Case: Hill v. Stanek

0:11-cv-03542 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: Dec. 7, 2011

Closed Date: 2012

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On December 7, 2011, a political activist and supporter of Occupy Minnesota filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota under § 1983 against the County of Hennepin. The plaintiff, represented by a public interest law firm, asked the court for injunctive relief revoking the notice of trespassing and permitting the plaintiff to enter government property without interference, and for compensatory and punitive damages, claiming that the defendants had arrested her witho…

On December 7, 2011, a political activist and supporter of Occupy Minnesota filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota under § 1983 against the County of Hennepin. The plaintiff, represented by a public interest law firm, asked the court for injunctive relief revoking the notice of trespassing and permitting the plaintiff to enter government property without interference, and for compensatory and punitive damages, claiming that the defendants had arrested her without probable cause on account of her political activism. Specifically, the plaintiff claimed that she was a legal observer for an Occupy Minnesota protest standing on a public sidewalk outside a government building when the defendants arrested her for trespassing.

Two days prior to the incident in dispute, security for the Hennepin County government building served a "trespass notice" upon the defendant resulting from writing political slogans in chalk on government property. The notice barred the plaintiff from Hennepin County government property for 365 days, or until the notice was resolved on appeal to the security manager. Two days later, while the plaintiff was serving as a legal observer for the National Lawyers Guild, Hennepin County security guards approached her and told her that she could not enter the property because of her prior trespass notice. She claimed that at that moment, two deputy sheriffs arrived and placed her under arrest for trespassing. She spent seven hours in county jail before she was released on bail. She was charged with trespass, but the prosecution dropped the charge at the plaintiff's second court appearance.

On January 18, 2012, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed her case, because she had reached a settlement with the defendants. According to news reports, the defendants agreed to pay the plaintiff $15,000 and revoked her ban from government property. In return, the plaintiff agreed not to chalk or otherwise deface government property. Additionally, the defendants agreed to change their policy for appeals from bans from county government property. Now, if the county wants someone barred from the property for longer than 45 days, that person can appeal and must get a hearing within 10 days. If the hearing official agrees with the trespass order, she must issue a written decision justifying her action.

Summary Authors

Nick Kabat (4/13/2014)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12918519/parties/hill-v-stanek/


Judge(s)

Graham, Jeanne J. (Minnesota)

Montgomery, Ann D. (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Kushner, Jordan S. (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Beitz, Toni A (Minnesota)

Judge(s)

Graham, Jeanne J. (Minnesota)

Montgomery, Ann D. (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

0:11-cv-03542

Docket

Jan. 26, 2012

Jan. 26, 2012

Docket
1

0:11-cv-03542

Verified Complaint

Dec. 7, 2011

Dec. 7, 2011

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12918519/hill-v-stanek/

Last updated Feb. 6, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 40060679.) assigned to Judge Ann D. Montgomery per Civil Rights List and referred to Magistrate Judge Jeanne J. Graham, filed by Melissa Lynn Hill. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet) (kt) (Entered: 12/07/2011)

Dec. 7, 2011

Dec. 7, 2011

Clearinghouse

Summons Issued as to All Defendants. (kt)

Dec. 7, 2011

Dec. 7, 2011

PACER
2

STIPULATION Regarding Defendants Time to Respond to Complaint by all parties. (Beitz, Toni) Modified on 12/23/2011 (kt). (Entered: 12/23/2011)

Dec. 23, 2011

Dec. 23, 2011

PACER
3

ORDER re 2 Stipulation filed by Kirk Simmons, John Doe, Bill Columbien, Busch, C.C. Sedesky, Jane Roe, Hennepin, County of, J. Steffens, Richard Stanek, All Defendants shall have until and including 1/6/12 to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jeanne J. Graham on 12/27/11. (RLR) (Entered: 12/28/2011)

Dec. 28, 2011

Dec. 28, 2011

PACER
4

Joint ANSWER to Complaint by Busch, Bill Columbien, Hennepin, County of, C.C. Sedesky, Kirk Simmons, Richard Stanek, J. Steffens. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) A) (Beitz, Toni) (Entered: 01/06/2012)

Jan. 6, 2012

Jan. 6, 2012

PACER
5

NOTICE of Setting Hearing: Pretrial Conference set for 1/24/2012 09:30 AM in Judge's Chambers, Suite 346 (STP) before Magistrate Judge Jeanne J. Graham. (Attachments: # 1 Consent Form)(RLR) (Entered: 01/09/2012)

Jan. 9, 2012

Jan. 9, 2012

PACER
6

LETTER TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE by Melissa Lynn Hill . (Kushner, Jordan) (Entered: 01/13/2012)

Jan. 13, 2012

Jan. 13, 2012

PACER
7

ORDER CANCELLING PRETRIAL CONFERENCE. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jeanne J. Graham on 1/17/12. (RLR) (Entered: 01/17/2012)

Jan. 17, 2012

Jan. 17, 2012

PACER
8

STIPULATION of Dismissal by Busch, Bill Columbien, Hennepin, County of, Melissa Lynn Hill, C.C. Sedesky, Kirk Simmons, Richard Stanek, J. Steffens. (Beitz, Toni) (Entered: 01/18/2012)

Jan. 18, 2012

Jan. 18, 2012

PACER
9

ORDER DISMISSING CASE. Signed by Judge Ann D. Montgomery on 1/19/2012. (GS) (Entered: 01/19/2012)

Jan. 19, 2012

Jan. 19, 2012

PACER
10

JUDGMENT (Attachments: # 1 Civil-8th Circuit Pre-Hearing Conference Notice, # 2 Civil Notice - appeal)(jz) (Entered: 01/20/2012)

Jan. 20, 2012

Jan. 20, 2012

PACER
11

STIPULATION of Dismissal by Busch, Bill Columbien, John Doe, Hennepin, County of, Melissa Lynn Hill, Jane Roe, C.C. Sedesky, Kirk Simmons, Richard Stanek, J. Steffens. (Beitz, Toni) (Entered: 01/26/2012)

Jan. 26, 2012

Jan. 26, 2012

PACER
12

ORDER. Signed by Judge Ann D. Montgomery on 1/26/2012. (GS) (Entered: 01/26/2012)

Jan. 26, 2012

Jan. 26, 2012

PACER
13

ORDER for judgment of dismissal. Signed by Judge Ann D. Montgomery on 1/26/2012. (GS) (Entered: 01/26/2012)

Jan. 26, 2012

Jan. 26, 2012

PACER
14

JUDGMENT (Attachments: # 1 Civil-8th Circuit Pre-Hearing Conference Notice, # 2 Civil Notice - appeal)(jz) (Entered: 01/26/2012)

Jan. 26, 2012

Jan. 26, 2012

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Minnesota

Case Type(s):

Policing

Special Collection(s):

Occupy

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 7, 2011

Closing Date: 2012

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Political activist and supporter of Occupy Minnesota

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Hennepin County (Hennepin), County

Hennepin County (Hennepin), County

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Unreasonable search and seizure

Freedom of speech/association

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Amount Defendant Pays: 15,000

Content of Injunction:

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Issues

General:

Access to public accommodations - governmental

Failure to supervise

Failure to train

Over/Unlawful Detention

Pattern or Practice

Policing:

False arrest

Disability and Disability Rights:

Sidewalks