ANITA B. BRODY, District Judge.
Plaintiff Joseph Lawson brings suit under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985 against the City of Coatesville ("Coatesville"), former Police Chief Julius Canale, Police Officer Brenden Boyle, and Police Corporal Jeffrey Ingemie.
On October 29, 2010, Jeffrey Middleton, Jr. was robbed by at least two black men
Middleton told Boyle and Ingemie that two of the robbers were still in the area, hanging out together about 100 feet away from where the robbery took place. Middleton pointed across the street to where two people were standing. Boyle and Ingemie walked across the street and made contact with two African-American men — Lawson and another man named Lewis Lee Maxwell. When the officers encountered Lawson, he was talking to Maxwell next to the Midway Diner. The police detained Lawson and Maxwell, while one of the officers placed Middleton in a police car and brought the car around.
The police then conducted a field show-up. As part of the field show-up, the police escorted Lawson and Maxwell toward the police car, one at a time. From inside the police vehicle, Middleton identified two people from approximately 25-50 feet away. Middleton personally knew Maxwell and identified him to the police. Middleton did not recognize the other robber he identified. Middleton did not actually observe the police place the two men into a police car.
After the field show-up, the police arrested Lawson and Maxwell. They also drove Middleton back to the police station for an interview, but did not ask him to identify the suspects again. At the end of Middleton's interview, Ingemie asked Middleton if he was telling the truth and if he was "one hundred percent positive these are the individuals that did it." Pl.'s Ex. O at 14. Middleton stated that he was not making up his story and confirmed "[t]hat's exactly what happened and those are the individuals that did it." Id. After the interview, Ingemie called Assistant District Attorney Bonnie Cox-Shaw, who approved the robbery charges for Lawson and Maxwell.
The next day — October 30, 2010 — Boyle filed a Criminal Complaint against Lawson. Boyle's Affidavit of Probable Cause described his encounter with Middleton and Middleton's subsequent field identification of Lawson.
On December 22, 2010, Lawson's preliminary hearing took place before Magisterial District Judge Gregory V. Hines. At the preliminary hearing, Middleton confirmed that Maxwell had robbed him, but denied that Lawson was one of the men that had robbed him. Middleton also denied that Lawson was the second man he had identified. Middleton testified that he identified a second robber for the police, but stated "they picked up Mr. Lawson, not the person that they should have picked up." Preliminary Tr. 9:22-10:2. Middleton then confirmed that "Mr. Lawson was not one of the individuals" who robbed him, and emphasized that he was "100 percent" sure. Preliminary Tr. 10:3-10. Middleton also stated that "I thought I identified the person that did it, because I saw him, you know what I mean? And I don't know how Mr. Lawson got involved, but apparently he did." Preliminary Tr. 27:12-15. Middleton further claimed that he thought he had identified a "younger man" wearing a white and black jacket while in the police car. Preliminary Tr. 13:23-14:8.
Based on Middleton's exculpatory testimony, Lawson's attorney moved for dismissal of the charges against Lawson. The Commonwealth did not oppose the request, and the judge dismissed the charges.
Police Chief Canale had no knowledge of Lawson's arrest until Lawson filed this lawsuit. If a citizen files a complaint regarding an unlawful arrest, that complaint is normally first investigated at the administrative lieutenant level. An administrative lieutenant would oversee an internal investigation to determine whether an actual infraction occurred. If the investigation reveals an infraction, the investigator and the administrative lieutenant would make a recommendation based on the department's disciplinary policy. The chief would then evaluate the internal affairs investigative report and make a disciplinary decision.
Officers in the Coatesville Police Department are initially trained at the Police Academy where they receive state-mandated Act 120 Training. A significant portion of this Act 120 Training focuses on search, seizure, and arrest. Additionally, police officers must successfully complete annual Act 180 training updates that include search and seizure legal updates. Coatesville Police Officers also undergo a one-year field training program, in which they are under the supervision of a senior officer and must learn the policies and procedures of the department.
Boyle received his Act 120 Training in Delaware County. The program was five-and-a-half months long—with approximately 700 hours of classes—and included training on arrests and the Fourth Amendment. Boyle has also completed his annual Act 180 updates—which include search and seizure training—each year since he started working for Coatesville in 2009. Boyle participated in Coatesville's field training program, but did not receive additional search and seizure training from the Coatesville Police Department.
Ingemie also received Act 120 Training and Act 180 updates that covered search and seizure requirements. He also received search and seizure training from the Coatesville police department as a part of his field training.
Prior to Lawson's arrest, Coatesville had policies in place on "Arrest Warrants," "Corruption and Misconduct, Employee's Responsibility to Report," and "Complaints Against Police."
Coatesville's "Arrest Warrants" policy defines probable cause and states that "[n]o arrest warrant shall be issued but upon probable cause." The "Arrest Warrants" policy further provides that "[w]arrantless arrests and searches are permitted where exigent circumstances exist" and provides factors for officers to consider in making a warrantless arrest.
Coatesville's "Corruption and Misconduct, Employee's Responsibility to Report" policy ("Misconduct Policy") states that it is "everyone's responsibility to immediately report" corruption, misconduct, and other improper acts. It further provides that "[a]ll members are required to immediately contact the Police Chief with any information about corruption, misconduct, or other similar conditions." The Misconduct Policy cites to Pennsylvania's Whistleblower Law and states that employees may not be discharged, threatened, discriminated against, or retaliated against for whistleblowing.
Coatesville's "Complaints Against Police" policy ("Complaints Policy") provides citizens with the opportunity to submit a formal complaint. It also sets forth the procedure for investigating allegations and for communicating the disposition of the complaint to the complainant. The Complaints Policy further provides that
Lastly, Coatesville's "Disciplinary Code" provides penalties for the following charges:
According to Coatesville's incident reports, only eight complaints against police officers were made between 2008 and 2013. Two of these complaints were made in 2008, one was made in 2009, and four were made in 2010. The incident reports do not specify the nature of the complaints or the alleged misconduct.
Jeffrey Martin and Tekeesha Lovelace—a married couple living in Coatesville—have each filed "false arrest" suits against the Coatesville Police Department. Both Martin and Lovelace are African-American. Martin alleged that Ingemie wrongly arrested Martin twice based on inaccurate warrants. In 2009, Ingemie arrested Martin on a traffic warrant for a different Jeffrey Martin. In 2010, Ingemie arrested Martin on a domestic relations warrant that was no longer valid because it had been satisfied. Martin contended that, in both cases, Ingemie ignored Martin's protestations that the warrants were invalid and did not properly check the validity of these warrants before arresting Martin. In each instance, Martin was released shortly after the arrest, once the mistake was discovered. In addition to filing a lawsuit, Martin filed a citizen complaint with the Coatesville Police Department regarding these incidents, but received no response.
Lovelace also alleged that the Coatesville Police Department falsely arrested her based on two incidents that occurred in 2009 and 2010. Lovelace crashed her car into the yards of Coatesville residents on two occasions—once into a person's fence and once into a person's garage.
Summary judgment will be granted "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 fact is "material" if it "might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law...." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A factual dispute is "genuine" if the evidence would permit a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Id.
The moving party "always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying
In essence, the inquiry at summary judgment is "whether the evidence presents a sufficient disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that one party must prevail as a matter of law." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 251-52, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
"To establish liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must show that the defendants, acting under color of law, violated the plaintiff's federal constitutional or statutory rights, and thereby caused the complained of injury." Elmore v. Cleary, 399 F.3d 279, 281 (3d Cir.2005). Lawson's brings § 1983 claims against Defendants for violation of his Fourth Amendment right to be free from false arrest, unlawful search, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution. Lawson also asserts Fourteenth Amendment claims for violations of the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause.
Defendants argue that summary judgment should be granted as to Lawson's Fourth Amendment claims, because Boyle and Ingemie had probable cause to arrest Lawson based on Middleton's identification. Lawson contends, however, that Boyle and Ingemie lacked probable cause because Middleton did not actually identify Lawson at the field show-up. The threshold question for each of Lawson's Fourth Amendment claims is whether Boyle and Ingemie had probable cause to arrest Lawson. See James v. City of Wilkes-Barre, 700 F.3d 675, 680, 683 (3d Cir.2012) (lack of probable cause is an element of a Fourth Amendment false arrest claim); Johnson v. Knorr, 477 F.3d 75, 81-82 (3d Cir.2007) (lack of probable cause is an element of a Fourth Amendment malicious prosecution claim); Groman v. Twp. of Manalapan, 47 F.3d 628, 636 (3d Cir.1995) (lack of probable cause is an element of a Fourth Amendment false imprisonment claim based on detention pursuant to an unlawful arrest); Henry v. United States, 361 U.S. 98, 102, 80 S.Ct. 168, 4 L.Ed.2d 134 (1959) ("[I]f an arrest without a warrant is to support an incidental search, it must be made with probable cause."). If Boyle and Ingemie had probable cause, then no constitutional violation took place. "An arrest was made with probable cause if `at the moment the arrest was made ... the facts and circumstances within [the officers'] knowledge ... were sufficient to warrant a prudent man in believing that [the suspect] had committed or was committing an offense.'" Wright v. City of
"Generally, the question of probable cause in a section 1983 damage suit is one for the jury. This is particularly true where the probable cause determination rests on credibility conflicts." Merkle v. Upper Dublin Sch. Dist., 211 F.3d 782, 788 (3d Cir.2000) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). "However, a district court may conclude that probable cause exists as a matter of law if the evidence, viewed most favorably to Plaintiff, reasonably would not support a contrary factual finding, and may enter summary judgment accordingly." Id. at 788-89 (internal quotation marks omitted).
Taking the evidence most favorable to Lawson, a genuine dispute of material fact exists as to whether Boyle and Ingemie had probable cause to arrest Lawson. There is no dispute that Boyle and Ingemie conducted a field show-up in which both Maxwell and Lawson were escorted toward the police car. There is also no dispute that Middleton identified two people from inside the police car. However, there is a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Middleton actually identified Lawson while he was in the police car. At the preliminary hearing, Middleton vehemently claimed that Lawson was not one of the robbers and was not the person he identified. If Middleton did not in fact identify Lawson, Boyle and Ingemie would have lacked probable cause to arrest him. Because the probable cause determination rests on credibility conflicts, this is an issue for the jury. The jury must evaluate the credibility of Middleton, Boyle, Ingemie, and Lawson to determine whether Middleton identified Lawson to the officers. I will therefore deny summary judgment as to Lawson's § 1983 claims against Boyle and Ingemie for false arrest, unlawful search, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution.
Lawson alleges that Defendants deprived him of his Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection by arresting, incarcerating, and prosecuting him without probable cause. Defendants argue that Lawson's equal protection claim cannot succeed because Lawson does not provide evidence that he was treated differently than similarly situated individuals or that he experienced purposeful discrimination.
It is undisputed that Lawson, an African-American male, is a member of a protected class. However, Lawson provides no evidence of purposeful discrimination. Nor does he proffer any examples of similarly situated individuals in an unprotected class (or any similarly situated individuals, for that matter) who received different treatment. I will therefore grant Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment as to Lawson's equal protection claim.
Lawson claims that Defendants violated his due process rights by arresting, incarcerating, and prosecuting him without probable cause. Lawson's substantive and procedural due process claims, however, fail to survive summary judgment.
Defendants request summary judgment as to this claim because the Fourth Amendment—not the Due Process Clause—provides the appropriate analysis for Lawson's claim under the "more-specific-provision rule."
"Noting its `reluctan[ce] to expand the concept of substantive due process,' the Supreme Court has established the `more-specific-provision rule.'" Betts v. New Castle Youth Dev. Ctr., 621 F.3d 249, 260 (3d Cir.2010) (quoting Cnty. of Sacramento v. Lewis, 523 U.S. 833, 842-44, 118 S.Ct. 1708, 140 L.Ed.2d 1043 (1998)). Under this rule, "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). For this reason, in Albright v. Oliver, the Supreme Court declined to "recognize a substantive right under the Due Process Clause ... to be free from criminal prosecution except upon probable cause" and held that "it is the Fourth Amendment, and not substantive due process, under which [such a] ... claim must be judged." 510 U.S. 266, 268, 271, 114 S.Ct. 807, 127 L.Ed.2d 114 (1994) (plurality); See also Washington v. Hanshaw, 552 Fed.Appx. 169, 172-73 (3d Cir.2014) ("[T]he Court has held that, if a right to be free from prosecution absent probable cause exists, it must instead be grounded on the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures."). Thus, where the Fourth Amendment covers alleged misconduct—such as searches and seizures without
Lawson's claim is covered by the specific protections of the Fourth Amendment. Specifically, Lawson's arrest and 54-day pretrial detention are seizures within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. See Schneyder v. Smith, 653 F.3d 313, 321-22 (3d Cir.2011) ("When the state places constitutionally significant restrictions on a person's freedom of movement for the purpose of obtaining his presence at a judicial proceeding, that person has been seized within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment.") (footnote omitted). I will therefore grant Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment as to Lawson's substantive due process claim, because it is covered by a more-specific constitutional provision: the Fourth Amendment.
Defendants argue that the procedures available to Lawson—a prompt arraignment and preliminary hearing—were constitutionally adequate.
To state a § 1983 claim for deprivation of procedural due process, a plaintiff must demonstrate that (1) he was deprived of an individual interest included within the Fourteenth Amendment's protection of "life, liberty, or property," and (2) the procedures available to him did not provide "due process of law." Hill v. Borough of Kutztown, 455 F.3d 225, 233-34 (3d Cir.2006). However, "[d]ue process does not require that every conceivable step be taken, at whatever cost, to eliminate the possibility of convicting an innocent person." Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 145, 99 S.Ct. 2689, 61 L.Ed.2d 433 (1979) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Lawson's only conceivable claim is that his pretrial detention without probable cause deprived him of liberty without due process of law. In Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S. 103, 95 S.Ct. 854, 43 L.Ed.2d 54 (1975), the Supreme Court identified the constitutionally-required procedures that states must provide to pretrial detainees, such as Lawson. The Gerstein Court grounded its analysis in the requirements of the Fourth Amendment, finding that
Gerstein, 420 U.S. at 125, n. 27, 95 S.Ct. 854 (emphasis added). Accordingly, the Gerstein Court held that the Fourth Amendment is satisfied when the state promptly provides pretrial detainees with a judicial probable cause determination before imposing significant restraints on their liberty. See Gerstein, 420 U.S. at 125, 95 S.Ct. 854. This neutral probable cause determination must generally be provided within 48 hours of arrest, absent extraordinary circumstances. See Cnty. of Riverside v. McLaughlin, 500 U.S. 44, 56, 111 S.Ct. 1661, 114 L.Ed.2d 49 (1991). Gerstein rejected, however, the idea that the Fourth Amendment entitles pretrial detainees to an adversary hearing. See Gerstein, 420 U.S. at 119-20, 95 S.Ct. 854.
Lawson fails to explain or demonstrate how the procedures available to him either failed to afford him due process of law or failed to meet the procedural requirements articulated in Gerstein. In accordance with Gerstein and Pennsylvania law, Lawson was arraigned within 48 hours of his arrest, and this arraignment procedure included a probable cause determination by
Lawson thus not only received the prompt judicial probable cause determination required by Gerstein, but also a preliminary hearing at which the charges against him were actually dismissed. Although Lawson's preliminary hearing was continued several times, this delay does not provide a basis for a constitutional claim. First, two of the continuances were at the defense's request. More importantly, although Pennsylvania law provides pretrial detainees with a preliminary hearing at which the state must present its prima facie case, this is not a constitutionally required procedure. See Stewart, 275 F.3d at 231 ("Pennsylvania's requirement that ... the state present[ ] evidence constituting a prima facie case of guilt before a magistrate at ... the preliminary hearing is not necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Fourth Amendment under Gerstein .... [Nor] is there any constitutional mandate ...."). Therefore, any small delay in providing this hearing does not constitute a constitutional violation. Lawson fails to demonstrate that he was denied any of the procedures required by the Fourth Amendment under Gerstein. He also fails to identify what additional procedures, if any, due process required. I will thus grant Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment as to Lawson's procedural due process claim.
Lawson also brings § 1983 claims against Police Chief Canale in his individual capacity. Defendants argue that summary judgment is proper, because Lawson presents no evidence that Canale had any knowledge of, or personal involvement in, the decision to arrest and file charges against Lawson.
To be individually liable under § 1983, "[a] defendant in a civil rights action must have personal involvement in the alleged wrongs; liability cannot be predicated solely on the operation of respondeat superior." Rode v. Dellarciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207 (3d Cir.1988); see also C.H. ex rel. Z.H. v. Oliva, 226 F.3d 198, 201 (3d Cir.2000) ("It is, of course, well established that a defendant in a civil rights case cannot be held responsible for a constitutional violation which he or she neither participated in nor approved."). "Personal involvement can be shown through allegations of personal direction or of actual knowledge and acquiescence." Rode, 845 F.2d at 1207.
Lawson does not produce any evidence that indicates Canale had personal involvement in the alleged misconduct. To the contrary, the record suggests the opposite—that Canale had no involvement in and was not aware of the incident until Lawson filed suit. As a matter of law, it is
Lawson also brings a § 1983 Monell claim against the City of Coatesville. Lawson alleges that Coatesville and/or Canale
Although § 1983 can be used to obtain relief from local governments, it does not hold governments vicariously liable for their employees' illegal acts. Bd. of Cnty. Comm'rs of Bryan Cnty., Okl. v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 403, 117 S.Ct. 1382, 137 L.Ed.2d 626 (1997). Rather, liability "must be founded upon evidence that the government unit itself supported a violation of constitutional rights." Watson v. Abington Twp., 478 F.3d 144, 155 (3d Cir. 2007) (emphasis added). "Congress did not intend to impose liability on a municipality unless deliberate action attributable to the municipality itself is the `moving force' behind the plaintiff's deprivation of federal rights." Brown, 520 U.S. at 400, 117 S.Ct. 1382.
Thus, municipal liability attaches only when "execution of a government's policy or custom ... inflicts the injury." Monell, 436 U.S. at 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018. "Policy is made when a decisionmaker possess[ing] final authority to establish municipal policy with respect to the action issues an official proclamation, policy, or edict." Andrews v. City of Phila., 895 F.2d 1469, 1480 (3d Cir.1990) (internal quotation marks omitted). "Custom, on the other hand, can be proven by showing that a given course of conduct, although not specifically endorsed or authorized by law, is so well-settled and permanent as virtually to constitute law." Bielevicz v. Dubinon, 915 F.2d 845, 850 (3d Cir.1990). "In addition to proving that an unlawful policy or custom existed, a plaintiff also bears the burden of proving that such a policy or custom was the proximate cause of the injuries suffered." Watson, 478 F.3d at 156 (emphasis added).
Lawson does not provide evidence of any particular municipal policy that caused his alleged injuries. Rather, the un-contradicted evidence in the record shows that Coatesville had policies in place to ensure that police officers understood probable cause, that citizen complaints were investigated, and that officers were disciplined for misconduct. Lawson also fails to provide sufficient evidence that Coatesville and/or Canale had a custom—a well-settled
"In limited circumstances, a local government's decision not to train certain employees about their legal duty to avoid violating citizens' rights may rise to the level of an official government policy for purposes of § 1983." Connick v. Thompson, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 1350, 1359, 179 L.Ed.2d 417 (2011). However, the Supreme Court has emphasized that a government's "culpability for a deprivation of rights is at its most tenuous where a claim turns on a failure to train." Id. "Only where a failure to train reflects a `deliberate' or `conscious' choice by a municipality—a `policy' as defined by our prior cases—can a city be liable for such a failure under § 1983." City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 389, 109 S.Ct. 1197, 103 L.Ed.2d 412 (1989). The failure to train must thus amount to "deliberate indifference to the rights of persons with whom the police come into contact." Id. at 388, 109 S.Ct. 1197 (emphasis added). Deliberate indifference "is a stringent standard of fault, requiring proof that a municipal actor disregarded a known or obvious consequence of his action." Brown, 520 U.S. at 410, 117 S.Ct. 1382 (emphasis added). In order to support a claim of deliberate indifference, identification of "[a] pattern of similar constitutional violations by untrained employees is `ordinarily necessary'" to demonstrate that policymakers had notice of the tortious conduct and thus exhibited deliberate indifference by failing to act.
Given this stringent standard of fault, Lawson does not proffer sufficient evidence to support a Monell failure to train claim. First, Lawson does not provide evidence supporting his conclusory allegations that a training deficiency existed. Rather, the record shows that Coatesville police officers are comprehensively trained in arrests and the requirements of probable cause during the course of their Act 120 Training, annual Act 180 updates, and field training. Second, even if the training could be considered deficient, Lawson also fails to provide evidence that Canale knew that such a training deficiency existed or that he disregarded a known or obvious consequence of failing to provide additional training. Significantly, Lawson fails to identify "[a] pattern of similar constitutional violations by untrained employees" that would alert Canale to the need for training. Connick, 131 S.Ct. at 1360. In fact, Lawson identifies no other instance in which a Coatesville police officer arrested the wrong person after a witness identification, no other instance in which an officer arrested a citizen merely because his race/gender matched that of a suspect, and no other instance in which an officer falsely arrested a citizen with no apparent connection to a crime merely because he was standing in the vicinity.
Instead, Lawson only provides evidence of four dissimilar "false arrest" claims filed by Jeffrey Martin and Tekeesha Lovelace. Martin alleged that Ingemie wrongly arrested Martin on two warrants: (1) a domestic relations warrant that was no longer valid because it had been satisfied and (2) a traffic warrant for a different man, also named Jeffrey Martin—a case of mistaken identity. Martin contended that Ingemie ignored Martin's protestations that the warrants were invalid and did not properly check the validity of these warrants. These incidents might be relevant to Lawson's case if Lawson were arrested on an inaccurate warrant. However, any additional training that might have improved Coatesville's warrant-checking accuracy would not have benefitted Lawson, who was arrested without a warrant. Martin's allegations are far too dissimilar to support a finding of "deliberate indifference." See Connick, 131 S.Ct. at 1360 (finding that four prior Brady violations that did not involve a "failure to disclose blood evidence, a crime lab report, or physical or scientific evidence of any kind" "could not have put [the DA] on notice that the office's Brady training was inadequate with respect to th[at] sort of Brady violation....").
Similarly, Tekeesha Lovelace, Martin's wife, also alleged that the Coatesville Police Department falsely arrested her on two occasions after she crashed her car into a person's fence and into a person's garage, and the police accused her of driving under the influence. Lovelace claimed that she was not intoxicated and that the police lacked probable cause to arrest her. At best, these incidents may have alerted Canale to the potential need for more training on probable cause in the context of a suspected DUI. However, any additional training that Coatesville might have provided on probable cause and intoxication would not have benefitted Lawson. Once again, these incidents are too dissimilar to demonstrate that Canale consciously disregarded a recurring training deficiency. However, even if these two incidents could somehow be considered similar to Lawson's claim, they also do not constitute a "pattern" sufficient to support a finding that Canale was deliberately indifferent to a known or obvious consequence of his
Without identifying a pattern of similar constitutional violations, Lawson has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that Coatesville was "deliberately indifferent" to a training deficiency.
Boyle and Ingemie argue that even if their conduct may have violated Lawson's rights, they are nonetheless entitled to summary judgment because they are shielded by the doctrine of qualified immunity. "Police officers, embodying the authority of the state, are liable under § 1983 when they violate someone's constitutional rights, unless they are protected by qualified immunity." Curley v. Klem, 499 F.3d 199, 206 (3d Cir.2007). The doctrine of qualified immunity shields "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) (internal quotation marks omitted).
The Supreme Court has established a two-part analysis that governs when an official is entitled to qualified immunity. Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001). To determine whether a government actor is entitled to qualified immunity a court must consider two questions: (1) whether the facts taken in the light most favorable to the plaintiff show that an officer's conduct violated a constitutional right, and (2) whether the right is clearly established so that it would be clear to a reasonable officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted. Id. at 201-02, 121 S.Ct. 2151. "If the plaintiff fails to satisfy either prong, the defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." James v. City of Wilkes-Barre, 700 F.3d 675, 679 (3d Cir.2012).
With respect to the first question, taking the facts most favorable to Lawson, Middleton did not identify Lawson to the officers. A reasonable jury might thus find that Boyle and Ingemie arrested Lawson without probable cause, thus violating his Fourth Amendment rights. With respect
Lawson also brings § 1985 claims against Defendants for conspiracy to interfere with civil rights. Section 1985(3) imposes civil liability "[i]f two or more persons... conspire ... for the purpose of depriving, either directly or indirectly, any person or class of persons of the equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws[.]" 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3). To survive summary judgment, Lawson must set forth sufficient facts that would allow a jury to find "(1) a conspiracy; (2) motivated by a racial or class based discriminatory animus designed to deprive, directly or indirectly, any person or class of persons [of] the equal protection of the laws; (3) an act in furtherance of the conspiracy; and (4) an injury to person or property or the deprivation of any right or privilege of a citizen of the United States." Lake v. Arnold, 112 F.3d 682, 685 (3d Cir.1997) (citing United Bhd. of Carpenters and Joiners of Am., Local 610 v. Scott, 463 U.S. 825, 828-29, 103 S.Ct. 3352, 77 L.Ed.2d 1049 (1983)). The Third Circuit has elaborated that "a plaintiff must allege both that the conspiracy was motivated by discriminatory animus against an identifiable class and that the discrimination against the identifiable class was invidious." Farber v. City of Paterson, 440 F.3d 131, 135 (3d Cir.2006); see also Robinson v. McCorkle, 462 F.2d 111, 113 (3d Cir.1972) ("A conspiracy claim based upon § 1985(3) requires a clear showing of invidious, purposeful and intentional discrimination between classes or individuals.") (internal quotation marks omitted).
Lawson's § 1985(3) claim fails on two grounds. Lawson fails to provide sufficient evidence (1) that Boyle and Ingemie entered into a conspiracy and (2) that any such conspiracy was motivated by discriminatory animus designed to deprive Lawson of equal protection of the laws. First, there is no evidence of an agreement between the officers. That the two officers both assisted with Lawson's identification and arrest is insufficient to show that they conspired to undertake action to deprive Lawson of equal protection. Furthermore, to succeed on his § 1985(3) claim, Lawson would need to demonstrate that there was an "invidiously discriminatory animus behind the conspirators' action." Griffin v. Breckenridge, 403 U.S. 88, 102, 91 S.Ct. 1790, 29 L.Ed.2d 338 (1971). The record
Lawson brings state law claims against Boyle, Ingemie, and Canale for the torts of false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and civil conspiracy. Defendants argue that they are immune from these claims under the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act ("PSTCA"). They further argue that Lawson does not provide sufficient evidence to support a civil conspiracy against them.
The Pennsylvania Subdivision Tort Claims Act ("PSTCA") governs when a municipality or its employees may be held liable for tortious conduct. The PSTCA provides: "Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, no local agency shall be liable for any damages on account of any injury to a person or property caused by any act of the local agency or an employee thereof...." 42 PA. CONS.STAT. ANN. § 8541.
Boyle and Ingemie argue that they did not engage in willful misconduct, because they believed that probable cause existed for Lawson's arrest. "[W]ilful misconduct means that the actor desired to
In this case, there is a genuine dispute over whether Middleton identified Lawson to Boyle and Ingemie. If the jury believes Middleton's claim that he did not identify Lawson, a jury could conclude that Boyle and/or Ingemie intentionally arrested and initiated prosecution of Lawson knowing that they lacked probable cause. Such action would constitute willful misconduct. There is thus a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Boyle and Ingemie are entitled to immunity under the PSTCA. As Boyle and Ingemie do not provide any additional compelling basis for granting summary judgment as to Lawson's false arrest, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution
Canale argues that he did not engage in willful misconduct, because he was in no way involved with Lawson's arrest. As discussed above, Lawson provides no evidence that Canale had any role in the alleged misconduct. Canale was not even aware of the incident until this lawsuit was filed. Without any knowledge or involvement, Canale cannot be said to have engaged in willful misconduct. He is thus immune from liability under the PSTCA. I will therefore grant Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment as to all state law claims against Canale.
Boyle and Ingemie contend that summary judgment should be granted as to Lawson's civil conspiracy claims, because Lawson has not produced sufficient evidence that they entered into an unlawful agreement or that they acted with malice.
"To prove a civil conspiracy, it must be shown that two or more persons combined or agreed with intent to do an unlawful act or to do an otherwise lawful act by unlawful means." Thompson Coal Co. v. Pike Coal Co., 488 Pa. 198, 412 A.2d 466, 472 (1979). "[E]ach must have the intent to do the unlawful thing. That intent must be common to all, and each must understand that the other has that purpose." Fife v. Great Atl. & Pac. Tea Co., 356 Pa. 265, 52 A.2d 24, 27 (1947). In other words, "[t]here must be a combination, and agreement, a breathing together, and concerted action towards the common
"While conspiracy may be proved by circumstantial evidence, the evidence must be full, clear and satisfactory." Fife, 52 A.2d at 27. "The mere fact that two or more persons, each with the right to do a thing, happen to do that thing at the same time is not by itself an actionable conspiracy." Thompson Coal, 412 A.2d at 473 (quoting Fife, 52 A.2d at 39). "Mere suspicion or the possibility of guilty connection is not sufficient, nor proof of acts which are equally consistent with innocence." Fife, 52 A.2d at 27.
As discussed above, Lawson provides no evidence that Boyle and Ingemie made an agreement "with intent to do an unlawful act." Rather, the evidence shows only that both officers participated in Lawson's identification and arrest after responding to the scene. Any circumstantial evidence that they acted in accordance with an agreement is far from "full, clear and satisfactory" and does not "raise[ ] more than a mere suspicion of concerted action toward the [alleged] common objective" of arresting Lawson without probable cause. Fife, 52 A.2d at 27. I will therefore grant Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment as to Lawson's civil conspiracy claim.
For the reasons set forth above, I will grant in part and deny in part Defendants' motion for summary judgment as follows:
Lawson also lacks evidence that Boyle or Ingemie expressed racial animus towards Lawson and that they agreed to arrest him because of that invidious animus. There is no evidence that any officer made any racial comments to Lawson. Furthermore, the record demonstrates that Lawson was not targeted at random merely because of his race. It is undisputed that when the police arrived, Middleton said that the robbers were still across the street and directed the officers to where Maxwell—one of the robbers—was standing. It is also undisputed that Lawson was talking and standing right next to Maxwell at this time. While the facts indicate that the officers might have lacked probable cause, they do not demonstrate the type of invidious discriminatory animus against Lawson that is required to state a § 1985(3) claim.
