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Date: 01-08-2020
Case Style:
LUIS QUINTERO, vs JOSE M. DIAZ
Case Number: 3D18-2545
Judge: Monica Gordo
Court: Third District Court of Appeal State of Florida
Plaintiff's Attorney:
Defendant's Attorney:
Description:
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Quintero was the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of
Sweetwater during the time that Diaz was the City’s Mayor. On June 2, 2014,
Diaz—acting in his official capacity as City Mayor—terminated Quintero. The
termination letter stated, among other things, that Quintero had exhibited “poor
judgment” and had been “incompetent, negligent and inefficient in the
performance of [his] duties.” The letter was included as part of Quintero’s
personnel file with the City, which is a public record.
Based on the contents of the termination letter, Quintero sued Diaz for
defamation per se. Quintero alleged that the statements were false, and that Diaz
was aware of their falsity at the time he authored the letter. Quintero also claimed
that the statements were made in bad faith, with malice and with reckless disregard
for the truth.
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Diaz and Quintero filed competing motions for summary judgment.1
Quintero argued that Diaz was not entitled to absolute immunity because section
768.28(9)(a), Florida Statutes (2014), had abrogated the common law immunity
afforded to public officials in defamation per se claims. Diaz claimed that he was
entitled to absolute immunity and that section 768.28(9)(a) was inapplicable in this
case. The trial court granted Diaz’s motion and denied Quintero’s, finding that
Diaz was entitled to absolute immunity because he was acting in his official
capacity and section 768.29(9)(a) did not abrogate the common law privilege. This
appeal followed.
LEGAL ANALYSIS “The question of whether allegedly defamatory statements are absolutely
privileged is one of law to be decided by the court and consequently is ripe for
determination on motion for summary judgment.” Stephens v. Geoghegan, 702 So. 2d 517, 522 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997) (internal citation omitted). We review a trial
court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment de novo. Volusia Cty. v.
Aberdeen at Ormond Beach, L.P., 760 So. 2d 126, 130 (Fla. 2000).
The issue presented in this appeal is whether section 768.29(9)(a) abrogates
the absolute immunity provided by common law to public officials who make
statements within the scope of their duties when those statements are alleged to be
1 For purposes of summary judgment, the parties stipulated that the statements in the letter were false and that the letter legally constituted defamation per se.
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false, malicious, or badly motivated. We hold that section 768.29(9)(a) does not
abrogate such absolute immunity.
As the trial court aptly noted, Quintero’s argument overlooks the well-settled
fact that the defense of absolute immunity or privilege is a separate and distinct concept from sovereign immunity. Cobb’s Auto Sales, Inc. v. Coleman, 353 So.2d
922, 923 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978). The Cobb’s court explained why these legal
concepts are distinct:
The doctrine of sovereign immunity was a rule laid down by the ruling authority that he, because he was the ruler, could do no wrong and therefore was immune from any charges that he had done wrong. The legislature, by enacting Section 768.28, decided this common law doctrine should be removed from the law of Florida.
On the other hand, the defense of absolute privilege is based on consideration of the public interest:
The public interest requires that statements made by officials of all branches of government in connection with their official duties be absolutely privileged. Under our democratic system the stewardship of public officials is daily observed by the public. It is necessary that free and open explanations of their actions be made.
Id. at 923 (citing Hauser v. Urchisin, 231 So. 2d 6, 8 (Fla. 1970)).
Quintero argues that Diaz is exempt from immunity to suit under sovereign
immunity where Diaz’s statements were false, malicious or badly motivated.2
2 Section 768.28(9)(a), Florida Statutes, titled “Waiver of Sovereign Immunity in Tort Action,” states, in relevant part:
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Diaz counters that as a public official, he is entitled to absolute immunity for
statements that were made within the course of his duties as Mayor. We find
“[n]othing in the . . . language [of the sovereign immunity statute] suggests that the
legislature intended to abrogate or limit the absolute immunity which the common
law provides to public officials who make statements within the scope of their
duties.” Weeks v. Town of Palm Beach, 252 So. 3d 258, 261 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018) (quoting Blake v. City of Port Saint Lucie, 73 So. 3d 905, 906 (Fla. 4th DCA
2011)). “Common law immunity, provides even greater protection for public officials, shielding them from all statements made within the scope of their authority, ‘however false or malicious or badly motivated’ the statement may be.”
Brown v. McKinnon, 964 So. 2d 173, 175 (Shepherd, J., dissenting) (quoting
Hauser, 231 So. 2d at 8).
“[T]he controlling factor in deciding whether a public employee is
absolutely immune from actions for defamation is whether the communication was within the scope of the officer’s duties.” City of Miami v. Warlow, 403 So. 2d 414,
No officer, employee, or agent of the state or any of its subdivisions shall be held personally liable in tort or named as a party defendant in any action for any injury or damage suffered as a result of any act, event, or omission of action in the scope of her or his employment or function, unless such officer, employee, or agent acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights, safety, or property.
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416 (1981). The parties here have stipulated that Diaz was acting in his official
capacity as the Mayor of Sweetwater and within the scope of his duties when he
issued the termination letter. Thus, Diaz—as Mayor—enjoys absolute immunity
from statements contained in the termination letter as they are shielded by privilege
from suit.
Outcome: The trial court correctly granted summary judgment in favor of Diaz, as he is
entitled to absolute immunity for statements made in connection with his official
duties.
Affirmed.
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Defendant's Experts:
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