TUCKER L. MELANÇON, District Judge.
Before the Court are defendants', Erik Simonson ("Simonson"), the City of Willimantic ("Willimantic"), and the Town of Windham ("Windham") (collectively, the "defendants"), Motion for Summary Judgment [Rec. Doc. 167],
Plaintiff commenced this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against defendants Willimantic police officer Simonson, Willimantic, and Windham
On March 8, 2008, plaintiff was driving toward the house where he resided with his mother and father at 36 Echo Drive in Willimantic Connecticut (the "house" or "property") when Simonson, a Willimantic Police Officer, began following him. [Rec. Doc. 170-1 ¶¶ 1-2, 48]. Marchand and Simonson had no contact with each other before March 8, 2008. [Rec. Doc. 170-1 ¶ 4]. While following him, Simonson ran Marchand's vehicle registration and was told by dispatch that the vehicle was registered to Marchand, with a P.O. box address in North Windham. [Rec. Doc. 167-4 ¶¶ 9-10]. Marchand subsequently turned onto Echo Drive, pulled over to the left-hand side of the road, and turned off his headlights. [Rec. Doc. 170-1 ¶ 10]. As Simonson drove by Marchand he shined
Marchand began walking down the driveway of the house; at the time, Simonson did not know who lived in the house. [Id. ¶¶ 17-18]. Simonson then exited his vehicle and asked Marchand what street they were on. [Rec. Docs. 170-1 ¶ 19; 170-2 ¶ 18]. Marchand answered and then asked Simonson, "why the fuck did you put the spotlight in my face?" [Rec. Docs. 170-1 ¶ 19; 170-2 ¶ 19]. Simonson responded to Marchand to "get the fuck off this property." [Rec. Doc. 170-2 ¶ 20]. Marchand continued to walk down the driveway [Rec. Doc. 170-2 ¶ 21]. Twice more, Simonson told Marchand to get off the property as Marchand continued to walk down the driveway. [Rec. Doc. 170-1 ¶¶ 22-24].
Simonson followed Marchand onto the property and, as Marchand was beginning to ascend a set of cement stairs leading to a screen door on the side of the house, pulled Marchand to the ground, forcing Marchand to his hands and knees and applying pressure to his shoulder area; the parties dispute the amount of force used to pull Marchand to the ground. [Rec. Docs. 167-2 ¶¶ 26-27; 170-1 ¶¶ 26-27]. Marchand pulled away from Simonson and ran approximately three feet toward and up the cement staircase. [Rec. Doc. 170-1 ¶ 28]. As Marchand reached the top stair, Simonson grabbed Marchand's left arm; Marchand struggled and caused Simonson to lose his grip, although Simonson managed to pull off Marchand's sweatshirt. [Id. ¶¶ 29-30]. Marchand then opened the screen door and began to pound on the side door of the house, yelling, "Mom, Mom, open the door." [Rec. Docs. 170-1 ¶ 31; 170-2 ¶ 32]. Lillian Marchand ("Ms. Marchand"), Marchand's mother, opened the door, at which point Simonson said: "don't go in the house, Ma'am don't open the door." [Rec. Docs. 170-1 ¶ 32; 170-2 ¶ 33]. Simonson told Marchand not to go inside the house or Simonson would use his taser on Marchand.
After the arrival of back-up, a canine team, Marchand exited the house and was arrested for interfering with a police officer in violation of C.G.S. § 53a-167a. [Rec. Doc. 170-1 ¶ 38]. Judge Oliver Danielson in the State of Connecticut Superior Court made a probable cause finding on February 25, 2010, but the prosecutor subsequently declined to prosecute the case against plaintiff by entering a nolle prosequi on the charge on March 22, 2011. [Rec. Doc. 167-7; Rec. Doc. 170-1 ¶ 39].
This case was originally assigned to United States District Judge Charles S. Haight. The case was reassigned to the undersigned on December 7, 2012, [Rec. Doc. 84], although Judge Haight continued to hear and decide motions and conduct hearings related to a pending evidentiary dispute that was resolved on December 30, 2013, [Rec. Doc. 147].
On November 29, 2012, defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. [Rec. Doc. 81]. Plaintiff was appearing pro se at that time; his attorney, John Horvack, was not appointed to represent plaintiff in this proceeding until June 3, 2013. [Rec. Doc. 108]. On October 25, 2013, plaintiff's attorney filed an opposition to defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment [Rec. Doc. 138] and on November 1, 2013, Judge Haight stayed all further briefing on defendants' Motion pending the outcome of the then-ongoing evidentiary dispute [Rec. Doc. 141]. After the evidentiary dispute was resolved by Judge Haight on December 30, 2013, [Rec. Doc. 147], both parties requested leave to make additional filings related to defendants' Motion. [See Rec. Doc. 156]. In light of the parties' requests, the Court ordered the defendants to withdraw their then-pending Motion for Summary Judgment [Rec. Doc. 81], ordered plaintiff to withdraw his opposition to defendants' motion [Rec. Doc. 138], and issued a Scheduling Order [Rec. Doc. 156] for the re-filing and briefing of defendants' motion for summary judgment and plaintiff's opposition. Defendants' November 20, 2012 Motion and plaintiff's October 25, 2013 Opposition were thereafter withdrawn. [Rec. Docs. 166, 169, and 180]. Thus, the only filings pending before the Court are defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, filed on January 24, 2014, [Rec. Doc. 167], and plaintiff's Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, filed on January 31, 2014, [Rec. Doc. 170].
Summary judgment is appropriate only when the record reflects that "there is no genuine issue of material fact to be tried, and the facts as to which there is no such issue warrant judgment for the moving party as a matter of law." In re Dana Corp., 574 F.3d 129, 151 (2d Cir.2009). Thus, the role of a district court in considering a motion for summary judgment "is not to resolve disputed questions of fact but only to determine whether, as to any material issue, a genuine factual dispute exists." Id. In making this determination, the trial court "may not make credibility determinations or weigh the evidence." Kaytor v. Elec. Boat Corp., 609 F.3d 537, 545 (2d Cir.2010) (internal citations and
"[T]he moving party bears the burden of showing that he or she is entitled to summary judgment." United Transp. Union v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 588 F.3d 805, 809 (2d Cir.2009). In situations where "the non-movant bears the burden of proof at trial, the movant can satisfy its burden of production by pointing out an absence of evidence to support an essential element of the non-movant's case." Ginsberg v. Healey Car & Truck Leasing, Inc., 189 F.3d 268, 270 (2d Cir.1999). Once the moving party has satisfied its burden, in order to defeat the motion, "the party opposing summary judgment ... must set forth `specific facts' demonstrating that there is `a genuine issue for trial.'" Wright v. Goord, 554 F.3d 255, 266 (2d Cir.2009) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)). "A dispute about a `genuine issue' exists for summary judgment purposes where the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could decide in the non-movant's favor." Beyer v. Cnty. of Nassau, 524 F.3d 160, 163 (2d Cir.2008) (quoting Guilbert v. Gardner, 480 F.3d 140, 145 (2d Cir.2007)); see also Lyons v. Lancer Ins. Co., 681 F.3d 50, 56 (2d Cir. 2012) (stating that a non-moving party must point to more than the "`mere existence of a scintilla of evidence'" in order to defeat a motion for summary judgment (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986))). In order to establish that there is a genuine issue of fact to be resolved at trial, the non-moving party must present more than mere allegations or denials of the adverse party's pleadings; affidavits or other admissible evidence must be presented to show that there are genuine issues of material fact. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248-49, 106 S.Ct. 2505; Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 159, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970); Gannon v. UPS, 529 Fed.Appx. 102, 103 (2d Cir.2013). There is no genuine issue of material fact if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, no reasonable trier of fact could find for the non-moving party. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). If there is no issue of material fact to be resolved at trial and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, the court is required to render the judgment as prayed for. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).
"It is well established that the submissions of a pro se litigant must be construed liberally and interpreted to raise the strongest arguments that they suggest." Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 470 F.3d 471, 474 (2d Cir.2006) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). "A document filed pro se is `to be liberally construed,' and `a pro se complaint, however inartfully pleaded, must be held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.'" Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007) (citing Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976)). Application of the liberal pro se standard is particularly important in cases in which the plaintiff alleges a violation of his civil rights. See Sealed Plaintiff v. Sealed Defendant #1, 537 F.3d 185, 191 (2d Cir. 2008) (citing McEachin v. McGuinnis, 357 F.3d 197, 200 (2d Cir.2004)). As Plaintiff's attorney, after his appointment to represent plaintiff on June 3, 2013 [Rec. Doc. 108], filed an opposition to defendant's motion
Defendants assert that "[c]laim 8 of the plaintiff's amended complaint pleads a claim against the Willimantic Police Department," but that any such claim "fails as a matter of law, as a Police Department is not a legal entity with the legal capacity to sue and be sued." [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 3]. Plaintiff argues that his Amended Complaint [Rec. Doc. 23] should be construed using the liberal pro se construction standard, as plaintiff filed it while he was not represented by counsel, and that it "is fairly read to name the Town of Windham as the Defendant." [Rec. Doc. 170 at 7]. The Court agrees with plaintiff and has applied a liberal construction to plaintiff's amended complaint as it was filed while he was appearing pro se.
Prior to plaintiff filing his amended complaint on August 22, 2011, [Rec. Doc. 23], he filed a Motion to Amend Service of Defendant on July 18, 2011, [Rec. Doc. 11], in which he stated "I found that police departments cannot be defendants, it is the town in which the department is in will be liable." [Rec. Doc. 11]. Judge Haight construed this motion as a motion to amend the complaint and granted plaintiff leave to amend his complaint to "substitute the Town of Windham for the Willimantic Police Department." [Rec. Doc. 15]. Although count eight of plaintiff's amended complaint describes the actions of the Willimantic Police Department (the "Police Department"), he lists Willimantic and Windham, not the Police Department, as defendants in the caption on the front page of the filing. [Rec. Doc. 23]. The Court therefore finds that, applying the liberal pro se construction standard to plaintiff's amended complaint, plaintiff has properly substituted the City of Willimantic and the Town of Windham (collectively, the "Municipal Defendants") for the Police Department. Thus, the Court will deny as moot defendants' Motion on plaintiff's claims against the Police Department, as the Police Department is no longer a defendant in this case,
In order to state a Monell claim for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against a municipal defendant, a plaintiff must allege the existence of an official policy or custom and a direct causal link between that policy or custom and his alleged deprivation of constitutional rights. See Bd. of Cnty. Comm'rs v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 403, 117 S.Ct. 1382, 137 L.Ed.2d 626 (1997). Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment addresses three possible grounds for plaintiff's Monell claim against the Municipal Defendants: (1) the municipality adopted an unconstitutional taser use policy; (2) the municipality failed to adequately train its officers; and (3) the municipality failed to adequately supervise or discipline Simonson as it relates to taser use, improper arrests, or false report writing. [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 36-40].
In the parties' Second Joint Submittal in which the "attorneys [were] to list every remaining claim that is to be tried," pursuant to the Court's Jury Trial Procedure Order [Rec. Doc. 126 at 2], plaintiff lists only one Monell claim, for an "unconstitutional taser use policy," the first ground addressed by defendants. [Rec. Doc. 144 at 3]. The Court's Jury Trial Procedure Order instructed the parties that "[a]ny claim not listed in the second joint submittal will be deemed abandoned by the Court." [Rec. Doc. 126 at 2]. Additionally, plaintiff's opposition to defendants' motion contains no counter-argument related to the second or third potential Monell claims as set out by defendants. [See Rec. Doc. 170 at 36-40]. "Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 provides that if a non-moving party fails to oppose a summary judgment motion, then `summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against' him." Vt. Teddy Bear Co. v. 1-800 Beargram Co., 373 F.3d 241, 244 (2d Cir.2004) (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)). As plaintiff has not made any argument nor presented a soupçon of competent summary judgment evidence suggesting a triable issue as to the second or third potential grounds for a Monell claim and has abandoned those claims by failing to list them in the second submittal, the Court will grant defendants' Motion on plaintiff's Monell claim for failure to train and for failure to supervise or discipline, to the extent Monell claims on those theories were ever asserted.
Regarding the Monell claim for unconstitutional taser use policy, defendants argue that plaintiff did not plead such a claim in his amended complaint, but rather "attempts to transform the Monell claim based upon false report writing into a Monell claim based upon an unconstitutional Taser policy." [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 2]. Plaintiff responds that the Court should construe plaintiff's pro se amended complaint liberally to allege such a claim. [Rec. Doc. 170 at 36]. In support of this argument, plaintiff states: (1) "[t]he municipal defendants were ... put on notice from the Complaint itself that Marchand sought to impose Monell-type liability on them for any of Simonson's constitutional violations"; (2) Count VIII of the amended complaint states some type of Monell claim against the Municipal Defendants; and (3) there is no prejudice to the defendants by allowing this claim to go forward because "[t]he [taser use] policy has been the subject of questioning in the depositions... putting the municipal Defendants on notice of this specific claim." [Id. at 36-37].
Initially, the Court notes that plaintiff's counsel does not point to any section of the amended complaint which could possibly be construed to raise a Monell claim based on an unconstitutional taser use policy, or any section of the amended complaint that
Although a court is "obligated to draw the most favorable inferences that [a pro se plaintiff's] complaint supports, [it] cannot invent factual allegations that he has not pled." Chavis v. Chappius, 618 F.3d 162, 170 (2d Cir.2010). Construing plaintiff's amended complaint liberally, he does not state a Monell claim based on the municipality's allegedly unconstitutional taser use policy. He does not allege the existence of an official policy related to taser use, or how such a policy was related to his alleged deprivation of constitutional rights. As this claim was never pled, defendants' Motion on plaintiff's attempted Monell claim based on the Municipal Defendants' allegedly unconstitutional taser use policy will be granted.
The judgment that the Court will enter will thus grant defendants' Motion on all of plaintiff's Monell claims against the Municipal Defendants.
Defendants argue that plaintiff cannot prevail on his false arrest claim because his arrest was supported by probable cause. [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 15-20]. In support of this argument, defendants assert that probable cause has already been established because a Connecticut state court judge made a finding of probable cause before a nolle prosequi was entered by the prosecutor, terminating the related criminal case against plaintiff, and that Simonson had probable cause to arrest plaintiff for three criminal violations: parking on the left-hand side of the road, trespass, and interfering with an officer. [Id.] In the alternative, defendants assert that Simonson is entitled to qualified immunity as a matter of law. [Id. at 20].
In order to establish a § 1983 false arrest claim based on the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable seizures, a plaintiff must show: "(1) the defendant intentionally arrested him or had him arrested; (2) the plaintiff was aware of the arrest; (3) there was no consent for the arrest; and (4) the arrest was not supported by probable cause." Shattuck v. Town of Stratford, 233 F.Supp.2d 301,
Federal and Connecticut law both provide that probable cause for an arrest exists when an officer has "`knowledge or reasonably trustworthy information of facts and circumstances that are sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution in the belief that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a crime.'" Johnson v. Ford, 496 F.Supp.2d 209, 213 (D.Conn.2007) (citing Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 244 n. 13, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983)); see also Walczyk v. Rio, 496 F.3d 139, 156 (2d Cir.2007). In assessing whether an officer had probable cause for an arrest, a court must look at the "totality of the circumstances." Bernard, 25 F.3d at 102 (citing Gates, 462 U.S. at 230, 103 S.Ct. 2317). "Review for probable cause should encompass `plainly exculpatory evidence' alongside inculpatory evidence to ensure the court has a full sense of the evidence that led the officer to believe that there was probable cause to make an arrest." Stansbury v. Wertman, 721 F.3d 84, 93 (2d Cir.2013). Probable cause may be determined "as a matter of law if there is no dispute as to the pertinent events and the knowledge of the officers." Weyant v. Okst, 101 F.3d 845, 852 (2d Cir.1996).
Defendants argue that because a Connecticut state criminal court made a finding of probable cause prior to a nolle prosequi being entered in the case arising from the arrest at issue, "any claims of false arrest and false imprisonment fail as a matter of law." [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 20]. "[A] federal court must give to a state-court judgment the same preclusive effect as would be given the judgment under the law of the State in which the judgment was rendered." Migra v. Warren City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 465 U.S. 75, 81, 104 S.Ct. 892, 79 L.Ed.2d 56 (1984). In Connecticut, "[c]ollateral estoppel, or issue preclusion, prohibits the relitigation of an issue when that issue was actually litigated and necessarily determined in a prior action." Mulligan v. Rioux, 229 Conn. 716, 752, 643 A.2d 1226 (Conn.1994) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). However, "[c]ollateral estoppel [does] not preclude [a] plaintiff from litigating the existence of probable cause even though that issue ha[s] already been partially litigated" in a state court probable cause hearing because of "procedural limitations" inherent to the state court's probable cause hearing that do not apply in a civil trial. Id. Thus, the Connecticut state criminal court's determination of probable cause during a probable cause hearing does not preclude relitigation of the issue of probable cause for the arrest in plaintiff's § 1983 civil case.
Defendants argue that Simonson had probable cause to arrest Marchand for (1) violation of C.G.S. § 14-251, for parking on the left-hand side of the road; (2) violation of C.G.S. § 53a-110a, for simple trespass; or (3) violation of C.G.S. § 53a-167a, for interfering with an officer. [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 15-20]. Marchand was actually arrested for violation of C.G.S. § 53a-167a,
As to whether Simonson had probable cause to arrest Marchand for a violation of C.G.S. § 14-251, for parking on the left-hand side of the road, defendants argue that pursuant to Atwater v. City of Lago Vista, an officer can perform a custodial arrest for even a minor traffic violation such as parking on the left-hand side of the road. [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 16 (citing 532 U.S. 318, 348, 121 S.Ct. 1536, 149 L.Ed.2d 549 (2001))]. However, Atwater dealt with a misdemeanor violation, for which custodial arrest was authorized or permitted in the state of Texas, where the arrest occurred. See Atwater, 532 U.S. at 323, 121 S.Ct. 1536. Because "a police officer's defenses to a § 1983 action are no greater than those available to him under pertinent state law," the Court looks to whether Connecticut law authorized or permitted custodial arrest for parking on the left-hand side of the road. Thamel v. Town of E. Hartford, 373 F.Supp. 455, 457-58 (D.Conn.1974). Here, plaintiff argues that the crime Marchand allegedly committed is only a motor vehicle "infraction," for which Connecticut does not permit arrest. Conn. Practice Series § 44-23 (an individual "charged with an infraction involving a motor vehicle ... shall not be taken into custody"); See C.G.S. § 14-251 ("Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction."). Thus, assuming arguendo that Marchand violated the statute by parking on the left-hand side of the road,
As to trespass,
In response to defendants' statement that Marchand never told Simonson where he lived, plaintiff argues that Simonson never asked Marchand where he lived [Rec. Doc. 170 at 15-16]. Defendants' argument that "after each of the commands to get off the property Marchand never responded that he lived here," implies that Marchand should have somehow construed Simonson's "commands" as questions. Words, which mean one thing on paper, may take on different meanings in their spoken form and must be viewed and often interpreted in light of the circumstances in which they were spoken, including the speaker's tone, demeanor, and gestures as well as the context of the conversation as a whole. Based on the undisputed facts in the record before the Court, there is a question of fact as to the meaning and overall context of Simonson's commands and Marchand's failure to respond to those commands. This is a question of fact that must be resolved by a jury.
In reaching its conclusion, the Court has considered the totality of the facts, both inculpatory and exculpatory, based on the record, that could have been known to Simonson at the time of Marchand's arrest and finds that there are genuine issues of material fact as to whether Simonson had probable cause to arrest Marchand for trespass.
As to interfering with an officer, defendants argue that Simonson had probable cause to arrest Marchand because he "interfered by failing to comply with the officer's multiple orders" to get off the property, "physically struggle[d] with, and evad[ed] the officer" twice, and "interfered by failing to comply with the officer's multiple orders" to get on the ground. [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 18-19]. "Interfering with an officer" is committed when an individual "obstructs, resists or endangers ... any peace officer ... in the performance of such peace officer's ... duties." C.G.S. § 53a-167a. In order to commit the crime of interfering with an officer, the officer must have been "acting `in the performance of his official duties.'"
Based on the record currently before the Court, there are material issues of fact as to whether Simonson was attempting a Terry stop during the time period in which Marchand ignored his commands and physically evaded him. Viewing the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, Marchand initially flagged down Simonson's car, as opposed to Simonson stopping Marchand; Marchand approached Simonson's car and asked him a question, which Simonson did not answer; and it was only at this point that Marchand proceeded toward the house and Simonson began ordering him to get off the property. In his deposition, Simonson stated that he decided to order Marchand off the property because "[t]here is a million possibilities, all terrible, going through my mind as he is running towards the house." [Simonson Dep., 61:17-19, Aug. 8, 2013, Rec. Doc. 167-14]. Marchand has stated that he merely "walk[ed] back to [the] house" and that it was Simonson who "jogged," [Marchand Dep., 79:25-80:5, July 11, 2012, Rec. Doc. 167-3]. A careful scrutiny of the record reveals that the parties characterize this interaction very differently. Defendants portray Marchand's behavior as "evasive" and describe Simonson's response as that of a concerned police officer trying to investigate possible criminal activity. [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 14]. Marchand, on the other hand,
Therefore, defendants' Motion on plaintiff's false arrest claim will be denied insofar as it is based on there being actual probable cause to arrest Marchand.
In the alternative, defendants argue that even if Marchand's arrest is unsupported by probable cause, qualified immunity protects Simonson from plaintiff's false arrest claim.
Although it is well established that individuals have a constitutional "right to be free from arrest or prosecution in the absence of probable cause," qualified immunity will shield a police officer from a claim for damages arising from a false arrest if "(1) it was objectively reasonable for the officer to believe there was probable cause to make the arrest, or (2) reasonably competent police officers could disagree as to whether there was probable cause to arrest." Ricciuti v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 124 F.3d 123, 128 (2d Cir.1997). The Second Circuit has said that a police officer receives the protection of qualified immunity if there was "arguable probable cause," which "exists when a reasonable officer in the same circumstances and possessing the same knowledge as the officer in question could have reasonably believed that probable cause existed in the light of well established law." Droz v. McCadden, 580 F.3d 106, 109 (2d Cir.2009) (internal brackets omitted); see also Boyd v. City of New York, 336 F.3d 72, 76 (2d Cir.2003) (stating that "if police officers of reasonable competence could disagree as to whether there was probable cause, there is `arguable' probable cause sufficient to warrant qualified immunity"). "[A]t its heart, the concern of the immunity inquiry is to acknowledge that reasonable mistakes can be made as to the legal constraints on particular police conduct. Officers can have reasonable, but mistaken, beliefs as to the facts establishing the existence of probable cause ... and in those situations courts will not hold that they have violated the Constitution." Caldarola v. Calabrese, 298 F.3d 156, 162 (2d Cir.2002) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted) (second alteration in original). "Though in retrospect it [may be] apparent that [a] seizure lacked probable cause, the officer[] [may be] entitled to qualified immunity. Qualified immunity is designed to protect officers making `split-second judgments... in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving.'" Palmer v. New Britain Gen. Hosp., No. 3:05-CV-943(RNC), 2009 WL 378646, at *4 (D.Conn. Feb. 13, 2009) (quoting Saucier
"Even on summary judgment, where all facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, for the purpose of qualified immunity and arguable probable cause, police officers are entitled to draw reasonable inferences from the facts they possess at the time of the seizure." Cerrone v. Brown, 246 F.3d 194, 203 (2d Cir.2001). Police officers are "not required to explore and eliminate every theoretically plausible claim of innocence before making an arrest." Martinez v. Simonetti, 202 F.3d 625, 635 (2d Cir. 2000) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). A "court must grant police officers qualified immunity when the court concludes that the only conclusion a reasonable jury could reach is that reasonable officers would disagree on the constitutionality of the seizure." Cerrone, 246 F.3d at 203 (emphasis added).
The undisputed facts in this case include Simonson's lack of knowledge as to who lived at the property, Marchand's vehicle registration to an address other than the address of the property, Marchand's refusal to get off the property at Simonson's command, Marchand walking away from Simonson after flagging down his vehicle, Marchand's physical resistance to Simonson's attempt to detain him, and Marchand knocking on the door and yelling something rather than producing a key.
Although Simonson did not "explore and eliminate every theoretically plausible claim of innocence," such as the possibility that the woman who answered the door was indeed Marchand's mother or that Marchand's vehicle registration did not return the address of his residence, he was not required to do this before making an arrest. Martinez, 202 F.3d at 635. As to whether Simonson had "arguable probable cause" based on Marchand's actions in response to the alleged attempted Terry stop, the Court must determine whether a reasonable officer in the same situation would have believed that he was engaged in official duties, here an attempted Terry stop. The Court finds that reasonable officers could disagree as to whether Simonson's actions of following Marchand and ordering him off the property constituted an attempted Terry stop and thus whether Simonson was engaged in the performance of his official duties. See United States v. Simmons, 560 F.3d 98, 107 (2d Cir.2009) (finding that the "police officer's order to stop" constituted the initiation of a Terry stop).
As previously set out, the undisputed facts did not provide probable cause to arrest plaintiff for any of the three violations for which defendants maintain Simonson had probable cause to arrest Marchand. However, the Court concludes that these same undisputed facts did provide Simonson with "arguable probable cause" to arrest plaintiff for either trespass or interfering with an officer
As a reasonable officer confronted with the situation Simonson encountered and possessing the same information he did could have believed there was probable
Defendants argue that (1) plaintiff has asserted a state law trespass claim only and that it cannot be converted into a Fourth Amendment illegal entry claim; (2) Simonson did not enter an area in which Marchand had a reasonable expectation of privacy; (3) even if Simonson did enter private property, his entry was justified by probable cause and exigent circumstances; (4) even if Simonson entered private property without probable cause and exigent circumstances, he is entitled to qualified immunity as a matter of law; and (5) plaintiff's state law trespass claim fails as Simonson was a licensee at all times.
Plaintiff argues that his Amended Complaint [Rec. Doc. 23] should be construed using the liberal pro se construction standard as plaintiff filed it while he was not represented by counsel and that, liberally construed, it states a claim for both common law trespass under Connecticut state law and Fourth Amendment illegal entry. [Rec. Doc. 170 at 29]. Upon review of the amended complaint, and in consideration of plaintiff's pro se status at the time he filed it, the Court concurs and will address both claims.
In order for Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures to apply, a plaintiff must show that the area in question is one in which the plaintiff enjoys a "reasonable expectation of privacy." See United States v. Reilly, 76 F.3d 1271, 1276 (2d Cir.1996). Defendants argue that "[t]he altercation between Officer Simonson and Mr. Marchand occurred up the driveway and onto the stoop/steps just outside of the side door of 36 Echo Drive," an area which the defendants state is not curtilage
It is a "firmly established rule that `police officers need either a warrant or probable cause plus exigent circumstances in order to make a lawful entry into a home.'" Loria v. Gorman, 306 F.3d 1271, 1283 (2d Cir.2002) (citing Kirk v. Louisiana, 536 U.S. 635, 638, 122 S.Ct. 2458, 153 L.Ed.2d 599 (2002) (per curiam)). It is undisputed that Simonson did not have a warrant to arrest Marchand at the time of the incident in question. As set out above, there is at a minimum a question of fact as to whether Simonson had probable cause to arrest Marchand. See Section IV(B)(i)(2). Because this material question of fact prevents the Court from resolving, on summary judgment, whether Simonson's entry into the house was constitutionally permissible, the Court need not reach the question of whether the undisputed facts establish the existence of exigent circumstances.
"[Q]ualified immunity protects government officials `from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.'" Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231, 129 S.Ct. 808, 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009). It is clearly established that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their homes. Kyllo, 533 U.S. at 37, 121 S.Ct. 2038. Thus, the question of whether Simonson is entitled to qualified immunity for plaintiff's Fourth Amendment illegal entry claim turns upon whether "reasonable police officers... being confronted with the facts known to [the officer] at the time, could disagree as to the legality of entering the house without a warrant." Martin v. Tatro, No.04-CV-800, 2005 WL 2489905, at *7 (N.D.N.Y. Oct. 7, 2005). The Supreme Court has recently stated that "federal and state courts nationwide are sharply divided on the question whether an officer with probable cause to arrest a suspect for a misdemeanor may enter a home without a warrant while in hot pursuit
In Connecticut, the elements of a common law trespass claim are (1) plaintiff's ownership or possessory interest in the land; (2) entry by the defendant that affects plaintiff's exclusive possessory interest; (3) that such entry is intentional; and (4) resulting direct injury. City of Bristol v. Tilcon Minerals, Inc., 284 Conn. 55, 87, 931 A.2d 237 (Conn.Sup.Ct.2007). Defendants do not specifically challenge plaintiff's ability to establish any of these elements, but rather assert that because Simonson was a licensee, plaintiff was unable to exclude him from the property. [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 30-31]. Under Connecticut common law, one who enters a property "in the performance of a public duty under a permission created by law" is a licensee, not a trespasser. Roberts v. Rosenblatt, 146 Conn. 110, 113, 148 A.2d 142 (Conn.Sup.Ct.1959); see also Segarra v. Elec. Wholesalers, Inc., No. cv055001341 S, 2007 WL 1676806, at *2 (Conn.Super.Ct., May 24, 2007) (stating that a police officer on private property pursuant to the exercise of his duties is treated as a licensee). Whether an officer is a licensee "depends upon whether the officer[] had an implied license to enter the [area], which in turn depends upon the purpose for which [he] entered." Florida v. Jardines, ___ U.S. ___, 133 S.Ct. 1409, 1417, 185 L.Ed.2d 495 (2013) (where officers' conduct violated plaintiff's Fourth Amendment rights they were not licensees). As set out above, there are genuine issues of material fact regarding the existence of actual probable cause that prevent the Court from resolving, on summary judgment, whether Simonson violated Marchand's Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures on the night of the incident in question and thus whether Simonson was a licensee.
"`Qualified immunity' protects an official from liability under federal causes of action but is not generally understood to protect officials from claims based on state law." Jenkins v. City of New York, 478 F.3d 76, 86 (2d Cir.2007). A similar doctrine exists under Connecticut common law. See Freedman v. American Online, 412 F.Supp.2d 174, 188 (D.Conn.2005). However, as defendants have not asserted that Simonson is entitled to the protection of this common law doctrine, the Court will not address it. As such, the Court will deny defendants' Motion on plaintiff's state law trespass claim.
Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on plaintiff's Fourth Amendment excessive force claim because Simonson's use of force was objectively reasonable and, at a minimum, Simonson is entitled to qualified immunity because officers of reasonable competence could disagree as to whether his use of force was objectively reasonable. [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 31-33].
"The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from the government's use of excessive force when detaining or arresting individuals." Jones v. Parmley, 465 F.3d 46, 61 (2d Cir.2006). "[A] police officer's use of force is excessive ... if it is not objectively reasonable in light of the facts and circumstances confronting [him], without regard to [his] underlying intent and motive." Maxwell v. City of New York, 380 F.3d 106, 108 (2d Cir.2004) (citing Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 397, 109 S.Ct. 1865, 104 L.Ed.2d 443 (1989)). This evaluation entails a consideration of "the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight." Graham, 490 U.S. at 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865.
The amount of force used in this case has not been and cannot be established, based on the current record before the Court. As to Simonson's attempt to physically detain Marchand on the steps of the house, Marchand asserted in his affidavit that Simonson "forcefully ripped me off the top of the staircase by the back of my sweatshirt, down onto the driveway ... [Simonson] was on top of my back and shoulder putting pressure on me, and forcing my face down towards the ground," apparently with so much force that Marchand feared Simonson "was going to kill me." [Marchand Aff., Rec. Doc. 170-2 ¶¶ 26-28]. Simonson has stated that he only "pulled [Marchand] off the steps to the ground with one hand ... [and held] him on the ground" with one hand while requesting backup. [Simonson Dep., 77:11-78:7, Aug. 8, 2013, Rec. Doc. 167-14].
The circumstances of the second taser deployment are also in dispute. Simonson has testified that he told Marchand to "Get down, or, Get on the ground, twice prior to the second deployment," and that he used the taser on Marchand a second time, in part, because Marchand refused to comply with this order, but rather "was already standing at that point or ... was still in the act of getting up." [Simonson Dep., 164:17-25, Aug. 8, 2013, Rec. Doc. 170-3]. However, Simonson acknowledges, and a review of the videotape reveals, that as he was allegedly ordering Marchand to the ground prior to the second taser deployment, he also stated "get over here." [Id. at 164:13-19; Rec. Doc. 167-6]. Simonson testified that he is "not sure" if his command was directed at Marchand or Ms. Marchand, who was standing nearby. [Simonson Dep., 163:16-18, 164:13-19, Aug. 8, 2013, Rec. Doc. 170-3].
The amount of force employed and its reasonableness under the circumstances are questions of fact that must be resolved by a jury based on the evidence adduced at trial. Defendants' Motion on plaintiff's excessive force claim as it relates to the reasonableness of the force used will therefore be denied.
As set out in Sections IV(B)(ii) and IV(C)(iv), supra, qualified immunity
Defendants argue that plaintiff's substantive due process claim fails because (1) plaintiff improperly added a claim for substantive due process at the summary judgment stage and (2) there is an explicit textual source of protection against the government's alleged behavior, thereby foreclosing the possibility of a due process claim. [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 34-35]. Plaintiff argues that the Court should construe count two of his amended complaint liberally to assert both a false imprisonment claim and a Fourteenth Amendment substantive due process claim. [Rec. Doc. 170 at 9]. Furthermore, plaintiff asserts that there is not an explicit textual source of protection against all of the government behavior alleged by plaintiff in count two of his amended complaint and thus plaintiff can bring a Fourteenth Amendment claim based on that alleged government activity. [Rec. Doc. 170 at 10].
The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment provides that a state shall not "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." U.S. Const. Amend XIV, § 1. The Due Process Clause "was intended to prevent government from abusing [its] power, or employing it as an instrument of oppression." Collins v. City of Harker Heights, Tex., 503 U.S. 115, 126, 112 S.Ct. 1061, 117 L.Ed.2d 261 (1992) (quoting DeShaney v. Winnebago County Dept. of Social Services, 489 U.S. 189, 196, 109 S.Ct. 998, 103 L.Ed.2d 249 (1989)) (internal quotation marks omitted). From this came the doctrine of substantive due process, "which protects against government conduct that deprives people of protected rights and truly `shocks the conscience' of the court." Simons v. New York, 472 F.Supp.2d 253, 265 (N.D.N.Y.2007) (citing Cnty. of Sacramento v. Lewis, 523 U.S. 833, 846, 118 S.Ct. 1708, 140 L.Ed.2d 1043 (1998)). Although substantive due process, on its face, encompasses a broad range of behavior, "the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that `[w]here a particular Amendment provides an explicit textual source of constitutional protection against a particular sort of government behavior, that Amendment, not the more generalized notion of `substantive due process,' must be the guide for analyzing these claims.'" Bryant v. City of New York, 404 F.3d 128, 135 (2d Cir.2005) (quoting Albright v. Oliver, 510 U.S. 266, 273, 114 S.Ct. 807, 127 L.Ed.2d 114 (1994) (plurality opinion)).
Count two of plaintiff's amended complaint reads: "false imprisonment: I was handcuffed, never told the crime I had done. The [sic] brought to the police station. I was never read my rights until five minutes before they let me go home." [Rec. Doc. 23 at 5]. Plaintiff agrees that there is no Fifth Amendment claim that can be brought in this case based on the officer's alleged failure to read plaintiff Miranda warnings at a certain point in
Chavez v. Martinez, 538 U.S. 760, 773, 123 S.Ct. 1994, 155 L.Ed.2d 984 (2003) (plurality opinion). Plaintiff further asserts that "[w]hile it is true that the Fourth Amendment does govern some of Plaintiff's claims, it does not govern the claims related to the period of Marchand's incarceration. Rather, the Fourteenth Amendment is the proper source of constitutional protection from being held and subjected to overly coercive conditions." [Rec. Doc. 170 at 10]. Plaintiff alleges that count two of plaintiff's amended complaint "mention[s] Miranda rights, not in a vacuum, but in the context of being confined and held for a period of time that was coercive. The Plaintiff only mentioned Miranda rights to highlight the coercive and abusive conditions of his detention." [Id. at 9]. Plaintiff alleges that his Fourteenth Amendment Claim must stand because defendants have not established that there is no genuine dispute of material fact as to whether the conditions of his confinement were coercive and abusive. [Id. at 10].
While it is true that defendants have not specifically asserted that there is no genuine issue of material fact as to whether plaintiff could make the necessary showing to support a Fourteenth Amendment claim based on "overly coercive conditions," based on the facts alleged in count two of plaintiff's complaint, defendants were not put on notice that any unspecified "overly coercive conditions" were a potential basis for a Fourteenth Amendment Claim. Unlike in Chavez, plaintiff has made no allegation of "police torture or other abuse" apart from defendants' alleged actions that violated plaintiff's Fourth Amendment rights. Plaintiff has not explained, either in his amended complaint or in his opposition to defendants' motion, why the police officer's alleged failure to give him Miranda warnings until a certain point in time, if true, was coercive or abusive. In cases where "what would serve to raise defendant's actions beyond the wrongful to the unconscionable and shocking are facts which, if proven, would constitute, in themselves, specific constitutional violations," a Fourteenth Amendment claim is improper. Velez v. Levy, 401 F.3d 75, 94 (2d Cir.2005). That is the case here. While it was the defendants' burden, as the moving party, to establish that there is no genuine issue of fact for trial, the defendants need not respond to arguments and factual allegations not set out in the amended complaint. Reading the amended complaint liberally, all the factual allegations made in count two of plaintiff's amended complaint are subsumed under claims of violations of more particularized Amendments and plaintiff alleges no facts, either in his amended complaint or opposition, that could be construed as the allegedly "overly coercive conditions" referred to in his opposition.
In addition to the claims set out and discussed above, defendants address plaintiff's state law harassment claim [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 33] and what they interpret as a Fifth Amendment Miranda violation claim. [Id. at 4]. Plaintiff does not provide support for either of these claims in his opposition to defendant's motion.
Defendants argue that although "[c]laim 7 of [the] complaint is entitled `harassment'... there is no such claim for civil harassment under either State law or Federal law." [Id. at 33]. In the parties' Second Joint Submittal in which the "attorneys [were] to list every remaining claim that is to be tried," pursuant to the Court's Jury Trial Procedure Order [Rec. Doc. 126 at 2], plaintiff listed a "state law harassment claim" [Rec. Doc. 144 at 4]. However, as noted, plaintiff's opposition to defendants' motion does not address this claim. "Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 provides that if a non-moving party fails to oppose a summary judgment motion, then `summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against' him." Vt. Teddy Bear Co. v. 1-800 Beargram Co., 373 F.3d 241, 244 (2d Cir.2004) (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)). Plaintiff has failed to respond, present competent summary judgment evidence, or make argument indicating that a reasonable jury could find in plaintiff's favor on a state law harassment claim, to the extent such a claim might in fact exist. The Court, upon review of defendants' motion and the record before it, finds that defendants have met their burden of demonstrating that there is no material issue of fact left to be resolved on this purported claim and therefore defendants' Motion on plaintiff's state law harassment claim will be granted.
Defendants assert that "[c]laim 2 of the complaint alleges the officer did not read [plaintiff] his rights, which sounds like a Fifth Amendment claim." [Rec. Doc. 167-1 at 4]. Defendants argue that even if plaintiff has pled a Fifth Amendment claim, which they dispute, it must be dismissed on summary judgment because "[t]he Supreme Court has not established a civil cause of action for Miranda violations, instead finding that Fifth Amendment violations occur at trial." [Id.]. The Court agrees. See U.S. v. Verdugo-Urquidez, 494 U.S. 259, 264, 110 S.Ct. 1056, 108 L.Ed.2d 222 (1990) ("Although conduct by law enforcement officials prior to trial may ultimately impair [the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination], a constitutional violation occurs only at trial."). Additionally, plaintiff's opposition to defendants' motion does not address a potential Fifth Amendment claim and plaintiff
For the foregoing reasons, judgment will be entered on defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment [Rec. Doc. 167] and the Motion will be GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The Motion will be granted on plaintiff's claims, or attempted claims (1) against the Municipal Defendants, for any and all Monell claims; and (2) against officer Erik Simonson for Fourth Amendment false arrest, Fourth Amendment illegal entry, Fourteenth Amendment Substantive Due Process violation, state law harassment, and Fifth Amendment Miranda violation, the foregoing claims to be dismissed with prejudice. The Motion will be denied on plaintiff's claims of Fourth Amendment excessive force, brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and Connecticut state law trespass.