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: NO.
vs.
: CIVIL ACTION
COMPLAINT
I.
INTRODUCTION
1.
Plaintiff Barry Delagol brings this civil action for intentional invidious gender and
race discrimination by the defendants against the Plaintiff under 42 USC 1983 for a deprivation
under color of state law of Plaintiffs Fourteenth Amendment equal protection and due porcess
rights as secured by the United States Constitution. Plaintiff brings a direct action under the
equal protection Articles of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Constitution. Plaintiff seeks a
jury trial and the a ward of all relief the law and/or equity allows to make the Plaintiff whole
under the circumstances; such relief as, but not limited to compensatory, consequential, nominal,
actual, and special or punitive damages, reasonable attorney fees, litigation costs, and
reinstatement to employment as a police officer with any and all promotional or employment
opportunities existing following the Plaintiffs termination, which he might have been available
for but was not made available to the Plaintiff due to the wrongful race/gender based
discriminatory termination by defendant Charles Ramsey and/or the City of Philadelphia, and/or
a Doe defendant.
2.
The relief Plaintiff seeks is provided under The 1964 Civil Rights Act, (42 U.S.C.
1983 et seq.) and to include but not limited to Section 1988, for a deprivation under color of
state law of equal protection rights and the prohibition of discrimination because of race and
gender.
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3.
The relief Plaintiff also seeks is permitted under the laws of and to include the
The law prohibiting discrimination because of race and gender was clearly
established at the time of the Defendants acts, action and/or omission(s) to act. The Defendants
action was intentional, malicious, a violation of law and done for independent and joint personal
reasons to discriminate against whites and males under a policy practice or custom of the City of
Philadelphia to treat differently white and males when they are in similar circumstances as
minority males and female persons. When the defendants acted against the Plaintiff the
Defendant knew they would deprive the plaintiff of protected constitutional rights, case injury or
damages to the Plaintiff, or likely would cause injury or damages and/or a deprivation to the
Plaintiffs Constitution, legal or regulatory rights as secured by federal and state law.
5.
As is more fully set forth below in detail, the Defendants, for themselves, the
group and at all times related to the Plaintiffs claims that are raised in this complaint, acted
independent and jointly with one another, for a personal or group goal, under color of state law,
by virtue of their governmental employment or being a governmental entity, to achieve a
common goal for a legitimate reason through illegitimate means, or an illegal purpose with
legitimate means.
6.
The Defendant at all times relevant to the Plaintiff claims acted intentionally,
recklessly, maliciously, with gross negligence, and in reckless disregard of and/or in deliberate
indifference to the Plaintiffs rights and in violation of the law prohibiting race and/or gender
based discrimination.
7.
The Defendants at all times related to the claims raised in the complaint, knew or
were on notice that their conduct would result or likely result in a deprivation of federally
protected rights, of rights guaranteed under Commonwealth law and Constitution, and that their
conduct would subject them to liability under the law and include but not limit the law to The
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 1983 et seq.).
8.
As is more fully set forth below in detail, the Defendants while acting under color
of state law and a policy, practice or custom, which is more fully identify below in detail and
includes a failure to supervise and/or train its employees which omission would or likely would
lead to a deprivation of rights, intentionally recklessly, maliciously, and/or in reckless disregard
or deliberate indifference of Plaintiff's rights deprived the Plaintiff of said constitutional and
statutory rights as are secured by law and constitution; such rights as: the rights to free speech,
petition clause, due process, and equal protection.
II.
JURISDICTION / VENUE
9.
Jurisdiction for the District Court to hear this action is afforded to the District
Court pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983 et seq., The Civil Rights Act of 1964, its amendments and
under 28 U.S.C. 1331 (Federal Question) and 28 U.S.C. 1343 (3) and (4) (Civil Rights).
10.
Venue properly lies in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania because Plaintiffs causes of actions herein pleaded accrued in; the acts occurred
in, and the defendants reside in Philadelphia County which is the venue established for the
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1367 so the District Court can resolve all concurrent state
ancillary, pendent or supplemental claims.
III.
PARTIES
11.
Barry Delagol is the Plaintiff, he resides in Bucks County and he is a white male
The City acts though the Acts, Policies, Rules, Ordinances, and Laws from the
action of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Congress of the United
States, City of Philadelphia Council, and heads offices that are elected and/or appointed to City
Departments and positions such as but not limited to the Mayor, City Counsel, Police and Fire
Commissioners or other Heads of City Departments.
15.
The three John and Jane Does identities are not known specifically by the
Plaintiff; however, Plaintiff believes the Does are official of the City of Philadelphia who are
natural person and are African-American.
IV.
MATREIAL FACTS
16.
On or about May 7, 2013 the Plaintiff was terminated from employment as a City
police officer, and as such Plaintiff obtained employment were the employment could not be
ended without just cause or in violation law or constitutional right.
18.
Plaintiff at the time of termination had 15 years service with the City of
Philadelphia Police Department; further, Plaintiff had no disciplinary history, and he was
assigned to the K-9 Unit where he was gifted a dog by the City.
19.
Plaintiff was terminated for alleged on-duty sexual misconduct with a female.
20.
Plaintiffs dog (property) was removed from him on direction of a Doe, Ramsey
and the City. The property was taken from Plaintiff without cause, and/or valid or adequate due
process of law.
21.
Defendant Charles Ramsey is the person that terminated the Plaintiff from
employment.
22.
Ramsey is the Police Commissioner and he was the Police Commissioner when
Charles Ramsey acted under color of state law to terminate the Plaintiff. Indeed,
to terminate the Plaintiff on or about May 2013, Charles Ramsey used the title, authority and
powers of the City of Philadelphia Police Commissioners Office.
24.
Charles Ramsey is now, and was when Plaintiff was terminated, the highest
Defendant Ramsey did not use any established method to weigh the gravity of the
allegation facts for determination what might be the punishment on the alleged misconduct.
26.
shocks the conscience when compared to prior decision by Ramsey and the City of Philadelphia
to not terminate employees of color or other minority status and gender for substantially similar
conduct.
27.
The City of Philadelphia supported and upheld Charles Ramseys decision and act
to terminate the Plaintiff from employment as a police officer on the allegation the Plaintiff had
engaged in sexual misconduct with a female while on duty.
28.
Plaintiff believes and therefore asserts that Mayor Michael Nutter, Deputy Mayor
Everett Gillison, and others within the City Administration, that may make policy or are final
decision-makers also, reviewed Charles Ramseys action to terminate the Plaintiff, and they
either acquiesced to the decision and basis for it, or they chose to support and uphold Charles
Ramseys decision and basis for the City of Philadelphia to terminate the Plaintiff under the
allegation of sexual misconduct on duty with a female.
29.
Mayor Nutter, Deputy Everett Gillison, and other Heads of City Departments that
reviewed, and/or either acquiesced or supported Charles Ramseys termination of the Plaintiff,
are not white but African American and all have authority to stop the Plaintiffs termination or
reinstate the Plaintiff.
30.
Others that are or were similarly situated as the Plaintiff but who are not white
were not terminated from employment with the City by the City of Philadelphia or Charles
Ramsey, when these others were alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct with a female
while on duty.
31.
Jerold Bates is a police employee and African American. Bates is alleged to have
engaged in sexual conduct with the female employee. Bates admits having said sexual contact
with a female employee. Charles Ramsey has knowledge of the allegation against Bates. Ramsey
has not terminated Bates. Indeed, Ramey has taken no disciplinary action against Bates.
32.
under the supervision and command of Charles Ramsey; while such, Blackburn was alleged to
have engaged in sexual misconduct towards females while on and off duty. Charles Ramsey did
not discipline or terminate Blackburn.
33.
In 2015, the City of Philadelphia itself alleges that several fireman (around 12 to
15) employed with the City Fire Department engaged in sexual misconduct on duty with another
female firefighter, which conduct the City described as a pattern of sexual misconduct. The
City has not terminated any of the fireman.
COUNT I
42 USC 1983 - Fourteenth Amendment
Equal Protection Race/Gender Discrimination
Due Process
Plaintiff vs Ramsey and Does
34.
Plaintiff incorporates here all preceding paragraphs and as if each were repeated
verbatim.
35.
36.
Charles Ramsey does not belong to the protected race class as Plaintiff.
37.
38.
Charles Ramsey and the City of Philadelphia by their own invidious dislike of the
white race use their authority and City or Police Department disciplinary rules, policy, practice
or custom to treated non-minoritys such as and to include the Plaintiff more harshly, differently
and less favorably than how minority non-white employees are treated under similarly situations
as the Plaintiff.
39.
Charles Ramsey under color of state law on or about April and/or May 7, 2013
40.
because of Plaintiff's gender or race, and/or by Ramsey and the Does animus for Plaintiff's
gender or race, which animus includes but is not limited to a goal of denying employment and/or
to subject non-minorities to a different more hash employment disciplinary rules and/or
condition for what is acceptable on or off duty conduct.
41.
As a result of Ramseys the Citys and Does acts, action or omissions, which are
stated in the paragraphs above, the Plaintiff sustained economic damages, such economic
damages as lost wages and the value of the benefits attendant to the employment, which damages
is in excess of one million dollars.
42.
Plaintiffs property gifted to him, such as his dog, was taken by the Does, Ramsey
and the City without valid or adequate due process notice and hearing being afforded pre or post
taking of the property.
43.
As a result of Ramseys the Citys and Does acts, action or omissions, which are
stated in the paragraphs above, the Plaintiff suffered personal injuries, such as emotional
anguish, loss of society and the enjoyment of life, which injuries are from the different treatment
by Ramsey and the Does. Plaintiff injuries include but are not limited to sleep, weight and mood
changes, loss of hair, upset stomach, frequent headaches, embarrassment, humiliation, and
extreme emotional distress that manifested into the aforementioned physical conditions, which
distress and injuries is from the Defendants conduct, which conduct is beyond that conduct
society is willing to accept.
44.
The direct result and/or the proximate or legal cause of Plaintiff damages and/or
injuries is defendant Ramseys and the Does unequal treatment and/or invidious dislike for
Plaintiff and Plaintiffs race and/or gender, and the deprivation under color of state law of
Plaintiffs federally secure rights.
45.
The direct result of the deprivation of equal rights by Ramsey and/or the Does or
their invidious dislike for Plaintiff and Plaintiffs race and/or gender is the proximate or legal
cause of Plaintiff damages and/or injuries.
46.
Defendant Ramseys and the Does deprived the Plaintiff federally secure rights
to equal protection under the law and they deprived the Plaintiff of federal protected rights,
immunities, and privileges under color of state law.
COUNT II
42 USC Section 1983 Fourteenth Amendment- Monell
Policy, Practice, Custom to Treat Unequally because of Race / Gender
Failure To Supervisor Or Adequately Train
Plaintiff v. City Of Philadelphia
47.
Plaintiff repeats here all preceding paragraphs and as if each was repeated
verbatim.
48.
The City of Philadelphia through Mayor Michael Nutter hired Ramsey as Police
Commissioner.
49.
At the time the City hired Ramsey, Ramsey already had deprived persons of
constitutional rights by ordering the arrest of hundreds of persons that were engaged in lawful
free speech activity in Pershing Part, Washington D.C.
50.
The City of Philadelphia, Charles Nutter, Everett Gillison and others review
The City of Philadelphia, Charles Nutter, and Everett Gillison supervise Charles
52.
treatment of police employees which include the Plaintiff, and for Ramsey to treat employees
and to include the Plaintiff less favorably and more harshly (differently) then how similarly
situate minorities employees are treated.
53.
Michael Nutter is and was the Mayor, and Everett Gillison is and was Deputy
Mayor, for the times before during and after Plaintiffs termination.
54.
The City of Philadelphia, Charles Nutter, and Everett Gillison are provided notice
of employee terminations.
55.
The City of Philadelphia, Charles Nutter, and Everett Gillison had notice of or
knowledge about Plaintiffs termination when or shortly after the time when Plaintiff was
terminated by Charles Ramsey, which was on or about June 7, 2013 and notice of intent to
terminate was on or about May 7, 2013.
56.
The City of Philadelphia, Charles Nutter, Everett Gillison had at the time of
Plaintiffs termination the authority and power to stop Charles Ramey and/or Plaintiffs
termination, and/or for any City of Philadelphia employee that was to be terminated. .
57.
The City of Philadelphia, Charles Nutter, Everett Gillison had at the time of
Plaintiffs termination the authority and power to reverse, end or correct the Plaintiffs
termination, which termination is more harsh disciplinary treatment on a non-minority City of
Philadelphian employees than is imposed on a minority employee by Ramsey or the Fire
Commissioner.
58.
Plaintiff's unequal treatment is from a policy, practice of custom of the City, and
The City of Philadelphia, Ramsey, Nutter and Gillison have a past practice to
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condone and/or acquiesce to a deprivation of equal rights because of race and for race
discrimination within the Police Department and by police personnel, supervisor and to include
police commissioner Charles Ramsey.
60.
The City, Nutter, Ramsey and Gillison have done little if anything at all to end
unequal treatment because of race or gender discrimination within the police department and/or
the use of police department disciplinary system to accomplish the deprivation of constitutional
rights, such as equal protection rights. For example, three white male police officers that
opposed racism in the police department were terminated. In May 2008 a jury determined the
officers terminations were due to discrimination. The City and Nutter did not rehire the officers
after the jury verdict. Indeed, the City and Nutter refused to rehire the one of the officers that
asked to be rehired.
61.
The City, Nutter, Ramsey, and Gillison also have not taken adequate action to
stop the use of the disciplinary systems to facilitate racism and/or unequal treatment. For
example, no action was taken in and after May 14, 2008 against supervisor (William Colorulo)
and/or other police officer that were engaged in the unequal protection - race discrimination
against the three white police officer that were terminated for opposing the unequal treatment by
supervisor Colorulo against minority police officers.
62.
Mayor Nutter and Deputy Mayor Gillison are final decision-makers for the City
of Philadelphia.
63.
Ramsey, Nutter, Gillison and other Heads of City Department that reviewed
Plaintiff termination, knew or should have known from the Pershing Park matter and prior
misuse of the disciplinary system of the City Departments that it was likely Charles Ramsey
and/or the Citys disciplinary systems by various City Departments might result in a deprivation
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of constitutional equal protection rights without more training and adequate supervision, and that
without such Ramsey or the systems could facilitate further deprivation of constitutional equal
protection rights and illegal race or gender discrimination.
64.
Ramsey, Nutter, Gillison and other Heads of City Department that reviewed
Plaintiffs termination, knew or should have known the Plaintiffs termination by Ramsey was
further use the City Police Departments disciplinary systems to accomplish a deprivation of
constitutional fourteenth amendment right to equal right and was race or gender discrimination.
65.
The motivating reason for the Citys indifferent and unequal treatment by Ramsey
and the City is Plaintiff's gender or race, and/or Ramseys and the Does animus for Plaintiff's
gender or race, which animus and policy, practice or custom includes but is not limited to the
goal of subjecting non-minorities to a different more hash employment disciplinary rules and/or
what may be considered acceptable on duty conduct for employees.
66.
Ramsey, and/or the aforementioned policy, practice and custom that is demonstrated in the
preceding paragraphs, the Plaintiff sustained economic damages, such as lost wages and the
value of the benefits attendant to the employment, which damages is in excess of one million
dollars.
67.
Ramsey, and/or the aforementioned policy, practice and custom that is demonstrated in the
preceding paragraphs, the Plaintiff sustained or suffered personal injuries, such as emotional
anguish, loss of society and the enjoyment of life, which injuries are from the different treatment
by Ramsey and the Does. Plaintiff injuries include but are not limited to sleep, weight and mood
changes, loss of hair, upset stomach, frequent headaches, embarrassment, humiliation, and
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extreme emotional distress that manifested into the aforementioned physical conditions, which
distress and injuries is from the Defendants conduct, which conduct is beyond that conduct
society is willing to accept.
COUNT III
COMONWEALTH CONSTITION- ARTICLE I SECTION I
INHERENT RIGHTS - EQUAL PROTECTION
Plaintiff vs Charles Ramsey and Does
68.
Plaintiff repeats all prior paragraphs here and incorporates them as if each is
repeated verbatim.
69.
constitution right to equal protection of the law, Defendants Ramsey and the Does caused
Plaintiff to suffer economic damages and personal injury.
70.
Under Commonwealth case Supreme Court case law, such as the Stander,
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71.
Defendant Ramsey and the Does lacks any valid authority in law or otherwise to
treat unequally the Plaintiff than how others are treated by Ramsey, for similar allegations of
sexual misconduct while on duty.
72.
Defendant Ramsey and the Does in violation of the Plaintiff constitutional right
deprived Plaintiff of his article I section 1 Pennsylvania constitutional inherent right to equal
protection under the law.
COUNT IV
Pennsylvania Constitution, Art. I, Sec. 1, 26, and 28.
Inherent Rights, Equal Protection and Reservation of Powers
No Discrimination by Political Subdivisions
Plaintiff vs City of Philadelphia
73.
The previously stated paragraphs are all incorporated here as though they were
repeated verbatim.
74.
The City of Philadelphia is not exempt from but subject to the Commonwealth of
Article I of the state charter for the Pennsylvania Constitution provides, for the
entitled Inherent rights of mankind, provides that All men are born equally free and
independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of
enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and
reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness. PA. CONST. art. I, 1
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78.
In 2014, the City of Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter, Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison
and the Fir commissioner knew of and investigated but did not terminate employment of male
African American City of Philadelphia employees that were alleged to have engaged in on-duty
sexual conduct with a female African America firefighter.
79.
The termination of Plaintiff and the remaining describe adverse action was
accomplished using or misusing the high powers covered on the defendants which power they
possessed and used as appointed and/or elected persons, but used contrary to Plaintiffs
reservation of rights under Article Section 25 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
80.
N[o] political subdivision (which the City of Philadelphia is) shall deny any person the
enjoyment of any civil right or discriminate against any person in the exercise of any civil right.
PA. CONST. art. I, 26 (reading Neither the Commonwealth nor any political subdivision
thereof shall deny to any person the enjoyment of any civil right, nor discriminate against any
person in the exercise of any civil right.).
81.
and 26 rights, , the plaintiff sustained economic damages and personal injury; the proximate
cause for Plaintiffs economic damages and personal injury is the defendants deprivation of the
Plaintiffs Article I Section and 26 rights.
82.
Plaintiff sustained economic damages form the loss of employment and the wages
embarrassment, and loss of society and enjoyment of society from the Defendants deprivation of
said rights.
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Respectfully submitted,
BY
/s/ ___________________
Brian M. Puricelli, Esq.
Attorneys for Plaintiff
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