McCollum v. USA
Filing
118
ORDER. ORDERED that the Recommendation on Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment 91 is ACCEPTED. ORDERED that defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment 78 is DENIED by Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 02/26/14.(jhawk, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Judge Philip A. Brimmer
Civil Action No. 12-cv-01175-PAB-MJW
GERALD McCOLLUM,
Plaintiff,
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendant.
ORDER
This matter is before the Court on the Recommendation of United States
Magistrate Judge (the “Recommendation”) [Docket No. 91] filed on September 9, 2013.
The magistrate judge recommends that the Court deny the Motion for Summary
Judgment [Docket No. 78] filed by defendant United States. On September 26, 2013,
defendant filed a timely objection [Docket No. 97] to the Recommendation. Therefore,
the Court will “determine de novo any part of the magistrate judge’s disposition that has
been properly objected to.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3).
Underlying facts are set forth in the Recommendation and will not be restated
here. See Docket No. 91 at 4-5. The Recommendation concluded that, although
defendant argued that the correctional officers’ actions were reasonable in light of
plaintiff’s “assaultive behavior,” the evidence in the record raised a triable issue of fact
as to whether plaintiff’s behavior towards corrections officers was assaultive in nature.
Docket No. 91 at 8. As a result, the Recommendation concluded that defendant’s
Motion for Summary Judgment on plaintiff’s assault and battery claim should be denied.
Id.
Defendant objects to the Recommendation on the grounds that (1) the
Recommendation considered facts that plaintiff did not properly raise; (2) plaintiff’s
allegations concerning his behavior are contradicted by his deposition testimony and
were improperly considered; and (3) plaintiff’s admission that he was verbally
combative entitles defendant to judgment as a matter of law. Docket No. 97 at 5-10.
I. ANALYSIS
A. Disputed Facts
Defendant first argues the Recommendation erred by considering facts that
plaintiff did not properly raise in a statement of undisputed facts as required by the
Local Rules. Docket No. 97 at 5 (citing D.C.COLO.LCivR 56.1(a)). Second, defendant
argues that the specific statements of material fact in its brief should be accepted as
true due to plaintiff’s failure to separately admit or deny each statement of fact. Docket
No. 97 at 5 (citing Practice Standards (Civil cases), Judge Philip A. Brimmer § F.3.b.ivv).
The Local Rules and this Court’s Practice Standards are designed to identify the
existence of disputes over genuine issues of material fact. Rule 56.1 of the Local Rules
requires that summary judgment motions include a statement of undisputed facts.
D.C.COLO.LCivR 56.1(a). Practice Standard III.F.3.b.iv of this Court requires that a
party opposing summary judgment must admit or deny, in separately numbered
paragraphs, the movant’s assertions of material facts. Practice Standards (Civil cases),
2
Judge Philip A. Brimmer § III.F.3.b.iv. “Any denial shall be accompanied by a brief
factual explanation. . . and a specific reference to material in the record supporting the
denial.” Id. (emphasis in original). Plaintiff’s pro se status does not entirely excuse him
from complying with the Local Rules and this Court’s Practice Standards. The Court
may not act as a pro se litigant’s advocate, nor should the Court “supply additional
factual allegations to round out [the pro se litigant’s filings] or construct a legal theory on
[his] behalf.” Whitney v. N.M., 113 F.3d 1170, 1173-74 (10th Cir. 1997) (citing Hall v.
Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991)). However, in light of plaintiff’s pro se
status, the Court reviews his filings liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 52021 (1972); Hall, 935 F.2d at 1110.
Plaintiff’s brief does not include a statement of undisputed facts or specifically
admit or deny defendant’s statements of fact as required by the Local Rules and this
Court’s Practice Standards. See Docket No. 88 at 1-2. Nonetheless, plaintiff’s brief
makes clear that he disputes any claims that he engaged in assaultive behavior while
being escorted back to his cell and disputes that the correctional officers’ use of force
was reasonable. Docket No. 88 at 1-2, ¶¶ 3-4. Accordingly, plaintiff’s brief indicates he
disputes, at a minimum, the facts defendant alleges in paragraphs 32-34 and the
reasonableness of Lieutenant Martin’s belief alleged in paragraph 46. See Docket No.
78 at 5-6. Defendant cannot reasonably claim that it is unaware of plaintiff’s position,
nor does plaintiff’s brief deprive the Court of the ability to determine whether key
material facts are in dispute. In light of plaintiff’s pro se status and our legal system’s
“strong preference for resolving cases on their merits,” see Lee v. Max International,
3
LLC, 638 F.3d 1318, 1319 (10th Cir. 2011), the Court will consider plaintiff’s factual
allegations in spite of his failure to comply with the Local Rules. For the same reason,
the Court will not consider all of defendant’s statements of material fact undisputed for
plaintiff’s failure to comply with this Court’s Practice Standards. Thus, the Court finds
no error with this aspect of the Recommendation.
B. Plaintiff’s Deposition Testimony
Defendant argues the Recommendation erred in accepting as true plaintiff’s
allegations that he did not engage in assaultive behavior because such statements are
contradicted by plaintiff’s deposition testimony. Docket No. 97 at 7. The
Recommendation concluded that plaintiff’s verified complaint contained statements that
were sufficient to create a genuine dispute as to whether plaintiff attempted to strike the
correctional officers with his shoulder. Docket No. 91 at 8. Defendant does not identify,
with citation to the record, the portion of plaintiff’s deposition testimony that contradicts
this evidence. See Docket No. 97 at 7. Plaintiff’s complaint admits that plaintiff was
“ordered to shut-up” but “did not comply to shut-up.” Docket No. 1 at 2. Plaintiff makes
similar statements in his deposition. See, e.g., Docket No. 78-1 at 30, 74:3-19.
Accordingly, the Court finds that no sham issues of fact exist based on an inconsistency
or contradiction between plaintiff’s deposition testimony and the statements in his
verified complaint. Thus, the Court finds no error with this aspect of the
recommendation.
C. Verbal Altercation
Defendant argues that the Recommendation erred because, even accepting as
4
true plaintiff’s claim that he did not attempt to physically assault a correctional officer,
plaintiff’s admission that he did not entirely comply with an order to stop talking is
sufficient grounds to grant summary judgment. Docket No. 97 at 7.
First, defendant claims that the record contains no evidence of intent on the part
of the correctional officers. In Colorado, a plaintiff bringing an assault and battery claim
must show that “the defendant both intended the contact and intended it to be harmful
or offensive.” White v. Muniz, 999 P.2d 814, 818 (Colo. 2000). Intent is generally
shown through circumstantial evidence; thus, “the jury can determine that the actor had
the requisite intent to cause a harmful or offensive contact, even though the actor
denies having such thoughts.” Id. at 817. A reasonable juror could find that Lieutenant
Martin intended harmful and offensive contact with plaintiff based on plaintiff’s
description of the events. See Docket No. 78-1 at 21-22, 51:4-52:16; Docket No. 1 at 2.
Therefore, Lieutenant Martin’s statement that he only intended to gain control over
plaintiff is insufficient grounds upon which to grant summary judgment on the issue of
intent.1 See Docket No. 78-2 at 4, ¶ 6.
Second, defendant argues that Colorado law provides immunity to correctional
officers for assault and battery claims. Docket No. 97 at 10. Pursuant to Colorado
statute:
1
In arguing that the correctional officers’ use of force was necessary, defendant
cites several 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cases. Docket No. 97 at 8-9. These cases are not a
basis for granting summary judgment for two reasons. First, to the extent the cited
cases turn on constitutional issues, they are unavailing. Second, it is not disputed that
a correctional officer is permitted to use reasonable force. However, there is evidence
in the record on which a reasonable juror could find that the correctional officers’
contact with plaintiff was objectively harmful and offensive even when taking the prison
environment into account.
5
If an inmate sentenced to any state correctional facility resists the authority
of any officer or refuses to obey any officers’ lawful commands, it is the duty
of such officer immediately to enforce obedience by the use of such
weapons or other aid as may be effectual. If in so doing any inmate thus
resisting is wounded or killed by such officer or such officer’s assistants,
such use of force is justified and any officer using such force shall be held
guiltless; but such officer shall not be excused for using greater force than
the emergency of the case demands.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 17-20-122; see also § 18-1-703(1)(b) (criminal statute authorizing
correctional officers to use of reasonable force to maintain discipline). Both statutes
appear to be criminal in nature and defendant cites no authority supporting the
application of Colorado criminal statutory protections to suits brought against the United
States pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act. Although the Court is aware of no
Tenth Circuit cases addressing this issue, the Fifth Circuit has held that state-law
statutory privileges apply to claims brought under the FTCA. See Villafranca v. United
States, 587 F.3d 257, 264 (5th Cir. 2009) (applying Texas statutory “peace officers”
privilege, which justifies the use of force to the extent the peace officer reasonably
believes force is necessary). Assuming, without deciding, that the cited Colorado
statutes apply to federal correctional officers, even if the decision to restrain plaintiff
was based entirely upon his admitted failure to completely obey a correctional officer’s
commands to “shut-up,” a reasonable juror could find that forcing a handcuffed prisoner
to the floor and kneeing him in the back is greater force than that particular emergency
demanded. See § 17-20-122. Thus, summary judgment is inappropriate even if
defendant has the benefit of Colorado statutory protections.
Third, defendant argues that the correctional officers acted within a common-law
privilege to manage “Federal penal and correctional institutions . . . .” Docket No. 97 at
6
11 (quoting 18 U.S.C. § 4001). Defendant’s only authority supporting the existence of
such a privilege is Fienhold v. United States, 274 F. App’x 708, 710 (10th Cir. 2008),
where the Tenth Circuit, in an unpublished decision, did not disturb a trial court’s finding
that police on an Indian reservation were entitled to a common-law privilege under
Wyoming law protecting from liability an officer who uses reasonable force to effectuate
a lawful arrest. Other courts are willing to apply state common-law privilege to claims
brought under the FTCA. See, e.g., Hanson v. United States, 712 F. Supp. 2d 321,
331 (D.N.J. 2010) (applying New Jersey common-law law enforcement privilege to
actions by federal correctional officers, but denying summary judgment on the issue of
reasonableness). Defendant fails to identify a similar privilege arising under Colorado
law and Fienhold is, by itself, an insufficient basis for the Court to find that a commonlaw privilege exists and to apply it to a claim brought under the FTCA. However, even if
defendant is entitled to a privilege protecting the use of “reasonable force,” a
reasonable juror could find that the correctional officers did not use reasonable force
during the alleged incident. Summary judgment is therefore inappropriate on this basis
and the Court finds no error with this aspect of the Recommendation.
Because neither party objects to the remaining aspects of the Recommendation,
the Court may review the remainder of the Recommendation under any standard it
deems appropriate. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985) (“[i]t does not
appear that Congress intended to require district court review of a magistrate's factual
or legal conclusions, under a de novo or any other standard, when neither party objects
to those findings”). The Court has reviewed the remaining aspects of the
Recommendation and is otherwise satisfied that there is “no clear error on the face of
7
the record.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b), Advisory Committee Notes.
II. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, it is
ORDERED that the Recommendation on Defendant’s Motion for Summary
Judgment [Docket No. 91] is ACCEPTED. It is further
ORDERED that defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Docket No. 78] is
DENIED.
DATED February 26, 2014.
BY THE COURT:
s/Philip A. Brimmer
PHILIP A. BRIMMER
United States District Judge
8
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?