Filed: May 01, 2000
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: No. 99-11205 -1- IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 99-11205 Summary Calendar LAURA F SHARP Plaintiff - Appellee v. RON MCWILLIAMS; ET AL Defendants RON MCWILLIAMS; RUBY WILSON Defendants - Appellants - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas USDC No. 3:98-CV-1454-L - April 27, 2000 Before KING, Chief Judge, and WIENER and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Appellee, Laura F. Sharp, sued appellants, Ron McWilliams and Ruby
Summary: No. 99-11205 -1- IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 99-11205 Summary Calendar LAURA F SHARP Plaintiff - Appellee v. RON MCWILLIAMS; ET AL Defendants RON MCWILLIAMS; RUBY WILSON Defendants - Appellants - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas USDC No. 3:98-CV-1454-L - April 27, 2000 Before KING, Chief Judge, and WIENER and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Appellee, Laura F. Sharp, sued appellants, Ron McWilliams and Ruby ..
More
No. 99-11205
-1-
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-11205
Summary Calendar
LAURA F SHARP
Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
RON MCWILLIAMS; ET AL
Defendants
RON MCWILLIAMS; RUBY WILSON
Defendants - Appellants
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
USDC No. 3:98-CV-1454-L
--------------------
April 27, 2000
Before KING, Chief Judge, and WIENER and BARKSDALE, Circuit
Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Appellee, Laura F. Sharp, sued appellants, Ron McWilliams
and Ruby Wilson, alleging that they unlawfully arrested her,
entered her home, and searched the home looking for Sharp’s
husband. McWilliams and Wilson moved for summary judgment
arguing, inter alia, that their search was legal because it was
based on a valid warrant, and that their arrest was proper
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
No. 99-11205
-2-
because Sharp attempted to block their entry into the home and
otherwise attempted to interfere with their search. Sharp
opposed the summary judgment motion by way of an unsworn
declaration in which Sharp provided a detailed recitation of the
events surrounding the incident in question. Sharp categorically
denied obstructing or interfering with the officers. She also
averred that the officers searched drawers and other areas of the
house where her husband could not have hidden, thereby exceeding
the scope of the warrant.
The district court denied summary judgment on the issue of
qualified immunity as to the legality of the arrest and the
search based on the competing facts set forth in Sharp’s
declaration and the appellants’ affidavits. As appellants
concede, we do not have jurisdiction to review the district
court’s determination to the extent that it turns on disputed
issues of fact. See Johnson v. Jones,
515 U.S. 304, 319-20
(1996); Baulch v. Johns,
70 F.3d 813, 815 (5th Cir. 1995).
However, appellants assert that the district court erroneously
relied on Sharp’s unsworn declaration because it did not
expressly state that it was based on her personal knowledge.
Thus, appellants argue, we have jurisdiction to entertain this
appeal.
We agree with Sharp that appellants’ argument is frivolous.
Appellants do not contend that Sharp was not present at the time
of her arrest or that she did not personally observe what
occurred. Her personal knowledge of the events related in her
declaration is evident from the context and content of the
No. 99-11205
-3-
declaration and the record as a whole. See Lodge Hall Music,
Inc. v. Waco Wrangler Club, Inc.,
831 F.2d 77, 80 (5th Cir.
1987). We do not impose the hypertechnical requirement suggested
by appellants that an unsworn declaration must expressly state
that it is based on personal knowledge when it is clear that the
declarant in fact had personal knowledge. See id.; Barthelemy v.
Air Line Pilots Assoc.,
897 F.2d 999, 1018 (9th Cir. 1990). As
we lack jurisdiction to review the district court’s determination
that issues of fact preclude summary judgment, we dismiss the
appeal.
Further, having determined that appellants’ argument is
frivolous, we assess double costs against appellants.
APPEAL DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION; DOUBLE COSTS
ASSESSED AGAINST APPELLANTS.