Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Plaintiff,
v.
CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA;
and MAYOR KASIM REED, in his
individual capacity.
Defendants.
CASE NO.
1:15-cv-00477-LMM
Maggio v. Sipple, 211 F.3d 1346, 1352 (11th Cir. 2000) (quoting Connick v. Myers,
461 U.S. 138, 147, 103 S.Ct. 1684, 1690 (1983)).
2
Maggio, supra, at 1352.
3
Morgan v. Ford, 6 F3d 750, 754 (11th Cir. 1993) (quoting Kurtz, 855 F.2d at 727
(internal citations omitted)).
4
Doc. 1, 83-89, 91-93.
5
Doc. 1, 94.
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this book was written for members of his religious faith who already shared his
beliefs but were struggling with the full application of those beliefs to their daily
lives.6
subordinates at AFRD who asked for the book or whom he knew to be Christian.7
Although Plaintiff argues that there is a national debate over same-sex marriage and
that Plaintiffs book makes an important contribution to this debate8, Plaintiffs
Complaint states that the book contains just a few passages concerning sexual
morality,9 that only 6 pages of the 162-page long book address Biblical standards of
sexual morality10, and that [t]he rest of the book deals with Christian teaching
concerning original sin and the ability of Christians to overcome the influence of sin
in their lives through fully embracing and understanding the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ.11 This description does not support a finding that the publication and
distribution of Plaintiffs book at the workplace was intended to relate to a matter of
public concern.
Plaintiff contends that public concern is an extremely broad concept that
includes almost any matter other than speech that relates to internal struggles within
Doc. 1, 93-94.
Doc. 1, 127-128 and 130-131.
8
Doc. 15, p. 12.
9
Doc. 1, 8.
10
Doc. 1, 102-103.
11
Doc. 1, 104.
7
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the workplace.12 However, Plaintiff supports this contention with cases from
outside of this Circuit13 that are not controlling. Plaintiff also relies upon U.S. v.
Natl Treasury Employees Union, 513 U.S. 454, 466 (1995) for the proposition that
government employers cannot prohibit employees from speaking publicly for
compensation. However, U.S. v. Natl Treasury is inapt to the facts in the instant
case. The Supreme Court in U.S. v. Natl Treasury examined Section 501(b) of the
Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and determined that a blanket prohibition on
certain government employees receipt of honoraria in exchange for making an
appearance, speaking, or writing an article violated the First Amendment. The
Supreme Court reasoned that
[t]he sweep of 501(b) makes the Government's burden heavy. Unlike
Pickering and its progeny, this case does not involve a post hoc analysis
of one employee's speech and its impact on that employee's public
responsibilities. Cf. Waters v. Churchill, 511 U.S. 661, 114 S.Ct. 1878,
128 L.Ed.2d 686 (1994); Rankin v. McPherson, 483 U.S. 378, 107 S.Ct.
2891, 97 L.Ed.2d 315 (1987); Connick v. Myers, 461 U.S. 138, 103
S.Ct. 1684, 75 L.Ed.2d 708 (1983); Perry v. Sindermann, 408 U.S. 593,
92 S.Ct. 2694, 33 L.Ed.2d 570 (1972). Rather, the Government asks us
to apply Pickering to Congress' wholesale deterrent to a broad category
of expression by a massive number of potential speakers. In Civil
Service Comm'n v. Letter Carriers, 413 U.S. 548, 564, 93 S.Ct. 2880,
2890, 37 L.Ed.2d 796 (1973), we established that the Government must
be able to satisfy a balancing test of the Pickering form to maintain a
statutory restriction on employee speech. Because the discussion in that
12
Doc. 15, p. 10 (quoting Tucker v. State of Cal. Dept. of Educ., 97 F3d 1204,
1210 (9th Cir. 1996)).
13
Tucker, supra, (in which a State of California agency imposed a flat ban on
religious speech and expression) and Scarbrough v. Morgan Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 470
F.3d 250, 257 (6th Cir. 2006).
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14
15
employees.16
Plaintiff contends that he has not only an equal right, but a superior right, to
express his religious beliefs.17 However, Plaintiffs Complaint shows that his long
held beliefs never posed an issue with his employment until his publication, sale,
and distribution of a book in the workplace for which he admittedly did not obtain
pre-approval pursuant to a work rule codified in the City Code of Ethics came to the
attention of the City Council.18 Thus, Plaintiffs religious beliefs were a non-issue
for the greater part of his employment with the City until they happened to intersect
with personnel issues.
Once the work rule violation came to light, the City had an interest, as set
forth in Defendants brief in support of their Motion to Dismiss, to maintain the
orderly operation and esprit de corp of the AFRD, which isin addition to being a
division of a governmental employera paramilitary organization with heightened
need to maintain public confidence, order, and discipline.19
The key to First Amendment analysis of government employment
decisions, then, is this: The government's interest in achieving its goals
as effectively and efficiently as possible is elevated from a relatively
subordinate interest when it acts as sovereign to a significant one when
it acts as employer. The government cannot restrict the speech of the
16
Borough of Duryea, Pa. v. Guarnieri, 131 S. Ct. 2488, 2493 (2011) (quoting
Pickering v. Board of Ed. of Township High School Dist. 205, Will Cty., 391 U.S.
563, 568, 88 S.Ct. 1731, 20 L.Ed.2d 811 (1968)).
17
Doc. 15, pp. 14-15.
18
Doc. 1, 1, 2, 5-8.
19
See Anderson v. Burke County, Ga., 239 F.3d 1216 (11th Cir. 2001).
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public at large just in the name of efficiency. But where the government
is employing someone for the very purpose of effectively achieving its
goals, such restrictions may well be appropriate.20
Furthermore,
a citizen who accepts public employment must accept certain
limitations on his or her freedom. Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410,
418, 126 S.Ct. 1951, 164 L.Ed.2d 689 (2006). The government has a
substantial interest in ensuring that all of its operations are efficient and
effective. That interest may require broad authority to supervise the
conduct of public employees. Restraints are justified by the
consensual nature of the employment relationship and by the unique
nature of the government's interest.21
Plaintiffs assertion that Defendants have failed to show any disruptions to
AFRD operations is irrelevant to this analysis. A public employer need not wait for
a disruption or disturbance to occur before taking action.22
B. PLAINTIFF FAILS TO SET FORTH A CLAIM FOR AND
LACKS STANDING TO ASSERT COUNT TWO OF HIS
COMPLAINT, FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF
SPEECH: VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION, OVERBREADTH,
PRIOR RESTRAINT AND UNBRIDLED DISCRETION (42 U.S.C.
1983).
Plaintiff contends that he has standing to bring Count Two of his Complaint
because he was terminated for failure to comply with City Code Sec. 2-820(d).23
However, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in CAMP Legal Defense Fund, Inc.
20
Waters v. Churchill, 511 U.S. 661, 674-675, 114 S.Ct. 1878, 1887-1888, 128
L.Ed.2d 686 (1994) (citations omitted).
21
Borough of Duryea, Pa, supra, at 2494.
22
See Connick, supra.
23
Doc. 15, pp. 19-22.
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24
CAMP Legal Defense Fund, Inc. v. City of Atlanta, 451 F.3d 1257 (11th Cir. 2006)
25
Id. at 1269.
26
Id. at 1296.
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to survive a motion to dismiss] must plead that he believes his religion compels him
to take the actions that resulted in his termination.27 Plaintiffs response on this
Count fails to address how his sincerely held religious belief compelled him to
publish a book without pre-approval and distribute it in the workplace, which lead
to his termination.
D. PLAINTIFF FAILS TO SET FORTH A CLAIM FOR COUNT
FOUR OF HIS COMPLAINT, FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO
FREE ASSOCIATION (42 U.S.C. 1983).
Plaintiff fails to state a claim for Count Four for the reasons set forth in
Defendants Motion to Dismiss.
association is distinct from the right of intimate association. However, these two
closely related rights are given similar special protection under the law of this
Circuit, and, therefore, are analyzed in similar fashion.28.
E. PLAINTIFF FAILS TO SET FORTH A CLAIM FOR COUNT
FIVE OF HIS COMPLAINT, FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO
AVOID RELIGIOUS HOSTILITY: ESTABLISHMENT (42 U.S.C.
1983).
The Supreme Court has explained that the purpose of the Establishment and
Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment is to prevent, as far as possible, the
27
Id. at 1297.
See McCabe v. Sharrett, 12 F.3d 1558, 156263 (11th Cir.1994), Roberts v.
United States Jaycees, 468 U.S. 609, 61718, 104 S.Ct. 3244, 324950, 82
L.Ed.2d 462 (1984); City of Dallas v. Stanglin, 490 U.S. 19, 2325, 109 S.Ct.
1591, 159495, 104 L.Ed.2d 18 (1989); Cummings v. DeKalb County, 424 F.3d
1349 (11th Cir. 1994).
28
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intrusion of either [the church or the state] into the precincts of the other.29 To
determine whether there has been a violation of the Establishment Clause, [r]ather
than mechanically invalidating all governmental conduct or statutes that confer
benefits or give special recognition to religion in general or to one faiththe Court
has scrutinized challenged legislation or official conduct to determine whether, in
reality, it establishes a religion or religious faith, or tends to do so.30
Plaintiff contends that his claim is based on hostility toward his religious
beliefs by favoring and establishing other religions.31 While the Complaint alleges
a difference in viewpoints between the Plaintiff and Defendants, nowhere does it
allege that viewpoints in favor of same-sex marriage and homosexual conduct32 is
an alternate religious viewpoint that is being favored or established by the
Defendants.
F. PLAINTIFF FAILS TO SET FORTH A CLAIM FOR COUNT SIX
OF HIS COMPLAINT, FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO
EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS (42 U.S.C. 1983).
Plaintiff has failed to articulate a claim for violation of his right to equal
protection under the Fourteenth Amendment for the reasons set forth in Defendants
29
Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 1355, 1358--1359 (1984) (quoting
Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602, 614, 91 S.Ct. 2105, 2112, 29 L.Ed.2d 745
(1971)).
30
Id. at 1361-1362 (citing Walz v. Tax Commission of City of New York, 397 U.S.
664, 668-669, 90 S.Ct. 1409, 1411, 25 L.Ed.2d 697 (1970)).
31
Doc. 15, pp. 26-27.
32
Doc. 15, p. 27.
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33
34
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idea of fairness .... and [be] sufficiently specific to provide fair warning that certain
kinds of conduct are prohibited). The rule is easily understood by persons of
ordinary intelligence. Zook v. Brown, 865 F.2d 887, 892 (7th Cir. 1989) (concerning
failure of deputy sheriff to obtain prepublication review from the sheriff before
submitting a letter for publication in a local newspaper); see Connally v. General
Constr. Co., 269 U.S. 385, 391, 46 S.Ct. 126, 127, 70 L.Ed. 322 (1926) (determining
that a regulation is facially vague when it either forbids or requires the doing of an
act in terms so vague that men of common intelligence must necessarily guess at its
meaning and differ as to its application)) (emphasis added).
35
Pursuant to F.R.E. Rule 201(b), the Court may take judicial notice of City of
Atlanta Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-501(a) re: division of City employment into a
system of classified and unclassified service, Sec. 114-84(b)(7) re: department heads
being unclassified employees, Sec. 114-546(1) re: limitation of appeal rights to
classified employees, Sec. 114-78 re: application of the progressive discipline and
appeal code sections to classified employees, and City of Atlanta Communication
10-C-1361 appointing Kelvin Cochran to serve as Chief of Atlanta Fire and Rescue
without conferring classified status or other property interest in his employment.
(See Municode.com (Code Library, Georgia, Atlanta) and Doc. 1, 171 for City of
Atlanta
Code
of
Ordinances
Sections
cited
above,
and
http://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/2010/images/adopted/0816/10C1361.pdf for City of
Atlanta Communication 10-C-1361).
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paragraphs of the Complaint that Plaintiff cites as statements that false and
stigmatizing allegations were made against Plaintiff actually show any such
allegation. Furthermore, Plaintiffs reliance on Thomas v. Harvard36 is misplaced
as statements in this case regarding Plaintiffs failure to follow work rules do not
equate to allegations of criminal conduct in Thomas. Count Eight of Plaintiffs
Complaint should be dismissed for failure to state a claim.
I. PLAINTIFF FAILS TO SET FORTH A CLAIM FOR COUNT
NINE OF HIS COMPLAINT, FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT
RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS: PROCEDURE (42 U.S.C. 1983).
As discussed in Defendants Motion to Dismiss, Plaintiff was an at will public
employee with no property interest in his job and no due process rights. Plaintiff
relies on City Code Sec. 114-528 and Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermilk37 in
support of his contention that Plaintiff had a property interest in his employment
with the City. Both Section 114-538 and Cleveland Bd. of Educ. involve due process
rights conferred upon certain classes of employees legislatively. As discussed in
Defendants Motion to Dismiss, page 21, note 45, City Code Sec. 114-528 only
applies to City employees in the classified service, which Plaintiff as a department
head is not. Therefore, Plaintiff is not entitled to due process pursuant to City of
Atlanta Code of Ordinances 114-528, or under any other authority, and Count Nine
36
37
CONCLUSION
Although Plaintiff contends his claims in this lawsuit are Constitutional
issues, the facts alleged in his Complaint reveal what is essentially a personnel
matter involving Plaintiffs termination from an executive level, at-will position for
failure to follow a codified work rule that required pre-approval of outside paying
jobs for City department heads. Plaintiff should not be permitted to use his religious
affiliations and beliefs to circumvent personnel decisions the City as a governmental
employer operating a paramilitary department has the lawful discretion to make in
order to provide efficient services to the public.
Therefore, based on the foregoing and on the arguments and authorities
previously set forth in Defendants Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss, the
Defendants respectfully submit that this Court should grant Defendants Motion to
Dismiss on all Counts of the Plaintiffs complaint.
TYPESET CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify pursuant to Local Rules 5.1(b) and 7.1(d) that I prepared this
document in Times New Roman 14-point font.
Respectfully submitted, this 22nd day of April, 2015.
Robert N. Godfrey
Chief Counsel
Georgia Bar No. 298550
/s/Y. Soo Jo
Y. Soo Jo
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
Georgia Bar No. 385817
Attorneys for Defendants
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KELVIN J. COCHRAN,
Plaintiff,
v.
CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA;
and MAYOR KASIM REED, in his
individual capacity.
Defendants.
CASE NO.
1:15-cv-00477-LMM
/s/ Y. Soo Jo
Y. SOO JO
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