Town of Castle Rock vs. Gonzales, Case Study Example

Type of Action:The plaintiff Mrs. Gonzales filed a civil suit against the Town of Castle Rock that her 14^th Amendment rights were violated when the police officers failed to respond properly to her complaint against her husband who had taken the couple’s three daughters in violation of a restraining order.

Facts of the Case: On June 22, 1999 the plaintiff’s husband took the three girls from the plaintiff’s home without making any advanced arrangements as required by the restraining order. Mrs. Gonzales called the police department who dispatched officers. Despite seeing the restraining order, they didn’t take any action and advised Mrs. Gonzales to call later if the children do not arrive by 10.00 p.m. Mrs. Gonzales contacted again but still the police didn’t make any efforts. At 3.20 a.m., Mr. Gonzales arrived at the police station and opened fire. Mr. Gonzales was killed in the fight and the three girls were found dead in Mr. Gonzales’ truck. Mrs. Gonzales bought suit in federal district court but it was rejected. Mrs. Gonzales appealed the district court decision in the U.S Court of Appeals for the 10^th Circuit.

Contentions of the Parties: The plaintiff claims that her due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment were violated when the police failed to appropriately respond to her call for help. The town’s position was that Mrs. Gonzales didn’t have an entitlement to the enforcement of the restraining order.

Issue(s): Whether the plaintiff has a legitimate claim of entitlement to the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

Decision: The Supreme Court rejected the plaintiff’s claim of entitlement to the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The town of Castle Rock won the case.

Reasoning:     The court concluded that the plaintiff didn’t have a property interest in the police enforcement of the restraining order against her husband. The court reasoned that the benefit that a third party may receive from having someone else arrested for a crime generally does not trigger protections under the Due Process Clause.

Rule of Law: A benefit is not a protected entitlement if government officials may grant or deny it in their discretion.