Steve Baumgarten v. Seattle Police Dept ( 2020 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STEVE BAUMGARTEN, No. 78721-7-I
Appellant, DIVISION ONE
V.
SPD SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT,
Respondent,
DAVID ROSE, PARELLA LEWIS, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
WASHINGTON’S MOST WANTED,
DENALI FITNESS, SANG KIM,
KATHLEEN WATTS, FACEBOOK
WEATHERWOMAN, Q13 NEWS
ANCHOR WMW PRODUCER,
WASHINGTON’S MOST WANTED
FACEBOOK,
Defendants. FILED: February 24, 2020
BOWMAN, J. — Steve Baumgarten appeals the trial court’s CR 12(b)(6)
dismissal of his disability discrimination and defamation claims against the Seattle
Police Department (SPD). The trial court ruled that Baumgarten failed to state a
claim upon which relief may be granted because SPD lacks the capacity to be
sued. We conclude that dismissal on this basis was unwarranted in the absence
of prejudice against the city of Seattle (City). We further conclude that
Baumgarten’s complaint alleged sufficient facts to support his discriminatory police
No. 78721-7-1/2
protection claim but not his remaining claims. Accordingly, we affirm in part,
reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
FACTS
Steve Baumgarten suffers from a schizoaffective disorder with features of
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Baumgarten’s mental illness compels him
to ask other people detailed questions about their actions or conversations with
him, a process he calls analysis.’” Baumgarten has had frequent interactions
with SPD officers since at least 1996.
On November 22, 2017, Baumgarten filed a pro se complaint against SPD
and numerous other defendants.1 Baumgarten later amended his complaint. His
pleadings appear to assert four discernible claims against SPD, including three
claims under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C.
§~ 12101-12213, and one Washington tort claim for defamation.2 First,
Baumgarten claimed that police officers discriminated against him based on his
disability by failing to investigate crimes committed against him and declining to
arrest the perpetrators. Second, he claimed that SPD officers wrongfully arrested
him because of his disability. Third, he claimed that SPD’s failure to enforce laws
prohibiting marijuana use in public is discriminatory because it makes the
1 The trial court subsequently dismissed aN of Baumgarten’s claims against the remaining
defendants. Those orders of dismissal are not at issue in this appeal.
2 Baumgarten argues for the first time in his reply brief that his ADA claims should also be
interpreted to include several additional theories of discrimination supported by the facts in his
pleadings, including (1) the Washington Law Against Discrimination, chapter 49.60 RCW; (2) 42
U.S.C. § 1983; and (3) chapter 14.11 of the Seattle Municipal Code. Issues raised and argued for
the first time in a reply brief are too late to warrant consideration. Cowiche Canyon Conservatory v.
Bosley, 118 Wash. 2d 801, 809, 828 P.2d 549 (1992).
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No. 78721-7-113
symptoms of his mental illness worse. Fourth, he claimed that SPD defamed him
via a Facebook post from the television show Washington’s Most Wanted.
On April 13, 2018, the City on behalf of SPD filed a CR 12(b)(6) motion to
dismiss on the ground that SPD is not a legal entity capable of being sued. The
City further argued that even if Baumgarten’s complaint is construed as a suit
against the City, dismissal was proper because he failed to state any valid legal
claims for discrimination or defamation. The trial court granted the City’s motion,
finding that SPD “lacks capacity to be sued under Washington law. Therefore,
Plaintiff fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.” Baumgarten
appealed.
ANALYSIS
We review a trial court’s CR 12(b)(6) dismissal de novo. FutureSelect
Portfolio Mgmt., Inc. v. Tremont Grp. Holdings, Inc., 180 Wash. 2d 954, 962, 331
P.3d 29 (2014). “A CR 12(b)(6) motion challenges the legal sufficiency of the
allegations in a complaint.” McAfee v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc., 193 Wn.
App. 220, 226, 370 P.3d 25 (2016). Dismissal under CR 12(b)(6) is appropriate
where the plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts consistent with the complaint that
would entitle the plaintiff to relief. Bravo v. Dolsen Cos., 125 Wash. 2d 745, 750, 888
P.2d 147 (1995). All facts alleged in the plaintiff’s complaint are presumed true.
Tenore v. AT&T Wireless Servs., 136 Wash. 2d 322, 330, 962 P.2d 104 (1998). “If a
plaintiff’s claim remains legally insufficient even under his or her proffered
hypothetical facts, dismissal pursuant to CR 12(b)(6) is appropriate.” Gorman v.
Garlock, Inc., 155 Wash. 2d 198, 215, 118 P.3d 311 (2005). “Such motions should
be granted ‘sparingly and with care,’ and only in the unusual case in which the
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plaintiff’s allegations show on the face of the complaint an insuperable bar to
relief.” San Juan County v. No New Gas Tax, 160 Wash. 2d 141, 164, 157 P.3d 831
(2007) (quoting Tenore, 136 Wash. 2d at 330). Prose litigants on appeal are held to
the same standards as attorneys and are bound by the same rules of procedure
and substantive law.3 In re Marriage of Olson, 69 Wash. App. 621, 626, 850 P.2d
527 (1993).
Incorrectly Named Party
Baumgarten argues that the trial court erred in dismissing his claims on the
ground that SPD is not a legal entity capable of being sued. The City correctly
notes that jurisdiction over SPD is properly achieved by suing the City. See Nolan
v. Snohomish County, 59 Wash. App. 876, 883, 802 P.2d 792 (1990). However,
“{d]ismissal should not be granted on a mere technicality easily remedied by
amendment.” In re Marriage of Morrison, 26 Wash. App. 571, 573, 613 P.2d 557
(1980). CR 4(h) provides:
At any time in its discretion and upon such terms as it deems just,
the court may allow any process or proof of service thereof to be
amended, unless it clearly appears that material prejudice would
result to the substantial rights of the party against whom the process
issued.
Thus, “[ijn Washington, when a party is incorrectly named in a lawsuit, dismissal is
not the automatic remedy; rather the primary consideration is whether the party
has been prejudiced.” Prof’! Marine Co. v. Those Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s,
118 Wash. App. 694, 705, 77 P.3d 658 (2003). “[T]he proper course of action in
these circumstances ‘is not to dismiss the cause of action, but rather to give the
~ Baumgarten filed a pro se opening brief but retained counsel to file his reply brief.
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parties the opportunity to amend to reflect the proper capacity of the defendant.’”
Sammamish Pointe Homeowners Ass’n v. Sammamish Pointe LLC, 116 Wash. App.
117, 124, 64 P.3d 656 (2003) (quoting Morrison, 26 Wash. App. at 574-75).
Here, Baumgarten’s complaint gave sufficient notice to the City regarding
his claims. The City in fact appeared in this proceeding on behalf of SPD to
defend against the complaint. Under these circumstances, the technical defect In
Baumgarten’s complaint caused no prejudice and did not warrant dismissal.
Failure to State a Claim
The State contends that dismissal under CR 12(b)(6) was nevertheless
proper because Baumgarten failed to state any valid legal claims. “A prevailing
party that seeks no further affirmative relief from the appellate court may argue
any grounds in support of the trial court’s order that are supported by the record.”
Modumetal, Inc. v. Xtalic Corp., 4 Wash. App. 2d 810, 834, 425 P.3d 871 (2018),
review denied, 192 Wash. 2d 1011, 432 P.3d 793 (2019).
Discriminatory Denial of Police Services
Baumgarten’s complaint alleged that SPD discriminated against him by
denying him access to police services. Specifically, Baumgarten asserted that
because of his disability, SPD failed to investigate or to make arrests when he
reported crimes committed against him. The City contends that Baumgarten failed
to plead adequate facts to put it on notice of this claim.
“Washington is a notice pleading state and merely requires a simple,
concise statement of the claim and the relief sought.” Pac. Nw. Shooting Park
Ass’n v. City of Seguim, 158 Wash. 2d 342, 352, 144 P.3d 276 (2006); CR 8(a). A
complaint is insufficient if it fails to give the opposing party fair notice of the claims
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asserted. Lundberg v. Coleman, 115 Wash. App. 172, 180, 60 P.3d 595 (2002).
“The purpose of this ‘notice pleading’ rule is to ‘facilitate a proper decision on the
merits.’” CalPortland Co. v. LevelOne Concrete, LLC, 180 Wash. App. 379, 394,
321 P.3d 1261 (2014)~ (quoting Stansfield v. Douglas County, 146 Wash. 2d 116,
123, 43 P.3d 498 (2002)).
Title II of the ADA prohibits a public entity from discriminating against a
qualified individual with a disability on the basis of that disability. 42 U.S.C. §
12132. To prevail on an ADA claim against a public entity, a plaintiff must show
“(1) he is a qualified individual with a disability; (2) he was either
excluded from participation or denied the benefits of a public entity’s
services, programs or activities, or was otherwise discriminated
against by the public entity; and (3) such exclusion, denial of
benefits, or discrimination was by reason of his disability.”
Lynn v. Dept of Soc. & Health Servs., 170 Wash. App. 535, 549, 285 P.3d 178
(2012)~ (quoting Weinreich v. L.A. County Metro. Transp. Auth., 114 F.3d 976, 978
(9th Cir. 1997)).
The City concedes that Baumgarten adequately alleged a mental disability
and that he describes instances in which he alleges he was denied the benefit of
police services. The City contends Baumgarten’s claim cannot succeed because
he failed to adequately allege that he was denied services or discriminated against
because of his disability. We disagree. For example, Baumgarten’s complaint
alleged as follows:
Over the past several years, despite ADA laws, there are many times
that the Seattle Police has failed to protect me when there was a real
threat and/or I was a victim of actual crimes.
“Internal quotation marks omitted.
~ Internal quotation marks omitted.
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No. 78721-7-1/7
I have been victimized and physically injured by local riffraff and
have reported these incidents to the Seattle police. These reports of
individuals who have threatened or been violent with me repeatedly
have not been taken seriously by the Seattle Police, who dismiss me
and my calls as “nuts.” This is because of my disability and the fact
that I do not present smoothly on the phone. Therefore, I have not
received appropriate police protection as a normal citizen would.
Many incidents are listed below. In addition, when I have reported
crimes as stated above, SPD officers have written in their reports
that I am a participant subject in the incidents when in fact I have
never been a perpetrator, attacker, weapon-carrier, or stalker.
Baumgarten’s pleadings go on to describe numerous incidents in which he
alleges that SPD treated him differently because of the unusual behaviors and
mannerisms inherent in his mental illness. These pleadings adequately put the
City on notice of the claim as CR 8(a) requires.
Wrongful Arrest
Baumgarten’s complaint alleged that SPD officers wrongfully arrested him
and told people to obtain unnecessary protection orders against him because of
his disability. The Ninth Circuit recognizes two types of ADA claims applicable to
arrests—(1) wrongful arrest “where police wrongly arrest someone with a disability
because they misperceive the effects of that disability as criminal activity” and (2)
reasonable accommodation where police “fail to reasonably accommodate the
person’s disability in the course of investigation or arrest, causing the person to
suffer greater injury or indignity in that process than other arrestees.” Sheehan v.
City & County of S.F., 743 F.3d 1211, 1232 (9th Cir. 2014), reversed in part on
other grounds by City & County of S.F. v. Sheehan, 575 U.S. 600, 135 5. Ct.
1765, 191 L. Ed. 2d 856 (2015).
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No. 78721-7-1/8
The City asserts that dismissal is proper because Baumgarten’s wrongful
arrest claims are untimely. We agree. “A plaintiff has no cause of action under
the ADA for an injury that occurred outside the limitations period.” Pickern v.
Holiday Quality Foods Inc., 293 F.3d 1133, 1137 (9th Cir. 2002). “When afederal
cause of action does not contain its own statute of limitations, courts borrow the
most analogous state limitations period.” Conway v. Standard Ins. Co., 23 F.
Supp. 2d 1199, 1200 (ED. Wash. 1998). In Washington, discrimination claims
must be brought within the three-year statute of limitations for personal injury
actions. RCW 4.16.080(2); Antonius v. King County, 153 Wash. 2d 256, 261-62, 103
P.3d 729 (2004). Here, Baumgarten’s complaint does not appear to allege any
instances of false arrest occurring within the three-year statute of limitations. The
claim is therefore untimely.
Baumgarten contends that the continuing violation doctrine applies to
render his claims timely. This equitable doctrine allows a plaintiff to allege an
otherwise time-barred employment discrimination claim where the defendant’s
wrongful conduct is part of a cumulative pattern of ongoing acts. Antonius, 153
Wash. 2d at 262-63. In contrast, where discrete acts of discrimination are alleged,
the three-year limitations period runs from the date of the act itself. Antonius, 153
Wash. 2d at 264. Here, Baumgarten alleges discrimination based on several discrete
instances of wrongful arrest. There is no basis to apply the continuing violation
doctrine in this context. Accordingly, the pleadings for this claim show an
insuperable bar to relief.
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No. 78721-7-1/9
Marijuana Laws
Baumgarten claimed that SPD discriminated against him by failing to
enforce Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 12A.20.100, which bans the use of
marijuana in public places. Baumgarten contends that he frequently encounters
marijuana smoke in public places and that this exposure exacerbates the
symptoms of his mental illness, rendering the spaces inaccessible or unusable.
‘An individual is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of a public
program if ‘a public entity’s facilities are inaccessible to or unusable by individuals
with disabilities.’” Daubert v. Lindsay Unified Sch. Dist., 760 F.3d 982, 985 (9th
Cir. 2014) (quoting 28 C.F.R. § 35.149).
However, SMC 12A.20.060 makes ‘the investigation, arrest and
prosecution of marijuana offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult
personal use, the City’s lowest law enforcement priority.” Law enforcement
decisions are afforded wide discretion. See State v. Arreola, 176 Wash. 2d 284, 294-
95, 290 P.3d 983 (2012); see also West v. Holder, 60 F. Supp. 3d 197, 203 (D.C.
2015) (exercise of prosecutorial discretion regarding nonenforcement of certain
federal drug law violations is presumptively unreviewable in federal court). “It is
commonly accepted that full enforcement of traffic and criminal laws by police
officers is both impossible and undesirable.” Arreola, 176 Wash. 2d at 294.
Baumgarten does not allege that his disability status affected SPD decisions
regarding whether to arrest individuals who violate SMC 12A.20.100. Baumgarten
has not stated a valid claim based on SPD’s failure to enforce this law.
To the extent that Baumgarten’s pleadings may be construed to state a
cause of action for negligence, that claim is invalid. Under the public duty
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doctrine, a public entity does not have a duty of care to the public in general.
Osborn v. Mason County, 157 Wash. 2d 18, 27, 134 P.3d 197 (2006). The “failure to
enforce” exception to the public duty doctrine applies when (1) governmental
agents are responsible for enforcing a statute, (2) they have actual knowledge of a
statutory violation and fail to take corrective action despite a statutory duty to do
so, and (3) the plaintiff is within the protected class of the statute. Atherton Condo.
Apt.-OwnersAss’n Bd. of Dirs. v. Blume Dev. Co., 115 Wash. 2d 506, 531, 799 P.2d
250 (1990). Baumgarten alleges no facts in support of applying this narrow
exception.
Defamation
Baumgarten claims that SPD defamed him based on a December 2017
post on a Facebook page of the television show Washington’s Most Wanted. The
Facebook post shows photographs of an unidentified person and states, “Does
anybody [sic] this man? Detectives say he has been stalking a woman at a
business in the Interbay area of Seattle for the. .“~ Baumgarten’s complaint
asserts that on November 10, 2015, an employee of Denali Fitness threatened
and assaulted him after he asked her an “OCD question.” On this basis,
Baumgarten alleged that the Facebook post “was mounted on false and faulty
complaints from Denali Fitness/Interbay by an employee [who] did not have the
facts and rushed to escalate the situation along with SPD again” and that “police
lied twisted reversed put lies about me again.”7
6 Second alteration in original.
~ Although the Facebook post does not reference Baumgarten by name, it can be inferred
that he believes the post refers to him and his role in the events at Denali Fitness.
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No. 78721-7-I/Il
“The elements a plaintiff must establish in a defamation case are falsity, an
unprivileged communication, fault, and damages.” Mohr v. Grant, 153 Wash. 2d 812,
822, 108 P.3d 768 (2005). Moreover, “the release of information to the press and
public by police officers” is subject to a “qualified privilege.” Bender v. City of
Seattle, 99 Wash. 2d 582, 601, 664 P.2d 492 (1983). In order to establish an abuse
of a qualified privilege, there must be “proof of knowledge or reckless disregard as
to the falsity of a statement.” Bender, 99 Wash. 2d at 559, 601. Here, Baumgarten
adequately alleged that the Facebook post was based on false information.
However, the complaint does not allege that SPD was involved in the publication
of the Facebook post. Nor does Baumgarten plead facts adequate to show that
the communication was unprivileged. He has not stated a valid claim for
defamation.
In sum, Baumgarten’s complaint alleged sufficient facts to support his
discriminatory police protection claim but not his remaining claims. Accordingly,
we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
WE CONCUR:
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