Terry v. Maricopa County Community College District

• Court: District Court, D. Arizona
• Decided: August 9, 2021
• Docket: 2:19-cv-05754
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

9 LeRodrick Terry, et al., No. CV-19-05754-PHX-DJH

10 Plaintiffs, ORDER

11 v.

12 Maricopa County Community College District, et al., 13 Defendants. 14 15 Pending before the Court is Defendants Maricopa County Community College 16 District, Leslie Cooper, John Doe Cooper, Matthew Hasson, and Casey Kuhn’s 17 (collectively, the “Defendants”) Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. 48). 18 LeRodrick Terry and Aisha Terry (“Dr. Terry” or “Plaintiffs”) filed a Response (Doc. 52), 19 and Defendants filed a Reply (Doc. 54). 20 I. Background 21 Dr. Terry, in his capacity as Vice President of Student Affairs for Rio Salado 22 College, was accused of sexual harassment. (Doc. 13 at ¶ 26). Defendants hired Ms. 23 Wilcox, an outside investigator, to investigate these accusations. (Docs. 17 at ¶ 57; 49 at ¶ 24 3). Ms. Wilcox produced a report of her findings (“Investigation Report”) in January 2018, 25 which Defendants assert “substantiated 15 separate instances of inappropriate conduct 26 towards women by Plaintiff in the performance of his duties.” (Docs. 48 at 3; 49 at ¶ 5; 49- 27 2 at 3). Dr. Terry appealed the findings in the Investigation Report. (Doc. 49-2 at 61–65). 28 Defendants sent the Investigation Report’s findings to outside counsel for review. (Id.) 1 Beginning in March 2018, Defendants started to receive public records requests 2 from the media, many of which “specifically referenced Dr. Terry by name, the 3 confidential investigation of Dr. Terry, and the confidential report prepared by Ms. 4 Wilcox.” (Docs. 17 at ¶ 32; 49 at ¶¶ 15–21; 49-2 at 42–53). Defendants sent various 5 communications in response to media inquiries indicating the confidentiality of the 6 investigation while in progress. (Doc. 49-2 at 42–53). 7 Meanwhile, on April 13, 2018, Dr. Terry and Defendants entered into a separation 8 agreement and release. (Doc. 49-2 at 61–65). Among other things, this agreement released 9 Dr. Terry’s prior claims against Rio Salado College including his EEOC claim, provided 10 that Dr. Terry would “withdraw his appeal of the findings in the Investigation Report,” and 11 stipulated that Dr. Terry’s resignation would be effective June 30, 2018. (Id.) 12 Once finalized, Defendants released the Investigation Report to the media starting 13 May 4, 2018. (Docs. 13 at ¶ 124; 49 at ¶ 22). Many media outlets subsequently published 14 articles quoting from the Investigation Report. (Docs. 13 at ¶¶ 97–105; 49 at ¶¶ 23–27). 15 Plaintiffs allege that since the report’s release, Dr. Terry has been unable to secure 16 employment in “the educational field comparable to his former Vice President position 17 with” Defendants after applying to over 200 jobs and not being selected. (Doc. 17 at ¶¶ 18 167–69). Plaintiffs assert Dr. Terry cannot find employment because Defendants released 19 the Investigation Report to the media. (Id. at ¶ 169–70). Plaintiffs now bring suit against 20 Defendants for: (1) breach of contract; (2) breach of the implied covenant of good faith and 21 fair dealing; (3) rescission of contract; (4) violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981; (5) violation of 22 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (6) defamation; (7) retaliation in violation of Title VII; and (8) loss of 23 consortium. (Id. at ¶¶ 175–280). 24 Defendants now move for partial summary judgment, arguing that they were 25 required to release the Investigation Report under Arizona’s Public Records Law (the 26 “PRL”). (Doc. 48). 27 II. Legal Standard 28 As with a Rule 56(c) motion, partial summary judgment is generally appropriate 1 when the evidence, viewed “in the light most favorable to the non-moving party,” shows 2 “that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to 3 judgment as a matter of law.” Eisenberg v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., 815 F.2d 1285, 1289 (9th 4 Cir. 1987); Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A fact is material if it affects the outcome of the case 5 under prevailing substantive law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 6 (1986). There is a genuine dispute “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could 7 return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. Summary judgment must be entered “against 8 a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element 9 essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” 10 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). 11 III. Discussion 12 The parties dispute whether the PRL required Defendants to disclose the 13 Investigation Report. The public’s right to public records is established in the PRL, which 14 states that “[p]ublic records and other matters in the custody of any officer shall be open to 15 inspection by any person at all times . . . .” A.R.S. § 39-121. To determine whether a 16 document must be disclosed under the PRL, Courts apply a two-step process: (1) the court 17 first evaluates the material to determine if it is indeed a “public record,” and if so, then (2) 18 whether “privacy, confidentiality, or the best interests of the state outweigh[ed]” the 19 “strong presumption in favor of disclosure.” Griffis v. Pinal Cty., 156 P.3d 418, 422 (Ariz. 20 2007). The strong presumption in favor of disclosure aims to promote public access to 21 records and to allow public monitoring of public officials’ performance. Carlson v. Pima 22 Cty., 687 P.2d 1242, 1245–46 (Ariz. 1984); see also ARIZ. ATT’Y GEN. OP. I91-004. 23 1. Whether the Investigation Report is a Public Record 24 To determine whether a document is a public record, courts conduct a “content- 25 driven inquiry.” Griffis, 156 P.3d at 421. Only “documents having a substantial nexus with 26 a government agency’s activities qualify as public records.” Id. Generally, documents that 27 are “reasonably necessary or appropriate to maintain an accurate knowledge of . . . official 28 activities and of any . . . activities that are supported by monies from this state or any 1 political subdivision of this state,” A.R.S. § 39-121.01(B), or that are “made or received . 2 . . as evidence of functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations or other activities,” 3 A.R.S. § 41-151.18, qualify as public records under the PRL. 4 Plaintiffs make several arguments as to why the Investigation Report cannot be 5 considered a public record. First, Plaintiffs argue that Ms. Wilcox, the contractor who 6 conducted the investigation, was a “private citizen,” not a public officer whose work could 7 be considered “public record.” (Doc. 52 at 5–7). But this position lacks legal support. 8 Public records may include “documentary materials . . . made or received by any 9 governmental agency . . . in connection with the transaction of public business . . . .” A.R.S. 10 § 39-121.01(B) (emphasis added).1 Therefore, it is immaterial that Defendants hired Ms. 11 Wilcox as an independent contractor because any documents she produced, and which 12 Defendants received, during her investigation into sexual harassment allegations on behalf 13 of Defendants would therefore be records “reasonably necessary” to carry out that function. 14 A.R.S. § 39-121.01(B). 15 Next, Plaintiffs argue the Investigation Report is not a public record because 16 Defendants provided it to the public before it was complete. (Doc. 52 at 8). Plaintiffs had 17 earlier alleged that Defendants established policy was that “[p]ersonnel records that are 18 works in progress or part of the deliberative process are not subject to release.” (Doc. 17 at 19 9). Here, they offer support for this argument by quoting an email sent by Defendants’ 20 employees in response to media inquiries on March 14, 2018 that states: “[t]his is an 21 ongoing matter that is not concluded . . . [t]here is no completed decision or investigation.” 22 (Doc. 49-2 at 79). 23 Defendants argue that the emailed statement was made on March 14, 2018, at a time 24 when the investigation was ongoing; however, once Plaintiff entered into the separation 25 agreement on April 13, 2018, this terminated the investigation review process rendering 26 1 Additionally, in other matters when courts have sought to determine employee status for 27 disclosure or privilege purposes, they have found that the consultant or independent contractor’s function trumps title. Ariz. Indep. Redistricting Comm’n v. Fields, 75 P.3d 28 1088, 1098 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2003); see also Gravel v. United States, 408 U.S. 606, 621–23 (1972) (the court’s inquiry centered on the employee’s function for privilege purposes rather than the employee’s job title). 1 the investigation complete. (Docs. 49-2 at 42, 65; 54 at 6). The separation agreement states 2 that “the investigation was completed,” but Dr. Terry’s appeal of the investigator’s findings 3 resulted in an assignment of the appeal “to an outside attorney for review.” (Doc. 49-2 at 4 61). A provision in the separation agreement stipulated that Dr. Terry “withdraws his 5 appeal” and “this withdrawal makes further review . . . unnecessary” thus the outside 6 attorney would conclude his review of the appeal and not issue a decision. (Doc. 49-2 at 7 62). The Court therefore finds that undisputed evidence shows the Investigation Report 8 was no longer a work-in-progress when it was released on May 4, 2018 because the 9 investigation had concluded, and no appeals remained pending after the separation 10 agreement was executed on April 13, 2018. (Docs. 13 at ¶ 124; 49 at ¶ 22; 49-2 at 42, 65). 11 Additionally, even if the Investigation Report were incomplete, and Defendants 12 violated their own policy by releasing an in-progress document, the PRL does not require 13 that a document must be complete to be subject to disclosure. Plaintiffs cite a case that has 14 since been vacated by the Arizona Supreme Court seeking to support their claim that there 15 is an exception under the PRL for work-in-progress documents. (Doc. 52 at 8) (citing 16 Griffis v. Pinal Cty., 141 P.3d 780 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2006)). However, “[o]nce an opinion of 17 the Court of Appeals has been vacated by [the Arizona Supreme Court], it is of no force 18 and effect and is not authority.” Stroud v. Dorr-Oliver, Inc., 542 P.2d 1102, 1110 (Ariz. 19 1975). Other than this vacated opinion which has no force, and caselaw cited from outside 20 Arizona, the Court cannot find, nor has it been presented with, legal authority definitively 21 stating that work-in-progress documents are not subject to disclosure under the PRL. The 22 PRL does not specify that the record must be complete. Records as defined in A.R.S. § 41- 23 151 are included in the definition of “public records” which provide that records “means 24 all books, papers . . . or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or 25 characteristics.” A.R.S. § 41-151; § 121.01(B). The Court therefore finds that the 26 Investigation Report was a public record regardless of its completion status. 27 Finally, Plaintiffs argue that the Investigation Report was not a disciplinary record 28 and thus Defendants should not have disclosed it. (Doc. 52 at 9–10). But this argument also 1 lacks legal support. While the PRL provides that disciplinary records shall be maintained 2 and open for inspection, it also stipulates that “this section does not . . . limit the duty . . . 3 to make public records open to inspection.” A.R.S. § 39-128. Just because a record is not 4 a disciplinary record does not mean it cannot be released. In other words, a releasable 5 public record, in this case the Investigation Report, need not be a disciplinary record. See 6 A.R.S. § 41-151; § 121.01(B). 7 Having exhausted all of Plaintiffs’ arguments to the contrary, the Court finds that 8 the Investigation Report is a public record. 9 2. Whether Other Considerations Outweigh the Presumption Favoring Disclosure 10 Plaintiffs argue that even if the Investigation Report is a public record, Defendants 11 should not have released it because Dr. Terry’s confidentiality and privacy interests 12 outweighed the public’s interest in its release. (Doc. 52 at 10). While Arizona courts have 13 recognized a privacy exception to the PRL, only information encompassing “the 14 individual’s control of information concerning his or her person” has consistently been 15 found to outweigh the public’s interest. Scottsdale Unified Sch. Dist. No. 48 v. KPNX 16 Broad. Co., 955 P.2d 534, 539 (Ariz. 1998) (citing United States DOJ v. Reporters Comm. 17 for Freedom of Press, 489 U.S. 749, 763–64 (1989) to aid in defining the meaning of a 18 privacy interest under the Public Records Law). This is generally limited to information 19 not freely available to the public such as an individual’s social security number, or birth 20 date. Id. (finding that birth dates and social security numbers are private information not 21 subject to disclosure upon a Public Records Law request); see also ARIZ. ATT’Y GEN. OP. 22 I91-004 (finding that home addresses and private telephone numbers are not subject to 23 disclosure). Thus, for all other information not concerning “his or her person” there remains 24 a “strong presumption in favor of disclosure.” Scottsdale Unified Sch. Dist., 955 P.2d at 25 539 (citing United States DOJ, 489 U.S. at 763–64 (1989)); Griffis, 156 P.3d at 422. 26 Defendants contend that because the Investigation Report “is not information 27 related to Plaintiff’s ‘person’” but rather “concerns Plaintiff’s substantiated conduct in his 28 duties as a public official” there is no privacy interest. (Doc. 54 at 10) (emphasis in the 1 original). The Court agrees that Dr. Terry had no privacy interest because the sexual assault 2 investigation concerned his alleged actions in his capacity as Vice President of Student 3 Affairs rather than information pertaining to “his person.” Plaintiffs’ other privacy 4 arguments citing federal law rather than Arizona law are unavailing because Arizona law 5 clearly establishes a limited PRL privacy exception. (Doc. 52 at 13) (citing Hunt v. F.B.I., 6 972 F.2d 286, 288 (9th Cir. 1992)); see KPNX-TV v. Superior Court, 905 P.2d 598, 601 7 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1995) (only when “there is no Arizona authority on point,” may “analogous 8 authority” be relied upon to interpret the PRL). Plaintiffs further argue that Dr. Terry 9 retained a confidentiality interest in the Investigation Report because Defendants referred 10 to the in-progress report as confidential. (Docs. 52 at 8; 49-2 at 42). The Court does not 11 find this argument persuasive because the Plaintiffs rely on a quotation from an email 12 Defendants sent on March 14, 2018 while the investigation was ongoing rather than 13 concluded. (Doc. 49-2 at 42). At that time, the outside counsel was reviewing Dr. Terry’s 14 appeal, and therefore the report was “maintained in a confidential manner” per Defendants’ 15 policy. (Doc. 17 at ¶ 36). 16 Additionally, while Dr. Terry suggests that Defendants “[a]t the very least . . . could 17 have redacted [his] name,” before the Investigation Report was released to protect his 18 confidentiality interest, the Court agrees with Defendants’ assertion that redacting Dr. 19 Terry’s name would have made no difference. (Doc. 52 at 14; Doc. 54 at 11). According 20 to Plaintiffs’ own complaint, multiple “public records requests from the media . . . 21 specifically referenced Dr. Terry by name, the confidential investigation of Dr. Terry, and 22 the confidential report prepared by Ms. Wilcox.” (Doc. 13 at ¶ 74). Thus, it would have 23 made no difference whether the report was released with or without Dr. Terry’s name. 24 Although Plaintiffs cite an Attorney General Opinion stating that “[I]t is our opinion that 25 investigative reports need not be released to the public upon request,” that Opinion was 26 written in the context of determining conflicts between the Arizona Public Record Statute 27 and the Arizona Plan for the Security and Privacy of Criminal History Record Information. 28 ARIZ. ATT’Y GEN. OP. I80-045. Thus, the Court finds that the investigations referred to by the attorney general are criminal investigation matters and this statement does not 2|| necessarily pertain to the investigation and Investigation Report produced by Defendants. 3 Plaintiffs finally assert that Dr. Terry’s privacy and confidentiality interests outweighed that of the public because the report was “flawed and biased.” (Doc. 52 at 14). 5 || Whether the report is flawed and biased is not an issue properly before the Court. The 6 || matter here concerns whether the Investigation Report is a public record, and whether the || public’s interest in disclosure outweighed Plaintiffs’ privacy and confidentiality interests. 8 || The Court notes that the Investigation Report found 15 separate instances of inappropriate conduct toward women, and it therefore demonstrates how Defendants respond to allegations of sexual harassment. (Doc. 49-2 at 7-32). Generally, the public’s interest in 11 || disclosure regarding sexual assault allegations is greater than an individual’s privacy interest. Hickman v. Ryan, 2009 WL 4730854, at *52 (D. Ariz. Aug. 28, 2009) (finding the 13 || public’s interest to be greater than the individual’s privacy interest because “the public ha[s] an interest in maintaining a sexual harassment-free . . . workplace’’). 15 Ultimately, the Court finds Plaintiffs have not overcome the “strong presumption in favor of disclosure.” Griffis, 156 P.3d at 422. 17} IV. Conclusion 18 There is no genuine dispute of material fact that the PRL required Defendants to disclose the Investigation Report. Plaintiffs failed to establish that the report was not || subject to the PRL, or that “privacy, confidentiality, or the best interests of the state || outweigh[ed]” the “strong presumption in favor of disclosure.” Jd. Therefore, the Court 22 || must grant partial summary judgment in Defendants’ favor. 23 Accordingly, 24 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants’ Partial Motion for Summary 25 || Judgment is granted. 26 Dated this 9th day of August, 2021. 7 Ji ee La 28 norable' Diang4. Huretewa United States District Judge -8-