K.T. v. Pittsburg Unified School District
K.T. v. Pittsburg Unified School District
Opinion of the Court
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS
A girl just shy of her tenth birthday brings claims against her former special-education aide, teacher, principal, and school district for abuse she allegedly suffered at their hands or on their watch. So do her parents. The latter three defendants now move to dismiss.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Factual Background
Plaintiff KT. suffers from autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and an intellectual disability. Compl. (dkt. 1) ¶ 16. Although she understands when spoken to, K.T. has a limited vocabulary and has trouble speaking in complete sentences. Id. ¶ 18. She also often puts inedible objects in her mouth. Id. ¶ 16.
Maria Aldave, a parent of another Park-side student, saw Joseph “and/or” Brinker-hoff commit “similar abuse” multiple times. Id. ¶ 21(d). Caterina Ferrante, a Parkside staff member, saw other staff-including Joseph “and/or” Brinkerhoff— pull up KT.’s shirt and exhibit “very abrupt and jumpy” behavior towards her on a “daily or near-daily basis.” Id. ¶ 22(c). Occupational therapist Cynthia Chaires discovered strange bruises KT.’s hips, stomach, and underarms. Id ¶ 21(a). The bruises ranged in size and color, from big to small, red to green. Id An unnamed bus driver saw Joseph scream at a student and complained to Parkside’s principal, Defendant Jeffrey Varner, about what he saw. Id. ¶ 22(a). And Brinkerhoff herself reported problems with how Joseph interacted with students to Varner. Id. ¶ 22(b). She had seen Joseph being rough with students, pulling students, being “physically loud” with students, raising her voice to students, getting “in the kids’ faces,” and generally being “rough around the edges with them.” Id. ¶ 22(c). All of this happened before May 28, 2015. See id ¶¶ 21-22.
On May 28, Aldave and another parent, Bertha Canales, saw Joseph “and/or” Brinkerhoff grab KT. roughly by the hands, pull her back and forth, and scream at her. Id. ¶ 21(b). On June 1, those two parents again saw Joseph “and/or” Brink-erhoff grab K.T. roughly, pull on her arms, push her—and then slap her across the face and kick her buttocks. Id. 1(21(c). The parents told Varner what they saw. Id ¶24.
On June 3, yet another parent, Maria Hernandez, saw Joseph “and/or” Brinker-hoff grab KT.’s hands roughly and pull them away from her mouth “in an aggressive and strong manner.” Id. ¶ 21(e). That same day, KT.’s parents found out about the alleged abuse. Id. ¶25. Joseph was placed on administrative leave. Jd ¶ 26. On June 4, a district staff member called the police. Id ¶27. Parkside staff, including Joseph “and/or” Brinkerhoff, said KT.’s disability justified their behavior.
Because of the abuse, K.T. has regressed verbally and behaviorally. Id. ¶ 31. She now fears going to school. Id. KT. picks at her skin and hits herself in the face hard enough to leave bruises. Id. She turns ten years old on November 14, 2016. Id
B. Procedural History
As required by California law, KT. and her parents each filed claims with Defendant Pittsburg Unified School District (“the District”) on November 12, 2015. See Dist. Claims (dkt. 25-1 Exs. A, B & C); Cal. Gov’t Code § 945.4. Those claims named Gloria Joseph and “other unidentified employees” of Pittsburg Unified School District as those “causing the accident or loss.” See Dist. Claim at 1. They
K.T. and her parents sued Joseph, Brinkerhoff, Varner, and the District on June 15, 2016. See id. at 15. They alleged federal constitutional and statutory claims, as well as claims under California law. See id at 1. Brinkerhoff, Varner, and the District now move to dismiss all claims against them, except those for negligence. See MTD at 2.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), the Court should dismiss a complaint if it does not plead facts that entitle the plaintiff to relief. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). A Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal “can be based on the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). A complaint “must contain either direct or inferential allegations respecting all the material elements necessary to sustain recovery under some viable legal theory.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 562, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007).
Under Rule 12(b)(6), the Court must accept all material allegations as true and construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Cahill v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 337-38 (9th Cir. 1996) (citation omitted). But the Court is “not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation.” Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286, 106 S.Ct. 2932, 92 L.Ed.2d 209 (1986) (citation omitted); see Clegg v. Cult Awareness Network, 18 F.3d 752, 754-55 (9th Cir. 1994). A “pleading that offers ‘labels and conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.’ Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders ‘naked assertion[s]’ devoid of ‘further factual enhancement.’ ” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955). Rather, it must plead “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’ ” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955).
A complaint should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless there is strong evidence that an amendment will result in “undue delay, bad faith, ... repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed ... [or] futility of amendment-” Sonoma Cnty. Ass’n of Retired Emps. v. Sonoma Cnty., 708 F.3d 1109, 1117 (9th Cir. 2013) (quotation omitted); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 15. The Court should examine whether the complaint can be amended to cure the defect “without contradicting any of [the] original complaint.” Reddy v. Litton Indus., 912 F.2d 291, 296 (9th Cir. 1990). Courts should liberally grant leave to amend, but an amended complaint must allege facts consistent with the challenged pleading. Id. at 296-97.
III. DISCUSSION
K.T. and her parents bring an array of federal and state law claims against Brink-erhoff, Varner, and the District. But before reaching the substance of those claims, the Court will address an issue left mostly unaddressed by the parties: immunity.
A. Immunity
Because this case involves a suit for money damages against state officials and
First, Brinkerhoff and Varner could have invoked qualified immunity at this stage but did not. See MTD at 2-3, 6-15; Reply at 4-16. So, for now, they have waived the defense. See Norwood v. Vance, 591 F.3d 1062, 1076 (9th Cir. 2009); Isom v. Town of Warren, 360 F.3d 7, 9 (1st Cir. 2004) (“[DJefendants did not raise immunity ... and so they have waived that defense as grounds for the motion.”); see also Siegert v. Gilley, 500 U.S. 226, 231, 111 S.Ct. 1789, 114 L.Ed.2d 277 (1991) (“Qualified immunity is a defense that must be pleaded.”). Still, they may invoke qualified immunity at summary judgment so long as it does not cause unfair prejudice. See Norwood, 591 F.3d at 1076.
Second, although California school districts are state agencies, Belanger v. Madera Unified School. Dist., 963 F.2d 248, 254 (9th Cir. 1992), the District has not invoked sovereign immunity.
B. Section 1983 Claims Under the Fourth Amendment
K.T. asserts two theories of liability under the Fourth Amendment. First, she maintains that Joseph “and/or” Brinker-hoff used excessive force. See Compl. ¶ 33; Opp’n (dkt. 35) at 7-9. Second, she maintains that Brinkerhoff and Varner knew about the alleged abuse but failed to act, resulting in supervisory liability. See Compl. ¶ 35.
Contrary to Defendants’ suggestions, it is abundantly clear that K.T.’s excessive force claim should be analyzed under the Fourth Amendment, not substantive due process. Compare Preschooler II v. Clark Cnty. School Bd., 479 F.3d 1175, 1180 (9th Cir. 2007); (“The consequences of a teacher’s force against a student at school are generally analyzed under ... the Fourth Amendment.”); Doe v. Hawaii Dep’t of Ed., 334 F.3d 906, 909 (9th Cir. 2003) (“We hold that Doe’s claim is appropriately brought under the Fourth Amendment, not the Due Process Clause.”), with MTD at 7 (“It is not clear whether Plaintiffs excessive force claim should be analyzed under the Fourth or Fourteenth Amendment.”). It is equally clear that K.T. has stated a claim for excessive force under the Fourth Amendment.
Like the plaintiff in Preschooler II, K.T. is young, non-verbal, and suffers from autism. See Preschooler II, 479 F.3d at 1180-81; Compl. ¶¶ 16, 18. She too alleges that her teacher—among other things— grabbed and slapped her. See 479 F.3d at 1178; Compl. ¶¶ 21(a)-(d).
2. Supervisory Liability
K.T. also alleges that Brinkerhoff and Varner failed “to act in response to allegations of serious child abuse” and exhibited “deliberate indifference to the risk of harm to K.T. from Joseph and/or Brink-erhoff or Joseph, respectively.” Compl. ¶ 35. This is a claim for supervisory liability.
Although there is no responde-at superior liability under section 1983, supervisors may still be liable for their own misconduct. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676-77, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (emphasis added). And even after Iqbal,
Brinkerhoff had a first-hand view of Joseph’s behavior because Joseph worked in her classroom. See Compl. ¶ 17; 21. And at some point, she reported “problems” with her special education aide to Var-ner—but not to police as required by California’s mandatory reporter law. See id. ¶¶ 21; 22(b)—(c); Cal. Penal Code §§ 11165.7 & 9. But even if the constitutional minimum for “acquiescence” falls below state law reporting requirements, K.T. has—at the very least—plausibly alleged that Brinkerhoff failed to “control” Joseph. See Compl. ¶¶ 21; 22(b)-(c). That is enough. See Starr, 652 F.3d at 1208.
Varner presents a closer question, but not by much. Both Brinkerhoff and a bus driver told him about “screaming” and other “problems” with Joseph. See Compl. 1HI22(a)-(b). That is all the complaint alleges until June l,
In any event, KT. has alleged more than enough. As principal of Parkside, Varner may be held liable for failing to control teachers and aides at his school. See Preschooler II, 479 F.3d at 1182-83 (affirming denial of motion to dismiss supervisory claims against school principal, district superintendent, and other administrative personnel). And, if Parkside’s training about mandatory reporter laws was as “woefully inadequate” as alleged, Compl. ¶30, he bears much of the blame.
C. Section 1983 Claim Under Substantive Due Process
KT.’s parents bring a substantive due process claim against Joseph, Brinker-hoff, and Varner for “intentionally interfering” with their “liberty to direct the upbringing, education, and care of KT.,” as well as with the parent-child relationship itself. See Compl. ¶ 37. The complaint appears to assert substantive due process claims against Joseph “and/or” Brinkerhoff as alleged perpetrators, as well as against Brinkerhoff and Varner as supervisors.
1. Perpetrator Liability
Although an alleged victim of excessive force herself may not bring a substantive due process claim, Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395, 109 S.Ct. 1865, 104 L.Ed.2d 443 (1989), the Ninth Circuit allows parents to bring one for a deprivation of “companionship and society” with their child, Curnow v. Ridgecrest Police, 952 F.2d 321, 325 (9th Cir. 1991). But to recover, a parent-plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant’s conduct “shocked the conscience.” Porter v. Osborn, 546 F.3d 1131, 1136 (9th Cir. 2008); see also Brittain v. Hansen, 451 F.3d 982, 992, 996 (9th Cir. 2006) (holding that, to state a substantive due process claim, parents must allege (1) a' protected liberty interest, (2) a deprivation of that interest,
The parties focus on whether KT.’s parents must allege a “total deprivation” of the parent-child relationship for their substantive due process claim to survive. See MTD at 11-12; Opp’n at 11-13. But that glosses over the dispositive point that the abuse—as plausibly alleged
2. Supervisory Liability
Because the perpetrator’s alleged conduct does not shock the conscience, it follows a fortiori that her supervisor’s did not either.
D. Federal Statutory Claims
K.T. asserts claims against the District under Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. See Compl. ¶¶ 39-52. Congress modeled the former on the latter, so the elements for both claims are nearly identical. Under the ADA, K.T. must plausibly allege that she is a “qualified individual with a disability” and that the District denied her benefits or services “by reason of’ her disability. See Duvall v. Cnty. of Kitsap, 260 F.3d 1124, 1135 (9th Cir. 2001); 42 U.S.C. § 12132. Under the Rehabilitation Act, she must do the same, except that the denial must have been “solely by reason” of her disability. See id. Furthermore, to state a claim for money damages under either statute, K.T. must allege that the District intentionally discriminated against her. See Duvall, 260 F.3d at 1138. In the Ninth Circuit, deliberate indifference meets this intent requirement. Id. So if K.T. has plausibly alleged that the District knew that harm to her federally protected rights was “substantially likely” but failed to act, she has stated claims for relief. See id.
K.T. is clearly a “qualified individual with a disability” under both statutes—and the District does not suggest otherwise, see MTD at 12-15; Reply at 14-16. K.T. also alleges that the abuse came in response to “various symptoms” of her disability, like putting inedible objects in her mouth. See Compl. ¶44. Someone even had the gall to tell someone that K.T.’s disability justified the alleged abuse. See Compl. ¶ 23. The defendants seem to reiterate the point here. See MTD at 9. That
The District counters that no one “high enough up in the chain of command” knew about the alleged abuse and failed to act, and so the District was not deliberately indifferent to KT.’s rights. MTD at 13-15 (relying on Garedakis v. Brentwood Union School Dist., 183 F.Supp.3d 1032, 1041-42, 2016 WL 1718270 at *6, (N.D. Cal. April 29, 2016)). This is, again, beside the point. Duvall makes abundantly clear that, when a plaintiff brings a direct suit under the ADA or the Rehabilitation Act, a public entity is liable in respondeat superior for the acts of its employees. See 260 F.3d at 1141; see also Sheehan v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco, 743 F.3d 1211, 1232 (9th Cir. 2014) (holding that a city may be held liable under the ADA for acts of beat-level officers). K.T. need only allege that the perpetrator of the alleged abuse was deliberately indifferent to her rights.
E. State Law Claims
K.T. brings a number of claims against Joseph, Brinkerhoff, Varner, and the District under California law.
1. California Tort Claims Act Bar
The California Tort Claims Act requires anyone suing a public entity to first file a claim with the entity that includes a “general description” of the alleged injury “so far as it may be known at the time of presentation of the claim.” See Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 910, 945.4. If a plaintiff does not comply with the statute, California courts will dismiss any claims not already properly brought to the entity’s attention.
Still, the statute is designed “to give the government entity notice sufficient for it to investigate and evaluate the claim, not to eliminate meritorious actions.” Stockett v. Ass’n of Cal. Water Agencies, 34 Cal.4th 441, 446, 20 Cal. Rptr.3d 176, 99 P.3d 500 (2004) (citation omitted) (allowing plaintiff to proceed on wrongful termination claim based on his support for a coworker’s complaint of sexual harassment, objections to self-dealing, and protected speech about company bidding practices—even though his initial claim listed only the first basis for wrongful termination). The statutory bar therefore applies only to a “complete shift in allegations, usually involving an effort to premise civil liability on acts or omissions committed at different times or by different persons.” Id. (quoting Blair v. Superior Court, 218 Cal.App.3d 221, 226, 267 Cal. Rptr. 13 (1990)).
The Court refuses the invitation. The district claims named Joseph and “other unidentified employees” as alleged perpetrators. See Dist. Claims at 1. They also told the District what happened, when it happened, and who saw it happen. It is therefore not clear how counsel’s oversight deprived the District of the chance to investigate; it had everything else—including all witnesses and school personnel named here—at its fingertips. And, under Stockett,
2.Battery
Brinkerhoff gives no reason to dismiss KT.’s battery claim other than the California Tort Claims Act, see MTD 5-6, so that claim falls away based on the above analysis.
3.Bane Act
The Bane Act provides for liability when someone, “by threat, intimidation, or coercion,” interferes with “rights secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States” or those of California. See Cal. Civ. Code. § 52.1. Courts deciding whether the “threat, intimidation or coercion” must be distinct from the alleged underlying constitutional or statutory violation have come out all over the map. Compare Cameron v. Craig, 713 F.3d 1012, 1022 (9th Cir. 2013) (holding that the elements for an excessive force claim under the Bane Act are “the same” as under Section 1983), with Shoyoye v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 203 Cal.App.4th 947, 959, 137 Cal.Rptr.3d 839 (2012) (holding that the Bane Act “requires a showing of coercion independent from the coercion inherent in the wrongful detention itself’).
Despite that confusion, the Bane Act claims survive. For a start, K.T. has stated such a claim under Cameron— controlling authority from the Ninth Circuit—simply by having stated a claim for excessive force under Section 1983. See 713 F.3d at 1022; Part III.B.l. What is more, K.T. has plausibly alleged that physical abuse denied her equal access to education in violation of the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. See Parts I.A, III.D, III.F.5. That is coercion enough. And because California law permits respondeat superior liability for Bane Act violations, Gant v. Los Angeles Cnty., 772 F.3d 608, 623 (9th Cir. 2014); Cal. Gov’t Code § 815.2(a), no defendant gets off the hook.
4.Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
To prevail on her claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress,
5. Unruh Civil Rights Act
.The District moves to dismiss KT.’s claim under the Unruh Civil Rights Act because a public school is not a “business establishment” within the meaning of the statute. See MTD at 17-18. The District is mistaken.
The Unruh Civil Rights Act provides that all people in California “are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.” See Cal. Civ. Code § 51(b) (emphasis added). The statute’s plain language leaves no doubt that courts should read “business establishments” in the “broadest sense possible.” Isbister v. Boys Club of Santa Cruz, Inc., 40 Cal.3d 72, 78, 219 Cal.Rptr. 150, 707 P.2d 212 (1985). And if that were not enough, the Ninth Circuit has held that “[a]ny violation of the ADA necessarily constitutes a violation of the Unruh Act.” See Molski v. M.J. Cable, Inc., 481 F.3d 724, 731 (9th Cir. 2007).
The Court will not take the bold step of suggesting that the ADA does not apply to public schools. Accordingly, it holds that public schools are “business establishments” under the Unruh Act, which accords with the weight of lower court authority. See, e.g., Walsh v. Tehachapi Unified School Dist., 827 F.Supp.2d 1107, 1123 (E.D. Cal. 2011); Y.G. v. Riverside Unified School Dist., 774 F.Supp.2d 1055, 1065 (C.D. Cal. 2011); Davison v. Santa Barbara Unified School Dist., 48 F.Supp.2d 1225, 1232-33 (C.D. Cal. 1998); Nicole M. v. Martinez Unified School Dist., 964 F.Supp. 1369, 1388 (N.D. Cal. 1997).
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the Court:
• DENIES the motion to dismiss KT.’s Fourth Amendment claims against both Brinkerhoff and Varner.
• GRANTS, with LEAVE TO AMEND, the motion to dismiss Torres’s and Cope’s substantive due process claims against both Brinkerhoff and Varner.
• DENIES the motion to dismiss K.T.’s ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims against the District.
• DENIES the motion to dismiss KT.’s battery claim against Brinkerhoff.
• DENIES the motion to dismiss K.T.’s Bane Act claims against both Brinker-hoff and the District.
• GRANTS, with LEAVE TO AMEND, the motion to dismiss K,T.’s intentional infliction of emotional distress claims against Brinkerhoff, Varner, and the District.
• DENIES the motion to dismiss K.T.’s Unruh Civil Rights Act claim against the District.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
. The complaint does not mention when or to whom they said this.
. The complaint says that the District "agreed to waive” its sovereign immunity with respect to all state law claims, Compl. ¶ 10, but that waiver appears to be a creature of statute, see Cal. Gov’t Code. § 815.2 ("A public entity is liable for injury proximately caused by an act or omission of an employee of the public entity within the scope of his employment if the act or omission would ... have given rise to a cause of action against that employee....")
. K.T. does not bring a claim under Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Serv., 436 U.S. 658, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978) against the District. See Compl. ¶¶ 32-52. That makes sense because, again, the District is a state entity not a municipal one. See Belanger, 963 F.2d at 254. This is an important point. The District repeatedly maintains that it may only be held liable under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act for the actions of someone "high enough up the administrative hierarchy.” See, e.g., MTD at 14, That argument mistakes the bar for municipal liability under City of St. Louis v. Praprotnik, 485 U.S. 112, 108 S.Ct. 915, 99 L.Ed.2d 107 (1988)—a species of Monell liability requiring a policymaker to ratify unconstitutional acts of underlings—with the bar for liability under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act: respondeat superior. See Duvall v. Cnty. of Kitsap, 260 F.3d 1124, 1141 (9th Cir. 2001).
. To the extent it matters, the allegations in both cases also "allegedly occurred over a period of months.” See Preschooler II, 479 F.3d at 1180; Compl. ¶¶ 21-22. In any event, a seizure occurs when a state official makes "an intentional acquisition of physical control” over a person. Brower v. Cnty. of Inyo, 489 U.S. 593, 596, 109 S.Ct. 1378, 103 L.Ed.2d 628 (1989). So restraining someone’s bodily movements by grabbing a hand, squeezing, and then pulling on the arm is a seizure, W. v. Davis, 767 F.3d 1063, 1073 (11th Cir. 2014), which suggests that any particular use of similar force here was a seizure. K.T. has plausibly alleged that at least some of those instances bore no "reasonable relation to the need,” P.B. v. Koch, 96 F.3d 1298, 1304 (9th Cir. 1996), and has therefore stated a claim for excessive force.
. It is important to remember that the plaintiff in Iqbal sued for invidious discrimination under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Component of the Fifth Amendment. See 556 U.S. at 676, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Those intentional tort claims required the plaintiff to "plead and prove that the defendant acted with a discriminatory purpose.” Id. But here the defendant’s state of mind plays "no role” in deciding the Fourth Amendment claims at issue here. See Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 813, 116 S.Ct. 1769, 135 L.Ed.2d 89 (1996).
. K.T’s supervisory claim against Brinkerhoff only makes sense if Joseph committed the abuse—or at least most of it—so for this claim the Court assumes that to be true.
. Chaires and Ferrante, for example, apparently reported nothing to Varner or anyone else. See Compl. ¶¶ 21(a), 22(c).
. Because no one at Parkside called the police until June 4, see Compl. ¶ 27, this allegation is plenty plausible.
. The Court does not credit the conclusory assertion that defendants “intentionally” interfered with the relationship between K.T. and her parents. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 680-81, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
. The complaint, then, undersells its case by focusing on what Brinkerhoff and Varner knew about the alleged abuse in their role as supervisors. See Compl. ¶¶ 45, 51.
. Because some federal claims have survived the motion to dismiss, the Court retains supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1367.
. That case, moreover, comes from the California Supreme Court and post-dates Williams, which is a lower court decision.
Reference
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- K.T. v. PITTSBURG UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
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