Segaline v. Department of Labor & Industries

199 Wash. App. 748
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJuly 17, 2017
DocketNo. 76010-6-I
StatusPublished

This text of 199 Wash. App. 748 (Segaline v. Department of Labor & Industries) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Segaline v. Department of Labor & Industries, 199 Wash. App. 748 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).

Opinion

Schindler, J.

¶1 The doctrine of qualified immunity shields a government official from civil liability and money damages unless the plaintiff shows violation of a constitutional right that is clearly established at the time of the challenged conduct. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and Regional Safety and Health Coordinator William Alan Croft appeal the jury verdict in favor of Michael Segaline on his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim against Croft.1 The Department of Labor and Industries and Croft contend the court erred by denying the motion for judgment as a matter of law on qualified immunity and instructing the jury to decide the legal question of due process. Because Segaline did not show that Croft violated [752]*752a clearly established right when he issued a trespass notice in 2003, the court erred in denying judgment as a matter of law on qualified immunity and dismissal of the 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim. We reverse the jury verdict on the 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim and remand to vacate the judgment and award of attorney fees.

FACTS

¶2 The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is responsible for issuing permits for electrical work. In 2003, William Alan Croft worked as the L&I regional safety and health coordinator for the East Wenatchee office. The L&I regional safety and health coordinator is responsible for “safety, health, security, ergonomics, [and] emergency management.”

¶3 Michael Segaline is a licensed electrician and the owner of an electrical contracting company located in East Wenatchee, Horizon Electric Inc. Segaline routinely obtained electrical permits at the L&I East Wenatchee office.

¶4 In June 2003, L&I Field Service Coordinator Jeanne Guthrie and L&I Customer Service Representative Jacqueline Sanchez filed “Safety & Health Security Incident Reports” about Segaline’s threatening and harassing behavior.

¶5 Guthrie filed an incident report about Segaline’s behavior on June 9. Guthrie said Segaline called her on June 9 about a “bogus” contractor deposit account. According to Guthrie, Segaline threatened to “bring a tape recorder in and start legal proceedings” and said a “lot of people would be behind bars.” Guthrie describes the statements Segaline made as a “[t]hreat.”

¶6 Sanchez filed an incident report about Segaline’s behavior on June 13. Sanchez said Segaline wanted to pay for an electrical permit. When she told Segaline the permit “had already been paid,” Segaline told her that was “not ‘his problem, it was L&I’s problem,’ ” and L&I “could not refuse [753]*753to take his money because it was in the RCW’s.” Sanchez states Segaline was “very mean and demeaning” and appeared “very frustrated and very red in the face and just very, very upset with me.” Sanchez states she is “afraid to help him at the counter as to what he might do or say to me.” Sanchez describes Segaline’s behavior as “[h]arassment.”

¶7 Guthrie also filed an incident report about Segaline’s behavior on June 13. When Segaline attempted to pay for an electrical permit, Guthrie said she “could not take more money” because he had already paid. Segaline told Guthrie she “could not refuse to take the money.” According to Guthrie, Segaline accused her of “not following the RCWs” and said he “would file a tort claim.” Guthrie describes Segaline’s behavior as “[h]arassment.”

¶8 According to L&I employee Alice Hawkins, on June 9 and June 13, Segaline was “quite threatening in his verbal language, very aggressive and threatening and intimidating, red faced.” Hawkins said Segaline “yell [ed] ” and told her “one of us is going to go to jail, that I better get an attorney.”

¶9 On June 19, L&I Electrical Program Supervisor David Whittle and Croft met with Segaline about the reported incidents. Segaline abruptly left the meeting and demanded to speak to Guthrie. Croft called the police and told Segaline to leave the office. Croft said Segaline appeared “like a balloon that was waiting to pop” with “a real rage going on underneath.” Segaline left when the police arrived. One of the police officers suggested Croft draft a trespass notice for the police to “enforce in the future.”

¶10 Croft had never issued a trespass notice before and was uncertain whether he could do so for a state agency office. The “primary” reason Croft wanted to issue a trespass notice was to protect “the safety of our staff.” Croft contacted the Wenatchee Police Department Crime Prevention Unit and the Washington State Patrol trooper assigned to assist L&I with workplace violence about the procedure [754]*754for issuing a trespass notice. Croft also asked the trooper to obtain an opinion from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. In addition, Croft reviewed the Revised Code of Washington provisions on trespass and the “workplace violence policy.”

¶11 Croft drafted a “Trespass Notice.” The Notice states Segaline engaged in “disruptive behavior” and “harassment of staff” and he is not “permitted, invited, licensed or otherwise privileged to enter or remain at the [East Wenatchee office].” The Notice states Segaline can “have this notice terminated” by obtaining the written approval of Whittle. The Trespass Notice provides, in pertinent part:

TRESPASS NOTICE
Date and Time Issued: 6/30/03 9:30 AM
Trespassed Subject: Michael J. Segaline Date of Birth: 10/20/ 1956
Trespassed for: disruptive behavior, harassment of staff and failure to follow instructions for contacting the department.
The above individual has been trespassed from the Department of Labor and Industries, 519 Grant Road, East Wen-atchee, WA 98802.
Failure to comply with this notice may result in prosecution for trespass.
The trespass notice was read by or to, and/or a copy of the notice provided to the above individual. The above individual is no longer permitted, invited, licensed or otherwise privileged to enter or remain at the Department of Labor and Industries above location.
To have this notice terminated, the subject must secure the written approval of David Whittle, Electrical Supervisor, prior to re-entry of the East Wenatchee Department of Labor and Industries service location. This trespass notice remains in effect until this approval is obtained.

¶12 Hawkins handed Segaline the Trespass Notice on June 30. When Segaline refused to accept the Notice, an [755]*755L&I employee called the police.

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Bluebook (online)
199 Wash. App. 748, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/segaline-v-department-of-labor-industries-washctapp-2017.