Nunnery v. City of Bossier

822 F. Supp. 2d 620, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109412, 2011 WL 4479538
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Louisiana
DecidedSeptember 26, 2011
DocketCivil Action No. 09-cv-00848
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 822 F. Supp. 2d 620 (Nunnery v. City of Bossier) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nunnery v. City of Bossier, 822 F. Supp. 2d 620, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109412, 2011 WL 4479538 (W.D. La. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM JUDGMENT

ELIZABETH ERNY FOOTE, District Judge.

Plaintiff, Larry P. Nunnery [hereinafter “Nunnery”], was a police officer in the Bossier City Police Department before he was terminated due to a positive test for drug use. Before the Court are Motions for Summary Judgment [Record Document 34] filed by the City of Bossier [hereinafter “City”] regarding Larry P. Nunnery’s state and federal due process claims, and Nunnery’s claims under Louisiana’s Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of

[621]*621Rights. La Rev. Stat. Ann. § 40:2531 (2001 & Supp. 2011). Nunnery has also filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on his Louisiana Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights claim. [Record Document 35]. For the reasons stated herein, the Court: (1) GRANTS Defendant’s Motions for Summary Judgment [Record Document 34] and (2) DENIES Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Record Document 35].

I. Factual and Procedural Background

As an employee at Bossier City’s Police Department, Nunnery was subject to Bossier City’s Alcohol/Drug Testing and Rehabilitation Policy and Procedures [hereinafter “Drug Policy”]. [Record Document 40-1, p. 3]. The Drug Policy prohibits employees of the City from “[b]eing intoxicated or impaired by an unauthorized controlled substance, illegal drug or alcohol.” [Record Document 34-4, p. 44], It further provides that “[e]mployees, who violate this policy, test positive for alcohol and/or drugs, or refuse testing shall be subject to immediate termination and shall not be eligible for rehabilitation.” Id. at 53. However, an employee who voluntarily seeks “evaluation, assessment, counseling, treatment, or rehabilitation through the EAP” before being tested or disciplined for drug abuse, may be “given the opportunity for evaluation, assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and continued employment. ...” Id. at 53-54.

On May 12, 2008, Nunnery reported to his supervisory officer that he was abusing prescription pain medication. Id. at 6. Soon thereafter, he entered inpatient treatment for his addiction. Id. at 6-7. He was released from inpatient treatment and ordered to enter outpatient treatment on May 15, 2008. Id. at 7. On May 20, 2008, before he began his outpatient treatment, Nunnery took more pain medication. Id. Nunnery met with his supervisors and the director of Bossier City’s Employee Assistance Program [hereinafter “EAP”], Will Jones, on May 23, 2008. Id. at 8. At the May 23rd meeting, Nunnery signed a document entitled “Last Chance Agreement”. Id. at 8-9. In this agreement, he acknowledged that he had violated the Bossier City policy regarding substance abuse and that he was being “afforded the opportunity for treatment.” [Record Document 35-6]. The document also provided that his “future and continuous employment with the City of Bossier depended] upon [him] remaining drug-free and not violating the City of Bossier City substance abuse policy.” Id. Finally, the agreement included the following language, which was initialed by Nunnery:

“I understand that if I test positive for any illegal drug within the next 24 months (starting in the Month May Day 23 Year 08) the City of Bossier City shall terminate my employment”
Id.

Nunnery claims that despite the clear language to the contrary in the Last Chance Agreement, at the May 23rd meeting he was assured that any drug use before May 23, 2008 would not subject him to termination. [Record Document 40-1, p. 9]. The City vigorously disputes this claim, pointing out that Nunnery’ made a tape recording of the meeting. The recording contains a discussion between Nunnery and Mr. Jones where the Last Chance Agreement is gone over point by point. However, the recording contains no assures by Mr. Jones that Nunnery will not be subject to termination for drug use prior to May 23, 2008. [Record Document 34-3].

On May 23, 2008, after Nunnery signed the Last Chance Agreement, Police Chief Halphen ordered that Nunnery be tested for drug use. [Record Document 40-1, p. 11]. Nunnery tested positive. Id. On May 30, 2008, Nunnery spoke to Dr. Ra[622]*622vindra Goel, the medical officer who reviewed the results of his failed test. Id. at 12. Dr. Goel reviewed the results of the drug test with Nunnery and asked him if there was any reason why he failed it. Id. Nunnery claims that as he was receiving many calls from health care providers at that time he was not aware Dr. Goel’s call concerned his failed May 23, 2008 test.

On June 4th, 2008, Nunnery was summoned to report to Police Chief Halphen’s office at 9:00 a.m. the next morning. Id. at 13. The officer who contacted Nunnery did not tell him the purpose of the meeting. [Record Document 39, p. 11]. The following lines in Nunnery’s deposition address whether he knew the purpose of this meeting:

Q: Did you have any idea about which [sic] it [the meeting] might be about? A: No idea.
Q: You didn’t think that it could perhaps have something to do with your drug use and your Last Chance Agreement?
A: I figured it had something to do with that.
[Record Document 34^1, p. 16].

At the meeting Police Chief Halphen asked Nunnery to explain why he should not be terminated for testing positive for drugs. [Record Document 40-1, pp. lb-16]. The parties dispute whether Nunnery offered an explanation. Id. Nunnery’s employment was then terminated effective June 5, 2008 and he was give written confirmation of his termination and advised of his civil service appeal rights. Id.

Nunnery appealed his termination to the Bossier City Municipal fire and Police Civil Service Board on June 6, 2008. [Record Document 34-3, p. 11]. His appeal was bifurcated and the Board rejected his Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights claim on August 6, 2008. Id. Nunnery appealed the ruling of the Board to the 26th Judicial District Court in Bossier Parish on September 5, 2008. Id. He has not pursued his State Court appeal or his remaining claim before the Bossier City Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board. Id. Nunnery commenced the present lawsuit on May 22, 2009. Id.

II. Subject Matter Jurisdiction

The Court has original federal question subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiffs 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim that he was denied the due process afforded to him by the United States Constitution. 28 U.S.C. § 1331 (2010). However, as the rest of Nunnery’s claims neither raise a federal question nor involve diverse parties, they are properly before the Court only under a theory of supplemental jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a) (2010). Given that both parties have undergone discovery and briefed the state law claims, the Court chooses to exercise its discretion under 28 U.S.C. § 1367

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
822 F. Supp. 2d 620, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109412, 2011 WL 4479538, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nunnery-v-city-of-bossier-lawd-2011.