ANTHONY J. BATTAGLIA, District Judge.
Presently before the Court are two motions for summary judgment. Plaintiffs'
On June 5, 2012, Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint with sixteen causes of action. (Doc. No. 25.) The causes of action in the SAC are: (1) Unlawful Detention; (2) Retaliation; (3) Excessive Force; (4) Arrest without Probable Cause; (5) False Imprisonment; (6) Malicious Prosecution; (7) Assault; (8) Battery; (9) Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress; (10) Negligence; (11) Failure to Properly Screen and Hire; (12) Failure to Properly Train; (13) Failure to Supervise and Discipline; (14) Monell Liability for a Pattern of Brutality; (15) Violation of California Civil Code § 52.1; and (16) Permanent Injunctive Relief. Id. The first six cause of action are pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
On December 26, 2012, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to the First (Unlawful Detention), Third (Excessive Force), Fourth (Arrest without Probable Cause), Eighth (Battery of Plaintiff Shannon Robinson), Tenth (Negligence), and Fifteenth (California Civil Code § 52.1) causes of action. (Doc. No. 39.) On January 31, 2013, Defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment based on qualified immunity. (Doc. No. 52.)
The Court notes that the Defendants have requested dismissal of Plaintiffs' sixth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth causes of action and Defendants William Lansdowne and Matthew Dobbs from all causes of action. Plaintiffs do not object to the dismissal of these defendants or causes of action. See Doc. No. 66, p. 2:4-8. Based upon the foregoing, Plaintiffs' sixth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth causes of action and Defendant William Lansdowne and Matthew Dobbs are hereby DISMISSED.
"The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). A genuine issue of material fact exists if there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the non-moving party. Miller v. Glenn Miller Prod., Inc., 454 F.3d 975, 987 (9th Cir.2006).
In order to prevail, a party moving for summary judgment must show the absence of a genuine issue of material fact with respect to an essential element of the nonmoving party's claim, or to a defense on which the nonmoving party will bear the burden of persuasion at trial. Nissan Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Fritz Cos. Inc., 210 F.3d 1099, 1102 (9th Cir.2000). When the nonmoving party would bear the burden of proof at trial, the moving party may satisfy its burden on summary judgment by simply pointing out to the Court an absence of evidence from the nonmoving party. Miller, 454 F.3d at 987. "The moving party need not disprove the other party's case." Id.
The Court must review the record as a whole and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party. Hernandez v. Spacelabs Med. Inc., 343 F.3d 1107, 1109 (9th Cir.2003). However, unsupported conjecture or conclusory statements are insufficient to defeat summary judgment. Id.; Surrell v. Cal. Water Serv. Co., 518 F.3d 1097, 1103 (9th Cir.2008). "Thus, `[w]here the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no genuine issue for trial'" Miller, 454 F.3d at 988 (quoting Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)).
Presently before the Court are two motions for summary judgment. Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment against Officers Savage and McClain on their causes of action for: 1) unlawful detention; 2) arrest without probable cause; 3) battery on Plaintiff Robinson; 4) negligence; and 5) violation of Cal. Civ.Code § 52.1, and Defendants' motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity, (Doc. No. 52).
In a Section 1983 action, it is the plaintiff who bears the burden of (1) establishing that the defendant's actions violated a federal constitutional right; and (2) that the right was clearly established at the time of the conduct at issue. Falvo v. Owasso Ind. Sch. Dist., 233 F.3d 1203, 1218-19 (10th Cir.2000), reinstated in pertinent part Falvo v. Owasso Ind. Sch. Dist., 288 F.3d 1236 (10th Cir.2002); LSO, Ltd. v. Stroh, 205 F.3d 1146, 1157 (9th Cir.2000). Once the Plaintiffs have made that showing, the burden shifts to the Defendants to produce evidence that is significantly probative that a genuine issue of material fact exists for trial. LVRC Holdings LLC v. Brekka, 581 F.3d 1127, 1137 (9th Cir.2009) (citing FTC v. Gill, 265 F.3d 944, 954 (9th Cir.2001)).
The Plaintiffs' motion seeks summary judgment against Officers Savage and McClain on the Plaintiff's causes of action for: 1) unlawful detention; 2) arrest without probable cause; 3) battery on Shannon Robinson; 4) negligence; and 5) violation of Cal. Civ.Code § 52.1.
In ruling on the Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, the Court must review the record as a whole and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of Defendants.
On March 30, 2010, Plaintiffs Shannon Robinson, Dante Harrell, and their friend Ben Thomas drove in Robinson's 2005 maroon Pontiac Sunfire to Canada Steak Burger at 36th and University in San Diego
The plate number on Robinson's car was either misread or incorrectly entered by one of the Officers and it came back as a plate belonging to a Honda. Id., at ¶¶ 21, 24-5. Defendants initiated the traffic stop of the Plaintiffs' vehicle based solely upon the misread license plate and the suspicion that vehicle was stolen. See Doc. No. 39-5, Exh. D, Police Report of Officer McClain, p. 7, Statement of Officer Savage. Defendants pulled up behind the Plaintiffs' car in a parking lot, blocking them in.
Prior to contacting the Plaintiffs in the vehicle, the license plate was re-checked and Officer Savage and Officer McClain realized that a mistake had been made and that the plate on the car matched the make and model of the Plaintiffs' car.
Both Officer Savage and Officer McClain state in their depositions that rechecking the plate did not conclude the investigation because they would need to check and verify the VIN number to conclude the investigation.
Officer McClain states that he asked Ms. Robinson several times for her identification, but that she repeatedly ignored him and was refusing to provide identification or answer any questions as to her identity. Id. Officer McClain states that he then asked Ms. Robinson to get out of the car. Id. Officer McClain states that Ms. Robinson continued to ignore his requests, so he repeated his request loud enough so that it was not possible that she did not hear him. See Doc. No. 39-5, Exh. D-5. Officer McClain states that he then reached into the open window and placed his hand on Robinson's shoulder to get her attention, but Ms. Robinson continued to ignore him. Id. Officer McClain states that he then told Robinson that she was under arrest and to get out of the car. Id. When Robinson continued to ignore him, Officer McClain pulled on the handle on the outside of the door, but it was locked. Id. Officer McClain reached in the window for the door lock, but Harrell knocked Officer McClain's hand away before he could unlock the door. Id.
Officer McClain states that Harrell continued to obstruct his attempts to unlock the door. See Doc. No. 39-5, Exh. D, Officer McClain's police report, at D-5. At that point, Officer McClain states that he alerted Officer Savage and Officer Savage returned to the driver's side window. Id. Officer McClain removed Harrell's hand from the passenger door lock and unlocked the door. Id. Harrell then threw his arm around Robinson, holding her against him. Id. Officer McClain states that he yelled at Robinson to get out of the car and for Harrell to let her go, but neither complied. Id. Officer Savage began struggling with Harrell and Officer McClain states that he sprayed OC spray at Harrell and Robinson, spraying Harrell in the face and Robinson
When additional officers arrived,
Officer Sacco arrived on the driver's side of the vehicle and assisted Officer Savage in attempting to remove Mr. Harrell from the car, but Harrell kicked Officer Sacco in the right leg and Officer Savage in the left index finger. Officer Sacco then used his Taser to drive stun Harrell in the middle of the back, Harrell continued to kick. Officer Savage used his Taser and struck Harrell in the rear lower waist and buttocks area which stunned him and he was taken into custody without further incident.
Plaintiffs' first cause of action against Defendant Officers Savage and McClain is for unlawful detention pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiffs' motion is premised on the argument that the continued detention of Plaintiffs was unlawful from the moment that Defendants knew of their mistake involving the license plate. Plaintiffs' contend that because there was no reasonable suspicion that Plaintiffs had committed a crime, Defendants' demand, pursuant to that detention, for information from Plaintiffs was unconstitutional.
The Plaintiffs bear the burden of (1) establishing that the defendants' actions violated a federal constitutional right; and (2) that the right was clearly established at the time of the conduct at issue.
The Fourth Amendment requires that a detention be supported by facts and inferences that demonstrate a reasonable suspicion that the person detained may be involved in criminal activity. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 30, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968). The Fourth Amendment requires only reasonable suspicion in the context of investigative traffic stops. United States v. Lopez-Soto, 205 F.3d 1101, 1104-1105 (9th Cir.2000). To satisfy the Fourth Amendment's reasonableness requirement, an officer must have "specific, articulable facts which, together with objective and reasonable inferences, form the basis for suspecting that the particular person detained is engaged in criminal activity." United States v. Lopez-Soto, 205 F.3d 1101, 1104-05 (9th Cir.2000) (quoting United States v. Michael R., 90 F.3d 340, 346 (9th Cir.1996)). The officer may use his training to draw inferences from the
Where the historical facts giving rise to the stop and detention are undisputed, the only question is one of law, namely, whether the stop and detention, considered in light of the totality of the circumstances, were reasonable. See United States v. Dennison, 410 F.3d 1203, 1207 (10th Cir.2005). A traffic stop is reasonable at its inception if the detaining officer, at the very least, reasonably suspects the driver has violated the law. Once the purpose of the stop is satisfied and any underlying reasonable suspicion dispelled, the driver's detention generally must end without undue delay unless the officer has an objectively reasonable suspicion that illegal activity unrelated to the stop has occurred or the driver otherwise consents to the encounter. See United States v. Millan-Diaz, 975 F.2d 720, 721-22 (10th Cir.1992). An investigative stop is not subject to strict time limitations as long as the officer is pursuing the investigation in a diligent and reasonable manner. United States v. Sharpe, 470 U.S. 675, 686-687, 105 S.Ct. 1568, 84 L.Ed.2d 605 (1985). The continued detention is reasonable only so long as the officer's subsequent conduct is reasonably related in scope to the circumstances which justified the initial stop. See United States v. Williams, 403 F.3d 1203, 1206 (10th Cir. 2005).
As a preliminary matter, the Court notes that the Defendant Officers admit that prior to making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, they knew that a mistake had been made, that the license plate on the car matched the make and model of the Plaintiffs' vehicle and there was no violation. See Doc. No. 58, Pla. Reply, p. 2:12-3:9. Officer Savage confirms this and states that he made contact with the occupants of the vehicle, because he felt "the need to explain to them the reason for the stop." Id. at 2:18-19. Officer Savage states that after he explained the mistake to Plaintiffs, he went on to request license, registration and proof of insurance from Harrell, the driver, to verify that he was in compliance with operating a vehicle on the road. Id. at 2:23-25.
Defendants initial stop of Plaintiffs' vehicle constituted a permissible investigative detention of limited scope consistent with the Fourth Amendment, because its was not until after the Officers initiated the stop that they discovered they had made a mistake. However, upon realizing the mistake regarding the license plate, the Court finds Officer Savage's further detention and investigation of the Plaintiffs and request for identification was unconstitutional because the reasonable suspicion for the stop had dissipated when the Plaintiffs' license plate was re-checked and found to match the make and model of Plaintiffs' vehicle.
This case is not unlike United States v. Edgerton, where a police officer initiated a traffic stop of the defendants's vehicle for "tag violation" because he could not read the temporary registration tag while in transit. 438 F.3d 1043 (10th Cir.2006). United States v. Edgerton, 438 F.3d at 1045. The vehicle promptly pulled over and as the officer approached the vehicle he was able to see the temporary tag and determine that it was in fact valid. The Officer then made contact with the driver
Although the Ninth Circuit previously held that during a traffic stop, an officer may only ask questions reasonably related to the justification for the traffic stop, the Supreme Court has since ruled that "`mere police questioning does not constitute a seizure' unless it prolongs the detention of the individual, and thus, no reasonable suspicion is required to justify questioning that does not prolong the stop." Id. at 1080 (citing Muehler v. Mena, 544 U.S. 93, 101, 125 S.Ct. 1465, 161 L.Ed.2d 299 (2005)). In the instant case, Officer Savage's request for license, registration and proof of insurance prolonged the detention. Officer Savage has admitted that he did not have probable cause to continue the detention to make such verifications. See Doc. No. 58, Pla. Reply, p. 3:7-9. As such, the Court finds that the Officers lacked reasonable suspicion to continue the detention and request Harrell's license, registration and proof of insurance or Robinson's identification.
While Defendants attempt to argue that the re-checking of the license plate did not conclude their investigation
The Tenth Circuit reached the same conclusion in United States v. McSwain, where a Utah state trooper stopped defendant's vehicle because he could not read the temporary registration tag posted in the rear window. 29 F.3d 558, 561-62 (10th Cir.1994). As the trooper approached the vehicle on foot, he observed an unobscured Colorado temporary tag which appeared valid. At that point, the Tenth Circuit found that Trooper Dean, as a matter of courtesy, should have explained to Defendant the reason for the initial stop and then allowed her to continue on her way without requiring her to produce her license and registration. See McSwain, 29 F.3d at 562. Where an officer who properly initiates an investigatory stop based on reasonable suspicion that the driver has violated a motor vehicle law may not, consistent with the Fourth Amendment, detain and interrogate the driver after the officer learns the initial suspicion is "ill-founded." People v. Redinger, 906 P.2d 81, 84 (Colo.1995). The Tenth Circuit found that the trooper unduly prolonged the detention because he had no objectively reasonable suspicion that illegal activity had occurred or was occurring, the trooper's actions in questioning McSwain and requesting his license and registration exceeded the limits of a lawful investigative detention and violated the Fourth Amendment. Id. at 561
The parties spend considerable time discussing the requirements of California Vehicle Code 16028(a)
Based upon the foregoing, the Court finds that the Plaintiffs have demonstrated that there is no genuine dispute of material fact that the Defendants' actions violated their Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable seizure by prolonging the detention to inquire into plaintiff's identification, registration and insurance information, and that these rights were clearly established at the time of the conduct at issue.
Defendants have advanced several arguments that qualified immunity should still apply where an officer mistakenly believes probable cause existed or reasonably believed that the conduct did not violate a clearly established constitutional right. The Court finds these arguments unpersuasive, and lacking in evidentiary support, as the constitutional right to be free from unreasonable seizures is clearly established and the mistaken belief that probable cause existed is clearly absent in the present case. However, whether Officer Savage's belief that he needed to verify that the VIN matched was objectively reasonable creates a question of facts that precludes a determination of qualified immunity. Because the Court finds that the determination of the objective reasonableness of Officer Savage's conduct turns on disputed facts, Defendants' motion for summary judgment on the basis of qualified immunity on this cause of action is DENIED. See Wilkins v. City of Oakland, 350 F.3d 949, 955-956 (9th Cir.2003), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 811, 125 S.Ct. 43, 160 L.Ed.2d 14 (2004). As such, the Court finds that However, Defendants may raise the defense of qualified immunity and evidence thereon at trial. Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment against Defendants Savage and McClain on Plaintiffs' first cause of action for unlawful detention is hereby GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART with causation and the amount of damages to be determined at trial. The Court finds and summarily adjudicates
Plaintiffs' seek summary judgment on the fourth cause of action in the SAC, which alleges that Plaintiffs Robinson and Harrell were arrested without probable cause. A warrantless arrest must be supported by probable cause. United States v. Del Vizo, 918 F.2d 821, 825 (9th Cir.1990). "Probable cause exists when, `under the totality of the circumstances known to the arresting officers, a prudent person would have concluded that there was a fair probability that [the plaintiff] has committed a crime.'" United States v. Smith, 790 F.2d 789, 791 (9th Cir.1986).
According to the police reports filed by Officers Savage and McClain, Robinson was arrested for violation of California Penal Code § 148 and Harrell was arrested for violation of California Penal Code §§ 148 and 243(b).
Pursuant to California Penal Code § 834(a), if a person has knowledge, or by the exercise of reasonable care, should have knowledge, that he is being arrested by a peace officer, it is the duty of such person to refrain from using force or any weapon to resist such arrest. Even if the arrest was unlawful, that would not justify or excuse an assault upon the officer. The remedy for improper police conduct is in the courts, not in private reprisal. (People v. Coffey, 67 A.C. 145, 162, fn. 18, 60 Cal.Rptr. 457, 430 P.2d 15 (1967); People v. Baca, 247 A.C.A. 560, 569, 247 Cal.App.2d 487, 55 Cal.Rptr. 681 (1966).) The law in California is that a person may not use force to resist any arrest or detention,
As a matter of statutory construction, it is clear that section 834(a) was meant at most to eliminate the common law defense of resistance to unlawful arrest, and not to make such resistance a new substantive crime. See People v. Curtis, 70 Cal.2d 347, 354-6, 74 Cal.Rptr. 713, 450 P.2d 33 (Cal. 1969). This interpretation is borne out by reference to legislative hearings at which there were discussions on the purpose of section 834(a). Id. Significantly, both the Uniform Arrest Act, from which the language of section 834(a) was drawn, and the Model Penal Code take the approach of eliminating the defense but declining to make resistance a separate and additional crime. When section 834(a) was enacted in 1957, the Legislature amended the penalty provisions but did not change the "duty" language of section 148, thereby impliedly adopting the prior judicial interpretation of "duty." Summers v. Freeman, 128 Cal.App.2d 828, 832, 276 P.2d 131 (1954).
Even if section 834(a) now makes it a citizen's duty not to resist an unlawful arrest, this change in the law in no way purports to include an unlawful arrest within "`the performance of an officer's duty. If the officer was not performing his or her duties at the time of the arrest, the arrest is unlawful and the arrestee cannot be convicted under Penal Code section 148, subdivision (a).'" Smith, 394 F.3d at 695 (emphasis in original).
In their motion for summary judgment, the Plaintiffs argue that the only reason Robinson was arrested was that she refused to obey Office McClain's order to get out of the car. Plaintiffs' argue that because there was no basis to detain Robinson or give her a ticket for failure to provide proof of insurance, as the Court has previously found, there was no legal basis for Officer McClain to order Robinson to get out of the car. Robinson further contends that from the time Officer McClain approached the car to demand her identification until he is heard telling her that she is under arrest, she had done nothing wrong and was therefore under no legal obligation to hang up the phone; get out of the car; or give McClain her identification. See Doc. No. 39-2, Exh. I.
Officer McClain's arrest report for Robinson states that she was arrested for violation of California Penal Code § 148 for resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer in the discharge of his duties. See Doc. No. 39-5. Officer McClain states that he arrested her because she was refusing to comply with his instructions. See Doc. No. 39-7, Exh. F at F-19: Lines 15-16. The record before this Court does not indicate that Robinson used force in resisting her arrest,
As set forth above, the continued detention of the Plaintiffs by Officer's Savage and McClain violated Plaintiffs Fourth Amendment rights. As such, the subsequent arrest of Robinson for failure to provide identification or comply with Officer
Based upon the foregoing, the Plaintiff Robinson's motion for summary judgment against Defendants Savage and McClain for unlawful arrest is hereby GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART with causation and the amount of damages to be determined at trial. Because there are questions of fact regarding the objective reasonableness of the officers conduct, the Court finds that the Defendants are not entitled to summary judgment on qualified immunity relative to this cause of action and Defendants motion for summary judgment on this ground is DENIED, however, Defendants may raise the defense of qualified immunity at trial. See Wilkins v. City of Oakland, 350 F.3d 949, 955-956 (9th Cir.2003), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 811, 125 S.Ct. 43, 160 L.Ed.2d 14 (2004).
Defendants arrested and charged Dante with violating California Penal Code § 243(b), battery on a police officer and 148(a), delaying a peace officer in the execution of his duties. The Plaintiffs contend that when Officers Savage and McClain surrounded Plaintiffs' car and attempted to open the doors, they had effectively placed Dante Harrell under arrest. Plaintiffs argue that a reasonable person in Dante's position would have believed that he was under arrest because the two officers in uniform were on either side of the car, with the patrol car blocking their exit, stating to the occupants of the vehicle that they are under arrest and to get out of the car. The Plaintiffs argue that when McClain said "You are under arrest," he did not address Robinson by name. See Doc. No. 39-2, Exh. I, 911 call at 2 min, 59 sec. Immediately after McClain said, "You are under arrest," Harrell said, "See what it is, I get arrested." Exh. I, 911 call at 3 min, 2 sec. Plaintiffs contend that the record shows that Harrell believed he was under arrest. The Plaintiffs argue that while Officer McClain's testimony is that he intended to arrest Robinson, there is nothing in the record that indicates that the command was given solely to Robinson.
Plaintiff argues that at the time McClain said "You are under arrest," Harrell had touched no one. The only thing Harrell had done up to this point was to provide his driver's license and registration within seconds of the request being made, act politely toward Officer Savage during the first interaction, record Officer McClain with his cell phone, and ask Officer McClain why they were being detained without a reason.
Defendants' offer a very different account of the events that ultimately led to Harrell's arrest. See Doc. No. 39-5, Exh. D, Officer McClain's police report, at D-5. Officer McClain states that Harrell was preventing him from unlocking the passenger side door. Id. Harrell then threw his arm around Robinson, holding her against him and preventing Officer McClain from removing Robinson from the car. Id. Officer McClain states that he yelled at Robinson to get out of the car and for Harrell to let her go, but neither complied. Id. Officer Savage began struggling with Harrell. Id. Officer Savage states that when he and Officer Sacco attempted to pull Harrell out of the driver's door, Harrell began kicking at them and kicked Officer Sacco in the leg. See Doc. No. 39-5, Exh. D at D-19.
Given the conflicting accounts of what transpired prior to Plaintiff Harrell's arrest, the Court finds there are genuine disputes of material fact regarding Plaintiffs' claims for arrest without probable cause, because pursuant to California Penal Code § 834(a), Harrell had a duty to refrain from using force to resist arrest, even an unlawful one. As such, Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment for the unlawful arrest of Plaintiff Harrell is DENIED. Because there are questions of fact regarding the objective reasonableness of the officers conduct, the Court finds that the Defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity relative to this cause of action and Defendants motion for summary judgment on this ground is DENIED, however, Defendants may raise the defense of qualified immunity at trial. See Wilkins v. City of Oakland, 350 F.3d 949, 955-956 (9th Cir.2003), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 811, 125 S.Ct. 43, 160 L.Ed.2d 14 (2004).
In their eighth cause of action in the SAC, Plaintiffs alleged that Defendants battered Robinson. The Plaintiffs claim that it is undisputed that Robinson was only refusing to obey an order to get out of the car. See Doc. No. 39-7, Exh. F. at F-28:13-15. The Plaintiffs' contend that Officer Savage pulled the cell phone out of Shannon's hand; threw it in the back seat; then took his OC spray and sprayed her right in the face. (Doc. No. 39-6, Exh. E, Savage Depo. at E-30: 11-18. Plaintiffs contend that it is not disputed that there was no reason or justification for McClain putting his hands on Robinson, grabbing and throwing the telephone out of her hands, pepper spraying Robinson in the face and dragging her out of the car. The Court cannot agree as there are questions of fact that remain with regard to the events following Officer McClain's request for Robinson's identification, because the Defendants contend that the Plaintiffs were uncooperative and ultimately violent with the officers. Officer Savage states in his deposition that Robinson committed a battery on Officer McClain. Id. Exh. E-30: line 11-E-32: line 8.
Given the conflicting accounts in the record of what transpired, the Court finds there are genuine disputes of material fact regarding Plaintiffs' battery claims and Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is therefore DENIED. Because there are questions of fact regarding the objective reasonableness of the officers conduct, the Court finds that the Defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity relative to this cause of action and Defendants motion for summary judgment on this ground is DENIED, however, Defendants may raise the defense of qualified immunity at trial. See Wilkins v. City of Oakland, 350 F.3d 949, 955-956 (9th Cir. 2003), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 811, 125 S.Ct. 43, 160 L.Ed.2d 14 (2004).
In order to prevail on a claim for common law negligence against a police officer, Plaintiffs must show that (1) the officer owed plaintiff a duty of care; (2) the officer breached the duty by failing "to use such skill, prudence, and diligence as other members of the [the] profession commonly possess and exercise," (3) there was a "proximate causal connection between the [officer's] negligence conduct and the resulting injury" to the plaintiff; and (4) the officer's negligence resulted in
The Court has found Defendants detained and arrested Robinson for violation of Penal Code § 148(a)(1) without probable cause in violation of Robinson's constitutional rights, however, the Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate a casual connection between the alleged negligence on behalf of the officers and Plaintiffs' actual loss or damage. Issues of comparative negligence also remain, as a dispute exists as to the conduct of plaintiffs in escalating or physically resisting the officers. Given the genuine disputes of material fact regarding the events that led to Plaintiffs being sprayed with OC, tasered, pulled from the vehicle, being taken to the ground and arrested, the Court finds summary judgment on this claim inappropriate and Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is therefore DENIED. Because there are questions of fact regarding the objective reasonableness of the officers conduct, the Court finds that the Defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity relative to this cause of action and Defendants motion for summary judgment on this ground is DENIED, however, Defendants may raise the defense of qualified immunity at trial. See Wilkins v. City of Oakland, 350 F.3d 949, 955-956 (9th Cir. 2003), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 811, 125 S.Ct. 43, 160 L.Ed.2d 14 (2004).
Plaintiffs' fifteenth cause of action in their SAC alleges violations of California Civil Code Section 52.1 against Officers Savage and McClain. Section 52.1 provides that "any individual whose exercise or enjoyment of constitutional rights... has been interfered with" by "threats, intimidation or coercion" may bring a civil action on his or her own behalf. Cal. Civ.Code § 52.1. Plaintiffs' § 52.1 claims rest upon their allegations that first, Defendants violated their Fourth Amendment rights through excessive force and false arrest and second, that these rights were interfered with by threats, intimidation, and coercion. However, as set forth above, genuine disputes of material fact exist regarding Plaintiffs claims of excessive force. As such, the Court finds there are questions of fact that remain and Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is therefore DENIED. Because there are questions of fact regarding the objective reasonableness of the officers conduct, the Court finds that the Defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity relative to this cause of action and Defendants motion for summary judgment on this ground is DENIED, however, Defendants may raise the defense of qualified immunity at trial. See Wilkins v. City of Oakland, 350 F.3d 949, 955-956 (9th Cir.2003), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 811, 125 S.Ct. 43, 160 L.Ed.2d 14 (2004).
Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on the basis of qualified immunity. The doctrine of qualified 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); see also Harlow v.
The Ninth Circuit employs a three-part test to determine whether an individual is entitled to qualified immunity. First, the specific right allegedly violated must be identified. Secondly, it must be determined whether that right was so clearly established as to alert a reasonable officer to its constitutional parameters. Third, if the law is clearly established, it must be determined whether a reasonable officer could have believed lawful the particular conduct at issue. Kelley v. Borg, 60 F.3d 664, 666 (9th Cir.1995). The plaintiff in a Section 1983 action bears the burden of proving that the right allegedly violated was clearly established at the time of the officer's allegedly impermissible conduct. Camarillo v. McCarthy, 998 F.2d 638, 640 (9th Cir.1993). A law is "clearly established" when "the contours of that right [are] sufficiently clear that a reasonable officer would understand that what he is doing violates that right." Anderson v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635, 640, 107 S.Ct. 3034, 97 L.Ed.2d 523 (1987). To demonstrate clearly established law at the time of the events in question, the plaintiff must show that the particular facts of the case support a claim of clearly established right. This does not mean that the exact factual situation of the case must have been previously litigated. Specific binding precedent is not required to show that a right is clearly established for qualified immunity purposes. Absent binding precedent, a court should look at all available decisional law including decisions of state courts, other circuits, and district courts to determine whether the right was clearly established. Nonetheless, the contours of the clearly established right must be sufficiently clear that a reasonable official would understand that what he is doing violates that right. See Doe by and through Doe v. Petaluma City School Dist., 54 F.3d 1447, 1450 (9th Cir.1995).
In Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001), the Supreme Court set forth a two-pronged inquiry to resolve all qualified immunity claims. First, "taken in the light most favorable to the party asserting the injury, do the facts alleged show the officers' conduct violated a constitutional right?" Id. at 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151. Second, if so, was that right clearly established? Id. "The relevant, dispositive inquiry in determining whether a right is clearly established is whether it would be clear to a reasonable officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted." Id. at 202, 121 S.Ct. 2151. This inquiry is wholly objective and is undertaken in light of the specific factual circumstances of the case. Id. at 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151.
Although Defendants' brief sets forth the legal standards upon which a determination of qualified immunity is made, there is no discussion or analysis in their brief why these officers should be entitled to qualified immunity under the allegations of the Complaint. Defendants correctly state that officers performing discretionary duties have qualified immunity, which shields them from civil damages liability as long as their actions could reasonably have been thought consistent with the rights they are alleged to have violated. However, whether Officers Savage and McClain reasonably thought their actions consistent with the rights they are alleged to have violated is question of fact and as such,
Based upon the parties moving papers and for the reasons set forth above, the Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, (Doc. No. 39), is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. Defendants' motion for summary judgment, (Doc. No. 52), is DENIED. The Plaintiffs' sixth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth causes of action and Defendants William Lansdowne and Matthew Dobbs are hereby DISMISSED. See Doc. No. 66, p. 2:4-8.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Q. Well —
A. — by that point.
