Spreadbury v. Bitterroot Public Library

862 F. Supp. 2d 1054, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75020, 2012 WL 1943634

Opinion

ORDER

DONALD W. MOLLOY, District Judge.

March 6, 2012, 856 F.Supp.2d 1195, 2012 WL 734163 (D.Mont.2012), United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch entered Findings and Recommendations (doc. 250) concerning two summary judgment motions (docs. 148, 150) filed by Defendants Bitterroot Public Library (“the Library”), City of Hamilton (“the City”), Dr. Robert Brophy, Trista Smith, Nansú Roddy, Jerry Steele, Steve Snavely, Steven Bruner-Murphy, Ryan Oster, Kenneth Bell, and Jennifer Lint (collectively, the “Municipal Defendants”). Judge Lynch recommended the motions be granted in part and denied in part.

Specifically, he determined disputed issues of fact remained as to the following issues: (1) whether Officer Snavely negligently investigated Plaintiff Michael E. Spreadbury’s purported trespass on Library property on August 20, 2009; (2) whether Officer Bruner-Murphy negligently investigated allegations that Spreadbury was stalking the Library Director; and (3) whether Robert Brophy, the Chairman of the Bitterroot Public Library’s Board of Trustees, negligently revoked Spreadbury’s library privileges. Because Judge Lynch determined these negligence claims survived, he also denied summary judgment on Spreadbury’s claims for punitive damages and for injunctive relief relating to access to the Library.¹

The Library and the City timely filed objections (doc. 256), and Spreadbury, proceeding pro se, filed a “Response to City, Library Objection to Court Order, Findings Doc. #250” (doc. 257). Construed liberally, his filing appears to include objections to Judge Lynch’s findings as well as a response to the arguments of the City and Library. The parties are entitled to de novo review of those findings or recommendations to which they object. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The portions of the Findings and Recommendation not specifically objected to are reviewed for clear error. McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Commodore Bus. Mach., Inc., 656 F.2d 1309, 1313 (9th Cir.1981).

For the reasons discussed below, Judge Lynch’s Findings and Recommendations are adopted in part and rejected in part. Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on all issues.

I. Spreadbury’s Objections

A. Termination of Library Privileges

Spreadbury was not wrongfully deprived of his statutory and constitutional liberty interest in the right to use a public library when the Library Defendants² banned him from the premises. The record demonstrates that he intimidated various library staff and patrons after the Library refused his request to include a letter he had written to President Obama in its collection. We all have a right to use our public libraries. Kreimer v. Bureau of Police for the Town of Morristown, 958 F.2d 1242, 1255 (3rd Cir.1992) (recognizing “the right to some level of access to a public library, the quintessential locus of the receipt of information”). But the right is not unqualified. Id. A person may be constitutionally deprived of a liberty interest if afforded due process, and Spread-bury was granted adequate procedural protections. Pinnacle Armor, Inc. v. United States, 648 F.3d 708, 716 (9th Cir. 2011).

Judge Lynch properly identified the Library as a limited public forum.

[A]s a limited public forum, the Library is obligated only to permit the public to exercise rights that are consistent with the nature of the Library and consistent with the government’s intent in designating the Library as a public forum. Other activities need not be tolerated.

Kreimer, 958 F.2d at 1262. A public library may refuse service to anyone who willfully violates a library policy. Mont. Code Ann. § 22-1-311. The relevant Library Operation Policy in place at the time stated:

Patron behavior that becomes disruptive to other library users or staff or constitutes a public nuisance is not allowed and the person(s) will be asked to leave. The library reserves the right to refuse service to anyone not complying with established library policies.

(Quoted in doc. 152-10). Contrary to Spreadbury’s assertions, the policy does not state that the Library may only refuse service to a disruptive patron if it has previously asked the patron to leave. Such an interpretation would require the Court to insert words in the policy that are not there.

Spreadbury willfully engaged in behavior that became disruptive. On at least two occasions prior to the termination of his library privileges, he confronted staff in an intimidating manner. (Docs. 152-1, -7, -8, -9; 158-1, -2.) Additionally, his reference to the Unabomber in a letter to the Library director could reasonably be construed as threatening. (Doc. 152^1.) Willfulness “does not require any intent to violate the law [or] to injure another.” Mont.Code Ann. § 1-1-204(5). It is enough that Spreadbury had a “purpose or willingness,” id,., to confront staff and reference the Unabomber, and a reasonable person would see his behavior as disruptive. Accordingly, Spreadbury violated a Library policy, and the Library could refuse him service so long as it provided him the minimum due process requirement of notice and an opportunity to be heard. See Hill v. Derrick, 2006 WL 1620226, *8 (M.D.Pa.2006).

The Library provided adequate procedural protections. See Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 334-35, 96 S.Ct. 893, 47 L.Ed.2d 18 (1976) (describing the three factors a court must weigh in determining the adequacy of the process by which a person was deprived of a liberty interest). Based on repeated disruptive incidents that frightened staff, he was given written notice that he was banned from the premises and told the reason why. (Doc. 152-10). He was also afforded an opportunity to be heard. He emailed a member of the Board of Trastees requesting permission to attend a meeting to argue that his rights should be restored, and he submitted a Reconsideration Request Form to Library staff again demanding his letter be accepted into the Library’s collection. (Docs. 152-6, -13, -14). The Library considered and denied his requests for reconsideration, and the Library Board supported the decisions. (Doc. 152-6). Finally, the ban furthered the government’s significant interest in maintaining the peaceful character of a library. Brown v. State of Louisiana, 383 U.S. 131, 142, 86 S.Ct. 719, 15 L.Ed.2d 637 (1966) (noting a library is “a place dedicated to quiet, to knowledge, and to beauty”). The Library was not required to follow the specific procedures Spreadbury believes it should have, and it provided sufficient process to protect Spreadbury’s limited liberty interest.

“Prohibiting disruptive behavior is perhaps the clearest and most direct way to achieve maximum Library use.” Kreimer, 958 F.2d at 1263 (upholding a library rale prohibiting disruptive behavior). Unfortunately, Spreadbury has continued to engage in disruptive behavior, resulting in a criminal trespass charge, an order of protection that has been affirmed by the Montana Supreme Court,³ and his nolo contendere plea to felony intimidation.

B. Qualified Immunity of City Officers

Spreadbury disputes Judge Lynch’s finding that Officer Snavely, who investigated him for criminally trespassing on Library property, is entitled to qualified immunity. (Doc. 257 at 4-6.) He insists there is a clearly established constitutional right not to be investigated for trespass on public property. (Id. at 5.) He is incorrect. There is no “clearly established” right to be free from investigation, and the criminal trespass charge was not clearly precluded under Montana law.

There is no constitutional right not to be investigated by law enforcement for suspected violations of the law. E.g. S.E.C. v. Jerry T. O'Brien, Inc., 467 U.S. 735, 742, 104 S.Ct. 2720, 81 L.Ed.2d 615 (1984) (an investigation by the SEC into possible violations of securities laws does not implicate the Due Process or the Sixth Amendment); Krainski v. Nev. ex rel. Bd. of Regents of Nev. System of Higher Educ., 616 F.3d 963, 971 (9th Cir.2010) (allegations that defamation by a state actor impaired future employment opportunities or caused psychological trauma are insufficient to invoke constitutional protection from being investigated); Aponte v. Calderon, 284 F.3d 184, 193 (1st Cir.2002) (“Investigations alone do not trigger due process rights.”); United States v. Crump, 934 F.2d 947, 957 (8th Cir.1991); United States v. Trayer, 898 F.2d 805, 808 (D.C.Cir.1990) (“But, of course, there is no constitutional right to be free of investigation.”).

Spreadbury argues that it is not a violation of the law for a member of the public to be on public land even if he has been banned from the property. Even assuming there is á right not to be investigated for noncriminal conduct, it is not clearly established under Montana law that criminal trespass is inapplicable on public land. “[A] person commits the of fense of criminal trespass to property if the person knowingly ... enters or remains unlawfully in or upon the premises of another.” Mont.Code Ann. § 45-6-203(1). “Property of another” includes real property “in which a person other than the offender has an interest that the offender has no authority to defeat or impair, even though the offender may have an interest in the property.” § 45-2-101(62). The privilege to enter on the premises of another “may be revoked at any time by personal communication of notice by the landowner or other authorized person.” § 45-6-201(1). And as discussed above, a Library is authorized to restrict access to patrons if adequate procedural protections are observed. Kreimer, 958 F.2d at 1262.

Here, Spreadbury entered on public Library property — in which other members of the public also have an interest that he has no authority to defeat or impair — after his privilege to do so had been properly revoked by the Library. This conduct satisfies the statutory definition of criminal trespass. The decision in State v. Blakely that criminal trespass had not occurred where the property was open to the public is distinguishable from the facts here. 181 Mont. 118, 592 P.2d 501, 503 (1979). In that case, the defendant had not been banned from the public property for violating the rules of the public agency responsible for the property. Thus, neither case law nor the criminal trespass statute clearly establishes that a criminal trespass charge is not applicable on public land. Officer Snavely is thus entitled to qualified immunity for his decision to investigate Spreadbury for trespass.

For these reasons and for the reasons discussed by Judge Lynch, all the City officers are entitled to qualified immunity for their actions in this case.

C. Malicious Prosecution

Spreadbury reasserts that he was maliciously prosecuted for trespass on public property. (Doc. 257 at 2.) However, he fails to provide any reason to reject Judge Lynch’s conclusion that probable cause for the trespassing charge existed as a matter of law, negating the third element of a malicious prosecution claim. See Plouffe v. Mont Dept. of Pub. Health & Human Servs., 309 Mont. 184, 45 P.3d 10, 14 (2002). There being no clear error in Judge Lynch’s reasoning, the Municipal Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on this claim.

D. Negligent and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

Spreadbury also asks this Court to reject Judge Lynch’s recommendation to dismiss his claims for negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress. (Doc. 257 at 7,10.) However, he gives no reason to reject Judge Lynch’s reasoning and does not point to any evidence in the record that would support his claims. He merely re-alleges that “stress caused permanent impairment of Spreadbury's health NIED criteria is met.” (Id. at 7.) Spread-bury has failed to make the “threshold showing to the court that [his] emotional distress is ‘serious’ or ‘severe.’” Jacobsen v. Allstate Ins. Co., 351 Mont. 464, 215 P.3d 649, 663 (2009). Mere allegations, unsupported by evidence, are insufficient at the summary judgment stage to create a genuine dispute over a material fact. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c).

II. The City’s and Library’s Objections

A. Negligence claims

Spreadbury brought three negligence claims against the City and Library. He alleges that Officers Snavely and BrunerMurphy acted negligently in investigating and preparing police reports concerning accusations that he was criminally trespassing on Library property and stalking the Library director. Specifically, he alleges that Snavely should have known that it is not illegal for a member of the public to be on public property, and that BrunerMurphy should have known that Spread-bury did not commit the crime of stalking in part because Spreadbury has never met the alleged victim. Spreadbury also alleges the Library Board, through Chairman Brophy, acted negligently in revoking his right to use the library. He alleges that Brophy should have known that Spread-bury was never asked to leave the Library and did not willfully violate any Library policies, and that Brophy ignored his written request for reconsideration.

Judge Lynch recommended denying summary judgment as to these claims. He found the Municipal Defendants had failed to address the elements of breach, causation, and damages, and he rejected their argument that they did not owe Spread-bury a duty under Montana’s public duty doctrine. He predicted that the Montana Supreme Court would not apply the public duty doctrine when a government agent “is not merely performing a general duty to protect citizens from private harms but is instead acting affirmatively towards a plaintiff and is, him or herself, the injurious force' that caused harm to the plaintiff.” (Doc. 250 at 41.) Judge Lynch also predicted the Court would conclude “the public duty doctrine does not protect a law enforcement officer from liability for harm caused by a negligent criminal investigation as to the subject of the investigation.” (Doc. 250 at 42 n. 12.) He reasoned:

The public duty doctrine generally deals with situations where a law enforcement officer allegedly breaches a general duty to protect the public by failing to protect a specific plaintiff against an injury caused by a third party or other independent source. In contrast, the public duty doctrine is inapplicable where a law enforcement officer is not merely performing a general duty to protect citizens from private harms, but is instead acting affirmatively towards a plaintiff and is, him or herself, the injurious force that caused harm to the plaintiff.

(Id. at 41 (internal citations omitted).) See also Jones v. Maryland, 425 Md. 1, 38 A.3d 333 (2012); Liser v. Smith, 254 F.Supp.2d 89 (D.D.C.2003); Strickland v. U. of N.C. at Wilmington, 712 S.E.2d 888 (N.C.App.2011); Bates v. Doria, 150 Ill. App.3d 1025, 104 Ill.Dec. 191, 502 N.E.2d 454 (Ill.App. Dist. 2 1986).

Assuming without deciding that Judge Lynch is correct that the Municipal Defendants owed Spreadbury a duty, the facts in the record do not establish what that duty is or if it was breached. These claims involve a sort of professional malpractice, requiring a jury to decide what a reasonable Library board or a reasonable police officer would do in each situation. There is no expert testimony to establish what duty an officer owes in investigating or reporting on a call for assistance or what duty a Library owes in revoking a patron’s library privileges.

The City and Library are also entitled to summary judgment as to breach. The evidence underlying the negligence claims is the same as the evidence underlying Spreadbury’s constitutional claims. This evidence was discussed in the City’s and Library’s summary judgment briefing and laid out in their Statement of Undisputed Facts. Spreadbury failed to raise a genuine dispute over any material fact in his response brief. In their objections before this Court, the City and Library explained how the facts demonstrate they did not breach a duty, if they have one, to Spread-bury. Again, Spreadbury had the oppor tunity to counter their arguments but failed to do so. See Spreadbury’s “Response to City, Library Objection to Court Order, Findings Doc. #250.” Accordingly, the issue of breach has been fully briefed and is properly before the Court,

a. The Library

There is no evidence to suggest the Library breached any duty toward Spread-bury. The undisputed facts demonstrate Spreadbury engaged in multiple confrontations with staff and, after he had been banned from the Library, with both staff and patrons. Spreadbury requested that the Library maintain a letter he had written to President Obama in its collection. The first time his request was refused by a staffmember, Spreadbury became animated and “a bit scarey.” (Doc. 152-1.) The staffmember reported the incident to the Library Director. (Id.) Spreadbury then wrote a letter to the Library Director again demanding that his letter be placed in the collection. (Doc. 152-4.) In it, he made a veiled reference to the Unabomber:

“Let me remind you both that in 1995 a ‘personal letter’ was published and available at national libraries which advocated violence, and condoned murder. The letter ended up being from Lincoln, Montana.”

(Id.) In response, the Library Director wrote to Spreadbury, again denying his request and explaining that his letter is not authoritative or objective and that other avenues are available for Spreadbury to voice his opinions. (Doc. 152-5.) Two days later, Spreadbury confronted another staffperson at the Library. This time, his “tirade” was so frightening that the staff-member had to be allowed to go home to calm down, and she reported the incident to the police. (Doc. 152-1; 158-1, -2.) Another staffmember who witnessed this “tirade” agreed that Spreadbury’s conduct was “despicable” or “pitiful.” (Doc. 152-8.)

Though Spreadbury insists this behavior was not disruptive, it objectively disrupted the staffs ability to do their work and their sense of safety. The Library director decided to terminate his Library privileges in accordance with the policy and Montana Code Annotated § 22-1-311. Spreadbury has not raised any genuine issue of material fact suggesting the Library acted negligently. His only arguments concern the legality of the Library’s process, which is addressed in the discussions of due process above and in Judge Lynch’s Findings and Recommendations.

b. Officer Snavely

The undisputed facts show that Spreadbury was notified by letter on June 11, 2009, that he was no longer allowed in the Library building or on the grounds. Nonetheless, Spreadbury was seen in the Library gazebo on August 20, 2009. The Library Director reported that Spread-bury was trespassing, and Officer Snavely responded to the call. He spoke with Spreadbury in the gazebo, warned him not to return to the Library, and took a report. Spreadbury voluntarily left the premises. Later that day, Spreadbury met with Officer Snavely again at City Hall and was again warned not to return to the Library. However, he returned that very day,⁴ ultimately confronting a patron, Ms. Cassens, demanding to know if she had talked with the police and her name and phone number. He yelled at her, making her and two witnesses nervous. He left but returned soon after with a video camera and began filming Ms. Cassens. When she reported the incident to Library staff, the Library director again called the police. Officer Snavely interviewed Ms. Cassens, two witnesses, and the Director, and prepared another report. No evidence suggests that the interviews were conducted negligently or that Officer Snavely misrepresented or omitted anything he saw or learned in the reports. He clearly explained in his report that Spreadbury had been banned from the Library and identified the premises as the Bitterroot Public Library.

Again, Spreadbury’s argument is purely legal — he insists Officer Snavely “should have known” that it is not possible to criminally trespass on public property. However, as discussed above in the discussion of whether Spreadbury’s constitutional rights were violated, it is not clear under Montana law that criminal trespass is inapplicable on public land. Moreover, no evidence suggests that Officer Snavely interfered with the prosecutor’s exercise of independent judgment in reviewing the reports and deciding to press charges,

c. Officer Bruner-Murphy

The facts found by Judge Lynch in his discussion of whether Officer BrunerMurphy committed any constitutional violations also establish that Bruner-Murphy did not act negligently. The Library Director contacted the police department to make a complaint that Spreadbury was “stalking” her. She described his conduct to Bruner-Murphy and provided him several documents representing the conduct she was complaining of. Bruner-Murphy explained the procedure for filing for an order of protection and prepared a report based on the interview and documents. No evidence suggests that Bruner-Murphy misrepresented or omitted anything in the report, no charges were ever filed relating to this report, and Spreadbury has alleged no damages relating to the investigation.

Conclusion

Because the undisputed facts in the record do not establish the relevant standard of care or that it was breached, the Municipal Defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to each of Spreadbury’s negligence claims.

B. Punitive Damages and Injunctive Relief

Because all of Spreadbury’s claims against the Municipal Defendants fail, he is not entitled to injunctive relief or punitive damages.

III. Conclusion

For the reasons discussed above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. Judge Lynch’s Findings and Recommendations (doc. 250) are adopted in part and rejected in part based on the additional briefing of the parties.

2. The Municipal Defendants’ Motions for Summary Judgment (docs. 148 and 150) are DENIED as moot with respect to Spreadbury’s claims for punitive damages because there is no underlying cause of action on which punitive damages could be awarded. The motions are otherwise GRANTED, and all of Spreadbury’s claims against the Municipal Defendants (the Bitterroot Public Library, City of Hamilton, Dr. Robert Brophy, Trista Smith, Nansú Roddy, Jerry Steele, Steve Snavely, Steven Bruner-Murphy, Ryan Oster, Kenneth Bell, and Jennifer Lint) are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

3. The Municipal Defendants’ Motion for Leave to File Supplemental Summary Judgment Motion and Brief (doc. 252) is DENIED as moot.

5. Because no claim remains against the Municipal Defendants, all deadlines pertaining to them, including the jury trial scheduled for June 25, 2012, are VACATED.

Footnotes

1

. It is important to note that Judge Lynch did not find any defendant liable for negligence, contrary to Spreadbury's assertions (doc. 257 at 1, 5). When a court denies one party’s motion for summary judgment, summary judgment is not automatically granted in favor of the other party.

2

. The Library Defendants are the Bitterroot Public Library, Robert Brophy, Trista Smith, and Nansú Roddy.

3

. Regardless of the status of Spreadbury’s library privileges, he cannot come within 600 feet of the Library under the Order of Protection until 2015. (Doc. 152 at 13-14.)

4

. Ms. Cassens reported that Spreadbury may have stayed on the sidewalk during the confrontation.