STANLEY A. BOONE, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff Kenya Darrick Caldwell, an incompetent person, by Ever Jean Kelley, his conservator, filed this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on March 28, 2013. Currently before the Court is Defendants' second motion for summary judgment filed January 26, 2015, and supplemental motion for summary judgment filed March 31, 2015.
The Court heard oral arguments on April 15, 2015. Ms. Kelley appeared for Plaintiff and counsel David M. Overstreet and Rachelle Taylor Golden appeared for Defendants. Having considered the moving, opposition and reply papers, the declarations and exhibits attached thereto, arguments presented at the April 15, 2015 hearing, as well as the Court's file, the Court issues the following order.
Plaintiff suffered a traumatic brain injury after he was attacked by his stepfather on January 1, 1999. (First Am. Compl. ¶ 13.) Petitioner's mother, Ms. Kelly, filed for conservatorship in Fresno County Superior Court and was appointed as conservator of Plaintiff's person and estate on March 25, 2003. (
Plaintiff was arrested on February 10, 2006, and filed the complaint in this action on March 28, 2013. On August 21, 2013, Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint against Defendants City of Selma ("City"), Chief Thomas H. Whiteside ("Whiteside"), and Officer Steve Burgamy. Plaintiff brings this action against Defendant Burgamy alleging violations of the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, due process of law, excessive force, equal protection, and freedom from interference with Plaintiff's zone of privacy; against Defendants City and Whiteside alleging they had knowledge of a pattern and practice of these violations and did not act to prevent such violations.
Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment on the Fourth Amendment claims on July 25, 2014. On August 29, 2014, an order issued granting Defendants' motion for partial summary judgment, as amended on September 3, 2014. Following the motion for summary judgment, the claims remaining in this action are against Defendant Burgamy for violation of Plaintiff's right to due process of law and equal protection in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and interference with the zone of privacy in violation of the Ninth Amendment; and against Defendants City and Whiteside for policies and procedures in violation of due process, and equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment, and the right to be free from malicious prosecution.
Subsequently the parties entered into settlement negotiations. Ms. Evers withdrew from the settlement agreement and terminated her attorney. Defendants moved to bring a second motion for summary judgment due to the settlement agreement falling apart which was granted by the Court on December 2, 2014. The Court granted the motion to withdraw due to Ms. Evers terminating her attorney's services on December 10, 2014.
Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment and supporting documents on January 26, 2015. On February 24, 2015, the Court found Ms. Evers has the basic competency to protect Plaintiff's interest in this action and she is proceeding pro se as conservator for Plaintiff. On March 27, 2015, Plaintiff filed an opposition to the motion for summary judgment.
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, "[a] party may move for 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." Summary judgment must be entered "against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case. . . ."
If the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually does exist.
1. In February 2006, Plaintiff lived in Chowchilla, with his mother. Plaintiff had a history of mental instability and was prescribed medication to control raging fits.
2. After the incident, Plaintiff told investigating officers that he ran away from home. He had been reported as a missing person days before the February 10, 2006 incident. Plaintiff had not taken his medication during the time he was missing.
3. At about 7:59 p.m., on February 10, 2006, a citizen called to report a suspicious person reported as a "black gentleman" moving between cars. The citizen reported that there had been previous burglaries and tires stolen in the area.
4. At about 8:01 p.m., Defendant Burgamy was dispatched to the 3400 block of Jordan for a "suspicious BMA" (black, male, adult).
5. After having observed a black male adult, Defendant Burgamy arrived in a marked patrol car on scene at approximately 8:03 p.m. Defendant Burgamy asked Plaintiff his name to which Plaintiff responded with, "John" "Jake" or "Jacob" "Winston". Plaintiff stated that his name was "John Brown." Defendant Burgamy suspected the names were false.
6. Plaintiff felt that he was being stopped because he was a black man in a white neighborhood. Plaintiff admitted that a resident of the neighborhood called the police.
7. Defendant Burgamy requested and Plaintiff gave permission to search Plaintiff for weapons for their mutual safety. After requesting and receiving Plaintiff's permission to extract objects from Plaintiff, and laying them on the hood of the patrol car, Defendant Burgamy began to go through Plaintiff's wallet.
8. While searching for identification of Plaintiff, Defendant Burgamy had Plaintiff sit on a bumper of the patrol vehicle.
9. As Defendant Burgamy was going through Plaintiff's items, Plaintiff attacked Defendant Burgamy, striking him and biting his face causing a wound. Defendant Burgamy felt pressure on his handgun which he perceived as an attempt by Plaintiff to obtain his handgun.
10. At 8:10 p.m., Defendant Burgamy radioed that he needed backup. Almost immediately, Defendant Burgamy radioed that he had discharged his weapon and requested an ambulance.
11. Plaintiff attacked Defendant Burgamy by running and swinging at and biting him; intending to knock Defendant Burgamy out and escape.
12. Plaintiff claimed that Defendant Burgamy struck him twice in the forehead with his hands, and Plaintiff then bit Defendant Burgamy.
13. Plaintiff admitted causing the bite mark on Defendant Burgamy's face.
14. Plaintiff claims that he was biting Defendant Burgamy when he was shot.
15. Just before pulling the trigger, Defendant Burgamy felt that Plaintiff was seriously trying to hurt, or was trying to kill him.
16. Defendant Burgamy believed that Plaintiff had tried to get his handgun, and if Plaintiff was successful, he would shoot Defendant Burgamy.
17. One round from a .40 caliber duty weapon was fired by Defendant Burgamy, and only one matching bullet casing was found at the scene.
18. After firing the shot, Defendant Burgamy notified dispatch of having done so, and requested an ambulance.
19. It was not until Officer Gonzalez arrived on the scene that it was discovered that Plaintiff had been shot.
20. The bullet which was just under the surface of Plaintiff's skin was removed under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.
21. The gunshot wound was the only physical injury Plaintiff claimed as a result of the incident.
22. Plaintiff was not handcuffed before the shooting.
23. After the shooting, Plaintiff was arrested by proxy at the hospital for violation of Penal Code sections for causing injury to Defendant Burgamy.
24. Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) is recognized as the authority that governs the training of police officers in California. These professional standards are similar to other states across the nation.
25. The Selma Police Department is a fully certified law enforcement agency consistent with the minimum standards set forth by P.O.S.T. Officers with the Selma Police Department are required to attend a P.O.S.T. certified academy. They receive ongoing training through field training programs, on-the-job training, advanced officer courses, and various classes and seminars offered throughout the State of California. The Selma Police Department has had a training unit that ensures Selma police officers receive training in compliance with P.O.S.T. The training provided by the Selma Police Department with regard to use of force and use of deadly force is in compliance with P.O.S.T. standards.
26. Prior to February 10, 2006, Defendant Burgamy had attended a P.O.S.T. certified police academy and received P.O.S.T. certification.
27. Consistent with its policy regarding the use of force, the Selma Police Department trains its officers that they can use reasonable force to defend themselves or others, affect an arrest or detention, prevent escape and/or overcome resistance. Officers are trained to assess the situation and use the amount of force that is reasonable under the circumstances.
28. The training regarding the use of deadly force provided to Selma Police Department officers is P.O.S.T. compliant.
29. Defendant Burgamy was trained in the appropriate use of force.
30. Selma Police Department's policies governing use of deadly force are consistent with other law enforcement agencies within the State of California.
31. P.O.S.T. does not exclude the use of deadly force when an officer reasonably believes that such force is necessary to protect him or others from an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury.
32. At no time has the Selma Police Department had a policy, practice, or custom of improperly supervising its police officers.
33. Administrative staff of the Selma Police Department review and examine incidents in which force is used in order to determine whether the force used was reasonable in light of the circumstances facing the officers; and take appropriate action when necessary. Furthermore, it has been the policy and practice of the Selma Police Department to conduct thorough investigations into allegations of misconduct on the part of its police officers.
34. A criminal complaint was filed against Plaintiff on February 15, 2006,
35. The criminal case No. F06800P074-7 was terminated for "other reasons" on the "court's own motion" because the case timed out November 8, 2009.
Defendants move for summary judgment on the remaining claims in this action. Plaintiff opposes the motion arguing the Fourth Amendment claim against Defendant Burgamy should not have been decided on summary judgment. To the extent that Plaintiff is attempting to oppose the prior order granting summary judgment that order is not at issue in this motion. The Court has considered Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claims and determined that Defendants are entitled to summary judgment. The issues to be addressed in this second motion for summary judgment are the claims that remain after the order granting summary judgment on the Fourth Amendment claims.
Plaintiff brings due process and equal protection claims in this action under the Fifth Amendment. The Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment provides that no one shall "be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law." It is well established that the Due Process Clause and the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment do not apply to the actions of state or local governments.
Since Plaintiff's claims in this action do not arise under the Fifth Amendment, Defendants' motion for summary judgment on the Fifth Amendment claims is granted.
As the actions alleged here were undertaken by a City of Selma police officer any cognizable claims would arise under the Fourteenth Amendment which provides that no State shall "deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law" "nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." U.S. Const. Amend. XIV.
Plaintiff alleges that the conduct alleged violated his right to due process of law. Defendants move for summary judgment on the ground that Plaintiff's claims are subsumed by the Fourth Amendment. "The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment encompasses two types of protections: substantive rights (substantive due process) and procedural fairness (procedural due process)."
Defendants argue that Plaintiff's due process claims fail as a matter of law as the allegations of excessive force raised in this action occurred during an investigatory stop and therefore should be evaluated under the Fourth Amendment. "Section 1983 `is not itself a source of substantive rights,' but merely provides `a method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere conferred.'"
In
The Ninth Circuit has held that the claims of an arrestee who is detained without a warrant are evaluated under the Fourth Amendment until the time the arrestee is released or found to be legally in custody based upon a probable cause arrest.
Defendant Burgamy contacted Plaintiff in response to a report of a suspicious black male in the area. (U.F. 4, 5, 6.) The Court has previously found that the contact between Defendant Burgamy and Plaintiff was consensual. (ECF No. 48 at 7:18-9:25.) After Plaintiff gave Defendant Burgamy a false name, Defendant Burgamy had Plaintiff sit on the front bumper of his patrol vehicle while he looked for identification in Plaintiff's wallet. (U.F. 8, 9.) As Defendant Burgamy was looking through Plaintiff's wallet, Plaintiff attacked him and bit him intending to knock Defendant Burgamy out and escape.
Plaintiff also alleges in his complaint that after he was shot, Defendant Burgamy left him handcuffed on the ground with a bullet lodged in his back and did not offer first aid. (ECF No. 7 at ¶ 26.) Defendants argue that after the shooting, Defendant Burgamy had no further contact with Plaintiff, and did not even put handcuffs on him. (ECF No. 70 at 10-11.)
The undisputed evidence shows that at 8:07 p.m. Defendant Burgamy requested a warrant check on a subject by the name of John Winston. (Complaint History, ECF No. 83 at 35.) Officer Gonzalez, who was responding to assist on the call, heard shouting over the radio and arrived on the scene within seconds. (Report of Officer Ben Gonzalez, ECF No. 83 at 14.) When Officer Gonzalez arrived on the scene, he saw Defendant Burgamy pointing his gun at Plaintiff who was lying on his stomach. (
A claim of failure to provide medical care to a pretrial detainee arises under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
As the Fourth Amendment provides the explicit textual source of constitutional protection against this sort of physically intrusive governmental conduct, the Fourth Amendment and not the more generalized notion of substantive due process guides the analysis of the pretrial detention claims.
Plaintiff alleges that his right to equal protection under the law has been violated by the actions of Defendant Burgamy. Defendants move for summary judgment on the ground that Plaintiff has failed to show discriminatory intent to support an equal protection claim. Defendant Burgamy has met his burden so the burden shifts to Plaintiff to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually does exist.
An equal protection claim requires a showing that the defendants acted with the intent or purpose to discriminate against the plaintiff based upon his membership in a protected class.
To show a violation of the Equal Protection clause, Plaintiff is required to show proof of racially discriminatory intent or purpose.
Racial profiling can constitute a deprivation of a citizen's right to equal protection under the law.
In his first amended complaint, Plaintiff alleges that he was an African-American male walking through a predominantly white neighborhood when a resident called to report a suspicious person identified as a black male adult. (Compl. ¶ 21, ECF No. 7.) While Plaintiff argues that this is evidence of racial profiling, the fact that Defendant Burgamy was responding to a call of a suspicious black male and stopped Plaintiff because he was a black male and was found in the area in close proximity to the time of the call does not create an inference of racial animus. Based upon the facts before the Court, Defendant Burgamy stopped Plaintiff because he matched the description given in the 911 call not because of Plaintiff's race.
Plaintiff contends that Defendant Burgamy's statement that he recognized Plaintiff from seeing him earlier at Denny's is evidence of racial profiling. There is no evidence that Defendant Burgamy contacted Plaintiff after seeing him at Denny's based upon Plaintiff's race. The evidence before the Court demonstrates that Plaintiff was contacted because of the report of a suspicious individual reported in the area. Defendant Burgamy's statement that he recognized Plaintiff from seeing him early in the evening does not contain any mention of race. Even if it is inferred that Defendant Burgamy recognized Plaintiff because of his race, that is not evidence that any of the alleged events occurred because of a discriminatory purpose on the part of Defendant Burgamy.
Finally, Plaintiff references a statement that Defendant Burgamy was angry after the incident. (Report of Sgt. Frank Santillan, ECF No. 83 at 18.) However, Plaintiff does not point to, nor does the Court find, any statements made by Defendant Burgamy that reference Plaintiff's race or demonstrate any animus toward Plaintiff based upon his race. The fact that Defendant Burgamy was angry after being attacked and bitten in the neck by Plaintiff does not display racial animus, but rather appears to be a reaction to being attacked by Plaintiff.
To prevail on the claim that Defendant Burgamy acted with an improper purpose, Plaintiff must show that Defendant Burgamy acted on the basis of an impermissible ground such as race.
"The language and history of the Ninth Amendment reveal that the Framers of the Constitution believed that there are additional fundamental rights, protected from governmental infringement, which exist alongside those fundamental rights specifically mentioned in the first eight constitutional amendments."
"While the Supreme Court has expressed uncertainty regarding the precise bounds of the constitutional "zone of privacy," its existence is firmly established."
Defendants argue that Plaintiff cannot meet the elements to prove a claim of malicious prosecution.
In order to prove malicious prosecution, Plaintiff must show that the prior proceeding was commenced by or at the direction of the defendant and it was 1) pursued to a legal termination favorable to plaintiff; 2) brought without probable cause; and 3) initiated with malice.
Defendant argues that Plaintiff cannot show that the criminal case had a legal termination favorable to Plaintiff since it was terminated on the court's own motion. "The theory underlying the requirement of favorable termination is that it tends to indicate the innocence of the accused, and coupled with the other elements of lack of probable cause and malice, establishes the tort, that is, the malicious and unfounded charge of crime against an innocent person."
Defendants argue that the dismissal in this instance is on technical grounds, for procedural reasons, or for any other reason not inconsistent with his guilt, and therefore does not constitute a favorable termination for Plaintiff.
Plaintiff was arrested and charged in a single count complaint with violation of California Penal Code section 245(c). (ECF Nos. 97-2; 97-3 at 2.) "Probable cause is `a suspicion founded upon circumstances sufficiently strong to warrant a reasonable man in the belief that the charge is true."
Penal Code section 245(c) makes unlawful an assault with a deadly weapon or other means likely to produce great bodily injury upon the person of a peace office where the individual reasonably knew that the individual was a police officer in the performance of his duties. Section 245 can be violated by use of a deadly weapon or by means likely to produce great bodily injury. It is means likely to produce great bodily injury that would be relevant here.
There is no dispute that Plaintiff attacked Defendant Burgamy in an attempt to escape during an investigatory stop. (U.F. 10, 12.) During the attack, Plaintiff bit the neck of Defendant Burgamy leaving an abrasion and teeth marks. (U.F. 10, 14). The facts show that Plaintiff was aware that Defendant Burgamy was a law enforcement officer and was engaged in the performance of his duties. Plaintiff attacked Defendant Burgamy because he was afraid that Defendant Burgamy was going to make him return home.
Under the statute, force is sufficient if it is likely to sustain great bodily injury.
Malice means that the action was prosecuted with a wrongful motive.
Even assuming there had been an absence of probable cause, Plaintiff has presented no evidence that criminal charges were prosecuted with a wrongful motive. Plaintiff has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that a genuine issue of material fact exists. Defendants are entitled to summary adjudication on the malicious prosecution claim.
The second cause of action in the first amended complaint is brought against Defendants City and Whiteside alleging that they were aware of repeated acts of misconduct by Defendant Burgamy and repeated acts of unwarranted shooting of unarmed persons by officers of the Selma Police Department. (ECF No. 7 at ¶¶ 36, 37.) Additionally, the complaint alleges that Selma police officers engaged in a pattern and practice of misconduct that resulted in the violation of Plaintiff's rights. Plaintiff's third cause of action is brought against Defendants City and Whiteside alleging a custom, policy, or practice of condoning the abuse of police authority and disregard for the rights of citizens and failure to train, supervise and discipline members of the police force. (
Supervisory personnel may not be held liable under section 1983 for the actions of subordinate employees based on
A local government unit may not be held responsible for the acts of its employees under a
In this instance, Plaintiff has presented no evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact that his constitutional rights were violated. Since Plaintiff has failed to establish this element of his claims against Defendants City and Whiteside they are entitled to summary judgment.
Further, while the first amended complaint alleges that Defendants City and Whiteside were aware of repeated acts of misconduct, abuse of authority, and disregard for the rights of citizens by Defendant Burgamy and other officers, and failed to train officers, supervise or discipline officers, Plaintiff has presented no evidence to support the allegations. Accordingly, Plaintiff has failed to meet his burden to show that a genuine issue of material fact exists that a custom or policy existed or that there was a lack of training. Defendants City and Whiteside's motion for summary adjudication is granted.
Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Further, Defendants object to the evidence on lack of foundation and authentication, the relevant documents relied upon by Plaintiff have been placed in evidence by Defendants. The Court shall use Plaintiff's exhibits to reference those documents entered in the record by Defendants to resolve the claims at issue here. To the extent that Defendants object to police reports on the grounds of hearsay, the objection is overruled. Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(D) provides that a statement offered against an opposing party which was made by the party's employee on a matter within the scope of that relationship while it existed is not hearsay.
Defendants argue that Plaintiff's evidence should be considered inadmissible due to Plaintiff's "egregious violation of the Stipulated Protective Orders and for the utter failure to comply with the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Local Rules." (Memo. of P.&A. in Reply to Pl.'s Opp. To Mot. For Summary Judgment 6, ECF No. 103). The Court is aware that Plaintiff is proceeding pro se in part due to Defendants failure to move for summary judgment on all claims in this action in their initial motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, while pro se litigants are required to comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Local Rules, the Court overrules Defendants objections on this ground and shall consider the opposition of Plaintiff. Although Plaintiff did not cite to any of the evidence in the opposition to the motion for summary judgment, as Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the Court has reviewed all evidence presented in the opposition taking special note of the evidence which was highlighted by Plaintiff.
In determining the undisputed facts, the Court considered which facts were undisputed in the prior motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, where Plaintiff objected to facts that were undisputed in the prior motion, such objections are overruled.