SUE L. ROBINSON, District Judge.
At Wilmington this 4
1.
2. Upon discovering that Holmes was no longer living, the court issued an order to show cause why the complaint should not be dismissed for failure to substitute a party, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 25. (D.I.12) The motion to dismiss was denied without prejudice to renew. On March 6, 2014, a motion was filed to substitute Patricia Holmes, personal representative of the estate of Medford Tyree Holmes,
3.
4. On the evening of April 27
5. According to Detective Nowell,
6. Although Detective Nowell claimed that Witness 1 had an unobstructed view of the scene, Witness 1 did not provide any
7. On May 12, 2011, the detectives created a photo lineup that included Holmes (in the third position) and returned to present the array to the three witnesses. The detectives took each witness, one at a time, into a separate room to review the photo line-up. Detective Pfaff was equipped with an audio recorder to record the interviews.
8. After speaking with Witness 2, Detective Pfaff showed the photo array to Witness 1.
9. The detectives segregated and showed Witness 3 the photo lineup. Witness 3 was unable to identify anyone in the array. Next, the detectives showed the array to Witness 2, who identified the individual in position 4 (not Holmes) as the shooter. (Id. at ¶¶ 28-29)
10. Witness 3 ultimately identified the person in position 2 (not Holmes) as the shooter. In response, Detective Pfaff stated; "[Y]eah, well no, that's not the one that we're looking at, no but I appreciate. . . ." (Id. at ¶ 30; Holmes, at *3-4) Despite the fact that Witnesses 2 and 3 failed to identify Holmes, the detectives, along with Witnesses 2 and 3, encouraged Witness 1 to identify the shooter. (D.I. I at ¶ 31)
11. An unidentified male then entered the house and conversed with Detective Pfaff, leaving Detective Nowell alone with the witnesses. With the recorder out of range, Detective Nowell held the photo array up to his chest. Witnesses 2 and 3 were standing behind Detective Nowell, unable to see the photo array.
12. Detective Nowell claims that Witness 1 walked up to the array and pointed to Holmes. Despite this positive identification of Holmes as the shooter, Detective Nowell did not have Witness 1 sign the photographic lineup because of "his physical limitations." (D.I. 1 at ¶ 37)
13. On May 13, 2011, Holmes was arrested and charged with murder first degree, attempted murder first degree, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. See State v. Holmes, 2012 WL 4086169. Holmes maintained his innocence and filed, inter alia, a motion to suppress Witness 1's out-of-court identification of Holmes as the shooter. Holmes argued that the photographic lineup shown by Detectives Pfaff and Nowell was unduly suggestive and that, under the totality of the circumstances, the identification was unreliable. Id. at *1.
14. An evidentiary hearing was conducted, with Detectives Pfaff and Nowell testifying. While the motion to suppress ("suppression decision") was denied, the court observed that the presentation of the photographic array to Witness 1, in the presence of or close proximity to, the other witnesses was impermissibly suggestive. Id. at *10.
16. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charges. While the prosecution was preparing to retry the case, Talib-Din recanted his identification of Holmes as the shooter. "With nothing left, the State dropped all charges" and Holmes was released. (Id.)
17. Subsequently, this action was instituted based on the allegations that defendants violated Holmes' right to be free from: unreasonable searches and seizures; excessive force; false arrest; and false imprisonment. Plaintiff alleges that defendants: maliciously prosecuted and verbally abused Holmes; deprived him of due process and equal protection under the law; and violated Holmes' right "to be secure in ones' person and property." (D.I. 1 at ¶¶ 38-40) Plaintiff claims that all the defendants acted in concert, and as part of a conspiracy, to deprive Holmes of his rights under the First, Fourth, Six and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985. (Id. at ¶ 43)
18. Plaintiff asserts that the City has encouraged, tolerated, ratified, and has been deliberately indifferent to, certain patterns, practices and customs of police officers related to: (1) the abuse of police powers; (2) following constitutional policies and procedures regarding the use of photographic lineups; (3) maintaining proper police reports, including the identity of police eyewitness information; and (4) the failure of police officers to prevent, deter, report or take action against the type of unlawful conduct alleged herein. (Id. at ¶ 41) Plaintiff further alleges, inter alia, that the City failed to train, supervise, investigate and discipline police officers, resulting in the violation of Holmes' rights. (Id. at ¶ 42)
19. Plaintiff also contends that defendants' conduct constitutes the following state law claims: (1) assault and battery; (2) false imprisonment; (3) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (4) interference with State constitutional rights; (5) negligence; (6) gross negligence; and (7) negligent hiring, training, retention, and supervision.
20.
22. The court's determination is not whether the non-moving party "will ultimately prevail" but whether that party is "entitled to offer evidence to support the claims." United States ex rel. Wilkins v. United Health Grp., Inc., 659 F.3d 295, 302 (3d Cir.2011). This "does not impose a probability requirement at the pleading stage," but instead "simply calls for enough facts to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will reveal evidence of [the necessary element]." Phillips, 515 F.3d at 234 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955). The court's analysis is a context-specific task requiring the court "to draw on its judicial experience and common sense." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 663-64, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
23.
24.
25. Excessive force claims arising in the context of an arrest or investigatory stop of a free citizen are most properly characterized as one invoking the protections of the Fourth Amendment and a defendant's conduct must be analyzed under an objective reasonableness standard. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 394, 109 S.Ct. 1865, 104 L.Ed.2d 443 (1989); Curley v. Klem, 499 F.3d 199, 206 (3d Cir.2007). To allege a § 1983 claim for the use of excessive force, a plaintiff must show that a "seizure" occurred, and
26. "[I]n a case where police effect an arrest without probable cause or a detention without reasonable suspicion, but use no more force than would have been reasonably necessary if the arrest or the detention were warranted, the plaintiff has a claim for unlawful arrest or detention but not an additional claim for excessive force." Cortez v. McCauley, 478 F.3d 1108, 1126 (10th Cir.2007). A claim for excessive force, which is merely a concomitant to a contested arrest but is not based on some actual allegation of unreasonable force, must be dismissed. Van Brackle v. Pa Parole Bd., 1996 WL 544229 at *3 (E.D.Pa. Sept. 26, 1996).
27. Although asserting that the act of arresting and imprisoning Holmes for crimes that he did not commit constitutes excessive force, plaintiff has failed to allege any facts suggesting that defendants used unreasonable force on Holmes, at any time. Despite plaintiff's reliance on the Third Circuit's model jury instructions on the topic of "seizure," plaintiff has not presented any authority to demonstrate that a seizure, alone, amounts to excessive force. Likewise, the court cannot locate any authority to support an excessive force claim based on facts similar to those at bar.
28. To the extent plaintiff avers that the force applied was excessive because there was insufficient probable cause to arrest Holmes due to defendants' misconduct, the Third Circuit has rejected attempts to "bootstrap excessive force claims and probable cause challenges." Snell v. City of York, 564 F.3d 659, 672 (3d Cir. 2009); Bodine v. Warwick, 72 F.3d 393, 400 & n.10 (3d Cir.1995)("merely because a person has been falsely arrested does not mean that excessive force has been used."). Since excessive force and false arrest inquiries are distinct, demonstrating a lack of probable cause to effect an arrest does not demonstrate an excessive force claim, and vice-versa. Snell v. City of York, 564 F.3d at 673.
29.
30. Federal law does not provide for "the survival of civil rights actions under § 1983 upon the death of either the plaintiff or the defendant." Moor v. Alameda County, 411 U.S. 693, 703 n. 14, 93 S.Ct. 1785, 36 L.Ed.2d 596 (1973). The Supreme Court has concluded that the state survival statutes can fill this gap through 42 U.S.C. § 1988. Robertson v. Wegmann, 436 U.S. 584, 98 S.Ct. 1991, 56 L.Ed.2d 554 (1978). Under § 1988, state statutory law provides the principal reference point in determining survival of civil rights actions. Id. at 589-90, 98 S.Ct. 1991. Delaware's survival statute provides, in pertinent part, "[a]ll causes of action, except actions for defamation, malicious prosecution, or upon penal statutes, shall survive to and against the executors or administrators of the person to, or
31. To prevail on a malicious prosecution claim pursuant to § 1983, a plaintiff must show that: (1) the defendant initiated a criminal proceeding; (2) the criminal proceeding ended in plaintiff's favor; (3) the proceeding was initiated without probable cause; (4) the defendant acted maliciously or for a purpose other than bringing the plaintiff to justice; and (5) the plaintiff suffered deprivation of liberty consistent with the concept of seizure as a consequence of a legal proceeding."
32. While defendants contend that the survival statute clearly applies, the court is unconvinced, and, in the absence of persuasive authority, will not dismiss the claim at this juncture. There remains, however, a problem with the second element of a malicious prosecution claim, "favorable termination." According to the complaint, the "State dropped all charges" against Holmes after Talib-Din recanted his identification. (D.I. 1 at ¶ 1) The record does not reflect the manner in which the State "dropped" or nolle prossed the charges against Holmes. Under Third Circuit precedent, a nolle prosequi satisfies the favorable termination requirement only if the record indicates the reason for the entry of the nolle prosequi. DiFronzo v. Chiovero, 406 Fed.Appx. 605, 608-09 (3d Cir.2011) (unpublished); Glover v. City of Wilmington, 966 F.Supp.2d 417, 426 (D.Del.2013).
33.
34. Plaintiffs procedural due process claim is predicated on the allegation that defendants tampered with exculpatory evidence by fabricating "eye witness" identifications. (D.I. 19 at 10) Although plaintiff has not alleged specific facts to support the claim, the court will grant leave to amend to correct this deficiency. See, e.g., Fletcher-Harlee Corp. v. Pote Concrete Contractors, Inc., 482 F.3d 247, 252 (3d Cir.2007); Grayson v. Mayview State Hosp., 293 F.3d 103, 108 (3d Cir.2002); Shane v. Fauver, 213 F.3d 113, 116-17 (3d Cir.2000). "Dismissal without leave to amend is justified only on the grounds of bad faith, undue delay, prejudice, or futility." Alston v. Parker, 363 F.3d 229, 236 (3d Cir.2004). There is no evidence that plaintiff has acted improperly or in bad faith, and plaintiff has not yet amended her pleading. The court concludes that at this early stage,
35.
36. In establishing the "more-specific-provision rule," the Supreme Court has held that "if a constitutional claim is covered by a specific constitutional provision, such as the Fourth or Eighth Amendment, the claim must be analyzed under the standard appropriate to that specific provision, not under the rubric of substantive due process." United States v. Lanier, 520 U.S. 259, 272 n. 7, 117 S.Ct. 1219, 137 L.Ed.2d 432 (1997); Betts v. New Castle Youth Development Center, 621 F.3d 249, 260 (3d Cir.2010). Considering that issues related to the arrest of Medford Holmes fit within the purview of the Fourth Amendment, the "more-specific-provision rule" forecloses plaintiffs substantive due process claim.
37.
38. In opposition papers, plaintiff states that a grand jury indictment procured by fraud, perjury or other corrupt means vitiates the probable cause required for a lawful arrest and imprisonment. (D.I.19) According to plaintiff, the State had no physical evidence against Holmes and relied exclusively on the eye witness identifications made by Witness 1 and Talib-Din in presenting the case to the grand jury. These identifications, however, were tainted by defendants' misconduct. Plaintiff postulates that, because Witness 1 did not sign the photo array (after allegedly identifying Holmes) and did not testify at trial, the identification was fatally flawed and false. Moreover, while Talib-Din was initially unable to identify the shooter, he later identified an individual other than Holmes. After detectives threatened to bring charges against him, Talib-Din identified Holmes and testified, accordingly, at trial. Following the trial, Talib-Din recanted the identification, resulting in the charges being dismissed against Holmes.
39. The court finds these allegations insufficient to pass muster under Twombly, as plaintiff has not identified which witness(es) perjured themselves or the substance of the alleged perjury before the grand jury. See Rose v. Bartle, 871 F.2d 331, 353-354 (3d Cir.1989). Plaintiff will be afforded an opportunity to amend the complaint in this regard.
41. Under the doctrine of collateral estoppel, once a court has decided an issue of fact necessary to its judgment, that decision may preclude re-litigation of the issue in a suit on a different cause of action involving a party to the first case. Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90, 94, 101 S.Ct. 411, 66 L.Ed.2d 308 (1980). A defendant in a § 1983 action may assert the collateral estoppel effect of issues decided in state criminal proceedings against the plaintiff. Looney v. City of Wilmington, 723 F.Supp. 1025, 1032 (D.Del.1989). In considering the collateral estoppel effect of a state proceeding, a federal court must apply the law of the state where the criminal proceeding took place and must also "ascertain whether the party against whom the estoppel is asserted had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue decided in the state court." Anela v. City of Wildwood, 790 F.2d 1063, 1068 (3d Cir. 1986).
42. The Delaware courts apply a four-part test for collateral estoppel analysis. Taylor v. State, 402 A.2d 373, 375 (1979). "Collateral estoppel requires that (1) a question of fact essential to the judgment (2) was litigated (3) and determined (4) by a valid and final judgment." Looney, 723 F.Supp. at 1032.
43. According to the complaint, after the denial of Holmes' motion to suppress, the matter proceeded to trial. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charges. While the prosecution was preparing to retry the case, Talib-Din recanted his identification of Holmes as the shooter. "With nothing left, the State dropped all charges" and Holmes was released. (D.I. 1 at ¶ 2) Accordingly, there was no conviction or judgment entered against Holmes. There is nothing of record to evince that Holmes appealed or attempted to appeal the suppression hearing or matters related to the criminal prosecution.
44. To that end, the court is unpersuaded by defendants' contention that Holmes could have petitioned the Supreme Court for certiorari to review the suppression decision. With the exception of Looney, the cases relied upon by defendants each had a final judgment of record.
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1. Defendants' motion to dismiss
2. Plaintiff is given leave to file an amended complaint to cure the pleading defects on or before March 4, 2015.