Otterstatter v. Sonnier et al

Filing 23

RULE 7(a) HEIGHTENED PLEADING REVIEW. Signed by Magistrate Judge Mildred E Methvin on 1/6/09. (crt,Smith, C)

RECEIVED
JAN 0 7 2009
ROBERT H, SHEMMLL CLERK WE STRs~STThCT OF LDthSiANA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE-OPELOUSAS D1VISION CIVIL ACT1ON NO. 08-0408 JUDGE DOHERTY MAGISTRATE JUDGE METHVIN

STEVEN CLINTON OTTERSTATTER VERSUS RL&MONE SONNIER THE C1TY OF EUNICE

RULE 7(a) HEIGHTENED PLEADING REVIEW In this §1983 civil rights suit, plaintiff has sued defendant Ramone Sonnier in his official and individual capacity, and the City of Eunice.1 In their answer, the defendants plead qualified immunity. The undersigned has therefore conducted an evaluation of plaintiffs complaint to determine whether it meets the applicable heightened pleading requirement. See Schultea v. Wood, 47 F.3d 1427,
(5th

Cir. 1995); Baker v. Putnal, 75 F.3d 190, 195 (5th Cir. 1996).

Plaintiff alleges as follows: On March 16, 2007, plaintiff and his girlfriend had an argument and the police were called. Plaintiff was outside his home drinking coffee when several police cars arrived. Officer Sonnier approached plaintiff and told to put down the coffee. F Officer Sonnier then told plaintiff to turn around, which plaintiff did. Then, Officer Sonnier told plaintiff he was under arrest. When plaintiff asked Officer Sonnier what he under arrest for, Officer Sonnier did not advise petitioner, but instead told plaintiff to "shut up, nigger lover" and called him a "white honkey." Plaintiff further alleges that he advised Officer Sonnier that the handcuffs were too tight, and that he was disabled, and the handcuffs were hurting his back and wrist. Officer Sonnier shoved plaintiff into the police car and brought him to jail, where he was shackled to a bench for seven hours, and denied medication and use of the restroom. Plaintiff

See Rec. Doe. 1.

2

urinated and defecated on himself. Plaintiff suffered exacerbation and aggravation of preexisting physical and psychiatric conditions. The undersigned concludes that plaintiff has "supported his claims with sufficient precision and factual specificity to raise a genuine issue as to the illegality of defendants' conduct at the time of the alleged acts." Schultea, 47 F.3d at 1434. Although the court may later determine the facts in favor of the defendant, the sole issue presented here is whether plaintiff has satisfied the heightened pleading requirement of Shultea, which the undersigned concludes she has. Thus, no order limiting discovery under Schultea is appropriate. Signed at Lafayette, Louisiana on this

4

day

January, 2009.

Mild d ethvin United States Magistrate Judge 800 Lafayette St., Suite 3500 Lafayette, Louisiana 70501 [phone]-phone [phone]-Fax
.