Marc Staff v. Colorado County , Texas Sheriff R. H. \"Curly \" Wied, in His Official & Individual Capacity ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
01-14-00323-CV
FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
9/2/2015 4:16:11 PM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
CLERK
NO. 01-14-00323-CV
FILED IN
1st COURT OF APPEALS
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS
FOR THE FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS 9/2/2015 4:16:11 PM
HOUSTON, TEXAS CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
_________________________________________________________________
MARC STAFF
Appellant,
v.
COLORADO COUNTY, TEXAS, SHERIFF R. H. “CURLY” WIED,
in his official & individual capacity,
Appellee.
On appeal from Cause No. 23,211
2nd, 25th Judicial District Court, Colorado County, Texas
The Honorable William C. Kirkendall
APPELLEE’S MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
EN BANC RECONSIDERATION
J. Eric Magee
ALLISON, BASS & MAGEE, LLP
A.O. Watson House
402 West 12th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 482-0701 Phone
(512) 480-0902 Fax
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
TO THE HONORABLE FIRST COURT OF APPEALS:
Appellee Colorado County Sheriff R. H. “Curly” Wied (hereinafter “Sheriff
Wied”), in his official capacity, files this Motion for Rehearing and En Banc
Reconsideration pursuant to Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 49. In support
thereof, Appellants would show the court as follows:
INTRODUCTION
On August 18, 2015, a three-Justice panel of this Court consisting of the
Honorable Justices Evelyn V. Keyes, Rebeca A. Huddle, and Russell Lloyd issued
an Opinion reversing the judgment of the trial court and rendering judgment in
favor of Staff declaring that Sheriff Wied violated Government Code sections
614.022 and 614.023. Further, the panel remanded the case for the trial court to
determine whether to award Appellant Marc Staff (hereinafter “Staff”) attorney’s
fees.
The three-Justice panel erred in issuing this decision, in that sections
614.022 and 614.023 of the Government Code were erroneously applied to Staff’s
at-will employment and subsequent termination. Further, the three-Justice panel
erred in issuing this Opinion that Sheriff Wied failed to comply with sections
614.022 and 614.023 of the Government Code, if required. These errors should be
set for rehearing by the three-Justice panel. Alternatively, Sheriff Wied requests
that the errors be reviewed and reversed by the full Court of Appeals. Therefore,
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Sheriff Wied timely files this motion for rehearing and en banc reconsideration;
and further, respectfully requests that a majority of this Court en banc grant this
motion for reconsideration and that the case be submitted to the Court for en banc
review and disposition.
ISSUES PRESENTED FOR REVIEW
Issue 1: The Court’s three-Justice panel erroneously interpreted and
misapplied the facts and misconstrued the applicability of sections
614.022 and 614.023 of the Government Code to at-will employment
in Texas.
Issue 2: The Court’s three-Justice panel erroneously held that Sheriff Wied
failed to comply with sections 614.022 and 614.023 of the
Government Code, if required.
ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES 1
1. The Court’s three-Justice panel erroneously interpreted and misapplied
the facts and misconstrued the applicability of sections 614.022 and
614.023 of the Government Code to at-will employment in Texas.
The three-Justice panel concluded that a county as “an at-will employer does
not preclude application of sections 614.022 and 614.023 where a county employee
has been terminated because a complaint has been made against him or following
an investigation, as opposed to being terminated “at will” for no cause.” See
Opinion pg. 14. Specifically, the three-Justice panel, relying on Treadway v.
Holder, states that in that case a similar argument was made that Chapter 614,
1
This Motion is supported by the record below which consists of the original Clerk’s Record, consisting of volumes
one (1), reference to which is by “CR ___” and the original Reporter’s Record, consisting of volumes one (1)
through three (3), reference to which is by “RR ___”.
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Subchapter B did not apply because Comal County is at-will employer and peace
officers are at-will employees. 309 S.W.3d 780, 783 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010, pet.
denied). The three-Justice panel notes that the holding provided that “[w]e need not
address any effect Subchapter B might have on at-will employment because it is
undisputed that Treadway was terminated for cause. The issue, then, is not whether
she could have been terminated without cause, but whether the cause for which she
was terminated—lying to a supervisor and falsifying training documents—resulted
from a ‘complaint’ that triggers the requirements of Subchapter B.” See Opinion
pg. 14.
This case is not similar to the facts in Treadway v. Holder, nor are the
arguments similar concerning the applicability sections 614.022 and 614.023 of the
Government Code to at-will employment in Texas. In Treadway, the Court
determined that it was “undisputed that Treadway was terminated for cause.”
Here, the Performance Deficiency Notice stated that Staff had previously signed an
acknowledgement indicating that:
[you he] received a copy of the Colorado County Personnel Manual
and [your his] understanding that it was [your his] responsibility to
read the manual and abide by the provisions in said manual. As
specified in the Colorado County Personnel Manual on page 4,
Colorado County is an At-Will employer. The following specified
grounds for termination are not inclusive since the Colorado County
Sheriff’s Office maintains the right to terminate employment for
any legal reason or no reason at all. The following is merely
written documentation of recent deficiencies in your performance
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and is not a complete record, nor should it be considered an
exhaustive list of the reasons for your termination.
(CR 84) (emphasis added). Lt. Neisner recommended that Staff be immediately
terminated and notified Staff that if he wished to appeal the decision, he “must do
so in writing within 30 days to the Sheriff. The Sheriff will make a decision on
whether or not to uphold the above decision. The Sheriff’s decision will be final.”
(CR86) (emphasis added).
As the three-Justice panel noted, Government Code sections 614.022 and
614.023 apply “when a complaint of misconduct forms the basis of the decision to
terminate employment.” See Opinion pg. 13. In this matter, there is no such
complaint that forms the basis of the decision to terminate Staff; instead, several
examples of performance deficiencies were merely noted by Lt. Neisner. (CR 84–
86). Lt. Neisner clearly stated that such deficiencies were not the only reasons for
Staff’s termination and that the County could terminate Staff’s employment at-will
for no reason at all. Id.
The three-Justice panel’s Opinion implies that a complaint existed against
Staff and was the sole cause leading to his termination, similar to the facts in
Treadway, where the employee was “terminated—lying to a supervisor and
falsifying training documents—resulted from a ‘complaint’ that triggers the
requirements” of sections 614.022 and 614.023. See Opinion pg. 14. This case is
distinct and clearly different from the circumstances described in Treadway. In
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part, the Performance Deficiency Notice demonstrates that the prosecutorial
integrity of a criminal case referred to that prosecuting authority, Colorado County
Attorney Ken Starks, by Staff, on behalf of the Colorado County Sheriff Office,
was reviewed and submitted back to Sheriff Wied. (CR84–85) Specifically, the
criminal case referred for prosecution dealt with an arrest made by Staff. Id. The
record on appeal clearly demonstrates that “on 4-26-2010, Sheriff Wied was
contacted by the Colorado Attorney, Ken Sparks, who provided him with a DVD
copy of an in car video from one of your [Staff’s criminal] cases (2010-0598), in
which [you were Staff was] assisting Highway Patrol with a motor vehicle accident
on IH-10. Mr. Sparks had a copy of the DVD because it had been forwarded
to his office by [you Staff] to assist with Prosecution after filing charges on a
suspect for Motor Vehicle Accident Interference w/ Public Duties, Assault –Public
Servant, and Resisting Arrest. Sparks suggested that the Sheriff review the in car
video to observe your (Sgt. Marc Staff’s) actions during the investigation, and
believed your [Staff’s] behavior and/or conduct was inappropriate and needed to be
addressed. Sparks also advised that his Assistant County Attorneys, who had also
reviewed the car in the video, felt [your Staff’s] conduct and/or behavior was
inappropriate and concerning enough to bring it to his attention.” Id.
This example, noted in the Performance Deficiency Notice, is clearly not a
“complaint” by County Attorney Ken Sparks to Sheriff Wied concerning Staff.
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Instead, this matter demonstrates the necessary and required coordination of the
Texas judicial system between the prosecuting authority and the law enforcement
agency to effectively prosecute criminal violations. It is essential that the prosecuting
authority rely on the evidence and testimony of the law enforcement agency to
accomplish the task of prosecuting these criminal violations. A Texas sheriff’s office
is not only an integral part of this process but actively involved in prosecuting
criminal matters to a conclusion. Colorado County Attorney Ken Sparks did not file
a “complaint” against Staff nor is he considered a victim of any “complaint.” Mr.
Sparks merely notified Sheriff Wied of evidentiary problems in the criminal matter
submitted by Staff that affected the merits of that case and the integrity of the
prosecution of the matter. Significantly, Sparks did not request any disciplinary
action against Staff. He essentially notified the Sheriff that he would not be able to
proceed with the prosecution of the criminal matter and returned the patrol video to
the Sheriff’s Office.
As articulated in the Performance Deficiency Notice, the Colorado County
Sheriff’s Office was not terminating Staff due to any particular complaint and
maintained its right to terminate his employment for any legal reason or no reason
at all. As stated in Sheriff Wied’s Brief, a sheriff in Texas, like other elected
county officials, “holds virtually absolute sway over the particular tasks or areas of
responsibility entrusted to him by state statute and is accountable to no one other
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than the voters for his conduct therein.” Irby v. Sullivan, 737 F.2d 1418, 1423 (5th
Cir. 1984) (citing Familias Unidas v. Briscoe, 619 F.2d 391, 404 (5th Cir.
1980). Specifically, Texas Law provides “sheriffs, and other elected county
officials virtually unbridled authority in hiring and firing their employees.”
Greenway v. Roccaforte, No. 09-08-00529-CV, 2009 WL 340683, at *4 (Tex.
App.—Beaumont Oct. 29, 2009) (quoting Renken v. Harris Cnty., 808 S.W.2d
222, 225 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, no writ) and Irby, 737 F.2d at
1421). “Deputy sheriffs have no legal entitlement to their jobs as public
employees; the sheriff may fire them for many reasons or for no articulate reason
at all.” Renken, 808 S.W.2d at 225 (quoting Barrett v. Thomas, 649 F.2d 1193,
1199 (5th Cir. 1981), cert. denied 456 U.S. 925 (1982)).
Accordingly, it was error for the three-Justice panel of this Court to conclude
that Government Code sections 614.022 and 614.023 applied to the termination of
Staff as an “at-will” employee, that a complaint was the basis of Staff’s
termination, and that Staff was terminated for cause. This error requires review
and reversal by the full Court of Appeals. Therefore, Sheriff Wied respectfully
requests rehearing and en banc consideration.
2. The Court’s three-Justice panel erroneously held that Sheriff Wied
failed to comply with sections 614.022 and 614.023 of the Government
Code, if required.
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As discussed above, the Texas Legislature has not changed the State’s nor
Colorado County’s general “at-will” employment rule by adopting sections
614.022 and 614.023 of the Government Code. As demonstrated above, Sheriff
Wied asserts that these provisions are not applicable to the termination of Staff;
however, in the alternative, Sheriff Wied fully complied with these statutory
provisions.
The three-Justice panel erroneously concluded that “under both Guthery and
Treadway, the Performance Deficiency Notice Staff received did not constitute a
‘complaint’ pursuant to section 614.022, that Sheriff Wied failed to provide notice
of the written complaint signed by the victim of the alleged misconduct, and that
the Performance Deficiency Notice by which Staff’s employment was terminated
‘effective immediately’ was a disciplinary action taken without a copy of the
signed complaint having been provided to Staff”; therefore, violating both sections
614.022 and 614.023. See Opinion pgs. 22-23.
As shown above, the facts in the present matter are easily distinguishable
from Treadway. In Guthery v. Taylor, the “Court interpreted the statute as
requiring a written complaint from the person claiming to be a victim of
misconduct by the police officer.” 112 S.W.3d 715, 723 (Tex. App.—Houston
[14th Dist.] 2003)]. The three-Justice panel noted that the disciplinary action
“provided to Guthery and signed by the chief of police after investigating a citizen
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complaint against Guthery, therefore did not qualify as a ‘complaint’ under
sections 614.022 and 614.023 because it was not signed by the victim of the
alleged misconduct.” See Opinion pg. 17. However, Guthery is distinguishable
from the present matter as it involved a complaint of misconduct by a private
citizen against a police officer.
Here, the three-Justice panel erroneously determined that allegations of
misconduct existed against Staff and that these allegations “originated from outside
of the Colorado County Sheriff’s Department, specifically, with the Colorado
County Attorney, the ‘victim’ of Staff’s misconduct.” See Opinion 21. Further, the
three-Justice panel erroneously opined that Sparks made the allegation of
misconduct, but Staff was never provided with a written copy of the allegations
against him signed by Sparks.
The record clearly demonstrates that Sparks is neither a complainant nor a
victim of any alleged misconduct. (CR84–86) As stated above, this example of a
performance deficiency by Staff (not the basis of Staff’s termination) involved
Staff’s patrol video in a criminal case referred by him to the prosecuting authority
of Colorado County. As part of the prosecutorial duties of the County Attorney and
his staff, the criminal case was sent back to the originating agency for further
review as part of that criminal prosecution concerning the evidence submitted by
Staff, the patrol video. The three-Justice panel’s conclusion that Sparks is a victim of
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misconduct and/or a complainant under these statutory provisions is inconsistent with
the plain meaning of these statutes. Further, such a conclusion is contrary to the very
nature of the judicial system and the relationship between the law enforcement
agency referring criminal matters and the prosecuting authority.
The only requirements found in these statutory provisions state that in order
for a “complaint” to be considered by the head of a fire department or law
enforcement agency, the complaint must be in writing and signed by the person
making the complaint. Further, the Government Code states that a copy of the
complaint shall be given to the employee “within a reasonable time.” Additionally,
an employee may not be “indefinitely suspended or terminated from employment
based on the subject matter of the complaint unless it is investigated and there is
evidence to prove the allegation of misconduct.” TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §
614.023. Specifically, Texas Government Code, section 614.022 provides that
“[t]o be considered by the head of a state agency or by the head of a fire
department or local law enforcement agency, the complaint must be: (1) in writing;
and (2) signed by the person making the complaint.” TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §
614.022. Further, Texas Government Code, section 614.023 provides the
following:
(a) A copy of a signed complaint against a law enforcement officer of
this state or a fire fighter, detention officer, county jailer, or peace
officer appointed or employed by a political subdivision of this state
shall be given to the officer or employee within a reasonable time
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after the complaint is filed.
(b) Disciplinary action may not be taken against the officer or
employee unless a copy of the signed complaint is given to the officer
or employee.
(c) In addition to the requirement of Subsection (b), the officer or
employee may not be indefinitely suspended or terminated from
employment based on the subject matter of the complaint unless:
(1) the complaint is investigated; and
(2) there is evidence to prove the allegation of misconduct.
Id. § 614.023.
If any victim existed under this narrow example of a performance
deficiency, the victim would clearly have been the Colorado County Sheriff’s
Office. The Record on Appeal explicitly demonstrated that, unlike Treadway, the
Colorado County Sheriff’s Office’s Performance Deficiency Notice (the internal
complaint against Staff for policy violations) was signed by Lt. Troy Neisner and
provided to Staff on April 28, 2010. (CR 84–86). Staff also acknowledged receipt
of the Performance Deficiency Notice. Id. Therefore, a written signed complaint
was provided to Staff as required by Texas Government Code section 614.022.
Further, the three-Justice panel erroneously states that the Performance
Deficiency Notice “constitutes a disciplinary action that occurred before Staff
received a signed, written complaint of the allegations against him.” Section
614.023 does not include the word “before.” The plain language of the statutory
provision states that “[d]isciplinary action may not be taken against the officer or
employee unless a copy of the signed complaint is given to the officer or
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employee.”
Here, Lt. Neisner provided Staff with a copy of the Performance Deficiency
Notice, the signed complaint, and recommended that Staff be immediately
terminated. (CR 84–86). Further, Lt. Neisner informed Staff that if he wished to
appeal the decision, he “must do so in writing within 30 days to the Sheriff. The
Sheriff will make a decision on whether or not to uphold the above decision. The
Sheriff’s decision will be final.” Id. (emphasis added). Although termination was
recommended by Lt. Neisner, Sheriff Wied made the final decision concerning
Staff’s termination. Id. and CR 88.
As the Record on Appeal demonstrates, Sheriff Wied fully and completely
complied with all statutory requirements, including Texas Government Code,
sections 614.021 – 614.023 by: (1) obtaining a signed complaint, the Performance
Deficiency Notice, signed by Lt. Neisner (CR 84–86); (2) providing a copy of the
Performance Deficiency Notice to Staff on April 28, 2010, within a reasonable
time following the April 26, 2010, internal discussion between the County
Attorney and Sheriff (CR 84–86); (3) conducting an investigation and
demonstrating evidence proving the alleged misconduct (i.e., in-car videos of
Staff) (CR 84–86); (4) providing Staff the opportunity to address the allegations
and recommended termination by Lt. Neisner (CR 88); and (5) the final
disciplinary action taken by Sheriff Wied on June 3, 2010, following a copy of the
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Performance Deficiency Notice being provided to Staff and recommendation by
Lt. Neisner for termination. (CR 88)
It is important to note that Subchapter B of the Texas Government Code
does not define or elaborate on the nature of a “complaint”; what is meant by a
“reasonable time”; what type of investigation must occur; nor what is meant by
“evidence to prove the allegation of misconduct.” Giving these words and phrases
their common meaning, the actions of Sheriff Wied met all of the statutory
requirements.
Accordingly, it was error for the three-Justice panel of this Court to
conclude that Sheriff Wied failed to comply Government Code sections 614.022
and 614.023. This error requires review and reversal by the full Court of Appeals.
Therefore, Sheriff Wied respectfully requests rehearing and en banc consideration.
PRAYER
For the reasons set forth above, Appellee Sheriff R. H. “Curly” Wied
requests rehearing by the three-Justice panel. Specifically, Sheriff Wied requests
that the three-Justice panel withdraw the Opinion and affirm the trial court’s order
granting summary judgment in favor of him and affirm the trial court’s final
judgment including the award of reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees to
Sheriff Wied. Further, Sheriff Wied alternatively requests that a majority of this
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court en banc grant this motion for reconsideration, and that the case be
resubmitted to the court for en banc review and disposition.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ J. Eric Magee
J. Eric Magee
SBN: 24007585
e.magee@allison-bass.com
ALLISON, BASS & MAGEE, L.L.P.
A.O. Watson House
402 W. 12th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 482-0701 telephone
(512) 480-0902 facsimile
Attorney for Appellee
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CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I certify that this computer-generated Appellee’s Motion for Rehearing and
En Banc Reconsideration contains 3,085 words and complies with TEX. R. APP. P.
9.4.
/s/ J. Eric Magee
J. Eric Magee
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that Appellee’s Motion for Rehearing and En Banc Reconsideration
was served via certified mail, return receipt requested, facsimile, and/or
electronically on this the 2nd day of September, 2015:
Daniel A. Krieger
Cagle & McCumber
215 E. Galveston
League City, Texas 77573
Attorney for Plaintiff
/s/ J. Eric Magee
J. Eric Magee
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