Clouser v. Doherty ( 2017 )

IN TI-IE SUPREME COURT OF TI-[E STATE OF DELAWARE
JEFFREY A. CLOUSER, §
§ No. 57, 2017
Plaintiff Below, §
Appellant, § Court Below_Superior Court
§ of the State of Delaware
v. §
§ C.A. No. N15C-07-240
KIM DOHERTY, WAYNE A
BARTON, LILLIAN LOWERY,
MARK HOLODICK, PATRICK
BUSH, JAMES SCANLON,
BRANDYWINE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, DELAWARE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
CURRENT AND FORMER
MEMBERS OF TI'[E`.
BRANDYWINE SCHOOL DISTRCT
BOARD OF EDUCATION: DEBRA
I'[EFFERNAN, OLIVIA JOHNSON-
HARRIS, MAR.K HUXSOLL,
PATRICIA I-IEARN, CI'[ERYL
SISKIN, RALPH ACKERMAN,
JOSEPH BRUMSKILL, and DANE
BRANDENBERGER,
Defendants Below,
Appellees.
WJWDCM¢OD¢O¢CODCOBW=¢O°¢OJWJWD¢OQCOAEOJ¢ODCODW§WJWJ
Submitted: June 9, 2017
Decided: September 7, 2017
Revised: September 8, 2017
Before VALIHURA, SEITZ, and TRAYNOR, Justices.
ORDER
This 8"' day of September 2017, upon consideration of the parties’ briefs and
record below,' it appears to the Court that:
(l) The appellant, Jeffrey A. Clouser, filed this appeal from a Superior
Court decision granting two motions to dismiss by separate groups of defendants_
the first filed by Kim Doherty, Mark Holodick, Patrick Bush, James Scanlon,
Brandywine School District, and current and former members of the Brandywine
School District Board of Education: Debra Heffernan, Olivia Johnson-Harris, Mark
Huxsoll, Patricia Hearn, Cheryl Siskin, Ralph Ackerman, Joseph Brumskill, and
Dane Brandenberger (collectively, “the School Defendants”), and the second motion
to dismiss filed by Wayne Barton, Lillian Lowery, and the Delaware Department of
Education (“DDOE”) (collectively, “the State Defendants”). We conclude that the
Superior Court erred in dismissing the defamation and tortious interference claims
against two of the State Defendants, but did not err in dismissing the remaining
claims against the State Defendants nor all of the claims against the School
Defendants. Accordingly, we affirm in part and reverse in part.
' We do not consider the June 15, 2017 letter Clouser filed after his reply brief and the submission
of this matter for decision. Supr. Ct. R. lS(a)(vi) (providing that other than the opening brief and
reply brief, the appellant shall not file any other writing with argument without leave of the Court).
2
(2) According to the allegations of the complaint, Clouser began teaching
in the Brandywine School District in 1991.2 On February 9, 2009, while teaching at
Concord High School, Clouser was placed on administrative leave after a computer
monitoring system report showed his inappropriate use of a school computer.
School officials alerted the Delaware State Police who conducted a forensics
investigation of Clouser’s school computer. According to a police report dated
February 18, 2009 and approved by a supervisor on March 4, 2009 that summarized
the results of their investigation, the police did not find any illegal images on
Clouser’s school computer. This information was provided to Concord High
School’s School Resource Officer on February 23, 2009. A supplemental police
report dated April 16, 2009 reflected that no illegal images were found on Doherty’s
personal computer. Doherty, who was the Director of Human Resources for the
Brandywine School District, had used her personal computer to investigate the
searches run on Clouser’s school computer.
(3) Clouser submitted a letter of resignation to Doherty on February 20,
2009. Doherty received and time-stamped the letter.
2 The facts stated in this Order are drawn from the complaint’s allegations and are assumed to be
true only for purposes of this appeal from a motion to dismiss. Precision Air, Inc. v. Standard
Chlorine of Del., Inc., 654 A.2d 403, 406 (Del. 1995).
(4) In a letter dated March 5, 2009 sent to Clouser, (“the Doherty Letter”)
Doherty summarized the events leading to Clouser’s placement on administrative
leave.3 Doherty copied Holodick, then principal of Concord High School, and Ron
Mendenhall, then principal of Hanby Middle School. Clouser alleges that Doherty,
contrary to the police report that she knew or should have known about by March 5,
2009, falsely accused him of searching for, accessing, and viewing child
pomography.
(5) Doherty also informed Clouser that if he did not agree to waive all
claims concerning his employment, termination would be recommended at the
Brandywine School District Board of Education’s March 23, 2009 meeting. Clouser
was unwilling to agree to this condition, because he believed the School Defendants
had wronged him. According to Clouser, in another March 5, 2009 letter, Scanlon,
then Superintendent of the Brandywine School District, stated the Brandywine
School Board of Education accepted his resignation.
(6) In a letter dated March 11, 2009, Barton, then Director of Professional
Accountability for the DDOE, informed Clouser that the DDOE had received notice
he was terminated by the Brandywine School District for misconduct and
3 Throughout the complaint, Clouser quotes from and references letters and other materials that
were not included with the complaint The defendants included copies of the letters and other
materials With their motion to dismiss. Because Clouser liberally relied on these letters and
materials in his complaint, it is appropriate for the court to consider them on a motion to dismiss.
fn re San!a Fe Pac. Corp. S 'holder Li!ig., 669 A.2d 59, 69'70 (Del. l995).
4
immorality. Clouser was also notified that the DDOE had initiated a license
disciplinary investigation under 14 Del. C. § 1218(g). At their March 23, 2009
meeting, the Brandywine School Board of Education voted to terminate Clouser
because he did not accept the conditions for his resignation. In a letter dated April
8, 2009, Clouser’s counsel informed Doherty that Clouser had resigned on February
20, 2009, and therefore could not be terminated.
(7) While these events were unfolding, it appears that Doherty suggested
to Clouser that he get counseling for his “self-sabotaging behavior.”4 Clouser went
to a treatment center for counseling Clouser was in treatment at Caron/Renaissance
Center from February 28, 2009 to June 1, 2009. On July 31, 2009, Clouser met with
Barton. Following the meeting, Barton sent an August 12, 2009 letter (“Barton
Letter”) to Lowery, who was then Secretary of Education. In the letter, Barton
summarized his investigation of Clouser’s termination
(8) According to Clouser, Barton made many false statements in the letter:
(i) Barton inaccurately recounted that some students said Clouser must have been
searching for pornography again; (ii) he falsely stated that the school district never
heard the results of the police investigation; (iii) he falsely stated that Clouser
attempted on more than one occasion to access pornography on the school’s
“ App. to State Defendants’ Answering Br. at B42 (Comp|. 11 144).
5
computer, and his claim that he was only looking for adult women was not credible;
(iv) the letter from Clouser’s in-patient counselor was not an endorsement of
Clouser’s fitness to teach; and (v) the letter and Clouser’s demeanor during the
interview left Barton concerned about Clouser being around children.5 According
to Clouser, the evidence shows he only used school computers on one occasion, he
was only looking for adult women, the school district was aware of the police report
and its conclusions, and the students’ statements and Barton’s opinion on the
Caron/Renaissance Center counselor’s letter and Clouser’s demeanor were
unsupported or untrue.
(9) Lowery sent a letter, dated September 21, 2009 (“Lowery Letter”), to
Clouser and copied Barton, a Deputy Attorney General, and the executive director
of the Delaware Professional Standards Board. According to Clouser, the letter
falsely stated he attempted numerous times to access pornography websites, the
websites were verified as child pornography sites, and he was unfit to teach. After
receiving the Doherty Letter and Lowery Letter, Clouser requested a hearing before
the Delaware Professional Standards Board because “he knew the defamatory
accusations against him were not true and were based on false, exaggerated, and
manipulated evidence.”'3
5 1a ar 3100-01 (compl. 11 332).
6 1a ar 1356-57 (compl. 11 192).
(10) The hearing occurred on November 4, 2010. According to Clouser,
Doherty, Barton, and Bush, then Brandywine School District Director of
Technology, lied at the hearing. After the hearing, Clouser consented to a three-year
suspension of his teaching license.
(l 1) On August 26, 2013, in connection with the Pennsylvania Department
of Education’s (“PDOE”) case against Clouser for reciprocal consequences from his
license suspension in Delaware, Clouser received his personnel file from the PDOE.
The PDOE had subpoenaed the file from the DDOE. Upon receiving the personnel
file, Clouser learned of the Barton Letter for the first time. He also learned the
National Association of State Directors for Teacher Education and Certification
(“NASDTEC”) website incorrectly stated his Delaware teaching license was
suspended due to a criminal conviction. After Clouser submitted Freedom of
Information Act7 requests to the DDOE regarding the wording on the NASDTEC
website, the website changed the language to state Clouser’s suspension was based
on sexual misconduct that did not result in a criminal conviction. Clouser alleges
this information is still false because sexual misconduct is the abuse of another
person, not the viewing of websites.
7 Under the Delaware Freedom of lnformation Act, any person may request access to public
records unless the records are protected from disclosure by an exemption. 29 Del. C. § 10001.
7
(12) Since reinstatement of his teaching license, Clouser has unsuccessfully
applied for multiple teaching and coaching positions. Clouser alleges he was well-
qualified for the positions. Even after interviews that he alleges went well, Clouser
has not obtained permanent employment because he has been forced to disclose the
2009 events. Clouser has worked as a substitute teacher in the New Castle County
public school districts since 2012. In October 2012, Doherty asked Clouser’s
staffing agency to remove him from the Brandywine School District’s substitute
teaching list.
(13) On July 30, 2015, Clouser filed a ll6»page complaint alleging
defamation, conspiracy, and tortious interference with prospective business
relations. The defamation count was based on false statements in the Doherty Letter,
the Barton Letter, the Lowery Letter, and the NASDTEC website. According to
Clouser, Doherty, Barton, Lowery, and the DDOE made these false statements
despite the contrary findings of the police, which they knew or should have known
about. Clouser claimed the other defendants were liable for defamation because they
supported the defendants who defamed him.
(14) Clouser further alleged the defendants conspired to terminate him in
2009, defame him at the November 4, 2010 Professional Standards Board Hearing,
and prevent him from finding employment after reinstatement of his license. Finally,
Clouser alleged the defendants tortiously interfered with his prospective business
relationships when: (i) he was terminated in 2009; (ii) Doherty asked Clouser’s
staffing agency not to assign Clouser to substitute teaching assignments in the
Brandywine School District; (iii) Barton and the DDOE submitted false information
to the NASDTEC website; and (iv) a principal’s offer of a teaching position was
withdrawn and other schools failed to offer Clouser a teaching position. Clouser
contended the statute of limitations did not begin to run on these claims until August
26, 2013, when he received his personnel file from the PDOE and learned of the
Barton Letter and incorrect information on the NASDTEC website.
(15) The School Defendants and the State Defendants moved to dismiss the
complaint The School Defendants argued: (i) the defamation claim was barred by
the statute of limitations and failed to state a claim; (ii) the conspiracy claim was
barred by the statute of limitations and privilege; and (iii) the tortious interference
claim was barred by the statute of limitations and failed to state a claim.
(16) The State Defendants argued: (i) all of the claims were barred by
sovereign immunity; (ii) the defamation claim was barred by the statute of
limitations, the Barton Letter was protected by privilege, Clouser failed to state a
claim, and Barton’s conduct was protected by the State Tort Claims Act;3 (iii) the
810De¢'.C. §4001.
conspiracy claim was barred by collateral estoppel and privilege; and (iv) the tortious
interference claim was barred by the statute of limitations and failed to state a claim.
(17) In support of their sovereign immunity argument, the State Defendants
filed an affidavit of Debra Lawhead, the Insurance Coverage Adrninistrator of
Delaware, stating the State and the DDOE had not purchased any insurance or
established any self-insurance program that would apply to the events described in
Clouser’s complaint.9 The Superior Courtjudge then-assigned to the case informed
the parties that if the affidavit were considered, the motion to dismiss would have to
be converted to a motion for summaryjuclgment.'0 At the hearing on the motions to
dismiss before a different judge, Clouser said he was not suggesting there was
insurance when the Superior Court inquired about the affidavit.ll The State
Defendants argued the Superior Court could find sovereign immunity without the
affidavit of no insurance, because Clouser identified no statutory or constitutional
waiver of sovereign immunity by the State."°'
(18) In an opinion dated December 28, 2016 and docketed on January 4,
2017, the Superior Court granted the motions to dismiss. As to the State Defendants,
the Superior Court held Clouser’s claims were barred by the doctrine of sovereign
9 App. to State Defendants’ Answering Br. at B159-60.
10 Clouser v. Doherty, C.A. NO. Nl§C-07~240, Flllng lD 582\9953 (Letler dated NOV. 25, 2015).
" App. to State Defendants’ Answering Br. at Bl$4.
12 Id. at 3156-57.
10
immunity, the defamation claim was barred by privilege, and Clouser failed to state
a claim for conspiracy or tortious interference As to the School Defendants, the
Superior Court held Clouser’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations and
Clouser failed to plead a claim. This appeal followed.
(19) We review a trial court’s grant of a motion to dismiss de no~vo.'3 In
deciding a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the trial court must accept as true
all well-pled allegations of facts and draw reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs
favor."l A court is not, however, required to accept as true conclusory allegations
“without specific supporting factual allegations”15 or “every strained interpretation
of the allegations proposed by the plaintiff.”'6
(20) On appeal, Clouser’s arguments are summarized as follows: (i) the
Superior Court erred in finding his claims against the State Defendants were barred
by sovereign immunity; (ii) the Superior Court erred in finding his defamation claim
against the State Defendants was barred by a conditional privilege; (iii) the Superior
Court’s separate treatment of the State Defendants and School Defendants caused
the Superior Court to conclude erroneously that the statute of limitations barred his
claims against the School Defendants; (iv) he stated a claim for conspiracy based on
'3 Cent. Mortg. Co. v. Morgan Stanley Morlg. Capital Holdr'ngs LLC, 27 A.3d 531, 535 (Del.
2011).
"' Malpiede v. Townson, 780 A.2d 1075, l082 (Del. 200]).
'5 fn re Sama Fe Pac. Corp. S 'hofder Litr'g., 669 A.2d 59, 65-66 (De|. 1995).
'6 Malpiede, 780 A.2d at 1083.
ll
the defendants’ collective conduct, his terrnination, and the November 4, 2010
hearing; and (v) he stated a claim for tortious interference based on the collective
conduct of the defendants and his inability to obtain full time employment after
employers checked his background We first address the State Defendants’ assertion
of sovereign immunity.
Claims Against the State Defendants
Sovereign Immunity
(21) “Sovereign immunity . . . is an absolute bar to liability claims against
this State unless it is waived by the General Assembly.”"' The Superior Court held
sovereign immunity barred Clouser’s claims against the State Defendants because
Clouser failed to identify an express waiver of sovereign immunity by the State.
(22) Clouser first argues the Superior Court erred because the State
Defendants waived sovereign immunity. According to Clouser, the State
Defendants violated Clouser’s rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, DDOE rules and
regulations regarding the maintenance and disclosure of employee records,ls the
Federal Privacy Act Regulations,'9 the State Employees’, Officers’, and Officials’
Code of Conduct,z° the Delaware Administrator Standards,21 and the statute
'7 Turnbull v. Fink, 668 A.2d 1370, 1374 (Del. 1995).
'8 14 Del C. § 122(b)(13), (25).
'° 34 C.F.R. § srb).
2° 29 Del. C. §§ 5801-58103.
1' 14 Del. Admir.-. code § 1590.
12
protecting public employees reporting suspected violations of law,22 which prohibits
the discharge of a public employee who reports a violation of law to an elected
official. Clouser did not allege violations of these statutes or regulations in his
lengthy complaint or response to the States Defendants’ motion to dismiss. The
Superior Court never passed on any of these arguments because they were not raised
below. His reference to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in a footnote of his opposition to the State
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss does not validly raise a § 1983 claim, which he
asserts for the first time in his opening brief.23 Clouser also argues for the first time
on appeal that DDOE’s participation in NASDTEC waives sovereign immunity.
Because Clouser did not raise any of these arguments before the Superior Court, we
will not consider them for the first time on appeal.24
(23) Clouser next argues that the Superior Court erred by ruling on sovereign
immunity for the State Defendants on a motion to dismiss. According to Clouser,
when the State Defendants raised the sovereign immunity defense on a motion to
dismiss and filed an affidavit of no insurance with their motion, the State
Defendants’ motion should have been converted into a motion for summary
22 29 Del. C. § 51 15.
23 Sabree Enwz. & constr., rnc. v. summit Dredgmg, LLC, 2016 WL 5930270, ar *1 (Del. oct 12,
2016) (“[S]tandalone arguments in footnotes are usually not considered fairly raised in any
court.”).
24 Supr. Ct. R. 8.
13
judgment Relying on Pajewski v. Perry,25 Clouser argues that, before the court
decided the summary judgment motion, he was entitled to explore the details of the
State’s purchase of insurance. Although Clouser’s reliance on Pajewski for broad
discovery concerning the State’s insurance program is misplaced,26 we conclude the
Superior Court erred in dismissing the claims against the State Defendants on the
grounds of sovereign immunity.
(24) In Delaware, the defense of sovereign immunity “was established
initially by our first Constitution and has been continued thereafter by successive
Constitutions.”27 Under Article I § 9 of the Delaware Constitution, the State cannot
be sued without its consent.28 Thus, “the only way to limit or waive the State’s
sovereign immunity is by act of the General Assembly.”19
(25) Under 18 Del. C. § 6511, “[t]he defense of sovereignty is waived and
cannot and will not be asserted as to any risk or loss covered by the state insurance
coverage program, whether same be covered by commercially procured insurance
or by self-insurance.” The State has an insurance coverage program in place to cover
25 363 A.2d 429, 436 (Del. 1976) (holding State was not entitled to dismissal of a complaintjust
by showing there was no insurance coverage, but also had to provide all facts regarding how the
insurance coverage committee met its obligations under 18 Del. C. §§ 6501-6543 et seq.).
36 ln Doe v. Cates, this Court held trial courts did not have to conduct a new inquiry into the
insurance coverage committee’s efforts to meet its responsibilities under 18 Del. C. §§ 6501-6543
each time the State asserted the defense of sovereign immunity. 499 A.2d 1 175, 1 179 n.4 (Del.
1985).
27 Shellhorn & Hill, lnc., v. State, 187 A.2d 71, 73 (Del. 1962).
28 Sherman v. Stare, 133 A.3d 971, 975 (Del. 2016); Cates, 499 A.2d at l 176.
:q Cates, 499 A.2d at l 176 (citing Shellhorn &. Hr`l!. ]nc., 187 A.2d at 74-75).
14
some losses.“”0 When the State’s insurance coverage program does not cover the
loss, however, the State typically files an affidavit of no insurance coverage_as it
did here_to show it has not waived sovereign immunity under § 6511.3' Before it
can consider the affidavit of no insurance, which is outside of the complaint, the
Superior Court must give notice of its intent to convert the motion to dismiss into a
summaryjudgment motion.32 If the plaintiff asserts a sufficient basis in a Rule 56(f)
affidavit to contest the affidavit of no insurance, she can pursue narrow and limited
discovery into the statements in the affidavit of no insurance.33
(26) Here, the State Defendants filed an affidavit of no insurance. The
Superior Court, however, did not consider the affidavit. Instead, the Superior Court
required Clouser on a motion to dismiss to “proffer[] an express waiver of sovereign
30 18 Del. C. §§ 6501-6543; App. to State Defendants’ Answering Br. at 159 (Lawhead Aff.112).
3' See, e.g., Kesrr'ng v. R."ver Rd. Sw:`m)ning L"lub, 2014 WL 7149728, at *2 (Del. Super. Ct. Dec.
15, 2014) (holding State was entitled to summary judgment based on lack of waiver of sovereign
immunity under § 6511 due to affidavit demonstrating lack of insurance coverage); E.rrate of
Wr'llr'ams v. Corr. Med. Servs.. lnc., 2010 WL 2991589, at *4 (Del. Super. Ct. .luly 23, 2010)
(“Genera||y, defendants asserting sovereign immunity often submit affidavits from state officials
indicating that the State has not obtained insurance to cover the litigated |oss. While such
documentation had not been provided to the Court prior to the hearing on these motions, it was
provided during the hearing to counsel and there appears to be no dispute that the State has not
contracted for insurance to cover these risks. As such, sovereign immunity will prevent this action
from proceeding against DOC and the motion for judgment on the pleadings as to DOC is
granted.”) (intemal citations omitted); Tomei v. Sharp, 902 A.2d 757, 770 (Del. Super. Ct. 2006)
(dismissing breach of implied covenant claim based upon affidavit of no insurance coverage);
Deputy v. Roy, 2003 WL 367827, at *3 n.24 (Del. Super. Ct. Feb. 20, 2003) (declining to address
whether warden was entitled to sovereign immunity because he did not produce an affidavit in
compliance with § 6511).
32 Furman v. Del. Dep ’t of Transp., 30 A.3d 771, 774 (Del. 201 l).
33 ld. at 775.
15
immunity.”34
Because he failed to point to an express waiver, such as insurance
coverage for his claims under § 6511, the court upheld the State Defendants’
assertion of sovereign immunity and dismissed his claims.
(27) We find that the Superior Court erred by requiring Clouser to plead
insurance coverage under § 6511 for his claims. When the State asserts on a motion
to dismiss that sovereign immunity has not been waived under § 6511, it must rely
on a review of its insurance program and the coverages available. The plaintiff
cannot reasonably be expected to know what is and is not covered by the State’s
insurance program. Instead, as is typically done, and as was done here, when the
State claims that its insurance program does not cover potential claims, it must back
up the defense with an affidavit from the Insurance Administrator confirming the
absence of insurance coverage under the insurance program for the potential loss.
Then, on notice and after converting the motion to dismiss into a summary judgment
motion, the Superior Court can consider the affidavit and any challenge the plaintiff
might make to its assertions.35
(28) Given the affidavit the State Defendants filed with the court, they may
be able to demonstrate that the defense of sovereign immunity can be asserted due
34 Clouser v. Doherty, C.A. No. N15C-07-240, op. at 6 (Del. Super. Ct. Jan. 4, 2017).
35 We reiterate that any discovery the Superior Court might grant under Superior Court Civil Ru|e
56(f) relating to insurance coverage is extremely narrow and limited to the statements made in the
State’s affidavit of no insurance, After limited discovery, the Superior Court would be acting
within its discretion to permit the State Defendants to file a motion for summary judgment on the
sovereign immunity issue.
16
to the lack of insurance covering Clouser’s claims. The Superior Court must also
evaluate whether the individual State Defendants were acting in their official as
opposed to their individual capacity.36 But, at this stage of the proceedings_
namely, a motion to dismiss_it was error to require Clouser to demonstrate
insurance coverage under § 6511 when the State has the unique knowledge about
the coverage of its insurance programs. The Superior Court’s error was not harmless
because, as discussed below, we conclude Clouser stated claims for defamation and
tortious interference with prospective business relations against Barton and the
DDOE.
Defamation
(29) We next turn to Clouser’s defamation claim against the State
Defendants. The elements of a defamation claim are: (i) a defamatory
communication; (ii) publication; (iii) the communication refers to the plaintiff; (iv)
a third party’s understanding of the communication’s defamatory character; and (v)
37
injury. The Superior Court ruled that Clouser’s lengthy complaint pleads the
36 Sovereign immunity only protects individual state actors who take actions in their official
capacities. See, e.g., Haskins v. Kay, 2008 WL 5227187, at *2 (Del. Dec. 16, 2008) (reversing
Superior Court’s dismissal of claim against defendant in his individual capacity, but affirming
Superior Court’s dismissal of claim against defendant in his official capacity based on lack of
insurance coverage and lack of waiver of sovereign immunity); Walls v. Dep ’t of Corr., 1989 WL
25927, at *1 (Del. Super. Ct. Mar. 2, 1989) (finding sovereign immunity was not waived based on
no insurance affidavit and dismissing claims against the Warden and the Commissioner in their
official capacities), af’d, 567 A.2d 424 (Del. 1989).
37 Bloss v. Kershner, 2000 WL 303342, at *6 (Del. Super. Ct. Mar. 9, 2000), aff’d, 2001 WL
1692160(De1. Dec. 21, 2001).
17
necessary elements of a defamation claim relating to the Barton Letter and the
NASDTEC website information.38 But, the court accepted the State Defendants’
defense of privilege.39
(30) The Superior Court held it could not conclude, on a motion to dismiss,
that the defamation claims based on the Barton Letter and NASDTEC website were
time-barred. The Superior Court found that, based on the complaint’s allegations,
Clouser could not be held to have known about the Barton Letter, that the Barton
Letter was sent to PDOE, or that there was false information on the NASDTEC
website before he received this information from the PDOE on August 26, 2013.
(31) Clouser filed his complaint on July 30, 2015, Under the discovery rule,
the statute of limitations does not begin to run until “the discovery of facts
‘constituting the basis of the cause of action or the existence of facts sufficient to
put a person of ordinary intelligence and prudence on inquiry which, if pursued,
would lead to the discovery’ of such facts.”‘“] Clouser alleged he was unaware of
the Barton Letter and NASDTEC website information until August 26, 2013. At
this stage of the proceedings, Clouser’s allegations about the time of discovery
support his claim that the statute should be tolled, and thus the Superior Court did
38 Clouser, C.A. No. NlSC~07-240, op. at 8-9.
39 10 Def. C. § 81 19; DeMOSS v. NewS JOtlrnal 6`0., 408 A.2d 944, 945 (Del. 1979).
in Coleman v. PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC, 854 A.2d 838, 842-43 (Del. 2004) (quoting Becker
v. Hamada, Im:., 455 A.2d 353, 356 (Del. 1982)).
18
not err in concluding Clouser’s defamation claims based on the Barton Letter and
NASDTEC website were not time barred. We also note that the Superior Court did
not err in dismissing this claim as to Lowery because, other than receiving the Barton
Letter, Clouser did not allege that she had any involvement in that letter or the
incorrect information on the NASDTEC website.
(32) The Superior Court did not expressly address Clouser’s defamation
claim based on the Lowery Letter, but that claim was barred by the two-year statute
of limitations. Clouser alleges that he requested the November 4, 2010 hearing
because “he knew the defamatory accusations against him [in the Doherty Letter and
the Lowery Letter] were not true and were based on false, exaggerated, and
manipulated evidence.”"l He was thus on notice of any defamation claim based on
the Lowery Letter long before his receipt of the NASDTEC website information and
the Barton Letter on August 26, 2013.
(33) The Superior Court further held the defamation claim as to the Barton
Letter was subject to dismissal because it was conditionally privileged as part of an
investigation under 14 Del. C. § 1218 and also part of a mandatory disclosure to the
PDOE. Clouser appears to argue this was error because the State Defendants
knowingly provided false information in violation of various statutes. A conditional
privilege does exist to protect individuals from defamation claims when involved in
4' App. to State Defendants’ Answering Br. at BS6-57(Compl.11 192).
19
official investigations42 But, “[a] conditional privilege must be exercised ‘with
good faith, without malice and absent any knowledge of falsity or desire to cause
13143 sr
hann. Whether a conditional privilege has been abused is ordinarily a question
of fact.”44 This Court has held that conditional privilege is an affirmative defense
that ordinarily should not be considered on a motion to dismiss.45
(34) Clouser alleges that Barton prepared the Barton Letter with malice and
reckless disregard for the truth. To support this conclusion, Clouser alleges that
Barton was aware or should have been aware of: (i) the findings in the 2009 police
report that illegal images were not present; (ii) the actual information in the school
computer logs showing only a limited number of adult internet searches; (iii) the
unreliability of the anonymous student statements about his propensity to look at
pornographic material; (iv) the falsity of statements about the school district’s lack
of knowledge of the results of the police investigation; and (v) the lack of any basis
to express concern about Clouser being around children.46 Further, Clouser alleges
that the DDOE and Barton intentionally sent false information to NASDTEC that
was published on the NASDTEC website.‘" While we are skeptical of the reliability
of these allegations, we must accept them as true when reviewing a motion to
42 Meades v. Wilminglon Hous. Auth., 2005 WL 1 131 112, at *2 (Del. May 12, 2005).
43 Id. (quoting Burr v. Atl. Avr'ation Corp., 348 A.2d 179, 181 (Del. 1975)).
44 Id
45 ld.; Kfein v_ Stmbeam, 94 A.2d 385, 392 (Del. 1952).
46 App. to State Defendants’ Answering Br. at B39-44 (Comp|. 11*] 134-49).
47 Id. al Bl l, B30-3l, Bl ll {COmpl. '11 31, 107-08, 407).
20
dismiss. Clouser has raised disputed issues of fact about the good faith exercise of
the privilege Thus, we conclude the Superior Court erred in dismissing the
defamation claim on the grounds of conditional privilege.48
(35) For similar reasons, at the motion to dismiss stage, the same conduct
would not be protected by the State Tort Claims Act."" Under the State Tort Claims
Act, a state employee has qualified immunity from liability when: (i) the alleged act
or failure to act arose out of and in connection with the performance of official duties
involving the exercise of discretion; (ii) the act or failure to act was done (or not
done) in good faith; and (iii) the act or failure to act was done without gross
negligence50 Under the statute, the burden rests with the plaintiff to prove the
absence of any of the three elements.§'
(36) As noted above, Clouser alleges that Barton prepared the Barton Letter
with malice and reckless disregard for the truth, and intentionally sent false
information to the PDOE. Although these allegations are tenuous, we, like the
Superior Court, cannot dispute their accuracy right now. Under the plaintiff-friendly
standards applied on a motion to dismiss,52 they are sufficient to raise reasonably
48 lt may be that, after the record is developed, Clouser is unable to support the facts in the
complaint underlying his claim of bad faith by the State Defendants. Ifso, the conditional privilege
could be decided on summary judgment.
491019¢1. C. §4001.
50 Id_
5' Ia'.
52 Malpr`ede, 780 A.2d at 1082.
21
conceivable claims of a lack of good faith and possible gross negligence to survive
a motion to dismiss. After further development of the record, these allegations may
prove unsupported, and Barton might be entitled on summary judgment to qualified
immunity. But, the Superior Court erred in dismissing these claims at this stage of
the proceedings
Conspiracy
(37) We next address Clouser’s conspiracy claim. The elements of a civil
conspiracy claim are: (i) a confederation or combination of two or more persons;
(ii) an unlawful act done in furtherance of the conspiracy; and (iii) actual damage.53
In the absence of an actionable wrong, a civil conspiracy claim will fail.3“ The
Superior Court dismissed Clouser’s conspiracy claim because he failed to allege
specific facts showing a conspiracy, and his defamation claim was barred by
sovereign immunity and privilege. On appeal, Clouser argues he stated a claim for
conspiracy based on the collective grouping of the defendants, the defendants’
wrongful actions against him in the process leading to his termination, the
defendants’ wrongful conduct at the November 4, 2010 hearing, and his defamation
claim.33
33 Nicoler, Inc. v. Nutr, 525 A.2d 146, 149-50 (Del. 1987).
54 Cor.-nolry v. Labowr:z, 519 A.2d 138, 143 (Del. 1936).
33 ln his complaint, Clouser also alleged the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to tortiously
interfere with his employment opportunities Clouser does not make this argument in his opening
brief and has therefore waived this claim. Supr. Ct. R. l4(b)(vi)(A)(3) (“The merits of any
22
(38) Although we find Clouser stated a defamation claim against the DDOE
and Barton, his conspiracy claims are primarily based on his termination in 2009 and
the November 4, 2010 hearing. Those claims are time-barred regardless of whether
a two-year or three-year statute of limitations applies.56 Clouser’s complaint shows
he was on notice of the defendants’ wrongdoing relating to his termination in 2009
and wrongdoing relating to his license suspension in 2010.
(39) As to his termination, Clouser alleged that his counsel challenged his
termination in April 2009 on the grounds that Clouser could not be terminated
because he had already resigned.53 Clouser also alleged that he would not waive
claims relating to his employment as demanded by the School Defendants because
he believed they had engaged in wrongdoing58 As to the November 4, 2010 hearing,
Clouser alleged that he requested the hearing because “he knew the defamatory
accusations against him [in the Doherty Letter and Lowery Letter] were not true and
argument that is not raised in the body of the opening brief shall be deemed waived and will not
be considered by the Court on appea|.”).
33 Compare 10 Del. C. § 8106(a) (providing “no action to recover damages caused by an injury
unaccompanied with force or resulting indirectly from the act of the defendant shall be brought
after the expiration of 3 years from the accruing of the cause of such action”) and Atlantis Plastics
Corp. v. Sammons, 558 A.2d 1062, 1064 (Del. Ch. 1989) (applying analogous statute of limitations
period under 10 Dei. C. § 8106 to conspiracy claim) with 10 Del. C. § 81 19 (“No action for the
recovery of damages upon a claim for alleged personal injuries shall be brought after the expiration
of 2 years from the date upon which it is claimed that such alleged injuries were sustained . . . .”)
and Jensen v. Wharton, 1994 WL 649303, at *1 (Del. Super. Ct. 1994) (applying § 8119 to
conspiracy claim).
33 App. to State Defendants’ Answering Br. at B84 (Comp1.11 282).
33 ld. at B80 (Comp|. ‘j 270).
23
were based on false, exaggerated, and manipulated evidence.”39 Clouser’s receipt
of the Barton Letter and false information on NASDTEC website does not revive
conspiracy claims he knew about in 2009 and 2010. Clouser’s remaining allegations
of conspiracy are conclusory and fail to state a claim. Thus, the Superior Court did
not err in dismissing the conspiracy claim against the State Defendants.
Tortious Interference with Prospective Business Relations
(40) We now turn to Clouser’s tortious interference with prospective
business relations claim against the State Defendants. The elements of a claim for
tortious interference with prospective business relations are: (i) the reasonable
probability of a business opportunity; (ii) intentional interference by a defendant
with that opportunity; (iii) proximate causation; and (iv) damages."'0 Tortious
interference with prospective business relations is subject to a three-year statute of
limitations51 The Superior Court held Clouser failed to state a claim for tortious
interference against the State Defendants because: (i) he failed to allege specifically
the reasonable probability of a business opportunity that ended because of the actions
of the State Defendants; (ii) failed to allege specifically their knowledge of his career
39 Id. at 556-57 (Compl.11 192).
30 DeBonaventura v. Narionwide Mu!. Ins. Co., 428 A.2d l 151, 1153 (Del. 1981).
31 10 Del. C. § 8106; SmirhKlr`ne Beecham Pharm. Co. v. Merck & Co., Inc., 766 A.2d 442, 450
(De1.2000).
24
prospects; and (iii) failed to allege how they intentionally interfered with his career
prospects.
(41) On appeal, Clouser argues the Superior Court erred in dismissing his
tortious interference claim because the defendants should have been viewed as one
entity instead of split into groups. Clouser does not cite any relevant authority in
support of this proposition and fails to explain why the actions of one defendant
should be attributed to all sixteen defendants. He also argues that he included factual
information about job prospects he lost after potential employers checked his
background.
(42) Viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Clouser, the complaint
states a claim for tortious interference with prospective business relations against the
DDOE and Barton based on the information on the NASDTEC website that Clouser
learned of in August 2013. In the complaint, which we must accept as true at this
stage of the proceedings, Clouser alleged that DDOE and Barton provided false
information (that Clouser engaged in sexual misconduct and had a criminal
conviction) to the NASDTEC website, which prospective employers, including
school district authorities, use to guide hiring decisions. According to Clouser, after
his suspension ended, he was denied full-time employment opportunities_one of
which was denied after an offer from a school principal_as a result of the
25
NASDTEC website information."32 Thus, Clouser sufficiently stated a claim for
interference with prospective business relations. The Superior Court did not err,
however, in finding that Clouser failed to state a claim for tortious interference
against Lowery. Clouser did not allege any wrongful interference by Lowery within
the statutory time period for this claim.
School Defendants
Defamation and Conspiracy
(43) We now turn to Clouser’s claims against the School Defendants. The
Superior Court concluded that Clouser’s defamation claim against the School
Defendants, which was based on the Doherty Letter, was barred by the two-year
statute of limitations because Clouser and others received the letter in March 2009.
Clouser did not file his complaint until July 30, 2015. Clouser acknowledges that
he was well-aware of the School Defendants’ alleged defamation more than five
years before he filed his complaint, In his complaint, he alleges that he requested
the November 4, 2010 hearing because “he knew the defamatory accusations against
him [in the Doherty Letter and Lowery Letter] were not true and were based on false,
exaggerated, and manipulated evidence.”63 He was thus on notice of the School
61
App. to State Defendants’ Answering Br. at Bl 1, B15, Bl7, B88-90, Bl l 1 (Compl. 1111 31, 51,
59, 294-300, 407).
63 Id. at B56-57 (Compl. 11 192).
26
Defendants’ alleged defamation well before the two-year statute of limitations
expired in March 2011.
(44) On appeal, Clouser argues that all of the defendants should be
considered as one group and the statute of limitations should be tolled for all of the
defendants due to continuing wrongs by individual defendants within the group.
None of the cases cited by Clouser support his argument In Havens Realty Corp. v.
Coleman,3" the United States Supreme Court held “that where a plaintiff, pursuant
to the Fair Housing Act, challenges notjust one incident of conduct violative of the
Act, but an unlawful practice that continues into the limitations period, the complaint
is timely when it is filed within 180 days of the last asserted occurrence of that
practice.” In Henlopen Landing Homeowners Ass’n v. Vester,33 the Court of
Chancery held the maintenance of an allegedly retaliatory lawsuit under the Fair
Housing Act did not constitute a continuing violation under Havens. In Ewr`ng v.
Beck,33 this Court recognized that under the doctrine of continuing negligent medical
treatment (“a continuum of negligent medical care related to a single condition
occasioned by negligence”), the statute of limitations runs from the last date of the
interrelated negligent medical treatment. In Desimone v. Brrrrov¢)s,'S7 the Court of
34 455 U.S. 363, 380-81 (1982) (citations omitted).
33 2015 WL 5316864, at *3 (Del. Ch. Sept. 14, 2015).
33 520 A.2d 653, 662 (Del. 1987) (emphasis omitted).
33 924 A.2d 908, 926 (Del. Ch. 2007) (rejecting application of continuing wrong doctrine to allow
plaintiff to challenge wrongs predating his stock ownership and stating that each of the alleged
wrongs could be easily segmented).
27
Chancery declined to apply the continuing wrongs doctrine to allow the plaintiff to
challenge wrongs predating his stock ownership, finding that each of the alleged
wrongs could be easily segmented.
(45) Nor do any of these cases support application of the continuing wrong
doctrine. The alleged wrongs here are dissimilar to discriminatory housing practices
under the Fair Housing Act or a continuing course of medical treatment. The alleged
wrongs in this case are also easily segmented_false statements by different
defendants, in different documents Even if Clouser was not aware of the Barton
Letter and incorrect information on the NASDTEC site until August 2013, he does
not identify defamatory statements by any of the School Defendants after 2010.
Thus, the Superior Court did not err in finding the statute of limitations barred
Clouser’s defamation claim against the School Defendants. Clouser’s conspiracy
claim against the School Defendants fails for the same reasons as the conspiracy
claims against the State Defendants."’8
Tortious Interfererrce with Prospective Business Relations
(46) Finally, we address Clouser’s tortious interference with prospective
business relations claim against the School Defendants. The Superior Court found
that to the extent this claim was based on Clouser’s wrongful termination in 2009, it
was barred by the three-year statute of limitations To the extent this claim was
33 See supra 1111 38-39.
23
based on Doherty’s request that Clouser’s staffing agency remove him from the
substitute teacher list for the Brandywine School District, the Superior Court held
that Delaware does not recognize a claim for tortious interference with an at-will
employment relationship,39 and Clouser failed to plead a claim for tortious
interference with a third party prospective employer. As to Clouser’s allegations
that his failure to find full time employment was a result of the School Defendants’
tortious interference, the Superior Court held Clouser failed to allege specifically the
reasonable probability of a business opportunity that ended because of the actions of
the School Defendants, failed to allege specifically their knowledge of his career
prospects, and failed to allege how they intentionally interfered with his career
prospects
(47) On appeal, Clouser argues the Superior Court erred in dismissing his
tortious interference claim because the defendants should have been viewed as one
entity instead of split into groups We have already rejected this argument. Thus,
Clouser’s claims relating to the November 4, 2010 hearing are barred by the statute
of limitations
33 Tri!on Constr. Co. v. E. Shore Elec. Servs., !nc., 2009 WL 13871 15, at *17 (Del. Ch. May 18,
2009), ajj"d, 988 A.2d 938 (Del. 2010). Bu! see ASDI, Inc. v. Beard Reserrrch, lnc., 1 l A.3d 749,
751-52 (Del. 2010) (recognizing courts have found tortious conduct inducing the termination of
an at-wi|l employment contract actionable).
29
(48) Clouser also argues that he included factual information about job
prospects he lost after potential employers checked his background With the
exception of his allegation concerning Doherty’s contact with his staffing agency,
however, Clouser fails to allege how the School Defendants interfered with his
employment prospects since the November 4, 2010 hearing. As to his allegation
regarding Doherty’s contact with the staffing agency, we conclude that the Superior
Court did not err in finding Clouser failed to allege interference with Clouser’s
prospective relationship with a third party prospective employer. Clouser alleged
that Doherty asked his staffing agency not to place him with his previous employer,
the Brandywine School District. He did not allege that Doherty’s request interfered
with his ability to work in another school district or caused his staffing agency to
stop placing him in other school districts Thus, his tortious interference claim was
properly dismissed.
NOW, TI-[EREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior
Court dismissing Clouser’s conspiracy claim against the State Defendants, the
defamation and tortious interference claims against Lowery, and all of the claims
against the School Defendants is AFFIRMED; the judgment of the Superior Court
dismissing Clouser’s defamation and tortious interference claims against Barton and
DDOE is REVERSED, and the matter is REMANDED for further proceedings
consistent with this order. Clouser may pursue limited discovery related to the
30
affidavit of no insurance, Clouser, Barton, and the DDOE may pursue targeted
discovery related to Clouser’s defamation and tortious interference with prospective
business relations for the Barton Letter and NASDTEC website disclosures Barton
and the DDOE can renew their arguments for dismissal of the remaining claims on
summaryjudgment if warranted Jurisdiction is not retained.
BY THE COURT:
/sf Collins J. Seitz Jr.
Justice
31