ROY B. DALTON, Jr., District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on the following:
This action arose late in the evening on
Four years after this incident, on
McGuire now moves for summary judgment on the six claims asserted against her:
(1) invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress ("
A party is entitled to summary judgment "if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); e.g. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); Penley v. Eslinger, 605 F.3d 843, 848-49 (11th Cir. 2010). In resolving motions for summary judgment, courts must not make credibility assessments or weigh conflicting evidence. See Hairston v. Gainesville Sun Pub. Co., 9 F.3d 913, 919 (11th Cir. 1993). Rather, courts must: (1) view the record evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party; and (2) draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving party. See White v. Pauly, 137 S.Ct. 548, 550 (2017); see also supra n.1. If a reasonable fact finder could draw more than one inference from the facts and that inference creates an issue of material fact, a court must not grant summary judgment.
On
While Plaintiff was walking through his family's neighborhood—which the Deputies contend is a high crime area—the Deputies were conducting "proactive" patrol while dressed in their "official OCSO issued uniform[s] consisting of: an OCSO badge, gold embroidered law enforcement shield on each shoulder sleeve," a ballistic vest, and a "utility belt that contained OCSO issued gun, gun holder, ammunition, baton, flashlight, handcuffs, Taser and OC spray."
While Plaintiff was walking near a store that was out of business in a poorly-lit area on Ivey Lane, he noticed the Vehicle drive past him, make a U-turn, and drive back toward him, at which point Plaintiff also noticed that the windshield of the Vehicle was tinted and he could not see in. (See Doc. 43-1, pp. 121-22, 126.) The Vehicle then made another quick turn to pull close behind Plaintiff.
Because Plaintiff was alone, it was late at night, he could not see into the windshield of the Vehicle, and no police lights had flashed, Plaintiff became frightened. (See Doc. 43-1, pp. 123, 127-29.) Thinking "the worst", he immediately "started to run" toward a lighted area before the Deputies fully emerged from the Vehicle.
(See id. at 130.) Plaintiff further testified that, while in full stride, he was pushed from behind and fell onto the sidewalk
(Doc. 43-1, p. 139; see also id. at 81-82, 131-32, 134.) Plaintiff denies that he heard anyone direct him to stop or shout police, but he claims that he did hear two male voices from the Vehicle yell racial epithets and threats to his life just as he started to flee. (See id. at 123-24, 128, 134-36.)
McGuire testified that while Plaintiff was running across the street, she verbally identified the Deputies as police and ordered Plaintiff to stop running when she saw him commit a pedestrian violation. (See Doc. 41-1, pp. 10-11.) No one else remembers McGuire yelling such statements (see Doc. 40-1, p. 16; Doc. 42-1, pp. 8-9), and both Hummell and Donovan testified that they did not identify themselves as police or order Plaintiff to stop. (See Doc. 40-1, p. 16; Doc. 42-1, pp. 8-9.) McGuire also testified that all three Deputies chased after Plaintiff, and—while Donovan and Hummell restrained him—she is the one who placed handcuffs on Plaintiff and searched him. (See Doc. 41-1, pp. 11, 12, 15.) Donovan and Hummell similarly testified that McGuire was present and involved in the restraint and handcuffing of Plaintiff. (See Doc. 40-1, p. 18; Doc. 42-1, p. 9.)
Unlike the Deputies, Plaintiff did not know where McGuire was when he was restrained and handcuffed because she did not "make herself known at all." (See Doc. 43-1, pp. 137, 166-67.) According to Plaintiff, his head was down and he did not "have a chance to look around" while the male Deputies beat him with closed fists and a black baton on the head and body both before and after McGuire put him in handcuffs. (See Doc. 43-1, pp. 108-10, 118-19, 138-39, 142-49, 169.) Plaintiff testified that he did not defend himself by striking back at the Deputies (see id. at 168-69), but he was "crying" and screamed for help (see id. at 141, 148). Plaintiff further testified that the beating did not stop until "two other officers showed up" in a marked car with lights and sirens. (See id. at 108-09, 118-19, 150-51.)
At McGuire's request, the fire department responded to examine injuries on Plaintiff's hands,
(Doc. 45-1, p. 2; see also Doc. 41-1, pp. 13-15.)
McGuire explained that she arrested Plaintiff for the misdemeanor offense of resisting an officer without violence in violation of Florida Statutes, § 843.02 ("
Plaintiff testified that he spent one day in jail after his arrest. (See id. at 11.) Plaintiff had to borrow $500 from a friend to post bail, he had to appear in court one time, and he had to meet his appointed public defender in the public defender's office. (See id. at 23-27.) Ultimately, the State Attorney terminated the criminal action against Plaintiff by entering a nolle prosequi. (See Doc. 45-2; see also Doc. 43-1, p. 26.) Since these events, Plaintiff claims that he has had trouble finding work, attending school, and going about his business without anxiety and fear. (See e.g. Doc. 41-1, pp. 27-31, 83, 96.)
Plaintiff asserts three state law claims against McGuire for invasion of privacy/intrusion on seclusion ("
Florida law is clear that the tort of intrusion upon seclusion protects persons located in a "place" where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. See Spilfogel v. Fox Broad. Co., 433 F. App'x 724, 726 (11th Cir. 2011); Allstate Ins. Co. v. Ginsberg, 863 So.2d 156, 160-62 (Fla. 2003). A public street is not such a "place." See Spilfogel, 433 F. App'x at 726 (affirming dismissal because the complained of intrusion occurred on a public street). Here, the events complained of by Plaintiff indisputably occurred on a public street; thus, Count One fails as a matter of law, and summary judgment is due to be entered in favor of McGuire.
Under Florida law, recovery for the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress ("
To satisfy the severe distress element, Plaintiff must point to evidence that the distress inflicted on him was "so severe that no reasonable man could be expected to endure it." See Frias v. Demings, 823 F.Supp.2d 1279, 1288-89 (M.D. Fla. 2011) (quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46, cmt. j (1965)). The only evidence identified by Plaintiff—his own testimony that he's "paranoid when [he's] around police and stuff [and he] don't [sic] go outside much"—does not meet this high standard. (See Doc. 45, p. 7 (citing Doc. 43-1, p. 83); see also Doc. 43-1, pp. 73-74 (testifying that Plaintiff had not received mental health counseling).) Thus, summary judgment is due to be entered in favor of McGuire on Count Eleven.
Under Florida law, false imprisonment is the unlawful, unwarranted, and unreasonable "restraint of a person against his will." See Kanner v. First Nat'l Bank of S. Miami, 287 So.2d 715, 717 (Fla. 3d DCA 1974); see also Harris v. Solvonic, 386 So.2d 19, 20 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980) (noting that law enforcement officers may be held liable for the tort of false arrest when they arrest a person without authority to do so). Proof that an arrest was supported by probable cause "is a complete bar to an action for false arrest and false imprisonment." See Bolanos v. Metro. Dade Cnty., 677 So.2d 1005, 1005 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996). "The key time to be considered with respect to an arrest is the moment of arrest at the scene, as to whether there was then and there . . . reasonable cause for arrest." Spicy v. City of Miami, 280 So.2d 419, 422 (Fla. 1973).
McGuire contends that she is entitled to summary judgment on Count Six because she "lawfully arrested" Plaintiff for violating Florida Statute, § 843.02.
The Court rejects McGuire's argument because it relies on disputed facts viewed in the light most favorable to McGuire—not Plaintiff. Indeed, under Plaintiff's best case, reasonable jurors could find that: (1) Plaintiff did not flee from the Deputies—he fled in fear from unseen persons emerging from a Dodge Intrepid with darkly tinted windows that inexplicably pulled up close behind him while he was innocently walking to his father's house; and (2) the Deputies neither identified themselves nor ordered Plaintiff to stop before chasing him down, pushing him to the ground, and placing him in handcuffs. (See Doc. 43-1, pp. 122-24; see also Doc. 40-1, pp. 15-16; Doc. 42-1, pp. 8-9.) Because no reasonable officer could find that McGuire had probable cause to arrest Plaintiff under these facts—which reflect Plaintiff's "best case"— McGuire's request for summary judgment in her favor on Count Six is due to be denied.
Plaintiff asserts three claims against McGuire in accordance with 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1988 for unlawful arrest ("
Enforceable against the States through the Fourteenth Amendment, the Fourth Amendment protects the "right of the people to be secure in their person, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." See U.S. Const. amend. IV; see also Lee v. Ferraro, 284 F.3d 1188, 1194 (11th Cir. 2002) (noting the Fourth Amendment requirement that all searches and seizures are "objectively reasonable based on the totality of the circumstances"). Consensual encounters between police officers and persons are not prohibited under the Fourth Amendment; however, the Fourth Amendment does prohibit law enforcement officers from subjecting any person to: (1) an investigatory stop absent "reasonable suspicion" to suspect the particular person stopped of criminal activity (see Navarette v. Cal., 134 S.Ct. 1683, 1687 (2014); Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 1 (1968)); and (2) a full custodial arrest unless such arrest is justified by a warrant or "probable cause" to believe the arrested person committed or was about to commit a criminal act (see Dunaway v. N.Y., 442 U.S. 200, 208-09 (1979)).
Absent a warrant or probable cause to arrest, the Fourth Amendment also prohibits law enforcement officers from searching and using physical force against a person. See Devenpeck v. Alford, 543 U.S. 146, 152 (2004).
Individuals may seek redress for violations of their Fourth Amendment rights by asserting claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 144 n.4 (1979) (describing § 1983 as a "method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere conferred"). To prevail on such a claim against a police officer sued in her individual capacity, a plaintiff must establish that the officer deprived him of his Fourth Amendment rights while acting under "color of state law." See 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
The QI Doctrine shields public officials from liability under § 1983 so long as: (1) the official was acting within the course and scope of her employment ("
In unlawful search and seizure actions, only arguable probable cause need exist for the QI Doctrine to apply. See Valderrama v. Rousseau, 780 F.3d 1108, 1113 (11th Cir. 2015) (noting that officers may be entitled to qualified immunity "even if there was no actual probable cause"). The "arguable" probable cause standard is satisfied if "an objectively reasonable officer in the same circumstances and possessing the same knowledge" as the arresting officer could believe that probable cause or reasonable suspicion justified the seizure of a person. See Williams v. Sirmons, 307 F. App'x 354, 358 (11th Cir. 2009). No "neat set of legal rules" applies to these inquiries. See United States v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1, 8 (1989). Rather, courts must apply "common-sense" and objectively assess the "totality of the circumstances" known to the officers at the time of the arrest and must not consider their subjective state of mind. See id.
McGuire contends that the Threshold Issue is met because there is no "dispute" that she "was acting within the course and scope of her duties as a deputy sheriff" when she encountered Plaintiff on August 22, 2011. (See Doc. 38, p. 20.) Plaintiff counters that the Threshold Issue is in dispute because McGuire's "discretionary" duties would not allow her to: (1) "approach an innocent bystander in an unmarked vehicle from behind" after driving past him; (2) exit such vehicle and chase the innocent bystander without identifying herself; and (3) allow fellow officers to "viciously beat" the bystander. (See Doc. 45, p. 8.)
Plaintiff's argument reflects an "untenable tautology," that has been rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. See Holloman v. Harland, 370 F.3d 1252, 1265-66 (11th Cir. 2004) (noting that the threshold qualified immunity issue cannot turn on allegations of misconduct because violation of "someone's constitutional rights is never a legitimate job-related function or within the scope of a government official's authority or power"). To avoid this tautology, courts must "temporarily" put aside the fact that the conduct at issue may have been unconstitutional and focus instead on whether the "acts in question are of a type that fell within [the employee's] job responsibilities." See id. Thus, McGuire need not disprove Plaintiff's claims of unconstitutional conduct—she need only establish that she was performing legitimate job-related functions through means that were within her power to utilize. See id.
The facts are that McGuire has been employed by the OCSO as a deputy since 2008 (see Doc. 40-1, pp. 5-8), and on the evening of August 22, 2011: (1) she was working in the uniform patrol department; (2) she was on patrol in "Sector 3 in Pine Hills" with two other OCSO deputies (see id. at 8-11); and (3) as a deputy on patrol, McGuire had authority to "attempt to effectuate arrests." See Holloman, 370 F.3d at 1266-67; (see also Doc. 41-1, p. 6). Thus, but for "the alleged constitutional infirmity"—which the Court must disregard temporarily—it is clear that McGuire "was acting within the course and scope of her duties as a deputy sheriff" when she encountered Plaintiff. See Holloman, 370 F.3d at 1267; Ferraro, 284 F.3d at 1194 (finding that an allegedly unlawful arrest by a law enforcement officer fell within the "course and scope" of the officer's employment).
Because McGuire has established the Threshold Issue in her favor, Plaintiff can defeat the SJ Motion only by establishing that McGuire's actions violated Plaintiff's constitutional rights,
Here, McGuire admits that she "did not possess any information or knowledge to support a reasonable articulable suspicion that Plaintiff [] was engaged in, or had recently committed criminal activity" when she initiated the encounter with Plaintiff. (Doc. 45-4, ¶ 8.) Further, McGuire does not dispute that arguable probable cause existed to arrest Plaintiff for ROWV only if Plaintiff took unprovoked flight in a high crime area and then failed to obey a lawful command to stop running. (See Doc. 38, pp. 18-19; Doc. 46, pp. 5, 6, 8 (discussing C.E.L. v. State, 24 So.3d 1181 (Fla. 2009).) According to McGuire, the evidence establishes that she "engaged in a consensual encounter with Plaintiff, after which [he] took headlong flight" and continued to run after McGuire "ordered him to stop fleeing." (See Doc. 46, p. 7.)
Contrary to McGuire's characterization of the undisputed facts, the record evidence of Plaintiff's best case is that: (1) Plaintiff's flight was not "unprovoked" because the appearance and behavior of the Vehicle justified Plaintiff's fear and flight, which commenced before the Deputies fully emerged from the Vehicle;
(3) the Deputies did not identify themselves to Plaintiff or order him to stop after initiating an encounter with him; and (4) with the assistance of Hummell and Donovan, McGuire simply chased an innocent person down, handcuffed him, arrested him for ROWV, and searched him without arguable cause of any kind. (See Doc. 45, pp. 9-15 (discussing Skop v. City of Atlanta, 485 F.3d 1130 (11th Cir. 2007) and Jackson v. Sauls, 206 F.3d 1156 (11th Cir. 2000)); see also supra Part. III.) Under these facts, McGuire is not entitled to qualified immunity for Counts Twelve or Fifteen, and McGuire's request for summary judgment in her favor on such claims is due to be denied.
As to Plaintiff's claims that he was subjected to excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment, McGuire concedes that "Plaintiff's account of the extensive beating creates a material issue of fact for the jury to determine." (Doc. 38, p. 22.) Thus, she does not request summary judgment to the extent Count Twenty is based on such beating. (See id.) Rather, McGuire requests partial summary judgment only to the extent that Plaintiff seeks to hold McGuire vicariously liable for the push that initially caused Plaintiff to fall to the ground. (See id.) As to this claim, McGuire argues that she is entitled to summary judgment because the record is "undisputed" that McGuire was not in a position to intervene in the push because it "occurred too rapidly." (See Doc. 38, pp. 21-23 (citing Brown v. City of Huntsville, 608 F.3d 724, 740, n.40 (11th Cir. 2010) and Riley v. Newton, 94 F.3d 632, 635 (11th Cir. 1996)); see also Doc. 46, p. 10 (citing Ensley v. Sloper, 142 F.3d 1402, 1407-08).)
In his Response, Plaintiff relied on a clearly distinguishable case decided by the Eleventh Circuit—Priester v. City of Riviera Beach, 208 F.3d 919, 927-928 (11th Cir. 2000)— which involved an officer's failure to intervene when his K-9 officer attacked an arrestee. (See Doc. 45, pp. 15-16.) Plaintiff also failed to specify how McGuire could possibly have prevented Hummell or Donovan from pushing Plaintiff to the ground so quickly after the chase commenced. (See id.) Accordingly, the Court finds that McGuire is entitled to partial summary judgment on Count Twenty. At trial, Count Twenty will be limited to the question of whether McGuire may be held liable—on a failure to intervene theory— for the force Plaintiff was subjected to by Hummell and Donovan after Plaintiff fell.
Accordingly, it is
1. Defendant Deputy Latasha McGuire's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Law in Support Thereof (Doc. 38) is
2. Summary judgment is
3. Summary judgment is
4. This action will proceed to trial on Counts Six, Twelve, Fifteen, and part of Count Twenty as explained in this Order.