Wineland v. County Commissioners of Dorchester County
Wineland v. County Commissioners of Dorchester County
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
(1) Reference is made to defendants’ motion to dismiss; this Court’s November 16, 1994 Memorandum and Order; this Court’s February 17, 1995 Memorandum to Counsel; and to all other filings in this case.
(2) Plaintiff, David Alan Wineland (“Wine-land”), is a citizen of Tennessee. Defendants, County Commissioners of Dorchester County (“Commissioners”), are officers of a political subdivision created under Article 25 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, namely of Dorchester County, Maryland. Defendant, Dorchester County Recreation and Parks Board (“Board”), is an agency created by Commissioners, and exists under the Dor-chester County Code. Jurisdiction in this Court, therefore, is appropriate under 28 U.S.C. § 1332.
(3) Wineland filed a four (4) count complaint alleging that 1) defendants unconstitutionally removed him from his job without due process; 2) defendants violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. by failing to pay him overtime; 3) defendants invaded his privacy by holding a public hearing during which personnel matters were discussed; and 4) defendants interfered with his pension rights as guaranteed by ERISA, 29 U.S.C. § 1140. On November 16, 1994, this Court, in a Memorandum and Order, granted defendants’ motion to dismiss Count IV of the complaint. Therefore, only counts I, II and III remain before this Court.
(4) Wineland was employed, on a year-to-year contract basis, as the director of recreation and parks from April, 1986 through October 1992.
(5) This Court, in its aforementioned November 16, 1994 Memorandum and Order, notified the parties that it would treat defendants’ motion to dismiss as a motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, the parties were directed to submit materials for this Court to consider in proper Rule 56 form. A party is entitled to summary judgment provided that there is no genuine issue of material fact. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56; Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256, 106 5.Ct. 2505, 2514, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Under the applicable standards, the nonmoving party is entitled to have “all reasonable inferences ... drawn in [its] respective favor.” Felty v. Graves-Humphreys Co., 818 F.2d 1126, 1129 (4th Cir. 1987). The party resisting summary judgment bears the burden to “go beyond the pleadings and by [its] own affidavits, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2553, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).
(6) In Count I, Wineland alleges that defendants unconstitutionally removed him from his job. In order to establish that he was unconstitutionally terminated, plaintiff must show that he had a property interest in his position. Board of Regents v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 569, 92 S.Ct. 2701, 2705, 33 L.Ed.2d 548 (1972); Leese v. Baltimore County, 64 Md.App. 442, 456-63, 497 A.2d 159, cert. denied 305 Md. 106, 501 A.2d 845 (1985). To establish such a property interest, a plaintiff must show that specific rules or “mutually explicit understandings” exist which provide job security. Perry v. Sindermann, 408 U.S. 593, 601, 92 S.Ct. 2694, 2699, 33 L.Ed.2d 570 (1972). Additionally, a government employee can establish a property interest in a job by showing a “guarantee of continued employment or promotion.” Leese at 457, 497 A.2d 159. Absent such proof, an employee is assumed to be at-will. Leese at 457, 497 A.2d 159; Elliott v. Kupferman, 58 Md.App. 510, 520, 473 A.2d 960 (1984).
In the instant ease, it is clear that plaintiff held a series of one year contracts, which, apart from the first contract, ran from July 1 to June 30. The County Code specifically states that “the director’s term of office shall be for one (1) year, but shall be subject to reappointment by the Board.” Dorchester County Code, § 37-3. While the record shows that in previous years Wineland’s contract was renewed, the record also shows
Assuming, arguendo only, that plaintiff did hold a property interest in his job, defendants provided him with a proper due process hearing under the standards set forth in Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532, 105 S.Ct. 1487, 84 L.Ed.2d 494 (1985). In that case, the Supreme Court stated that before they are terminated, certain public employees are entitled to “ ‘some kind of a hearing.’ ” Id. at 542, 105 S.Ct. at 1495 (citing Roth, 408 U.S. at 569-70, 92 S.Ct. at 2705). Generally, “‘something less’ than a fall evidentiary hearing is sufficient....” Loudermill, 470 U.S. at 545, 105 S.Ct. at 1495 (citing Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 343, 96 S.Ct. 893, 907, 47 L.Ed.2d 18 (1976)). The requirements are that the party be given “oral or written notice of the charges against him, an explanation of the employer’s evidence, and an opportunity to present his side of the story.” Id. at 546, 105 S.Ct. at 1495. “[T]he pre-termination hearing is not a trial, but simply an opportunity to be heard.” Linton v. Frederick County Board of County Commissioners, 773 F.Supp. 784, 785 (D.Md. 1991), aff'd, 964 F.2d 1436 (4th Cir. 1992).
The “paper trail” leading to Wineland’s eventual termination is rather lengthy and seemingly meets the Loudermill standard. Wineland was informed of the charges against him,
(7) In Count II, plaintiff alleges that he is entitled to unpaid overtime pursuant to the FLSA. While the FLSA was amended to cover government employees in 1986, bona fide executive or administrative employees are exempt from the statute’s overtime provisions. See 29 U.S.C. § 213(a). Regulations promulgated by the United States Department of Labor provide a “short” and a “long” test to determine whether the § 213(a) exemptions apply.
The short test for the executive exemption provides that managerial employees who receive a salary of not less than $250 per week are exempt if their “primary duty consists of the management of the enterprise in which employed or of a customarily recognized department or subdivision thereof and includes the customary and regular direction of the work of two or more other employees therein.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.119(a). The short test for the administrative exemption provides that employees who receive not less than $250 per week are exempt if their “primary dut[ies] consist ... of either the performance of office or nonmanual work directly related to management policies or general business operations of the employer_” 29 C.F.R. § 541.214(a). In applying the short tests, a managerial employee can be exempt under the executive exemption, the administration
In the instant case, plaintiff was the director of the department of recreation and parks and controlled a budget in excess of $400,000.
Plaintiff states that some of his work included menial work such as cleaning and trash collection.
(8) In Count III, plaintiff states a claim for invasion of privacy.
One who gives publicity to a matter concerning the private life of another is subject to liability to the other for invasion of his privacy, if the matter publicized is of a kind that
a) would be highly offensive to the reasonable person, and
b) is not of legitimate concern to the pubic.
Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 652D. See Hollander v. Lubow, 277 Md. 47, 55-57, 59, 351 A.2d 421, cert. denied 426 U.S. 936, 96 S.Ct. 2651, 49 L.Ed.2d 388 (1976).
There is no question, as this Court stated in its February 17, 1995 Memorandum to Counsel, that plaintiff’s claim with respect to Count III is without merit. Wineland claims that defendants invaded his privacy by holding a pubic hearing at which his termination was discussed. During the October 20, 1992 hearing the issues discussed directly concerned the pubic, in that plaintiffs abilty to function and meet the demands of his public job were discussed. Those issues are of legitimate concern to the pubic. There is no indication, nor is there any specific alegation, that personal or private matters were discussed. Rather, matters which directly affected plaintiff’s pubic life as a pubic employee were considered during the hearing. Not only are such matters of legitimate pubic concern, but they can hardly be deemed highly offensive to the reasonable person. Because plaintiff cannot meet the basic elements of the tort of invasion of privacy, he is unable to make out a prima facie case and, therefore, has failed to state a claim upon which relef may be granted in that regard.
It is also important to note that Maryland law requires that the County Commissioners conduct their meetings in pubic. See An-not.Code of Md. Art. 25, § 5. Therefore, the
(9) For the reasons set forth supra, this Court hereby grants defendant’s motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, judgment with respect thereto will be entered in a separate Order of even date herewith.
(10) It is so ordered.
. As indicated in paragraph three (3), infra, plaintiff has brought three counts which involve federal causes of action. Therefore, jurisdiction is also appropriate with respect thereto pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and perhaps, as to the other count, pursuant to supplemental jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
. See Plaintiff's exhibits 1-4, 6.
. See Defendants' exhibit 10.
. Those tasks included: completing certain construction; developing a long term maintenance plan; developing a flexible work schedule for employees; attending certain town meetings; developing a plan to implement school community centers program; and, if possible, developing computer camps. See Defendant’s exhibit 2.
. See Defendants' exhibit 2.
. See Defendants’ exhibit 3.
. See Defendants’ exhibit 4.
. See Defendants’ exhibit 5.
. See Defendants’ exhibits 6 and 7.
. The individuals who testified in favor of termination were Brooks Parker, Chairman of the Board of Recreation and Parks, and Spicer Bell, Superintendent of Schools and a member of the Board of Recreation and Parks.
. See Defendants' exhibit 8 at pages 4 — 13.
.During two on-the-record telephone conferences which took place on February 13, and 14, 1995, this Court and counsel of record discussed the possibility that plaintiff might have a breach of contract claim which had yet to be asserted by plaintiff. Such a claim could perhaps be based upon the argument that because the contract was not expressly terminated, it was implicitly renewed. However, in view of the fact that such a claim may perhaps be barred by limitations and may not perhaps meet the amount in controversy requirements, plaintiff apparently has chosen not to assert such a claim. See Memorandum to Counsel, February 17, 1995 at ¶ 6.
. See notes 5 and 7, supra.
. See note 7, supra.
. See note 11, supra.
. See Defendants’ exhibit 9.
. See Defendants’ exhibit 10.
. See Defendants' exhibit 11.
. See Defendants' exhibit 11.
. See Wineland affidavit at ¶ 17.
. Defendants have also raised a claim that they are immune from Count III because the termination resulted from the exercise of a governmental function. Because this Court finds that plaintiff has failed to state a claim under Count III upon which relief may be granted, this Court need not reach that issue of governmental immunity.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- David Alan WINELAND v. The COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published