXSGDWLQJWKHPDWULFHV³DIILGDYLWVUHFLWLQJWKHSUHFLVHIHHV WKDW DWWRUQH\V ZLWK VLPLODU TXDOLILFDWLRQV KDYH UHFHLYHG IURP IHHSD\LQJ FOLHQWV LQ FRPSDUDEOH FDVHV´DQG³HYLGHQFHRIUHFHQWIHHVDZDUGHGE\WKHFRXUWVRUWKURXJKVHWWOHPHQWWRDWWRUQH\VZLWK FRPSDUDEOHTXDOLILFDWLRQVKDQGOLQJVLPLODUFDVHV´IdDWTXRWLQJCovington)GDW
+HUHWKHUHLVQRGHEDWHDERXWZKHWKHUSODLQWLIIVKDYHPHWWKHLUEXUGHQDVWRWKHILUVWWZR SURQJV DQG WKH FRQWURYHUV\ RYHU WKH UHDVRQDEOH KRXUO\ UDWH FHQWHUV VROHO\ RQ ZKDW VKRXOG EH FRQVLGHUHGWKH³SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´See 'HI¶V2SSDW3ODLQWLIIVDUJXHWKDWWKH\DUHHQWLWOHG
3ODLQWLIIVKDYHSURYLGHGDGHTXDWHHYLGHQFHVXSSRUWLQJWKHLUDWWRUQH\V¶ELOOLQJSUDFWLFHVDQG WKHLUVNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQGUHSXWDWLRQDQGGHIHQGDQWGRHVQRWFKDOOHQJHWKHVXSSRUWLQJHYLGHQFH See 'HI¶V2SSDW± SRVLWLQJWKDWWKH³FKLHIGLVSXWH´LVDERXWWKHSURSHUSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH 3ODLQWLIIVZHUHUHSUHVHQWHGLQWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJE\6WHYLH1DERUV(VTDQG&KDUOHV 0RUDQ(VT0U1DERUVHDUQHGKLVODZGHJUHHIURP$PHULFDQ8QLYHUVLW\¶V:DVKLQJWRQ&ROOHJH RI/DZLQDQGZDVDGPLWWHGWRSUDFWLFHODZLQWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDLQZKHUHKHKDV SULPDULO\OLWLJDWHG,'($FDVHV'HFORI6WHYLH1DERUV(VT([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@ ³1DERUV'HFO´ +HKDVVXFFHVVIXOO\OLWLJDWHGPRUHWKDQWKLUW\FDVHVLQWKH2IILFHRI'LVSXWH 5HVROXWLRQWKH'LVWULFW&RXUWIRUWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDDQGWKH'&&LUFXLWId&KDUOHV 0RUDQHDUQHGKLVODZGHJUHHIURP'XNH8QLYHUVLW\/DZ6FKRROLQ KHZDVDGPLWWHGWRWKH 'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDEDULQ DQGKHKDVEHHQSUDFWLFLQJLQWKHILHOGRIVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQODZ IRFXVLQJRQ,'($FDVHVIRUDSSUR[LPDWHO\WZHQW\ILYH\HDUV'HFORI&KDUOHV$0RUDQ(VT ([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@ ³0RUDQ'HFO´ ±%RWKDWWRUQH\VDUHPHPEHUVRI0RUDQ $VVRFLDWHVDSULYDWHSXEOLFLQWHUHVWODZILUP1DERUV'HFO )XUWKHU ERWK ODZ\HUV DYHUUHG WKDW WKH ILUP DGMXVWHG UDWHV LQ WKH ODVW IHZ \HDUV WR EH LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV $WWRUQH\V¶ 2IILFH )HH 0DWUL[ 0RUDQ 'HFO 1DERUV 'HFO±7KDWFKDQJHZDVDUHIOHFWLRQRIUHFHQW'&&LUFXLWSUHFHGHQWDVZHOODVDQHIIRUW WR UHPDLQ FRPSHWLWLYH ZLWK SHHUV ZKR ZHUH FKDUJLQJ 86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[ UDWHV 0RUDQ 'HFO 1DERUV'HFO±6LQFHWKDWVKLIWWKHILUPKDV³EHHQSDLG>86$2@UDWHVE\FOLHQWV RQPDWWHUVFRQFHUQLQJHGXFDWLRQODZHPSOR\PHQWODZDQGODERUULJKWV´1DERUV'HFO 0U 1DERUVDOVRVDLGWKDWEHFDXVHWKHYDVWPDMRULW\RIFDVHVWKHILUPUHFHLYHVDUHDSSRLQWHGWKURXJK WKH&RXQVHOIRU&KLOG$EXVHDQG1HJOHFW3DQHOWKHDWWRUQH\V³DUHEDUUHGE\WKH'&&RGHIURP DFFHSWLQJ SD\PHQW IURP WKH FOLHQW $V D FRQVHTXHQFH >WKH\@ PXVW DFFHSW WKHVH FDVHV RQ D FRQWLQJHQF\EDVLVDQGFDQQRWFKDUJHWKHFOLHQWDQ\IHHV´Id. 0U1DERUVDVVHUWHGWKDW³WKH ILUP¶VELOOLQJSUDFWLFHVDUHVWUXFWXUHG´LQDZD\WRIXUWKHUWKHILUP¶VSULPDU\SXUSRVHRIDVVLVWLQJ LQGLJHQWFKLOGUHQZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVUDWKHUWKDQWRJHQHUDWH>D@SURILWId. +HDOVRDYHUUHGWKDW KH ³SHUIRUPHG DQ H[LW DXGLW WR UHPRYH GXSOLFLWRXV WLPH´ IURP WKH LQYRLFH id. DQG ERWK DWWRUQH\VDVVHUWHGWKDWWKHUHPDLQLQJWLPHELOOHGLVUHDVRQDEOHEDVHGRQWKHUHOLHIVHFXUHGId. 0RUDQ'HFO
WRFRPSHQVDWLRQEDVHGRQWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[3OV¶0HPDW'HIHQGDQWPDLQWDLQV WKDWWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[GRHVQRWHVWDEOLVKWKH³SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´IRU,'($OLWLJDWLRQ EHFDXVHWKHPDWUL[ZDVLQWHQGHGWRDSSO\WRFRPSOH[IHGHUDOOLWLJDWLRQZKLFKGHIHQGDQWLQVLVWV GRHVQRWLQFOXGH,'($OLWLJDWLRQ'HI¶V2SSDW±,QVWHDGGHIHQGDQWSRVLWVWKDWSODLQWLIIV¶ DWWRUQH\VVKRXOGEHFRPSHQVDWHGDWVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHId. DW
7KHLaffey 0DWUL[LV³DVFKHGXOHRIFKDUJHVEDVHGRQ\HDUVRIH[SHULHQFHGHYHORSHGLQ Laffey v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.)6XSS ''& rev’d on other grounds )G '&&LU cert. denied86 ´Covington)GDW 7ZRFRPSHWLQJYHUVLRQVRIWKHPDWUL[KDYHGHYHORSHGLQWKHSDVWWKLUW\\HDUV RQHGHYHORSHGE\ WKH8QLWHG6WDWHV$WWRUQH\¶V2IILFHIRUWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELD ³86$2Laffey 0DWUL[´ ZKLFK DGMXVWVWKHRULJLQDOPDWUL[IRULQIODWLRQXVLQJWKH&RQVXPHU3ULFH,QGH[IRU$OO8UEDQ&RQVXPHUV DQGDVHFRQG³HQKDQFHG´IHHVFKHGXOHZKLFKDGMXVWVWKHPDWUL[UDWHVIRULQIODWLRQXVLQJWKH/HJDO 6HUYLFHV,QGH[ ³/6,Laffey 0DWUL[´ See Salazar ex rel. Salazar v. District of Columbia )G '&&LU Eley v. District of Columbia )G ± '&&LU 7KH YHUVLRQ RI WKH 86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[ WKDW LV UHOHYDQW WR WKLV FDVH LV DYDLODEOH DW KWWSV ZZZMXVWLFHJRYXVDRGFILOH GRZQORDG ³86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[´ see ([ WR 3OV¶0HP>'NW@7KHDSSOLFDEOHUDWHXQGHUWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[IRU6WHYLH1DERUV ZKRDWWKHWLPHKDGEHHQLQSUDFWLFHEHWZHHQWZRDQGWKUHH\HDUVZDVSHUKRXUDQGWKH DSSOLFDEOHUDWHIRU&KDUOHV0RUDQZKRKDGEHHQLQSUDFWLFHIRURYHUWKLUW\RQH\HDUVZDV SHUKRXUSee 86$2Laffey 0DWUL[. 3ODLQWLIIV FRQWHQG WKDW GHIHQGDQW LV FROODWHUDOO\ HVWRSSHG IURP DUJXLQJ WKDW SODLQWLIIV¶ FRXQVHOVKRXOGRQO\UHFHLYHVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey0DWUL[3OV¶5HSO\DW± 7KH\PDLQWDLQWKDWWKLVLVVXHZDVDOUHDG\OLWLJDWHGLQDSUHYLRXVFDVHEHWZHHQWKHVDPHWZRSDUWLHV LQ WKLV &RXUW See Merrick v. District of Columbia ) 6XSS G ''& ³Merrick I´ see also 3OV¶ 5HSO\ DW ± 7KH GRFWULQH RI LVVXH SUHFOXVLRQ ³EDUV µVXFFHVVLYH OLWLJDWLRQRIDQLVVXHRIIDFWRUODZDFWXDOO\OLWLJDWHGDQGUHVROYHGLQDYDOLGFRXUWGHWHUPLQDWLRQ HVVHQWLDOWRWKHSULRUMXGJPHQW¶HYHQLIWKHLVVXHUHFXUVLQWKHFRQWH[WRIDGLIIHUHQWFODLP´Taylor v. Sturgell86 ,VVXHSUHFOXVLRQUHTXLUHVWKDW WKHVDPHLVVXHEHLQJUDLVHG PXVWKDYHEHHQFRQWHVWHGE\WKHVDPHSDUWLHVRUSULYLHVDQGVXEPLWWHGWRMXGLFLDOGHWHUPLQDWLRQLQ D SULRU FDVH WKH LVVXH PXVW KDYH EHHQ DFWXDOO\ DQG QHFHVVDULO\ GHWHUPLQHG E\ D FRXUW RI FRPSHWHQW MXULVGLFWLRQ LQ WKH SULRU FDVH DQG WKH SUHFOXVLYH HIIHFW PXVW QRW ZRUN D EDVLF XQIDLUQHVVWRWKHSDUW\ERXQGE\WKHILUVWGHWHUPLQDWLRQYamaha Corp. of Am. v. United States )G '& &LU ³7KH YHU\ KHDUW RI WKH FROODWHUDOHVWRSSHO GRFWULQH LV WKH UHTXLUHPHQWWKDWWKHLVVXHWREHSUHFOXGHGPXVWEHVXEVWDQWLDOO\WKHVDPHDVWKHLVVXHSUHYLRXVO\ OLWLJDWHG´Schneider v. Lockheed Aircraft Corp)G '&&LU abrogated on other grounds by Williams Enters., Inc. v. Sherman R. Smoot Co. )G '& &LU FLWLQJMontana v. United States86 >&RQWLQXHGRQQH[WSDJH@
,Q VXSSRUW RI WKHLU SRVLWLRQ WKDW WKH 86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[ SURYLGHV WKH SURSHU UDWHV SODLQWLIIVKDYHVXEPLWWHGDYDULHW\RIHYLGHQFHLQFOXGLQJWKHIHHPDWUL[LWVHOI$VWKH&RXUWRI $SSHDOVKDVVDLGIHHPDWULFHVDUHDJRRGSODFHWRVWDUWLQGHWHUPLQLQJWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH Eley )GDW 7KH '& &LUFXLW KDV GHFOLQHG WR ZHLJK LQ RQ WKH TXHVWLRQ RI ZKHWKHU ,'($ OLWLJDWLRQ TXDOLILHVDV³FRPSOH[IHGHUDOOLWLJDWLRQ´WRZDUUDQWWKHSUHVXPSWLYHDSSOLFDWLRQRIDQ\YHUVLRQRI WKHLaffey 0DWUL[See Reed)GDW FRQFOXGLQJWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWGLGQRWDEXVHLWV GLVFUHWLRQLQGHFLGLQJQRWWRDZDUGWKHKLJKHU/6,Laffey UDWHVWRDWWRUQH\VIRUWKHLUZRUNLQ,'($ FDVHV EXW H[SUHVVO\ QRWLQJ WKDW LW GRHV ³QRW PHDQ WR UXOH RXW WKH SRVVLELOLW\ WKDW IXWXUH IHH DSSOLFDQWVPD\EHDEOHWRGHPRQVWUDWHWKDW,'($FDVHVDUHµFRPSOH[IHGHUDOOLWLJDWLRQ¶WRZKLFK WKH Laffey 0DWUL[ SUHVXPSWLYHO\ DSSOLHV´ Eley )G DW KROGLQJ WKDW WKH ORZHUFRXUW DEXVHGLWVGLVFUHWLRQLQDZDUGLQJIHHVDWWKHKLJKHU/6,Laffey UDWHZLWKRXWUHTXLULQJWKHSODLQWLII WRGHPRQVWUDWHWKDWWKRVHUDWHVZHUHLQOLQHZLWKWKHSUHYDLOLQJUDWH -XGJH.DYDQDJKGLGVWDWHLQ KLV FRQFXUUHQFH LQ Eley WKDW WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV¶ $WWRUQH\¶V 2IILFH Laffey 0DWUL[ WKDW SODLQWLIIV
>&RQWLQXHGIURPSUHYLRXVSDJH@,QMerrick IWKHSDUWLHVOLWLJDWHGIRXUVSHFLILFFODLPV EHIRUHD+HDULQJ2IILFHUUHODWLQJWRSODFLQJ0U:DVKLQJWRQLQDUHVLGHQWLDOIDFLOLW\ZKLFKWKHQ JDYHULVHWRWKHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVOLWLJDWLRQLQWKLV&RXUW)6XSSGDW±7KH&RXUW UHIXVHG WR UHGXFH WKH 86$2 Laffey UDWH E\ WZHQW\ILYH SHUFHQW DQG LQVWHDG LW DZDUGHG WKH DWWRUQH\VWKHIXOOUDWHVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHLQGH[Id.DW ±+HUHWKHGHIHQVHLVDVNLQJWKH&RXUW WRDZDUGWKHDWWRUQH\VVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[ UDWHZKLFKLVWKHVDPHDV DUHTXHVWWRUHGXFHWKHUDWHE\WZHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWSee 'HI¶V2SSDW7KXVRQLWVIDFHLW DSSHDUVWKDWGHIHQGDQWLVOLWLJDWLQJWKHVDPHLVVXH 7KH&RXUWRI$SSHDOVKDVQRWH[SUHVVO\KHOGWKDW,'($OLWLJDWLRQLVFRPSOH[HQRXJKWR ZDUUDQWWKHXVHRIDVSHFLILFPDWUL[SeeReed)GDW Eley )GDW5DWKHUWKH GHWHUPLQDWLRQGHSHQGVRQWKHVSHFLILFIDFWVRIWKHFDVHA.S.)6XSSGDW ³7KLVFRXUW ILQGVWKDWWKHGHWHUPLQDWLRQ>RIZKHWKHUWRUHGXFHWKHLaffeyUDWH@PXVWEHPDGHLQDFDVHE\FDVH DQDO\VLV´ see also Hensley 86 DW ³7KH DPRXQW RI WKH IHH RI FRXUVH PXVW EH GHWHUPLQHG RQ WKH IDFWV RI HDFK FDVH´ 6LQFH WKH WZR Merrick FDVHV DULVH RXW RI VHSDUDWH FRQWURYHUVLHVUHODWLQJWR0U:DVKLQJWRQ¶V,(3WKDWWRRNSODFHDWWZRGLVWLQFWWLPHVWKHLVVXHRI UHGXFLQJWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHLVFRQWLQJHQWXSRQDQHZVHWRIRSHUDWLYHIDFWVWKDWZHUH QRWSUHVHQWLQWKHILUVWFDVH:KHWKHUDSDUWLFXODUUDWHLVDSSURSULDWHGHSHQGVRQWKHIDFWVRIHDFK FDVHVRWKHUHLVQRSUHFOXVLYHHIIHFWRQWKLVFDVHIURPWKHGHFLVLRQE\WKLV&RXUWLQMerrick I
LQYRNH LQ WKLV FDVH ³LV DSSURSULDWH IRU ,'($ FDVHV´ Eley )G DW .DYDQDXJK - FRQFXUULQJ 6RPHFRXUWVKDYHDGRSWHGWKHDSSURDFKRIGLVFRXQWLQJHYHQWKHORZHU86$2LaffeyUDWHV WRDFFRXQWIRUDODFNRIFRPSOH[LW\LQWKHXQGHUO\LQJSURFHHGLQJVseeMcAllister v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ± ''& EXWPDQ\FRXUWVLQFOXGLQJWKLVRQHKDYH UHMHFWHG WKH QRWLRQ WKDW ,'($ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJV DUH ³FDWHJRULFDOO\ OHVV FRPSOH[ WKDQ RWKHUIRUPVRIOLWLJDWLRQ´See, e.g.Bucher v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ''& Jackson v. District of Columbia )6XSSG ''& 7KRVHFRXUWV UHFRJQL]HWKDW,'($FDVHV³WDNHDYDULHW\RIGLIIHUHQWOLWLJDWLRQSDWKV´DQG³FDQQRWEHGLVPLVVHG DVFDWHJRULFDOO\URXWLQHRUVLPSOH´Thomas v. District of Columbia )6XSSG ''& ,'($ FDVHV ³UHTXLUH WHVWLPRQ\ IURP HGXFDWLRQ H[SHUWV UHJDUGLQJ ZKHWKHU D VWXGHQW KDV EHHQ GHQLHG D IUHH DQG SXEOLF HGXFDWLRQ´ Jackson ) 6XSS G DW DQG SODLQWLII¶V FRXQVHO PXVW ³XQGHUVWDQG WKH EXUHDXFUDWLF ZRUNLQJV RI >'&36@ Cox v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ''& DQG³PXVWEHFRPHFRQYHUVDQWZLWKDZLGHUDQJH RIGLVDEOLQJFRJQLWLYHHPRWLRQDODQGODQJXDJHEDVHGGLVRUGHUVDQGWKHFRUUHVSRQGLQJWKHUDSHXWLF DQGHGXFDWLRQDODSSURDFKHV´Sweatt v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ''& 3ODLQWLIIVKDYHSURIIHUHGDIILGDYLWVIURPDWWRUQH\VZKRDUHIDPLOLDUZLWKDQGZKR KDYH OLWLJDWHG,'($FDVHVDQGWKH\VSHDNWRWKHFRPSOH[LW\RIWKRVHW\SHVRIFDVHV³0HUHFRQFOXVRU\ VWDWHPHQWVWKDW,'($OLWLJDWLRQLVµDVFRPSOH[¶DVRWKHUW\SHVRIFDVHVGHHPHGE\WKLVFRXUWWREH µFRPSOH[ IHGHUDO OLWLJDWLRQ¶ DEVHQW DQ H[SODQDWLRQ RI why WKLV LV VR FDQQRW VXIILFH WR PHHW >SODLQWLIIV¶@EXUGHQ´Reed)GDW%XWWKHGHFODUDWLRQVVXSSOLHGE\SODLQWLIIVKHUHDUH VXIILFLHQWO\GHWDLOHGWRVXSSRUWSODLQWLIIV¶SRVLWLRQWKDW,'($FDVHVTXDOLI\DV³FRPSOH[IHGHUDO
OLWLJDWLRQ´VRDVWRZDUUDQWWKHSUHVXPSWLYHDSSOLFDWLRQRIWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVSee 'HFORI
(OL]DEHWK-HVWHU(VT([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@ ³-HVWHU'HFO´ H[SODLQLQJWKDWD ODFN RI GLVFRYHU\ PDNHV ,'($ OLWLJDWLRQYHU\FRPSOH[EHFDXVHDWWRUQH\V RQO\KDYH D ILYHGD\ GLVFORVXUH SHULRG LQ ZKLFK WR SURGXFH DQG UHFHLYH DOO GRFXPHQWV WKDW FRXOG EH XWLOL]HG DW WKH KHDULQJ DQG WR SUHSDUH WR H[DPLQH YDULRXV ZLWQHVVHV id. GLVFXVVLQJ WKH FRPSOH[LW\ RI OHDUQLQJDQGXQGHUVWDQGLQJ³HYHU\GLVFLSOLQHWKDWWRXFKHVWKHGLVDELOLWLHVSUHVHQWHGE\WKHFKLOGDW LVVXH´VRDVWRIRUH[DPSOHFURVVH[DPLQHWKH'&36³SV\FKRORJLVWRQWKHQXDQFHVRIFRJQLWLYH DFDGHPLFEHKDYLRUDODQGHPRWLRQDOWHVWLQJ´ 9HULILHG6WDWHPHQWRI$ODQD+HFKW(VT([WR 3OV¶0HP>'NW@ ³+HFKW'HFO´ ± GLVFXVVLQJKRZ³,'($OLWLJDWLRQLQYROYHVWKH SUHVHQWDWLRQ RI >DQ@ HQWLUH EHQFK WULDO LQFOXGLQJ WKH DGPLVVLRQ RI H[KLELWV GLUHFW DQG FURVV H[DPLQDWLRQ RI ZLWQHVVHV RSHQLQJ DQG FORVLQJ VWDWHPHQWVDUJXPHQWV DQG D UREXVW PRWLRQV SUDFWLFH´DVZHOODVWKHSDUWLFXODUFRPSOH[LW\EHKLQG³SXWWLQJRQDIXOOWULDOZLWKZLWQHVVHVWKDW DUHLQWKHWRWDOFRQWURODQGHPSOR\RIWKH>U@HVSRQGHQW´ see also 9HULILHG6WDWHPHQWRI1LFKRODV 2VWUHP([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@ ³2VWUHP'HFO´ GHVFULELQJWLPHFRQVXPLQJIHH OLWLJDWLRQLQ,'($FDVHV 7KHUHIRUHWKH&RXUWFRQFOXGHVWKDWLWLVQRWDSSURSULDWHWRUHIOH[LYHO\UHGXFHWKH86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHVE\WZHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWWRDFFRXQWIRUDODFNRIFRPSOH[LW\LQWKHXQGHUO\LQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJV)XUWKHUPRUHEHFDXVHDQDWWRUQH\¶VWRWDOIHHDZDUGLVGHWHUPLQHGE\ PXOWLSO\LQJWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVH[SHQGHGE\WKHKRXUO\UDWHUHGXFLQJWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVWR UHIOHFWWKHEUHYLW\RIWKHFDVHLPSURSHUO\DFFRXQWVIRUWKHOHQJWKRIWKHSURFHHGLQJVWZLFHSee Eley )6XSSGDW ³>7@KHFRPSOH[LW\RIWKHFDVHLVDFFRXQWHGIRUE\WKHQXPEHURI KRXUVH[SHQGHGDQGVKRXOGQRWEHDFFRXQWHGIRUE\DEOXQWUHGXFWLRQRIUDWHVEHIRUHDSSO\LQJWKH UDWHVWRWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVH[SHQGHG´ vacated and remanded on other grounds )G see also Flood v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ''& REVHUYLQJWKDW
³DQ DXWRPDWLF UHGXFWLRQ LQ WKH SODLQWLII¶V UHTXHVWHG UHLPEXUVHPHQW UDWH EDVHG RQO\ RQ WKH
VLPSOLFLW\ RI DQ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJ UXQV FRXQWHU WR WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW¶V YLHZ WKDW WKH UHODWLYHFRPSOH[LW\RIDPDWWHULVJHQHUDOO\SUHVXPHGWREHUHIOHFWHGIXOO\LQWKHQXPEHURIKRXUV ELOOHG´ DQG WKDW ³UHGXFWLRQ RI WKH SODLQWLII¶V UHLPEXUVHPHQW UDWH LQ WKLV PDQQHU ULVNV GRXEOH FRXQWLQJWKHUHODWLYHVLPSOLFLW\RIWKHXQGHUO\LQJSURFHHGLQJV´ accord Sweatt)6XSSGDW 0RUHRYHUSODLQWLIIVKDYHSURYLGHGWKH&RXUWZLWKDGGLWLRQDOHYLGHQFHWRFDUU\WKHLUEXUGHQ RIHVWDEOLVKLQJWKDWWKHLUUHTXHVWHGUDWHVUHIOHFWWKH³UDWHVSUHYDLOLQJLQWKHFRPPXQLW\LQZKLFK WKH DFWLRQ RU SURFHHGLQJ DURVH IRU WKH NLQG DQG TXDOLW\ RI VHUYLFHV IXUQLVKHG´ 86& L & HYHQ WKRXJK DGGLWLRQDO SURRI RI WKH SUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHW UDWH LV QRW QHFHVVDULO\UHTXLUHGDIWHUDSODLQWLIIKDVVKRZQWKDWWKH,'($FDVHZDVFRPSOH[See Reed )GDW H[SODLQLQJWKDWIHHDSSOLFDQWVLQ,'($FDVHVUHO\³RQWZRVHSDUDWHEXWLQWHU UHODWHG DSSURDFKHV WR SURYLGLQJ HYLGHQFH RI SUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHW UDWH´ ³DWWHPSWLQJ WR GHPRQVWUDWH WKDW ,'($ FDVHV IDOO ZLWKLQ WKH ERXQGV´ RI FRPSOH[ IHGHUDO OLWLJDWLRQ DQG ³SURYLGLQJHYLGHQFHRIWKHIHHVFKDUJHGDQGUHFHLYHGE\,'($OLWLJDWRUV´ see also James v. District of Columbia ) 6XSS G ''& ³>7@KH &LUFXLW¶V PRUH UHFHQW GHFLVLRQLQReed PDNHVFOHDUWKDWDSODLQWLIIPXVWRIIHUSURRIRIWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHWKDWLV LQGHSHQGHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[DEVHQWDVKRZLQJRIFRPSOH[LW\´ Flood)6XSS GDW FRQILUPLQJWKDWIHHDSSOLFDQWV³PD\PHHWWKHLUEXUGHQXSRQHLWKHURIWZRVKRZLQJV ´ ³WKDW ,'($ SURFHHGLQJV TXDOLI\ DV µFRPSOH[ IHGHUDO OLWLJDWLRQ¶ WR ZKLFK Laffey UDWHV SUHVXPSWLYHO\DSSO\´RU³WKDWUDWHVFXVWRPDULO\FKDUJHGE\,'($SUDFWLWLRQHUVLQWKH'LVWULFWDUH FRPSDUDEOHWRWKRVHSURYLGHGXQGHUWKH>86$2@Laffey 0DWUL[´ %HVLGHV SRLQWLQJ WR WKH IHH PDWUL[ LWVHOI D SODLQWLII PD\ PHHW KHU EXUGHQ E\ SURGXFLQJ HYLGHQFH³WKDWWKHUHTXHVWHGUDWHVDUHLQOLQHZLWKWKRVHSUHYDLOLQJLQWKHFRPPXQLW\IRUVLPLODU
VHUYLFHVE\ODZ\HUVRIUHDVRQDEO\FRPSDUDEOHVNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQGUHSXWDWLRQ´Eley )GDW
7KH HYLGHQFH UHOHYDQW WR WKLV LQTXLU\ LQFOXGHV ³DIILGDYLWV UHFLWLQJ WKH SUHFLVH IHHV WKDW DWWRUQH\VZLWKVLPLODUTXDOLILFDWLRQVKDYHUHFHLYHGIURPIHHSD\LQJFOLHQWVLQFRPSDUDEOHFDVHV´ ³HYLGHQFHRIUHFHQWIHHVDZDUGHGE\WKHFRXUWVRUWKURXJKVHWWOHPHQWWRDWWRUQH\VZLWKFRPSDUDEOH TXDOLILFDWLRQVKDQGOLQJVLPLODUFDVHV´DQGPDUNHWVXUYH\VXSGDWLQJWKHIHHPDWULFHVId. DW +HUH SODLQWLIIV KDYH VXEPLWWHG ILYH GHFODUDWLRQV IURP ,'($ SUDFWLWLRQHUV LQ WKLV MXULVGLFWLRQ WKDW VXSSRUW D ILQGLQJ WKDW IXOO 86$2 Laffey UDWHV DUH WKH SUHYDLOLQJ UDWHV LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\IRU,'($OLWLJDWLRQSee'HFORI&DURO\Q+RXFN(VT([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW @ ³+RXFN'HFO´ ± GHVFULELQJKRZVKHKDVSUDFWLFHGLQWKHILHOGRIVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQ ODZ VLQFH DQG KDV OLWLJDWHG PRUH WKDQ FDVHV OHDGLQJ WR GXH SURFHVV KHDULQJV RU VHWWOHPHQWDJUHHPHQWVXQGHUWKH,'($DQGFKDUJHVFOLHQWV³DWRUQHDUWKHFXUUHQWDWWRUQH\¶VIHHV PDWUL[ UDWHV SXEOLVKHG E\ WKH 86$2´ -HVWHU 'HFO ± VWDWLQJ WKDW KHU SULPDU\ SUDFWLFHDUHDVLQFH KDVEHHQFKLOGUHQ¶VULJKWVWKDWLWLVKHU³QRUPDOSUDFWLFHWRELOOFOLHQWV ZKRDUHQRWLQGLJHQWDWUDWHVHTXLYDOHQWWRWKHUDWHVVHWIRUWKLQWKH86$2$WWRUQH\¶V)HHV0DWUL[´ DQGGHWDLOLQJWKHQXPHURXVWLPHVVKHKDVEHHQDZDUGHGIXOO86$2Laffey UDWHVE\MXGJHVLQWKLV GLVWULFW +HFKW'HFO DYHUULQJWKDWKHUODZILUPVROHO\SUDFWLFHVVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQODZ WKDWLW³FXUUHQWO\PDWFKHVLWVKRXUO\UDWHVWRWKRVHLQZKDWLVNQRZQDVWKH86$2DGMXVWHGLaffey PDWUL[´DQGWKDWLW³KDVKDGVHYHUDOSD\LQJFOLHQWVWKDWKDYHSDLGWKHVHUDWHV´ 2VWUHP'HFO VWDWLQJWKDWKLVODZILUPZKLFKVSHFLDOL]HVLQ,'($OLWLJDWLRQ³KDVDOZD\VPDWFKHGLWVKRXUO\ UDWHVWRWKRVHLQZKDWLVFRPPRQO\NQRZQDVWKHµLaffey 0DWUL[¶´ id. GHVFULELQJKRZKH IRXQGLW³LPSRVVLEOHWRVXVWDLQ´DSUDFWLFH³IRULQGLJHQWSDUHQWVDQGVWXGHQWVE\UHO\LQJRQWKHµIHH VKLIWLQJ¶ SURYLVLRQ RI WKH ,'($´ IRU PDQ\ UHDVRQV LQFOXGLQJ EXW QRW OLPLWHG WR ³VRPH MXGJHV UHJXODUO\DZDUGLQJKRXUO\UDWHVDWRIWKHUDWHVLQWKH86$2IHHPDWUL[´ 9HULILHG6WDWHPHQW RI'RXJODV7\UND([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@ ³7\UND'HFO´ ± GHFODULQJWKDWKH
KDVDOPRVWH[FOXVLYHO\SUDFWLFHGODZLQWKHILHOGRIVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQVLQFHWKDWWKHODZILUP
³KDVDOZD\VFKDUJHGDWKRXUO\UDWHVPDWFKLQJWKRVHLQZKDWLVFRPPRQO\NQRZQDVµWKH/6, Laffey 0DWUL[¶´WKDW³WKHILUPKDVKDGVHYHUDOFOLHQWVSD\WKHILUPDWWKH/6,Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHV GLUHFWO\´DQGWKDW³>W@KHILUPLVFXUUHQWO\UHWDLQHGE\FOLHQWVDWWKH/6,Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHV´ 'HIHQGDQWWDNHVLVVXHZLWKWKHVHGHFODUDWLRQVDUJXLQJWKDWWKH\PHUHO\VKRZZKDWVRPH DWWRUQH\VFKDUJHFOLHQWVUDWKHUWKDQZKDWWKH\DFWXDOO\UHFHLYHIURPWKHP'HI¶V2SSDW± 7KH\PDLQWDLQWKDWVXFKVWDWHPHQWVGRQRWSURYLGHFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFHRIWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHW UDWHId. ,QVXSSRUWRIWKLVSRVLWLRQWKH\SRLQWWRRWKHUFRXUWVLQWKLVGLVWULFWWKDWKDYHIRXQGWKDW GHFODUDWLRQVVLPLODUWRWKHRQHVVXEPLWWHGLQWKLVFDVHIDOOVKRUWRIZKDWLVQHFHVVDU\WRGHPRQVWUDWH WKH IHHV WKDW DWWRUQH\V KDYH UHFHLYHG IURP IHHSD\LQJ FOLHQWV LQ FRPSDUDEOH FDVHV Id. DW ± FLWLQJFDVHV ,WLVWUXHWKDWWKHGHFODUDWLRQVRIIHUHGE\SODLQWLIIVLQWKLVFDVHGRQRWHVWDEOLVKWKDW,'($ DWWRUQH\VXQLIRUPO\FROOHFWIHHVFRPSDUDEOHWRWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[:KLOHWKHGHFODUDQWV DYHUWKDWWKH\FKDUJHWKRVHUDWHVRQO\DIHZRIWKHPVWDWHWKDWFOLHQWVKDYHSDLGWKHPSee +HFKW 'HFO DYHUULQJWKDWKHUODZILUP³KDVKDGVHYHUDOSD\LQJFOLHQWVWKDWKDYHSDLGWKHVHUDWHV´ 7\UND'HFO± GHFODULQJWKDW³WKHILUPKDVKDGVHYHUDOFOLHQWVSD\WKHILUPDWWKH/6,Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHVGLUHFWO\´DQGWKDW³>W@KHILUPLVFXUUHQWO\UHWDLQHGE\FOLHQWVDWWKH/6,Laffey 0DWUL[ UDWHV´ $QGWKRVHGHFODUDQWVGRQRWVSHFLI\ZKDWSURSRUWLRQRIWKHLUFOLHQWVDFWXDOO\SD\WKHVH UDWHV %XW WKH GHFODUDQWV DOVR HPSKDVL]H WKDW IHZ LI DQ\ ,'($ FODLPDQWV DUH DEOH WR DIIRUG UHSUHVHQWDWLRQLQFRQQHFWLRQZLWKWKHLUDGPLQLVWUDWLYHFODLPVSee -HVWHU'HFO H[SODLQLQJ WKDWWKHPDMRULW\RIKHUFOLHQWVDUHLQGLJHQWDQGFDQQRWDIIRUGWRSD\DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVRUFRVWVDWDQ\ OHYHO +RXFN'HFO ³:KHQUHSUHVHQWLQJVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQFOLHQWVRQDFRQWLQJHQF\EDVLV DWWRUQH\VLQWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDDFFHSWWKDWUHSUHVHQWDWLRQIRUWKHSURVSHFWRIUHFRYHULQJIHHV EDVHG RQ WKH UHDVRQDEOH IHHVKLIWLQJ JXLGHOLQHV IRXQG LQ WKH 86$2¶V DWWRUQH\V IHHV PDWUL[´
+HFKW'HFO DYHUULQJWKDWPRVWRIWKHILUP¶VFOLHQWVDUHLQGLJHQWDQGWKDWWKRVH³FOLHQWVVLJQ UHWDLQHUDJUHHPHQWVWKDWGRQRWUHTXLUHWKHPWRSD\IHHVXSIURQWEXWGRDGYLVHWKHPWKDWWKHILUP ZLOOEHVHHNLQJIXOOLaffey 0DWUL[UDWHVRQWKHFOLHQW¶VEHKDOI´ :KLOH VRPH FRXUWV LQ WKLV GLVWULFW KDYH IRXQG WKDW VWDWHPHQWV OLNH WKH RQHV PDGH LQ WKH GHFODUDWLRQVLQWKLVFDVHDUHXQFRQYLQFLQJsee Cox v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ''& DWOHDVWRQHFRXUWKDVEHHQ³RIWKHYLHZ´WKDWVXFKVWDWHPHQWVUHIOHFW³µSUHFLVH IHHV¶ WKDW DQ DWWRUQH\ KDV µUHFHLYHG IURP IHHSD\LQJ FOLHQWV¶ IRU ,'($ OLWLJDWLRQ´ Wimbish v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ''& TXRWLQJEley )GDW $QGDVDQRWKHUFRXUWKDVREVHUYHG³>D@WWKHHQGRIWKHGD\WKH&RXUWLVOHIWZLWKFDVHVRQERWK VLGHVRIWKHLaffey GLYLGH´ZKHQLWFRPHVWRGHWHUPLQLQJWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHCopeland v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ''& DZDUGLQJDWWRUQH\VDWIXOO86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHV *LYHQ WKH H[LVWHQFH RI WKH IHHVKLIWLQJ VWDWXWH LQ ,'($ FDVHV DQG WKH UHODWLYH UDULW\ RI SD\LQJVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQFOLHQWVWKH&RXUWILQGVWKDWLWZRXOGEHXQUHDOLVWLFWRH[SHFWDJUHDWHU
OHYHORIVSHFLILFLW\WKDQZKDWZDVVXEPLWWHGLQWKLVFDVH:KLOHWKHDIILGDYLWVPD\QRWVXSSO\ FRQFOXVLYHHYLGHQFHRIWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHVLQWKHUHOHYDQWFRPPXQLW\WKH&RXUWILQGVWKDW WKH VWDWHPHQWV SURYLGHG E\ WKH ,'($ DWWRUQH\V LQ WKHLU GHFODUDWLRQV VXIILFLHQWO\ ³UHFLW>H@ WKH SUHFLVH IHHV WKDW DWWRUQH\V ZLWK VLPLODU TXDOLILFDWLRQV KDYH UHFHLYHG IURP IHHSD\LQJ FOLHQWV LQ FRPSDUDEOHFDVHV´Eley )GDW see also Flood)6XSSGDW FRQFOXGLQJ WKDWWKHGHFODUDWLRQVGLG³QRWGHPRQVWUDWHFRQFOXVLYHO\WKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHV´EXWXOWLPDWHO\ KROGLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIPHWKHUEXUGHQE\SURYLGLQJWKHGHFODUDWLRQVLQDGGLWLRQWRHYLGHQFHRI UHFHQWIHHVDZDUGHGE\RWKHUFRXUWVLQWKHVDPHMXULVGLFWLRQ )XUWKHUSODLQWLIIVVXSSOHPHQWWKLVHYLGHQFHE\SRLQWLQJWRUHFHQWIHHDZDUGVLQWKLVGLVWULFW LQZKLFKSUHYDLOLQJ,'($FODLPDQWVZHUHUHLPEXUVHGDWIXOO86$2Laffey UDWHVSee 3OV¶0HP DW± FLWLQJFDVHV see e.g.Wimbish)6XSSGDW ± FRQFOXGLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLII KDGPHWKHUEXUGHQWRVKRZWKDWWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVZHUHWKHSUHYDLOLQJUDWHVLQWKHFRPPXQLW\ E\SURYLGLQJDIILGDYLWVIURPRWKHUDWWRUQH\VDVZHOODVSRLQWLQJWRUHFHQWFDVHVWKDWKDGDZDUGHG IXOOUDWHV Flood)6XSSGDW ³>$@UHYLHZRIUHFHQW,'($IHHDZDUGVLQGLFDWHVIDLUO\
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ee Merrick I ) 6XSS G DW Q ³7KH &RXUW QRWHV WKDW LQ Eley WKH &RXUW RI $SSHDOV VWDWHG WKDW µHYLGHQFHRIWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHFDQWDNHPDQ\IRUPV¶DQGVXJJHVWHGWKDWDPDUNHWVXUYH\ PLJKWDOVREHDSHUVXDVLYHIRUPRIHYLGHQFH%XWJLYHQWKHH[LVWHQFHRIWKHIHHVKLIWLQJVWDWXWHLQ FDVHVOLNHWKLVRQHDQGWKHUHODWLYHUDULW\RISD\LQJVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQFOLHQWVRQHFDQKDUGO\VD\ WKDW D µPDUNHW¶ H[LVWV IRU VHUYLFHV VLPLODU WR WKH VHUYLFHV RIIHUHG LQ WKLV FDVH 6R WKH H[HUFLVH FRQWHPSODWHGE\EleyZLOORIWHQSURGXFHDZNZDUGDQGOHVVWKDQLGHDOUHVXOWV7KHUHDUHJRLQJWR FRQWLQXHWREHFRXQWOHVVKRXUVZDVWHGE\SULYDWHFRXQVHO'&36DQGWKHEHQFKOLWLJDWLQJQRWRQO\ IHH SHWLWLRQV EXW DOVR IHHVRQIHHV SHWLWLRQV XQWLO WKH 'LVWULFW DQG WKH VSHFLDO HGXFDWLRQ EDU VLW GRZQLQJRRGIDLWK±ZLWKRUZLWKRXWWKHDVVLVWDQFHRIDQHXWUDOPHGLDWRU±DQGWU\WRKDPPHURXW DPXWXDOO\DFFHSWDEOHSUHVXPSWLYHIHHVFKHGXOHWKDWLVQRWDVSDUVLPRQLRXVDQGXQUHDOLVWLFDVWKH ODVWRQH´ LQWHUQDOFLWDWLRQRPLWWHG
EURDG VXSSRUW DPRQJ -XGJHV RQ WKLV &RXUW IRU UHLPEXUVHPHQW DW RU DERYH IXOO 86$2 Laffey UDWHV´ Copeland)6XSSGDW 7KHDIILGDYLWVDQGFDVHVWDNHQWRJHWKHUVXIILFLHQWO\ GHPRQVWUDWHWKDWSODLQWLIIVKDYHPHWWKHLUEXUGHQWRSURYHWKDWIXOO86$2Laffey UDWHVFRQVWLWXWH WKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHVIRU,'($OLWLJDWLRQSUDFWLFHLQWKLVMXULVGLFWLRQ %HFDXVHSODLQWLIIVKDYHPHWWKHLUEXUGHQWKH&RXUWPXVWSUHVXPHWKDWWKHKRXUO\UDWHVDUH UHDVRQDEOHDQGWKHEXUGHQVKLIWVWRWKHGHIHQVHWRSURYLGH³VSHFLILFFRQWUDU\HYLGHQFHWHQGLQJWR VKRZWKDWDORZHUUDWHZRXOGEHDSSURSULDWH´Covington)GDW ±FLWLQJNat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans)GDW 'HIHQGDQW RIIHUV WKH GHFODUDWLRQ RI )OR\G +D\HV ZKR VHUYHV DV WKH )LQDQFLDO 3URJUDP $QDO\VWLQWKH'&362IILFHRI*HQHUDO&RXQVHOWRGHPRQVWUDWHWKDWVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH 86$2Laffey KRXUO\UDWHLVWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHIRUDWWRUQH\VSUDFWLFLQJ,'($OLWLJDWLRQDQG WKDW WKH UDWH LV VXIILFLHQW WR DWWUDFW FRPSHWHQW FRXQVHO See 'HFO RI )OR\G +D\HV >'NW @
(YHQ UHFHQW IHH DZDUGV LQ WKH GLVWULFW PD\ XQGHUHVWLPDWH WKH SUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHW UDWH IRU ,'($ OLWLJDWLRQ $V DQRWKHU FRXUW KDV SRLQWHG RXW PDQ\ ,'($ DWWRUQH\V PD\ UHTXHVW UHLPEXUVHPHQW EHORZ IXOO 86$2 Laffey UDWHV WR DYRLG SURORQJHG OLWLJDWLRQ DQG VHFXUH WLPHO\ UHLPEXUVHPHQWFlood)6XSSGDW ,Q DGGLWLRQ SODLQWLIIV VXEPLWWHG D 'HSDUWPHQW RI -XVWLFH PDUNHW VXUYH\ FRQGXFWHG E\ HFRQRPLVW'U/DXUD$0DORZDQHDVZHOODVWKH1DWLRQDO/DZ-RXUQDOPDUNHWVXUYH\WR VXSSRUWWKHLUSRVLWLRQWKDWWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[LVWKHDSSURSULDWHLQGH[WRGHWHUPLQHDWWRUQH\V¶ IHHVSee 'HFORI'U/DXUD$0DORZDQH([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@ ³,QP\RSLQLRQ WKHDWWRUQH\IHHPDWUL[LVVXHGDQGXSGDWHGE\WKH8QLWHG6WDWHV$WWRUQH\V¶2IILFHIRUWKH'LVWULFW RI&ROXPELDLVWKHDSSURSULDWHPDWUL[WRXVHIRUSXUSRVHVRIGHWHUPLQLQJSODLQWLII¶VDWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV´ ([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@'HIHQGDQWLQVLVWVWKDWWKH&RXUWVKRXOGGLVUHJDUG/DXUD 0DORZDQH¶VGHFODUDWLRQEHFDXVHLWZDVSUHSDUHGIRUDQRWKHUFDVH'HI¶V2SSDW,WDOVRDUJXHV WKDWWKH1DWLRQDO/DZ-RXUQDOPDUNHWVXUYH\³SURYLGHVQRHYLGHQFHRIWKHUHDVRQDEOHPDUNHWUDWH´ EHFDXVHLWGRHVQRWLGHQWLI\DWWRUQH\\HDUVRIH[SHULHQFHLWLQFOXGHVDQXPEHURISUDFWLFHDUHDV VXFKDVZKLWHFROODUFULPHDQGWUDQVDFWLRQDODWWRUQH\VDQGLWGRHVQRWVSHFLI\LIWKHUDWHVDUHPHUHO\ FKDUJHGE\SUDFWLWLRQHUVRUDFWXDOO\UHFHLYHGIURPFOLHQWVId. DW%HFDXVHWKHRWKHUHYLGHQFH SODLQWLIIV SURYLGHG LV VXIILFLHQW IRU WKHP WR PHHW WKHLU EXUGHQ WKH &RXUW QHHG QRW HYDOXDWH WKH ZHLJKW RI WKLV DGGLWLRQDO HYLGHQFH 7KH &RXUW QRWHV KRZHYHU WKDW PDUNHW VXUYH\V KDYH EHHQ HQGRUVHGE\WKH&RXUWRI$SSHDOVDVDQRWKHUIRUPRIHYLGHQFHDSODLQWLIIPD\SURYLGHWRSURYHWKH SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHSee Eley )GDW
³+D\HV'HFO´ 'HI¶V2SSDW±7KHGHFODUDWLRQLQFOXGHVVWDWLVWLFVUHJDUGLQJWKHQXPEHU RILQYRLFHVVXEPLWWHGWKHQXPEHURILQYRLFHVWKDWZHUHVHWWOHGDQGWKHDPRXQWRIDWWRUQH\V¶IHHV WKDWZHUHUHTXHVWHGDQGSDLGIRUILVFDO\HDUVDQGSee +D\HV'HFO±,Q '&36VHWWOHGRIWKHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLQYRLFHVVXEPLWWHG LQ'&36VHWWOHG RIWKHLQYRLFHVVXEPLWWHG DQGLQ'&36VHWWOHGRIWKHLQYRLFHVVXEPLWWHGId. $QGLQHDFK\HDUDOORIWKHLQYRLFHVWKDWZHUHVHWWOHGZHUHVHWWOHGDWVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH 86$2Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHId. :KLOHWKLVHYLGHQFHVKRZVWKDWVRPHODZ\HUVKDYHDJUHHGWRDFFHSWVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQW RIWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVIRUWKHLUZRUNRQEHKDOIRI,'($SODLQWLIIVVHWWOHPHQWDZDUGVSUHVHQW GUDZEDFNV DV HYLGHQFH VLQFH WKH\ OLNHO\ XQGHUVWDWH WKH SUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHW UDWHV IRU VSHFLDO HGXFDWLRQ DWWRUQH\V 7KH &RXUW FDQQRW LJQRUH WKH IDFW WKDW VHWWOHPHQWV UHIOHFW FRPSURPLVHV EHWZHHQWZRSDUWLHVWKDWKDYHIDFWRUHGLQWKHFRVWVDQGULVNVRIFRQWLQXHGOLWLJDWLRQ$VHWWOHPHQW WKDWLQFOXGHVWKHSD\PHQWRIDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDWDVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQW86$2Laffey UDWHPD\EHDQ LQGLFDWLRQRIDIDLUUDWHEXWLWGRHVQRWQHFHVVDULO\PHDQWKDWWKHUDWHLVWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH 7KLVREVHUYDWLRQLVEROVWHUHGE\WKHDIILGDYLWVSODLQWLIIVSURYLGHGZKLFKDYHUWKDWUDWHVDW VHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[DUHWRRORZWRHQDEOH,'($DWWRUQH\VWRPDLQWDLQ DIXOOWLPHSUDFWLFHVHUYLQJDOPRVWH[FOXVLYHO\QRQSD\LQJ,'($FOLHQWVSee +HFKW'HFO ³,I,FDQQRWJHWLaffey UDWHVLQDWLPHO\PDQQHUIRUWKHOHJDOZRUN,SHUIRUP,PD\QRWEHDEOHWR FRQWLQXHVHUYLQJWKHLQGLJHQWSRSXODWLRQRQDFRQWLQJHQF\EDVLV´ 2VWUHP'HFO± VWDWLQJ WKDWKH³IRXQGLWLPSRVVLEOHWRVXVWDLQ´DSUDFWLFHWKDWZDVFRPSOHWHO\IRFXVHGRQ,'($FDVHVIRU LQGLJHQWSDUHQWVDQGVWXGHQWVEHFDXVHKH³FRXOGQRWDIIRUG´LW 7\UND'HFO DYHUULQJWKDW³LW KDVEHFRPHYHU\GLIILFXOWWRHDUQDUHDVRQDEOHLQFRPH´IURP,'($OLWLJDWLRQDQG³LPSRVVLEOHWR PDLQWDLQDODZILUPWKDWUHOLHVXSRQWKDWZRUNIRUWKHPDMRULW\RILWVZRUN´ id. ³,EHOLHYH
WKDWZLWKWKHVRPHWLPHDSSOLFDWLRQRIµ86$2UDWHV¶LWLVLPSRVVLEOHWRPDLQWDLQDSUDFWLFHLQ ZKLFKDODUJHSRUWLRQRIWKHZRUNLV,'($ZRUNIRUQRQSD\LQJFOLHQWV´ 7KHUHIRUHWKHLQIRUPDWLRQSURYLGHGE\WKH'LVWULFWLVLQVXIILFLHQWIRULWWRPHHWLWVEXUGHQ WRSURYLGH³VSHFLILFFRQWUDU\HYLGHQFHWHQGLQJWRVKRZWKDWDORZHUUDWHZRXOGEHDSSURSULDWH´ Covington )G DW ± FLWLQJ Nat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans )G DW $FFRUGLQJO\WKH&RXUWILQGVWKDWWKHUDWHVFKDUJHGE\0U1DERUVDQG0U0RUDQDUHUHDVRQDEOH KRXUO\UDWHVIRUWKHOHJDOVHUYLFHVSURYLGHG 8WLOL]LQJWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVDQGDGMXVWLQJWKHKRXUVH[SHQGHGDVRXWOLQHGE\WKH&RXUW DERYHWKH&RXUWZLOODZDUGSODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGLQFRVWV ,,, 3ODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHODUHHQWLWOHGWRDIHHVRQIHHVDZDUG 3ODLQWLIIV DOVR DVN WKH &RXUW WR ³RUGHU IHHVRQIHHV EDVHG RQ WKH 86$2 $WWRUQH\V )HH 0DWUL[´3OV¶0HPDW+RZHYHUSODLQWLIIVGLGQRWVXEPLWDILQDOLQYRLFHWRWKH&RXUWZLWK WKHLU UHSO\ EULHI UDWKHUGHIHQGDQW ZDV WKH SDUW\ WKDW DWWDFKHG D ³GUDIW´ RI SODLQWLIIV¶ FRXQVHOV¶ LQYRLFHIRUOLWLJDWLQJWKHIHHLVVXHLQWKLV&RXUWSee([WR'HI¶V2SS>'NW@ ³'UDIW ,QYRLFH´ %HFDXVHRIWKLVRPLVVLRQWKH&RXUWRUGHUHGSODLQWLIIVWRVXSSOHPHQWWKHLUPRWLRQIRU DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVZLWKDILQDOLQYRLFHWKDWFRYHUHGWKHSHULRGWKURXJKWKHILOLQJRIWKHUHSO\EULHILQ WKLVFDVH0LQ2UGHU -XQH 2Q-XQH SODLQWLIIVVXEPLWWHGWKHILQDOLQYRLFHDQGDOVRDWWDFKHGGHFODUDWLRQVIURP WZRDGGLWLRQDOODZILUPHPSOR\HHVZKRZRUNHGPLQLPDOO\RQWKHFDVH&KDUOHV6LEHUWDQG-RVHSK *ROLQNHUSee 3OV¶6XSSO)LOLQJLQ5HVSWR&W¶V-XQH2UGHU>'NW@ 6WDWHPHQWRI
'HIHQGDQWGLGQRWRSSRVHWKHUHTXHVWIRULQFRVWVSee 'HI¶V2SSDW ³&RVWV WRWDOIRUWKHXQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQ´ 7KH'UDIW,QYRLFHLQFOXGHGFKDUJHVXSWKURXJK-DQXDU\See 'UDIW,QYRLFHDW $WWKDWSRLQWLQWLPHSODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOV¶IHHVKDGDPRXQWHGWR Id.
$FFRXQW ,, 'HFO RI &KDUOHV $ 6LEHUW (VT >'NW @ ³6LEHUW 'HFO´ 'HFO RI -RVHSK *ROLQNHU>'NW@ ³*ROLQNHU'HFO´ 3ODLQWLIIVDUHVHHNLQJLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHV IRU KRXUV RI ZRUN DQG LQ FRVWV IRU SXUVXLQJ WKLV IHH OLWLJDWLRQ See 6WDWHPHQW RI $FFRXQW,,DW ³,'($OLWLJDQWVDUHHQWLWOHGWRUHFHLYHFRPSHQVDWLRQIRUWKHKRXUVH[SHQGHGSXUVXLQJDQ LQLWLDOIHHDZDUGLQ'LVWULFW&RXUW´Reed)GDW7KH&RXUWRI$SSHDOV³KDV\HWWR GHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUDOODVSHFWVRIDQ,'($OLWLJDWLRQVKRXOGEHWUHDWHGDVDXQLILHGZKROHVXEMHFW WRWKHVDPHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´Id.%XWLWKDVKHOGWKDWVXEVHTXHQWIHHOLWLJDWLRQVKRXOGEH FRQVLGHUHGSDUWRIWKHVDPHDFWLRQDVWKHXQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJSeeJester v. Gov’t of the District of Columbia )G ± '& &LU KROGLQJ WKDW DQ ,'($ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJ DQG WKH VXEVHTXHQW MXGLFLDO SURFHHGLQJ FRQVWLWXWH ³RQH DFWLRQ´ Kaseman v. District of Columbia)G± '&&LU FRQFOXGLQJWKDWIHHV RQIHHVOLWLJDWLRQLVSDUWRIWKHVDPHDFWLRQDVWKH,'($DGPLQLVWUDWLYHKHDULQJ $QGWKH&RXUW
&KDUOHV6LEHUWHDUQHGKLVODZGHJUHHIURP$PHULFDQ8QLYHUVLW\:DVKLQJWRQ&ROOHJHRI /DZLQ0D\DQGZDVDGPLWWHGWRSUDFWLFHODZLQ0LFKLJDQLQ-XQH6LEHUW'HFO 6KRUWO\DIWHUKLVDGPLWWDQFHWRWKH0LFKLJDQEDUKHEHJDQSUDFWLFLQJODZLQ:DVKLQJWRQ'& XQGHUWKHVXSHUYLVLRQRI&KDUOHV0RUDQDQG6WHYLH1DERUVSXUVXDQWWR'&&RXUWRI$SSHDOV5XOH F Id. 0U6LEHUWZDVDGPLWWHGWRWKH'&EDURQ)HEUXDU\Id.0U6LEHUW DYHUUHGWKDWKLVSUDFWLFHIRFXVHVRQVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQODZXQGHUWKH,'($DQGWKDWKLVELOOLQJUDWH LVSHUKRXUSXUVXDQWWRWKHFXUUHQW86$2Laffey 0DWUL[Id.± -RVHSK*ROLQNHUHDUQHGKLVODZGHJUHHIURP$PHULFDQ8QLYHUVLW\:DVKLQJWRQ&ROOHJHRI /DZLQDQGKHLVDPHPEHURIWKH6WDWH%DURI1HZ0H[LFR*ROLQNHU'HFO+H KDVILYH\HDUVRIFRPELQHGH[SHULHQFHLQVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQWHDFKLQJODZDQGDGYRFDF\DQGKH FXUUHQWO\ZRUNVDVDODZFOHUNDW0RUDQDQG$VVRFLDWHVId. 7KHILUP³FXVWRPDULO\ELOOV IRU>KLV@WLPHDWWKH86$2PDWUL[SDUDOHJDOUDWH´ZKLFKLVSHUKRXUId. see also 86$2Laffey 0DWUL[ 3ODLQWLIIV¶'UDIW,QYRLFHRULJLQDOO\VRXJKW LQFRVWVDQGGHIHQGDQWGLGQRWRSSRVH WKDWUHTXHVWLQLWVEULHISee 'UDIW,QYRLFHDW 'HI¶V2SSDW ³&RVWVWRWDO LQFXUUHG IRUIHHVRQIHHV´ $OWKRXJKWKHDPRXQWQRZLQFOXGHVDQDGGLWLRQDOFKDUJHIRUSULQWLQJsee 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,,DWWKH&RXUWZLOOFRQWLQXHWRWUHDWWKHUHTXHVWIRUFRVWVDVXQRSSRVHG
RI$SSHDOVLQReed XSKHOGDGLVWULFWFRXUW¶VGHFLVLRQWRDZDUGIHHVRQIHHVDWWKHVDPHSUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHWUDWHDVWKHXQGHUO\LQJIHHDZDUGIRUWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQReed)GDW 'HIHQGDQWDUJXHVWKDWWKHKRXUO\UDWHDZDUGHGIRUWKHWLPHVSHQWSUHSDULQJSODLQWLIIV¶IHH SHWLWLRQVKRXOGEHILIW\SHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey0DWUL[UDWH'HI¶V2SSDW7RVXSSRUW LWVSRVLWLRQWKHGHIHQVHSRLQWVWRDIHZFDVHVLQWKLVGLVWULFWWKDWKDYHRUGHUHGIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGV DWILIW\SHUFHQWRIWKH86$2UDWHVSee 'HI¶V2SSDW FLWLQJFDVHV %XWDOORIWKRVHFDVHV ZHUHGHFLGHGSULRUWRWKH&LUFXLW¶VGHFLVLRQLQReed)GDW$QGVLQFHWKHQFRXUWVLQ WKLVGLVWULFWKDYHRUGHUHGIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGVDWWKHVDPHUDWHVDVWKRVHDZDUGHGWRWKHDWWRUQH\V IRUWKHXQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQSee, e.g. Shaw v. District of Columbia)6XSSG ± ''& DZDUGLQJ IXOO 86$2 Laffey UDWHV IRU IHHVRQIHHV OLWLJDWLRQ DQG DJUHHLQJZLWKRWKHUFRXUWV³WKDWDSODLQWLIIVHHNLQJIHHVRQIHHVQHHGQRWDJDLQGHPRQVWUDWHWKDW WKHIHHUDWHVRXJKWLVUHDVRQDEOH´ McNeil v. District of Columbia)6XSSG± ''& DZDUGLQJVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRI86$2Laffey UDWHVLQERWKWKHXQGHUO\LQJIHH DZDUGDQGWKHIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGDQGREVHUYLQJWKDWUHOLWLJDWLQJWKHIHHLVVXH³ZRXOGEHLOORJLFDO JLYHQWKDWWKHLQLWLDOIHHSURFHHGLQJDQGWKLVSURFHHGLQJDUHSDUWVRIWKHVDPHDFWLRQ´ 7KH'LVWULFWKDV³IDLOHGWRSURYLGHDQ\HYLGHQFHVXJJHVWLQJWKDWWKHµSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH¶ IRUIHHVRQIHHVLVGLVWLQFWIURPWKHUDWHXVHGWRFDOFXODWHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVIRUWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJV´Reed)GDW FRQFOXGLQJWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWGLGQRWDEXVHLWVGLVFUHWLRQ LQDSSO\LQJWKHVDPHUDWHIRUIHHVIRUWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJVDQGIHHVRQIHHVLQOLJKWRI
'HIHQGDQW DOVR PDLQWDLQV WKDW WKH ILIW\ SHUFHQW UDWH VKRXOG EH DSSOLHG WR WKH HQWU\ RQ SODLQWLIIV¶LQYRLFH³UHODWHGWRWKHXQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQZKLFKELOOVWZRKRXUV¶WLPHIRU UHYLHZLQJDQGSUHSDULQJWKHLQYRLFH´'HI¶V2SSDW see 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,DW ³([LW DXGLWLQYRLFH´ %XWGHIHQGDQWJLYHVQROHJDOUHDVRQIRUZK\WKH&RXUWVKRXOGUHGXFHWKHUDWH DVVLJQHGWRWKDWHQWU\)XUWKHUWKH'LVWULFWDOUHDG\DVVHUWHGWKDWWKH³SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´LV VHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey UDWHDQGWKH&RXUWKDVDOUHDG\UHMHFWHGWKDWSRVLWLRQ
WKH ³IDLOXUH WR VXEPLW HYLGHQFH RI DQ\ PHDQLQJIXO GLIIHUHQFH EHWZHHQ WK>H@ WZR W\SHV RI OLWLJDWLRQ´ 7KHUHIRUHWKH&RXUWZLOODZDUGSODLQWLIIV¶DWWRUQH\VIHHVIRUWKHLQVWDQWIHHOLWLJDWLRQ DWWKHIXOO86$2Laffey 0DWUL[UDWH %XWWKDWGRHVQRWHQGWKHLQTXLU\$QDWWRUQH\V¶IHHDZDUGLVGHWHUPLQHGE\WKH³QXPEHU RIKRXUVUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHGRQWKHOLWLJDWLRQPXOWLSOLHGE\DUHDVRQDEOHKRXUO\UDWH´Hensley 86 DW 7KXV WKH &RXUW PXVW DOVR GHWHUPLQH LI WKH KRXUV RI WLPH VSHQW VHHNLQJ FRPSHQVDWLRQIRUWKH KRXUVGHYRWHGWRWKHFOLHQWZDVUHDVRQDEOHSee generally 6WDWHPHQWRI $FFRXQW ,, ,Q PDNLQJ WKH IHH FDOFXODWLRQ WKH FRXUW ³VKRXOG H[FOXGH KRXUV WKDW ZHUH QRW µUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHG¶´VXFKDVIRUZRUNWKDWLV³H[FHVVLYHUHGXQGDQWRURWKHUZLVHXQQHFHVVDU\´ Hensley86DW LQWHUQDOFLWDWLRQRPLWWHG )XUWKHUWKHFRXUWPD\FRQVLGHUDYDULHW\RI IDFWRUVWRGHWHUPLQHLIWKHRYHUDOOIHHDZDUGVKRXOGEHDGMXVWHG³XSZDUGRUGRZQZDUGLQFOXGLQJ WKHLPSRUWDQWIDFWRURIWKHUHVXOWVREWDLQHG¶´Id. LQWHUQDOTXRWDWLRQPDUNVRPLWWHG ³7KHUHLVQR SUHFLVHUXOHRUIRUPXODIRUPDNLQJWKHVHGHWHUPLQDWLRQV7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWPD\DWWHPSWWRLGHQWLI\ VSHFLILF KRXUV WKDWVKRXOG EH HOLPLQDWHG RU LWPD\ VLPSO\ UHGXFH WKHDZDUG WR DFFRXQW IRUWKH OLPLWHGVXFFHVV7KHFRXUWQHFHVVDULO\KDVGLVFUHWLRQLQPDNLQJWKLVHTXLWDEOHMXGJPHQW´Id. DW ± $IWHU SODLQWLIIV IDLOHG WR ILOH D ILQDO LQYRLFH ZLWK WKHLU UHSO\ EULHI WKH &RXUW LQVWUXFWHG SODLQWLIIVWRVXEPLW³DILQDOLQYRLFHWKDWFRYHUVWKHSHULRGthrough the filing of the reply brief LQ WKLVFDVH´0LQ2UGHU -XQH HPSKDVLVDGGHG :KLOHSODLQWLIIVUHVSRQGHGWRWKHRUGHU WKH\ VXEPLWWHG D ILQDO LQYRLFH WKDW LQFOXGHG ELOODEOH WLPH DIWHU WKH ILOLQJ RI WKH UHSO\ EULHI RQ )HEUXDU\See 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,,DW ELOOLQJKRXUVIRU³>U@HDG>LQJ@WKH&RXUW¶V PLQXWHRUGHU´DQGKRXUVIRUDXGLWLQJWKHLQYRLFHZKLFKLQFOXGHGDUHYLHZWR³YHULI\GDWHV RISOHDGLQJVHFIQRWLFHVDQGHPDLOFRPPXQLFDWLRQV´ 7KH&RXUWILQGVWKDWLQFOXGLQJDQ\WLPH
FRXQVHOFKRVHWRGHYRWHWRWKHPDWWHUDIWHU)HEUXDU\ZRXOGEHXQUHDVRQDEOHDQGWKDW
FRXQVHOVKRXOGQRWEHFRPSHQVDWHGIRULW7KHUHIRUHWKHLQYRLFHZLOOEHUHGXFHGE\WKHKRXUV RIWLPHELOOHGE\0U0RUDQDQGWKHKRXUVELOOHGE\0U1DERUVIRUDUHGXFWLRQRI 7KHRQO\FKDOOHQJHGHIHQGDQWPDNHVWRWKHKRXUVH[SHQGHGRQWKHIHHVRQIHHVOLWLJDWLRQ LVWRDWLPHHQWU\RQ-DQXDU\'HI¶V2SSDW2QWKDWGDWH0U0RUDQELOOHG KRXUV RI WLPH IRU ³>U@HYLHZ>LQJ@ SULRU +2' DQG FRPSOHWH FOLHQW ILOH DQG FRPSDU>LQJ@ WR FXUUHQW SURFHGXUDO SRVWXUH´ 6WDWHPHQW RI $FFRXQW ,, DW 'HIHQGDQW DUJXHV WKDW WKH &RXUW VKRXOG GLVFRXQWWKHLQYRLFHE\ KRXUVEHFDXVH³>Q@RFOHDULQIHUHQFHOLHVVXSSRUWLQJWKHUHODWLRQRIWKLV HQWU\WRWKHLUFXUUHQWPRWLRQRUDUJXPHQW´'HI¶V2SSDW%HFDXVHSODLQWLIIVGRQRWUHVSRQG WRWKLVDUJXPHQWLQWKHLUUHSO\EULHIsee generally 3OV¶5HSO\DQGWKH&RXUWFDQQRWGHWHUPLQHWKH SXUSRVHRIWKLVZRUN±RUZK\LWWRRNQHDUO\WZRKRXUVWRFRPSOHWH±WKH&RXUWZLOODOVRUHGXFH WKHIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGE\WKHELOOHGIRUWKLVWLPHHQWU\ 7KHVHGHGXFWLRQVZRXOGUHVXOWLQDQDZDUGRI LQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQG LQ FRVWVIRUWKHIHHOLWLJDWLRQRUDIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGHTXDOWRDSSUR[LPDWHO\ILIW\WKUHHSHUFHQWRIWKH IHH IRU OLWLJDWLQJ WKH PDWWHU DW WKH IXOO 86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[ UDWH 7KH &RXUW ILQGV WKLV WR EH VRPHZKDW GLVSURSRUWLRQDWH DQG H[FHVVLYH VLQFH WKH KRXUV WR EH VSHQW RQ WKH IHH SHWLWLRQ ZHUH ODUJHO\ ZLWKLQ FRXQVHO¶V FRQWURO DQG LQ LWV GLVFUHWLRQ LW ZLOO UHGXFH WKH IHHV RQ IHHV DZDUG WR RUDSSUR[LPDWHO\RQHWKLUGRIWKHIHHIRUOLWLJDWLQJWKHPDWWHU
&21&/86,21
)RUWKHIRUHJRLQJUHDVRQVWKH&RXUWZLOOJUDQWSODLQWLIIV¶PRWLRQIRUDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLQSDUW DQG LW ZLOO DZDUG SODLQWLIIV¶ FRXQVHO LQ DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV DQG LQ FRVWV IRU WKH XQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJDQGLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQG LQFRVWVIRU OLWLJDWLQJWKHIHHSHWLWLRQLQWKLV&RXUW-XGJPHQWZLOOEHHQWHUHGIRUSODLQWLIIVLQWKHDPRXQWRI LQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGFRVWV $VHSDUDWHRUGHUZLOOLVVXH
$0<%(50$1-$&.621
8QLWHG6WDWHV'LVWULFW-XGJH '$7( -XO\
Merrick v. District of Columbia (Merrick v. District of Columbia) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.