*1 (internal justified quota- acting been earlier to dilatory ... behavior.” Id. end omitted). case.6 tions is a harsh sanction and
Dismissal There was no abuse of discretion and the should be limited. See therefore its use dismissal is Affirmed. Elevator, Inc., 27 v. Golden United States Cir.1994). case, This how ever, where its use is presents a situation urged this
appropriate. Dr. Ladien has lawsiiit, the dismissal of his
Court to reverse propor was out of
arguing that the sanction agreed with Dr. Ladien might
tion. We
if a situation where the district this were single his case for act court had dismissed Hope Wudtke, Karl F. WUDTKE and C. However, as the record of violative conduct. Plaintiffs-Appellants, occasions, Ladien,
reveals, Dr. .v discovery process and violated abused the clearly Dr. the court’s articulated orders. DAVEL, al., Frederick et J. includes, lim but is not Ladien’s misconduct Defendants-Appellees. to, communicating following: direct ited No. 94-2864. separate ly with the court on two occasions— violation of the court’s the second direct Appeals, United States Court of so; failing to that he should not do order Seventh Circuit. (i.e., timely produce documents discoverable Argued Dec. 1996. hearing tapes); inaccurately grievance production verifying that his document Decided Oct. complete using thereafter undisclosed deposition; im documents as exhibits bring
properly threatening criminal if his settlement
charges against defendants met; attempting
demands were
directly in vio contact individual defendants Cumulatively
lation of court’s order.
these acts of warranted the dis misconduct
missal of his case. painfully apparent throughout
It is judge
the course of this ease the district imposing
“bent over backwards” to avoid litigation repeatedly
ultimate sanction. He
cautioned Dr. Ladien that his conduct was
inappropriate coming danger- and that it was
ously warranting Never- close dismissal.
theless, compelled Dr. Ladien seemed discovery process ignore
abuse the response
court’s orders. The district court’s disproportionate Dr.
was not Ladien’s con- Elevator, Inc., 27
duct. See Golden exceedingly pa- judge
303. The district and, fact, with Dr. would have
tient Ladien client). might uphold This 6. We he more reluctant tionable conduct is unknown to case, however, sanction of dismissal contumacious con- is not the because the record solely duct was the work of Dr. Ladien's attor- solely replete performed by Dr. with misconduct Anderson, ney. (noting See our Ladien himself. to affirm a where the sanc- reluctance dismissal *2 Wudtke, Butte, MT, pro Karl F. Heart se. WI, Wudtke, Shawano, pro C. se. Bohl, Schmidt, H. Pamela M. Charles John Spector, P. (argued), M. Elizabeth O’Neil Milwaukee, Dudek, Whyte, Hirschboeck & WI, Defendant-Appellees, for Frederick J. District, Shawanо-Gresham School Cantwell, Matthias, Kathryn William Michael Robbins. enough spawn that it was valuable (argued), -Robert W. tion Patrick Sullivan
W. Milwaukee, jealous conspiracy by elaborate outsiders Huff, Hayes, Godfrey, Braun & at the heart of this ease. that lie Bartel. WI, Defendant-Appellee, Thomas for Aschenbrener, Woods, Jr., plot began when Edison J. WI, Schmid, Shawno, Woods, Hope’s superiors began to increase Lama & *3 unfairly Syndergaard, sharply criticizing while Defendant-Appellees, John workload quality reports written for the first Valley the her Bank of Shawano. (similar reports accept- been time had found (argued), Kathryn T. Harvey M. Sheldon past). Hope begin- in able the McDermott, Brittan, Ditmars, Will & Jillisa Superintendent in ning March 1987 Davel IL, Emery, Chicago, for Amicus Curiae. increasingly embarked on an offensive course harassment, un- BAUER, WOOD, JR., beginning of sexual with DIANE and Before touching leg. of her hands and On WOOD, wanted Judges. P. Circuit story, pro- Hope as tells the Davel June WOOD, Judge. DIANE P. Circuit posed physical, relationship her and with day, forcibly touched her breasts. The next the Karl Wudtke believe compelled he her he kissed her. On June 16 defendants, of the numerous officials State fellatio, perform to vom- entities, which caused her Wisconsin, governmental various July July again 6 and 21 he coerced it. On bank, attorney, engaged private and a engage her to in oral sex. Davel used his deprive conspiracy to them in a massive compel cooperate. position оfficial her to in personal rights. Buried both business and assign He threatened that he would not her is claim that one their voluminous workload, that aide to alleviate her Davel, classroom defendant, the Frederick one hiring from prevent he would the District superintendent of the Shawano-Gresham Karl, approve' he would refuse to (the and that “District”), violated School District provisional special her edu- the renewal of sexually assaulting rights by Hope’s civil (without which she would lose cation license employed by harassing her while she the engage in job) her if she did not sexual acts period discovery, lengthy District. After harassment, Hope with him. Because of this granted or court either dismissed the district physi- began to suffer severe emotional and on all summary judgment to the defendants psychiatrist diagnosed A her problems. cal agree this claims. We with of the Wudtkes’ problems, requiring having as “moderate everything except disposition respect with resignéd her In 1988 she from claim, medication.” Hope’s and harassment sexual assault teaching position. proceedings. for further which we remand complained about In late 1987the Wudtkes I Hope’s Davel’s behavior to de- workload and Syndergaard, a mem- light John who was background facts the fendant relate the We an Wudtkes, of trustees and ber of the District’s board to the since this most favorable (the Valley Bank of Shawano Rules officer of appeal dismissals under from “Bank”). (It 12(b)(6) they up April followed plain will that some and 56. be Cantwell, Kathryn with a letter to defendant vigorously contest or all of the defendants alleges president of the board. allegations, but we do of these time.) com- finally investigated her From that the District separately note that fact each consulting showing by plaint, without employed to 1988 Wudtke was Unsatisfied, the Wudtkes emotionally findings. dis- her its the District as a teacher Karl, complaints with -the EEOC and filed Her husband who next tressed students. Justice, elsewhere, to no avail. Department of unsuc- Wisconsin as a teacher had worked courts, last, filing the they turned- to the teaching position At cessfully applied for a work, 1989. Dis- present on December principal suit District in 1987. His success, however, lack of beekeeping heartened their couple’s with the large suspect that a came to agricultural research. Wudtkes and related business were adversaries percep- growing number and the Wudtkes’ their It is this business District, shadowy conspiracy employment implemented collaborating sex- principal them. A motive behind this con- means of excessive workload and (cid:127) harassment; ual spiracy was the defendants’ desire drive agribusiness out of their efforts (2) Wudtkes District, Conspiracy by Rob- acquire and to information about their beek- bins, deprive and Matthias to Karl of eeping research and methods. This was District, potential employment with the why, things, Synder- as the Wudtkes saw retaliation refusals gaard the Bank’s threatened to foreclose reporting or for her sexual advances mortgage on their home when fell be- misconduct; why payments, hind in their other defen- (3) Conspiracy by all defendants to de- steps dants to drive them into financial took prive the Wudtkes of their home and rain. property by raising mortgage pay- their house; foreclosing
ments and
on their
*4
II
and
vices for the
Wudtkes sued
Michael Robbins
[1]
their
Davel,
District),
federal
(Director
the
court
District, Cantwell,
William Matthias
of
complaint,
Special
Ser-
the
(4) Conspiracy by all
neybee/alfalfa seed/hay operation.
RICO violations to
of
potential
business interests in a ho-
defendants
deprive
the Wudtkes
to commit
(Assistant
sought compensatory
District),
damages
The Wudtkes
Administrator
for the
(a
$1,696,000,
conspiracy
puni-
on the
claims of
Syndergaard,
private
Thomas Bartel
at-
million,
Bank,
damages
nearly
tive
of
torney),
corporations
and treble
$17
the
unknown
1-
damages under RICO of more than
mil-
governmental
unknown
$10
United States
claims,
1-100,
conspiracy
lion. -In addition to the
subordinate
entities
unknown
alleged
the Wudtkes
various state law torts
governmental
State of Wisconsin
or subor-
Hope
1-100,
and
raised an individual
1983 claim
dinate entities
and unknown individu-
(We
arising out of Davel’s sexual assaults and
als John
Does
and Jane
1-100.
note in
prior
harassment
August
the end of
passing
pointless
that it is
to include lists of
court;
anonymous
defendants
federal
court,
receiving
mag-
after
district
the
type
placeholder
open
does not
the door
recommendation,
judge’s
istrate
an or-
issued
tо relation back under Fed.R.Civ.P.
see
9,1991,
July
granting summary
der on
judg-
Clark,
Delgado-Brunet v.
Davel,
except
ment
to all defendants
(7th Cir.1996),
Breier,
citing Sassi v.
granted partial summary
whom it
judgment,
Cir.1978),
nor can it oth-
denying
and
the Wudtkes’ countermotion for
help
plaintiff.) They
erwise
the
'asserted a
summary judgment.
In an
order Novem-
myriad
defendants,
against
of claims
these
27, 1992, Judge
ber
Stadtmueller addressed
which
Magistrate Judge
were detailed
Hope’s
supplemental
both
and Karl’s
claims.
May
Robert L. Bittner
1991 recom- He concluded that none of Karl’s could be
Judge
mendation to District
J.P. Stadtmuel-
reasons,
brought for various technical
ler. The claims included assertions of di-
permitted
pursue
that
would be
Constitution,
rect violations of the U.S.
battery,
claims for common law assault and
claims,
violations,
RICO
Hobbs Act
viola-
distress,
intentional
infliction of emotional
major
rights
tions of all of the
civil
statutes
privacy,
invasion of
and
because those claims
(42
1981, 1982,
§§
U.S.C.
all arose out of the same transactions and
1986),
variety
supplemental
and wide
gave
events that
rise to her
claims under Wisconsin law. From the 27-
success,
against
Hope’s
Davel.
limited as it
page complaint,
magistrate judge
which the
was,
was not to last. On June
indefinite,
“rambling,
described as
(to
Judge Rudolph
District
Randa
whom the
inartfully stated,”
he distilled
reassigned)
case had been
concluded that
following
conspiracies:
four
none of
federal claims
Davel
(1)
District,
Conspiracy by
upon
stated a claim
which -relief could be
Cantwеll, Robbins, Matthias, Synder-
granted,
supplemental
that
gaard,
deprive Hope
and Bartel to
of her
claims were time-barred. He
dismissed
suit,
governmental purpose, which
that kind of
and the Wudtkes
vestiges
last
pro
enough
trigger
court.
Fourth Amend
appeal
se to this
their
brought
protections.
respect
amicus
With
to her Four
of an
ment
enlisted
services
This court
claims,
so that
it
the Wudtkes’ behalf
teenth Amendment
curiae
acknowledged
the issues.
that
presentation
a full
court
had
obtаin
could
help
has
of both a
grateful
liberty
for the
amicus
the violation
interest and
areWe
interest,
if
response
request.
property
to our
but concluded that “even
furnished
deprived
liberty
Wudtke
of her
regard,
property in this
is no constitu
Ill
there
tional violation she
received due
court
Initially, it is clear that the district
It then observed that
had received
law.”
she
possible
correctly perceived
only
postdeprivation remedy
adequate
within
any legal merit
in this lawsuit with
Taylor,
Parrott
meaning
451 U.S.
against Davel
those of
Wudtke
were
(1981),
527, 101
S.Ct.
L.Ed.2d 420
harassment.
assault and sexual
for sexual
part
grounds
overruled in
on other
Dan
completely failed to substanti-
The Wudtkes
Williams,
iels v.
ever-
accusation of a broad and
ate their
(1986),
662, 664-65,
court took too narrow a view of
process, particularly
it character-
in the
Amendment claims when
substantive due
teenth
process
procedural
dealing
privacy rights.
as
due
com-
with
ized them
line of cases
nn
266,
Oliver,
only.
See,
plaints
e.g., Albright v.
510 U.S.
271-72,
807, 811-12, 127
114 S.Ct.
L.Ed.2d
proceed
оn her
1983
order
(1994) (plurality);
114
Planned Parenthood
claim, Hope
that Davel acted
needed
show
833, 849,
2791,
112
Casey,
v.
505 U.S.
S.Ct.
deprive
color of state law to
her of
under
2805-06,
(1992);
1063
constitutionally
raped
suspect
who
not in
acceptable
a
a murder
who was
are
remedies
judgment
predeprivation
custody.
for
remedies
his
was based on a
substitute
cases,
procedural
pro
violation of the victim’s substantive due
something that
for
was it
right
bodily integrity
substitute
right
cannot
cess
to
same
—the
tort. The
a substantive constitutional
self
Importantly,
invokes here.
Wudtke
which
only
theories under
conceivаble
rely
any
the Bennett court did not
affir
“postdepri
required
use the state
could be
might
duty
mative
the sheriff
have had
liberty
for her substantive
vation” remedies
custody.
victim
in his
The Su
had been
(a)
of state
claim would be
nonexhaustion
preme
that De
Court confirmed
Lanier
(b)
procedures
to state a constitu
failure
County
Shaney Winnebago
Department
v.
general exhaus
But there is no
tional claim.
998,
Services,
Social
489 U.S.
plaintiffs, Patsy
requirement for
1983
tion
(1989),
does not hold
496, 501,
Regents, 457
102
v. Board
right
“there
no constitutional
to be free
(1982),
172
L.Ed.2d
S.Ct.
by
from assault committed
state officials
exceptions
prisoner
are
certain
outside of
custodial
set
themselves
Morris,
here,
Wright v.
implicated
see
—
n.
ting.”
at-
117 S.Ct. at
—
(6th
Cir.),
denied,
cert.
111 F.3d
Similarly,
n. 7.
the Third Circuit held
—
U.S.-,
L.Ed.2d-
in Stoneking v.
Area
Dis
School
Bradford
(7th
(1997);
Hurley,
v.
Pratt
(3d
trict,
Cir.1989),
teach
leged easy, It is there-
anticipated by the State.
fore, district court’s for me to understand the
view of this situation. particular allega- sexual
Because of
tions, however, school in which plaintiffs superior, alleg-
superintendent and license
edly Wudtke’s teacher’s threatened job the constitutional claim consideration. On remand
merit further may be to better ascertain court able
district circumstances, and then deter-
the facts and support any basis
mine whether there claim.
Wudtke’s federal join I
Having expressed reservations these opinion. America,
UNITED STATES
Plaintiff-Appellee, Neng Vue,
Thong VANG
Defendants-Appellants. 96-4041,
Nos. 96-4105. Appeals, States Court of
United
Seventh Circuit. Sept.
Argued 1997. Oct.
Decided
