Michael J. Kanode, Sr. v. Lt. Mike Gills ( 2013 )

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
Michael J. Kanode, Sr.,
FILED
May 24, 2013
Plaintiff Below, Petitioner RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
OF WEST VIRGINIA
vs) No. 11-1782 (Mercer County 11-C-190)
Lt. Mike Gills, Timothy Boggess,
Scott Ash, Debra Garton, Nissa Kahle,
Judge Derek Swope, Danny Ray Wills,
former Sheriff Mercer County Sheriff’s
Department, J.D. Ellison, Deputy, Mercer
County Sheriff’s Department, Tonia Hodges,
Mercer County Department of Health and
Human Resources, Marsha Edwards, Mercer
County Department of Health and Human
Resources, Robb Mott, Director, Southern
Highlands Community Mental Health,
Defendants Below, Respondents
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Petitioner Michael J. Kanode Sr., pro se, appeals various orders entered November 22,
2011, by the Circuit Court of Mercer County dismissing various defendants from his civil action
under 42 U.S.C § 1983. Debra Garton, Nissa Kahle, Danny Ray Wills, Mike Mills, Timothy
Boggess, Scott Ash, and J.D. Ellison, by counsel Chip E. Williams and Ashley L. Justice; Judge
Derek Swope, by counsel John M. Hedges; Rob Mott, by counsel Macel E. Rhodes; and the West
Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (“DHHR”), through counsel Edgar Allen
Poe and Elizabeth Harper King; filed responses in support of the circuit court’s order.
The Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.
As relevant to the instant appeal, petitioner was the defendant in various criminal
proceedings and a civil forfeiture proceeding. The most serious of these cases was Felony No.
07-F-330, in which petitioner was convicted of malicious assault, burglary, attempted murder in
the first degree, violation of a protective order, wanton endangerment, and assault during the
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commission of a felony following an attack on his then wife. Petitioner was sentenced to serve
fourteen to fifty-six years in prison. Petitioner’s criminal appeal was refused on April 8, 2009.1
On March 24, 2011, petitioner brought suit against those he believed had investigated,
prosecuted, and adjudicated his criminal trial, as well as the DHHR and mental health clinic
employees who he alleged did not act properly in dealing with petitioner’s ex-wife in the lead-up
to the trial. Specifically, petitioner alleges that respondent Mott, an employee of Southern
Highlands Community Mental Health Clinic, failed to have petitioner’s ex-wife admitted into a
mental hygiene ward and failed to testify at trial. Additionally, petitioner alleges that respondents
Hodges and Edwards, employees of the DHHR, failed to act against petitioner’s then-wife in
regards to the custody of their child. Petitioner further alleges that law enforcement officials,
respondents Wills and Ellison did not properly investigate various aspects of the case, including
allegations that they harassed petitioner’s son to testify against him, made inflammatory remarks,
and improperly encouraged petitioner’s then-wife to testify against him and seek a protective
order. Petitioner alleges that the prosecution team was respondents Boggess, Ash, Garton, and
Kahle, and that they conspired to coerce petitioner’s son to alter his testimony at petitioner’s trial
and were vindictive towards petitioner due to the behavior of petitioner’s cousin. Petitioner also
alleges that respondent Kahle threatened petitioner’s victim to testify against him at trial and that
respondent Boggess failed to properly train respondents Ash, Garton, and Kahle in connection
with his trial. Finally, petitioner alleges that respondent Judge Swope exceeded his judicial role
and acted against petitioner by denying all of petitioner’s thirty motions at trial, permitting a friend
of the victim to serve on the jury, denied petitioner the use of an earpiece during his trial, imposed
an excessive sentence on petitioner, and endangered the life of his daughter when he did not
remove her from his ex-wife’s care. Respondents filed motions to dismiss in response to
petitioner’s complaint.
The circuit court dismissed the various defendants on a number of grounds including
immunity.2 The circuit court determined that Respondent Swope was absolutely immune from
petitioner’s action because, as a duly elected judge of the Mercer County Circuit Court, 3
Respondent Swope was empowered to preside over the criminal proceedings and the civil
forfeiture proceeding, and that Respondent Swope was empowered to issue rulings in those
matters and to impose sentences upon petitioner’s convictions. See Syl. Pt. 4, in part, Roush v. Hey
197 W.Va. 207, 475 S.E.2d 299 (1996) (“[A]bsolute judicial immunity applies (1) to all judicial
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In the habeas corpus proceeding he subsequently filed, petitioner is appealing the circuit court’s
order granting him partial relief in Supreme Court No. 12-0451. The respondent warden is
cross-appealing. The circuit court vacated petitioner’s convictions for wanton endangerment,
burglary, and assault during the commission of a felony, but affirmed his convictions on the counts
of violation of a protective order, malicious assault, and attempted first degree murder.
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Having found this ground sufficient to affirm the dismissal of petitioner’s action, see infra, this
Court declines to address the other grounds relied upon by the circuit court.
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A special judge was appointed to hear the case.
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act[s]; unless (2) those acts fall clearly outside the judge’s subject matter jurisdiction.”).
The circuit court determined that Respondent Gills, Respondent Ellison, and Respondent
Wills were entitled to qualified immunity.4 The circuit court concluded that the allegations in
petitioner’s complaint were insufficient to defeat a claim of qualified immunity for Respondent
Gills, Respondent Ellison, and Respondent Wills.
The circuit court determined that Respondents Boggess, Garton, Kahle, and Ash are
immune from petitioner’s action. The circuit court found that petitioner’s allegations against the
prosecutors came within the absolute immunity afforded to prosecuting attorneys. See Mooney v.
Frazier, 225 W.Va. 358, 370 n. 12, 693 S.E.2d 333, 345 n. 12 (2010) (“[A]bsolute prosecutorial
immunity cannot be defeated by showing that the prosecutor acted wrongfully or even
maliciously, or because the criminal defendant ultimately prevailed on appeal or in a habeas
corpus proceeding.”) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
The circuit court determined that it lacked jurisdiction over petitioner’s claims against
Respondents Hodges and Edwards. The circuit court found that petitioner had failed to give notice
to the chief officer of the DHHR, as required by West Virginia Code § 55-17-3(a)(1) and, due to
failure to compliy with the notice requirements, the circuit court lacks jurisdiction over the claim.
Motto v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 220 W.Va. 412, 647 S.E.2d 848 (2007).
The circuit court determined that the statute of limitations has run for the action against
Respondent Mott. Petitioner alleged that Respondent Mott failed to testify at petitioner’s criminal
trial in January of 2008 and failed to have his then-wife admitted to a mental hospital in July of
2007. The circuit court found that petitioner’s complaint in March of 2011 was after the two-year
statute of limitations set forth in West Virginia Code § 55-2-12(b), that the theory of continuing
tort had no application, and that, since Respondent Mott was not subpoenaed at trial, he had no
duty to testify at trial.
“Appellate review of a circuit court’s order granting a motion to dismiss a complaint is de
novo.” Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. McGraw v. Scott Runyan Pontiac–Buick, Inc., 194 W.Va. 770, 461
S.E.2d 516 (1995). On appeal, petitioner asserts that respondents are not entitled to absolute or
even qualified immunity, and that he suffers from a continuing tort actions. The various
respondents argue for the circuit court’s affirmation.
“[C]laims of immunities, where ripe for disposition, should be summarily decided before
trial.” Hutchison, 198 W.Va. at 147, 479 S.E.2d at 657 (footnote omitted). This Court in Hutchison
explained that “[t]he very heart of the immunity defense is that it spares the defendant from having
to go forward with an inquiry into the merits of the case.” 198 W.Va. at 148, 479 S.E.2d at 658.
The Court has carefully considered petitioner’s allegations in light of the various immunity, statute
of limitations, and jurisdictional defenses raised by respondents. Respondents’ defenses are
4
The standard for determining qualified immunity is set forth in Syl. Pt. 6, City of Saint Albans v.
Botkins, 228 W.Va. 393, 719 S.E.2d 863(2011).
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well-founded. The Court concludes that the circuit court did not err in granting respondents’
motions to dismiss.
For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the Circuit Court of Mercer
County and affirm its orders dismissing the various defendants.
Affirmed.
ISSUED: May 24, 2013
CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II
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