K:\VALB\Clients A-M\15640 Dept. & Board\0002 Poff, Kimberly\Pleadings (USDC-WDOK 14-cv-1438)\Poff - M2Dismiss FINAL.docx
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
Case No. 5:14-cv-01438-C (1) KIMBERLY POFF, Plaintiff, v. (1) STATE OF OKLAHOMA ex rel THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES; (2) THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES; (3) TERRY WHITE, individually and as the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services; (4) DURAND CROSBY, individually and as the Chief Operating Officer of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services; (5) CRATUS DEWAYNE MOORE, individually and as the General Counsel of Oklahoma Department of Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services; and (6) ELLEN BUETTNER, individually and as the Director, Human Resources Management, Human Resources Development for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services, Defendants.
MOTION TO DISMISS AND BRIEF IN SUPPORT BY DEFENDANTS STATE OF OKLAHOMA EX REL. THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES
VICTOR F. ALBERT, OBA #12069 CRYSTAL A. JOHNSON, OBA #21715 CONNER & WINTERS, LLP 1700 One Leadership Square 211 N. Robinson Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Telephone: (405) 272-5711 Facsimile: (405) 232-2695 Email: valbert@cwlaw.com Email: cjohnson@cwlaw.com
Attorney for Defendants, State of Oklahoma ex rel. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and The Board of Directors for The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
January 20, 2015
Case 5:14-cv-01438-C Document 16 Filed 01/20/15 Page 1 of 31
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K:\VALB\Clients A-M\15640 Dept. & Board\0002 Poff, Kimberly\Pleadings (USDC-WDOK 14-cv-1438)\Poff - M2Dismiss FINAL.docx
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEF IN SUPPORT .......................................................................................................... 4
STANDARD OF REVIEW ................................................................................................. 4
PROPOSITION I The Court should dismiss Poff’s Retaliation discrimination claim. ................................................................................................................................... 5
A.
There is No Legal Basis for Poff’s Generic Retaliation Claim ..................... 5
B.
Poff Fails to State a Retaliation Claim under Title VII ................................. 6
PROPOSITION II The Court should dismiss Poff’s ADEA claim. .................................... 9
PROPOSITION III The Court should dismiss Poff’s Sex Discrimination claim. ........... 10
PROPOSITION IV The Court should dismiss Poff’s Section 1983 claims (due process and free speech) .................................................................................................... 16
A.
The Department and The Board Are Not Liable Under Section 1983. ....... 16
B.
The Due Process Claim Fails as a Matter of Law. ...................................... 16
C.
The Free Speech Claim Fails as a Matter of Law. ...................................... 17
PROPOSITION V The Court should dismiss Poff’s negligent training/supervision claim. ................................................................................................................................. 20
A.
Poff Likely Does not Have a Cognizable Claim Under Oklahoma Law .............................................................................................................. 20
B.
The Department and The Board Are Immune under the Tort Claims Act. .............................................................................................................. 21
C.
Poff’s Conclusory Allegations Fail to State a Claim for Negligence ......... 21
PROPOSITION VI The Court should dismiss Poff’s “public policy wrongful discharge” claim and her “Whistleblower” claim. ............................................................ 24
CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 25
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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Cases
Adams v. Neubauer
,
195 F. App’x 711 (10
th
Cir. 2006) .......................................................................... 16
Allen v. Justice Alma Wilson Seeworth Acad., Inc.
, 2012 WL 1298588, at *2 (W.D. Okla. 2012) ......................................................... 21
Asojo v. Oklahoma ex rel. Board of Regents of University of Oklahoma
, 2012 WL 3679539 (W.D. Okla. 2012) ............................................................. 21, 23
Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly,
550 U.S. 544, (2007) .................................................................................... 4, 15, 20
Benedix v. Indep. Sch. Dist. No. I-007 of Oklahoma Cnty., Okla.
, 2009 WL 975145, at *2 (W.D. Okla. 2009) ........................................................... 21
Brammer-Hoelter v. Twin Peaks Charter Acad.
, 492 F.3d 1192 (10th Cir. 2007) .............................................................................. 18
Davis v. Unified Sch. Dist. 500,
750 F.3d 1168 (10
th
Cir. 2014) ................................................................................. 7
Garcetti v. Ceballos
, 547 U.S. 410 (2006) ................................................................................... 17, 18, 20
Gillman v. Inner City Broad. Corp.,
No. 08 Civ. 8909(LAP), 2009 WL 3003244, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Sept.18, 2009) ...... 15
Grizzle v. Okla. Dep’t of Veterans Affairs
, 2006 WL 3227880 (E.D. Okla. 2006) .................................................................... 10
Khalik v. United Air Lines,
671 F.3d 1188 (10
th
Cir. 2012) ................................................................................. 4
Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents
, 528 U.S. 62 (2000) ................................................................................................. 10
Lee v. Oklahoma,
2014 WL 3689691, at *2 (W.D. Okla. 2014) ......................................................... 10
Mosdos Chofetz Chaim, Inc. v. Vill. of Wesley Hills,
815 F.Supp.2d 679 (S.D.N.Y.2011) ................................................................. 11, 14
Murphy v. Spring
, 2013 WL 5172951, at *9 (N.D. Okla. 2013) .......................................................... 17
N.H. v. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
, 998 P.2d 592 (Okla. 1999) ..................................................................................... 20
Parker v. Salazar
, 431 F. App’x 697 (10
th
Cir. 2011) ............................................................................ 8
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