CAROLYN L. BABURKA VS. STATE OF NEW JERSEY (L-1266-18, MONMOUTH COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) ( 2021 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-4112-19
CAROLYN L. BABURKA,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
(as per: Title 59 Requirements,
suing a Public Entity),
Defendant,
and
HAZLET TOWNSHIP, HAZLET
TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT,
POLICE CHIEF PHILIP MEEHAN,
and POLICE OFFICER CHARLEIGH
LOGOTHETIS,
Defendants-Respondents.
_________________________________
Submitted April 19, 2021 – Decided June 10, 2021
Before Judges Currier and Gooden Brown.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Monmouth County, Docket No. L-1266-18.
Carolyn L. Baburka, appellant pro se.
Manna & Bonello, attorneys for respondents Hazlet
Township and Police Chief Philip Meehan (John L.
Bonello, on the brief).
Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh, attorneys for respondents
Hazlet Township Police Department and Police Officer
Charleigh Logothetis (Andrew T. Walsh, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Plaintiff Carolyn Baburka appeals from the May 22, 2020 Law Division
orders granting summary judgment dismissal of her civil rights complaint to
defendants Hazlet Township, Hazlet Township Police Department, Hazlet
Township Police Chief, Philip Meehan, and Hazlet Township Police Officer,
Charleigh Logothetis. 1 Plaintiff's complaint stemmed from a frisk conducted by
Officer Logothetis as part of an administrative search 2 at the Hazlet Township
municipal building when plaintiff was screened for weapons prior to entering
1
On August 2, 2019, an order was entered granting summary judgment
dismissal of the complaint to the State of New Jersey. However, that order is
not challenged in this appeal.
2
An administrative search is "a limited warrantless search of a person seek ing
to enter sensitive facilities" and "is lawful if 'conducted as part of a general
regulatory scheme in furtherance of an administrative purpose, rather than as
part of a criminal investigation to secure evidence of crime.'" Klarfeld v. United
States, 944 F.2d 583, 586 (9th Cir. 1991) (quoting United States v. $124,570
U.S. Currency, 873 F.2d 1240, 1243 (9th Cir. 1989)).
A-4112-19
2
the municipal courtroom to address her motor vehicle summonses. The frisk
occurred after plaintiff triggered the metal detector situated outside the
courtroom. No weapon was found on plaintiff.
On appeal, plaintiff raises the following arguments for our consideration:
1. THE ARGUMENT OF SUMMARY JUDGMENT
BY THE COURT BELOW WAS CONTRARY TO
ESTABLISHED UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW CONCERNING THE 4TH,
5TH AND 14TH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION.
2. HAZLET POLICE OFFICER LOGOTHETIS WAS
NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE QUALIFIED
IMMUNITY.
3. ALL THE DEFENDANTS WERE
DELIBERATELY INDIFFERENT TO THE RIGHTS
OF THE PLAINTIFFS [SIC] RIGHTS TO RECEIVE
A REASONABLE [SIC] CONDUCTED SEARCH OF
PLAINTIFF'S BODY, PRIOR TO PLAINTIFF
ENTERING THE COURTROOM.
We reject plaintiff's contentions and affirm substantially for the reasons
articulated by Judge Henry P. Butehorn in his comprehensive and well-reasoned
statement of reasons accompanying the orders.
I.
We recite the facts from evidence submitted by the parties in support of,
and in opposition to, the summary judgment motion, "giv[ing] the benefit of all
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3
favorable inferences to plaintiff[]." Angland v. Mountain Creek Resort, Inc.,
213 N.J. 573, 577 (2013) (citing Brill v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 142 N.J. 520,
523 (1995)).
In an amended pro se complaint filed on April 24, 2019, plaintiff alleged
that at approximately 4:00 p.m. on January 16, 2018, 3 she "went . . . to the Hazlet
[Township] municipal building to appear for her court date" at the Hazlet
Township Municipal Court. After plaintiff "proceeded through the metal
detector," Logothetis, the female officer who was "monitoring the metal
detector," directed plaintiff "to turn around." According to plaintiff, when she
complied, instead of using a "wand,"4 Logothetis "touched [her] extremely
inappropriately," "unnecessarily squeez[ing her] breasts . . . hard."
In the complaint, plaintiff alleged that although she "lawfully submitted
to a search," she was subjected to an unreasonably "harsh search" that caused
her "excruciating pain," "emotionally and mentally traumatized [her,]" and
3
On April 5, 2018, plaintiff served a timely Notice of Tort Claim upon the State
as required by the New Jersey Tort Claims Act (TCA), N.J.S.A. 59:8-8,
requiring the filing of a notice of claim within ninety days of the accrual of the
cause of action against a public entity or employee unless the claimant
demonstrates good cause to justify a late filing.
4
A wand is a common name for "a hand-held magnetometer." Klarfeld, 944
F.2d at 586.
A-4112-19
4
violated her constitutional rights. She asserted the Township and Chief Meehan
breached their duty "to provide an appropriate security monitor[] with a wand,"
"provide a proper means for frisking individuals without violating a . . . woman's
space," or "otherwise furnish adequate and proper warnings to invitees" and
members of the public entering the premises.
The complaint also alleged that Hazlet Township and Hazlet Township
Police Department failed "to properly train . . . Logothetis." Additionally, the
complaint asserted that "[t]he [d]eprivation of [plaintiff's c]onstitutional rights
occurred pursuant to governmental custom, policy, statement, ordinance,
regulation and decision officially adopted and promulgated by governmental
officials," and "[t]he inaction of [Hazlet Township] rose to the level of deliberate
indifference."
Plaintiff alleged defendants' actions caused her to suffer severe physical
injuries and mental trauma that will continue throughout her lifetime. Plaintiff
sought $5 million in damages against defendants, "individually" and "jointly,"
for her losses. Attached to plaintiff's complaint was a medical note prepared by
a nurse during a January 17, 2018 office visit. The note indicated that plaintiff
complained of breast and chest "pain and discomfort" from being "frisked while
going through [a] courthouse metal detector." The physical examination
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revealed "tenderness on palpation of right lateral breast tissue and intercostal
area" and "axillary tenderness." The diagnosis noted "[b]reast pain, right;
[c]hest wall tenderness; [a]nxiety." X-rays of plaintiff's chest and right ribs
conducted on the same date reported no "significant findings."
During the discovery period, plaintiff failed to submit any expert evidence
to support her claim for psychological and physical damages. Plaintiff was
cleared to return to work on January 19, 2018. Subsequently, on February 8,
2018, when plaintiff followed up with the same nurse she had visited on January
17, 2018, the nurse concluded that there were "no long[-]term effects from the
right upper arm and chest wall pain, which has resolved at this time."
Additionally, plaintiff underwent a bilateral breast ultrasound on February 13,
2020, and submitted bills evidencing multiple visits to a licensed clinical social
worker for psychotherapy. However, no reports were provided.
In her answers to interrogatories, plaintiff reiterated that although she
"consented to a reasonable search of [her] body for weapons," Officer
Logothetis "failed to ask [her] if [she] had any item that could have set off the
metal detector," "failed to . . . request that [she] pass through the metal detector
again," and "possessed no wand." Instead, Logothetis "immediately requested
that [she] . . . turn around" and proceeded to "squeeze[ her] breasts."
A-4112-19
6
Through Chief Meehan's and Officer Logothetis's answers to
interrogatories, it was revealed that Logothetis had been a Hazlet Township
police officer since August 2013, and underwent basic training at the Cape May
County Police Academy from August 2013 to January 2014, as well as twelve
weeks of field training that included conducting frisks. Although Logothetis
had no specific recollection of the event, she acknowledged being assigned to
work the security detail for the Hazlet Township Municipal Court on January
16, 2018, and being positioned outside the courtroom to conduct screenings for
weapons prior to people entering the courtroom. The police department
provided security for the municipal courtroom in accordance with directives
issued by the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Attorney General's
Office. See Administrative Directive #15-06, "Statewide Municipal Court
Security Policy" (Aug. 7, 2006) (requiring municipal courts to submit security
plans to the Assignment Judge of the vicinage); Hazlet Township Police
Department Policy and Procedures, "Municipal Court Security" (May 10, 2018)
(codifying departmental policy and procedure in providing security for the
municipal court).
According to Officer Logothetis, there was a metal detector in the foyer
of the municipal building and posted signs stating that "All Persons Entering the
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Courtroom Are Subject to Search for Weapons." Ordinarily, when a person
activates the metal detector, the person can pass through the detector again, be
screened using a hand-held metal detector, or frisked. Prior to a frisk, Logothetis
generally advises the individual that she is going to conduct a quick pat down to
search for weapons and instructs the individual to face the other way with arms
extended. When frisking a woman, consistent with her training, Logothetis feels
for weapons under the arms, below the bra strap, and sweeps up and down the
legs.
On average, Officer Logothetis conducted approximately one frisk at each
court session. Logothetis denied ever touching anyone "extremely
inappropriately" or "unnecessarily squeez[ing]" anyone's breasts. Prior to
plaintiff's complaint, Logothetis never received any complaints regarding her
frisks, and only became aware of plaintiff's complaint when she was notified by
the Internal Affairs Unit (IA) that an investigation into plaintiff's complaint was
underway. The IA investigation determined that the allegations were
unfounded.
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The discovery period ended on March 30, 2020. Over thirty days prior to
the June 8, 2020 trial date, defendants moved for summary judgment. 5 In
support, the Police Department and Officer Logothetis relied in part on a January
16, 2018 video of the security checkpoint outside the municipal courtroom
depicting the incident.
Plaintiff opposed the summary judgment motion on the ground that there
were disputed material facts, and specifically objected to defendants' reliance on
the video. In a supporting certification, plaintiff stated that although there was
a sign indicating that there would be a search for weapons, there was no sign
indicating that the search would be videotaped and plaintiff "never gave any
informed consent for the making of the video." 6 Plaintiff also objected to the
late disclosure of the video, stating that it was not provided to her until February
10, 2020, more than two years after it was supposedly made. Plaintiff
"suspect[ed] that the video was either edited and/or altered" due to "the long
delay in its presentation and the failure of any of the [d]efendant[s] . . . to submit
5
An earlier motion for summary judgment filed by defendants was "[d]enied
without prejudice . . . to allow for discovery."
6
In her Notice of Tort Claim, plaintiff responded to the question requesting the
identification of witnesses to the occurrence by indicating that "cameras" were
"onsite."
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an affidavit or certification that the video was not altered and/or edited in any
respects."
On May 22, 2020, Judge Butehorn conducted oral argument on the
motions. On the same date, the judge entered orders granting defendants
summary judgment. In the accompanying statement of reasons, after recounting
the parties' respective positions and applying the governing legal principles,
including viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff,7 the judge
determined that based on the undisputed material facts, defendants were entitled
to summary judgment as a matter of law.
Preliminarily, the judge noted that he "did not view or consider [the]
video" or "any outline of the events purportedly depicted therein as part of []his
decision." The judge agreed with plaintiff that defendants failed to submit "as
part of the initial moving papers" any evidence indicating the video's
"authenticity."
7
The judge noted that despite plaintiff's noncompliance with Rule 4:46-2(b),
requiring a conforming "responding statement" of material facts "together wi th
citations to the motion record," instead of "disregarding plaintiff's submission
and granting the motions solely upon defendants' submissions," he accorded
plaintiff "leniency" given the fact that she was "self-represented." Thus, the
judge considered "the substance of her submission" as "disput[ing] certain
factual allegations" in defendants' "statement of material facts."
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Next, the judge explained that although not specifically identified in the
complaint, plaintiff seemed "to assert a claim under the Federal Civil Rights Act
(42 U.S.C. [§] 1983), or the New Jersey Civil Rights Act[, N.J.S.A. 10:6-1 to -
2]" (CRA) as well as "claims of negligence . . . subject to the New Jersey Tort
Claims Act [(TCA), N.J.S.A. 59:1-1 to 12-3]." Further, "[a]lthough unclear,"
the judge deciphered plaintiff's claims as challenging both the type of search
performed, namely, a frisk, as well as the manner in which the search was
conducted.
Addressing liability under the TCA, the judge acknowledged the statutory
immunity afforded under N.J.S.A. 59:3-3 when a public employee acts in good
faith in the execution or enforcement of any law. See N.J.S.A. 59:3-3 ("A public
employee is not liable if he acts in good faith in the execution or enforcement
of any law."). According to the judge, assessing good faith involved considering
"whether the employee's conduct [was] objectively reasonable under the
circumstances." See Bombace v. Newark, 125 N.J. 361, 374 (1991) (noting that
good faith for purposes of immunity under N.J.S.A. 59:3-3 applies "if the public
employee can show either objective or subjective good faith" and defining
objective good faith as the objective reasonableness of the conduct in the
circumstances).
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The judge pointed out that plaintiff "consented to a search prior to entering
the municipal court," "admit[ted] the [metal] detector went off" when she
"walk[ed] through [it]," and "consent[ed] to a further search in light of the
detector going off." Further, it was undisputed that "municipal police
departments, through their officers, provide[d] security for municipal courts
and, as part thereof, the officers [were] executing the law." Other than objecting
to the type of search performed, the judge determined that plaintiff could not
"point to any facts upon which it might be found that Officer Logothetis was not
executing the law" in good faith.
The judge explained:
In this case the court finds the decision to frisk
plaintiff objectively reasonable under the
circumstances. The plaintiff admits she triggered the
metal detector when entering the municipal court. Any
objective person would find a further search
reasonable; plaintiff admits as much. Moreover, there
are different forms of further searches; one might be
asked to walk through the detector again. The other
forms might include, as plaintiff suggests a "wand;"
another form of electronic or non-touching search.
However, considering the detector [was] already
triggered it is objectively reasonable to undertake a
different form of search.
In addition, Logothetis is the first line of security
for people coming into the public courthouse. . . . The
first detector was triggered upon plaintiff walking
through it and it is objectively reasonable for the officer
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in this case to have determined a further search was
required and to perform it through a different means
than that already triggered as a follow up.
Therefore, the court finds N.J.S.A. 59:3-3
provides Officer Logothetis immunity from any tort
claim against her for selecting to frisk plaintiff rather
than a different form of follow up search. Similarly,
the public entity defendants . . . cannot be liable on this
claim. N.J.S.A. 59:2-2(b).[8] Nor is there a basis upon
which to hold the Chief liable.
Specifically addressing plaintiff's tort claim against the Chief, the Police
Department, and the Township, the judge stated:
[P]laintiff’s claims as outlined in her complaint are a
failure to provide appropriate security, failure to
provide warnings for those entering the premises, and a
failure to provide proper means of frisking entrants to
the municipal courts. However, plaintiff cannot point
to any evidence in support of same as against those
defendants. There is no evidence of any potential
incidents, or issues, regarding screenings or security at
the municipal court. The only evidence in this case
would be as to plaintiff's screening in particular. There
is no evidence upon which a jury might find the security
was inappropriate or insufficient. Plaintiff may take
issue with the way her screening was handled, however
that is not a basis to sustain a claim for failure to have
generally appropriate security.
The same is true as to a claim for failure to
provide warnings or failure to provide proper frisking
8
See N.J.S.A. 59:2-2(b) ("A public entity is not liable for an injury resulting
from an act or omission of a public employee where the public employee is not
liable.").
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of entrants. That is, there is no evidence regarding any
incidents or issues other than plaintiff's assertions
regarding her entry alone. As to the claim against the
Chief for failure to supervise, that is based upon – as
the allegation is put in the complaint - overlooking what
took place after the fact. There is no evidence to
support a claim against him upon a failure to act (or an
act) prior to the frisk at issue.
Addressing liability for negligence based on "the manner in which the
frisk was executed," the judge reasoned that "issues of proximate cause and
damages under the TCA" barred plaintiff's claims. The judge stated that to
sustain a claim under the TCA, plaintiff must establish "a causal nexus" between
"the claimed tortious conduct" and her injuries by "objective, credible medical
evidence." See Mack v. Passaic Valley Water Comm'n, 294 N.J. Super. 592,
598 (App. Div. 1996) (explaining that in TCA cases "the critical question is
whether plaintiff has presented objective and credible medical evidence, if
believed by a factfinder, of a permanent loss of bodily function"). Although
plaintiff "identified certain medical providers" and provided some medical
records, the judge pointed out that "plaintiff has not served an expert report" and
"the medical records/documents" provided "do not make any correlation . . . to
the events of January 16, 2018." Thus, in the absence of objective and credible
medical evidence, plaintiff cannot "sustain a claim based in tort under the TCA."
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Furthermore, according to the judge, plaintiff's evidence was insufficient
to satisfy the $3600 minimum for damages required under the TCA for pain and
suffering resulting from an injury, failed to satisfy the two-pronged standard to
vault the pain and suffering threshold under the TCA, and failed to prove
psychological trauma accompanied by or resulting in physical symptoms to meet
the requirements of the TCA. See N.J.S.A. 59:9-2(d) ("No damages shall be
awarded against a public entity or public employee for pain and suffering
resulting from any injury" except "in cases of permanent loss of a bodily
function . . . where the medical treatment expenses are in excess of [$3600].");
Gilhooley v. Cnty. of Union, 164 N.J. 533, 540-41 (2000) ("[I]n order to vault
the pain and suffering threshold under the [TCA], a plaintiff must satisfy a two-
pronged standard by proving (1) an objective permanent injury, and (2) a
permanent loss of a bodily function that is substantial."); Brooks v. Odom, 150
N.J. 395, 403 (1997) ("Temporary injuries, no matter how painful and
debilitating, are not recoverable" and "a plaintiff may not recover under the
[TCA] for mere subjective feelings of discomfort." (internal quotations
omitted)).
Turning to the civil rights claim, Judge Butehorn was guided by Filgueiras
v. Newark Pub. Sch., where this court explained that "[t]he elements of a
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substantive due process claim under the CRA are the same as those under §
1983." 426 N.J. Super. 449, 468 (App. Div. 2012). In Filgueiras, we held that
in order to establish a claim under either § 1983 or the CRA, "the first task . . .
is to identify the state actor, the person acting under color of law, that has caused
the alleged deprivation." Ibid. (alteration in original) (citations and quotation
marks omitted). "The second task is to identify a right, privilege or immunity
secured to the claimant by the Constitution or other federal laws of the United
States." Ibid. (citations and quotation marks omitted).
Judge Butehorn explained that as to the second element, "plaintiff cannot
identify a specific constitutional violation for the Officer's decision to frisk her
rather than [conduct] another form of search." As to the manner in which the
frisk was conducted, the judge explained that such a claim was one "for
excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States
Constitution" and was "properly analyzed under the Fourth Amendment's
'objective reasonable' standard, rather than under a substantive due process
standard." See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 388 (1989) (holding that a
"citizen's claim that law enforcement officials used excessive force in the course
of making an arrest, investigatory stop, or other 'seizure' of his person" was
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"properly analyzed under the Fourth Amendment's 'objective reasonableness'
standard, rather than under a substantive due process standard").
Applying that standard, Judge Butehorn determined that "the frisk was
objectively reasonable." In support, the judge noted that "plaintiff made no
complaints of the force or discomfort at the time of the frisk," and there was "a
lack of any evidence causally relating any medical care or treatment to the frisk."
See Gilles v. Davis, 427 F.3d 197, 208 (3d Cir. 2005) (holding "the facts alleged
constitute[d] insufficient evidence as a matter of law for excessive force by
handcuffing" to sustain a civil rights action for damages under § 1983 based on
the plaintiff's failure to demonstrate or express "signs of discomfort at the time
he was handcuffed" or "seek . . . medical treatment after the fact").
Additionally, considering the totality of the surrounding circumstances,
including the fact that "plaintiff went through the metal detector and triggered
its alarm" and the necessity for determining whether "there were any
impermissible, and potentially dangerous, object[s] being brought into the
courtroom" that were secreted on plaintiff's person, the judge found that "the
frisk . . . satisfie[d] the objectively reasonable standard under the Fourth
Amendment such that plaintiff cannot sustain a claim under the Federal Civil
Rights Act." Further, according to the judge, for the same reasons, plaintiff's
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claim against Officer Logothetis under the CRA failed as a matter of law because
"qualified immunity is an affirmative defense and would be applicable based
upon the objectively reasonable basis" for the frisk. See Brown v. State, 230
N.J. 84, 97-98 (2017) (explaining that in suits brought under the CRA, "[t]he
affirmative defense of qualified immunity protects government officials from
personal liability for discretionary actions taken in the course of their public
responsibilities, 'insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established
statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have
known.'" (quoting Morillo v. Torres, 222 N.J. 104, 116 (2015))).
Regarding liability by "the entity defendants" under § 1983 or the CRA,
the judge noted that although a local government entity could be held liable
under limited circumstances "for the deprivation of constitutional rights by its
employees or officers," such circumstances did not exist here. See Stomel v.
City of Camden, 192 N.J. 137, 145-46 (2007) (explaining that "a municipality
generally cannot be held liable in a § 1983 action for the acts of employees under
the principle of respondeat superior" unless "an official municipal 'policy or
custom, whether made by its lawmakers or by those whose edicts or acts may
fairly be said to represent official policy,' is the cause of the constitutional
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deprivation" (quoting Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694
(1978))).
Finding "no evidence to support any claim against the municipal entities,"
the judge explained:
[t]here is no evidence on the record to state the Hazlet
Police Department or Hazlet Township implemented a
policy, ordinance, regulation, or any of the sort to
promote unreasonable searches. Even when viewing
[the] evidence in [the] light most favorable to . . .
plaintiff, there is no dispute of fact which should be
submitted as a jury question. The plaintiff does not
point to any policy, nor does she cite any ordinance
which could possibly lead to a jury question of whether
[the] Police Department and Hazlet Township officially
adopted an unconstitutional policy. Without more
evidence, summary judgment should be granted for the
Police Department and Hazlet Township.
Further,
[t]here is no evidence to show the officer’s decision –
or the manner in which she carried out the frisk – was
sanction[ed] or ordered by the municipal entities.
There is no evidence of any policy, either formally or
informally, adopted by them as to the decision by
Officer Logothetis or the manner in which she carried
out the frisk. There is only plaintiff’s blank allegation
as put forth in her complaint. Although plaintiff states
she "alleged a custom or policy," . . . an allegation alone
is not sufficient.
Likewise, as to the Chief, the judge stated plaintiff cannot point to any
facts that would establish a claim for "supervisor[y] liability" under the
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"'recklessness or deliberate indifference' standard . . . applicable to plaintiff['s]
claim" under § 1983 or the CRA. See Schneider v. Simonini, 163 N.J. 336, 373-
74 (2000) (adopting a "recklessness or deliberate indifference" standard for
evaluating supervisory liability under § 1983 that requires a plaintiff to
"establish 'that: (1) the supervisor . . . failed to supervise the subordinate official;
(2) a causal link exists between the failure to . . . supervise and the violation of
the plaintiff's rights; and (3) the failure to . . . supervise amounts to deliberate
indifference' or recklessness" (quoting Hinshaw v. Doffer, 785 F.2d 1260, 1263
(5th Cir.1986))). According to the judge, there was "[n]o evidence plac[ing the
Chief] at the courthouse nor being aware of the events that day." "Plaintiff
makes conclusory statements, but conclusory statements are insufficient to
overcome a motion for summary judgment."
II.
In this ensuing appeal, plaintiff argues the judge erred in granting
summary judgment to defendants. We review a grant of summary judgment
applying the same standard used by the trial court. Steinberg v. Sahara Sam's
Oasis, LLC, 226 N.J. 344, 366 (2016). That standard is well-settled:
if the evidence of record—the pleadings, depositions,
answers to interrogatories, and affidavits—"together
with all legitimate inferences therefrom favoring the
non-moving party, would require submission of the
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issue to the trier of fact," then the trial court must deny
the motion. On the other hand, when no genuine issue
of material fact is at issue and the moving party is
entitled to a judgment as a matter of law, summary
judgment must be granted.
[Ibid. (citations omitted) (quoting R. 4:46-2(c)).]
If there is no genuine issue of material fact, we must "decide whether the
trial court correctly interpreted the law." DepoLink Ct. Rep. & Litig. Support
Servs. v. Rochman, 430 N.J. Super. 325, 333 (App. Div. 2013) (quoting
Massachi v. AHL Servs., Inc., 396 N.J. Super. 486, 494 (App. Div. 2007)). We
review issues of law de novo and accord no deference to the trial judge's legal
conclusions. Nicholas v. Mynster, 213 N.J. 463, 478 (2013).
Applying this standard, we agree with the judge's determination that there
were no disputed issues of material fact and defendants were entitled to
summary judgment as a matter of law. Plaintiff maintains that she was
"subjected to an unreasonable search for weapons" "in violation of [42 U.S.C. §
1983.]" She asserts that the injury she suffered was the result of official policy
or custom and "indifferen[ce] to providing the necessary court training to
Officer Logothetis prior to the incident," exposing the municipality, the police
department, and the Chief to liability under § 1983. She further contends that
"Officer Logothetis was not entitled to qualified immunity" at the summary
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judgment stage given the material disputed facts surrounding "the
reasonableness component" of the search.
However, our Supreme Court has recognized that in cases involving §
1983 claims, the "doctrine of qualified immunity shields law enforcement
officers from personal liability for civil rights violations when the officers are
acting under color of law in the performance of official duties" unless their
performance was not "objectively reasonable." Morillo, 222 N.J. at 107-08.
Determining whether the conduct was objectively reasonable "requires a careful
balancing of the nature and quality of the intrusion on the individual 's Fourth
Amendment interests against the countervailing governmental interests at
stake." Graham, 490 U.S. at 396. "The inquiry requires analyzing the totality
of the circumstances." Plumhoff v. Rickard, 572 U.S. 765, 774 (2014).
Here, we agree with the judge that based on the evidence in the record,
Officer Logothetis's conduct was objectively reasonable, and plaintiff failed to
point to any facts that dictated otherwise. Moreover, contrary to plaintiff's
contention, this reasonableness determination obviated a finding of "willful
misconduct" to vitiate immunity under the TCA. See N.J.S.A. 59:3-14
(providing an exception to immunity for public employees under the TCA where
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a public official's conduct "was outside the scope of his employment or
constituted a crime, actual fraud, actual malice or willful misconduct").
We also reject plaintiff's contention that neither the township nor the
police department were entitled to summary judgment. "A local governmental
entity is deemed a 'person' under [§] 1983 only where the action alleged to be
unconstitutional 'implements or executes a policy statement, ordinance,
regulation, or decision officially adopted and promulgated by that body's
officers.'" Bayer v. Twp. of Union, 414 N.J. Super. 238, 270 (App. Div. 2010)
(quoting Monell, 436 U.S. at 690). "It is not, however, liable for the actions of
its employees solely on a theory of respondeat superior." Ibid. "It is only when
'execution of a government's policy or custom . . . inflicts the injury that the
government as an entity is responsible under § 1983.'" Ibid. (quoting Monell,
436 U.S. at 694).
"[T]here are limited circumstances in which an allegation of a 'failure to
train' can be the basis for liability under § 1983." City of Canton v. Harris, 489
U.S. 378, 387 (1989). "[T]he inadequacy of police training may serve as the
basis for § 1983 liability only where the failure to train amounts to deliberate
indifference to the rights of persons with whom the police come into contact."
Id. at 388. "Only where a failure to train reflects a 'deliberate' or 'conscious'
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choice by a municipality . . . can a city be liable for such failure under § 1983."
Id. at 389. To survive summary judgment on a failure to train theory, a plaintiff
"must present evidence that the need for more or different training was so
obvious and so likely to lead to the violation of constitutional rights that the
policymaker's failure to respond amounts to deliberate indifference." Brown v.
Muhlenberg Twp., 269 F.3d 205, 216 (3d Cir. 2001).
Here, we agree with the judge that plaintiff failed to present any evidence
to support a failure to train theory and her conclusory statements are inadequate
to defeat summary judgment. "Bare conclusory assertions, without factual
support in the record, will not defeat a meritorious application for summary
judgment." Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.J. v. State, 425 N.J. Super. 1,
32 (App. Div. 2012); accord Puder v. Buechel, 183 N.J. 428, 440-41 (2005)
("[C]onclusory and self-serving assertions by one of the parties are insufficient
to overcome the [summary judgment] motion."). "The opponent must 'come
forward with evidence' that creates a genuine issue of material fact." Horizon
Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.J., 425 N.J. Super. at 32 (quoting Brill, 142 N.J. at
529). Plaintiff failed to do that here.
Likewise, to the extent plaintiff appears to assert claims of negligent
supervision and failure to investigate on the part of the Chief, such claims also
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fail. The deliberate indifference test also applies to claims of "negligent
supervision and failure to investigate." Groman v. Twp. of Manalapan, 47 F.3d
628, 637 (3d Cir. 1995). "'[D]eliberate indifference' is a stringent standard of
fault, requiring proof that a municipal actor disregarded a known or obvious
consequence of his action." Connick v. Thompson, 563 U.S. 51, 61 (2011)
(quoting Bd. of the Cnty. Comm’rs v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 410 (1997)).
To sustain a claim under those theories, "the plaintiff must identify
specific acts or omissions of the supervisor that evidence deliberate indifference
and persuade the court that there is a 'relationship between the "identified
deficiency" and the "ultimate injury."'" Brown, 269 F.3d at 216. To that end,
"it is not enough for a plaintiff to argue that the constitutionally cognizable
injury would not have occurred if the superior had done more than he or she
did." Sample v. Diecks, 885 F.2d 1099, 1118 (3d Cir. 1989). Here, plaintiff has
failed to establish the requisite elements. Plaintiff failed to present evidence of
any complaints other than her own, and failed to point to any facts to indicate
that the Chief was even aware of plaintiff's encounter with Officer Logothetis
on the date in question.9 See Schneider, 163 N.J. at 373-74 ("The knowledge
9
A claim of supervisory liability may also be predicated on the supervisor
"participat[ing] in violating the plaintiff's rights, direct[ing] others to violate
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element of a plaintiff's case requires proof that the supervisor was aware of facts
from which an inference could be drawn that the subordinate was acting in an
unconstitutional manner that carried a substantial risk of causing serious harm.")
We also reject plaintiff's puzzling claim that she "was greatly prejudiced"
by the late production of the video depicting the search. First, at her request,
the judge did not consider the video in making his decision. Second, plaintiff's
claim of surprise is belied by her acknowledgement in her Notice of Claim that
there were cameras onsite recording the encounter. 10
them, or, as the person in charge, ha[ving] knowledge of and acquiesc[ing] in
[the] subordinates' violations." A.M. ex rel. J.M.K. v. Luzerne Cnty. Juvenile
Det. Ctr., 372 F.3d 572, 586 (3d Cir. 2004). The record does not support a
finding of liability on this basis either.
10
The judge correctly rejected plaintiff's apparent claim, reiterated on appeal,
that her failure to consent to a video recording of her entering the municipal
courtroom constituted yet another constitutional violation. The judge noted that
the claim was "not part of her complaint . . . nor a basis for her allegations."
Moreover, according to the judge, "there is no viable cause of action against any
of the defendants" based upon them "recording those at the entrance, or within
the public areas of the municipal court building" nor "is there a potential claim
based upon the lack of a sign indicating [same]." See Tarus v. Borough of Pine
Hill, 189 N.J. 497, 512 (2007) (condoning "videotaping of public proceedings"
and acknowledging that "[t]he broad and pervasive use of video cameras a t
public events evidences a societal acceptance of their use in public fora"); see
also Key v. Compass Bank, Inc., 826 So. 2d 159, 165 (Ala. Civ. App. 2001)
("Normally, there is no liability for photographing a person in a public place.") .
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To the extent we have not specifically addressed plaintiff's remaining
arguments, we deem them without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a
written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).
Affirmed.
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