Floyd v. State of Arkansas, Department of Parks And Tourism et al

MOTION for Summary Judgment

W.D. Ark.May 17, 2017

1 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS TEXARKANA DIVISION BRUCE FLOYD PLAINTIFF v. CASE NO. 4:15CV4111 SOH STATE OF ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND TOURISM; RICHARD DAVIES; MARK STEINDL; SHEA LEWIS; MIKE ROBERTS; EDWARD DONIHOO; and JOHN DOES 1-5 DEFENDANTS DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT For their Motion for Summary Judgment, Defendants, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism (“ADPT”), Richard Davies, Mark Steindl, Shea Lewis, Edward Donihoo, and Mike Roberts, state: 1. Plaintiff, Bruce Floyd, was an employee of ADPT and the Historic Washington State Park (“HWSP”) as a part-time maintenance tech. 2. On January 6, 2015, as a result of a lack of work for Floyd, ADPT Superintendent Brandon Owens let Floyd go. 3. On November 15, 2015, Floyd filed this lawsuit alleging claims of common-law negligence, common-law breach of contract, Title VII sexual harassment, Title VII retaliatory discharge, age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), 42 U.S.C. §1983 for violations of Floyd’s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, 42 U.S.C. §1985, 42 U.S.C. §1986, Rule 57 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for declaratory relief, and respondeat superior/vicarious liability. (DE 1). 4. Floyd sued the individual Defendants in their official and personal capacities. Case 4:15-cv-04111-SOH Document 35 Filed 05/17/17 Page 1 of 4 PageID #: 213 2 5. Floyd’s Title VII and ADEA claims are barred by the statute of limitations because Floyd failed to timely file his EEOC charge. 6. Floyd’s claims against ADPT and the individual Defendants in their official capacities are barred by sovereign immunity. 7. Floyd’s federal-law claims against the individual Defendants in their personal capacities are barred by qualified immunity because Floyd cannot prove with the undisputed material facts that Defendants violated any clearly established statutory or constitutional law. 8. Floyd’s state-law claims against the individual Defendants in their personal capacities are barred by statutory immunity because Floyd cannot prove that Defendants acted maliciously. 9. There are no genuine issues of material fact and Defendants are entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law on each of Floyd’s claims. 10. A Brief in Support is filed contemporaneously herewith and is incorporated by reference as if set forth word for word in this Motion. 11. Also filed with this Motion are the following exhibits, which are incorporated by reference in Defendants’ Brief in Support and Statement of Facts pursuant to Local Rule 56.1. Exhibit 1 Floyd’s EEOC Charge of Discrimination Exhibit 2 Relevant Portions of Bruce Floyd’s Deposition Exhibit 3 Relevant Portions of Edward Donihoo’s Deposition Exhibit 4 Relevant Portions of Shea Lewis’s Deposition Exhibit 5 Relevant Portions of Mark Steindl’s Deposition Exhibit 6 Relevant Portions of Mike Roberts’s Deposition Exhibit 7 Agreement following Grievance Hearing Case 4:15-cv-04111-SOH Document 35 Filed 05/17/17 Page 2 of 4 PageID #: 214 3 Exhibit 8 Relevant Portion of Employee Handbook Exhibit 9 Letter from Davies to Floyd dated August 26, 2013 Exhibit 10 Letter from Steindl to Davies dated August 26, 2013 Exhibit 11 Plan for Ed Donihoo WHEREFORE, Defendants ADPT, Richard Davies, Mark Steindl, Shea Lewis, Edward Donihoo, and Mike Roberts that summary judgment be granted in their favor, that the Complaint be dismissed as to all Defendants, and for all other relief to which they may be entitled. Respectfully submitted, Leslie Rutledge Attorney General Delena C. Hurst Assistant Attorney General By: /s/ Robert T. James Robert T. James Arkansas Bar #91008 Assistant Attorney General 323 Center Street, Suite 200 Little Rock, AR 72201-2610 Telephone: (501) 682.3658 Facsimile: (501) 682.2591 robert.james@arkansasag.gov Attorneys for Defendants Case 4:15-cv-04111-SOH Document 35 Filed 05/17/17 Page 3 of 4 PageID #: 215 4 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Robert T. James, Assistant Attorney General, hereby certify that on May 17, 2017, I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk of Court using the CM/ECF system, which shall send notification of such filing to any CM/ECF participants. I, Robert T. James, Assistant Attorney General, do hereby certify that on May 17, 2017, I mailed the document by United States Postal Service to the following non CM/ECF participants. Joshua L. Potter The Potter Law Firm, LLP 117 East Broad Street Texarkana, AR 72015 /s/ Robert T. 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