Koller v. Hildebrand et al

Filing 112

ORDER granting 87 Motion for Summary Judgment; granting 91 Motion for Summary Judgment as to Detective Hilderbrand and denied as to Detectives Hoffkins and Wachnicki. Signed by Judge Janet Bond Arterton on 3/19/13. (Tooker, A.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
Edward A. Koller and Judith Koller,
Plaintiffs,

Civil No. 3:09cv999 (JBA)

v.
March 19, 2013
Timothy Hilderbrand, Dennis Gallego, Gary
Hoffkins, and Roger Wachinicki,
Defendants.
RULING ON MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Plaintiffs Judith and Edward Koller—mother and son—sue police officers
Timothy Hilderbrand, Dennis Gallego, Gary Hoffkins, and Roger Wachnicki, for their
involvement in a search of the Kollers' home that was conducted on May 15, 2007
pursuant to a valid search warrant. Plaintiffs claim that Defendants unreasonably
destroyed Plaintiffs’ property or failed to intervene as their fellow officers unreasonably
destroyed their property during the course of the search. Officer Gallego, a criminal
investigator for the Westchester County District Attorney (“Westchester DA”), moves
[Doc. # 87] for summary judgment. Detectives Hilderbrand, Hoffkins, and Wachnicki,
who are members of the Greenwich Police Department, file [Doc. # 91] a separate motion
for summary judgment. For the reasons that follow, Officer Gallego’s motion will be
granted, and the Greenwich Defendants’ motion will be granted in part and denied in
part.
I.

Factual Background
The following facts are culled from the Defendants’ Local Rule 56(a)(1)

Statements [Docs. # 89, 91-5], Plaintiffs’ Local Rule 56(a)(2) Statements [Docs. # 93, 94],
and all accompanying affidavits, declarations, and exhibits. See Fed. R. Civ. P.
56(c)(1)(A). The core of the parties’ dispute arises out of the May 15, 2007 search of

Plaintiffs’ home in Greenwich, Connecticut, a one family ranch-style house, with a
finished basement and a detached garage. (Gallego’s Loc. R. 56(a)(1) Stmt [Doc. # 89] ¶
17.) Unless noted specifically by footnote, the following facts are undisputed.
A.

The Warrant

The search, which took place in connection with a criminal investigation into an
organized crime and gambling operation in Westchester County, New York, was
conducted by law enforcement officers from the Westchester DA and the Harrison Police
Department (collectively, the “Westchester officers”), as well as agents from the Drug
Enforcement Agency (“DEA”). (Id. ¶ 9.) Investigators had probable cause to search Mr.
Koller’s residence for evidence of the gambling operation. (Id. ¶ 10.) As Mr. Koller’s
residence is located in Greenwich, Connecticut, a DEA agent contacted Detective
Hilderbrand, of the Greenwich police department, to request assistance in obtaining the
warrant. (Id. ¶ 11.) Detective Hilderbrand prepared the warrant application with a
supporting affidavit by Investigator Gallego. (Id. ¶ 12.)
On May 15, 2007, Connecticut Superior Court Judge William Hickey signed a
search and seizure warrant for the Koller residence, which authorized the seizure of the
following evidence:
Any gambling apparatus, documents, any personal digital assistants,
telephones, answering machines, cellular telephones, Simcards and cellular
telephone chargers, and any and all cellular telephone billing/contract
records, money wagered on illegal gambling, any and all cash, credit card
bills, records of bets, records of monetary gambling balances, tabulations,
handwritten notes, images or other documentation concerning gambling
records and/or communications about gambling, ledger books and any
record of payment to or from any bettor and sheet-holder, receipts for
betting tickets including any computer generated betting ticket, any and all
records reflecting the names, code numbers, telephone numbers and
addresses of players (bettors), sheet holders (agents), runners, pickup men,
bookmakers, comptrollers, master agents, Internet gambling websites and
2

their employees. Any and all computers and thumb drives, floppy discs,
compact discs and DVDS, containing any material related to gambling
records. Any and all financial records which reflect the acquisition,
possession, disbursement, distribution or location of proceeds of illegal
gambling activity, any and all safe deposit keys or records of ownership or
location of safe deposit boxes or private storage facilities, any and all safes
and their contents, any and all personalty or other items evidencing
ownership or connection to the subject premises or vehicles and or
gambling proceeds or records, [] any and all photographs and videos
depicting any two or more aforesaid individuals of the Green/Giovanniello
illegal gambling enterprise together, and any contraband including trace
evidence and paper shredders.
(Id. ¶¶ 13, 14.)
B.

The Search

The search was conducted on May 15, 2007, the same day that the warrant was
issued. (Id. ¶ 8.) Law enforcement officers from the Greenwich Police Department, the
Westchester DA’s Office, the Harrison Police Department, and the DEA were present
during the search.1 (Id. ¶ 15.) The search began with the Greenwich officers conducting a
security sweep.2 (Defs.’ Loc. R. 56(a)(1) Stmt [Doc. # 91-5] ¶ 17.) Once the residence was
secured, the Westchester officers assumed the primary responsibility of searching, as they
were the officers familiar with the nature and details of the ongoing criminal investigation
1

Specifically, the following law enforcement officials were present at the residence at
various points: two DEA agents; three Westchester officers, including Defendant Gallego;
ten Greenwich police officers, including Defendants Hilderbrand, Hoffkins, and
Wachnicki; and six members of the Harrison Police Department. (Defs.’ Loc. R. 56(a)(1)
Stmt [Doc. # 91-5] ¶ 12.)

2

The parties dispute whether the police entered the home without force, even though
this fact is not material to the substantive claims in Plaintiffs’ amended complaint, which
are limited to claims of property damage. (See Am. Compl. [Doc. # 16] ¶¶ 1–10.) Even
though this disagreement is ultimately immaterial, the Court notes that although
Plaintiffs deny that police officers entered without force, their citation to the record does
not support this denial. (See Edward Koller Dep. at 24 (stating that the police “said get on
the floor, so I got on the floor” and acknowledging that no one pushed him).)
3

in Westchester County. (Id. ¶ 18.)3

Because of their knowledge of the gambling

investigation, officers from the Harrison Police Department were the ones who physically
conducted the manual search and identified items for seizure. (Id. ¶ 20.)4
Plaintiffs assert an array of property damage claims. Although the Court will
discuss their itemized claims of property damage only as necessary in its discussion
below, one item bears mentioning here: the safe. A large safe was located in the basement
of the Koller residence (Id. ¶ 30.), and, as the warrant authorized the search and seizure of
“any and all safes and their contents,” the police sought access to it (Gallego’s 56(a)(1)
Stmt ¶ 14.). While Judith Koller had the combination to the safe, she was not present at
the home during the search because her children told her to stay away while the search
was ongoing. (Defs.’ 56(a)(1) Stmt ¶¶ 31-32.) As such, when the officers were unable to
gain access, the Greenwich Police Department contacted Champion Locksmith, which
was able to breach the lock by using a precision drill. (Defs.’ Local Rule 56(a)(1)
Statement ¶¶ 33, 34.)

3

Plaintiffs did not append the portion of the deposition that they claim creates a factual
dispute regarding Defendants’ paragraph 18. However, the Court found the relevant page
in Defendants’ submissions and observes that it does not create a material question of
fact. (See Edward Koller Dep. at 64 (“You know, as I was informed by my attorney, like
Greenwich was the ones that were searching and seizing everything. New York was the
one that was there, from what I was told, like telling them what to do, but because it was
in a different state, they couldn’t touch.” (emphasis added)).) This statement derives from
Mr. Koller’s counsel, and not from an independent basis in fact. If counsel’s opinion had
a basis in fact, then Plaintiff should have included the source in the record. Defendants’
paragraph 18 is deemed admitted.

4

Plaintiffs deny that the Harrison police officers were responsible for manually searching
the premises, citing the same portion of the record that they cited in response to
paragraph 18. For the same reasons discussed in footnote 3, paragraph 20 is deemed
admitted.
4

In total, the search lasted five hours and eighteen minutes, beginning at 5:22pm
and ending at 10:40pm. (Id. ¶ 18.) Mr. Koller did not observe any officers conducting the
search or damaging property. (Id. ¶ 26.) Nor did Edward Koller hear an officer giving
instructions to damage or destroy property. (Id. ¶ 27.) Similarly, Judith Koller, who was
away from the premises throughout the duration of the search, did not observe any
officer damaging property. (Defs.’ 56(a)(1) Stmt ¶ 71.) There is a genuine dispute about
the pre search state of the rooms in the Koller residence (compare Marino Aff. ¶ 9 (noting
that certain rooms were untidy), with Edward Koller Dep. at 35 (a cleaner serviced the
house twice per week)), as well as the state of disrepair after the search (compare Marino
Aff. ¶ 10 (observing no damage and remarking that the search was ordinary), with
Edward Koller Dep. at 31 (after search the house was “upside down”)).
After the search, Plaintiffs did not file a civilian complaint of any kind with the
Greenwich Police Department. (Defs.’ 56(a)(1) Stmt ¶¶ 72, 74.) On May 31, 2007,
pursuant to a court order, the Greenwich police turned over evidence obtained from the
Koller residence to Westchester agents, including a passport, cell phone, and a gun. (Id.
¶¶ 76, 77.)
In 2009, Plaintiffs brought suit against Defendants in their individual capacities,
claiming “substantial, unreasonable, and unnecessary damage” was done to their personal
property and residence during the search. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 4, 8.)

C.

Defendants’ Involvement
1.

Investigator Gallego

Gallego was not one of the officers who conducted the search of the home.
(Gallego’s 56(a)(1) Stmt ¶ 28.) While other officers searched the residence, Investigator
5

Gallego was with Mr. Koller, with a few exceptions. (Id. ¶ 25.) First, after hearing a noise
upstairs, Mr. Koller asked Gallego to go check what was happening, and Gallego avers
that, when he was upstairs, he did not damage any property nor observe property being
damaged, only officers moving objects around in order to search behind or underneath
them. (Id. ¶ 30; Gallego Decl. [Doc. # 90] ¶ 10.)5 Second, Gallego left Mr. Koller’s
presence to get some air outside and allow a different officer to question Mr. Koller, and
Gallego avers that, while outside, he did not damage or observe any officer damaging the
Kollers’ property. (Gallego’s 56(a)(1) Stmt ¶ 31; Gallego Decl. ¶ 11.)6 Gallego also left Mr.
Koller’s presence to walk downstairs when the police were attempting to open the safe.
(Gallego’s 56(a)(1) Stmt ¶ 32.) Gallego has no knowledge that the Kollers’ property was
unreasonably or maliciously damaged or destroyed. (Id. ¶ 33.) Plaintiffs assert that there
was a fourth occasion: when Investigator Gallego left the residence with Mr. Koller’s car
keys to search his car (See Pls.’ Loc. R. 56(a)(2) Stmt [Doc. # 93] ¶ B.44; Edward Koller
Dep. at 191.)

2.

Detective Hilderbrand

On May 15, 2007, Gallego and a DEA agent contacted Detective Hilderbrand for
help in obtaining and executing the search warrant of the Koller residence. (Defs.’
56(a)(1) Stmt ¶¶ 2, 3.) Detective Hilderbrand prepared and submitted the search and
seizure application that served as the basis for the warrant. (Id. ¶ 4.)

Detective

5

Here, too, Plaintiffs deny paragraph 30 without support in the record. Paragraph 30 is
deemed admitted.
6

Plaintiffs’ denial regarding paragraph 31 is also deficient because the cited portions of
Edward Koller’s deposition are insufficient to create a genuine dispute about what
Gallego did or saw when he briefly exited the residence. Paragraph 31 is therefore deemed
admitted.
6

Hilderbrand’s role was to coordinate the warrant and its execution, and he did not
supervise the execution of the search warrant. (Id. ¶¶ 25, 26.)7 Hilderbrand asserts that
he did not manually search the premises or identify items for seizure. (See Hilderbrand
Aff. ¶ 16.) For much of the search, Detective Hilderbrand remained outside the home,
entering on various occasions to inquire whether the search team needed any assistance.
(Id. ¶¶ 28, 29.)8 Detective Hilderbrand was in the basement when the locksmith was
contacted to gain access to the safe. (Id. ¶ 29.)
After the search was complete and in accordance with standard practice, Detective
Hilderbrand prepared the police report because he was the officer initially contacted by
Investigator Gallego. (Id. ¶ 49.) Lieutenant Marino reviewed the report and determined
that it was accurate. (Id. ¶ 50.)
3.

Detective Hoffkins

During the search, Detective Hoffkins’s role was to assist by photographing any
evidence identified for seizure, as well as some of the rooms in the home (Id. ¶ 36). At no
point did Detective Hoffkins manually search the premises or identify items for seizure;
rather, he stood by, out of the way, as Westchester officers conducted the search, until an
item was found for seizure. (Id. ¶ 37, 38.)9

7

Plaintiffs deny that Detective Hilderbrand did not supervise the search, but their
citation to Exhibit B of Detective Hilderbrand’s affidavit does not adequately support this
denial. Paragraph 26 is therefore deemed admitted.

8

Because Plaintiffs cite no evidence for their denial of paragraphs 28 and 29, they are
admitted.
9

Plaintiffs offer no evidence to support their denial of paragraphs 37 and 38, which are
therefore deemed admitted.
7

4.

Detective Wachnicki

Detective Wachnicki, also a member of the Greenwich police force, had a limited
role during the search: he was responsible for documenting the items located and
identified for seizure by the Westchester officers. (Id. ¶ 39, 41.)10 Detective Wachnicki did
not manually search the premises, his only role being to document the items identified by
other officers for seizure. (Id. ¶ 42.)11
II.

Discussion12
Plaintiffs claim that Defendants are liable for inflicting unreasonable property

damage during the course of the May 2007 search. Defendants, though moving
separately, raise essentially the same arguments: (1) even assuming that the Plaintiffs’
property was unconstitutionally damaged during the search, Defendants are not liable
under § 1983 because they did not personally cause the property damage and did not
observe their fellow officers inflicting the damage, and (2) Defendants are entitled to
qualified immunity. The Greenwich Defendants also argue that no genuine dispute exists
that the damage to Plaintiffs’ property was constitutionally permissible. The Court starts

10

Plaintiffs label paragraph 40 “irrelevant” but offer no evidence to support a denial.
Paragraph 40 is deemed admitted.

11

Plaintiffs having cited no evidence in support of their denial, paragraph 42 is deemed
admitted.

12

“Summary judgment is appropriate where, construing all evidence in the light most
favorable to the non-moving party,” Pabon v. Wright, 459 F.3d 241, 247 (2d Cir. 2006),
“the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the
movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). An issue of fact is
“material” if it “might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law,” and is
“genuine” if “a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party” based on
it. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). “Unsupported allegations do
not create a material issue of fact.” Weinstock v. Columbia Univ., 224 F.3d 33, 41 (2d Cir.
2000).
8

with this final argument, before addressing Defendants’ claims that they lacked personal
involvement and are entitled qualified immunity.
A.

Fourth Amendment Violation

The Greenwich Defendants argue that “there is no competent evidence to
substantiate a violation of the Fourth Amendment in this case as a matter of law. (Defs.’
Mem. Supp. [Doc. # 88] at 23.) Where, as here, a search is conducted pursuant to a valid
warrant, the search is subject to judicial scrutiny “to ensure reasonableness in the manner
and scope of searches and seizures that are carried out.” Ayeni v. Mottola, 35 F.3d 680,
684 (2d Cir. 1994), abrogated on other grounds by Wilson v. Layne, 526 U.S. 603 (1999);
accord United States v. Ramirez, 523 U.S. 65, 71 (1998) (“Excessive or unnecessary
destruction of property in the course of a search may violate the Fourth Amendment,
even though the entry itself is lawful and the fruits of the search are not subject to
suppression.”).
In Cody v. Mello, the Second Circuit articulated the standard of liability “for
property damage occurring in a lawful search,” holding that a plaintiff must establish
“that the police acted unreasonably or maliciously in bringing about the damage” and
that “[m]ere negligence is not enough.” 59 F.3d 13, 16 (2d Cir. 1995) (citing Daniels v.
Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 333–34 (1986). Although Cody dealt with a due process claim,
district courts in the Circuit have interpreted Cody as articulating the standard for Fourth
Amendment violations as well. See Dockery v. Tucker, No. 97-cv-3584 (ARR) (RLM),
2008 WL 2673307, at *10 n.8 (E.D.N.Y. June 26, 2008) (citing post Cody cases).
Some property damage caused during a lawful search is not per se unreasonable
within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment; rather, the Supreme Court has recognized
that “officers executing search warrants on occasion must damage property in order to
9

perform their duty.” Dalia v. United States, 441 U.S. 238, 258 (1979). The reasonableness
of the damage must be evaluated with reference to the target of the search. See Dockery,
2008 WL 2673307, at *10 (“[C]onsidering the agents’ reasonable belief that [the arrestee]
was at the Premises on the day of the 1995 search, coupled with their inability to locate
him once inside the house, the court finds that the damage . . . to ceilings, floors and
locked doors was well within the bounds of a constitutionally permissible effort to locate
[the arrestee’s] potential hiding place.”). Even “some disarray in conducting a search,
including the tangential destruction of items that could not contain the object of the
search” does not necessarily constitute a Fourth Amendment violation. Id.; (see also Pls.’
Opp’n [Doc. # 95] at 12 (acknowledging that “sometimes destruction of property is an
inevitable concomitant of a properly executed search”).)
Applying the Cody standard to motions for summary judgment, courts in the
District have been reluctant to resolve the issue at summary judgment. See Notice v.
Koshes, 386 F. Supp. 2d 23, 27 (D. Conn. 2005) (“Whether the police officers’ actions
were unreasonable or malicious is a question of fact that cannot be resolved on a motion
for summary judgment.”); Ochoa v. City of West Haven, No. 3:08cv00024 (DJS), 2011 WL
3267705, at *6 (D. Conn. July 29, 2011) (holding that the defendant officers were not
entitled to summary judgment) (citing Koshes, 386 F. Supp. 2d 23); accord Diaz v. City of
New York, No. 00-CV-2944, 2006 WL 3833164, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 29, 2006) (finding
that while most photographs showed “damage consistent . . . with a reasonable search for
narcotics,” three photographs were less clear and therefore raised a genuine issue of
material fact). But see Dockery v. Tucker, No. 97-CV-3584, 2008 WL 2673307, at *10
(E.D.N.Y. June 26, 2008) (holding that even if policemen personally caused the damage,
they were entitled to summary judgment because there was no material dispute that the
10

property damage did not go beyond what was necessary to effectuate the search); Brown
v. City of Utica, 854 F. Supp. 2d 255, 263 (N.D.N.Y. 2012) (“[N]o rational trier of fact
could conclude [from photographs] . . . that defendants acted unreasonably or
maliciously when executing the search warrant . . . .”).
In support of their assertion that the record cannot support a finding of a Fourth
Amendment violation, Defendants make a number of arguments, none of which the
Court finds convincing. First, Defendants, citing Jeffreys v. Rossi, 275 F. Supp. 2d 463, 475
(S.D.N.Y. 2003), argue that Plaintiffs failed to proffer at least “some competent evidence”
of a Fourth Amendment violation to survive a motion for summary judgment,. (See Defs.’
Mem. Supp. at 26.) In Rossi, the court concluded that the plaintiff’s testimony was “so
replete with inconsistencies and improbabilities that a reasonable jury could not find that
excessive force was used against him.” Rossi, 275 F. Supp. 2d at 475. The court explained
that there is an exception to the axiom that courts should not assess credibility on
summary judgment “when evidence is so contradictory and fanciful that it cannot be
believed by a reasonable person.” Id. at 476–77 (citing Aziz Zarif Shabazz v. Pico, 994 F.
Supp. 460, 470 (S.D.N.Y. 1998), aff’d, 205 F.3d 1324 (2d Cir. 2000)). Here, while the
record fosters significant doubts about the scope of

property

damage

claimed—particularly in light of the absence of photographic evidence as to the Sony TV,
the Bose radio, the bathtub, the couches, the Winnebago, and the Mercedes Benz CL500
(see App’x 1 to Defs.’ Mem. Supp.)—Mr. Koller’s deposition testimony is not so
inconsistent as to permit the Court to disregard it as a matter of law. For example, Mr.
Koller asserts that, inter alia, the following occurred during the search: his television
screen was cracked (Edward Koller Dep. at 133), that the legs of a desk were ripped off

11

(id. at 128), the plug was ripped out of his Bose alarm clock (id. at 136–37), and air
conditioners were broken (id. at 173).
Second, the Greenwich officers argue that the record establishes that the police
took due care in searching the premises and that any damage was a reasonable
consequence of a lawful search. (See Defs.’ Mem. Supp. at 25–28.) However, establishing
as a matter of law that property damaged in the course of a search was the result of
reasonable and nonmalicious police action presents a difficult task at the summary
judgment stage. See Koshes, 386 F. Supp. 2d at 27; Ochoa, 2011 WL 3267705, at *6. The
Greenwich Defendants convincingly argue—and the Court hereby finds as a matter of
law—that the damage to the safe and the basement floor was reasonable under the Fourth
Amendment, in light of (a) the express authorization in the warrant to recover any safe
and its contents, (b) the fact that Mr. Koller told his mother, who knew the combination,
to stay away from the residence, and (c) the fact that the police enlisted the help of a
professional locksmith after Plaintiffs failed to cooperate. See Dockery, 2008 WL 2673307,
at *10. However, for the Court to grant summary judgment on this ground, it would have
to conclude that all of the claimed property damage was reasonable as a matter of law,
and Plaintiffs claim numerous items of property damage that, in aggregate, raise a
genuine factual question about whether, under Cody, the police conducting the search
acted reasonably and without malice.
Finally, Defendants argue that if “there was damage to property, Plaintiffs could
have filed a complaint” with the Greenwich Police Department. (Defs.’ Mem. Supp. at
29.) The fact that Plaintiffs chose not to utilize the civilian complaint procedure does not
allow the Court to decide at this stage that the claimed property damage was not of
constitutional significance.
12

B.

Section 1983: Personal Involvement

Both Investigator Gallego and the Greenwich Defendants argue that they are
entitled to summary judgment because they did not have the requisite personal
involvement in the property damage. (See Defs.’ Mem. Supp. at 31, 35; Gallego’s Mem.
Supp. at 27, 30.)
It is well established that the personal involvement of a defendant–police officer is
an essential prerequisite to money damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See, e.g., Wright v.
Smith, 21 F.3d 496, 501 (2d Cir. 1994); Oliphant v. Villano, No. 3:09cv862 (JBA), 2010
WL 537749, at *9 (D. Conn. Feb. 11, 2010). Here, the only plausible theories of personal
involvement are (1) that Defendants directly caused unreasonable property damage or (2)
that Defendants failed to intervene to prevent the constitutional violations of their fellow
officers, as it “is widely recognized that all law enforcement officials have an affirmative
duty to intervene to protect the constitutional rights of citizens from infringement by
other law enforcement officers in their presence.” Anderson v. Branen, 17 F.3d 552, 557
(2d Cir. 1994). However, failure to intercede liability will not attach unless there was “a
realistic opportunity to intervene to prevent the harm from occurring.” Id.
1.

Gallego

Plaintiffs assert that Investigator Gallego has the requisite personal involvement
under § 1983 because he supervised the search, personally searched Mr. Koller’s car, and
observed other officers inflicting unreasonable property damage. (Pls.’ Opp’n at 7.)
Plaintiffs support these assertions with various citations to Mr. Koller’s deposition
testimony. (See id.) The cited evidence, however, does not create a genuine dispute of
fact, and Investigator Gallego is thus entitled to summary judgment.

13

First, the Court finds at a matter of law that Investigator Gallego was not in charge
of the search. Gallego and the rest of the Westchester police were under the supervision
and authority of Westchester DA Investigator Mike Occhicone. (See Gallego Reply Decl.
[Doc. # 104] ¶ 7.) Astonishingly and in the face of contrary evidence, Plaintiffs contend
that Gallego supervised the search. This assertion is patently unsupported by the record
and, in fact, is contradicted by the very portion of deposition testimony cited by Plaintiffs.
(See Pls.’ Opp’n at 7; Edward Koller Dep. at 43 (“I also observed other police officers
coming into my kitchen, holding stuff asking that guy Mike, should we bag and tag this or
whatever they say . . . .”).) Plaintiffs’ counsel does himself, his clients, and the Court a
disservice by misrepresenting the record.
Second, there is insufficient evidence in the record to permit a reasonable juror to
find that Investigator Gallego either personally searched the premises or had an
opportunity to intervene to prevent fellow officers from inflicting unreasonable property
damage. To begin with, the Court has found that any damage inflicted in the course of
opening the safe was reasonable as a matter of law, so any time spent by Investigator
Gallego in the basement is immaterial. Furthermore, Edward Koller’s testimony that
Investigator Gallego left the Koller residence with his car keys (see Edward Koller Dep. at
191) does not create a genuine factual question about whether Gallego searched or
observed other officers damaging Mr. Koller’s car. Investigator Gallego has put forth
evidence indicating that he did not search Mr. Koller’s car, that he did not instruct
anyone to search the car, that he did not see anyone search the car, and that he has no
knowledge that the car was actually damaged. (See Gallego Reply Decl. ¶¶ 3–5.) Far from
establishing a genuine dispute about the veracity of Gallego’s assertions, Mr. Koller
admits that he does not know whether Gallego searched his car. (See Edward Koller Dep.
14

at 28.) Similarly, Edward Koller’s testimony that, at one point, Gallego went upstairs to
see what was responsible for a noise (see Edward Koller Dep. at 38) does not create a
genuine dispute about whether he had the opportunity to intercede as other officers
inflicted unconstitutional property damage in the upstairs rooms. Gallego avers that he
did not see any unconstitutional property damage being inflicted (see Gallego Decl. ¶¶ 9,
13; Gallego Reply Decl. ¶¶ 2, 7), and Mr. Koller testified that “[w]hen we were sitting in
the kitchen there [were] times that [Investigator Gallego] did leave and I don’t know what
he could have done. I don’t know. I wish I did. I would be lying if I told you that I knew
he did something. I don’t know.” (Edward Koller Dep. at 28.) Inasmuch as Plaintiffs
“must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material
facts,” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986), and in
light of Investigator Gallego’s averments, the absence of contrary evidence, and the large
number of other officers present during the search (see Defs.’ 56(a)(1) Stmt ¶ 12), no
reasonable juror could find that Investigator Gallego had the requisite personal
involvement to be liable under § 1983. Investigator Gallego’s motion for summary
judgment is therefore granted.
2.

Greenwich Defendants

Defendants argue that, on the basis of the record before the Court, no reasonable
juror could conclude that Detectives Hilderbrand, Hoffkins, and Wachnicki personally
searched the premises or that they observed other officers inflicting unreasonable
property damage during the course of the search. The Court agrees with the first point
but not the latter, at least with respect to Detectives Hoffkins and Wachnicki.
Plaintiffs have offered no direct evidence that any of the three Defendants
manually searched the premises. (See Edward Koller Dep. at 56, 69–70 (“I didn’t get to see
15

or hear any of the other officers that were in my house because they kept me away from
everybody and that is it. I wish I did. I wish I had a camera or heard things. I didn’t.”).)
This lack of affirmative evidence—combined with evidence indicating (a) that the
Westchester officers led the search because of their familiarity with the underlying
gambling investigation (see Defs.’ 56(a)(1) Stmt ¶ 18) and (b) that Detectives
Hilderbrand, Hoffkins, and Wachnicki aver that they did not manually search the
premises (see id. ¶¶ 16, 37, 42)—suffices for the Court to conclude that no reasonable
juror could find that the Greenwich Defendants personally searched the premises.
Similarly, there is no genuine dispute that Detective Hilderbrand had no
opportunity to intervene to stop other officers from violating the Fourth Amendment.
First, then Lieutenant Marino was in command at the scene, and Detective Hilderbrand
did not supervise the execution of the warrant. (See id. ¶¶ 14, 26.) Second, for much of
the search Detective Hilderbrand was not present while other officers searched the home;
he only entered the residence at certain points to ask whether the search team needed any
assistance. (See id. ¶¶ 28–29.) Although Detective Hilderbrand was present in the
basement when the locksmith was contacted to gain entry to the safe (see id.), this fact is
of no import because the damage inflicted to obtain entry to the safe was constitutionally
reasonable.13 Plaintiffs offer no direct evidence that Detective Hilderbrand saw other
officers unreasonably destroying property, and Detective Hilderbrand avers that no
officers inflicted unreasonable damage in his presence and that he had no reason to know

13

At oral argument, Plaintiffs’ counsel asked the Court to take judicial notice of another
case involving Judith Koller and Detectives Hilderbrand and Hoffkins. See Koller v.
Wachovia Bank, N.A., No. 3:10-cv-735 (DJS). The allegations in that case—that
Detectives unlawfully searched Ms. Koller’s safe deposit box in 2004—are wholly distinct
from the factual allegations here, and the mere fact that Detectives Hilderbrand and
Hoffkins had prior dealings with Ms. Koller is irrelevant to the Court’s analysis.
16

that property was being damaged. (See id. ¶¶ 54–55; Hilderbrand Aff. ¶¶ 21–22.) As with
Investigator Gallego, the record is thus insufficient to permit a reasonable juror to
conclude that Detective Hilderbrand had an opportunity to intercede. Accordingly, the
claims against Detective Hilderbrand are dismissed.
A genuine dispute exists, however, about whether Detectives Hoffkins and
Wachnicki had an opportunity to intercede to prevent their fellow police officers from
violating the Fourth Amendment. Contrary to Defendants’ suggestion that there is no
evidence that Hoffkins or Wachnicki “observed or had reason to know that excessive
damage was occurring on May 15, 2007” (Defs.’ Mem. Supp. at 35), there is minimally
sufficient evidence in the record to allow a reasonable juror to conclude that Defendants
observed other officers inflicting undue property damage. Detective Hoffkins was the
photographer on the scene, stating that “[t]he group of Westchester Police officers went
from room to room for the manual search. I stood by, out of the way, waiting until any
items were found . . . . Then I would take photographs . . . .” (Hoffkins Aff. [Doc. # 91-8]
¶¶ 3, 6.) Hoffkins’s statement permits a reasonable inference that he observed the
Westchester officers as they searched the premises. Similarly, Detective Wachnicki was
responsible for documenting the items located and identified for seizure by the
Westchester officers. (Wachnicki Aff. [Doc. # 91-9] ¶3.) Detective Wachnicki avers that
he “was present near but in a location separate from the search team as they went from
place to place.” (Id. ¶ 5.) As a reasonable juror could infer from this that Detective
Wachnicki observed the Westchester officers searching. Although Detectives Wachnicki
and Hoffkins also filed affidavits averring that they did not observe other officers
inflicting unreasonable property damage, they were present throughout, performing their
designated roles, and it would therefore be improper for the Court to grant summary
17

judgment in their favor, given the genuine factual dispute on whether the searching
officers were unreasonably destructive or caused only necessary damage.
C.

Qualified Immunity

A defendant–police officer is entitled to summary judgment on qualified
immunity grounds if “no reasonable jury, looking at the evidence in the light most
favorable to, and drawing all inferences most favorable to, the plaintiffs, could conclude
that it was objectively unreasonable for the defendant to believe that he was acting in a
fashion that did not clearly violate an established federally protected right.” Thomas v.
Roach, 165 F.3d 137, 143 (2d Cir. 1999).
As the Second Circuit noted, “whether a right is ‘clearly established’ is determined
by reference to the case law extant at the time of the violation.” In re County of Erie, 546
F.3d 222, 229 (2d Cir. 2008). The right to be free from unreasonably destructive searches
is clearly established. See Foreman v. Beckwith, 260 F. Supp. 2d 500, 505 (D. Conn. 2003)
(“The United States Constitution provides individuals with a clearly established right to
be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, which includes the right to be from the
unreasonable execution of a search warrant.”). As a result, in the context of the
underlying Fourth Amendment violation, the standard for qualified immunity appears to
collapse, at least in part, on the substantive “reasonableness” standard under Cody. See
Brown, 2012 WL 1278014, at *6 (finding that qualified immunity was available based on
the same findings that the damage was “neither unreasonable nor indicative of malicious
conduct”); Diaz, 2006 WL 3833164, at *11 (“[B]ecause questions of fact remain as to the
extent of the force used and amount of property destroyed in the search, issues of fact also
remain as to whether a reasonable officer would have known that failing to intervene was
unlawful in the circumstances.”).
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Finally, a district court is no longer required to decide whether there was a
constitutional violation before reaching the question of whether a defendant is entitled to
qualified immunity. See Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 236 (2009) (holding that the
protocol announced in Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194 (2001), is not “mandatory, but that
the two step process is often beneficial”).
Detectives Hoffkins and Wachnicki14 argue that they are entitled to qualified
immunity with respect to the §1983 failure-to-intercede claims, because “there is no
genuine dispute that . . . there were no circumstances making it objectively unreasonable
for [them] to believe that other officers’ conduct did not violate the plaintiffs’
constitutional rights.” (Defs.’ Mem. at 21–23.) As discussed above, however, genuine
factual disputes prevent the Court from finding as a matter of law that Detectives
Hoffkins and Wachnicki did not observe any officer unreasonably damaging Plaintiffs’
property. Their qualified immunity claim thus turns on issues of disputed fact, and the
Second Circuit has made clear that “[s]ummary judgment on qualified immunity grounds
is not appropriate when there are facts in dispute that are material to a determination of
reasonableness.” Thomas, 165 F.3d at 143; see also Ochoa, 2011 WL 3267705, at *8 (“With
regard to the unreasonable search claims, the Court has determined that as to the
allegations of property destruction the plaintiffs’ allegations, if proved, may be sufficient
for a fact finder to conclude that the officers’ conduct violated clearly established Fourth
Amendment law, Ayeni, 35 F.3d at 689, and that there are unresolved issues of fact
material to a determination of reasonableness as to the search of Ochoa’s vehicle.”

14

As the Court has concluded that summary judgment is appropriate as to Investigator
Gallego and Detective Hilderbrand on the grounds stated above, the Court addresses
qualified immunity only with respect to Detectives Hoffkins and Wachnicki, although its
analysis would have been largely the same as to all Defendants.
19

(quotation marks and bracket omitted)).

Since damage to property did occur while

Detectives Hoffkins and Wachnicki waited to photograph and inventory items to be
seized, facts material to their entitlement to qualified immunity are genuinely in dispute,
i.e., was patently unreasonable or malicious damage being inflicted in their presence, see
Thomas, 165 F.3d at 143.
D.

Narrowing the Issues Pursuant to Rule 56(g)

While the Court only grants Defendants’ motion in part, it exercises its
prerogative under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(g) to narrow the issues for trial. See
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(g) (“If the court does not grant all the relief requested by the motion, it
may enter an order stating any material fact—including an item of damages or other
relief—that is not genuinely in dispute and treating the fact as established in the case.”).
The following facts are not in dispute:
·

All of the actions that the police took with respect to the safe in the basement
of the Koller’s residence were reasonable, and therefore the damage inflicted
in the course of gaining access to the safe was constitutionally permissible, in
light of the following: (1) the warrant authorized the search and seizure of
“any and all safes and their contents”; (2) Ms. Koller knew how to access the
safe; (3) Mr. Koller could have contacted Ms. Koller to provide the police with
access to the safe, but chose not to do so; and (4) the police used the services of
a professional locksmith. Cf. Dockery, 2008 WL 2673307, at *10.

·

Detectives Hoffkins and Wachinicki did not manually search the Koller
residence, and thus the only viable theory for their liability is that they failed
to intercede as other officers caused unreasonable damage during the course
of the search.
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·

Plaintiff cannot assert damage claims regarding any of the vehicles. Even if the
Court were to conclude that the Amended Complaint is not limited to claims
for property damage to personalty inside the residence, there is not sufficient
evidence in the record to allow a reasonable juror to conclude that Detectives
Hoffkins and Wachnicki were present while the cars and camper were being
searched.

I.

Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, Defendant Gallego’s Motion for Summary Judgment

[Doc. # 87] is GRANTED, and the Greenwich Defendants’ Motion for Summary
Judgment [Doc. # 91] is GRANTED as to Detective Hilderbrand and DENIED as to
Detectives Hoffkins and Wachnicki.

Pursuant to the Case Management Order

[Doc. # 35], the Joint Trial Memorandum is due within thirty days of this order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/
Janet Bond Arterton, U.S.D.J.
Dated at New Haven, Connecticut this 19th day of March, 2013.

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