Amanda S.b. McIver v. City of Spokane ( 2014 )

FILED
JULY 24, 2014
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
W A State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
AMANDA SARAH BETH MCIVER and ) No. 31370-1-111
JAMIE MCIVER, and the marital )
community comprised thereof, )
)
Appellants, )
)
v. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
CITY OF SPOKANE, SPOKANE )
PARKS and RECREATION )
DEPARTMENT, MIKE AHO and JANE )
DOE AHO, and the marital community )
comprised thereof, KIMBRE VEGA and )
JOHN DOE VEGA, and the marital )
community comprised thereof; PALADIN )
ALENT and JANE DOE ALENT, and the )
marital community comprised thereof, )
employees of CITY OF SPOKANE, )
)
Respondents. )
SPERLINE, J.* -Amanda McIver appeals the trial court's CR 12(b)(6) dismissal of
her defamation claim against the City of Spokane (the City) and the order of summary
*Judge Evan E. Sperline is serving as judge pro tempore of the Court of Appeals
pursuant to RCW 2.06.150.
No. 31370-1-111
McIver v. City ofSpokane
judgment dismissing her remaining claims of negligent training/supervision and
whistleblower retaliation. She challenges the trial court's (1) refusal to apply judicial
estoppel to bar the City from asserting certain facts disputing her claims, and (2) dismissal
oofher claims pursuant to CR 12(b)(6) and summary judgment. Finding no error, we
affirm.
FACTS
During the summer of 2008, the City of Spokane hired Amanda Mciver as a
temporary seasonal worker for its Parks and Recreation Department. She was assigned to
the Northeast Community Center (NEYC). On April 23, 2009, Ms. McIver was
transporting children from the NEYC in a City-owned van as part of her duties as a
recreation leader for the Parks Department. While transporting the children, the van she
was driving was struck from behind by another City-owned van. Several young children
in Ms. Mciver's van were not in the required booster seats. The Spokane police
department issued Ms. Mciver a traffic citation for her failure to use booster seats. The
City dismissed the citation on June 10, 2009.
Shortly after the collision, the Spokesman-Review published an article about the
collision and quoted the NEYC director, Kimbre Vega, as stating, "'I don't know why
[the children] weren't in their booster seats.'" Clerk's Papers (CP) at 93. The article
2
No. 31370-1-III
McIver v. City ofSpokane
identified Ms. McIver as a driver of one of the vans, but other than stating that she passed
a postaccident drug test, made no other reference to her. Ms. Vega did not mention Ms.
McIver in the article.
Ms. McIver remained employed with the City until September 16, 2011, when her
position was eliminated due to a seasonal reduction in force.
On June 13,2011, Ms. McIver filed this action against the City. The complaint
alleged causes of action for slander and libel, negligent training and supervision, and civil
rights violations under Washington's law against discrimination (WLAD), chapter 42.40
RCW and chapter 49.60 RCW.
In her complaint, Ms. McIver alleged that the City failed to provide child safety
seats or booster seats and failed to train employees in the use of such safety equipment.
Ms. McIver also alleged that City employees, knowing booster seats were not available,
then misrepresented to local news media that they were uncertain why Ms. McIver had
not used booster seats. Ms. McIver claimed that as a result of these "misrepresentations,"
she was subject to public ridicule and humiliation. CP at 6. As to her WLAD claim, Ms.
McIver maintained that after the collision, she was asked to misrepresent to police that
the booster seats were available but not used. She claimed that after she refused to lie to
public officials investigating the accident, she was removed from her position and
3
No. 31370-1-III
McIver v. City ofSpokane
suffered financial loss due to her refusal to lie. She also claimed that as a result of her
disclosure that seats were not provided, she was transferred from her position with the
NEYC.
Ms. McIver asked for damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, reimbursement
for mental and physical treatments, loss of enjoyment of life, and payment for lost earning
capacity due to loss of employment. The City moved for judgment on the pleadings
under CR 12(b)(6), arguing Ms. McIver's complaint failed to state a claim upon which
relief can be granted.
The court granted the City's CR 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss as to Ms. McIver's
slander and libel claims, but denied the motion on the remaining claims, finding the
evidence "thin," but sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss on the pleadings. Report of
Proceedings (RP) (Aug. 10,2012) at 33; CP at 130-31. In its oral ruling, the court
explained that the Spokesman-Review quote did not concern Ms. McIver, noting Ms.
Vega's statement "could have been reference to any number of breaches of the duty of
any number of individuals." RP (Aug. 10,2012) at 32.
The City then filed a motion to dismiss the remaining claims under CR 56. It
attached affidavits from City employees indicating that the City had provided booster
seats and trained its employees, including Ms. McIver, in the use of the seats. The City
4
No. 31370-1-III
McIver v. City ofSpokane
argued that Ms. McIver's decision not to use the booster seats was her own choice, stating
"[t]he boosters were available and all drivers were expected to use them." CP at 212.
The City also argued that even if the City could be found negligent, the negligence did not
harm Ms. McIver as she was kept on the payroll and given two raises over the course of
the next two years after the accident.
The trial court granted the City's summary judgment motion to dismiss the
negligent training and whistleblower claims.
Ms. McIver appeals the CR 12(b)(6) dismissal of her defamation claim and the
summary judgment dismissal of her remaining claims.
ANALYSIS
Judicial Estoppel
Ms. McIver first contends that under the doctrine ofjudicial estoppel, the trial
court should not have allowed the City to advance inconsistent positions regarding the
availability of booster seats. She claims that the City dismissed the infraction against her
based on the fact that it purchased booster seats after the collision, but then reversed its
position in the instant case and claimed the seats were available at the time of the
collision. She maintains, "the City's position that booster seats were not previously
available but subsequently purchased was the sole legal and factual predicate for the
5
No. 31370-1-II1
McIver v. City ofSpokane
dismissal." Reply Br. at 1. She further claims that this presents "a genuine factual
dispute that precludes dismissal, or the City has misled one of the two courts." Reply Br.
at 2.
The equitable doctrine ofjudicial estoppel prevents a party from asserting one
position in a court proceeding and later seeking an advantage by taking a clearly
inconsistent position in another court proceeding. Arkison v. Ethan Allen, Inc., 160
Wn.2d 535,538, 160 P.3d 13 (2007) (quoting Bartley-Williams v. Kendall, 134 Wn. App.
95, 98, 138 P.3d 1103 (2006)). The court focuses on three core factors when deciding
whether to apply the doctrine ofjudicial estoppel: (1) whether a party's current position is
inconsistent with an earlier position, (2) whether judicial acceptance of an inconsistent
position in the later proceeding will create the perception that the party misled either the
first or second court, and (3) whether the party asserting the inconsistent position will
obtain an unfair advantage or impose an unfair detriment on the opposing party if not
estopped. Miller v. Campbell, 164 Wn.2d 529,539, 192 P.3d 352 (2008) (quoting
Arkison, 160 Wn.2d at 538-39).
We review the trial court's application ofjudicial estoppel for an abuse of
discretion. Miller, 164 Wn.2d at 536. Where a decision of the trial court is a matter of
discretion, it will not be disturbed except on a clear showing that the decision was
6
No. 31370-1-111
McIver v. City ofSpokane
manifestly unreasonable and exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons.
State ex rei. Carrollv. Junker, 79 Wn.2d 12,26,482 P.2d 775 (1971).
During the City's motion for summary judgment, Ms. McIver argued that the City
should be judicially estopped from being able to argue that booster seats were available
on the date of the collision because the City had dismissed Ms. Mciver's citation based on
its previous assertion that it did not have booster seats on the date of the collision, but had
corrected the problem by purchasing booster seats later.
The City responded that its positions were not inconsistent. The City explained
that booster seats had always been available, but that the City upgraded the booster seats
to high-backed seats after the collision, mistakenly believing the existing seats were
inadequate. The City emphasized that although it had dismissed Ms. McIver's citation
based on its subsequent purchase of better quality booster seats, booster seats had been
available on the day of the collision. According to the City:
A citation like this normally gets dismissed if somebody goes out
and shows they corrected the problem, because the point of this law is to
keep kids safe, to make sure that people comply with the booster law.
So that's exactly what happened. They presented their receipts.
Okay. Northeast Youth Center is in compliance. Boom. Citations
dismissed. There's nothing sinister about that, and it is not an admission
against interest or anything.
RP (Nov. 30,2012) at 28.
7
No. 31370-l-III
McIver v. City ofSpokane
The court denied Ms. McIver's judicial estoppel argument, stating, "I am satisfied
that that was based on the backed seats versus the backless. So it didn't matter what they
did after the fact on the higher-backed seats. I'm focusing on what they had in their
inventory on the backless. I'm accepting the City's position that that satisfied the rule."
RP (Nov. 30, 2012) at 33.
In view ofthis record, Ms. McIver fails to establish the first factor-that a later
position would be clearly inconsistent with an earlier position. Nothing in the record
before us indicates that the City previously asserted that booster seats were not available
on the day of the collision. As just detailed, the City was clear that booster seats had
always been available, it simply upgraded them after the collision, mistakenly believing
the old seats were out of compliance with the new law. The court was well within its
broad discretion in rejecting Ms. McIver's judicial estoppel argument.
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to apply the doctrine of
judicial estoppel to preclude the City from asserting that booster seats were available on
the day of the collision.
Next, Ms. McIver contends that the trial court incorrectly applied CR 12(b)(6) and
summary judgment standards in dismissing her claims.
8
No.3l370-1-III
McIver v. City ofSpokane
CR 12(b)(6) Dismissal ofDefama!ion Claim
Next, Ms. McIver contends that the trial court incorrectly applied CR 12(b)(6) and
summary judgment standards in dismissing her claims. Whether dismissal is appropriate
for failure to state a claim under CR 12(b)(6) is a question of law that an appellate court
reviews de novo. San Juan County v. No New Gas Tax, 160 Wn.2d 141, 164, 157 P.3d
831 (2007). The factual inquiry on a CR 12(b)(6) motion presumes the allegations set
forth in the complaint to be true and asks whether any set of facts can be conceived that
would support a valid claim. Halvorson v. Dahl, 89 Wn.2d 673,674-75,574 P.2d 1190(1978).
To establish a prima facie claim for defamation, Ms. McIver was required to
demonstrate that (1) the City's statements about her were false, (2) the statements were
unprivileged, (3) the City was at fault, and (4) that the statements proximately caused
damage. Wood v. Battle Ground Sch. Dis!., 107 Wn. App. 550, 567-68, 27 P.3d 1208(2001). A CR 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss is appropriate in defamation cases where a
plaintiffs complaint fails to demonstrate the existence of one of the elements of
defamation. Clapp v. Olympic View Publ'g Co., l37 Wn. App. 470, 475, 154 P.3d 230(2007).
9
No. 31370-1-II1
McIver v. City ofSpokane
Ms. McIver does not address the elements of defamation or otherwise explain how
the City's statements are defamatory. Furthermore, she fails to specify the objectionable
statements. She makes a general assertion that City employees told police they were
"uncertain" why booster seats were unavailable, but fails to cite the record in support of
this claim. Later, she simply contends, "Ms. Amanda McIver was given a traffic
infraction ... and wrongfully subjected to public ridicule, humiliation, and community
ridicule because of false statements of Spokane City Parks and Recreation employees."
Br. of Appellant at 8.
A review of the record suggests that Ms. McIver's defamation claim is based on
Ms. Vega's statement in the Spokesman-Review, quoted above-"'I don't know why [the
children] weren't in their booster seats.'" CP at 93. However, Ms. McIver first fails to
establish that Ms. Vega's statement was about her or was false. A statement must be
considered as a whole to determine whether it is true or false. Clardy v. Cowles Publ 'g
Co., 81 Wn. App. 53,65,912 P.2d 1078 (1996). Ms. McIver did not produce any
evidence indicating that Ms. Vega had any firsthand knowledge as to why Ms. McIver did
not use booster seats. Ms. Vega was merely reciting her state of mind to a reporter,
stating that she was not sure why booster seats were not used. Furthermore, Ms. McIver
failed to show that Ms. Vega's statement was about her. As the trial court pointed out,
10
No. 31370-1-III
McIver v. City ofSpokane
Ms. Vega's statement could have been referencing any number of breaches by any
number of individuals involved in providing booster seats. Nothing in the statement or
article individually targets Ms. McIver. The trial court properly dismissed Ms. McIver's
defamation claim pursuant to CR 12(b)(6).
Summary Judgment Dismissal ofNegligent Training and "Whistleblower" Claims
We next turn to the remaining claims that were dismissed under CR 56. As to the
negligent supervision/training claim, Ms. McIver reiterates her judicial estoppel
argument, recites the summary judgment standard, and then provides the following single
sentence of argument: "Further, in looking at the many affidavits provided in this matter,
there was a material question of fact about the City of Spokane failing to provide proper
equipment and training." Appellant's Br. at 12. As to her whistleblower claims, she
simply argues, "Additionally, the plaintiff presented adequate evidence as to her other
claims to avoid summary judgment." Appellant's Br. at 12. Our analysis of Ms.
McIver's argument is compromised by her failure to address the elements of her claims or
point to specific evidence in the record to support them. Nevertheless, our review of the
record reveals that summary judgment dismissal was proper.
We review a summary judgment order de novo, performing the same inquiry as the
trial court, and considering the facts submitted and all reasonable inferences in the light
11
No. 31370-I-III
McIver v. City ofSpokane
most favorable to the nonmoving party. Wilson v. Steinbach, 98 Wn.2d 434,437,656
P .2d 1030 (1982). A moving party may satisfy the initial burden by showing that there is
an absence of evidence to support any material issue in the nonmoving party's case.
Youngv. KeyPharm., Inc., 112 Wn.2d216, 225 n.1, 770 P.2d 182 (1989) (quoting
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 325, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986)).
In response, the nonmoving party may not rely on the allegations in the pleadings,
but must set forth specific facts by affidavit or otherwise that show a genuine issue exists.
Las v. Yellow Front Stores, Inc., 66 Wn. App. 196, 198, 831 P.2d 744 (1992). Summary
judgment is proper if there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the nonmoving
party is entitled to judgment as a matter oflaw. Kruse v. Hemp, 121 Wn.2d 715, 722, 853
P.2d 1373 (1993); CR 56(c).
To establish her negligence claim, Ms. McIver was required to show duty, breach,
causation, and damage. Gurno v. Town ofLaConner, 65 Wn. App. 218,228-29,828 P.2d
49 (1992); Hartley v. State, 103 Wn.2d 768, 777, 698 P.2d 77 (1985). Ms. McIver's
claim fails at the outset because she presents no evidence or argument as to the standard
of care owed by the City to City employees or even, at a minimum, whether such a duty
exists.
12
No.3l370-1-III
Mclver v. City ofSpokane
A negligent supervision claim is a claim for a third party to sue an employer for the
actions of its employee. Rodriguez v. Perez, 99 Wn. App. 439, 451, 994 P.2d 874 (2000).
The Rodriguez court stated, "Negligent supervision creates a limited duty to control an
employee for the protection of a third person." Id.; see also Haubry v. Snow, 106 Wn.
App. 666, 679, 31 P.3d 1186 (2001) (reiterating the theory of liability in a negligent
supervision case is that the employer's negligence is a wrong to the third person). Ms.
McIver presents no authority for her argument that she is permitted to bring a negligent
supervision claim against her employer for her own personal injury.
However, even if Ms. McIver can somehow establish that she is allowed to present
such a claim, she fails to establish negligent training. Contrary to her general assertion
that the City did not provide training, the evidence amply reflects that the City had
established policies and procedures regarding the use of booster seats and training of van
drivers. Paladin Alent, the Operations Manager for the NEYC and a trainer for the City's
van drivers, submitted an affidavit in which she detailed the training she provided to Ms.
McIver and other drivers:
7. . .. At the NEYC, we were aware that the Washington law
changed regarding the use of booster seats for younger children sometime in
2003 (and then again twice in the next few years). Based upon that change
in the law, we trained all personnel who would be driving the younger
children in the proper use of a booster seat. This occurred during our
regular van driver training sessions or state-mandated employee
l3
No. 31370-1-II1
McIver v. City ofSpokane
orientations.
9. I also know that the NEYC had a large supply of backless
booster seats which were, I believe, donated to us in a new condition.
10. On 5/29/08, I personally trained Amanda Mciver regarding
van driving.
13. No employee at the NEYC would have even been allowed to
work with the children without receiving the state-mandated training.
Amanda Mciver would have been trained along with 30-50 other new
employees when she started work in 2008.
14. Every driver of [an] NEYC van was required to have a
driver's license and to adhere to the state law regarding child restraints (aka
booster seats). Ifwe had received any notice that a driver was not using
boosters, that employee would have been disciplined.
15. By 2008, normally the booster seats were kept in the vans ....
It was the responsibility of every driver to determine if he/she needed
boosters for any particular route they were driving.
CP at 147-49.
Ms. Vega also submitted an affidavit in which she stated that booster seat training
was based on state law. She stated that in order to implement state booster seat laws, she
established procedures and practices for the NEYC drivers. According to Ms. Vega if a
child was less than 4 feet 9 inches, the driver was responsible to ensure that the child was
in a booster seat. She stated, "Starting in 2005, if a child was under 4 '9", they were to be
placed into a booster seat regardless of their age." CP at 161. She also stated that she
never received any complaint from Ms. McIver regarding the lack of booster seats: "I do
not understand why Ms. McIver is stating that there were no booster seats .... If [Ms.]
14
No. 31370-1-II1
McIver v. City ofSpokane
Mciver had made ANY complaint to me or my staff regarding any safety issue, I would
have immediately investigated and gotten to the bottom of the issue." CP at 162.
The City also attached a training checklist entitled, "Child's Safety During
Transitions." CP at 166. The checklist provided that "You must adhere to State
Guidelines regarding Booster Seat Regulations. (see back)." CP at 166. A document
entitled "Booster Seat Procedures (revised 3122/04)" lays out the change in state law
regarding booster seats and instructs the drivers they must weigh and measure the
children to determine if they need a booster seat. CP at 167.
Ms. Mciver provides nothing to refute the City's evidence but her own statements.
The party opposing summary judgment "may not rely merely upon allegations or self-
serving statements, but must set forth specific facts showing that genuine issues of
material fact exist." Newton Ins. Agency & Brokerage, Inc. v. Caledonian Ins. Group,
Inc., 114 Wn. App. 151, 157,52 P.3d 30 (2002). As such, Ms. Mciver fails to raise a
genuine issue of material fact as to whether the City violated any standard of care.
Ms. Mciver likewise fails to establish material issues of fact regarding her
"whistleblower" claim under chapter 42.40 RCW and chapter 49.60 RCW of the WLAD.
RCW 49.60.210(1) provides that it is unlawful for a government agency to discriminate
against any person because he or she has opposed any practices forbidden by chapter
15
No. 31370-1-II1
Mclver v. City o/Spokane
49.60 RCW. It also provides that it is an unfair practice for a government agency,
manager, or supervisor to retaliate against a whistleblower as defined in chapter 42.40
RCW. RCW 49.60.210(2); see also RCW 42.40.050(1) (whistleblower who has been
subjected to workplace reprisal or retaliatory action is presumed to have established a
cause of action for the remedies provided under chapter 49.60 RCW).
To establish a prima facie case of whistle blower retaliation or discrimination, an
employee must show that (1) she engaged in a statutorily protected activity, (2) her
employer took an adverse employment action, and (3) the employee's activity caused the
employer's adverse action. Milligan v. Thompson, 110 Wn. App. 628, 638, 42 P.3d 418(2002). Once the employee establishes a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the
employer to produce evidence of a legitimate, nonretaliatory reason for the employment
action. Estevez v. Faculty Club o/Univ. o/Wash., 129 Wn. App. 774, 797-98, 120 PJd
579 (2005).
Ms. McIver's claim fails at the outset because she fails to establish that she is a
"whistleblower" as defined by the statute. The term "whistleblower" means:
An employee who in good faith provides information to the auditor
or other public official ... in connection with an investigation under
RCW 42.40.040 and an employee who is believed to have reported asserted
improper governmental action to the auditor or other public official ... but
who, in fact, has not reported such action or provided such information.
16
No. 31370-I-III
McIver v. City ofSpokane
RCW 42.40.020(1 O)(b )(i).
Ms. McIver's whistleblower complaint consists of allegations that she complained
of a lack of child booster seats to her supervisor, Ms. Vega. However, Ms. McIver
presents no evidence of a complaint to the auditor or other public official in connection
with an investigation. Additionally, Ms. McIver presents no evidence of retaliation or
adverse employment action by the City. To the contrary, the declaration of Becky Davis
establishes that the City kept Ms. McIver on the payroll after the collision and gave her
two pay raises until budget issues required a seasonal reduction in force. The trial court
properly ordered summary judgment dismissal of Ms. McIver's WLAD claim.
The trial court properly ordered summary judgment dismissal of Ms. McIver's
negligent supervision and WLAD claims.
Affirm.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to
RCW 2.06.040.
Sperline, I.P.T.
WE CONCUR: