Professional Documents
Culture Documents
19 Kelly Walker
Individually and as Member,
20
Viva Coffee House, LLC
21 10173 East Desert Mesa Drive
Tucson, Arizona 85747
22
23 and
24 Cheryl Dunker
25 Individually and as Member,
Viva Coffee House, LLC
26 10173 East Desert Mesa Drive
27 Tucson, Arizona 85747
28 and
1
1
Richard Dunker
2 Individually and as Member,
3 Viva Coffee House, LLC
10173 East Desert Mesa Drive
4 Tucson, Arizona 85747,
5
Plaintiffs.
6
-vs- Civil Action No. ______________
7
8 Pima County Board of Supervisors
Pima County Governmental Center Jury Demand Endorsed Hereon
9
130 East Congress, 10th Floor
10 Tucson, Arizona 85701
11
12 and
13 Ramon Valadez, Chairman
14 Pima County Board of Supervisors
130 East Congress, 10th Floor
15 Tucson, Arizona 85701
16
and
17
18 Chuck H. Huckelberry, County Administrator
Pima County Administrator’s Office
19 130 East Congress, 10th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701
20
21 and
22
Jan Lesher, Chief Deputy
23 Pima County Administrator’s Office
130 East Congress, 10th Floor
24 Tucson, Arizona 85701
25
and
26
27 Dr. Francisco Garcia
Deputy County Administrator
28 Chief Medical Officer
2
1 Health and Community Services
130 East Congress, 10th Floor
2 Tucson, Arizona 85701
3
and
4
5 Dr. Paul R. Horwitz
Pima County Board of Health, President
6 3950 South Country Club Rd, Suite 100
Tucson, Arizona 85714
7
8 and
9
Dr. Theresa Cullen, Director
10 Pima County Department of Health
3950 South Country Club Road, Suite 100
11 Tucson, Arizona 85714
12
and
13
14 Loni Anderson, Division Manager
Consumer Health & Food Safety
15 3950 South Country Club Road, Suite 2301
16 Tucson, Arizona 85714
17 and
18
Danny Nikitas
19 Environmental Health Supervisor
Consumer Health & Food Safety
20
3950 South Country Club Road, Suite 2301
21 Tucson, Arizona 85714
22
and
23
Sheriff Mark Napier
24 Pima County Sheriff’s Department
25 1750 E. Benson Highway
Tucson, AZ 85714
26
27 and
28 Chief Deputy Byron Gwaltney
3
1 Pima County Sheriff’s Department
1750 E. Benson Highway
2 Tucson, AZ 85714
3
and
4
5 Asst. Chief John Stuckey, #1057
Pima County Sheriff’s Department
6 1750 E. Benson Highway
Tucson, AZ 85714
7
8 and
9
Sgt. Ryan Roher, #5347
10 Pima County Sheriff’s Department
1750 E. Benson Highway
11 Tucson, AZ 85714
12
and
13
14 Barbara LaWall
Pima County Attorney
15 32 North Stone Avenue, Suite 2100
16 Tucson, Arizona 85701
17 and
18
Michael LeBlanc
19 Assistant Pima County Attorney
Civil Division
20
32 North Stone Avenue, Suite 2100
21 Tucson, Arizona 85701,
22
Defendants.
23
COMPLAINT
24
25 I. INTRODUCTION, PARTIES, JURISDICTION
26 1. Viva Coffee House, LLC, [hereafter “Viva”] was organized and
27
commenced business on October 25, 2018;
28
4
1 2. The four named Plaintiffs have, at all times, been the Members of the
2 company. Andrea Walker has, at all times, been designated the Managing Member;
3
3. Viva secured a permit from the Pima County Health Department [hereafter,
4
5 “DoH”] on October 22, 2018, No. 3180768. Viva was inspected a number of times by
6 inspectors acting through the DoH Division of Consumer Health & Food Safety, and
7
passed those inspections;
8
4. The Pima County Board of Supervisors [hereafter “the Board”] is organized
9
10 under the laws of the State of Arizona, and has responsibility for the policies and
11 practices of its subsidiary departments, including the Department of Health. The Board is
12
also charged with supervision of the actions of the Pima County Sheriff. The Board is
13
14 responsible for all the unlawful, unconstitutional actions set out herein;
19 expulsion from such meeting of any citizen. In that capacity, he was delegated by the
20
Board as the final decisionmaker in such actions. He is sued in his individual and official
21
capacities;
22
23 6. Defendant Huckelberry, at all times, was the County Administrator,
24 appointed by the Board. Huckelberry was designated the final decisionmaker by the
25
Board for his unlawful and unconstitutional actions set out herein. Huckelberry is sued in
26
27 his individual and official capacities. Huckelberry was delegated by the Board to, among
28 other responsibilities involving the County’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, create
5
1 and implement policies and practices in furtherance of Board policy set out in Resolution
2 2020-49 and other Covid-related measures, including, but not limited to, the policies and
3
practices of receipt and administration of complaints against establishments, inspection of
4
5 establishments for compliance with Arizona and Pima County proclamations, guidelines
6 and laws related to the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the identification of non-
7
complying businesses and the designation of such businesses as non-complying on the
8
Board’s “Resolution 2020-49 Mask Requirement Violations” website page, and the
9
10 initiation of other enforcement actions against allegedly non-complying establishments;
11 7. Defendant Jan Lesher was, at all times, Chief Deputy to Huckelberry,
12
Lesher acted at the direction of, and with, Huckelberry and the other “Board Defendants”
13
14 identified herein to, among other responsibilities involving the County’s response to the
15 Covid-19 pandemic, create and implement policies and practices in furtherance of Board
16
policy set out in Resolution 2020-49 and other Covid-related measures, including, but not
17
18 limited to, the policies and practices of receipt and administration of complaints against
6
1 DoH Defendants, he was delegated by the Board and Huckelberry to create and
2 implement policies and practices in furtherance of Board policy set out in Resolution
3
2020-49 and other Covid-related measures, including, but not limited to, the policies and
4
5 practices of receipt and administration of complaints against establishments, inspection of
6 establishments for compliance with Arizona and Pima County proclamations, guidelines
7
and laws related to the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the identification of non-
8
complying businesses and the designation of such businesses as non-complying on the
9
10 Board’s “Resolution 2020-49 Mask Requirement Violations” website page, and the
11 initiation of other enforcement actions against allegedly non-complying establishments.
12
He is sued in his individual and official capacities;
13
14 9. Defendant Theresa Cullen, M.D. was, at all times, the Director of the DoH,
15 and delegated by the Board and Huckleberry to create and implement policies and
16
practices within the DoH in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including, but not
17
18 limited to, the practices of inspection of establishments for compliance with Arizona and
19 Pima County proclamations and laws related to the response to the Covid-19 pandemic,
20
the identification of non-complying businesses and the designation of such businesses as
21
non-complying on the Board’s “Resolution 2020-49 Mask Requirement Violations”
22
23 website page. She is sued in her individual capacity;
24 10. Defendant Loni Anderson was, at all times, the Division Manager of the
25
DoH Division of Consumer Health & Food Safety, and delegated by the Board to create
26
27 and implement policies and practices within the DoH in response to the Covid-19
28 pandemic, including, but not limited to, the practices of inspection of establishments for
7
1 compliance with Arizona and Pima County proclamations and laws related to the
6 11. Defendant Danny Nikitas was, at all times, the Environmental Health
7
Supervisor in the DoH Division of Consumer Health & Food Safety, and responsible to
8
Defendant Anderson. With the other DoH Defendants, he was delegated by the Board to
9
10 create and implement policies and practices within the DoH in response to the Covid-19
11 pandemic, including, but not limited to, the practices of inspection of establishments for
12
compliance with Arizona and Pima County proclamations and laws related to the
13
14 response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the identification of non-complying businesses and
8
1 14. Defendant Mark Napier was, at all times pertinent hereto, the elected
15 18. At all times pertinent hereto Barbara LaWall was the Pima County
16
Attorney, an elected position. Defendant Michael LeBlanc was an Assistant Pima County
17
18 Attorney hired by LaWall. Both are sued in their individual capacities;
19 19. The actions taken by the individual Defendants set forth herein were taken
20
with malice and/or reckless disregard of the federally-protected rights of the Plaintiffs;
21
20. This action is brought to vindicate rights under the First, Fourth, Fifth and
22
23 Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, through 42 U.S.C.
24 §1983; and to vindicate rights under the common and statutory law of Arizona;
25
21. This Court has jurisdiction of this case pursuant to the federal question
26
27 statute, 28 U.S.C. §1331. This Court also has pendent jurisdiction of the state law claims,
28 which arise out of the same nucleus of operative facts, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1367;
9
1 22. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391;
2
3
II. FACTS
4
5 23. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 22 as if fully set forth herein;
6 24. As a result of the spread of Covid-19 infections in the State, on March 11,
7
2020, Governor Douglas Ducey issued a Declaration of Public Health Emergency;
8
25. On March 19, 2020, the Governor executed his Executive Order (“EO”)
9
10 2020-09, which resulted in the closure of all sit-down eateries and coffee shops in Pima
11 County, including Viva;
12
26. In EO 2020-33, issued April 29, 2020, Governor Ducey authorized the
13
14 reopening of businesses such as Viva, commencing May 8, 2020, providing that such
15 businesses complied with the requirements set out in the Order. ¶12(B). In ¶15, the
16
Governor prohibited local governments from implementing any restrictions on businesses
17
18 which conflicted with the requirements;
10
1 30. On June 17, 2020, Governor Ducey issued Executive Order 2020-40, which
19 ***
20 b. "Public place" means any place, indoor or outdoor, that is open to the
21 public and includes, but is not limited to, businesses or other establishments
where people assemble or members of the general public may enter; offices;
22 public buildings, highways, and parks; and public transportation, including
taxicabs and ride sharing.
23
24 33. Further, the Board recognized the following exceptions to the mask
25 requirement, Section 2:
26
a. Persons who cannot medically tolerate wearing a face covering. A
27
person is not required to provide documentation demonstrating that
28 the person cannot medically tolerate wearing a face covering.
11
1
b. Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person
2 who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential
3 for communication.
4 ***
5 e. Persons who are eating or drinking at a restaurant or other
establishment that offers food or beverage service, so long as the
6 person is able to maintain a distance of 6 feet away from persons who
7 are not members of the same household or party as the person.
8 f. Any member of a group of persons who are in a public place together
9 and live in the same household or are part of a party of 10 or less, so
long as the group can easily maintain a continuous physical distance
10 of at least 6 feet from all other persons not part of the household or
11 party.
12
34. Section 3 provided that:
13
14 Establishments that are open to the public must provide face coverings to
their employees and require them to wear them. Additionally, establishments
15 that are open to the public and in which continuous physical distancing of at
16 least six feet between persons cannot be easily maintained may refuse to
allow a person who is not exempt under Section 2 and who is not wearing a
17 face covering to enter the establishment and may request that a person inside
18 the establishment leave if the person is not exempt under Section 2 and is not
wearing a face covering.
19
20
35. Section 5 provided that:
21
22 Compliance and enforcement. The primary focus of enforcement is education
and promotion of best practices to accomplish the goal of mitigating the
23 spread of Covid-19. A person must be notified of the provisions of this
24 Resolution and given an opportunity to comply before any further
enforcement action is taken against the person. Further enforcement action
25 may thereafter be taken in any manner provided by law, including as provided
26 in A.R.S. §§ 36-183.04 through 36-183.07 or 36-191. No civil or criminal
enforcement action will be taken without the express approval of the Board.
27 In addition, if the Pima County Health Department investigates and finds
noncompliance at an establishment, it may recommend to any governing body
28
12
1 that issues a permit or license to that establishment, including when applicable
the Arizona State Liquor Board, that the permit or license be suspended.
2
3 36. In conjunction with the Resolution, the Board created a “Frequently
4 Asked Questions” page on its website intended to interpret and expand on the language
5
of the Resolution. The following questions and answers, among others, were listed on
6
7 the “FAQ page, which was updated following the Board’s issuance of an update to
13
1 to Defendant Nikitas who was at all times informed of Alvarez’s communications with
2 Plaintiffs and approved Alvarez’s subsequent actions, arrived at Viva and conducted an
3
inspection. Alvarez spoke with Kelly Walker. Mr. Walker advised that Viva was
4
5 complying with the mask requirements, that some staff had medical exemptions, but that
6 all staff, when not masked, maintained the required six (6) feet of physical distancing,
7
and Alvarez confirmed to him that Viva was in compliance;
8
9 40. On July 2, 2020, Alvarez emailed Viva, attaching a copy of the County-
10 issued Stop Covid-19 handouts for restaurants to post on premises. She advised Viva that
11
she could bring copies with her during her during her visit of their facility;
12
13 41. On July 9, 2020, Governor Ducey issued Executive Order 2020-47,
14 including additional requirements on restaurants regarding spacing and social distancing;
15
42. Unbeknownst to Plaintiffs, on March 17, 2020, the editors of the Tucson
16
17 Sentinel newspaper created a Facebook group/page named “Tucson Coronavirus
18 Updates” [hereafter “the TCU page”]. Those affiliated with the Sentinel were named
19
moderators of the page. Those contributing to the page were encouraged to post and
20
21 comment on restaurants and other businesses, such as Viva, allegedly violating National,
14
1 establishments and other businesses they could find where, so they believed, the
2 proprietors were “anti-mask.” The Board Defendants encouraged these individuals, and
3
impliedly nominated them as inspectors in, among other actions, Resolution 2020-49 § 4:
4
5 Complaints and investigations. Pima County will provide a public website
available via www.pima.gov through which any person may file a written
6 complaint alleging noncompliance with this Resolution at any establishment
that is open to the public. The website will allow the submission of
7
photographs, and, when possible, photographs depicting violations should be
8 provided. The Pima County Health Department will investigate complaints
and take enforcement action where appropriate. Pima County will post copies
9
of the complaints and associated documentation, including photographs, on
10 the website.
11
44. On July 20th one of these self-appointed TCU “inspectors”, Gretchen
12
13 Wirges, came into Viva and began to take pictures of patrons, their children, and the
14 barista on duty, without asking for permission. A number of patrons objected, and
15
eventually, Wirges left. Approximately twenty minutes after her visit, Wirges called Viva
16
and demanded that the coffee house be closed immediately because “everybody should
17
18 be wearing masks….” She then posted the following on the TCU Facebook page:
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 45. Wirges then went online at 3:16 p.m. and filed an anonymous complaint
13
alleging, in contradiction to the image in her Facebook post, that “There were about 40
14
15 people (half of that children) with ZERO people wearing masks. . .”;
16 46. Kelly Walker, without knowledge of the complaint to the DoH, promptly
17
emailed Inspector Alvarez advising of the incident with Wirges, conveyed the customers’
18
19 distress at being photographed, and attached a photo showing patrons and staff
20 distancing. Mr. Walker also informed Alvarez of Viva’s compliance, and understanding
21
of Resolution 2020-49 exemptions under §2;
22
23 47. At 4:22 p.m., Wirges called DoH a second time, complaining about Viva,
24 anonymously. Two minutes later, she emailed DoH directly, making the same complaint;
25
48. The next day, July 21st at 9:28 a.m., Wirges went online, lodged the same
26
27 anonymous complaint against Viva, falsely claiming that she had been in the shop that
28
16
1 morning and the staff not wearing masks, and “approximately 20 people inside including
2 children running around and I was the only customer wearing a mask…”;
3
49. At 12:30 p.m. that day, DoH Inspector Alvarez arrived at Viva in response
4
5 to Wirges’s complaints. She conducted a thorough inspection of the coffee house, spoke
6 with Kelly Walker, and then left. Prior to leaving, Mr. Walker reminded Alvarez of the
7
email he had sent her the previous day regarding Wirges, but Alvarez claimed she had not
8
9 received it. Mr. Walker then explained to her what had occurred and resent the email;
10
50. Viva did not immediately receive a copy of the Complaint Report
11
resolution;
12
13 51. The following day, July 22nd, Alvarez emailed Kelly Walker a copy of her
14
Proclamation Complaint report. In the report, Alvarez listed corrective actions needed for
15
compliance with the State/Local requirements, including: (1) “wellness COVID-19
16
17 questions for employees”, (2) all tables were not six (6) feet apart, and (3) Viva lacked
18 “floor signs/tape to mark 6 feet spacing…”;
19
52. Alvarez did not cite Viva for failure of its baristas to wear cloth masks. The
20
21 Proclamation and Resolution state Viva was in compliance with the mask requirement.
22
She did note, “Two employees and only one employee was wearing a facemask
23
(according to PIC [person in charge] some employees have medical conditions that
24
25 exempt them from wearing a face mask. Suggested using face shields)”;
26
53. Alvarez’s report criticized Viva for not having posted the “Pima County
27
Health Notice posters”, though she had previously informed Viva she would bring
28
17
1 posters out to put up;
2
54. Based on Kelly Walker’s previous interactions with Alvarez, the Plaintiffs
3
understood that wearing of face masks was not a requirement of the DoH rules, if the
4
5 employee had a medical condition that exempted that employee, provided that physical
6 distancing was maintained. They also understood that employees were not required to
7
wear a mask at times they were physically distancing from other employees or patrons
8
9 whether or not they had a medical exemption;
10
55. Under the “Assessment” category on page one of her July 21st Proclamation
11
Complaint report, Alvarez wrote “Educational”;
12
13 56. Immediately following the inspection, Viva instituted the designated
14
corrective actions, and emailed DoH Inspector Alvarez of the actions being taken;
15
16 57. Under Pima County Board of Supervisors’ weekly “COVID-19 Mask and
17 Safety Measure Complaints”, “if a second complaint is received 48 hours after first
18
contact is made with an establishment, then a site visit is made to investigate the
19
complaint and provide additional education”, however, Alvarez made no contact with
20
21 Viva after Wirges’s first complaint nor after receiving the email from Viva. Alvarez was
22
dispatched to the shop on July 21st without giving Viva any notice of the complaints,
23
which were obviously made by the same person, and without making any contact with
24
25 Wirges to verify that the complaints were not harassment of the business;
26 58. As part of the program to compel compliance by businesses with the
27
published requirements, the Board and the DoH created the “Resolution 2020-49 Face
28
18
1 Mask Requirement Violations” website page [hereafter, “the Violations page”]. The
2 purpose of the page, as the individual Board Defendants understood and approved, was to
3
alert potential customers to businesses whose mask violations were confirmed after more
4
5 than one complaint and if the business did not bring itself into compliance after the first,
6 educational visit. By so doing, these Defendants sought to use the public posting of such
7
violators on an official government publication to cause potential patrons to avoid the
8
business, thus impacting revenue and causing injury to the business’s reputation and good
9
10 will, whereby the economic pressure would compel compliance. This public page has
11 been dubbed a “Wall of Shame” by at least one of the Board Supervisors, who also has
12
named the County’s complaint process a “snitch line”;
13
14 59. The Violations page states, “The establishments below were deemed to be
15
out of compliance with Pima County Resolution 2020-49 requiring everyone in Pima
16
County to wear a mask in public places when unable to keep a 6 feet (sic) distance from
17
18 others, including employees working with customers,” under which the names and
19 locations of businesses allegedly violating the face mask requirements are listed;
20
60. The page further states that, “All complaints receive a response and the
21
22 establishments are contacted and provided with mask requirements. Additional
23
complaints result in a site visit….”;
24
25 61. Upon information and belief, it was the practice of the DoH that no
26 business’s identity would be posted on the Violations page without the approval of
27
Nikitas, Anderson and Cullen. These Defendants received Complaint reports and were
28
19
1 required to affirm the face mask violation before approving the posting;
2
62. On the same day that Alvarez inspected Viva - July 21st - the name and
3
address of the coffee house was posted on the Violations page. Nikitas, Anderson and
4
5 Cullen were under pressure from Defendants Lesher and Huckelberry to name businesses
6 to the Violations page to show that the County was strictly enforcing the face mask
7
requirement, and were reckless and deliberately indifferent to the economic harm that this
8
9 posting would cause Viva, and in reckless disregard and deliberately indifferent to Viva’s
10 right to notice and an opportunity to be heard before the County took the enforcement
11
action.
12
13 63. The Board of Supervisors’ weekly “Mask and Safety Measure Complaint”
14 reports also state, “If it is a mask complaint, and the establishment is deemed to be in
15
violation of the mask requirements during the site visit, it is posted to the County’s
16
17 COVID-19 website” (emphasis added). But, Viva, in fact, had not been found on July 21st
18 to be in violation of the face mask requirement, and the inspection had been, as required
19
by the Governor’s Executive Order and the Resolutions itself, solely for educational
20
purposes, as guidance to allow Viva the opportunity to bring the business into
21
22 compliance. These Defendants did not provide any notice to Viva that their business was
23
posted on the Violations page;
24
25 64. In her emails to Viva, Alvarez did not notify the Plaintiffs that enforcement
20
1 Facebook page, and on Yelp, reviews which rapidly increased in numbers and
10
67. The Plaintiffs became aware that the number of patrons was declining over
11
the days following July 21st, causing revenue to decrease. It was not until July 29th, upon
12
13 being contacted by KVOA News 4 Reporter Alexis Berdine for comment on her story
14 “Covid-19 Crackdown”, that Plaintiffs learned of the “Wall of Shame”, and that Viva
15
was on it;
16
17 68. On the morning of July 31st, Alvarez again arrived to inspect the shop,
18 without a complaint having been lodged with DoH. Alvarez’s subsequent Report found
19
Viva in compliance with all requirements. Alvarez again failed to inform Plaintiffs that
20
21 Viva was listed on the Violations page;
22 69. On the morning of August 3rd, Kelly Walker began emailing Alvarez,
23
attempting to understand why Viva had been posted as non-compliant, and informing her
24
25 of the increasing volume of negative and harassing reviews and comments:
21
1 doing our best, and we want the County to actively support that. Because we
are listed on that site, we have been severely harassed online and by
2 telephone. I'm sure this is not something the County would support.
3
70. It was on August 3rd that unknown persons began calling Viva, threatening
4
5 to file “class action” lawsuits against the business, and worse. For example, at 2:18 p.m.
6 the young barista, Rena Paterno, picked up the Viva phone to a male caller who said: “Hi
7
you f***ing c**t. You need to stop not f***ing wearing masks and don’t act like a Jew;
8
you were not even going through the holocaust.”;
9
10 71. That same day, the following was posted on Viva’s Facebook page: “f***
11 you and your inbred little mindset…hoping your business goes down the sh****”;
12
72. As these kinds of vile, profanity-laced comments and phone calls
13
14 continued, the Plaintiffs became concerned not only for the survival of the business
15 because of the adverse impact on revenues, but for the physical safety the families and
16
their employees;
17
18 73. Upon receipt of Mr. Walker’s email of August 3rd, DoH Inspector Alvarez
19 conferred with Nikita, Nikita with Anderson, Anderson with Cullen, and Cullen with
20
Lesher and Huckelberry, during which the history of the interactions with Viva was
21
examined. On August 4th, Alvarez, at the direction of the named Defendants, emailed
22
23 Viva, justifying the posting, stating, falsely, that “On 07/21/2020 during the onsite
24 investigation few of the “Temporary Covid-19 Minimum Health Standards” were out of
25
compliance, therefore, your facility was posted to the website.” She claimed to have
26
27 informed Anderson and/or Nikitas that Viva actually had passed on July 28th, but went on
28 “I was told it takes about one week to remove your facility.” This statement was false.
22
1 DoH could have immediately removed Viva’s information and issued a notice that Viva
2 was placed on the page in error. But Alvarez, at the Defendants’ direction, concluded by
3
threatening further enforcement “if additional complaints continue to come in regarding
4
5 your facility….” By that date, these Defendants were aware that the posting of a business
6 on the Violations page was a virtual invitation to self-appointed “inspectors” to target that
7
business for complaints of violations;
8
74. Defendants Lesher and Huckelberry directed Cullen to use every pretext
9
10 possible from that date on to harass Viva. Cullen executed those orders as set forth
11 below;
12
75. By August 6th, the cadre of TCU “inspectors” had created an echo chamber
13
14 in which Viva was attacked constantly, as well as Kelly Walker, individually;
15 76. Determined to put Viva out of business, the individuals posted false
16
negative reviews, and false complaints to the DoH complaint line;
17
18 77. On August 6th, Alvarez, on direction from Cullen in response to the order
19 given, returned without warning for yet another inspection. The inspection violated the
20
Board policy regarding events that would trigger a complaint. A single anonymous
21
complaint had been made online on August 3rd, claiming “They keep refusing to wear
22
23 masks. They had a kids [sic] event today and no one in the store except Spider-Man [sic]
24 was wearing a mask!” Defendants knew this complaint was false and intended only to
25
harass Viva. Alvarez’s inspection found no violations, assessing Viva as having passed;
26
27 78. Plaintiffs do not know precisely when the Violations page posting was
28 taken down, but the flood of Yelp and Facebook negative reviews, the profanity-laced
23
1 comments, and implied and explicit threats to cause harm, began to decrease over time;
2 79. Plaintiffs became more and more afraid, however, as some individuals
3
continued with implied and explicit threats;
4
5 80. On September 9, 2020, another inspector, Joseph Tabor, appeared at
6 approximately 11:25 a.m., without prior notice, and immediately began snapping
7
pictures. Tabor’s inspection was, as had been the earlier one on August 6th, outside Board
8
policy and directed by Cullen. Tabor’s “inspection” was a continuation of the
9
10 Defendants’ direction to DoH inspectors to target Viva. Cheryl Dunker had just
11 completed work, and was standing in front of the counter area. There were few patrons in
12
the room, and she was not wearing a mask, being well beyond the minimum distance
13
14 requirement. The barista on duty was in the back of the store behind the counter where
15 patrons do not go, and had her mask off as she was doing dishes. Tabor approached Mrs.
16
Dunker, and began speaking with her, as she sat down at a table. A few minutes later,
17
18 after Tabor had actually completed his inspection, Kelly Walker arrived and spoke with
24
1 complied and produced a second, three-page report, stating that “[t]he complaint was
2 validated.”;
3
83. On September 10th, Mr. Walker, in an attempt to bring the Plaintiffs’ plight
4
5 to the attention of the Board, emailed the Supervisors of Districts 1 and 4, a narrative
15 copied the other Supervisors and Defendants Garcia, Lesher and Huckelberry on the
16
submissions;
17
18 84. On September 14th, Mr. Walker received an invitation from the office of
19 Supervisor Steve Christy, District 4, to speak at the Board meeting scheduled for the next
20
day, September 15, 2020;
21
85. In the days leading up to the meeting, the TCU Facebook echo chamber
22
23 continued the attacks on Viva and Kelly Walker. Even the comments without profanity
24 were indicative of the damage done to the business: one person posted on TCU “What
25
other health codes don’t they follow because they don’t want to?” Mr. Walker was being
26
27 called a racist, a fascist and an anti-Semite;
28 86. Previously, on September 14th and 15th, two women who were active in the
25
1 harassment of Viva – Jennifer Hopkins and Katherine Stratford – on the guidance of
2 Aaron Parkey, another TCU contributor who had connections throughout the justice
3
system in Pima County and was actively doxxing the Plaintiffs, swore out ex parte
4
5 Injunctions Against Harassment, naming Kelly Walker “the owner” of Viva as one “who
6 has been stalking and harassing numerous people”. The Injunction sworn out by
7
Katherine Stratford claimed, “[m]y daughters and I are in grave fear.”;
8
87. Plaintiffs remained unaware of these injunctions for weeks because they
9
10 were not served on Mr. Walker until October 6, 2020;
11 88. Upon receipt of Mr. Walker’s September 10th email and attachments,
12
Defendant Huckelberry directed that Viva and Mr. Walker’s online activities be
13
14 monitored. At or near the same time, he directed that postings on the TCU page and other
15 online platforms which identified Mr. Walker or Viva also be monitored, and he and the
16
Board Defendants thenceforth received regular reports and downloads of the activities.
17
18 Monitoring of all media reports and programs on the subject of Viva and the County,
19 particularly those reports and programs quoting Kelly Walker, was also ordered, and the
20
County employees monitoring such media immediately provided the Board Defendants
21
such reports and programs as soon as they were aired. Defendant Napier facilitated the
22
23 surveillance by using resources, including the Intelligence Unit, of the Sheriff’s Office to
24 engage in monitoring. Defendant Roher was designated as the contact between PCSD and
25
the Board Defendants;
26
27 89. On September 15th, Mr. Walker attended the Board meeting and signed in
28 to speak during the Call to the Public portion of the meeting. When he approached the
26
1 podium, Mr. Walker began quoting some of the harassing posts he had in front of him –
2 previously distributed to the Board and the Board Defendants -- that had caused such
3
anguish in the families and among baristas;
4
5 90. Within only a few seconds of speaking, Defendant Valadez, who was
6 chairing the meeting, ordered Mr. Walker to “watch his language” then immediately
7
ordered the Sergeant at Arms, Defendant Roher, to seize Mr. Walker and have him
8
removed from the room. Although Mr. Walker agreed to censor the language, he was still
9
10 detained and removed;
11 91. Mr. Walker was physically restrained, handcuffed, walked into a back
12
room, and informed by Defendants Roher, Stuckey and Gwaltney that he was being
13
14 charged with disorderly conduct. He was issued a citation and summoned to appear in
15 court to answer;
16
92. Within minutes, the fact of Mr. Walker’s arrest was being trumpeted online
17
18 as “he got what he deserved.” A whole new wave of vitriol was unleashed on the Viva
27
1 overwhelmingly supported Viva and Mr. Walker, expressed outrage at Valadez’s
2 treatment of Mr. Walker and his arrest and echoed Mr. Walker’s personal concerns about
3
government overreach. Valadez and Huckelberry had summoned Cullen to give a history
4
5 of the DoH actions and interactions with Viva and were aware of Viva’s having been
6 posted on the “Wall of Shame” without justification, and without notice and the
7
opportunity to be heard, and were aware, from communications from Viva and Walker,
8
that the posting had caused injury to Viva’s business and good will and genuine fear on
9
10 the part of Plaintiffs and staff. Valadez and Huckelberry were angered that Kelly Walker
11 had given the matter a public airing at the Board meeting of September 15 th, and were
12
concerned that Valadez, the Board, and the Sheriff were exposed to potential liability for
13
14 the false arrest of Mr. Walker when he was attempting to bring Viva’s grievances to the
19 and Walker into submission and silence, and to deny them due process. Defendant Napier
20
was dispatched to meet with Mr. Walker, to assess his likelihood of taking legal action
21
against the Board and Sheriff. LaWall ordered Defendant LeBlanc to prepare a letter to
22
23 Viva threatening further enforcement actions against the business. Defendants also
24 directed Cullen that Viva would be inspected upon the receipt of any anonymous
25
complaint, in violation of the published rules and regulations. Defendants knew that the
26
27 actions they would take were in violation of the Plaintiffs’ rights under the First
28 Amendment to engage in expression and in petition to the government for redress of
28
1 grievances, and in violation of Plaintiffs’ right to notice and an opportunity to be heard on
2 actions contemplated;
3
96. On September 16, 2020, Defendant Sheriff Napier went to Viva and
4
5 approached Mr. Walker. There was a brief conversation. All Napier asked Mr. Walker
6 was whether or not his deputies had acted “professionally” in their arrest of him. Napier
7
made no mention of the harassment and threats directed against the Plaintiffs and their
8
staff. Napier did not inform Mr. Walker that he was under investigation. Neither Napier,
9
10 nor any PCSD detective, at any time, asked Mr. Walker if he would agree to an interview
11 in response to complaints made against him;
12
97. Defendant LeBlanc communicated with Defendants Huckelberry, Garcia,
13
14 Lesher and Cullen and received copies of the Complaint inspection reports, the
15 communications between Mr. Walker and the DoH, and Mr. Walker’s communications
16
with members of the Board;
17
18 98. On September 17th, LeBlanc, having passed the language by LaWall and
19 Huckelberry for approval, sent Viva a letter threatening legal action. LeBlanc cited Mr.
20
Walker’s action on September 9th, when he “directed the Health Department inspector to
21
leave the facility immediately and threatened legal action.” He then cited the document
22
23 Mr. Walker had handed Tabor on September 9th, that LeBlanc characterized as
24 “challenging the County’s authority to impose face-mask covering requirements during
25
the pandemic….” LeBlanc went on to falsely state that Viva “refuses to enforce those
26
27 requirements at the facility.” LeBlanc and the other Defendants knew this allegation was
28 false when he memorialized it, or were reckless and deliberately indifferent in their
29
1 disregard of that falsity;
2 99. LeBlanc then directed that “Viva Coffee House must immediately comply
3
with the Pima County and Arizona Department of Health Services public-health
4
5 requirements”, with which Viva was already in compliance;
6 100. On September 18th, Defendant Napier, who had concern about his image
7
being tarnished during a contested run for his office, and after conferring with LaWall,
8
Lesher, Garcia and Huckelberry, posted a “Media Release” on the official Pima County
9
10 Sheriff’s Department Twitter and Facebook pages, pictured below:
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 101. The Media Release’s claim that Mr. Walker had refused to leave the Board
30
1 meeting after being asked to do so by Valadez, was a flat lie, and Napier, who had seen
2 the video, knew it. He then further justified his deputies’ action of seizing and arresting
3
Mr. Walker by citing to Valadez’s “legal authority” to have Mr. Walker removed, that
4
5 refusal to leave “constitutes a criminal offense,” and that his deputies had “an affirmative
6 responsibility to respond….”;
7
102. In response to Napier’s post, the self-appointed TCU “inspectors” began
8
commenting, repeating the false claims of Stratford and Hopkins who had filed the
9
10 injunctions against harassment, that Mr. Walker was “stalking” them, that “MANY
11 attempts to get TPD involved and report direct harassment of these individual have gone
12
ignored….”. Aaron Parkey, who had been the driving force behind Stratford and
13
14 Hopkin’s securing the ex parte Injunctions Against Harassment on September 14th and
15 15th, made multiple posts, repeating, falsely, that Mr. Walker “has at least six fake
16
accounts that he viciously attacks women and Jewish people that comment upon his
17
18 antisemitic posts”, stating that “he has at least one restraining order on him for doing this,
19 so a judge saw enough evidence to believe it was him stalking this woman….”. Napier,
20
who knew Parkey’s allegations were false and inflammatory, or who was reckless in his
21
disregard of the falsity, and deliberately indifferent to the injury the content of the posts
22
23 would visit upon Plaintiffs, did not delete the posts, but left them in the public record;
24 103. Following a number of these comments, Napier volunteered that “we
25
(meaning PCSD) are investigating [Mr. Walker] as his residence is in the County. Since it
26
27 is an active investigation, it would be inappropriate for me to discuss.” This claim of
28 PCSD “investigating” Mr. Walker, made in response to the numerous false posts
31
1 regarding his alleged antisemitic and antiwoman posts and comments, was intended by
2 Napier to give credence to the falsehoods, and did do so. As of that date, and to present,
3
no criminal investigation of Mr. Walker has been undertaken;
4
5 104. On September 18th, Defendant Lesher prepared, and Valadez, LaWall,
15 Huckelberry repeated the events of September 9th, omitting the material fact that Mrs.
16
Dunker and the barista were, in fact, not out of compliance with the requirements, and
17
18 cited again Mr. Walker’s statement that the County could expect legal action, also
19 omitting his statement that the County bore the responsibility for the harassment of the
20
Plaintiffs and baristas and Mr. Walker’s September 10th proposal to meet with the Board
21
to address Viva’s concerns. Huckleberry then cited a Viva post from September 15 th,
22
23 falsely claiming that by this post, Viva endorsed a statement that “[w]e will stop wearing
24 masks. Just throw the filthy thing away.” Citing this, Huckelberry concluded that “[t]he
25
County has no option other than to refer noncompliance to the County Attorney for
26
27 appropriate action.” Huckelberry omitted the material facts that the inspections and
28 subsequent enforcement actions had violated Board policy. The Memorandum was
32
1 carefully crafted, by inclusion of falsehoods and omission of material information, to
2 cause the public to subject Viva and the Plaintiffs to scorn and ridicule, and was done in
3
connection with the joint intent of the Defendants to punish the Plaintiffs and further
4
5 injure the business;
6 105. These Defendants knew on September 17th there was no legal basis to
7
commence enforcement action against Viva and that past enforcement action had been
8
unlawful;
9
10 106. Although purporting to authorize action against Viva by the Pima County
11 Attorney, Huckelberry failed to secure the “express approval of the Board” required
12
under Section 5 of Proclamation 2020-49 and under Board Rules and Regulations,
13
14 Section I, “Passage of Ordinance/Resolutions.” Before October 5, 2020, the Board was
15 never presented with a proposed Resolution under the public forum provisions of the
16
Rules, that would have provided Plaintiffs with notice and an opportunity to be heard
17
18 before any action was taken. The members of the Board, however, acquiesced in the
19 subsequent actions taken by the individual Pima County Defendants, having delegated
20
final decision-making authority to Huckelberry to use as he saw fit in his sole discretion;
21
107. On September 24, 2020, Defendant Nikitas emailed Viva, inquiring when
22
23 DoH could make a “follow up” inspection to the one of September 9th. On September
24 28th, Viva responded that the attorneys would be consulted and would respond. On
25
October 4th, Viva emailed Nikitas that “[y]ou can come inspect any time.” Mr. Walker
26
27 also brought to Nikitas’s attention that Viva had never posted a “no more masks”
28 statement online, correcting the misrepresentation that Huckelberry had memorialized in
33
1 his September 18th Memorandum notifying the Board that enforcement action would be
2 taken. Nikitas notified his superiors of this communication, and those superiors passed it
3
on to Huckelberry on the same date. Despite knowing that his statement about the alleged
4
5 refusal to comply was in error and a misrepresentation, Huckelberry took no action to
6 correct this with the Board or the public, but doubled-down on the impending action
7
against Viva;
8
108. The demand for a “follow-up” inspection was entirely pretextual,
9
10 Defendants intending to use such an inspection to “find” a violation of the face mask
11 requirement so that the Defendants could immediately move to close Viva;
12
109. Upon receiving Mrs. Walker’s invitation, Nikitas was dispatched by
13
14 Defendants to do an inspection the next day, October 5th. Nikitas arrived in the parking
15 lot outside Viva, where he could view the interior of the shop. Nikitas waited until the
16
barista inside had removed her face mask while well outside the minimum distance
17
18 mandated, immediately entered, and announced himself. Although Viva was in
19 compliance with the face mask mandate and all other requirements, Nikitas prepared his
20
report finding violations of (1) the face mask mandate; (2) signage; and (3), floor
21
markings;
22
23 110. When Nikitas returned to DoH, and made his report to the Board
24 Defendants, he was ordered to, and did, have Viva’s name and location posted a second
25
time on the Violations page as being out of compliance with the face mask mandate. This
26
27 posting, as the Board Defendants knew and intended it would, caused another explosion
28 of online harassment of Viva and Mr. Walker, and further injury to the business revenues
34
1 and goodwill;
6 and Suspension”] citing as justification the events of September 9th which “confirmed
7
that several employees … were not wearing face coverings, in violation of regulations…”
8
and “employees … have refused to allow … inspectors to enter the premises….” Further,
9
10 by October 4th, the Board Defendants knew that the premise of the enforcement action
11 was false, and that Viva was in compliance on September 9th, and that Plaintiffs
12
welcomed any inspection, including unannounced inspections;
13
14 112. Immediately upon Nikitas’ documentation of the alleged face mask
15 violation on October 5th, LaWall, Garcia, Lesher and Huckelberry had the Order and
16
Suspension finalized. Although Cullen knew that there was no basis to commence
17
18 enforcement against Viva, she put her name to the Order and Suspension;
19 113. On October 6, 2020, Defendants had the Order and Suspension served on
20
Viva – simultaneously and inexplicably with Hopkins and Stratford’s Injunctions Against
21
Harassment that had been issued 3 weeks prior. The Board Defendants and LaWall, who
22
23 was directly involved in review and approval of the enforcement, knew that serving the
24 Order and Suspension violated the provisions enacted in Section 5 of Board Resolution
25
2020-49’s July 7, 2020, update limiting civil or criminal enforcement of Covid-19 mask
26
27 mandates. Such limits did not authorize use of enforcement process against any business
28 unless there had been “[t]hird and subsequent violations of the same or similar nature.”
35
1 The Report prepared by Nikitas and given to Plaintiffs specifically identified the
6 115. These Defendants knew, and intended, that the Order and Suspension
7
would become public knowledge and further encourage the TCU “inspectors” to continue
8
their online harassment and complaints to the DoH website and drive Viva out of
9
10 business. They knew and intended that the enforcement action would trigger an online
11 explosion of vitriol against the business, and what Defendants knew and expected
12
immediately occurred;
13
14 116. Mrs. Walker immediately prepared and delivered to Cullen and Anderson a
15 letter explaining the additional measures Plaintiffs were taking to comply with what they
16
understood were the new demands, and reaffirming Viva’s continuing commitment to
17
18 implemental the County’s requirements. She pointed out, again, that Viva was not
19 refusing to allow inspectors in, and attached photographs of the steps being taken. She
20
asked for an immediate response to enable Viva to re-open;
21
117. Cullen forwarded the letter to the other Board Defendants, who conferred,
22
23 and Huckelberry, on October 9th, had a letter delivered to Mrs. Walker over his signature.
24 In the letter, in addition to requiring Mrs. Walker to again notify Cullen of the ability of
25
Viva to comply, he included a paragraph to “correct the record.” Ignoring the fact that the
26
27 Order and Suspension had been based on the claim that Viva refused admittance to
28 inspectors, he attached the Nikitas Complaint report, claiming that this [and a video
36
1 posted October 2nd on a site unaffiliated with Viva, which the IT surveillance had come
2 across -- and which was not subject of any complaint to the Board] constituted evidence
3
that “supports our findings….”. The Board Defendants’ issuance of this letter was
4
5 intended to provide “cover” to their unlawful enforcement actions;
6 118. Because Huckelberry delayed the letter until late Friday, Viva was
7
shuttered until Monday morning October 12th, when Mrs. Walker was finally able to
8
contact Cullen and re-confirm Viva’s actions. The coffee shop then re-opened;
9
10 119. However, by Monday, the damage was done to the business. From that date
11 on, Viva and the Plaintiffs have been subjected to relentless harassment, false “reviews”
12
and other online activities the purpose of which is to drive the Plaintiffs out of business;
13
14 120. On October 26th, an evidentiary hearing was held by Judge Antonio Riojas
15 in Tucson City Court in which Hopkins and Stratford, the two TCU “inspectors”,
16
appeared to present evidence substantiating their accusations against Mr. Walker in the ex
17
18 parte injunctions issued on September 14th and 15th. At the close of the hearing, Judge
19 Riojas dissolved the injunctions, concluding from the bench that the women’s complaints
20
were simply an “internet feud”, and that they had failed to prove Mr. Walker had
21
harassed or stalked either woman;
22
23 121. In the weeks following October 2020, the Defendants’ directive that Viva
24 would be harassed by inspections that were not authorized by Board directives and
25
published mandates was put into operation. On December 3, 2020, DoH inspector
26
27 Venessa Zarate was dispatched to Viva without prior notice on the basis of a single
28 anonymous face mask complaint stating “No one wears mask, employees or customers.
37
1 Very Unsafe.” Zarate designated the inspection “2nd or subsequent onsite visit –
2 complaint”. Zarate was unable to find a violation and closed the complaint;
3
122. Upon information and belief, this unlawful practice of harassment of Viva
4
5 by DoH inspections remains in place and Viva remains at risk of the issuance of unlawful
17 123. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 122 as if fully set forth herein;
18
124. All Plaintiffs possessed a protected interest in the legitimate conduct of the
19
business of Viva, including goodwill, without infringement by the government in the
20
21 absence of prior notice and an opportunity to be heard;
22
125. The Defendants Board, Horwitz, Valadez, Huckelberry, Lesher and Garcia
23
formulated and promulgated the provisions of Resolution 2020-49 and the updated
24
25 Resolution of July 7, 2020, specifically with regard to face mask requirements, provisions
26 inviting and encouraging complaints to the DoH, criteria for investigation and
27
substantiation of such complaints, and the public posting of alleged violators of the face
28
38
1 mask requirements;
6 provisions were intended by these Defendants to alert the public to businesses violating
7
the law and subjecting patrons to unreasonable risk of contracting Covid-19; to cause
8
citizens of Pima County and any other person to avoid the posted businesses; and to
9
10 induce the posted business, through the loss of revenue and injury to goodwill, to come
11 into compliance with the law;
12
128. The Resolutions, as enacted, facially violated the right of businesses under
13
14 the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments determined to be in violation of the law to notice
15 and an opportunity to be heard before the County caused the injury to the property of the
16
businesses and owners by the enforcement action of posting the name and location of the
17
18 business;
19 129. These Defendants violated the right of the Plaintiffs’ due process when, on
20
July 21, 2020, Viva’s name and location was posted on the public Violations page, and as
21
long as it continued on that page;
22
23 130. The actions of Defendants Board, Horwitz, Valadez, Huckelberry, Lesher
24 and Garcia were the moving force behind the violations. The actions constituted, as well,
25
substantive due process violations, being conscience-shocking usurpation of power
26
27 against Plaintiffs;
28 131. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
39
1 revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; the individual
2 Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business, were exposed to vicious
3
attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of self-esteem, injury to
4
5 reputation and other intangible damages;
6
7
8
9
10
11 IV. SECOND CLAIM:
12
CLAIM OF ALL PLAINTIFFS AGAINST DEFENDANTS VALADEZ,
13 HUCKELBERRY, LESHER, CULLEN, ANDERSON AND NIKITAS:
14 VIOLATION OF THE FIRST, FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS:
JULY 21, 2020 POSTING OF VIVA ON THE VIOLATIONS PAGE AND
15 CONTINUED POSTING
16
132. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 131 as if fully set forth herein;
17
18 133. All Plaintiffs possessed a protected interest in the legitimate conduct of the
40
1 due process. The actions constituted, as well, substantive due process violations, being
6 Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business, were exposed to vicious
7
attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of self-esteem, injury to
8
reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were compelled to secure legal
9
10 advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and proximate result;
11 V. THIRD CLAIM:
12
CLAIM OF KELLY WALKER AGAINST DEFENDANTS THE BOARD,
13 VALADEZ, HUCKELBERRY, NAPIER, GWALTNEY, STUCKEY, AND
14 ROHER: FOURTH AMENDMENT VIOLATION IN SEIZURE AND ARREST
OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
15
16 136. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 135 as if fully set forth herein;
17 137. Valadez’s order to have Kelly Walker seized and removed from the Board
18
meeting on September 15, 2020, and the seizure and arrest on a charge of disorderly
19
conduct by Defendants Gwaltney, Stuckey and Roher, were done without probable cause
20
21 that he had committed any crime, and violated his right to be free from unreasonable
22
searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United
23
States;
24
25 138. The seizure and arrest was accomplished under policy instituted by the
26 Defendant Board of Supervisors and Defendants Valadez, Huckelberry and Napier, and
27
constituted the moving force behind the unlawful conduct;
28
41
1 139. Napier, in his Media Release following the public protests over the seizure
2 and arrest, ratified the deputies’ conduct, affirming that the unlawful action was within
3
PCSD policy;
4
5 140. Mr. Walker was compelled to secure legal representation to defend himself.
6 Prior to the date this Complaint was prepared, the Pima County Prosecutor moved the
7
Court to dismiss the charge;
8
141. As a direct and proximate result, Mr. Walker suffered humiliation, fear,
9
10 extreme emotional distress, loss of self-esteem and reputation in the community, incurred
11 legal and other expense, including attorney fees. He will suffer continuing injury in the
12
future;
13
14 VI. FOURTH CLAIM:
17 142. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 141 as if fully set forth herein;
18
143. When Mr. Walker submitted to the Board members before September 15,
19
2020, the emails and attached materials regarding the Board’s treatment of Viva, he
20
21 engaged in public expression and petition for redress of grievances, both protected under
22
the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
23
144. When Mr. Walker began to speak at the Board meeting on September 15,
24
25 2020, he also was engaging in protected expression and petitioning for redress of
26 grievances;
27
145. Valadez’s order to have Kelly Walker seized and removed from the Board
28
42
1 meeting, and the seizure and arrest on a charge of disorderly conduct by Defendants
2 Gwaltney, Stuckey, and Roher, which Valadez intended, was reasonably foreseeable, and
3
was motivated by Mr. Walker’s protected expression and petition as set forth above;
4
5 146. The public removal, seizure and arrest would chill a person of ordinary
6 firmness from continuing protected expression and petition for redress of grievances,
7
which was the Defendant Valadez’s intention;
8
147. As a direct and proximate result, Mr. Walker suffered humiliation, fear,
9
10 extreme emotional distress, loss of self-esteem and reputation in the community, incurred
11 legal and other expense, including attorney fees. He will suffer continuing injury in the
12
future;
13
14 VII. FIFTH CLAIM:
19 148 Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 147 as if fully set forth herein;
20
149. All Plaintiffs possessed a protected interest in the legitimate conduct of the
21
business of Viva, including goodwill, without infringement by the government in the
22
23 absence of prior notice and an opportunity to be heard;
24 150. The Defendants’ enforcement action of posting of Viva’s name and
25
location on the Violations page on October 5, 2020, and its continued public presence on
26
27 the page despite Defendants’ knowledge that Plaintiffs had not violated the face mask
28 requirements established in Resolution 2020-49, and in violation of the procedural
43
1 protections afforded business under Governor Ducey’s Executive Orders and the
2 Resolution and the update of July 7, 2020, constituted violations of the Plaintiffs’ due
3
process. The actions constituted, as well, substantive due process violations, being
4
5 conscience-shocking usurpation of power against Plaintiffs;
6 151. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
7
revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; the individual
8
Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business, were exposed to vicious
9
10 attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of self-esteem, injury to
11 reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were compelled to secure legal
12
advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and proximate result;
13
14 VIII. SIXTH CLAIM:
44
1 loss of goodwill;
2 155. The individual Defendants knew, at the time they closed down the business,
3
that the enforcement action was itself unlawful, in that they knew, but ignored, the steps
4
5 DoH was required to take before commencing enforcement; having failed to take such
15 proceedings over a period of two (2) weeks against the Plaintiffs constituted the express
16
approval, and made the Board acquiescence the moving force behind the suspension and
17
18 closure of the business;
19 158. Under these circumstances, the action of the Board and the individual
20
Board Defendants violated Plaintiffs’ right to notice and an opportunity to be heard in
21
advance of such action, and constituted, as well, a violation of substantive due process,
22
23 being a conscience-shocking usurpation of power against Plaintiffs;
24 159. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
25
revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill, and in lost
26
27 revenue; the individual Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business,
28 were exposed to vicious attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of
45
1 self-esteem, injury to reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were
2 compelled to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and
3
proximate result;
4
5 IX. SEVENTH CLAIM:
17 July 21, 2020, when Defendants knew that (1) Viva was not in violation of the face mask
18
mandate at the time of the inspection; (2) that the posting violated the Governor’s
19
Executive Order 2020-40 [¶14], the Board’s Resolution 2020-49 [§5], the Board’s July 7,
20
21 2020 update of Resolution 2020-49 [§5]; (3), that DoH had violated the Board’s policy
22
with regard to inspections; and, (4) the continued presence on the page long after
23
Plaintiffs had protested the posting, an intentional delay to achieve the maximum injury
24
25 to Plaintiffs;
26 b. The publication of the Memorandum of September 18, 2020, over
27
Huckelberry’s signature, as set forth herein, Paragraphs 104 - 107;
28
46
1 c. The public posting of Viva’s name and location on the Violations page on
2 October 5, 2020, when Defendants knew that (1) Viva was not in violation of the face
3
mask mandate at the time of the inspection and (2) that the posting violated the
4
5 Governor’s Executive Order 2020-40 [¶14], the Board’s Resolution 2020-49 [§5]; and,
6 (3) that DoH had violated the Board’s policy with regard to inspections and the Board’s
7
July 7, 2020 update of Resolution 2020-49 [§5];
8
d. Commencement of enforcement against Plaintiffs on October 6, 2020, by
9
10 the vehicle of the “NUISANCE ABATEMENT ORDER AND NOTICE OF PERMIT
11 SUSPENSION,” a document that Defendants crafted, as set forth above [Paragraphs 111-
12
113] on falsehoods and material omissions, of which the Defendants knew or were
13
14 reckless in their disregard of the truth;
19 scorn, violating their interest in liberty guaranteed under the First, Fifth and Fourteenth
20
Amendments to the Constitution;
21
164. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
22
23 revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; and in lost
24 revenue; the individual Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business,
25
were exposed to vicious attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of
26
27 self-esteem, injury to reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were
28 compelled to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and
47
1 proximate result;
2 X. EIGHTH CLAIM:
3
CLAIM OF ALL PLAINTIFFS AGAINST DEFENDANTS VALDEZ,
4 HUCKELBERRY, GARCIA, LESHER, CULLEN, ANDERSON AND NIKITAS:
5 FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION: HUCKELBERRY MEMORANDUM OF
SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
6
165. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 164 as if fully set forth herein;
7
8 166. All Plaintiffs possessed a protected interest in the legitimate conduct of the
9
business of Viva, including goodwill, without infringement by the government in the
10
absence of prior notice and an opportunity to be heard;
11
12 167. As set forth in Paragraph 104, the document was issued and made public in
13 retaliation for Plaintiffs’ engaging in protected expression and petitioning for redress of
14
grievances, and was intended to chill Plaintiffs’ public expression and petitioning;
15
16 168. These actions constituted infringement upon Plaintiffs’ ability to conduct
17 legitimate business, subjected the business and the individual Plaintiffs to shame, ridicule
18
and scorn, violating their interest in liberty guaranteed under the First, Fifth and
19
Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution;
20
21 169. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
22
revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; the individual
23
Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business, were exposed to vicious
24
25 attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of self-esteem, injury to
26 reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were compelled to secure legal
27
advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and proximate result;
28
48
1 XI. NINTH CLAIM:
6 171. All Plaintiffs possessed a protected interest in the legitimate conduct of the
7
business of Viva, including goodwill, without infringement by the government in the
8
absence of prior notice and an opportunity to be heard;
9
10 172. The September 17, 2020 letter, over LeBlanc’s signature, was issued in
11 retaliation for Plaintiffs’ engaging in protected expression and petitioning for redress of
12
grievances, and was intended to chill Plaintiffs’ public expression and petitioning;
13
14 173. The letter constituted infringement upon Plaintiffs’ ability to conduct
15 legitimate business, subjected the business and the individual Plaintiffs to shame, ridicule
16
and scorn, violating their interest in liberty guaranteed under the First, Fifth and
17
18 Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution;
19 174. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
20
revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; the individual
21
Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business, were exposed to vicious
22
23 attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of self-esteem, injury to
24 reputation and other intangible damages;
25
XII. TENTH CLAIM:
26
27 CLAIM OF ALL PLAINTIFFS AGAINST DEFENDANT NAPIER: FIRST
AMENDMENT VIOLATION: MEDIA RELEASE AND PUBLIC
28 COMMUNICATIONS ON DEFENDANT’S FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
49
1 ACCOUNTS
2 175. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 174 as if fully set forth herein;
3
176. All Plaintiffs possessed a protected interest in the legitimate conduct of the
4
5 business of Viva, including goodwill, without infringement by the government in the
19 to cease protected expression and petitioning for redress of grievances, particularly the
20
intent to cause Plaintiffs to not file a civil action for state law and constitutional
21
violations in the incident of September 15, 2020;
22
23 180. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
24 revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; and in lost
25
revenue; the individual Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business,
26
27 were exposed to vicious attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of
28 self-esteem, injury to reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were
50
1 compelled to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and
2 proximate result;
3
XIII. ELEVENTH CLAIM:
4
5 CLAIM OF ALL PLAINTIFFS AGAINST DEFENDANTS VALADEZ,
HUCKELBERRY, LESHER, LAWALL, NAPIER AND CULLEN: SECTION 1983
6 CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE PLAINTIFFS’ FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS
7
181. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 180 as if fully set forth herein;
8
182. All Plaintiffs possessed a protected interest in the legitimate conduct of the
9
10 business of Viva, including goodwill, without infringement by the government in the
11 absence of prior notice and an opportunity to be heard;
12
183. The following discrete actions were taken in furtherance of the plan to
13
14 violate the Plaintiffs’ right to free expression as described in Paragraph 94-95;
15 a. The public posting of Viva’s name and location on the Violations page on
16
July 21, 2020, when Defendants knew that (1) Viva was not in violation of the face mask
17
18 mandate at the time of the inspection; (2) that the posting violated the Governor’s
19 Executive Order 2020-40 [¶14], the Board’s Resolution 2020-49 [§5], the Board’s July 7,
20
2020 update of Resolution 2020-49 [§5]; (3), that DoH had violated the Board’s policy
21
with regard to inspections; and, (4) the continued presence on the page long after
22
23 Plaintiffs had protested the posting, an intentional delay to achieve the maximum injury
24 to Plaintiffs;
25
b. The publication of the Memorandum of September 18, 2020, over
26
27 Huckelberry’s signature, as set forth herein, Paragraphs 104 - 107;
28 c. Commencement of enforcement against Plaintiffs on October 6, 2020, by
51
1 the vehicle of the “NUISANCE ABATEMENT ORDER AND NOTICE OF PERMIT
2 SUSPENSION,” a document that Defendants crafted, as set forth above [Paragraphs 111
3
- 113] on falsehoods and material omissions, of which the Defendants knew or were
4
5 reckless in their disregard of the truth;
15 Governor’s Executive Order 2020-40 [¶14], the Board’s Resolution 2020-49 [§5]; and,
16
(3) that DoH had violated the Board’s policy with regard to inspections and the Board’s
17
18 July 7, 2020 update of Resolution 2020-49 [§5];
52
1 inspection was mandated by the rules and published mandates, and the subsequent
6 Amendment protected expression and petitioning for redress of grievances; the actions
7
were intended to chill Plaintiff’s protected actions;
8
185. These actions, individually and taken together, constituted infringement
9
10 upon Plaintiffs’ ability to conduct legitimate business, infringed upon the business’s
11 goodwill, subjected the business and the individual Plaintiffs to shame, ridicule and
12
scorn, violating their interest in liberty guaranteed under the First, Fifth and Fourteenth
13
14 Amendments to the Constitution;
15 186. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
16
revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; and in lost
17
18 revenue; the individual Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business,
19 were exposed to vicious attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of
20
self-esteem, injury to reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were
21
compelled to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and
22
23 proximate result;
24 XIV. TWELFTH CLAIM:
25
CLAIM OF ALL PLAINTIFFS AGAINST DEFENDANTS VALADEZ,
26 HUCKELBERRY, LESHER, LAWALL, NAPIER AND CULLEN: SECTION 1983
27 CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE PLAINTIFFS’ RIGHTS UNDER THE FIRST,
FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS
28
53
1 187. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 186 as if fully set forth herein;
2 188. All Plaintiffs possessed a protected interest in the legitimate conduct of the
3
business of Viva, including goodwill, without infringement by the government in the
4
5 absence of prior notice and an opportunity to be heard;
6 189. The following discrete actions were taken in furtherance of the plan to
7
violate the Plaintiffs’ right to due process, as described in Paragraph 94-95;
8
a. The public posting of Viva’s name and location on the Violations page on
9
10 July 21, 2020, when Defendants knew that (1) Viva was not in violation of the face mask
11 mandate at the time of the inspection; (2) that the posting violated the Governor’s
12
Executive Order 2020-40 [¶14], the Board’s Resolution 2020-49 [§5], the Board’s July 7,
13
14 2020 update of Resolution 2020-49 [§5]; (3), that DoH had violated the Board’s policy
15 with regard to inspections; and, (4) the continued presence on the page long after
16
Plaintiffs had protested the posting, an intentional delay to achieve the maximum injury
17
18 to Plaintiffs;
54
1 September 18th set out in Paragraphs 100 - 103;
6 October 5, 2020, when Defendants knew that (1) Viva was not in violation of the face
7
mask mandate at the time of the inspection and (2) that the posting violated the
8
Governor’s Executive Order 2020-40 [¶14], the Board’s Resolution 2020-49 [§5]; and,
9
10 (3) that DoH had violated the Board’s policy with regard to inspections and the Board’s
11 July 7, 2020 update of Resolution 2020-49 [§5];
12
190. These actions, individually and taken together, constituted infringement
13
14 upon Plaintiffs’ ability to conduct legitimate business, infringed upon the business’s
15 goodwill, subjected the business and the individual Plaintiffs to shame, ridicule and
16
scorn, violating their interest in liberty guaranteed under the First, Fifth and Fourteenth
17
18 Amendments to the Constitution;
19 191. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
20
revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; and in lost
21
revenue; the individual Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business,
22
23 were exposed to vicious attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of
24 self-esteem, injury to reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were
25
compelled to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and
26
27 proximate result;
28 XV. THIRTEENTH CLAIM:
55
1
STATE LAW CLAIM OF KELLY WALKER AGAINST DEFENDANTS
2 VALADEZ, NAPIER, ROHER, STUCKEY, AND GWALTNEY: FALSE ARREST
3
192. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 191 as if fully set forth herein;
4
5 193. The seizure of Kelly Walker on September 15, 2020, at the order of
6 Defendant Napier, by the individual deputies Roher, Stuckey and Gwaltney, constituted
7
false arrest under Arizona common law;
8
194. The seizure was accomplished through policy created by the Board and
9
10 Defendant Napier. Napier ratified the deputies’ unlawful conduct in the Media Release of
11 September 18, 2020 and subsequent public postings;
12
195. As a direct and proximate result, Mr. Walker suffered humiliation, fear,
13
14 extreme emotional distress, loss of self-esteem and reputation in the community, incurred
15 legal and other expense, including attorney fees. He will suffer continuing injury in the
16
future;
17
18 XVI. FOURTEENTH CLAIM:
56
1 199. The false statements constituted defamation per se and injurious falsehood
2 to Plaintiffs’ business;
3
200. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
4
5 revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; and in lost
6 revenue; the individual Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business,
7
were exposed to vicious attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of
8
self-esteem, injury to reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were
9
10 compelled to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and
11 proximate result;
12
XVII. FIFTEENTH CLAIM:
13
14 STATE LAW CLAIM AGAINST NAPIER FOR PUBLICATION OF THE MEDIA
RELEASE AND SUBSEQUENT POSTS: DEFAMATION/INJURIOUS
15 FALSEHOOD
16
201. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 200 as if fully set forth herein;
17
18 202. Napier, in the Media Release of September 18, 2020 and subsequent posts,
19 made false statements [Paragraphs 100 – 103] that tended to injury Plaintiffs in their
20
business;
21
203. Napier knew the statements were false when he made them, or was
22
23 negligent in failing to investigate the accuracy before publishing the statements;
24 204. The false statements constituted defamation per se and injurious falsehood
25
to Plaintiffs’ business;
26
27 205. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
28 revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; and in lost
57
1 revenue; the individual Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business,
2 were exposed to vicious attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of
3
self-esteem, injury to reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were
4
5 compelled to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and
6 proximate result;
7
8
9
10
11 XVIII. SIXTEENTH CLAIM:
12
STATE LAW CLAIM AGAINST HUCKELBERRY, LESHER, GARCIA,
13 CULLEN, ANDERSON AND NIKITAS: POSTING OF VIVA ON THE
14 VIOLATIONS PAGE ON JULY 21, 2020 AND CONTINUED RE-PUBLICATION:
DEFAMATION/INJURIOUS FALSEHOOD
15
16 206. Plaintiffs reallege Paragraphs 1 through 205 as if fully set forth herein;
58
1 published and republished, or were negligent in failing to investigate the accuracy before
6 211. As a direct and proximate result, the business was damaged in its loss of
7
revenue, boycotted by its sole supplier of coffee, and injury to goodwill; and in lost
8
revenue; the individual Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business,
9
10 were exposed to vicious attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of
11 self-esteem, injury to reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were
12
compelled -to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and
13
14 proximate result;
59
1 thereafter until the posting was removed. Each republication tended to, and did, injure
15 compelled to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and
16
proximate result;
17
18 XX. EIGHTEENTH CLAIM:
60
1 relationship with Presta Coffee Roasters, Viva’s sole supplier of coffee products;
15 the individual Plaintiffs were injured in their economic interest in the business, were
16
exposed to vicious attacks online and otherwise, and suffered humiliation, loss of self-
17
18 esteem, injury to reputation and other intangible damages. The Plaintiffs were compelled
19 to secure legal advice, and incurred legal and other expense as a direct and proximate result;
20
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs demand judgment against Defendants, jointly and
21
severally, as follows:
22
23 1. Under all claims, special and compensatory damages in such amounts as
24 the jury deems just;
25
2. Under all claims, punitive damages in such amounts as the jury deems just
26
27 against each individual Defendant;
28 3. Interest, costs and attorney fees of this action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1988
61
1 and Arizona common law;
62