Webb v. San Luis Obispo Community College Dist.

Filed 12/10/07 Webb v. San Luis Obispo Community College Dist. CA2/6

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION SIX

Pamela Webb appeals from a judgment of dismissal after orders sustaining the demurrers of School Insurance Program for Employees (SIPE) and San Luis Obispo Community College District (District), each public entities.^[1] In the course of an investigation into Webb's workers' compensation claim, SIPE and the District videotaped Webb at her home on multiple occasions while she was engaged in personal and familial activities.

The trial court found that her claims were barred by governmental investigatory immunity (Gov. Code, 821.6),^[2]that a plaintiff may not sue for damages based on violation of the privacy clause of article I, section 1 of the California Constitution, and that the claim for general negligence was barred by the exclusivity of worker's compensation. Webb contends (1) that SIPE and the District waived governmental immunity by failing to plead it, (2) that governmental immunity does not apply to the alleged conduct, (3) that Civil Code section 1708.8 provides an exception to governmental immunity, and (4) that monetary damages are available for violation of constitutionally protected privacy. We reject the first three contentions, and do not reach the fourth. Accordingly, we affirm.

Factual and Procedural History

We set forth the facts as they are alleged in Webb's complaint. Webb was an employee of Cuesta College in the San Luis Obispo Community College District. She was injured on the job and filed a worker's compensation claim. Respondents "entered on private property to spy upon [Webb] and her family" on particular dates. The surveillance was "done with the express and/or implied authority of" SIPE and the District, among others. Defendants "trespassed upon private property, and videotaped [Webb's] private time at her home."

Webb filed suit against SIPE, the District, individual private detectives, and others, asserting four causes of action: (1) violation of her constitutional right to privacy, (2) violation of Civil Code section 1708.8, (3) general negligence, and (4) invasion of privacy--intrusion. She sought compensatory damages, treble damages pursuant to Civil Code section 1708.8, and punitive damages. SIPE and the District demurred. The court sustained their demurrers without leave to amend and dismissed all claims against SIPE and the District.

Standard of Review

On appeal from a judgment of dismissal following the sustaining of a demurrer without leave to amend, we exercise our independent judgment on the question whether the complaint states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. (Zelig v. County of Los Angeles(2002) 27 Cal.4th 1112, 1126.) We assume the truth of all material factual allegations, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law. (Ibid.) "In view of the fact that tort causes of action against public entities are now based on statute, the general rule that statutory causes of action must be pleaded with particularity is applicable. Every fact essential to the existence of statutory liability must be pleaded." (Susman v. City of Los Angeles (1969) 269 Cal.App.2d 803, 809.) We review the denial of leave to amend for abuse of discretion, reversing only if there is a reasonable possibility that a defect can be cured by amendment. (Zelig, at p. 1126.)

The grounds for a demurrer must appear on the face of the complaint or from a matter of which the court may take judicial notice. (Code Civ. Proc., 430.30.) On July 13, 2007, we granted SIPE and the District's request for judicial notice of (1) the legislative history of Civil Code section 1708.8, and (2) voter information regarding Proposition 11 in 1972 and Proposition 7 in 1974.

Government Tort Liability

SIPE and the District are each public entities. A public entity is not liable for any injury "[e]xcept as otherwise provided by statute." ( 815, subd. (a).) Any statutory liability is subject to statutory immunity. ( 815, subd. (b).) A public entity is not liable for conduct by an employee for which that employee is immune. ( 815.2, subd. (b).) A public employee is immune from liability for instituting or prosecuting judicial or administrative proceedings. ( 821.6.)

SIPE and District Did Not Waive Section 821.6 Immunity

We reject Webb's contention that SIPE and the District waived governmental immunity by failing to assert it in an answer to the complaint. SIPE and the District timely asserted immunity as a ground for demurrer. Moreover, government tort immunity is jurisdictional and may be raised for the first time on appeal. (Kemmerer v. County of Fresno (1988) 200 Cal.App.3d 1426, 1435.)

The Alleged Conduct is Within the Scope of

Government Code Section 821.6 Immunity

Webb contends that the alleged conduct of SIPE and District employees is not within the scope of section 821.6 because they intended to harass her, their conduct was not part of a criminal investigation or disciplinary action, and they acted outside the scope of employment. We disagree.

Government tort immunity applies to intentional tortious conduct unless the immunity statute provides otherwise. (Gates v. Superior Court (1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 481, 510.) Section 821.6 provides that "A public employee is not liable for injury caused by his instituting or prosecuting any judicial or administrative proceeding within the scope of his employment, even if he acts maliciously and without probable cause." "California courts construe section 821.6 broadly in furtherance of its purpose to protect public employees in the performance of their prosecutorial duties from the threat of harassment through civil suits." (Gillan v. City of San Marino(2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 1033, 1048.)

Investigations are considered to be part of judicial and administrative proceedings for purposes of section 821.6 immunity. (Kemmerer v. County of Fresno, supra, 200 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1436-1437.) Investigation of Webb's workers' compensation claim is the sole purpose of the surveillance that can be inferred from the allegations of the complaint. An investigation is cloaked in immunity because it is an essential step to instituting administrative proceedings. (Ibid.) Webb alleges that after she filed her workers' compensation claim, the administrators of the claim conducted surveillance during which they trespassed and invaded her privacy. Their investigatory conduct is immune from tort liability. Immunity extends to investigations even if there is a later decision not to institute administrative proceedings or to initiate a prosecution. (Ingram v. Flippo (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 1280, 1293.)

The alleged conduct was within the scope of public employment. Section 821.6 immunity applies only to conduct within the scope of employment. An employee is acting in the course and scope of his employment when he is engaged in work he was employed to perform, or when the act is incident to his duty and is performed for the benefit of his employer, not to serve his own purposes or convenience. (Mazzola v. Feinstein (1984) 154 Cal.App.3d 305, 311.) Scope of employment is ordinarily a question of fact for the jury (Mary M. v City of Los Angeles (1991) 54 Cal.3d 202, 221), but where only one reasonable inference can be drawn we may decide the question as a matter of law. (Fowler v. Howell (1996) 42 Cal.App.4th 1746, 1751.) Webb alleges that the surveillance was conducted with "the express and/or implied authority" of SIPE and the District. The only reasonable inference to be drawn from these allegations is that the surveillance was incident to investigatory duties for the benefit of SIPE and the District, and was not for any individual public employee's own purposes. Whether the investigatory duties were carried out negligently, maliciously, or without probable cause, they were within the scope of employment for purposes of section 821.6. (Baughman v. State of California (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 182, 192.) In any case, if surveillance was conducted outside the course and scope of employment or by non-employees, section 815.2 would not impose any liability upon SIPE and the District. Webb's claims are precluded by section 821.6 immunity, and there is no reasonable possibility that the defect can be cured by amendment.

Civil Code Section 1708.8 Does Not Provide an Exception to the

Immunity Afforded By Government Code Section 821.6

Webb contends that Civil Code section 1708.8 creates an exception to governmental investigatory immunity. Section 1708.8 was introduced in 1998 as Senate Bill 262. It was enacted in September of that year to protect against the "aggressive and often dangerous paparazzi-like behavior" of tabloid journalists. (Sen. Rules Com., Office of Senate Floor Analyses, 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 262 (1997-1998), as amended Aug. 18, 1998.) In the year preceding its enactment, Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, had been killed in a paparazzi auto chase, and the public became increasingly outraged about intrusive tabloid journalism. (See Shulman v. Group W. Productions, Inc. (1998) 18 Cal.4th 200.)^[3] Section 1708.8 imposes liability for an invasion of privacy with the intent to capture a visual image, sound recording or other physical impression of the plaintiff engaging in a personal or familial activity. As a remedy, it provides treble damages as well as disgorgement of profits. (Id., subd. (d).)

Civil Code section 1708.8 is outside the Tort Claims Act. "[T]he general rule is that the governmental immunity will override a liability created by a statute outside of the Tort Claims Act." (Gates v. Superior Court, supra, 32 Cal.App.4th at p. 510.) Thus, section 821.6 will override liability created by Civil Code section 1708.8, absent an expression of legislative intent to the contrary. Webb argues the reverse, citing Gillan v. City of San Marino, supra, 147 Cal.App.4th 1033. That case is inapposite. In Gillan, the plaintiff asserted a claim for false arrest pursuant to Civil Code section 52.1. The Gillan court held that section 821.6 immunity did not override section 52.1 liability because the Tort Claims Act specifically authorized an action for false arrest against a public employee. ( 820.4; Gillan, at pp. 1048-1049.) In our case, no provision of the Tort Claims Act authorizes an action for invasion of privacy against a public employee.

"[C]ourts which have considered the effect of Tort Claims Act immunity on legislatively adopted statutory causes of action have always characterized the question as one of legislative intent." (Gates v. Superior Court, supra, 32 Cal.App.4th at p. 510.) Nothing in Civil Code section 1708.8 or its legislative history evidences any intent to create new government liability. We first look to the language of the statute, which specifically exempts a broad array of public and private investigations, including otherwise lawful governmental investigations: "This section shall not be construed to impair or limit any otherwise lawful activities of law enforcement personnel or employees of governmental agencies or other entities, either public or private who, in the course and scope of their employment, and supported by an articulable suspicion, attempt to capture any type of visual image, sound recording, or other physical impression of a person during an investigation, surveillance, or monitoring of any conduct to obtain evidence of suspected illegal activity, the suspected violation of any administrative rule or regulation, a suspected fraudulent insurance claim, or any other suspected fraudulent conduct or activity involving a violation of law or pattern of business practices adversely affecting the public health or safety." (Id., subd. (g).)

The legislative history of Civil Code section 1708.8 also demonstrates intent to preserve governmental immunities. An early legislative analysis for the Assembly Committee on Judiciary stated, "[T]his bill: [] . . . [] (4) Specifically exempts legitimate law enforcement and other governmental agency activities from the scope of these causes of action." (Assem. Com. on Judiciary, analysis of Sen. Bill No. 262 (1997-1998 Reg. Sess.) as amended July 23, 1998.) Similarly, a Senate third reading analysis stated, "[T]his bill: [] . . . [] Specifically exempts from the scope of these causes of action lawful activities of law enforcement of other governmental agencies or other entities, public or private, designed to obtain evidence of suspected illegal activity or insurance fraud." (Sen. Rules Com., Office of Senate Floor Analyses, 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 262 (1997-1998), as amended Aug. 20, 1998.)

Webb argues that section 1708.8, subdivision (g) demonstrates a legislative intent to create liability for government investigations that are not supported by an "articulable suspicion." The plain language of subdivision (g) does not support this interpretation. It is an exemption provision and does not create any new liability: "This section shall not be construed to impair or limit any otherwise lawful activities . . . ." When section 1708.8 was enacted, governmental immunity already existed for investigations incident to judicial and administrative proceedings. Whether such investigations also fall within subdivision (g) of section 1708.8's exemption provision is immaterial.

Section 821.6 and Civil Code section 1708.8 are not in conflict. Even if they were, section 821.6 would control. Section 821.6 is a specific statute that provides immunity to public employees that are engaged in prosecutorial and investigatory activities. Civil Code section 1708.8 is a general statute that creates liability against all persons engaged in paparazzi-like activities. A more specific statute prevails over a more general statute. (Code Civ. Proc., 1859) This is true even if the more general statute is more recent. (Agricultural Labor Relations Bd. v. Superior Court (1976) 16 Cal.3d 392, 420.) The specific immunity statute controls.

The legislative history also does not support Webb's interpretation. After the "articulable suspicion" language was added to Senate Bill 262 in August of 1998, legislative analysts continued to describe the bill as "Exempt[ing] from the scope of these causes of action lawful activities of law enforcement of other governmental agencies or other entities, public or private, designed to obtain evidence of suspected illegal activity, insurance fraud, or a pattern of business practices which adversely affect the health or safety of the public." (Sen. Rules Com., Office of Senate Floor Analyses, 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 262 (1997-1998), as amended Aug. 18, 1998; accord Sen. Rules Com., Office of Senate Floor Analyses, 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 262 (1997-1998), as amended Aug. 20, 1998; Sen. Rules Com., Office of Senate Floor Analyses, Unfinished Business, analysis of Sen. Bill No. 262 (1997-1998) as amended August 20, 1998.) There is no reference after the amendment to the "articulable suspicion" language, to any new governmental liability, nor to limitation of pre-existing governmental immunities. We conclude that the exemption provision of Civil Code section 1708.8, subdivision (g) cannot be construed to impose liability upon a public entity where section 821.6 specifically affords immunity.

Tort Damages for Invasion of Constitutionally Protected Privacy

Injunctive relief is available as a remedy for violation of the privacy clause of the California Constitution (White v. Davis (1975) 13 Cal.3d 757), but Webb seeks only damages. The trial court found that Webb could not state a cause of action for damages for violation of the privacy clause. Our Supreme Court has not yet considered whether violation of the privacy clause permits an action for damages. (Katzberg v. Regents of University of California (2002) 29 Cal.4th 300, 313, fn. 13, 315, fn. 16.) We need not resolve the question. Whether or not damages are permitted, Webb cannot state a cause of action for violation of the privacy clause because the alleged conduct is within the scope of section 821.6 immunity.

The constitutional right to privacy does not limit the scope of a preexisting statutory immunity. Webb argues that section 821.6 immunity does not apply to invasion of privacy because statutory immunities do not defeat liability for invasions of constitutional rights. For this she relies upon a dissenting opinion in Gates v. Superior Court, supra, 32 Cal.App.4th 481, 526 (dis. opn. of Grignon, J.)and upon Urbaniak v. Newton (1991) 226 Cal.App.3d 1128, 1141. Urbaniak involved the litigation privilege of Civil Code section 47. Its holding is contrary to the recent decision of the Supreme Court that "the litigation privilege applies even to a constitutionally based privacy cause of action." (Jacob B. v. County of Shasta(2007) 40 Cal.4th 948, 961.) In Jacob B., the Court reasoned that "we are not aware of anything in the ballot materials or history of the 1972 initiative that added the constitutional right to privacy that suggested any intent to limit the scope of this preexisting privilege or to create a right of privacy that would prevail over the privilege. Rather, as we explain, we believe the constitutional right contains within it a limitation previously based on statute. When the voters adopted California Constitution, article I, section 1, they did so mindful of the preexisting litigation privilege." (Ibid.) We assume the voters were similarly mindful of preexisting governmental tort immunities.

The voter information materials for the 1972 initiative demonstrate the intent to restrain "governmental snooping" and compilation of "cradle to grave" "dossiers of American citizens." (Voter Information Pamphlet for Proposition 11, General Election November 7, 1972, p. 26.) The restraint on governmental snooping is accomplished by the availability of injunctive relief for invasion of privacy. (White v. Davis, supra, 13 Cal.3d 757.) Government tort liability for damages for otherwise immune conduct was not an intended result.

The judgment is affirmed. Costs are awarded to respondents.

NOT CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION.

COFFEE, J.

We concur:

YEGAN, Acting P.J.

PERREN, J.

Martin J. Tangeman, Judge

Superior Court County of San Luis Obispo

______________________________

Law Office of Daniel J. O'Neill and Daniel J. O'Neill for Plaintiff and Appellant Pamela Webb.

Cumberland, Coates & Duenow, David M. Cumberland, Greg A. Coates, and Kevin R. Anderson for Defendant and Respondent Schools Insurance Program for Employees. Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi, LLP, Peter C. Flanderka for Defendant and Respondent San Luis Obispo Community College District.

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^[1]This is a companion case to Richardson-Tunnell v. School Insurance Program for Employees (B195938), filed concurrently on December 10, 2007.

^[2]All statutory references are to the Government Code unless otherwise stated.

^[3]In Shulman, an accident victim's statements to emergency personnel were surreptitiously recorded by a flight nurse on a medical evacuation helicopter and then broadcast in an episode of the television series "On Scene: Emergency Response." (Shulman v. Group W. Productions, Inc., supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 209.)