Yousif v. San Mateo County Sheriff et al

Filing 120

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT McLEMORE'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT by Hon. William Alsup granting 102 Motion for Summary Judgment.(whalc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/23/2017)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 OSMAN YOUSIF, 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 12 13 14 15 Plaintiff, No. C 15-04887 WHA v. DEPUTY SHERIFF DEFRANCE McLEMORE and DOES 1–100, ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT McLEMORE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Defendant. / 16 17 INTRODUCTION 18 In this action for wrongful arrest and excessive force, the sole remaining defendant 19 moves for summary judgment or, in the alternative, terminating sanctions. To the extent stated 20 below, defendant’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. STATEMENT 21 22 Defendant Defrance McLemore served as a sheriff’s deputy in the San Mateo County 23 Sheriff’s office. Deputy McLemore knew of plaintiff Osman Yousif as someone who had been 24 charged and convicted of criminal activity, who associated with known criminal suspects, such 25 as Gilberto “Colla” Flores, and who frequently interfered with law enforcement activity 26 (McLemore Decl. ¶ 8). 27 On September 20, 2015, Deputy McLemore was on patrol duty in a marked vehicle at a 28 shopping center in Half Moon Bay. At 10:45 p.m., he observed a white vehicle parked in a lot behind one of the two stores that remained open at the time — a lot he knew to be the locus of 1 criminal activity. Deputy McLemore approached the white vehicle with the goal of speaking 2 with its occupants, though he did not activate his patrol lights (McLemore Dep. at 17–19). 3 As Deputy McLemore approached, the white vehicle departed and headed towards the 4 entrance of the second store that remained open. Deputy McLemore pursued. When the white 5 vehicle arrived at the entrance to the second location, the individual in the passenger seat exited 6 the vehicle and entered the store. Deputy McLemore recognized the passenger as Yousif (id. at 7 23–26; McLemore Decl. ¶ 7). 8 Deputy McLemore then heard the white vehicle accelerate quickly towards the exit of driving recklessly in violation of California law. Deputy McLemore activated his siren and 11 For the Northern District of California the parking lot at speeds in excess of fifty miles per hour, which he determined constituted 10 United States District Court 9 lights and again pursued the white vehicle. After a brief pursuit, the driver exited the vehicle 12 and ran back toward the store Yousif had entered. Deputy McLemore requested backup and 13 chased the driver, while shouting verbal commands to him to get on the ground (McLemore 14 Dep. at 27–28; McLemore Decl. ¶¶ 10–11). Deputy McLemore eventually caught the driver, 15 who was later identified as Yousif’s known criminal associate, Flores, and brought him to the 16 ground. As Deputy McLemore struggled to gain control of Flores, backup arrived and helped 17 place handcuffs on Flores (McLemore Decl. ¶¶ 11–12; McLemore Dep. at 33). 18 Yousif observed this altercation and approached, pointing a camera in the direction of 19 one of the deputy’s patrol cars. He pulled out a camera and asked “What’s going on?” even as 20 Deputy McLemore and the backup officer struggled to handcuff Flores and search him (Yousif 21 Dep. at 22, 61; Council Decl. ¶ 6). Yousif’s nearness led Deputy McLemore to release his hold 22 of Flores, who continued to resist the backup officer’s search. Deputy McLemore instructed 23 Yousif to turn around and put his hands on his back, but Yousif continued to approach 24 (McLemore Dep. at 34–35; Yousif Dep. at 27, 211). 25 Deputy McLemore removed his taser from its holster, turned it on, and pointed it 26 towards Yousif, who continued to refuse to turn around and place his hands on his head and 27 who was holding an object in his hand that Deputy McLemore could not identify. Once Yousif 28 was close enough, Deputy McLemore determined Yousif was not an active safety threat and 2 1 deactivated his taser without discharging it. Deputy McLemore continued to direct Yousif to 2 get on the ground and place his hands behind his back, to no avail. Deputy McLemore grabbed 3 Yousif’s left arm and attempted to move Yousif to the ground in order to place him under arrest. 4 Deputy McLemore, with the assistance of the backup officer, then managed to get Yousif in a 5 wrist lock, apply handcuffs, and conduct a search. Deputy McLemore then informed Yousif he 6 was under arrest for violating Section 148 of the California Penal Code, which prohibits 7 “willfully resist[ing], delay[ing], or obstruct[ing], any public officer . . . in the discharge or 8 attempt to discharge any duty of his or her office or employment . . . .” 9 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 Meanwhile, Flores fled the scene, though Deputy McLemore and his backup eventually found Flores behind one of the stores in the shopping center (Council Decl. ¶ 12). Yousif was transported to a police station. At the station, Deputy McLemore observed 12 Yousif repeatedly raise his legs off the ground then slam them to the ground violently and 13 overheard Yousif repeat “I want to kill myself” among other self-harm statements (McLemore 14 Dep. at 63; Yousif Dep. at 169). Based on Yousif’s behavior, Deputy McLemore believed 15 plaintiff to be a danger to himself and referred Yousif to assessment by medical professionals 16 pursuant to Section 5150 of the California Welfare & Institutions Code (McLemore Decl. ¶ 20). 17 Yousif, at first proceeding pro se, commenced this action in October 2015. His initial 18 complaint related to six different encounters with the police (including the above-described 19 encounter) and named a litany of defendants. Several defendants moved to dismiss (Dkt. Nos. 20 19–20, 23). He then obtained counsel and sought leave to file an amended complaint (Dkt. Nos. 21 27, 29). Yousif’s attorney missed the deadline to file his amended complaint three times. 22 Nevertheless, several extensions were granted and he met the fourth deadline set (Dkt. Nos. 23 34–35). The motions to dismiss were denied as moot (Dkt. No. 36). Several defendants then 24 moved to dismiss the amended complaint (Dkt. Nos. 37–38). On the morning that his 25 oppositions were due, Yousif’s counsel sought an extension, which was granted (Dkt. No. 42). 26 An order granted in part and denied in part two separate motions to dismiss (Dkt. 27 No. 54). That order allowed Yousif’s claim against Deputy McLemore and another officer to 28 survive and allowed him to seek leave to amend his claims as to the other defendants. Yousif 3 1 did not timely seek leave to amend, so the claims against that group of defendants were finally 2 dismissed (Dkt. No. 62). 3 While this action remained pending, Yousif commenced a second action against the 4 defendants that had just been dismissed. The new action came to the undersigned judge. The 5 defendants therein moved to dismiss on res judicata grounds even though final judgment had 6 not yet been entered in the first action. An order granted judgment under Rule 54(b) for those 7 defendants, and Yousif voluntarily dismissed his second action. He then stipulated to the 8 dismissal of Officer Dennis Loubal, leaving Deputy McLemore as the sole remaining defendant 9 in the first action (this action). The sole remaining claims are for excessive force and for 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 unreasonable seizure both arising out of the events detailed above. The parties appeared before the court for numerous discovery disputes, several of which 12 resulted in sanctions against counsel for Yousif (Dkt. Nos. 72, 79). Another discovery dispute 13 ended in an order precluding Yousif’s reliance on any facts or documents responsive to 14 reasonable discovery requests that had not been provided in his initial disclosures or in his 15 deposition (Dkt. No. 95). That order left open the possibility that terminating sanctions would 16 be in order once the prejudice of Yousif’s complete failure to respond to discovery requests 17 became clear. 18 19 20 Deputy McLemore now moves for summary judgment, or, in the alternative, terminating sanctions. This order follows full briefing and oral argument. ANALYSIS 21 To succeed under Section 1983, Yousif must prove that Deputy McLemore violated his 22 constitutional rights while acting under the color of state law. The only two claims still in play 23 are claims that Deputy McLemore used excessive force and unreasonably seized Yousif at the 24 parking lot on September 20, 2015, and that Deputy McLemore further unreasonably seized 25 Yousif by recommending medical examination due to his behavior at the station. Summary 26 judgment is appropriate on a claim for use of excessive force if, “after resolving all factual 27 disputes in favor of the plaintiff, . . . the officer’s use of force was objectively reasonable under 28 the circumstances.” Scott v. Henrich, 39 F.3d 912, 915 (9th Cir. 1994). The reasonableness of 4 1 a use of force is judged from a reasonable officer in the circumstances, and must allow for 2 officers “to make split-second judgments — in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and 3 rapidly evolving — about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular circumstance.” 4 Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 (1989). 5 Yousif offers limited discussion of the facts in his opposition. At his deposition, Yousif 6 stated that Deputy McLemore “started running towards” him at some point after Yousif began 7 walking away from the store (and toward the officers). Yousif acknowledged that he heard 8 Deputy McLemore shouting commands, but that he “couldn’t make out what he was saying 9 clearly.” He further testified that once the laser sight from Deputy McLemore’s taser hit him, Yousif froze “like how a deer is like frozen with headlights,” but Yousif offers no evidence 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 regarding his distance from Deputy McLemore at the time Yousif stopped approaching the 12 active scene. He stated he was “two steps” out of the store in the direction through the parking 13 lot to his home, but that he was “still walking” when Deputy McLemore began to approach 14 (Yousif Dep. at 22–23, 26, 32). 15 16 Yousif also described the moment Deputy McLemore pointed a taser at him (id. at 23): 17 [Yousif]: And at one point, there was a red light — that hit my face — or hit my eyeballs, because like I could — I like remember just red went across my eyes. And I was like: Whoa 18 [Question]: Can you explain what type of red light? 19 [Yousif]: Laser. 20 Yousif’s version of the story leading up to his physical encounter with Deputy 21 McLemore does not conflict with Deputy McLemore’s testimony. Deputy McLemore stated 22 that he turned from Flores to Yousif once Yousif was approximately fifty feet away. He further 23 testified that Yousif failed to comply with commands to stop, turn around, and place his hands 24 behind his back, and that the two were close enough that Deputy McLemore feared for his 25 safety due to Yousif’s non-compliance before Deputy McLemore unholstered his taser 26 (McLemore Dep. at 36). 27 28 The undisputed facts show that late at night in a parking lot known for criminal activity, Yousif approached the scene of an arrest of a confederate, with a small object in his hand, and 5 1 refused to heed clear instructions to stop approaching. Deputy McLemore recognized Yousif 2 and recalled that he had a criminal history, including multiple incidents involving interference 3 with police business, and he had seen Yousif exit the car driven by Flores (the other suspect) 4 minutes earlier. Although Deputy McLemore determined Yousif was not an immediate safety 5 threat before the arrest, Yousif’s interference with police duties began when he approached the 6 scene with a small object in his hand (his camera), compounding the obstructive effect of his 7 approach There is no genuine dispute about the material facts leading to Yousif’s arrest. 8 Deputy McLemore had probable cause to arrest Yousif for obstruction of the discharge of the 9 patrol officers’ duty. Yousif’s claim relating to Deputy McLemore’s use of force fares no better. At his 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 deposition, Yousif described the altercation via his internal monologue at the time: “why is he 12 running towards me with a weapon [the taser?], why is he body slamming me, like you know?” 13 (id at 26). He later stated that his face had been “pushed into cement,” that he had been “body 14 slammed,” and that his “knee hurt” at the time. As a result, he had “scuffs and scrapes” (Yousif 15 Dep. at 164–66).* 16 Notwithstanding Yousif’s vague description of injuries, he has produced no medical 17 records indicating treatment for an injury relating to this incident. Yousif’s “conclusory 18 allegations unsupported by factual data” showing that “the forced used was unreasonable or that 19 [he] sustained actual injuries” cannot defeat summary judgment. Arpin v. Santa Clara Valley 20 Transp. Agency, 261 F.3d 912, 922 (9th Cir. 2001). 21 Yousif also offers no defense to his claim that Deputy McLemore’s referral of plaintiff 22 for assessment by medical professionals due to his behavior at the police station constituted an 23 unreasonable seizure. The undisputed facts show that Deputy McLemore reasonably believed 24 Yousif was a danger to himself. 25 26 27 28 * This order does not consider Yousif’s purported statement that a medical examination that night “sound[ed] accurate” when it reported “no visible abrasions.” That testimony purportedly appeared on page 189 of Yousif’s deposition, but that page was not included in the record. Similarly, Exhibit 5 to Yousif’s deposition, which appears to be the report in question, is not considered, inasmuch as there is no deposition testimony in the record relating to that document. 6 1 Apparently recognizing that he cannot offer facts to genuinely dispute Deputy 2 McLemore’s characterization of the events, Yousif’s opposition instead principally relies on 3 evidentiary objections, to which this order now turns. Deputy McLemore failed to submit the reporter’s certification to authenticate the depositions in 6 question. In Orr v. Bank of Am., NT & SA, 285 F.3d 764, 774 (9th Cir. 2002), our court of 7 appeals held that a deposition transcript could not be considered on summary judgment motion 8 where it lacked a cover page and the reporter’s certification, and where the excerpted portions 9 of the transcript lacked any reference to the purported deponent’s name. Without any basis for 10 identifying the transcript, it could not be authenticated even by an affidavit from counsel who 11 For the Northern District of California Yousif objects to consideration of Deputy McLemore’s and his own deposition because 5 United States District Court 4 was present at the deposition. 12 Orr left open, however, the possibility that a deposition could be authenticated even 13 without the reporter’s certification, if it could be authenticated from its contents. Indeed, here, 14 unlike in Orr, both deposition transcripts include the deponent’s name on each page. Moreover, 15 Orr specifically held that where the objecting party provides the reporter’s certification for the 16 same document, the resulting authentication applies to both sides. This may extend even where 17 the parties submit different excerpts provided, they are readily apparent as part of the same 18 document. See id. at 776 n.16. 19 Here, Yousif himself submitted the reporter’s certification for both depositions in 20 question (as did McLemore in reply). The format and the labeling of the excerpts indicate that 21 they are part of the same transcripts. Accordingly, Yousif’s objection is OVERRULED. 22 Yousif also objects to consideration of McLemore’s deposition because he “could not 23 recall any facts” and “consistently had to read from his report” (Pl.’s Opp. at 7). This objection 24 is also OVERRULED. FRE 612 allows a witness to use a writing to refresh his memory while 25 testifying. Yousif has pointed to nothing in the record to suggest Deputy McLemore’s reference 26 to his report was improper. 27 28 7 1 All other objected-to materials, specifically, portions of Yousif’s own testimony, Deputy 2 Council’s report from the night in question, and the CAD readout from the night in question, 3 were unnecessary to this order, so the objections are OVERRULED AS MOOT. 4 This order need not reach the question of whether Deputy McLemore is entitled to 5 qualified immunity inasmuch as there is no genuine dispute of fact about what occurred on 6 September 20, 2015, and the undisputed facts show that Deputy McLemore acted reasonably. 7 Nor does it need to reach Deputy McLemore’s request for terminating sanctions. 8 CONCLUSION 9 To the extent stated above, Deputy McLemore’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. Judgment will follow. 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 12 13 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: March 23, 2017. WILLIAM ALSUP UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 8

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