Romero v. City of Miami

8 F. Supp. 3d 1321, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36660, 2014 WL 1119696
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Oklahoma
DecidedMarch 20, 2014
DocketCase No. 12-CV-346-JED-PJC
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 8 F. Supp. 3d 1321 (Romero v. City of Miami) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Romero v. City of Miami, 8 F. Supp. 3d 1321, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36660, 2014 WL 1119696 (N.D. Okla. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

JOHN E. DOWDELL, District Judge.

Plaintiff Michael Romero brought this civil rights action against his former employer, the City of Miami, Oklahoma, several of its officers, and two other municipal entities. Romero, the City’s former Chief Financial Officer, claims that he was forced to undergo an unconstitutional drug and alcohol screening and then was unlawfully fired when he raised questions about its propriety. A number of the defendants seek dismissal of some or all of his claims against them (see Docs. 36 and 38), which the Court will now address.

Background

During Romero’s time as CFO of the City of Miami, the City’s Personnel Policy Manual contained a policy under which any of the City’s employees could be forced to [1325]*1325undergo random drug and alcohol testing without regard to individualized suspicion. On August 15, 2011, shortly after being named CFO, Romero was notified by defendant Nancy Wells, the City’s Human Resource Director, that he had been selected for a random drug and alcohol screening and that he was to report to the testing site immediately.

The City’s drug testing was typically conducted by defendant Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma (“MESO”), an association of municipally-owned electric utilities that provides, among other things, municipal training in the areas of drug testing and safety. Romero’s test was conducted by an employee of defendant Oklahoma Municipal Utility Services Authority (“OMUSA”), which is a public trust created by MESO that utilizes MESO employees on a contract basis to provide services to municipalities. When Romero reported to the testing site, defendant Mark Hill, the City’s Risk Control Manager, and a female OMUSA representative were present. Romero was required to show his identification, and submit to a breathalyzer test and provide a urine sample. Romero’s First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) states that, as the City’s CFO, Romero expressed concern to the OMUSA representative that he was being required to undergo testing. Romero further states that he submitted to the testing in order to comply with the City’s policy, which would have required that he be terminated had he refused the tests.

Following the testing, Romero promptly notified Wells, Hill, defendant David Anderson, the City Attorney, and Tim Wilson, the City’s acting City Manager, that he believed that the test administered to him was illegal and in violation of his civil rights because he was not in a safety or security sensitive position and no individualized suspicion had been identified. Romero alleges that Wells, Hill, Anderson, and Wilson all possessed responsibility for the continued operation of the City’s testing policy. Romero was told by Wilson “not to bother” Wells about the test and was informed that a fire department employee had tested positive for marijuana but that the City did not plan to pursue action against the employee in order to comply with the law. On August 23, 2011, Romero again inquired of Wells and expressed his intention that the City change its drug testing policy going forward to comply with the law. On August 30, Romero once again inquired of Wells, who then forwarded the inquiry to Anderson and Wilson on September 7, 2011.

Romero also alleges that, aside from the drug and alcohol screening, he brought a second issue to the attention of the City. Specifically, he states that in August and September of 2011, citizens began to raise concerns with City officials that contractors were not meeting specifications on street improvements which were underway. Romero investigated the matter and determined that no public construction contracts had been executed and reported to the City Council and other officials, as required under Oklahoma law, for contracts exceeding $50,000. On September 6, 2011, Romero reported his concerns regarding the absence of public construction contracts for the street improvements to City Attorney Anderson. Romero alleges that, as the City’s CFO, he had a contractual duty to ensure that financial operations such as the street repair were carried out in compliance with applicable law.

On September 13, 2011, City Manager Wilson notified Romero in writing that, upon the advice of City Attorney Anderson, Romero was no longer authorized to have direct dealings with the administrative departments or staff, except on a “case-by-case basis.” (Doc. 33, at 11). Romero further alleges that Wells and Wilson instructed various City employees [1326]*1326not to speak to Romero. On September 19, 2011, City Mayor Kent Ketcher made a written inquiry into Romero’s job performance — the first such inquiry ever made as to Romero’s performance as the City’s CFO. Romero responded to Ketcher’s inquiry and copied the entire City Council, which members included defendants Rudy Schultz, Scott Trussler, Terry Atkinson, and John Dalgarn, discussing the problems that the City was having with its finance and accounting department. Romero requested in this response that the City Council enter an executive session to discuss any disagreements. The City Council did not proceed with the requested executive session. Instead, on September 23, 2011, Romero went to his office to discover that the lock had been changed. No formal action had been taken by the City against Romero at that time.

On September 27, 2011, the City’s Information Technology Director, Michael Richardson, informed Romero that his work computer was being “searched” by Richardson and representatives of the City’s police department on what Romero describes as the department’s “forensic machine” at the request of City Manager Wilson.1 (Doc. 33, at 12). Romero also alleges that Richardson informed Romero that Wilson had instructed Richardson to “find something on Romero.” (Id.). The next day, the City Council convened in executive session to discuss Romero’s employment. It is alleged that no action was taken at that time. On October 3, 2011, Romero notified City Attorney Anderson that he wished to return to work and would need access to his office and computer. On October 7, 2011, Anderson obtained “sworn testimony” from Richardson as to Romero’s alleged disloyalty to the City. (Id.). The substance of that testimony has not been placed before the Court.

At an October 11, 2011 City Council meeting, the Council voted to pass a resolution suspending and removing Romero as CFO. Romero alleges that, at the conclusion of the Council meeting, while still in Council chambers, City Attorney Anderson stated to the public and news media that Romero had been terminated due to his attempt to “extort” the City of Miami. (Doc. 33, at 13). Romero requested an administrative hearing thereafter, and another Council meeting was held on October 17, wherein a citizen inquired about Romero’s termination. Romero alleges that Mayor Ketcher responded to the citizen: “I don’t think he’ll be snitching to you anymore.” (Doc. 33, at 13). Romero was formally terminated the next day.

Romero filed a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on February 2, 2012, and a Notice of Tort Claim with the City of Miami on February 23, 2012, as required under Oklahoma law. Romero brought this litigation on June 19, 2012. The Court entered an order (Doc. 32) on March 28, 2013 permitting Romero to file his First Amended Complaint (Doc. 33). OMUSA seeks dismissal of Romero’s claims against it, arguing that Romero has not exhausted his administrative remedies with respect to OMUSA as required under Oklahoma law (see Doc. 36).

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Bluebook (online)
8 F. Supp. 3d 1321, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36660, 2014 WL 1119696, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/romero-v-city-of-miami-oknd-2014.