Wright v. Rolette County
| Decision Date | 08 August 2005 |
| Docket Number | No. 04-2766.,04-2766. |
| Parties | Brigitte WRIGHT, Plaintiff-Appellee; v. ROLETTE COUNTY, Defendant; Tony E. Sims, Rolette County Sheriff, in his individual and official capacity, Defendant-Appellant; Eldon E. Moors; Joseph S. Baker; Kenneth F. Brien; Michael W. Laducer; Robert E. Leonard, Rolette County Commissioners, in their individual and official capacities, Defendants. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit |
Before BYE, HEANEY, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.
Brigitte Wright ("Wright") brought this action under section 1983 for sexual harassment, alleging hostile work environment and constructive discharge against Sheriff Tony E. Sims ("Sims"). Sims moved for summary judgment based on qualified immunity. The district court denied qualified immunity, and Sims now brings this interlocutory appeal. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
The facts, taken in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, are described below. Wright is a Canadian citizen with permanent resident status in the United States. From September 2000 to October 2002, she worked in the Rolette County Sheriffs Department as an office deputy. During that time, Sims was the Sheriff of Rolette County. He was an elected official and was Wright's supervisor.
Use of vulgar, sexist language at the Sheriff's Office was a daily occurrence. During her employment, men in the office called Wright a "big-breasted Canadian secretary," a "dizzy bitch," and "Canadian bacon." Wright was offended and embarrassed by this name calling. Sims admits to this name calling and admits he did it in front of others. On one occasion, Sims referred to Wright as "Canadian bacon" at a Peace Officer's Association meeting, and all in attendance heard the comment. Sims also repeatedly made comments about a "potty cam" when Wright returned from the restroom. These comments embarrassed Wright to the point that she began using the restroom intended for female inmates. In another incident, Sims told Wright he could use a "blow job" after hearing her explain that some police training she had received allowed her to knock somebody out with one blow.
Sims made other comments to Wright about "rubbing [her] tits with toilet paper" and referred to her vagina as a "snapper." Sims also stroked his mustache while telling Wright he was "clearing off her seat." Sims admits to making this comment to other women in the office several times. Sims also made comments to Wright about lesbian activity. Without belaboring the point, Sims made numerous other unwelcome comments of a sexual nature that would be offensive to any reasonable person. Sims admits to making most of these comments. Wright claims she protested such activity, but her objections were ignored.
In December 2001, Wright passed Correctional Officer Basic training. Wright attended training at the police academy and learned that sexual harassment included unwanted comments that were sexual in nature. Wright did not report the offensive statements immediately after her training for fear of retaliation.
In January 2002, Wright discussed the situation with Rolette County Commissioner Eldon Moors, who told her there was nothing he could do about it. In March 2002, Wright reported the situation to Rolette County States Attorney Mary O'Donnell. Wright alleges that the county did nothing to remedy the situation.
On March 29, 2002, Dr. Mallory Leon examined Wright and diagnosed her with high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. Her physician prescribed Celexa, for depression, Xanax for anxiety and panic attacks, and Lotensin for high blood pressure.
On April 1, 2002, Wright gave notice to Rolette County alleging that Sims' behavior created a hostile work environment. Rolette County hired Attorney Pat Morley to investigate the claim. Wright was placed on paid leave during the investigation. The investigation was completed on or about June 27, 2002. Morley concluded that the comments, though inappropriate, were not unwelcome. Wright's administrative leave was terminated, and Wright returned to work on July 29, 2002. On October 25, 2002, Wright quit her job, claiming constructive discharge.
On or about April 24, 2002, Wright filed a verified charge of discrimination with the North Dakota Department of Labor and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. On November 19, 2002 the North Dakota Department of Labor notified Wright of the termination of further proceedings on her charge of employment discrimination and that she had the right to bring a lawsuit within 272 days of the closure. On February 18, 2003, Wright commenced this § 1983 action against Sims, claiming sexual harassment in the form of a hostile work environment and constructive discharge. Sims moved for summary judgment based on qualified immunity, and the district court denied the motion. Sims now brings this immediate appeal on the issue of qualified immunity.
While a denial of summary judgment is not generally reviewable on immediate appeal, we may review a denial of summary judgment based on qualified immunity on immediate appeal "to the extent that it turns on an issue of law." Mitchell v. Forsyth, 472 U.S. 511, 530, 105 S.Ct. 2806, 86 L.Ed.2d 411 (1985). "Beyond this narrow issue, we may exercise jurisdiction only over issues that are inextricably intertwined, meaning issues that would necessarily be resolved when we resolve the question of qualified immunity." Schilcher v. Univ. of Arkansas, 387 F.3d 959, 962 (8th Cir.2004) (internal quotations and citation omitted).
We review "de novo the denial of a motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity." Vaughn v. Ruoff, 253 F.3d 1124, 1127 (8th Cir.2001). "At the summary judgment stage, we must view the facts in the light most favorable to . . . the nonmoving party below . . . and `take as true those facts asserted by [the nonmoving party] that are properly supported in the record.'" Wilson v. Lawrence County, 260 F.3d 946, 951 (8th Cir. 2001) (quoting Tlamka v. Serrell, 244 F.3d 628, 632 (8th Cir.2001)). "`[I]f there is a genuine dispute concerning predicate facts material to the qualified immunity issue, there can be no summary judgment.'" Gregoire v. Class, 236 F.3d 413, 417 (8th Cir.2000) (quoting Lambert v. City of Dumas, 187 F.3d 931, 935 (8th Cir.1999)).
"Government officials who perform discretionary functions are entitled to qualified immunity unless their alleged conduct violated clearly established federal constitutional or statutory rights of which a reasonable person in their positions would have known." Ottman v. City of Independence. Missouri, 341 F.3d 751, 756 (8th Cir.2003). We analyze qualified immunity issue in two steps. First, we ask whether the facts as asserted by the plaintiff "show the officer's conduct violated a constitutional right." Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001). If the answer is no, we grant qualified immunity. If the answer is yes, we go on to determine "whether the right was clearly established." Id. "The relevant, dispositive inquiry in determining whether a right is clearly established is whether it would be clear to a reasonable officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted." Id. at 202, 121 S.Ct. 2151.
"Sexual harassment by state actors violate[s] the Fourteenth Amendment and establishes a section 1983 action." Tuggle v. Mangan, 348 F.3d 714, 720 (8th Cir.2003); see also Ottman, 341 F.3d at 756 ().
Sims argues that the plaintiff must meet a higher standard to prove sexual harassment under section 1983 than is required under Title VII. We find this to be an erroneous statement of law. Sexual harassment claims under section 1983 are analyzed under the same standards developed in Title VII litigation and the elements of a prima facie case are the same regardless of which statute the plaintiff uses to seek relief. See Moring v. Ark. Dep't of Corr., 243 F.3d 452, 455 (8th Cir. 2001); see also Genosky v. Minnesota, 244 F.3d 989, 993 (8th Cir.2001) (); Headley v. Bacon, 828 F.2d 1272 (8th Cir.1987) (); Cross v. Alabama, 49 F.3d 1490, 1508 (11th Cir. 1995) (); Beardsley v. Webb, 30 F.3d 524, 529 (4th Cir.1994) (); Hardin v. Stynchcomb, 691 F.2d 1364, 1369 n. 16 (11th Cir.1982) (); but see Annis v. County of Westchester, New York, 36 F.3d 251, 254 (2d Cir.1994) ().
Sims further contends that his behavior cannot constitute sexual harassment because there is no allegation that he touched Wright or made sexual advances toward her. Our case law does not support this...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Goss v. Stream Global Servs., Inc.
...quit as a result of its actions.' " Fercello v. County of Ramsey, 612 F.3d 1069, 1083 (8th Cir. 2010) (quoting Wright v. Rolette County, 417 F.3d 879, 886 (8th Cir. 2005)). Thus, the constructive discharge analysis is similar to, and ultimately more stringent than, the hostile work environm......
-
Murphy v. M.C. Lint, Inc.
...and (5) her employer knew or should have known of the harassment and failed to take proper remedial action. Wright v. Rolette County, 417 F.3d 879, 884-85 (8th Cir.2005) (listing elements of sexual harassment claim in a section 1983 action and noting that elements are the same in an action ......
-
Stoner v. Ark. Dep't of Corr.
...to be free from retaliation. Second, “[t]he right to be free of gender discrimination is clearly established,” Wright v. Rolette Cnty., 417 F.3d 879, 886 (8th Cir.2005) (quoting Peterson, 406 F.3d at 524, as well as the “right to exercise First Amendment freedoms ‘without facing retaliation......
-
McCabe v. Macaulay
...§ 1985(3) "support or advocacy" claims. The court must analyze issues of qualified immunity in two discrete steps. Wright v. Rolette County, 417 F.3d 879, 884 (8th Cir.2005), cert, denied, ___ U.S. ___, 126 S.Ct. 1338, 164 L.Ed.2d 53 In resolving questions of qualified immunity, courts are ......
-
Equal Protection for Transgendered Employees? Analyzing the Court’s Call for More Than Rational Basis in the Glenn v. Brumby Decision
...802 (11th Cir. 2005) (recognizing that when § 1983 is a parallel remedy to Title VII, the elements are the same); Wright v. Rolette Cnty., 417 F.3d 879, 884 (8th Cir. 2005) (stating the elements of a prima facie case are the same regardless of whether a plaintiff seeks relief under a Title ......