Professional Documents
Culture Documents
J/ 0
JS 44 (Rev. 12/12)
DEFENDANTS
I. (a) PLAINTIFFS
TONETIE PRAY
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff
DELAWARE
(EXCEPT JN U.S. PLAI
FF CASES)
PA
III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an "X" in One Box for Plaintiff
0 I
Federal Question
(U.S. Government Not a Party)
U.S. Government
Plaintiff
Diversity
(Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item Ill)
0 2 U.S. Government
Defendant
DEF
0 2
0 5
Citizen or Subject of a
Forei nCoun
0 3
Foreign Nation
0 6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
...
.ORN'.fTtTREZPENAl!J!F.Wfl
ll 0 Insurance
120 Marine
130 Miller Act
140 Negotiable Instrument
150 Recovel)' of Overpayment
& Enforcement of Judgment
151 Medicare Act
152 Recovel)' of Defaulted
Student Loans
(Excludes Veterans)
153 Recovel)' of Overpayment
of Veteran's Benefits
160 Stockholders' Suits
190 Other Contract
195 Contract Product Liability
196 Franchise
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
PERSONAL INJURY
0 365 Personal Injury Product Liability
0 367 Health Care/
Phannaceutical
Personal Injury
Product Liability
0 368 Asbestos Personal
Injury Product
Liability
PERSONAL PROPERTY
0 3 70 Other Fraud
0 371 Truth in Lending
0 3 80 Other Personal
Property Damage
0 385 Property Damage
Product Liability
0 720 Labor/Management
Relations
Vii
PERSONAL INJURY
310 Airplane
315 Airplane Product
Liability
320 Assault, Libel &
Slander
330 Federal Employers'
Liability
340 Marine
345 Marine Product
Liability
350 Motor Vehicle
355 Motor Vehicle
Product Liability
360 Other Personal
Injury
362 Personal Injury Medical Maloractice
2 IO Land Condemnation
220 Foreclosure
230 Rent Lease & Ejectrnent
240 Torts to Land
245 Tort Product Liability
290 All Other Real Property
~Housing/
02 Removed from
roceeding
State Court
~CAUSE OF ACTION
0 530 General
0 535 Death Penalty
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
"'"""'<RORE oc.:RIGH:rS7l<;1;;:lil 0
0 820 Copyrights
0
0 830 Patent
0
0 840 Trademark
0
11>.'Jll'SlE
0
0 861 HIA (1395f!)
0
0 862 Black Lung (923)
0 863 DIWC/DIWW (405(g)) 0
0 864 SSID Title XVI
0
0 865 RSI (405(g))
0
0
0 423 Withdrawal
28 USC 157
fL'.'.5,k'!:1fK:tJIMMIG~lF.lQNlit~ltI1~lffi~
Other:
540 Mandamus & Other
550 Civil Rights
555 Prison Condition
560 Civil Detainee Conditions of
Confinement
Remanded from
Appellate Court
use
Sentence
Accommodations
Amer. w/Disabilities Employment
0 446 Amer. w/Disabilities Other
0 448 Education
!'"
V.. (S RIGIN (Place an '"X'' in One Box Only)
)I{ I .firiginal
Habeas Corpus:
0 4 Reinstated or
0 5 Transferred from
Reopened
0 6 Multidistrict
Another District
(specifY)
Litigation
Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing (Do not cite jurisdictional staJutes unless diversity):
VII. REQUESTED IN
0
COMPLAINT:
VIII. RELATED CASE(S)
IFANY
DATE
/"""'\
CHECK YES only ifr~ in complaint:
DEMAND$
200,000.00
JURY DEMAND: 1
(See instn1ctions):
WDGE
10/07/2015
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
RECEIPT#
AMOUNT
--
DOCKET NUMBER
JUDGE
)!I
0 No
~ - 7 2015'
MAG.JUDGE
~r1
bAM
15
UNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURT
5510
DESIGNATION FORM to be used by counsel to indicate the category of the case for the purpose of
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Address ofDefendant:_ __,,.,7."'"""~2~2.~--S~/Ji_'lf_lll_t:._E
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Place of Accident, Incident or Transactlon: _ _ _ _~---.....,,.,~(U._s_e~R-e_v_e-rs_e_S_i_d_e_F:_o_r_A_d'""'d,-it-io_n_a..,.l..,.Sp_a_c_e,...)----------------------
Address of Plaintiff: _
Does this civil action involve a nongovernmental corporate party with any parent corporation and any publicly held corporation owning I 0% or more of its stock?
(Attach two copies of the Disclosure Statement Form in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 7.l(a))
Does this case involve multidistrict litigation possibilities?
YesD
NoD
YesD
NoD
YesD
Noi!f
2. Does this case involve the same issue of fact or grow out of the same transaction as a prior suit pending or within one year previously terminated
action in this court?
/
YesD
Nol!!'
3. Does this case involve the validity or infringement of a patent already in suit or any earlier numbered case pending or within one year previo~
terminated action in this court?
YesD
4. Is this case a second or successive habeas corpus, social security appeal, or prose civil rights case filed by the same individual?
YesD
CIVIL: (Place
A
NoiB"
No~
1.
2.
2.
3.
D Assault, Defamation
4. o Antitrust
4.
5.
6.
D FELA
7.
D Products Liability
8.
D Products Liability -
9.
Asbestos
(Please specify)
ARBITRATION CERTIFICATION
/. p l'~tN
f(ChecdkdApphropbriate c_afytegory)
---,-------------'7~'7----~ counse1o recor o ere y cert1 :
rsuant to Local Civil Rule 53.2, Section 3(c)(2), that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the damages recoverable in this civil action case exceed the sum of
00.00 exclusive of interest and costs;
o Relief other than monetary damages is sought.
DATE:
10/-:r/2.01r
Attorney-at-Law
Attorney I.D.#
NOTE: A trial de novo will be a trial by jury only if there has been compliance with F.R.C.P. 38.
I certify that, to my knowledge, the within case is not related to any case now pending or within one year previously terminated action in this court
11
201-~2<1-
/1/ ~1r
Attorney-at-Law
Attorney I.D.#
OCT - 7 2015'
v.
#eH/fu
/Jlt.11 c rrre - 4 ,,,6'NO.
8 If 1/1111 Ht'-4
In accordance with the Civil Justice Expense and Delay Reduction Plan of this court, counsel for
plaintiff shall complete a Case Management Track Designation Form in all civil cases at the time of
filing the complaint and serve a copy on all defendants. (See 1:03 of the plan set forth on the reverse
side of this form.) In the event that a defendant does not agree with the plaintiff regarding said
designation, that defendant shall, with its first appearance, submit to the clerk of court and serve on
the plaintiff and all other parties, a Case Management Track Designation Form specifying the track
to which that defendant believes the case should be assigned.
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CASE MANAGEMENT TRACKS:
(a) Habeas Corpus - Cases brought under 28 U.S.C. 2241 through 2255.
( )
(b) Social Security - Cases requesting review of a decision of the Secretary of Health
and Human Services denying plaintiff Social Security Benefits.
( )
(c) Arbitration - Cases required to be designated for arbitration under Local Civil Rule 53.2.
( )
(d) Asbestos - Cases involving claims for personal injury or property damage from
exposure to asbestos.
( )
(e) Special Management - Cases that do not fall into tracks (a) through (d) that are
commonly referred to as complex and that need special or intense management by
the court. (See reverse side of this form for a detailed explanation of special
management cases.)
(f) Standard Management - Cases that do not fall into any one of the other tracks.
Date
1/-r/211r
2J1 S<t:I
Telephone
'lo
Jlt-/1161
T IW'1N~ lu11~7)~
Attorney-at-law
21r.
511-. /?fl
FAX Number
'?':A>'ernf /6f y
Attorney for
.flt've
E-Mail Address
OCT - 7 2015
TONETTE PRAY,
Plaintiff,
v.
LIEUTENANT MICHAEL DRUCTOR
-andPOLICE CHIEF BRIAN HILLS,
Defendants.
This is an action for money damages brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983 and
1988, and the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution against
Defendant Police Officers, in their individual capacities and official/policymaker capacity as to
Defendant Brian Hills.
Amendment rights to the United States Constitution by initiating and perpetuating a malicious
and selective prosecution and by abridging Plaintiffs free speech and political process
participation rights protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and
incorporated via the Fourteenth Amendment.
3.
of direct actions, policies, customs, omissions, and deliberate indifference of policymaker and
Chief of Police, Brian Hills.
Parties
4.
Delaware County and is a citizen of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Plaintiff was also a member of the Borough Council of Colwyn Borough at all relevant times.
5.
Officers" or "Defendant Dructor" or "Defendant Hills") were at all times relevant to this
Complaint duly appointed and acting as police officers, acting under color of law, to wit, under
color of the statutes, ordinances, regulations, policies, customs, and usages of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and/or Colwyn Borough.
6.
Defendant Hills is also chief of police of Colwyn Borough and was, at all relevant
7.
On January 9 and March 20, 2014, there were council meetings at council
can be tumultuous.
9.
10.
Other individuals at these meetings including Mayor Mike Blue, Paul Meuser,
and Martha Van Auken also used bad language at these council meetings. Citations were not
issued for these individuals and criminal proceedings were not initiated by Defendants against
these individuals. Plaintiff is African-American. These other individuals are white.
11.
Plaintiff was charged with Disorderly Conduct pursuant to 18 Pa. Cons. Stat.
5503(a)(3) as of docket numbers MJ-32237-NT-0000045-2014 and MJ-32237-NT-00005202014. Under threat of police summons and a potential bench warrant, Plaintiffs liberty was
constrained on two occasions when she had to attend Magisterial District Court relating to these
charges. Plaintiff also had to retain private counsel.
12.
Plaintiff was adjudicated guilty by Magisterial District Judge on May 13, 2014.
13.
At all times during the events described above, Defendant Police Officers were
engaged in a joint venture. The individual Defendant Police Officers assisted each other in
performing the various actions described used the authority of their office to each other during
the said events.
16.
As a direct and proximate result of the said acts of Defendant Police Officers,
Violation of her Constitutional rights under the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth
b.
c.
Emotional injury;
d.
Malicious prosecution.
e.
Selective prosecution.
17.
The actions violated the following clearly established and well-settled federal
b.
Malicious prosecution.
c.
Selective prosecution.
18.
Defendant Hills by his policies, acts, omissions, lack of supervision, and willful
indifference, allows the perpetuation of the present actions complained of herein despite multiple
civil complaints.
This has been caused by, inter alia, inadequate supervision, inadequate
20.
forth.
Plaintiff, the criminal proceeding ended in Plaintiffs favor when the charges were dismissed due
to the fact that Defendants Dructor and Hills initiated the criminal proceedings without probable
cause to target Plaintiff based on her race and because Plaintiff was instrumental in the process
that led to Defendant Hills' termination because of his alleged racism, Defendants Dructor and
Hills acted maliciously and for a purpose other than bringing Plaintiff to justice and they did so
in order to racially intimidate and retaliate against Plaintiff because of her on-going political
activity, and Plaintiff suffered deprivation of liberty when she was obligated to appear at court
under police summons and under threat of a bench warrant being issued.
21.
policies and procedures that allow police officers to implement baseless criminal proceedings
without censure and individuals, such as Plaintiff, are subjected to baseless criminal proceedings
intended only to harass and bully.
22.
the contention that the prosecution initiated by Defendants was done so for nefarious reasons
intended to harass Plaintiff because of her race and/or political activity.
23.
24.
25.
Defendants, acting under color of law, selectively and adversely treated Plaintiff
forth.
politicians such as Paul Meuser and Martha Van Auken used bad language at the council
meetings at issue but none of these individuals was issued with a citation or summons by
Defendants.
26.
race and her prior involvement in the decision to terminate Defendant Hills based upon prior
allegation of racism. Defendants' actions were malicious and based upon bad faith with intent to
injure. This was indicated by the fact that Defendant Hills smirked at Plaintiff following the
latter council meeting and Defendant Hills informed Plaintiff that she would be receiving a
surprise in the mail. By initiating criminal charges against Plaintiff, Defendants also sought to
injure Plaintiff by putting her through the criminal justice process and undermining Plaintiffs
position on the council.
27.
policies and procedures that allow police officers to implement baseless criminal proceedings
without censure and individuals, such as Plaintiff, are subjected to baseless criminal proceedings
intended only to harass and bully.
28.
the contention that the prosecution initiated by Defendants was done so for nefarious reasons
intended to harass and injure Plaintiff because of her race and/or political activity.
29.
30.
forth.
31.
meetings infringed upon Plaintiffs free speech and political participation rights in that Plaintiff
was participating as a council member in council meetings.
32.
Defendants speech activity was protected in that it was political speech which was
part of political debate and was aimed at Paula Brown, former Borough Manager, who was
accused of racially targeting Plaintiff and other council members and generally undermining
Plaintiff and other council members.
33.
her speech and political participation activity for the reasons outlined above.
34.
policies and procedures that allow police officers to violate First Amendment rights without
censure.
35.
Amendment rights.
COUNT FOUR: 42 U.S.C. 1985(3) - CONSPIRACY TO
DEPRIVE PLAINTIFF OF HER PREVIOUSLYARTICULATED RIGHTS AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
36.
3 7.
Defendant Dructor testified under oath that Defendant Hills told Defendant
forth.
Dructor to initiate the criminal proceedings against Plaintiff and, following the conversation,
Defendant Dructor did the same.
38.
Defendant Hills smirked at Plaintiff and said that Plaintiff womd be getting a
39.
The criminal proceedings initiated constitute not only malicious and selective
prosecution in that they were baseless and targeted, said criminal proceeding were also initiated
in a conspiratorial manner between Defendants in an attempt to retaliate against Plaintiff and
ensure that Plaintiff was no longer critical of Defendants. The conspiracy entered into and
executed by Defendants was designed to frustrate Plaintiffs rights guaranteed by the
Constitution of the United States of America.
Defendants;
b.
c.
d.
e.
Award such other and further relief as this Court may deem appropriate.
10