Norman v. Norman et al

Filing 125

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Senior Judge Inge P Johnson on 2/4/2014. (AVC)

FILED
2014 Feb-04 PM 02:44
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
PATRICK NOAH NORMAN,
Plaintiff,
vs.

CASE NO.: CV-12-J-2136-S

TRACEY C. NORMAN, et al.,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This case comes before the court on the defendant Sams’ and defendants Neill
and Rector’s motions for summary judgment, evidentiary submissions and
memoranda of law (docs. 119-123). By Exhibit A to the Scheduling Order dated
March 5, 2013 (doc. 79), the parties were informed of time limits for responding to
dispositive motions. Pursuant to that Order, the plaintiff had until January 24, 2014,
to respond to the outstanding motions, but to date no such response has been
received. Although Tracey C. Norman is also a named defendant, all parties concede
she cannot be located.1
Before delving into the merits of this case, which the court notes is a domestic
dispute which has found its way to federal court, the court first addresses the filing

1

See plaintiff depo. II, at 23. Mail sent by the court and addressed to her last known
address has been returned as well.

of this action under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as well as the
concept of judicial estoppel.
Specifically, under the relevant portions of Rule 11, an attorney certifies to the
court that, in presenting a pleading, to the best of his or her personal knowledge such
pleading is not “being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause
unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation” and that “the factual
contentions have evidentiary support.” Rule 11 (b)(1) and (3), Fed.R.Civ.Pro. The
court has reason to question whether the filing of the complaint and amended
complaint in this action violated this Rule.
In relation to filing a bankruptcy action, the doctrine of judicial estoppel
“protect[s] the integrity of the judicial process by prohibiting parties from changing
positions according to the exigencies of the moment.” New Hampshire v. Maine, 532
U.S. 742, 749, 121 S.Ct. 1808, 149 L.Ed.2d 968 (2001). The Eleventh Circuit lists
two “primary factors” for parties to establish when invoking the doctrine: “‘First, it
must be shown that the allegedly inconsistent positions were made under oath in a
prior proceeding. Second, such inconsistencies must be shown to have been
calculated to make a mockery of the judicial system.’” Robinson v. Tyson Foods, Inc.,
595 F.3d 1269, 1273 (11th Cir.2010) (quoting Burnes v. Pemco Aeroplex, Inc., 291
F.3d 1282, 1285 (11th Cir.2002)). The court again questions the filing of the
2

complaint and amended complaint given the plaintiff’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The factual background necessary for disposition of this action is as follows:
Plaintiff married defendant Tracey Norman in January 2010. Doc. 123-2.
They spent several years prior to this time and numerous months after that having
each other arrested on claims of domestic violence and obtaining Protection From
Abuse Orders against each other. See e.g., doc. 122-4, at 12; doc. 123-2, at 4, 8, 13,
14, 19-21, 35-39, 52-55. In May 2010 Tracey either left or was thrown out by
plaintiff. Doc. 123-2 at 42. She immediately moved in with and began a relationship
with Michael Wilkerson. She and plaintiff’s harassment of each other continued. See
e.g., doc. 123-2, at 41-42; plaintiff’s amended complaint (doc. 61), ¶¶ 30-33. On July
20, 2010, plaintiff went to the Hoover Police to bring a charge against defendant
Tracey Norman for a March 2010 knife fight between them in which they were both
injured. Plaintiff depo. at 63-68; see also Incident Report, submitted as doc. 122-4.
This report in July was the first time plaintiff met Detective Sams, an officer in the
Family Services Unit for the City of Hoover. Sams’ depo. at 8; Plaintiff depo. at 6368.
Meanwhile, based on hearsay transcriptions of alleged text messages which
plaintiff asserts were left on Michael Wilkerson’s phone for Tracey Norman by
3

defendant Sams, plaintiff became convinced that at some unknown point in time
Tracey Norman was having an inappropriate relationship with Detective Sams. See
doc. 123-2, at 47, plaintiff depo. at 23-24, 36-37. In turn, based on this alleged
inappropriate relationship, and disregarding that the plaintiff and Tracey Norman had
already engaged in a stream of allegations and arrests against each other, plaintiff
somehow became sure that Tracey Norman and Detective Sams conspired to violate
his civil rights by having him arrested, even though the relevant arrest warrants were
issued by counties and cities in which Detective Sams did not work.2 Plaintiff depo.
at 38-44. Plaintiff took these allegations to Sams’ supervisor, Captain Janie Neill,
and when she did not respond as plaintiff thought she should, he went to Niell’s
supervisor, Captain D. Gregg Rector. Declaration of Neill, ¶¶ 10-12; declaraion of
Rector, ¶¶ 10-15. Because neither defendant Neill nor Rector acted on plaintiff’s
unsubstantiated, loosely constructed allegations of conspiracy and wrongdoing
between Detective Sams and Tracey Norman, the plaintiff sues them for deliberate
indifference to the violation of his civil rights by Detective Sams. See Amended

2

For example, the plaintiff had a warrant for his arrest issued by the City of Prattville,
based on allegations of harassing communications by defendant Tracey Norman. Plaintiff depo.
at 171. In fact, the plaintiff pleads that after “Detective Sams failed attempt to arrest Mr.
Norman and have him held and transported to Prattville, Mr. Norman voluntarily traveled to
Prattville and turned himself in....” Amended complaint, ¶ 42. That case was dismissed. Doc.
123-2 at 57. In February 2011, an arrest warrant was issued for plaintiff for criminal trespass by
the City of Montgomery based on allegations by Tracey Norman. Doc. 123-2 at 67-70.
4

Complaint, Count XVIII, ¶ 138.
The majority of plaintiff’s claims are against defendant Tracey Norman. The
Amended Complaint contains the following claims:
COUNT I: Malicious Prosecution and /or Abuse of Process #1– against
Tracey Norman only3
COUNT II: Assault and Battery #1 – against Tracey Norman only.4
COUNT III: Assault and Battery #2 – against Tracey Norman only.5
COUNT IV: Malicious Prosecution and/or Abuse of Process #2 –
against Tracey Norman only.6
COUNT V: Malicious Prosecution and/or Abuse of Process #3 –
against Tracey Norman only, or possibly Tracey Norman and Detective
Sams.7
COUNT VI: Violation of the Alabama Litigation Accountability Act
#1: Against Tracey Norman and Detective Sams.8
3

This asserts an arrest on February 24, 2010, by the City of Hoover police.

4

This claim arises from an incident where the happy couple appeared at the emergency
room both sporting knife wounds. Hospital personnel contacted Hoover police department, and
records reflect both Mr. and Mrs. Norman declined to press charges against the other. This
report was made by a nurse at the hospital and recorded by Officer Harris. Both plaintiff and
Tracey Norman are listed as victims in this report. See doc. 122-4. The evidence supports a
finding that the knife fight occurred in March 2010, not 2012 as alleged in the Amended
Complaint. See doc. 122-4, at 7.
5

This claim alleges Tracey Norman attacked the plaintiff “manually” and poured hot
coffee on him on May 28, 2012. As plaintiff testified he threw Tracey Norman out of his
apartment on May 28, 2010, the court believes that may have been the actual date of this event.
6

This concerns a June 29, 2010, City of Hoover arrest.

7

Plaintiff asserts that on August 2, 2010, Detective Sams helped Tracey Norman obtain a
Petition for Protection from Abuse against plaintiff in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County,
which Detective Sams then personally served on plaintiff. See doc. 123-2 at 13-21.
8

This Count also concerns the August 2, 2010, Protection from Abuse Petition. However,
this is not a viable stand alone cause of action. See Plus Int'l, Inc. v. Pace, 689 So.2d 160, 162
(Ala.Civ.App.1996) (The ALAA does not create a cause of action but, rather, is “a tool to be
5

COUNT VII: Malicious Prosecution and/or Abuse of Process #4:
Against Tracey Norman and Detective Sams.9
COUNT VIII: False Imprisonment – Against Detective Sams only.10
COUNT IX: Trespass and Conversion – Against defendants Sams and
Tracey Norman.11
COUNT X: Malicious Prosecution and/or Abuse of Process #5: Against
Tracey Norman and Detective Sams.12
COUNT XI: Malicious Prosecution and/or Abuse of Process #6: Against
Tracey Norman.13
COUNT XII: Malicious Prosecution and/or Abuse of Process #7:

used by the court to sanction parties who bring frivolous litigation.”). Additionally, the plaintiff
may only recover costs and reasonable attorney’s fees should a court find the underlying claim
was without substantial justification. See Ala.Code. § 12-19-272 (a).
9

This claim concerns defendant Tracey Norman claiming plaintiff violated an already
existing Protection from Abuse Order in Elmore County in August 2010.
10

This claim too arises from the Elmore County Protection from Abuse violation, for
which Detective Sams allegedly served plaintiff with the Elmore County warrant for his arrest on
August 10, 2010. See doc. 122-5. However, the evidence demonstrates another officer actually
took the plaintiff into custody. Doc. 122-6 (reflecting “Burns” was the arresting officer).
Although plaintiff alleges these events occurred August 10, 2012, the evidence demonstrates the
actual events took place 2010.
11

The plaintiff alleges that Tracey Norman broke into his residence on August 10, 2010,
to steal his property, including his dog and his Rolex, and that Detective Sams conspired with
Tracey to enable Tracey to execute this break-in by having the plaintiff arrested. The Normans
were still married to each other at this time. Although plaintiff alleges these events occurred
August 10, 2012, the evidence demonstrates the actual events took place 2010.
12

In this claim, plaintiff asserts that Tracey Norman made false statements to the City of
Prattville police on September 24, 2010, and that somehow Detective Sams had something
unspecified to do with these false statements.
13

Plaintiff alleges that on October 7, 2011, Tracey Norman maliciously filed a divorce
case against the plaintiff in Jefferson County, although plaintiff had already filed for divorce
against her in the Bessemer division of Jefferson County. The plaintiff alleges the malicious
divorce case was dismissed on April 29, 2011, and the divorce action he filed is still pending (as
of January 2013). See Amended complaint, ¶¶ 93-95.
6

Against Tracey Norman and Detective Sams.14
COUNT XIII: Malicious Prosecution and/or Abuse of Process #8:
Against Tracey Norman and Detective Sams.15
COUNT XIV: Violation of the Alabama Litigation Accountability Act
#2: Against Tracey Norman and Detective Sams.16
COUNT XV: False Arrest pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 – against
defendant Sams.17
Count XVI: Brady Violations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 – against
Detective Sams.18
Count XVII: Previously dismissed by the court.
Count XVIII: Deliberate Indifference Through Custom by Defendants
Neill and Rector.19

14

This Count complains that defendant Tracey Norman falsely accused plaintiff of
criminal trespass to the City of Montgomery police and that somehow Detective Sams
participated in this February 15, 2011, complaint.
15

This claim asserts that defendant Tracey Norman falsely filed a Petition for Protection
from Abuse in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County on February 16, 2011, and that
somehow Detective Sams participated in this. Amended Complaint, ¶ 103
16

This Count also concerns the August 2, 2010, Jefferson County Protection from Abuse
Petition. This Count appears wholly duplicative and indistinguishable from Count VI. In fact,
Count XIV is a verbatim restatement of Count VI.
17

The plaintiff returns to the events of August 10, 2010, which he was taken into custody
by someone other than defendant Sams, on an arrest warrant which issued from Elmore County,
and claims not only did Detective Sams arrest him, but further that Sams did so to give Tracey
Norman an opportunity to burglarize plaintiff’s home, all of which violated his rights to be free
from unlawful seizure under the 4th and 14th Amendments.
18

Assuming that Sams had a romantic relationship with defendant Tracey Norman, and
assuming that the same is somehow exculpatory evidence which Sams had a duty to and failed to
disclose (although plaintiff does not allege to whom the relationship should have been disclosed),
the plaintiff also fails to allege in which criminal action against him this may have been
exculpatory evidence.
19

The plaintiff alleges that defendants Neill and Rector, as supervisors, have created an
atmosphere of tolerance of willful, wanton and improper behavior of Hoover officers. Amended
complaint, ¶ 136. Plaintiff alleges that Neill and Rector failed to train or discipline officers
reported for misconduct, failed to implement policies for reporting allegations of misconduct,
7

Meanwhile, during which this sordid sequence of events unfolded, the plaintiff
filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on February 23, 2011. See In re Patrick N. Norman,
Case No. 11-00942-TOM7, (submitted as doc. 122-9). In Schedule B of that filing,
under “Other contingent and unliquidated claims of every nature, including tax
refunds, counterclaims of the debtor, and rights to set off claims. Give estimated value
of each,” the plaintiff checked “None.” Id. at 11. He also represented himself as
unmarried at the time the petition was filed. Id., at 40. These documents were all
signed under penalty of perjury. Id., at 24, 45. Plaintiff was discharged from
bankruptcy on May 31, 2011.
The court finds that at the time of filing his bankruptcy, the facts underlying
plaintiff’s claims here were fully developed. Lacking from the evidence before the
court is any allegation that the plaintiff ever amended his Chapter 7 petition, moved
to reopen his Bankruptcy case, or took any other action to notify the Bankruptcy Court
that he had this action.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARDS
A moving party is entitled to summary judgment if there is no genuine issue of
material fact, leaving final judgment to be decided as a matter of law. See Federal Rule

failed to supervise to prevent misconduct, failed to discipline, and failed to train officers
concerning citizens’ constitutional rights. The court believes this claim may be intended to be
brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
8

of Civil Procedure 56; Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S.
574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1355-56 (1986). An issue is “material” if it is a legal
element of the claim under the applicable substantive law which might affect the
outcome of the case. It is “genuine” if the record taken as a whole could lead a
rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party. Allen v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 121
F.3d 642, 646 (11th Cir.1997).
The facts, and any reasonable inferences therefrom, are to be viewed in the light
most favorable to the non-moving party, with any doubt resolved in the nonmovant's
favor. See Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 158, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 1609
(1970). Once met by the moving party, however, the burden shifts to the non-moving
party to come forward with evidence to establish each element essential to that party's
case sufficient to sustain a jury verdict. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317,
322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552 (1986); Earley v. Champion Int'l Corp., 907 F.2d 1077,
1080 (11th Cir.1990).
A party opposing a properly submitted motion for summary judgment may not
rest upon mere allegations or denials of his pleadings, but must set forth specific facts
showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Eberhardt v. Waters, 901 F.2d 1578,
1580 (11th Cir.1990). In addition, the non-moving party's evidence on rebuttal must
be significantly probative and not based on mere assertion or be merely colorable. See
9

Rule 56(e); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505,
2511 (1986). Speculation does not create a genuine issue of fact. Cordoba v.
Dillard's, Inc., 419 F.3d 1169, 1181 (11th Cir.2005).
The court must consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff
and may not make credibility determinations nor weigh the parties' evidence.
Frederick v. Sprint/United Management Co., 246 F.3d 1305, 1311 (11th Cir.2001);
Stewart v. Booker T. Washington Insurance, 232 F.3d 844, 848 (11th Cir.2000).
LEGAL ANALYSIS
A. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
The law is well established that the case pending before this court was, at the
time of filing his bankruptcy, a contingent or unliquidated claim, despite plaintiff’s
statement under oath to that court that he had no such claims. Eleventh Circuit law is
also well-established that debtors have a continuing duty to disclose such changes.
In fact, full and honest disclosure in bankruptcy proceedings is “‘crucial’ to the
system’s ‘effective functioning.’” Robinson v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 595 F.3d 1269,
1274 (11th Cir.2010) (quoting Burnes v. Pemco Aeroplex, Inc., 291 F.3d 1282, 1285
(11th Cir.2002)). Further, “a pending lawsuit seeking monetary compensation qualifies
as an asset.” Id. (quoting Parker v. Wendy’s International, Inc., 368 F.3d 1268 (11th
Cir.2004). The “property of the bankruptcy estate includes all potential causes of
10

action that exist at the time petitioner files for bankruptcy.” Barger v. City of
Cartersville, 348 F.3d 1289, 1292 (11th Cir.2003) (citing 11 U.S.C. § 541(a)).
Generally speaking, a pre-petition cause of action is the property of the Chapter
7 bankruptcy estate, and only the trustee in bankruptcy has standing to pursue it.”
Parker, 365 F.3d at 1272 (citing Barger v. City of Cartersville, 348 F.3d 1289, 1292
(11th Cir.2003)). “Once an asset becomes part of the bankruptcy estate, all rights held
by the debtor in the asset are extinguished unless the asset is abandoned back to the
debtor pursuant to § 554 of the Bankruptcy code.” Id. (citing 11 U.S.C. § 554).
In the facts before this case, plaintiff’s claims became an asset of the bankruptcy
estate when he filed his bankruptcy petition. When this action was filed in the Circuit
Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, on May 7, 2012, this case remained an asset of
the bankruptcy estate. Thus, plaintiff has no standing to bring the instant claims.
Parker, 365 F.3d at 1272. See also Witko, 374 F.3d at 1042 (“pre-petition causes of
action are part of the bankruptcy estate...).” Even if the plaintiff had standing to
pursue his claim here, the court would be remiss in not finding the plaintiff judicially
estopped from bringing the same. Because the events underlying the plaintiff’s claims
in this court had already occurred at the time he filed his bankruptcy petition, allowing
the claims to proceed here effectively condones the actions of any plaintiff savvy
enough, upon accrual of a claim, to hurriedly bring a Chapter 7 petition, receive a
11

discharge, and then bring a lawsuit based on the already accrued action, thus
protecting any potential recovery from creditors. This court cannot allow such an
abuse of the system.
Because the court finds that plaintiff has no right to pursue this action because
it is the property of the bankruptcy estate, and because the court also finds that the
plaintiff has maintained inconsistent positions in this court and the bankruptcy court,
this action is due to be dismissed with prejudice. However, this is not the sole grounds
on which this action should be dismissed.
B. Rule 11 and Frivolous Litigation
The court finds that given plaintiff’s deposition testimony, in conjunction with
all pleadings filed to date, plaintiff’s counsel violated Rule 11 in allowing this case to
proceed, especially after her client testified by deposition. In essence, every allegation
in the plaintiff’s complaint is premised on the existence of an “inappropriate
relationship” between defendant Tracey Norman and defendant Sams. However,
plaintiff and defendant Tracey Norman’s pattern of having each other arrested predates not only any feasible contact defendant Sams’ had with defendant Tracey
Norman, but also pre-dates their marriage. While still married to each other, Tracey
Norman is alleged to have moved in with non-party Michael Wilkerson, who,
according to plaintiff, became suspicious of this alleged inappropriate relationship
12

between defendant Tracey Norman and defendant Sams, and took his suspicions – for
whatever reason – to plaintiff, and from which plaintiff then uses his wife’s
boyfriend’s unsubstantiated allegations to file a lawsuit claiming violations of his
rights by defendants Sams, Neill and Rector, based on this multi-year pattern he and
his wife had of having each other arrested.
Rule 11 sanctions are warranted when a party files an action that: (1) has no
reasonable factual basis; (2) has no reasonable chance of success based on the legal
theory used, or that cannot be advanced as a reasonable basis to change existing law;
or (3) is filed in bad faith for an improper purpose. Anderson v. Smithfield Foods, Inc.,
353 F.3d 912, 915 (11th Cir.2003). In determining whether to impose sanctions, the
district court determines “whether the party's claims are objectively frivolous-in view
of the facts or law-and then, if they are, whether the person who signed the pleadings
should have been aware that they were frivolous; that is, whether he would have been
aware had he made a reasonable inquiry.” Worldwide Primates, Inc. v. McGreal, 87
F.3d 1252, 1254 (11th Cir.1996).
Because the defendants did not seek Rule 11 sanctions in their motions for
summary judgment, and because this court cannot sua sponte grant summary judgment
on a ground not raised in the defendants’ pleadings, the court notes only that to pursue
a cause of action long after the evidence demonstrates a complete and total lack of
13

basis for doing so violates both the letter and the spirit of Rule 11. Had plaintiff’s
counsel made a reasonable inquiry into the evidentiary basis for the plaintiff’s claims,
counsel would have realized the same were frivolous.
C. § 1983 and Claims of Deliberate Indifference
Defendants Rector and Neill are named solely in Count XVIII of the Amended
Complaint, which claims these defendants acted with deliberate indifference to the
plaintiff’s rights.
The plaintiff alleges that defendants Neill and Rector, as supervisors, created
an atmosphere of tolerance of willful, wanton and improper behavior of Hoover
officers. Amended complaint, ¶ 136. Plaintiff alleges that Neill and Rector failed to
train or discipline officers reported for misconduct, failed to implement policies for
reporting allegations of misconduct, failed to supervise to prevent misconduct, failed
to discipline, and failed to train officers concerning citizens' constitutional rights. The
court believes this claim may be intended to be brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983,
although no mention of a specific Constitutional right which was violated is made by
the plaintiff within this Count.
Lacking from the plaintiff is any evidence at all to support these claims. The
evidence submitted demonstrates that plaintiff complained to Neill that Sams was in
an inappropriate relationship with plaintiff’s wife, while recognizing that the
14

plaintiff’s wife was already in a relationship with someone other than plaintiff and
Sams at the relevant time. Rather than bring defendant Neill any evidence of this, the
plaintiff went to defendant Rector with the same complaints of the wrongdoing by
defendant Sams. See e.g., declaration of Neill (doc. 120); declaration of Rector (doc.
121). Defendant Rector also asked plaintiff to bring him evidence of the alleged
relationship, and plaintiff failed to do so. Declaration of Rector, ¶ 12; plaintiff depo.
II at 55.
Deliberate indifference exists when a government official “(1) had subjective
knowledge of a risk of serious harm; and (2) disregarded that risk; (3) by conduct that
is more than mere negligence.” West v. Tillman, 496 F.3d 1321, 1327 (11th Cir.2007)
(internal quotation marks and alterations omitted). “[D]eliberate indifference requires
that the indifference be a deliberate choice, which is an exacting standard.” Liese v.
Indian River Cnty. Hosp. Dist., 701 F.3d 334, 344 (11th Cir.2012) (internal citations
and quotation marks omitted). In order to demonstrate deliberate indifference for
purposes of failure to train or failure to supervise, the plaintiff must provide some
evidence of similar constitutional violations by untrained employees. Connick v.
Thompson, – U.S. –, 131 S.Ct. 1350, 1360 (2011).
An unsubstantiated allegation of one officer’s conduct does not impart actual
or constructive notice to policymakers that an omission in their training program
15

caused city employees to violate citizens’ constitutional rights. Connick, 131 S.Ct. at
1360, citing Board of Comm’rs of Bryan Cty. v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 410. See also
Lewis v. City of W. Palm Beach, Fla., 561 F.3d 1288, 1293 (11th Cir.2009) (to
establish deliberate indifference, the “plaintiff must present some evidence that the
municipality knew of a need to train and/or supervise in a particular area and the
municipality made a deliberate choice not to take any action.”).
Viewing the facts before this court in the light most favorable to the plaintiff,
and without judging credibility, at best the court finds the plaintiff has an
unsubstantiated belief that defendant Sams engaged in an inappropriate relationship
with plaintiff’s wife and based on that relationship, conspired with plaintiff’s wife to
violate plaintiff’s constitutional rights. In order to hold Sams’ supervisors liable for
these perceived violations, the plaintiff must establish a causal connection between the
actions of the supervisors and the alleged deprivation. This causal connection can be
established when a history of widespread abuse puts the responsible supervisor on
notice of the need for improved training or supervision, and the official fails to take
corrective action. Fundiller v. City of Cooper City, 777 F.2d 1436, 1443 (11th
Cir.1985); citing Wilson v. Attaway, 757 F.2d 1227, 1241 (11th Cir.1985), Sims v.
Adams, 537 F.2d 829, 832 (5th Cir.1976). No evidence of widespread abuse has been
produced by the plaintiff, nor has the plaintiff even made such an allegation. Rather,
16

the plaintiff has made allegations concerning one officer’s conduct. “[E]mployees’
actions do not imply municipal liability absent an official policy or custom, and a
single incident does not support an inference of such a policy.” Barr v. Gee, 437
Fed.Appx. 865, 875 (11th Cir.2011), citing McDowell v. Brown, 392 F.3d at 1290-91
(11th Cir.2004).
Having considered the foregoing, and being of the opinion defendants Neill and
Rectors’ motion for summary judgment is due to be granted, the court shall so rule by
separate Order.
D. Count XV – § 1983 against defendant Sams, False Arrest
Although the plaintiff alleges in Count XV of the Amended Complaint that
Detective Sams “personally served and arrested Mr. Norman on a warrant that he knew
to be obtained without probable cause...” (Amended Complaint, ¶ 114), the court finds
the evidence submitted does not support any such finding.

Rather, the evidence

supports a finding that Detective Sams was present when plaintiff was arrested on
August 10, 2010. See e.g., plaintiff depo. at 105-106; and arrest report (doc. 122-6),
(reflecting “Burns” was the arresting officer).
Even if Sams was the arresting officer, and even if he assisted defendant Tracey
Norman in bringing the Elmore County charge and subsequent arrest warrant,20 this
20

The plaintiff was found not guilty in this case. Doc. 123-2, at 30.
17

claim is wholly resolved by Smith v. Gonzalez, 670 F.2d 522 (5th Cir.), cert. denied,
459 U.S. 1005, 103 S.Ct. 361, 74 L.Ed.2d 397 (1982). In Smith, the Court held that
“[w]here an arrest is made under authority of a properly issued warrant, the arrest is
simply not a false arrest. Id., 670 F.2d at 526, citing Rodriguez v. Ritchey, 556 F.2d
1185 (5th Cir. 1977). See also Simon v. U.S., 644 F.2d 490, 496 (5th Cir.1981) (“A[n]
... officer does not violate the Constitution when he executes a warrant valid on its
face...”). Rather, the independent decision by a judge to issue the warrant breaks any
causal chain between the officer and any constitutional violation. LeSavage v. White,
755 F.2d 814, 819, n.5 (11th Cir.1985). See also Maas v. Moran, 2013 WL 4456154,
*5 (S.D.Miss.2013) (same); Daniel v. Grimmett,

2010 WL 1375632, *2

(N.D.Miss.2010) (“The Fifth Circuit has further held, ‘a warrant is valid even though
the court, through lack of information or otherwise, has issued it for the arrest of a
person in fact innocent of the offense alleged.’) (quoting Rodriguez v. Ritchey, 556
F.2d 1185, 1191 (5th Cir.1977)).
Having considered the foregoing, and being of the opinion defendant Sams’
motion for summary judgment on Count XV of the plaintiff’s amended complaint is
due to be granted, the court shall so rule by separate Order.
E. Count XVI – § 1983 against defendant Sams, “Brady Violations”
In Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963),
18

the Supreme Court held that due process requires the prosecution to turn over evidence
favorable to the accused and material to his guilt or punishment. The amended
complaint before this court asserts that defendant Sams violated plaintiff’s due process
rights as established by Brady in not disclosing the alleged “romantic relationship with
Mrs. Norman...” Amended Complaint, ¶ 119. A Brady violation of a defendant's due
process rights occurs where the prosecution suppresses material evidence favorable
to the defendant. Brady, 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. at 1196. The Eleventh Circuit has
held that “regardless of request, favorable, exculpatory or impeachment evidence is
material, and constitutional error results from its suppression by the government, if
there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense,
the result of the proceeding would have been different.” United States v. Scheer, 168
F.3d 445, 451 (11th Cir.1999) (quotation omitted). In order to show a reasonable
probability that the result would have been different, a defendant must show that the
government’s evidentiary suppression undermined confidence in the outcome of the
trial. Id. at 452.
Lacking from the plaintiff’s pleadings is any basis to find that defendant Sams,
as a Hoover police officer, had any duty under Brady. The evidence before this court
clearly demonstrates that Tracey Norman had plaintiff arrested in multiple counties,
both before and after any allegation is made concerning defendant Sams involvement.
19

Thus, disclosure of the alleged relationship between Sams and Tracey Norman simply
could not impact the outcome of the majority of the proceedings, and plaintiff makes
no attempt to even identify what proceeding might have ended differently had the
alleged tryst been disclosed.21 Furthermore, viewing the plaintiff’s allegations in the
light most favorable to him, the plaintiff already had his “evidence” of the alleged
affair at the time of the court actions in question. Thus, he could have presented such
evidence.
Finding no viable claim stated in count XVI of the plaintiff’s amended
complaint, the court shall grant defendant Sams’ motion for summary judgment on this
count.
F. State Law Claims
The plaintiff brings a myriad of state law claims against defendant Tracey
Norman and defendant Sams. In light of the dismissal of the § 1983 claims, there are
no federal causes of action in this lawsuit. Rather, all that remains are state law

21

Additionally, even if the plaintiff’s claim stated a viable cause of action under Brady,
and assuming the plaintiff could prove “that the prosecution knowingly made false statements or
introduced or allowed trial testimony that it knew or should have known was false” the remedy
is a new trial “if there is any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected
the judgment of the jury.” Smith v. Secretary, Dept. of Corrections, 572 F.3d 1327, 1333 (11th
Cir.2009) (citations omitted).

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claims. Where, like here, subject matter jurisdiction is predicated exclusively on
federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and where diversity of
citizenship is plainly absent, the decision of whether to continue to exercise
supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims rests in the court’s discretion. See
28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(2); Shotz v. City of Plantation, Fla., 344 F.3d 1161, 1185 (11th
Cir.2003) (in deciding how to exercise § 1367(c) discretion, court should consider
principles of economy, convenience, fairness, and comity); Palmer v. Hospital
Authority of Randolph County, 22 F.3d 1559, 1569 (11th Cir.1994) (similar). The
Eleventh Circuit has “encouraged district courts to dismiss any remaining state claims
when, as here, the federal claims have been dismissed prior to trial.” Raney v. Allstate
Ins. Co., 370 F.3d 1086, 1088-89 (11th Cir.2004).
The court shall therefore dismiss the remaining state law claims for refiling in
an more appropriate forum, should the plaintiff wish to proceed with the same to the
extent that plaintiff’s Chapter VII bankruptcy does not bar the same.
CONCLUSION
In consideration of all of the foregoing, the court shall grant defendants Neill
and Rectors’ motion for summary judgment (doc. 119) on Count XVIII of the
plaintiff’s amended complaint, finding no genuine issue of material fact remains and
that these defendants are entitled to judgment in their favor as a matter of law.
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The court shall further grant defendant Sams motion for summary judgment
(doc. 123) on Counts XV and XVI of the plaintiff’s amended complaint, finding no
genuine issue of material fact remains and that these defendants are entitled to
judgment in their favor as a matter of law.
The court shall dismiss all remaining counts of the plaintiff’s complaint, as they
arise solely under state law and the court declines to exercise judgment over the same.
DONE and ORDERED this the 4th day of February, 2014.

INGE PRYTZ JOHNSON
SENIOR U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

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