Sylvester v. Fogley

383 F. Supp. 2d 1135, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17854, 2005 WL 2016252
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Arkansas
DecidedJuly 28, 2005
Docket04-2200
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 383 F. Supp. 2d 1135 (Sylvester v. Fogley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sylvester v. Fogley, 383 F. Supp. 2d 1135, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17854, 2005 WL 2016252 (W.D. Ark. 2005).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

DAWSON, District Judge.

Currently before the Court is Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 11), Plaintiffs Response (Doc. 17), and Defendants’ Reply. (Doc. 22.) This case arises out of an investigation conducted by the Arkansas State Police (hereinafter “ASP”). Separate Defendants Sergeant Steve Clemmons and Lieutenant Doug Fogley investigated a report of a sexual relationship that occurred between Plaintiff, an ASP Officer, and a female complainant in a criminal investigation. Plaintiff filed a complaint (Doc. 1) pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Arkansas Civil Rights Act (hereinafter “ACRA”), Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-123-105, alleging that the ASP investigation violated his constitutionally protected privacy rights. Plaintiff also contends Separate Defendant Don Melton, former Director of the ASP, failed to institute policies and training programs that would have prevented such violations. In their Answers (Doc. 2, 4), Defendants deny they violated Plaintiffs constitutional rights and claim to be entitled to qualified immunity. For the reasons that follow, the Defendants’ Motion (Doc. 11) is GRANTED.

I. Background

The following facts are undisputed unless otherwise noted. At all times relevant to this case, Plaintiff was employed as a criminal investigator in the ASP Criminal Investigation Division, based in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Plaintiffs immediate supervisor was Separate Defendant Sgt. *1137 Clemmons. Clemmons, in turn, was supervised by Separate Defendant Lt. Doug Fogley.

In January 2003, Clemmons assigned Plaintiff to investigate a complaint made by a married couple, who were also co-owners of a local business. The couple suspected their secretary of embezzling substantial sums of money. During Plaintiffs investigation, he contacted the female complainant (hereinafter “Complainant”) and requested copies of certain documents that were relevant to the case. The two agreed that Complainant would hand-deliver the documents to Plaintiffs home. The forthcoming ASP investigation determined that, during Complainant’s visit, Plaintiff and Complainant engaged in sexual intercourse several times. (Doc. 19 at ¶ 26.)

On August 5, 2003, Complainant’s husband, after having discovered the sexual relationship between Plaintiff and his wife, contacted Clemmons to lodge a complaint against Plaintiff. Clemmons scheduled an interview so that a formal complaint could be entered. The next day, Clemmons interviewed Complainant’s husband, who informed Clemmons that the affair between Plaintiff and his wife had caused them to divorce and was “messing up our case against [the secretary].” 1 (Doc. 19 ¶ 10.) Fogley assigned Clemmons to investigate the matter. On August 7, 2003, Fogley sent Plaintiff correspondence advising him of the complaint and the impending investigation.

On August 25, 2003, Clemmons began the investigation by interviewing Complainant, who denied having a sexual relationship with Plaintiff. On August 27, 2003, Clemmons interviewed Plaintiff, who repeatedly maintained that he had never had a sexual relationship with Complainant.

On September 10, 2003, Plaintiff was given a polygraph examination, following the execution of two documents. The first document was an Arkansas State Police Policy Acknowledgment Form, which included language that “[a]ny employee who knowingly and deliberately lies or makes a false statement while being questioned during an internal investigation will be terminated,” and the second document was the so-called “Garrity Warning”, which advised Plaintiff if he did not answer all questions “fully and truthfully” he would be subject to disciplinary action. (Doc. 19 at ¶ 24.) During the pre-polygraph interview, Plaintiff again denied having a sexual relationship with Complainant. The polygraph examination indicated that Plaintiffs answers were deceptive, and Plaintiff ultimately admitted the sexual relationship.

On September 11, 2003, Clemmons contacted the federal and state prosecutors in charge of the embezzlement case. The Assistant United States Attorney related to Clemmons that Plaintiffs credibility would be an issue in future prosecutions. Likewise, the State Deputy Prosecuting Attorney attributed the dismissal of the state’s case against the secretary to Plaintiffs actions and expressed concern regarding the integrity of Plaintiffs future investigations.

After a review of the investigation report, Fogley recommended that certain disciplinary action be taken against Plaintiff for compromising the embezzlement case and damaging the reputation of the ASP. The Division commander also recommended disciplinary action. On November 14, 2003, a three-member Disciplinary Re *1138 view Board (hereinafter “DRB”) was convened to review the investigation report, hold a hearing, and recommend any punishment. The DRB then recommended to Melton a 15-day suspension without pay, a one-year reduction in rank to trooper first class, and a transfer from the Criminal Investigation Division to the Highway Patrol Division.

After his review of the disciplinary recommendations, 2 Melton terminated Plaintiffs employment on April 7, 2004. Plaintiff appealed the decision to the ASP Commission, which conducted a hearing on July 20, 2004. The ASP Commission ultimately reinstated Plaintiff and simultaneously transferred him to the Highway Patrol Division.

Plaintiffs complaint alleges causes of action against the Separate Defendants in their individual capacities. Plaintiff alleges violations of his right of privacy as a result of the ASP delving into his off-duty, intimate, consensual sexual relationship. Plaintiff also alleges that Melton, while aware that Fogley and Clemmons had the authority to investigate ASP employees, failed to institute policies and training programs that would protect the privacy rights of those employees. Plaintiff seeks punitive damages and compensatory damages for mental anguish and lost pay. Defendants deny any constitutional rights violations and claim alternatively that, in the event the Court does find that Plaintiffs constitutional rights were violated, they are entitled to qualified immunity.

II. Standard for Summary Judgment

A motion for summary judgment will be granted when “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). A “material” fact is one “that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law .... ” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A “genuine” issue of material fact exists when there is sufficient evidence favoring the party opposing the motion for a jury to return a verdict for that party. Id. In determining whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the evidence is to be taken in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Adickes v. S.H.

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Bluebook (online)
383 F. Supp. 2d 1135, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17854, 2005 WL 2016252, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sylvester-v-fogley-arwd-2005.