Bonilla-Chirinos, et al. v. City of West Sacramento, et al.
Filing
40
MEMORANDUM and ORDER granting in part and denying in part 31 Motion for Summary Judgment signed by Senior Judge William B. Shubb on 7/25/17. (Kaminski, H)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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----oo0oo----
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GUILLERMO BONILLA-CHIRINOS
and SANDRA HERNANDEZ,
individually and as guardians
ad litem of J.B., a minor,
Civ. No. 2:15-2564 WBS EFB
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER RE: MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Plaintiffs,
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v.
CITY OF WEST SACRAMENTO and
police officers KENNETH
FELLOWS, MICHELLE TATE,
ANTHONY HERRERA, THOMAS
MAGGIANO, JENNIFER GRILLAT,
ERIC ANGLE, MATTHEW LUIZ, and
DAVID STALLIONS, in their
individual and official
capacities,
Defendants.
----oo0oo---Plaintiffs Guillermo Bonilla-Chirinos and Sandra
Hernandez, individually and on behalf of their son J.B., brought
this action against defendants the City of West Sacramento (“the
City”) and West Sacramento police officers Kenneth Fellows,
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Michelle Tate, Anthony Herrera, Thomas Maggiano, Jennifer
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Grillat, Eric Angle, Matthew Luiz, and David Stallions,1
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alleging, inter alia, that defendants used excessive force in
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arresting them in violation of their Fourth Amendment rights.
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(Compl. (Docket No. 1).)
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for summary judgment.
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I.
(Defs.’ Mot. (Docket No. 31).)
Factual and Procedural History
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Before the court is defendants’ Motion
On December 12, 2013, defendants approached plaintiffs’
residence with warrants for the arrest of Bonilla-Chirinos and
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Hernandez.
(See Decl. of Guillermo Bonilla-Chirinos (“Bonilla-
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Chirinos Decl.”) ¶¶ 11-12 (Docket No. 35).)
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issued based on an incident that occurred in May 2013 during
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which Bonilla-Chirinos was involved in a physical altercation
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with a representative from a repossession company who was
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attempting to tow his car and Hernandez drove the car away before
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the representative could tow it.
The warrants were
(See id. ¶¶ 3, 8-11.)
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Upon approaching the front door of plaintiffs’
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residence, officer Fellows informed Bonilla-Chirinos and
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Hernandez that defendants were police and had come with warrants
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for their arrest.
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stated that she would not open the door and requested that
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Fellows read the arrest warrants to her.
(Dep. of Kenneth Fellows at 35.)
(Id.)
Hernandez
Fellows stated
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The individual defendants are sued in their individual
and official capacities. (Am. Compl. ¶ 2 (Docket No. 14).) The
court will construe this action as brought against the individual
defendants only in their individual capacities, as the City is
named in this action. See Sherman v. Cty. of Maui, 191 F. App’x
535, 537 (9th Cir. 2006) (noting that claims against municipal
officials in their official capacity are “effectively claims
against the [municipality] itself”).
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that he would not read the arrest warrants to her, and requested
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again that she open the door.
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Fellows then kicked the door open.
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(Id.)
She refused.
(Id.)
(Id.)
Bonilla-Chirinos testifies that immediately upon seeing
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defendants enter his residence, he “got on [his] knees,” “put
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[his] hands up in the air,” and “said ‘I surrender.’”
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Chirinos Decl. ¶ 23.)
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Fellows “rushed up to [him] and basically tackled [him] by
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grabbing [his] neck and [his] arm . . . and pulling [his] arm
(Bonilla-
He testifies that despite his surrender,
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behind [his] back, and then slamming [him] face down to the
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ground while driving [Fellows’] knee very violently and
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forcefully into the small of [his] back.”
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that Fellows “is a large and muscular man” and put his “entire
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body weight into driving his knee into [Bonilla-Chirinos’] back.”
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(Id.)
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arrest in any way.”
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(Id.)
He testifies
Bonilla-Chirinos testifies that he “did not resist the
(Id.)
Hernandez testifies that officer Tate placed her under
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arrest by “violently grabb[ing], pull[ing,] and twist[ing her]
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right arm behind [her] back,” then placing handcuffs on her.
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(Decl. of Sandra Hernandez (“Hernandez Decl.”) ¶ 10 (Docket No.
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36).)
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. . . were hurting [her] wrists,” and Tate refused to loosen them
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when she asked her to do so.
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also “did not resist arrest in any way.”
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She testifies that the handcuffs “were much too tight and
(Id.)
Hernandez testifies that she
(Id.)
During the arrest, defendants had their guns drawn.
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(Dep. of Michelle Tate at 23.)
Hernandez testifies that at one
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point during the arrest, officer Herrera pointed his gun at J.B.,
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who was four years old at the time.
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(Hernandez Decl. ¶ 11.)
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Hernandez also testifies that after she was placed
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under arrest, she asked officers Tate and Maggiano if she could
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call a relative to come pick J.B. up from their residence, and
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Tate and Maggiano denied her request.
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(Id. ¶ 15.)
After the arrest, defendants transported plaintiffs to
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a police station.
(Dep. of Sandra Hernandez (“Hernandez Dep.”)
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at 116.)
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J.B. to stay with relatives.
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released from the police station approximately nine hours later,
After arriving at the police station, defendants sent
(See id. at 129-30.)
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at which time she picked J.B. up from the relatives.
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130-32.)
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shortly thereafter.
Hernandez was
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(See id. at
Bonilla-Chirinos was released from the police station
(See id. at 130-31.)
Plaintiffs filed this action in December 2015.
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(Compl.)
Citing the above facts and testimony, they bring the
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following causes of action against defendants under 42 U.S.C. §
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1983 (“section 1983”)2: (1) use of excessive force in arrest in
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violation of the Fourth Amendment, (2) unreasonable search in
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violation of the Fourth Amendment, (3) unjustified invasion of
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privacy in violation of the Fourth Amendment, (4) deprivation of
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the right to remain silent in violation of the Fifth Amendment,
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and (5) deprivation of familial association in violation of the
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Fourteenth Amendment.
(Am. Compl. at 5-10 (Docket No. 14).)
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Section 1983 provides: “Every person who, under color
of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage . . .
subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United
States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the
deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by
the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured
in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding
for redress . . . .”
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Defendants now move for judgment as to each of plaintiffs’
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claims.
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(Defs.’ Mot.)
II.
Legal Standard
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Summary judgment is proper “if the movant shows that
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there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the
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movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
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P. 56(a).
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of the action, and a genuine issue is one for which a reasonable
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jury could find in favor of the non-moving party.
Fed. R. Civ.
A material fact is one that could affect the outcome
Anderson v.
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Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
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bears the initial burden of establishing the absence of a genuine
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issue of material fact.
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322-23 (1986).
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that negates an essential element of the non-moving party’s case
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or demonstrating that the non-moving party cannot produce
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evidence to support an essential element for which it will bear
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the burden of proof at trial.
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The moving party
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317,
It can satisfy that burden by presenting evidence
Id.
Once the moving party meets its burden, the burden
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shifts to the non-moving party to “designate specific facts
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showing that there is a genuine issue [of material fact] for
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trial.”
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simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the
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material facts.”
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Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986).
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scintilla of evidence . . . will be insufficient; there must be
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evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [non-
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moving party].”
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Id. at 324.
The non-moving party must “do more than
Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio
“The mere existence of a
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252.
In deciding a summary judgment motion, the court must
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view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving
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party and draw all justifiable inferences in its favor.
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255.
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and the drawing of legitimate inferences from the facts are jury
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functions, not those of a judge . . . on a motion for summary
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judgment . . . .”
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III. Discussion
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Id. at
“Credibility determinations, the weighing of the evidence,
A.
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Excessive Force Claim
i.
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Id.
Liability of Maggiano, Grillat, Angle, Luiz, and
Stallions
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Defendants argue, as an initial matter, that the court
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should grant them judgment as to the liability of officers
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Maggiano, Grillat, Angle, Luiz, and Stallions for use of
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excessive force during the December 2013 arrest because “there
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are no specific facts alleged regarding [those defendants’]
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actions” during the arrest and plaintiff has merely “lump[ed]”
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those defendants together with other defendants in discussing the
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arrest.
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(Defs.’ Mot., Mem. (“Defs.’ Mem.”) at 3.)
The Ninth Circuit has held that a plaintiff may not
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“lump all the defendants together” under a “team effort” theory
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of liability, but must, instead, “base each individual’s
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liability on his own conduct.”
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295 (9th Cir. 1996).
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plaintiffs neither point to any evidence indicating that
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Maggiano, Grillat, Angle, Luiz, or Stallions used any force
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against them during the December 2013 arrest, nor provide any
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response to defendants’ request for judgment as to the liability
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of those defendants for use of excessive force.
Chuman v. Wright, 76 F.3d 292,
In their Opposition to defendants’ Motion,
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In light of
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plaintiffs’ failure to cite any evidence as to the liability of
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Maggiano, Grillat, Angle, Luiz, or Stallions for use of excessive
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force or respond to defendants’ request for judgment as to those
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defendants for use of such force, the court will grant judgment
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to Maggiano, Grillat, Angle, Luiz, and Stallions as to
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plaintiffs’ excessive force claim.
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F.3d 1212, 1219 (9th Cir. 2007) (“A district court does not have
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a duty to search for evidence that would create a factual
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dispute.”); Bolbol v. City of Daly City, 754 F. Supp. 2d 1095,
See Bias v. Moynihan, 508
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1115 (N.D. Cal. 2010) (“Plaintiff does not challenge defendants’
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assertion that she has no cause of action regarding California
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Penal Code Section 4003 . . . in her opposition brief . . . .
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Accordingly, the court grants summary judgment in favor of
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defendants as to this claim.”).
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ii.
Monell Liability
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Defendants next argue that the court should grant them
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judgment as to the liability of the City for excessive force
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because plaintiffs have not offered “any facts or evidence”
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suggesting that the conduct complained of in their excessive
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force claim--Fellows’ and Tate’s use of force and Herrera’s
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pointing of a gun despite plaintiffs’ non-resistance--was
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pursuant to City policy or custom.
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Plaintiffs respond with the argument that such conduct occurred
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because the City failed to train the individual defendants in
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proper arrest procedures, and thus the City may be held liable
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for the conduct under Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. of City of
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N.Y., 436 U.S. 658 (1978).
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32).)
(Defs.’ Mem. at 7.)
(See Pls.’ Opp’n at 17-20 (Docket No.
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Under Monell, a city “may be held liable for [a police
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officer’s section 1983] violation only if the . . . officer[’s]
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conduct was a product of City policy or custom.”
Menotti v. City
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of Seattle, 409 F.3d 1113, 1147 (9th Cir. 2005).
A city’s
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failure “to train [officers] about their legal duty to avoid
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violating citizens’ rights may rise to the level of [city] policy
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[or custom] for purposes of § 1983.”
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U.S. 51, 61 (2011).
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demonstrate “a conscious or deliberate choice” on the part of the
Connick v. Thompson, 563
An individual asserting a Monell claim must
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city to decline to train its police despite a need to do so, and
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“the lack of training actually caused the constitutional harm or
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deprivation of rights” that is at issue in the case.
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Cty. of Los Angeles, 758 F.3d 1154, 1159 (9th Cir. 2014).
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Flores v.
Plaintiffs have not offered any evidence indicating
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that the conduct complained of in their excessive force claim was
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due to failure to provide adequate training on the City’s part.
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The only evidence they cite in support of Monell liability for
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their excessive force claim is Bonilla-Chirinos’ testimony that
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Fellows “attack[ed] and seriously injure[d Bonilla-Chirinos] when
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[he] had already surrendered and was on his knees with his hands
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up.”3
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unlawful force against Bonilla-Chirinos during his arrest does
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not speak to whether Fellows used such force because the City
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failed to provide him proper training.
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(See Pls.’ Opp’n at 19.)
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That Fellows may have used
It is entirely possible
Plaintiffs cite other testimony arguing that the
warrants for their arrest and their criminal convictions were
unlawful in the section of their Opposition discussing Monell
liability. (See Pls.’ Opp’n at 17-19.) It is unclear how such
testimony supports Monell liability as to their excessive force
claim.
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that in “attack[ing] and seriously injur[ing]” Bonilla-Chirinos
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despite his having surrendered, Fellows acted contrary to his
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training.
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indicating that the conduct complained of in their excessive
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force claim was due to failure to provide adequate training on
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the City’s part, the court will grant judgment to the City as to
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that claim.
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Because plaintiffs have not provided any evidence
iii. Merits of Excessive Force Claim Against Fellows,
Tate, and Herrera
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In light of the above discussion, the only defendants
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remaining for purposes of plaintiffs’ excessive force claim are
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Fellows, Tate, and Herrera.
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as to those defendants are based on the merits of plaintiffs’
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excessive force claim.
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Defendants’ arguments for judgment
“Claims against law enforcement officers for the use of
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excessive force during an arrest are analyzed under the Fourth
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Amendment[] . . . .”
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(E.D. Cal. 2014) (O’Neill, J.) (citing Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S.
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386, 388 (1989)).
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only such force during an arrest as is objectively reasonable
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under the circumstances.”
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2:09-1826 WBS GGH, 2010 WL 3238931, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 12,
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2010) (citing Graham, 490 U.S. at 397).
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force used during an arrest was “objectively reasonable” requires
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“balancing of the amount of force applied against the need for
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that force under the circumstances.”
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790 F. Supp. 2d 1188, 1202 (E.D. Cal. 2011) (Wanger, J.) (citing
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Meredith v. Erath, 342 F.3d 1057, 1061 (9th Cir. 2003)).
Arias v. Amador, 61 F. Supp. 3d 960, 974
“Under the Fourth Amendment, police may use
Su v. Cty. of Sacramento, Civ. No.
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Determining whether
Atkinson v. Cty. of Tulare,
The
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‘objective reasonableness’ inquiry “requires careful attention to
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the facts and circumstances of each particular case, including
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the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an
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immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and
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whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade
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arrest by flight.”
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Graham, 490 U.S. at 396.
“[T]he reasonableness of force used is ordinarily a
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question of fact for the jury.”
Smith v. City of Hemet, 394 F.3d
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689, 701 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Liston v. County of Riverside,
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120 F.3d 965, 976 n.10 (9th Cir. 1997)).
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claims turn on the reasonableness of force used, motions for
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summary judgment as to such claims are “sparingly” granted.
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Santos v. Gates, 287 F.3d 846, 853 (9th Cir. 2002); see also
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Smith, 394 F.3d at 701 (noting that excessive force claims
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“almost always turn on a jury’s credibility determinations”).
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Because excessive force
In this case, plaintiffs have offered evidence
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indicating that during the December 2013 arrest: (1) Fellows
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“tackled” Bonilla-Chirinos and “dr[ove] his knee very violently
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and forcefully into [Bonilla-Chirinos’] back,” (Bonilla-Chirinos
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Decl. ¶ 23); (2) Tate “violently grabbed, pulled[,] and twisted
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[Hernandez’s] arm behind [her] back” and “too tight[ly]” fixed
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handcuffs on her wrists, (Hernandez Decl. ¶ 10); and (3) Herrera
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pointed a gun at J.B., (id.).
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indicating that other than Hernandez declining to open the door
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when asked, plaintiffs did not resist arrest.
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Chirinos Decl. ¶ 23; Hernandez Decl. ¶ 10.)
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They have also offered evidence
(See Bonilla-
Viewing such evidence in the light most favorable to
plaintiffs--including assuming that Fellows applied his knee and
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Tate her arm and handcuffs with injurious force--the court finds
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that such evidence is sufficient to create triable issues of fact
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as to whether Fellows, Tate, and Herrera used excessive force
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against Bonilla-Chirinos, Hernandez, and J.B., respectively,
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during the arrest.
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Ninth Circuit precedent.
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F. App’x 702, 708 (9th Cir. 2012) (“Where there is no need for
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force, any force used is constitutionally unreasonable.”);
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Gravelet-Blondin v. Shelton, 728 F.3d 1086, 1093 (9th Cir. 2013)
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(where individuals “engag[e] in mere passive resistance,” use of
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“non-trivial force” is unlawful); Barnard v. Las Vegas Metro.
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Police Dep’t, 310 F. App’x 990, 992-93 (9th Cir. 2009) (applying
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“excessive knee pressure on [arrestee’s] . . . back despite the
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fact that he had surrendered and was not resisting arrest”
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constitutes excessive force); Curiel v. Cty. of Contra Costa, 362
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F. App’x 824, 830 (9th Cir. 2010) (“[O]verly tight handcuffs may
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constitute excessive force.”); Miller v. Placer Cty., 84 F. App’x
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973, 974 (9th Cir. 2004) (“[P]ointing a gun at a child when [he]
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pose[s] no threat to officers constitute[s] excessive force.”).
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iv.
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The court’s finding is supported by ample
See Moore v. Richmond Police Dep’t, 497
Qualified Immunity as to Fellows, Tate, and
Herrera
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As an alternative to judgment on the merits of
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plaintiffs’ excessive force claim, defendants seek judgment as to
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that claim for Fellows, Tate, and Herrera based on qualified
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immunity.
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(See Defs.’ Mem. at 12-13.)
Qualified immunity shields government officials “from
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liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not
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violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of
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which a reasonable person would have known.”
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Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231 (2009) (internal citation omitted).
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The Ninth Circuit has described the qualified immunity inquiry as
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consisting of the following three-part test:
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Pearson v.
First, the court must ask whether[,] taken in the
light most favorable to the party asserting the
injury, the facts alleged show the officer’s conduct
violated a constitutional right? If the answer is no,
the officer is entitled to qualified immunity. If the
answer is yes, the court must proceed to the next
question: whether the right was clearly established at
the time the officer acted. That is, whether it would
be clear to a reasonable officer that his conduct was
unlawful in the situation he confronted. If the
answer is no, the officer is entitled to qualified
immunity. If the answer is yes, the court must answer
the final question: whether the officer could have
believed, reasonably but mistakenly . . . that his or
her conduct did not violate a clearly established
constitutional right. If the answer is yes, the
officer is entitled to qualified immunity. If the
answer is no, he is not.
16
Skoog v. Cty. of Clackamas, 469 F.3d 1221, 1229 (9th Cir. 2006)
17
(citing Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201–02 (2001)).
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Viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiffs, the
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evidence before the court indicates that Fellows used excessive
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force against Bonilla-Chirinos by injuriously kneeing him in his
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back despite his having surrendered.
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use of police force when one has surrendered was clearly
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established prior to 2013.
24
(citing, in 2012, Ninth Circuit and Supreme Court cases dating
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from 1989 to 2010 for the proposition that “any force” is
26
excessive where no force is needed); see also Barnard, 310 F.
27
App’x at 992-93 (citing, in 2009, Ninth Circuit and Supreme Court
28
cases dating from 1989 to 2000 for the proposition that applying
The right to be free from
See Moore, 497 F. App’x at 708
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“excessive knee pressure” on a non-resisting arrestee’s back is
2
unconstitutional).
3
plaintiffs was used, no reasonable officer could have believed
4
that applying such force to the back of Bonilla-Chirinos after he
5
surrendered was lawful.
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qualified immunity to Fellows for use of excessive force.
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Assuming the amount of force claimed by
Accordingly, the court will not grant
Viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiffs, the
8
evidence before the court also indicates that Tate used excessive
9
force against Hernandez by injuriously twisting her arm behind
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her back and too tightly fixing handcuffs on her wrists despite
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her having engaged in mere passive resistance by declining to
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open the door to her house when asked.
13
use of non-trivial police force when one engages in mere passive
14
resistance was clearly established prior to 2013.
15
Blondin, 728 F.3d at 1093 (holding, in 2013, that “[t]he right to
16
be free from the application of non-trivial force for engaging in
17
mere passive resistance was clearly established prior to 2008”);
18
see also Curiel, 362 F. App’x at 830 (citing, in 2010, a 2003
19
Ninth Circuit case for the proposition that “overly tight
20
handcuffs may constitute excessive force”).
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amount of force claimed by plaintiffs was used, no reasonable
22
officer could have believed that applying such force to twist the
23
arm and tighten the handcuffs of Hernandez, where she was not
24
actively resisting arrest, was lawful.
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will not grant qualified immunity to Tate for use of excessive
26
force.
The right to be free from
See Gravelet-
Again, assuming the
Accordingly, the court
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Lastly, the evidence before the court indicates Herrera
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used excessive force against J.B. by pointing a gun at him during
13
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the arrest.
2
pointed at him during an arrest was established prior to 2013.
3
See Miller, 84 F. App’x at 974 (holding, in 2004, that “the only
4
law in existence . . . [is] clear: pointing a gun at a child when
5
they posed no threat to officers constitute[s] excessive force”).
6
No reasonable officer could have believed that pointing a gun at
7
J.B. in the manner that plaintiffs claim, where he posed no
8
threat to the officer, was lawful.
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not grant qualified immunity to Herrera for use of excessive
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A non-threatening minor’s right to not have a gun
Accordingly, the court will
force.
B.
Unreasonable Search, Invasion of Privacy, and Right to
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Silence Claims
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Defendants argue that the court should grant them
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judgment as to plaintiffs’ unreasonable search, invasion of
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privacy, and right to silence claims because plaintiffs neither
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cite any evidence supporting those claims nor provide any
17
response to their request for judgment as to those claims in
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their Opposition.
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Defendants are correct that plaintiffs neither cite any evidence
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that appear to support those claims nor respond to defendants’
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request for judgment as to those claims in their Opposition.
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Accordingly, the court will grant defendants judgment as to
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plaintiffs’ unreasonable search, invasion of privacy, and right
24
to silence claims.
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Supp. 2d at 1115.
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C.
(See Defs.’ Reply at 2 (Docket No. 38).)
See Bias, 508 F.3d at 1219; Bolbol, 754 F.
Familial Association Claim
Plaintiffs’ final cause of action asserts that Tate and
Maggiano unlawfully deprived Bonilla-Chirinos and Hernandez of
14
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their Fourteenth Amendment right to care, custody, and control of
2
J.B. after they were arrested.
3
(Pls.’ Opp’n at 20-21.)
“[T]he Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental
4
right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody,
5
and control of their children.”
6
57, 66 (2000).
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[right] without notice and a hearing, except where the [child is]
8
in imminent danger.”
9
Cir. 2012) (citing Ram v. Rubin, 118 F.3d 1306, 1310 (9th Cir.
Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S.
Parents “cannot be summarily deprived of that
Mueller v. Auker, 700 F.3d 1180, 1187 (9th
10
1997)).
Where an officer’s interference with parents’ right to
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care, custody, and control of their child was not justified by
12
emergency or due process of law, the parents may seek remedy
13
under section 1983.
14
654 (9th Cir. 1985).
Kelson v. City of Springfield, 767 F.2d 651,
15
Plaintiffs have offered evidence that after Bonilla-
16
Chirinos and Hernandez were arrested, Hernandez asked Tate and
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Maggiano if she could call a relative to come pick J.B. up from
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their residence, and Tate and Maggiano denied her request.
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Hernandez Decl. ¶ 15.)
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imminent danger or due process that would appear to justify
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denial of that request.
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to whether Tate and Maggiano unlawfully deprived Bonilla-Chirinos
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and Hernandez of their Fourteenth Amendment right to care,
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custody, and control of J.B. after their arrest.
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(See
Defendants have pointed to no evidence of
Accordingly, there is a triable issue as
The right to care, custody, and control of one’s child
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in the absence of imminent danger or a deprivation of parental
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rights comporting with due process was clearly established before
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2013.
See Ram, 118 F.3d at 1310 (“In 1993, it was clear that a
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parent had a constitutionally protected right to the care and
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custody of his children and that he could not be summarily
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deprived of that custody without notice and a hearing, except
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when the children were in imminent danger.”).
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officer could have believed that depriving Bonilla-Chirinos and
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Hernandez custody and control of J.B. after their arrest, where
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there was no emergency or due process for such deprivation, was
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lawful.
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(9th Cir. 2008) (holding that “no objective social worker could
No reasonable
See Bhatti v. Cty. of Sacramento, 281 F. App’x 764, 766
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have believed” that depriving a parent custody and control of his
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son without emergency or due process was lawful).
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the court will not grant qualified immunity to Tate or Maggiano
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as to plaintiffs’ Fourteenth Amendment deprivation claim.
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Accordingly,
The court will grant judgment to Fellows, Herrera,
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Grillat, Angle, Luiz, Stallions, and the City as to plaintiffs’
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Fourteenth Amendment deprivation claim, however, as plaintiffs
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conceded at oral argument that there is no evidence currently
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before the court supporting the liability of those defendants for
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deprivation of parental rights.
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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that defendants’ Motion for
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summary judgment be, and the same hereby is, GRANTED IN PART as
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follows:
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(1)
Judgment shall be entered in favor of defendants
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Maggiano, Grillat, Angle, Luiz, Stallions, and the City
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on plaintiffs’ first cause of action;
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(2)
Judgment shall be entered in favor of all defendants on
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plaintiffs’ second, third, and fourth causes of action;
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and
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(3)
Judgment shall be entered in favor of defendants
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Fellows, Herrera, Grillat, Angle, Luiz, Stallions, and
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the City on plaintiffs’ fifth cause of action.
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AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in all other respects,
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defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment be, and the same hereby
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is, DENIED.
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Dated:
July 25, 2017
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