Mills v. Hassan et al.
Filing
28
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge George Levi Russell, III on 9/30/2019. (c/m 9/30/19 bmhs, Deputy Clerk)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
LAWRENCE MILLS,
:
Plaintiff,
:
v.
:
Civil Action No. GLR-18-562
ANTHONY HASSAN, et al.,
:
Defendants.
:
MEMORANDUM OPINION
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendants Senior Trooper Anthony
Hassan (“Sr. Tpr. Hassan”), Trooper First Class Matthew Dull (“Tpr. Dull”), Corporal
James Lantz (“Cpl. Lantz”) (collectively, the “Trooper Defendants”), State of Maryland
(the “State”), and Maryland State Police’s (“MSP”) Motion to Dismiss Complaint or, in
the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 11) and Plaintiff Lawrence
Mills’ Cross Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (the “Cross-Motion”) (ECF No. 23).
The Motions are ripe for disposition, and no hearing is necessary. See Local Rule 105.6
(D.Md. 2018). For the reasons set out below, the Court will grant Defendants’ Motion
and deny Mills’ Cross-Motion as moot.
I.
BACKGROUND1
Just after midnight on March 13, 2015, Mills was driving south on Interstate 95,
after spending the evening at the Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Maryland, when Sr.
1
Unless otherwise noted, the Court takes the following facts from Mills’
Complaint, (ECF No. 1), and accepts them as true. See Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89,
94 (2007) (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555–56 (2007)).
Tpr. Hassan pulled him over. (Compl. ¶¶ 18–19, ECF No. 1). According to Sr. Tpr.
Hassan’s Incident Report, Mills’ car was swerving between lanes. (Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss
Compl. Altern. Summ. J. [“Defs.’ Mot.”] Ex. 2 [“Incident Report”] at 3, ECF No. 11-4).
Hassan smelled alcohol on Mills’ breath and observed his eyes were “glassy and
bloodshot.” (Id.). In response to Sr. Tpr. Hassan’s questions, Mills denied having had
“anything to drink,” before conceding that he “had some juice.” (Compl. ¶ 19; see
Incident Report at 3). Mills stepped out of the car at Sr. Tpr. Hassan’s request, but when
Sr. Tpr. Hassan stated he was going to conduct field sobriety tests, Mills declined.
(Compl. ¶¶ 19–21; Incident Report at 3). While checking Mills’ Maryland driver’s
license, Sr. Tpr. Hassan noticed Mills had a restriction that required him to use an
Ignition Interlock System (“Ignition Interlock”) in his car. (Incident Report at 3).2 When
asked why there was no Ignition Interlock on his car’s steering wheel, Mills said he had
taken it out recently. (Id.). After stating he would “take [Mills] to jail,” Sr. Tpr. Hassan
searched Mills’ vehicle. (Compl. ¶¶ 21–22). At that point, Tpr. Dull and Cpl. Lantz
arrived at the scene. (Id. ¶ 22). Mills complained to them about Sr. Tpr. Hassan’s search,
but they declined to intervene. (Id. ¶ 23). Sr. Tpr. Hassan then searched Mills, placed
Mills in his police cruiser, and drove him to MSP’s Waterloo Barracks. (Id. ¶¶ 24–25;
Incident Report at 5).
2
Mills had the alcohol-related restriction on his license because he had been
convicted of driving while impaired in 2010 and driving under the influence of alcohol in
2011. (See Defs.’ Mot. Ex. 12 [“Court Records for Aug. 3, 2010 Stop”] at 1, ECF No. 1114; id. Ex. 13 [“Court Records for July 20, 2011 Stop”] at 5, ECF No. 11-15). Those
convicted of certain alcohol-related driving offenses must participate in the Ignition
Interlock System Program, Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 16-404.1 (West 2019), and
violating the Program is a criminal offense, id. § 16-113(k), (l).
2
At the Barracks, Sr. Tpr. Hassan read Mills the “DR-15 advise of rights” and
asked him if he would submit to an Intoximeter breath test. (Compl. ¶ 25; Incident Report
at 5). Mills requested to speak to an attorney, but Sr. Tpr. Hassan did not honor that
request. (Compl. ¶ 25). Sr. Tpr. Hassan noted that Mills refused to take the breath test,
(id.; Incident Report at 5), which resulted in the automatic suspension of Mills’ driver’s
license, (Defs.’ Mot. Ex. 4 [“DR-15 Form”], ECF No. 11-6); see Md. Code Ann., Transp.
§ 16-205.1(i) (West 2019). Sr. Tpr. Hassan charged Mills with Driving Under the
Influence of Alcohol (“DUI”), (Compl. ¶ 26), as well as negligent driving, reckless
driving, failure to obey properly placed traffic control device, driving or attempting to
drive while impaired by alcohol (“DWI”), driving or attempting to drive a vehicle not
equipped with an Ignition Interlock, and failure to obey designated lane directions,
(Defs.’ Mot. Ex. 6 [“Court Records for Mar. 13, 2015 Stop”] at 2–4, ECF No. 11-8). Sgt.
Mitchell Nuzzo told Sr. Tpr. Hassan to let Mills speak with an attorney, and Sr. Tpr.
Hassan allowed Mills call a friend to pick him up. (Compl. ¶¶ 26–27). Sgt. Nuzzo took
Mills’ mug shot and then informed Mills that his friend had arrived. (Id. ¶ 27). Mills
walked to the lobby to meet his friend, received paperwork from Sr. Tpr. Hassan, and
left. (Id.).
On June 30, 2015, Mills was tried in the District Court of Maryland in Howard
County and convicted of all charges. (Court Records for Mar. 13, 2015 Stop at 2–4;
Compl. ¶ 35).3 The District Court sentenced him to two years and sixty days in prison,
3
Defendants state in their Motion that the Howard County District Court
convicted Mills of all charges. (Defs.’ Mot. at 1, 14, 42). The Court records indicate that
3
with all but sixty days suspended; later that day, Mills posted bond and appealed.
(Compl. ¶¶ 35–36); see State v. Lawrence Justin Mills, Nos. 2YW0B1R, 2YX0B1R,
2YZ0B1R, 2Z00B1R, 2Z10B1R, 2Y20B1R, (Dist.Ct.Md. filed Mar. 13, 2015),
http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/. On December 15, 2015, a jury in the
Circuit Court for Howard County convicted Mills of the driving without an interlock
device charge, which had been severed from the others, and the Circuit Court sentenced
Mills to one year in prison, with all but seventy-five days suspended. (Court Records for
Mar. 13, 2015 Stop at 3–4). On February 18, 2016, another Circuit Court for Howard
County jury heard the remaining charges against Mills. (Compl. ¶ 41; see Court Records
for Mar. 13, 2015 Stop at 2–4, 10). Sr. Tpr. Hassan testified about the indications that
Mills had been drinking, but the friend who came to pick Mills up from the MSP
Barracks that night, Fernando Garcia, testified that Mills showed no signs of being drunk.
(Compl. ¶¶ 41–42). The jury acquitted Mills of the reckless driving, failure to obey
properly placed traffic control device, DUI, and DWI charges, but convicted him of the
negligent driving and failure to obey lane directions charges, for which he was fined a
total of $230.00. (Id. ¶ 43; Court Records for Mar. 13, 2015 Stop at 2–4).
Mills also requested a hearing regarding the suspension of his driver’s license after
he refused to take the alcohol breath test. (Compl. ¶ 39); see Md. Code Ann., Trans. § 16205.1. On February 4, 2016, an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) held a hearing at the
Motor Vehicle Administration (“MVA”) to determine whether Mills had refused to
Mills appealed from the Howard County District Court to the Circuit Court for Howard
County, (Court Records for Mar. 13, 2015 Stop at 2–4), and Mills does not dispute that
he was convicted of all charges in the Howard County District Court.
4
submit to an Intoximeter test on the night he was stopped and arrested. (Compl. ¶ 39;
Defs.’ Mot. Ex. 9 [“ALJ Decision”] at 1, ECF No. 11-11). Sr. Tpr. Hassan testified and
was subjected to cross-examination by Mills’ attorney. (Compl. ¶ 39). The ALJ found, by
a preponderance of the evidence, that Hassan had “reasonable grounds to believe that
[Mills] was driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of or
impaired by alcohol . . . .” (ALJ Decision at 2). The ALJ based his conclusion on Mills’
alcohol-scented breath, glassy eyes, slurred speech, stumbling, and refusal to take field
sobriety tests. (Id.). The ALJ concluded Mills violated § 16-205.1(f) and suspended his
license for 120 days. (Id. at 3). The ALJ’s Decision informed Mills of his right to appeal
the administrative decision to the Circuit Court within thirty days. (Id.).
On February 23, 2018, Mills sued Defendants. (ECF No. 1). Mills’ sixteen-count
Complaint alleges: fabricated probable cause and unreasonable seizure in violation of the
Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and false police report and perjury in
violation of the Fourteenth Amendment (Count I)4; unlawful arrest and detention in
violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments (Count III); unlawful search and
seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment (Count IV); wrongful conviction and
deprivation of substantive due process in violation of Article 24 of the Maryland
Declaration of Rights (Count V); unreasonable search and seizure in violation of Article
26 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights (Count VI); false arrest and false imprisonment
(Count VII); malicious prosecution, perjury, and fraud (Count IX); battery, only as to Sr.
4
On November 7, 2018, Mills voluntarily dismissed Counts II, VIII, and XIII of
the Complaint. (See Pl.’s Not. Vol. Dismiss. Spec. Claims, ECF No. 22). Mills brings
each count against all Defendants unless otherwise indicated.
5
Tpr. Hassan, MSP, and the State (Count X); negligence (Count XI); gross negligence
(Count XII); negligent hiring, training, supervision, and retention, against MSP and the
State (Count XIV); civil conspiracy (Count XV); and unlawful custom, pattern, or
practice, against MSP and the State (Count XVI). (Compl. ¶¶ 79–205). Mills brings his
federal claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2018). (Id. at 15, 17, 19, 20). He seeks monetary
damages. (Id. at 17, 19–24, 26–28, 30–33, 35–36).
On May 17, 2018, Defendants filed their Motion to Dismiss Complaint or, in the
Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 11).5 On November 7, 2018, Mills
filed an Opposition, (ECF No. 24), and a Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
(ECF No. 23). On November 21, 2018, Defendants filed a Reply. (ECF No. 26). On
November 30, 2018, Mills filed a Reply. (ECF No. 27).
II.
A.
DISCUSSION
Defendants’ Motion
1.
Conversion
Defendants style their Motion as motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6) or, in the alternative, for summary judgment under Rule 56. A motion
styled in this manner implicates the Court’s discretion under Rule 12(d). See Kensington
Volunteer Fire Dep’t, Inc. v. Montgomery Cty., 788 F.Supp.2d 431, 436–37 (D.Md.
On June 11, 2018, this Court granted Defendants’ Motion as unopposed and
closed the case. (ECF Nos. 12, 13). On June 12, 2018, Mills filed a Motion to Vacate
Order of Dismissal. (ECF No. 14). On October 11, 2018, the Court granted Mills’
unopposed Motion and re-opened the case. (ECF No. 15). On October 26, 2018, Mills’
attorney filed a Motion to Strike Attorney’s Appearance, (ECF No. 18), which the Court
granted on October 31, 2019, (ECF No. 19). Mills has represented himself since then.
5
6
2011), aff’d, 684 F.3d 462 (4th Cir. 2012). This Rule provides that when “matters outside
the pleadings are presented to and not excluded by the court, the [Rule 12(b)(6)] motion
must be treated as one for summary judgment under Rule 56.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(d). The
Court “has ‘complete discretion to determine whether or not to accept the submission of
any material beyond the pleadings that is offered in conjunction with a Rule 12(b)(6)
motion and rely on it, thereby converting the motion, or to reject it or simply not consider
it.’” Wells-Bey v. Kopp, No. ELH-12-2319, 2013 WL 1700927, at *5 (D.Md. Apr. 16,
2013) (quoting 5C Charles Wright & Arthur Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure §
1366, at 159 (3d ed. 2004 & Supp. 2012)).
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has articulated two
requirements for proper conversion of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to a Rule 56 motion: notice
and reasonable opportunity for discovery. See Greater Balt. Ctr. for Pregnancy Concerns,
Inc. v. Mayor of Balt., 721 F.3d 264, 281 (4th Cir. 2013). When the movant expressly
captions its motion “in the alternative” for summary judgment and submits matters
outside the pleadings for the court’s consideration, the parties are deemed to be on notice
that conversion under Rule 12(d) may occur. See Moret v. Harvey, 381 F.Supp.2d 458,
464 (D.Md. 2005). The Court “does not have an obligation to notify parties of the
obvious.” Laughlin v. Metro. Wash. Airports Auth., 149 F.3d 253, 261 (4th Cir. 1998).
Ordinarily, summary judgment is inappropriate when “the parties have not had an
opportunity for reasonable discovery.” E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Kolon Indus.,
Inc., 637 F.3d 435, 448 (4th Cir. 2011). Yet, “the party opposing summary judgment
7
‘cannot complain that summary judgment was granted without discovery unless that
party had made an attempt to oppose the motion on the grounds that more time was
needed for discovery.’” Harrods Ltd. v. Sixty Internet Domain Names, 302 F.3d 214, 244
(4th Cir. 2002) (quoting Evans v. Techs. Applications & Serv. Co., 80 F.3d 954, 961 (4th
Cir. 1996)). To raise sufficiently the issue that more discovery is needed, the non-movant
must typically file an affidavit or declaration under Rule 56(d), explaining the “specified
reasons” why “it cannot present facts essential to justify its opposition.” Fed.R.Civ.P.
56(d). A Rule 56(d) affidavit is inadequate if it simply demands “discovery for the sake
of discovery.” Hamilton v. Mayor of Balt., 807 F.Supp.2d 331, 342 (D.Md. 2011)
(citation omitted). A Rule 56(d) request for discovery is properly denied when “the
additional evidence sought for discovery would not have by itself created a genuine issue
of material fact sufficient to defeat summary judgment.” Ingle ex rel. Estate of Ingle v.
Yelton, 439 F.3d 191, 195 (4th Cir. 2006) (quoting Strag v. Bd. of Trs., 55 F.3d 943, 953
(4th Cir. 1995)).
Here, Mills filed a Rule 56(d) affidavit, requesting various specific discovery,
including depositions of MSP employees related to the case. (Pl.’s Resp. & Mem. L.
Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss Altern. Summ J. at 44–48, ECF No. 24). As a result, the
Court will not convert Defendants’ Motion into one for summary judgment and will
instead consider it under Rule 12(b)(6).
8
2.
Standard of Review
The purpose of a motion under Rule 12(b)(6) is to “test[ ] the sufficiency of a
complaint,” not to “resolve contests surrounding the facts, the merits of a claim, or the
applicability of defenses.” King v. Rubenstein, 825 F.3d 206, 214 (4th Cir. 2016)
(quoting Edwards v. City of Goldsboro, 178 F.3d 231, 243 (4th Cir. 1999)). A complaint
fails to state a claim if it does not contain “a short and plain statement of the claim
showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,” Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2), or does not “state a
claim to relief that is plausible on its face,” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)
(quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is facially
plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the
reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. (citing
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action,
supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S.
at 555). Though the plaintiff is not required to forecast evidence to prove the elements of
the claim, the complaint must allege sufficient facts to establish each element. Goss v.
Bank of America, N.A., 917 F.Supp.2d 445, 449 (D.Md. 2013) (quoting Walters v.
McMahen, 684 F.3d 435, 439 (4th Cir. 2012)), aff’d sub nom. Goss v. Bank of America,
NA, 546 F.App’x 165 (4th Cir. 2013).
In considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court must examine the complaint as a
whole, consider the factual allegations in the complaint as true, and construe the factual
allegations in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Albright v. Oliver, 510 U.S. 266,
9
268 (1994); Lambeth v. Bd. of Comm’rs, 407 F.3d 266, 268 (4th Cir. 2005) (citing
Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974)). But, the court need not accept
unsupported or conclusory factual allegations devoid of any reference to actual events,
United Black Firefighters v. Hirst, 604 F.2d 844, 847 (4th Cir. 1979), or legal conclusions
couched as factual allegations, Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
The general rule is that a court may not consider extrinsic evidence when
resolving a Rule 12(b)(6) motion. See Chesapeake Bay Found., Inc. v. Severstal
Sparrows Point, LLC, 794 F.Supp.2d 602, 611 (D.Md. 2011). But this general rule is
subject to several exceptions. First, a court may consider documents attached to the
complaint, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 10(c), as well as those attached to the motion to dismiss, so
long as they are integral to the complaint and authentic, see Blankenship v. Manchin, 471
F.3d 523, 526 n.1 (4th Cir. 2006). Second, a court may consider documents referred to
and relied upon in the complaint—“even if the documents are not attached as exhibits.”
Fare Deals Ltd. v. World Choice Travel.com, Inc., 180 F.Supp.2d 678, 683 (D.Md.2001);
accord New Beckley Mining Corp. v. Int’l Union, United Mine Workers of Am., 18 F.3d
1161, 1164 (4th Cir. 1994). Third, a Court may consider matters of public record. Philips
v. Pitt Cnty. Mem. Hosp., 572 F.3d 176, 180 (4th Cir. 2009). In the event that any of
these properly considered extra-pleading materials conflict with the “bare allegations of
the complaint,” the extra-pleading materials “prevail.” Fare Deals, 180 F.Supp.2d at 683;
accord RaceRedi Motorsports, LLC v. Dart Mach., Ltd., 640 F.Supp.2d 660, 664 (D.Md.
10
2009). The Court will, therefore, consider the public records submitted by Mills and
Defendants.
3.
Analysis
In their Motion, Defendants argue that collateral estoppel and the U.S. Supreme
Court’s holding in Heck v. Humphrey bar Mills’ claims.6 Mills counters that each of
Defendants’ arguments does not apply to this case. The Court will analyze Mills’
Complaint on a claim-by-claim basis, considering Defendants’ arguments where relevant.
a.
Mills’ Federal Claims
In Counts I, III, and IV, Mills brings federal claims under the Fourth or Fourteenth
Amendments. The Fourth Amendment claims relate to the alleged lack of probable cause
for his arrest and are variously named false arrest, unlawful detention, and unlawful
search and seizure. Mills’ Fourteenth Amendment claims relate to alleged dishonesty—
i.e., fabricated evidence, false police report, and perjury—and are essentially due process
claims. The Court will first address the Fourth Amendment claims.
i.
Fourth Amendment Claims
To plead a § 1983 claim “for false arrest in violation of the Fourth Amendment, [a
plaintiff] must show that his arrest was made without probable cause.” Carter v. Durham,
No. WMN-14-2635, 2015 WL 641370, at *2 (D.Md. Feb. 12, 2015) (citing Street v.
6
Defendants also argue that the Eleventh Amendment bars Mills’ claims against
the State, MSP, and Trooper Defendants in their official capacities; the State, MSP, and
Trooper Defendants are not “persons” for the purposes of 42 U.S.C. § 1983; that Trooper
Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity for Mills’ federal claims and Maryland
statutory immunity for Mills’ state claims; and that Mills otherwise fails to state any of
his claims. Because the Court concludes that Mills fails to state a claim based on
Defendants’ other arguments, the Court need not address these arguments.
11
Surdyka, 492 F.2d 368, 372–73 (4th Cir. 1974)). Similarly, “[t]o establish an
unreasonable seizure under the Fourth Amendment, [a plaintiff] needs to show that the
officers decided to arrest [him] for [the charged crime] without probable cause.” Brown
v. Gilmore, 278 F.3d 362, 367 (4th Cir. 2002) (first citing Dunaway v. New York, 442
U.S. 200, 213 (1979); then citing Taylor v. Waters, 81 F.3d 429, 434 (4th Cir. 1996); and
then citing United States v. Al–Talib, 55 F.3d 923, 931 (4th Cir. 1995)). “To prove an
absence of probable cause, [a plaintiff] must allege a set of facts which made it
unjustifiable for a reasonable officer to conclude that [the plaintiff] was violating” the
law. Id. at 368.
Probable cause exists if the evidence before the law enforcement officer is
“sufficient to warrant a prudent person, or one of reasonable caution, in believing, in the
circumstances shown, that the suspect [has] committed . . . an offense.” Gray v. State,
No. CCB-02-0385, 2004 WL 2191705, at *6 (D.Md. Sept. 24, 2004) (quoting Porterfield
v. Lott, 156 F.3d 563, 569 (4th Cir. 1998)). Whether there is probable cause depends on
the totality of the circumstances. Gilliam v. Sealey, 932 F.3d 216, 234 (4th Cir. 2019)
(quoting Smith v. Munday, 848 F.3d 248, 253 (4th Cir. 2017)). “While probable cause
requires more than bare suspicion, it requires less than that evidence necessary to
convict.” Id. (quoting Munday, 848 F.3d at 253). Whether probable cause to arrest exists
is based only on the information the officer had at the time of the arrest. Id. (first citing
Munday, 848 F.3d at 253; and then citing Graham v. Gagnon, 831 F.3d 176, 184 (4th Cir.
2016)).
12
“For [Fourth Amendment] purposes, an arrest on multiple charges is a ‘single
transaction,’ and probable cause will be found to exist, so long as it existed for at least
one offense.” Wilkerson v. Hester, 114 F.Supp.2d 446, 456 (W.D.N.C. 2000) (quoting
Barry v. Fowler, 902 F.2d 770, 773 n.5 (9th Cir. 1990)). Other circuits have held
similarly. Id. (first citing Calusinski v. Kruger, 24 F.3d 931 (7th Cir. 1994) (“At the time
of the arrest police officers need probable cause that a crime has been committed, not that
the criminal defendant committed all of the crimes for which he or she is later charged.”);
and then citing Wells v. Bonner, 45 F.3d 90, 95 (5th Cir.1995) (“If there was probable
cause for any of the charges made . . . then the arrest was supported by probable cause,
and the claim for false arrest fails.”)).
The doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel preclude relitigation of claims
or issues, respectively, under certain circumstances. Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90, 94
(1980). The purpose of the doctrines is to “relieve parties of the cost and vexation of
multiple lawsuits, conserve judicial resources, and, by preventing inconsistent decisions,
encourage reliance on adjudication.” Id. (citing Montana v. United States, 440 U.S. 147,
153 (1979)). “Congress has specifically required all federal courts to give preclusive
effect to state-court judgments whenever the courts of the State from which the
judgments emerged would do so.” Gilliam v. Sealey, 932 F.3d 216, 231 (4th Cir. 2019)
(quoting Allen, 449 U.S. at 96). As such, the doctrines of res judicata and collateral
estoppel apply to § 1983 actions, and federal courts must afford preclusive effect to
claims or issues decided by state courts when that state’s courts would do the same. Id.
13
To establish collateral estoppel, or issue preclusion, each of these questions must
be answered affirmatively: (1) “Was the issue decided in the prior adjudication identical
with the one presented in the action in question?”; (2) “Was there a final judgment on the
merits?”; (3) “Was the party against whom the plea is asserted a party or in privity with a
party to the prior adjudication?”; and (4) “Was the party against whom the plea is
asserted given a fair opportunity to be heard on the issue?” Colandrea v. Wilde Lake
Cmty. Ass’n, Inc., 761 A.2d 899, 909 (Md. 2000).
“Under Maryland law, a conviction determines conclusively the existence of
probable cause, regardless of whether the judgment is later reversed in a subsequent
proceeding.” Ghazzaoui v. Anne Arundel Cty., 659 F.App’x 731, 733–34 (4th Cir. 2016)
(quoting Asuncion v. City of Gaithersburg, No. 95–1159, 1996 WL 1842, at *2 (4th Cir.
Jan. 3, 1996) (unpublished)). Maryland recognizes an exception to that rule, however, if
“the conviction was obtained by fraud, perjury or other corrupt means.” Ghazzaoui, 659
F.App’x at 734 (quoting Zablonsky v. Perkins, 187 A.2d 314, 316 (Md. 1963)).
Further, the Supreme Court held in Heck v. Humphrey that
in order to recover damages for allegedly unconstitutional
conviction or imprisonment, or for other harm caused by
actions whose unlawfulness would render a conviction or
sentence invalid, a § 1983 plaintiff must prove that the
conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct appeal,
expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state
tribunal authorized to make such determination, or called into
question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas
corpus, 28 U.S.C. § 2254. A claim for damages bearing that
relationship to a conviction or sentence that has not been so
invalidated
is
not
cognizable
under
§
1983.
14
512 U.S. 477, 486–87 (1994).
Here, the state courts have established that Sr. Tpr. Hassan had probable cause to
stop and arrest Mills, and therefore the Court gives that determination preclusive effect.
Because Mills was convicted of negligent driving, failure to obey lane directions, and
driving without an interlock device, probable cause for the stop and arrest has been
conclusively determined. See Ghazzaoui, 659 F.App’x at 733. Mills alleges that he did
not commit any traffic violations and that Hassan therefore did not have probable cause
to stop him, citing the Zablonsky exception.7 Mills cannot make such a § 1983 claim,
however, because such a claim would necessarily be a challenge to the probable cause for
Mills’ arrest, which led to his convictions, three of which remain valid. See Heck, 512
U.S. at 486–87. One jury convicted Mills of negligent driving and failure to obey lane
directions, and another jury convicted him of driving without his Ignition Interlock. To
overcome Heck, Mills would have to plead that his convictions have been “reversed on
direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized
to make such determination, or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ
of habeas corpus.” Id. He does not, and cannot, allege those necessary facts.
Mills clarifies that he is attacking the DUI and DWI charges of which he was
acquitted when he appealed the District Court convictions to the Circuit Court. But Sr.
Tpr. Hassan only arrested Mills once, and that arrest, from which the several charges
against him flowed, was a single transaction. See Wilkerson v. Hester, 114 F.Supp.2d at
7
The Court notes that Mills offers no explanation for why his car was stopped
among all the others traveling on the highway that night.
15
456. Because Sr. Tpr. Hassan had probable cause to arrest based on Mills’ negligent
driving, failure to obey lane directions, and driving without an interlock device, Mills’
arrest was justified even if convictions stemming from the same arrest were later
overturned. See Wells, 45 F.3d at 95. In other words, the DUI and DWI charges flowed
from the same stop and arrest that were based on the same probable cause that Mills
cannot attack in this lawsuit. Mills’ “assertions that there was no probable cause for his
arrest and that the evidence gathered against him was obtained illegally is a collateral
attack on his convictions which may not be presented in the context of a claim for
damages.” Carter, 2015 WL 641370, at *3. To allow him to proceed on his Fourth
Amendment claim under § 1983 based on fabricated probable cause would be to allow an
impermissible collateral challenge to his convictions by two juries. As the Supreme Court
held, a claim for damages that makes such a challenge “to a conviction or sentence that
has not been so invalidated is not cognizable under § 1983.” Heck, 512 U.S. at 487. As a
result, Mills cannot challenge the probable cause for his arrest in this case and cannot
“allege a set of facts which made it unjustifiable” for Sr. Tpr. Hassan to conclude that
Mills had violated the law. Brown, 278 F.3d at 368. He therefore has not adequately
pleaded his Fourth Amendment claims under § 1983.8
8
In Count I of his Complaint, Mills appears to make a claim for bystander liability
against Cpl. Lantz and Tpr. Dull. This claim fails. The Fourth Circuit has held that a law
enforcement officer “may be liable under § 1983, on a theory of bystander liability, if he:
(1) knows that a fellow officer is violating an individual’s constitutional rights; (2) has a
reasonable opportunity to prevent the harm; and (3) chooses not to act.” Randall v. Prince
George’s Cty., 302 F.3d 188, 204 (4th Cir. 2002). According to the Complaint, Cpl.
Lantz and Tpr. Dull’s only involvement in the facts underlying this lawsuit was that they
arrived at the side of the highway as Sr. Tpr. Hassan was in the process of arresting Mills.
16
For this reason, the Court will grant Defendants’ Motion as to Mills’ Fourth
Amendment claims. The Court now turns to Mills’ Fourteenth Amendment claims, which
target what happened when the charges were brought to court. 9
ii.
Fourteenth Amendment Claims
The Fourteenth Amendment protects “against deprivations of liberty accomplished
without due process of law.” Massey v. Ojaniit, 759 F.3d 343, 354 (4th Cir. 2014)
(quoting Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 145 (1979)). The Fourth Circuit has
recognized a due process “right not to be deprived of liberty as a result of the fabrication
of evidence by a government officer acting in an investigating capacity.” Id.
(quoting Washington v. Wilmore, 407 F.3d 274, 282 (4th Cir. 2005)). But “[f]abrication
of evidence alone is insufficient to state a claim for a due process violation; a plaintiff
must plead adequate facts to establish that the loss of liberty—i.e., his conviction and
subsequent incarceration—resulted from the fabrication.” Id. (citing Washington, 407
F.3d at 282–83).
Here, Mills has not pleaded facts that show his incarceration resulted from the
alleged fabrication. Mills does not allege he served any period of incarceration for any
They could not have known Sr. Tpr. Hassan was violating Mills’ constitutional rights
both because they arrived mid-traffic stop, as Mills concedes, and because Mills’
convictions support that Sr. Tpr. Hassan had probable cause. As a result, the Court will
grant Defendants’ Motion as to the claims Mills makes against Cpl. Lantz and Tpr. Dull.
9
Mills’ Fourteenth Amendment arguments and claims do not apply to the arrest.
Taylor v. Waters, 81 F.3d 429, 435–36 (4th Cir. 1996) (noting that the Fourth
Amendment provides all of the pretrial process that is constitutionally due to a criminal
defendant).
17
charge other than the Ignition Interlock violation. He states that after the District Court
initially sentenced him, the judge set a bond amount, and Mills was released on bond,
which the state court records confirm. The only charge to which Mills was sentenced to
incarceration and did not successfully appeal was the Ignition Interlock charge. But Mills
has not alleged that Sr. Tpr. Hassan fabricated this charge or that his Ignition Interlock
System was in place as required. Though Mills alleges Sr. Tpr. Hassan’s perjury in detail
through various trials and hearings, Mills does not even mention the Ignition Interlock
charge in the Complaint. Accordingly, the Court concludes Mills has not adequately
pleaded that Sr. Tpr. Hassan’s alleged fabrication caused his incarceration. See Massey,
759 F.3d at 354. As a result, the Court will grant Defendants’ Motion as to Mills’
Fourteenth Amendment claims.
b.
Mills’ State Claims
The remaining counts, Counts V–VII, IX–XII, and XIV–XVI, are all state law
claims. The Court must, therefore, determine whether it is appropriate to retain
jurisdiction over them.
“[F]ederal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction.” Home Buyers Warranty Corp.
v. Hanna, 750 F.3d 427, 432 (4th Cir. 2014) (quoting Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co.
of America, 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994)). “There are three principal bases for subjectmatter jurisdiction in federal court: (1) federal-question jurisdiction; (2) diversity
jurisdiction; (3) and supplemental jurisdiction.” Costley v. City of Westminster, No.
GLR-16-1447, 2017 WL 5635463, at *1 (D.Md. Jan. 26, 2017); see also Exxon Mobil
18
Corp. v. Allapattah Servs., Inc., 545 U.S. 546, 552 (2005). Federal district courts have
federal question jurisdiction over civil actions that arise under federal law. 28 U.S.C. §
1331 (2018). The Court has original jurisdiction over this case through federal question
jurisdiction.
Because the Court has dismissed the § 1983 claims over which it had original
jurisdiction, the Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining
state law claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3) (2018) (providing that “district courts may
decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a state claim if . . . the district court has
dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction”). Accordingly, the Court will
dismiss Counts V–VII, IX–XII, and XIV–XVI.
B.
Mills’ Cross-Motion
Because the Court has dismissed Mills’ Complaint, the Court will deny Mills’
Cross-Motion as moot.
III.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will grant Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
Complaint or, in the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 11),
construed as a motion to dismiss, and deny as moot Mills’ Cross Motion for Partial
Summary Judgment (ECF No. 23). A separate Order follows.
Entered this 30th day of September, 2019.
/s/
________________________
George L. Russell, III
United States District Judge
19
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