Davis v. Unified Sch. Dist. No. 512
Opinion of the Court
Rubye L. Davis brings suit against Unified School District No. 512, known as Shawnee Mission School District (the "District"), John McKinney and Ginny Lyon. Under
I. Background Information
Plaintiff originally asserted claims against only the District. See Complaint (Doc. # 1) filed July 8, 2015 in Case No. 15-9160-KHV.
On April 20, 2018, Judge O'Hara recommended that the Court enforce the parties' stipulation and not allow plaintiff leave to amend the final pretrial order to include individual claims against McKinney and Lyon. See Report And Recommendation (Doc. # 160) at 2. Judge O'Hara noted that it appeared that nothing precluded plaintiff from filing the individual claims in a separate lawsuit. See
On April 26, 2018, plaintiff filed a separate suit asserting individual claims against McKinney and Lyon. See Complaint (Doc. # 1) in Case No. 18-2206-KHV. On May 2, 2018, the Court adopted the magistrate judge report and recommendation and ordered that the two cases be consolidated, with all future filings to be made in the lead case bearing a consolidated case caption. See Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 163) at 5. The Court ordered that all discovery conducted in the lead case be available to the parties in the second case and not be duplicated. See
II. Legal Standards
Summary judgment is appropriate if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c) ; Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,
The moving party bears the initial burden of showing the absence of any genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett,
*1234Applied Genetics Int'l, Inc. v. First Affiliated Sec., Inc.,
The Court views the record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See Deepwater Invs., Ltd. v. Jackson Hole Ski Corp.,
III. Motion For Summary Judgment by McKinney And Lyon
A. Facts
In support of their motion for summary judgment, McKinney and Lyon present an abbreviated statement of material facts. See Defendants' Memorandum In Support Of Their Motion For Summary Judgment On The Pleadings Or, In The Alternative, Summary Judgment (Doc. # 190-1) filed July 13, 2018 at 1-4. To provide necessary context, the Court incorporates the factual record regarding the District's motion for summary judgment. See Appendix 1 to Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) at 12-21. In addition, the following facts are uncontroverted, deemed admitted or construed in the light most favorable to plaintiff.
SMW has a reputation of having more minority students than SME. Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) at 13. For the 2015-16 school year, SME enrollment was 87 per cent white, and 13 per cent black, Hispanic and other minority students.
Until the spring of 2015, the District assigned plaintiff to teach Biology I and Human Anatomy/Physiology at SME.
*1235Plaintiff was the only Human Anatomy/Physiology teacher at SME. As part of the Human Anatomy/Physiology class, plaintiff instructed students in the dissection and examination of organs and internal parts of animal cadavers. Students regarded her Anatomy/Physiology class as a preparatory class for pursuing college education and careers in human health sciences. In addition, plaintiff generally taught two to three biology classes each year. Plaintiff's schedule fluctuated such that in one year she taught more anatomy/physiology classes and in another year she taught more biology classes.
In March of 2015, McKinney, principal of SME, and Lyon, director of certified professional staff for the District, reassigned plaintiff from SME to SMW for the 2015-16 school year. Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) at 16-17, 19. Upon reassignment to SMW, plaintiff was assigned to teach Basic Biology I and Introductory Freshman Biology-not the academically advanced and college preparatory course of Human Anatomy/Physiology that she had taught at SME.
On August 3, 2015, prior to performing any duties at SMW, plaintiff voluntarily resigned. Had plaintiff not resigned, she would have received the same salary and benefits that she did at SME.
Plaintiff did not want to transfer to SMW because she wanted to continue to teach Anatomy/Physiology as she had for the past eight years at SME. Davis Affidavit ¶ 4. In addition, due to documented disciplinary problems with students at SMW, plaintiff had a serious concern regarding whether she could teach effectively there.
B. Analysis
Under
1. Adverse Employment Action
Defendants assert that plaintiff cannot establish a prima facie case of race discrimination. The burden-shifting framework set forth in McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,
Defendants assert that plaintiff cannot establish the second element of a prima facie case, i.e. that her reassignment to SMW constituted adverse employment action. See Defendants' Memorandum (Doc. # 190-1) at 7-8. Whether a particular reassignment is materially adverse depends on the circumstances of the particular case, judged from the perspective of a reasonable person in plaintiff's position. Daniels v. UPS, Inc.,
Regarding the District's motion for summary judgment, the Court rejected a similar argument. Specifically, the Court found that plaintiff presented evidence sufficient to create a genuine fact issue whether the reassignment constituted adverse employment action. See Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) at 8-10 n.11. The Court noted *1237that plaintiff presented evidence that SMW students are more disruptive and have more behavior issues than SME students and that defendants reassigned her to teach Introductory Freshman Biology, which is less academically advanced and less prestigious than Human Anatomy/Physiology. See
2. Qualified Immunity
Defendants assert that they are entitled to qualified immunity because at the time of the alleged violation, the law did not clearly establish that reassigning plaintiff to teach at SMW constituted adverse employment action. See Defendants' Memorandum (Doc. # 190-1) at 9-11. Qualified immunity protects government officials "from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known." Harlow v. Fitzgerald,
As discussed, the record presents a genuine fact issue whether reassigning plaintiff to teach at SMW constituted adverse employment action. See Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) at 8-12 n.11. Construed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, the evidence suggests that as a result of reassignment, plaintiff's pay and benefits remained the same but she would teach Introductory Freshman Biology - which is less academically advanced and less prestigious than Human Anatomy/Physiology - to students with more disruptive behavioral issues. To defeat the qualified immunity defense, plaintiff must show that on the facts of this case, the law clearly established that the reassigning her to teach at SMW constituted adverse employment action. See, e.g., Bailey v. Indep. Sch. Dist. No. 69 of Canadian Cty. Okla.,
Plaintiff asserts that the law clearly established that Section 1981 prohibits employment discrimination based on race. See Plaintiff's Response (Doc. # 193) at 3-4. On the facts of this case, a general prohibition against racial discrimination will not suffice. The Supreme Court has repeatedly instructed that courts must not define clearly established law "at a high level of generality." White v. Pauly, --- U.S. ----,
Plaintiff asserts that the law clearly established that regardless whether an employee suffers "a tangible employment detriment," Section 1981 prohibits an employer from making job assignments based on race. Plaintiff's Response (Doc. # 193) at 4 (citing Plaintiff's Response To Defendant Shawnee Mission School District's Motion For Summary Judgment And Memorandum In Support (Doc. # 145) filed December 7, 2017). In other words, plaintiff asserts that any job assignment based on race is per se unlawful, and therefore she need not show that the reassignment constituted adverse employment action. See Plaintiff's Response (Doc. # 193) at 4; Plaintiff's Response To Defendant Shawnee Mission School District's Motion For Summary Judgment (Doc. # 145) at 26-27. The cases which plaintiff cites involved direct evidence of discrimination.
To overcome the qualified immunity defense, plaintiff must show that at the time of the alleged violation, on the facts of this case, the law was clearly established such that every reasonable school official would have understood that reassigning her to SMW constituted adverse employment action. In order for the law to be clearly established, ordinarily there must be a Supreme Court or Tenth Circuit decision on point, or the clearly established weight of authority from other courts must have found the law to be as plaintiff maintains. Zia Trust Co. ex rel. Causey v. Montoya,
Plaintiff has failed to come forward with any authority which clearly establishes that the reassignment constituted adverse employment action. See Plaintiff's Response (Doc. # 193) at 4; Plaintiff's Response To Defendant Shawnee Mission School District's Motion For Summary Judgment (Doc. # 145) at 26-27. Accordingly, defendants are entitled to qualified immunity on plaintiff's claims. See, e.g., Bailey,
The case law in this area is highly fact-specific and reveals a hazy backdrop against which defendants acted. In particular, cases in the Tenth Circuit have reached mixed results regarding whether job reassignments in similar circumstances constituted adverse employment action. See Chung v. El Paso Sch. Dist. No. 11, 659 Fed. App'x 953, 955-56 (10th Cir. 2016) (no adverse action for teaching reassignment from language arts to drama where no change in pay or benefits; no evidence supported allegations that reassignment damaged reputation as literacy expert and involved poor work conditions); Reinhardt v. Albuquerque Pub. Sch. Bd. of Educ.
*1240Jones v. Okla. City Pub. Sch.,
On this record, plaintiff has not shown that settled law clearly established that reassigning her to teach freshman biology at SMW constituted adverse employment action. Because the law did not establish "beyond debate" that defendants' actions were unlawful, McKinney and Lyon are entitled to qualified immunity on plaintiff's claims.
IV. Motion For Summary Judgment By Shawnee Mission School District
As noted, regarding the District's motion for summary judgment, the Court previously found that plaintiff had not demonstrated a genuine issue of material fact whether the District was liable for her claims. See Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) at 2-6. On May 2, 2018, the Court ordered the parties to show cause in writing why it should not sustain the District's motion for summary judgment and enter judgment in favor of the District. See Memorandum And Order And Order To Show Cause (Doc. # 163) at 6. The Court stated that it was not inviting new argument on the analysis in its Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153), and the parties should address only whether there was any reason not to enter judgment under Rule 54, Fed. R. Civ. P. See Memorandum And Order And Order To Show Cause (Doc. # 163) at 6.
In response to the show cause order, the District asserts that the Court should sustain the summary judgment motion and enter judgment in its favor. See Shawnee Mission School District's Reply To Plaintiff's Response To The Court's Show Cause Order (Doc. # 171) filed May 8, *12412018 at 1-2. Plaintiff, on the other hand, attempts to challenge the Court's analysis that she has not shown a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether defense counsel's letter of May 1, 2015 demonstrates that the Board ratified the reassignment decision. See Plaintiff's Response To The Court's Show Cause Order (# 163) (Doc. # 170) filed May 8, 2018 at 1-2; Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) at 4-5 n.6. Plaintiff asserts that based on attorney ethical rules and the fact that the District has not denied that counsel was authorized to speak on its behalf, the Court may infer that counsel was authorized to respond on the District's behalf. See Plaintiff's Response To The Court's Show Cause Order (# 163) (Doc. # 170) at 1-2. Plaintiff's argument misses the mark. The Court found that standing alone, counsel's letter did not establish a genuine fact issue regarding whether the Board had ratified the reassignment decision. See Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) at 4-5 n.6. It did not address whether counsel was authorized to speak on behalf of the District.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendants' Motion For Judgment On The Pleadings Or, In The Alternative, Summary Judgment (Doc. # 190) filed July 13, 2018 is SUSTAINED . John McKinney and Ginny Lyon, are entitled to qualified immunity on plaintiff's claims.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that for reasons stated in the Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) filed April 5, 2018, Shawnee Mission School District's Motion For Summary Judgment (Doc. # 134) filed October 31, 2017 is SUSTAINED . The Unified School District No. 512, known as Shawnee Mission School District, is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on plaintiff's claims.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk enter judgment in favor of defendants, Unified School District No. 512, known as Shawnee Mission School District, John McKinney and Ginny Lyon, on all claims.
McKinney and Lyon seek judgment on the pleadings, but their arguments rely on matters outside the pleadings. See, e.g., Defendants' Memorandum (Doc. # 190-1) at 7-12, Statement Of Material Facts ¶¶ 6-15, 17-23, 25. Accordingly, the Court considers their alternative motion for summary judgment. See Rule 12(c), Fed. R. Civ. P. (if matters outside pleadings are presented and not excluded, court must treat motion for judgment on pleadings as one for summary judgment).
Plaintiff also sued Jim Hinson, superintendent of the District, in his individual and official capacities. See Complaint (Doc. # 1) at 2, ¶ 4. On March 15, 2017, for reasons not apparent in the record, plaintiff agreed to dismiss with prejudice all claims against Hinson. See Stipulation Of Dismissal (Doc. # 80).
The Court includes only those facts which are material to defendants' motion and disregards any facts which are not supported by record citations.
Biology and Anatomy/Physiology are in the life science departments at SME and SMW. From an academic standpoint, Anatomy/Physiology is immensely more complex than Biology I. Affidavit of Rubye L. Davis ¶ 3, Exhibit 1 to Plaintiff's Response To Defendants Ginny Lyon And John McKinney's Motion For Summary Judgment Or In The Alternative Judgment On The Pleadings and Suggestions In Support (Doc. # 193) filed July 26, 2018. Anatomy/Physiology consists of college material. Biology I is a prerequisite for Anatomy/Physiology.
Defendants assert that they did not know what courses plaintiff would be assigned to teach at SMW. Defendants' Memorandum In Support Of Their Motion For Summary Judgment On The Pleadings Or, In The Alternative, Summary Judgment (Doc. # 190-1) filed July 13, 2018 at 4, ¶ 24. Plaintiff points out that the reassignment form which Lyon signed on March 23, 2015 states that plaintiff would teach biology at SMW. See Exhibit 2 to Plaintiff's Response (Doc. # 193).
At SME, plaintiff was a sponsor for "Brain Bee," i.e. a regional, state and national contest where students compete in answering questions about the brain and human nervous system. Brain Bee is also a forum where students can network with science and health care professionals to secure internships and employment in the health science field in high school and college. Memorandum And Order (Doc. # 153) at 14.
Section 1983 states as follows:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress[.] * * *
Section 1981(a) states as follows:
All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment, pains, penalties, taxes, licenses, and exactions of every kind, and to no other.
The Court has discretion to address the two prongs in any order. Becker v. Bateman,
Plaintiff cites the following cases: Ferrill v. Parker Grp., Inc.,
Cases in other circuits are equally mixed. See, e.g., Campbell v. Hawaii Dep't of Ed.,
In light of this conclusion, the Court does not address defendants' argument that the statute of limitations bars plaintiff's claims.
The Court notes that plaintiff does not assert that the Board authorized counsel to "speak with final policymaking authority." McMillian v. Monroe Cty., Ala.,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.