Callahan v. Hartland Consolidated Schools et al
Filing
58
Memorandum and Order Granting Defendant Hartland's 31 Motion for Summary Judgment and Granting Defendant Livingston County's and Steinaway's 33 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. Signed by District Judge Avern Cohn. (SCha)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
RYAN CALLAHAN,
Plaintiff,
vs.
Case No. 12-10774
HARTLAND CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS,
LIVINGSTON COUNTY, and JAMES
STEINAWAY,
HON. AVERN COHN
Defendants.
______________________________________/
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT
HARTLAND’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Doc. 31)
AND GRANTING DEFENDANT LIVINGSTON COUNTY’S AND
STEINAWAY’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Doc. 33)
I. INTRODUCTION
This is a § 1983 and intentional tort case arising out of an altercation between a
student, plaintiff Ryan Callahan (Callahan), and defendant James Steinaway (Steinaway),
a deputy sheriff with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department and the Hartland High
School’s Student Resource Officer (SRO). Callahan is suing (1) Steinaway, (2) the school
district, Hartland Consolidated Schools (Hartland), and (3) the county, Livingston County
(Livingston). The following five counts in Callahan’s first amended complaint1 still remain:
Count I
1
Assault and Battery (Steinaway);
In an Order Denying Defendant Hartland’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 24), the Court
dismissed two counts of malicious prosecution (counts III and V) and limited Callahan’s
false imprisonment claim (count II) to Steinaway. The Court directed Callahan to file an
amended complaint.
Count II
False Imprisonment (Steinaway)2;
Count IV
42 U.S.C. § 1983 - Excessive Force (Steinaway);
Count VI
42 U.S.C. § 1983 - Failure to Supervise (Hartland); and
Count VII
42 U.S.C. § 1983 - Failure to Supervise (Livingston).
Now before the Court is (1) Hartland’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. 31), and
(2) Livingston and Steinaway’s motion for partial summary judgment on counts II (false
imprisonment) and VII (failure to supervise) (Doc. 33). For the reasons that follow, both
motions will be granted.3 The case will proceed against Steinaway only on counts I (assault
and battery) and IV (excessive force).
II. BACKGROUND
On September 17, 2010, Callahan attended a high school football game with his
sister and her friend at Hartland High School, where he was a student, in Livingston
County, Michigan. School aides Ihlene Gordinear (Gordinear) and Estelle Lashbrook
(Lashbrook) were performing security duties and assisting with crowd control.4 They were
stationed at different locations.
On this particular night, a person attending the football game was found laying face
2
Callahan’s amended complaint includes Livingston on this count. The Court dismissed
Livingston; this claim only applies to Steinaway.
3
Livingston and Steinaway also have a pending motion in limine (Doc. 44). This motion
is not in the purview of this Memorandum and Order.
4
Gordinear was hired by a third party management company to perform services at
Hartland High School athletic events; she has been working “concessions,” “security,”
and the “ticket booth” for seven years (Doc. 47-3, p. 4). Lashbrook has worked at
football games assisting in “crowd control, concession stands, and running things up to
the press box” for eight years (Doc. 47-2, pp. 4-5).
2
down on the ground (Doc. 47-2, p. 8; Doc. 47-3, p. 7). Emergency medical services were
summoned (Doc. 47-2, p. 8; Doc. 47-3, p. 7).5 While waiting for an ambulance,6 Lashbrook
and Gordinear helped to keep the crowd back and away from the injured person (Doc. 472, p. 8; Doc. 47-3, p. 7). There were a number of people walking back and forth, and
despite Lashbrook’s best efforts, some of them were making it past her (Doc. 47-2, p. 910).
Callahan says he became “upset” when he saw the ambulance and decided to walk
“[o]utside of the football game; maybe up to school, you know, use the drinking fountain,
stuff like that” (Doc. 50-6, p. 24). Callahan first walked by Gordinear. Gordinear says she
told Callahan that he could not walk in the direction he was headed, towards the person
who was laying on the ground (Doc. 47-3, p. 10). According to Gordinear, Callahan told
her that he had to use the bathroom (Id.). After Gordinear told Callahan, “I’m sorry, but I
can’t let you through,” she says he pushed her (Id.). She was not injured, but her “feelings
were hurt” (Id. at 13). Callahan has a different story. He says that, as he was walking with
his head down, Gordinear grabbed his shoulder and told him he could not walk near the
grass because someone was injured and laying on the ground (Doc. 50-6, pp. 23-24).
Callahan denies pushing Gordinear; she did not report the incident that night.
As Callahan continued to walk he reached Lashbrook.
Lashbrook says she
repeatedly told him to “please stop” (Doc. 47-2, p. 10). Callahan admitted that Lashbrook
5
No one seems to know exactly why this person was laying face down on the ground
but two other officers at the football field were conducting an assault investigation.
6
The assistant principal, Alice Lashbrook, stated that an ambulance was also called for
a student who was intoxicated (Doc. 50-4, p. 9).
3
told him not to walk in the direction he was headed (Doc. 50-6, p. 25). Rather than stop,
Lashbrook says Callahan continued a “brisk walk,” pushed her, and she ended up hitting
the fence behind her (Doc. 47-2, p. 10). Lashbrook did not know if the push was
purposeful, “but it was a push to keep going, [Callahan] wanted to leave the game – or go
somewhere. . .” (Id.). Lashbrook says she was thrown backwards and her arm was
pinched between the fence. She says she stood up and held her arm up because it was
in pain: “I mean, it hurt not really bad, but it hurt. And I said, ‘I can’t believe he pushed me.’
And that was it. And I stayed there with the crowd” (Id. at 11). She says Callahan then
continued to walk away until Steinaway stopped him (Id.).
Callahan has a different account of his encounter with Lashbrook. Callahan says
that after Lashbrook told him he could not walk in the direction he was headed, he began
to walk a route he thought was appropriate (Doc. 50-6, p. 25). Notwithstanding, he says
Lashbrook “jump[ed] in front of [him] and pushe[d] her hands up” (Id.). Callahan says that
he may have accidently bumped Lashbrook: “Well it’s hard to say, because she jumped in
front of me. I don’t know if you’d classify that as her having contact with me or me having
contact with her” (Id.). Callahan says that when Lashbrook stood up, she said, “Don’t push
me” (Id. at 27). Callahan says he responded, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I did. And then
she yelled and says, Didn’t you see I was wearing this freaking yellow jacket” (Id.).
Callahan says he informed Lashbrook that he needed to leave because he was upset (Id.).
He says Lashbrook then “yelled” for someone to help (Id.). Callahan says he stopped when
this happened (Id.).
Steinaway, wearing a blue polo with a Livingston County Sheriff’s deputy logo,
approached Callahan and began talking to him (Doc. 47-2, p. 15; Doc. 50-6, p. 28).
4
Steinaway asked Lashbrook what was going on (Doc. 50-6, p. 28). Lashbrook told
Steinaway that Callahan was trying to leave (Id.). Steinaway instructed Callahan to leave
(Id.).
After Callahan began walking away, Lashbrook told Steinaway that Callahan pushed
her (Doc 47-2, p. 15, Doc. 50-7, p. 38). Steinaway and Lashbrook say Steinaway saw a
visible scratch on her arm from where she had hit the fence (Doc 47-2, p. 15, Doc. 50-7,
p. 38). Both say Steinaway then asked Callahan to stop more than once in a “very loud”
voice (Doc. 47-2, pp. 15-16; Doc. 50-7, p. 38-41).
Callahan says he did not hear
Steinaway’s command (Doc. 50-6, p. 30).7 Steinaway began to pursue Callahan, who had
his back to Steinaway. Steinaway says he had to sprint to catch up with Callahan (Doc.
50-7, p. 42-43). When Steinaway caught up with Callahan, he “grabbed him by the
shoulders. I had – as I was running up to him, I was yelling, ‘Stop. Police,’ in a loud –
loudly, so he could hear me, and when I got up to him I grabbed him by the shoulders and
we both fell to the ground holding onto his arm” (Id. at 43). Callahan says this was the first
time he knew Steinaway was pursuing him– when he “tackled” him to the ground (Doc. 506, p. 30).
Steinaway secured Callahan while two other officers who were working at the game
came to Steinaway’s aide and helped place Callahan in handcuffs (Doc. 50-6, p. 35).
Callahan says that, as this was going on, he was saying, “Stop, what are you doing” (Id.
at 32). He says that his head was slammed on the ground (Id.). Steinaway denies this.
Callahan was taken by police car to the high school building to speak with Alice
7
Callahan says he has had trouble hearing out of one ear since birth. He also
questions whether Steinaway actually asked him to stop.
5
Lashbrook (Alice)8, the assistant principal of the school (Doc. 50-6, pp. 36, 38). When they
got to the office, Alice asked Steinaway and Callahan, “ ‘What happened? Why is he here?’
at which point in time [Callahan] sat down in the chair opposite of the desk, and Deputy
Steinaway informed me that [Callahan] was running away – or no, I’m sorry, that [Callahan]
had hit an employee” (Doc. 50-4, p. 10). Alice says that Callahan was still in handcuffs and
she noticed that “[h]e looked flustered. He looked sweaty. But I did not immediately notice
if he was crying” (Id.).
According to Callahan, Alice then dismissed Steinaway from the room because he
got in Callahan’s face “and starts yelling and spitting on me [Callahan], saying that, I can
take you to juvy right now, and do you understand. And I say, Yes, I understand, okay”
(Doc. 50-6, p. 38). Alice says Callahan and Steinaway had a “little interaction between the
two, verbal, as they were both trying to tell me what’s going on” (Doc. 50-4, p. 12). “What
I [Alice] can recall of the interaction is that I had asked what was going on. Deputy
Steinaway started to speak. [Callahan] interjected by saying, ‘No, that’s not the case.’
Deputy Steinaway started yelling at [Callahan], and then that’s when I said, ‘Step out of the
room. Let me talk with [Callahan]’ ” (Id.).
After Steinaway left the room, Alice says she immediately asked Callahan what
happened, to which he responded that “he wasn’t quite sure; that he was just trying to
leave. And next thing he knew he was being tackled to the ground” (Doc. 50-4, p. 10).
Alice had Steinaway return to the room and remove Callahan’s handcuffs because
Callahan complained that they were on too tight (Doc 50-4, p. 10; Doc. 50-6, p. 38).
8
Alice and Estelle Lashbrook are not related.
6
Callahan’s parents arrived. Alice informed them of what Steinaway told her and
Callahan’s version of events (Doc. 50-4, p. 13). She informed Callahan and his parents
that Callahan was suspended for ten days and that the school would hold an expulsion
hearing (Doc. 50-6, pp. 39-40; Doc. 50-4, p. 13).
Shortly after Callahan and his parents left, Callahan’s mother returned to Alice’s
office to inform her that Callahan may have hit his head on the concrete and that she
planned to take him to the hospital (Doc. 50-4, p. 14). She told Alice that “the sheriff
[Steinaway] better be ready for this” (Id.).
The school officials decided not to recommend Callahan’s expulsion. Callahan did
not return to school after his suspension; he was allowed to complete online course work
and he ultimately transferred to an alternative school.
Callahan was charged in state court with (1) assault on a police officer and resisting
and obstructing; (2) two counts of assault and battery; and (3) trespass. Pursuant to a plea
agreement with the prosecutor, Callahan pled in state court to “disorderly conduct - jostling”
and the other charges were dismissed (Doc. 12-3). Callahan was placed on standard
probation for six months (Id. at 5).
III. LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Summary Judgment
Summary judgment will be granted when the moving party demonstrates that there
is “no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a
judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). There is no genuine issue of material
fact when “the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the
non-moving party.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587
7
(1986). The nonmoving party may not rest upon his pleadings; rather, the nonmoving
party’s response “must set out specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial.” Chappell
v. City of Cleveland, 585 F.3d 901, 906 (6th Cir. 2009). The Court must “view the facts in
the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, giving that party the benefit of all
reasonable inferences.” King v. Taylor, 694 F.3d 650, 661 (6th Cir. 2012) (citation omitted).
Determining credibility, weighing evidence, and drawing reasonable inferences are left to
the trier of fact. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986).
B. Municipal Liability
A municipality may not be held liable under § 1983 based on the theory of
respondeat superior. Connick v. Thompson, 131 S.Ct. 1350, 1359 (2011) (citations
omitted). In order for municipal liability to attach, a plaintiff must show that “a custom,
policy, or practice attributable to the municipality was the ‘moving force’ behind the violation
of plaintiff’s constitutional rights.” Heyerman v. Cnty. of Calhoun, 680 F.3d 642, 648 (6th
Cir. 2012) (citing Miller v. Sanilac Cnty., 606 F.3d 240, 254-55 (6th Cir. 2010)). In other
words, municipal liability only attaches when the plaintiff (1) identifies a municipal policy or
custom, (2) connects the policy or custom to the municipality, and (3) shows that his injury
was incurred because of the policy or custom. Alkire v. Irving, 330 F.3d 802, 814-15 (6th
Cir. 2003).
“To succeed on a failure to train or supervise claim, the plaintiff must prove the
following: (1) the training or supervision was inadequate for the tasks performed; (2) the
inadequacy was the result of the municipality’s deliberate indifference; and (3) the
inadequacy was closely related to or actually caused the injury.” Ellis ex rel. Pendergrass
v. Cleveland Mun. School. Dist., 455 F.3d 690, 700 (6th Cir. 2006) (citing Russo v. City of
8
Cincinnati, 953 F.2d 1036, 1046 (6th Cir. 1992)). “The occasional negligent administration
of an otherwise sound policy is not sufficient to impose municipal liability.” Heyerman, 680
F.3d at 648. (citation omitted).
Deliberate indifference “is a stringent standard of fault, requiring proof that a
municipal actor disregarded a known or obvious consequence of [its] action.” Heyerman,
680 F.3d at 1361 (citing Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 410 (1997) (internal
quotations omitted). A plaintiff has two methods for demonstrating that a municipality was
deliberately indifferent to his constitutional needs. Id. at 648-49.
First, deliberate
indifference can be established by presenting evidence “showing that the municipality
possessed actual knowledge indicating a deficiency with the existing policy or training (or
lack thereof), such as where there have been recurring constitutional violations.” Id. at 648
(citing Oviatt v. Pearce, 954 F.2d 1470, 1473, 1477-78 (9th Cir. 1992)). Second, deliberate
indifference can be shown by demonstrating that the “need to act should have been plainly
obvious to the [municipality’s] policymakers. . . . Heyerman, 680 F.3d at 649 (citation and
internal quotations omitted) (alteration in original). In a “narrow range of circumstances,”
the “unconstitutional consequences of failing to train could be so patently obvious that a
[municipality] could be held liable under § 1983 without proof of a pre-existing pattern of
violations.” Connick, 131 S.Ct. at 1360.
C. False Imprisonment
Where a claim of false imprisonment under Michigan law centers around a false
arrest, the court must consider whether there has been a false arrest.9 In order to prove
9
For further clarification, see Lewis v. Farmer Jack Div., Inc., 415 Mich. 212 (1982).
“False arrest and false imprisonment as causes of action are said to be distinguishable
9
false arrest under Michigan law, a plaintiff must show that the defendant “participated in an
illegal and unjustified arrest, and that [the defendant] lacked probable cause to do so.”
Walsh v. Taylor, 263 Mich. App. 618, 626 (2004) (citing Peterson Novelties, Inc. v. Berkley,
259 Mich. App. 1, 18 (2003)). When considering whether a false arrest has occurred,
Michigan courts have made clear that “the guilt or innocence of the person arrested is
irrelevant.” Peterson Novelties, 259 Mich. App. at 18 (citation omitted). “Whether the
plaintiff could actually have been convicted is irrelevant because actual innocence is not
an element of false arrest.” Id. (citation omitted). All that is required for a plaintiff to show
is that “the arrest was not legal, i.e. the arrest was not based on probable cause” and was
made “without legal authority.” Id. (citations omitted). “Where the facts are undisputed, the
determination whether probable cause exists is a question of law for the court to decide.”
Id. (citations omitted).
The Michigan Court of Appeals in Peterson Novelties explained probable cause:
Probable cause that a particular person has committed a crime
“ ‘is established by a reasonable ground of suspicion,
supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves
to warrant a cautious person in the belief that the accused is
guilty of the offense charged.’ “ People v. Coutu (On Remand),
235 Mich. App. 695, 708 (1999) (quoting People v. Tower, 215
Mich. App. 318, 320 (1996)). Probable cause is not capable of
being precisely defined; rather, it is a commonsense concept
only in terminology. The difference between them lies in the manner in which they
arise. It is not necessary, to commit false imprisonment, either to intend to make an
arrest or actually to make an arrest. However, a person who is falsely arrested is at the
same time falsely imprisoned, and an unlawful arrest may give rise to a cause of action
for either false arrest or false imprisonment. Thus, it has been stated that false arrest
and false imprisonment are not separate torts, and that a false arrest is one way to
commit false imprisonment; since an arrest involves a restraint, it always involves
imprisonment.” Id. at 231 n.4 (Williams, J., dissenting) (citation omitted).
10
dealing with practical considerations of everyday life that must
be viewed from the perspective of reasonable and prudent
persons, not legal technicians. Ornelas v. United States, 517
U.S. 690, 695-96 (1996).
259 Mich. App. at 19.
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Hartland’s Motion
Count VI of the amended complaint claims Hartland is liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
under a failure to supervise theory. Specifically, Callahan says that the failure to train
employees in crowd control led to Steinaway’s use of excessive force and Alice’s
implementation of a suspension without due process. As best as can be gleaned from his
papers, Callahan asserts three theories to support Hartland’s liability: (1) Hartland has a
written policy that is the “moving force” behind his claimed constitutional violations; (2)
Hartland failed to train/supervise its staff in crowd control for the football game; and (3)
Alice’s actions in suspending Callahan before conducting a complete investigation
amounted to “deliberate indifference.”10 Hartland says it is entitled to summary judgment
because Callahan cannot prove it was the “moving force” behind his claimed constitutional
deprivations. The Court agrees.
1. Callahan’s Reliance on Hartland’s Written Policy
Callahan points to a written Hartland policy that he says was the “moving force”
behind his claimed constitutional violations. Callahan’s reliance on Hartland’s written policy
10
Any attempt to hold Hartland liable under a municipal liability theory based on
Steinaway’s actions has no merit. Steinaway was employed and trained by, and
reported to Livingston. Steinaway’s actions cannot be attributed to Hartland; Hartland is
not the “moving force” behind claimed constitutional deprivations suffered because of
him.
11
entitled “Hartland Consolidated Schools Bylaws & Policies” is misplaced. Specifically,
Callahan relies on an introductory paragraph of the bylaws and polices, which states,
The Board of Education is committed to maintaining a safe
school environment. The Board believes that school crime and
violence are multifaceted problems which need to be
addressed in a manner that utilizes the best resources and
coordinated efforts of School District personnel, law
enforcement agencies, and families. The Board further
believes that school district administrators and local law
enforcement officials must work together to provide for the
safety and welfare of students while they are at school or a
school-sponsored activity or while enroute to or from school, or
a school-sponsored activity. The Board also believes that the
first step in addressing school crime and violence is to assess
the extent and nature of the problem(s), and then plan and
implement strategies that promote school safety and minimize
the likelihood of school crime and violence.
(Doc. 31-13, p. 2). Callahan says that this policy is vague and, therefore, leads to
constitutional deprivations.
For Hartland to be liable, “[Callahan] must . . . demonstrate a direct causal link
between the policy and the alleged constitutional violation in order to show that the
municipality’s deliberate conduct can be deemed the moving force behind the violation.”
Spears, 589 F.3d at 256 (citation and internal quotations omitted). Here, the policy shows
that Hartland understood the need to “work together to provide for the safety and welfare
of students.” Callahan’s reliance on this language of the policy to prove a direct casual link
to his claimed constitutional violations directly undermines his position. Indeed, he points
to Hartland’s policy that explicitly recognizes the need to provide student safety in an
attempt to prove the policy caused his constitutional violations. His claim has no merit.
2. Failure to Train/Supervise
Callahan’s failure to train/supervise theory is also defective.
12
He attempts to
establish that Hartland is the moving force behind his claimed injuries by (1) failing to
train/supervise its employees regarding “crowd control,” and (2) failing to train/supervise
its employees on proper investigatory practice before issuing a suspension to a student.
Callahan, however, did not individually sue Gordinear, Lashbrook, or Alice. He has not
claimed in this lawsuit that they violated his constitutional rights. Nor can he. All he has
stated is that Gordinear and Lashbrook told him he could not walk in a certain direction
because they were keeping the crowd away from an injured person. That is not a
constitutional violation. Callahan says Alice suspended him after Steinaway told her he
assaulted Lashbrook. Suspending Callahan for ten days pending a complete investigation
is not an action that amounted to a constitutional violation. See, e.g., Goss v. Lopez, 419
U.S. 565, 581-82 (1975) (finding due process to be satisfied when a student is suspended
for 10 days or less after “oral or written notice of the charges against him and, if he denies
them, an explanation of the evidence the authorities have and an opportunity to present his
side of the story”). Without an underlying constitutional injury suffered by Callahan, there
is no municipal liability that can attach to Hartland.
Even if Callahan had presented an underlying constitutional violation, he cannot
show that Hartland’s training/supervision was inadequate. Gordinear worked athletic
events at Hartland for seven years; Lashbrook worked the same events for eight years.
Even if they did not receive “formal” training recently, they have successfully been
performing the same duties for several years. More importantly, Callahan fails to show that
Hartland acted with deliberate indifference to his constitutional needs, i.e. (1) “a custom
of tolerance or acquiescence of federal rights violations”; or (2) a “patently obvious” failure
to train and/or supervise.
Without showing deliberate indifference, Callahan cannot
13
establish that his rights were violated due to a “policy” or “custom” attributable to Hartland.
First, Callahan has not proffered any evidence showing a recurring pattern of
constitutional violations that took place in the school district. In fact, Callahan has not
presented evidence of any prior allegations of wrongdoing arising out of “crowd control” by
an employee or failure to properly investigate a claim before suspending a student. As
Hartland puts it, it could not be “deliberately indifferent to a problem which had never
previously presented itself.”
Second, this case does not present a situation where the failure to train employees
in crowd control or failure to conduct a proper investigation before suspending a student
was “patently obvious” to lead to a constitutional deprivation. See, e.g. City of Canton,
Ohio v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 390 n.10 (1989) (hypothesizing single-incident liability where
“the need to train officers in the constitutional limitations on the use of deadly force can be
said to be ‘so obvious,’ that failure to do so could properly be characterized as ‘deliberate
indifference’ to constitutional rights”).
In sum, Callahan has not proffered any evidence showing that Hartland is the
“moving force” behind his claimed constitutional violations. Accordingly, Hartland is entitled
to summary judgment and count VI of the complaint will be dismissed.11
B. Livingston’s Motion
Livingston moves for summary judgment on count VII of the amended complaint
(failure to supervise). Callahan says Livingston is liable under a failure to supervise theory
11
Callahan has not proffered any evidence to support a claim of improper hiring nor has
he argued that theory of liability in his papers and at oral argument. Hartland is not
liable under an improper hiring theory.
14
for Steinaway’s claimed use of excessive force. Like Callahan’s claim against Hartland,
this claim has no merit.
Specifically, Callahan says:
It is Plaintiff’s position that the failure of Livingston County to
properly supervise Steinaway’s activity, when it was known that
he had prior issues with violent behavior toward minors, and
the failure to oversee the process by which Plaintiff was
ultimately charged with a serious crime, constituted a
deliberate indifference to the rights of Plaintiff and other
similarly situated. The County’s failure to act in this case
resulted in a substantial deprivation of an important
constitutional right.
(Doc. 46, p. 13) (citation omitted).
Essentially, Callahan says that Livingston, knowing that Steinaway was sued by a
student for using excessive force when he worked for his former employer, should not have
“placed Steinaway back into an environment where he was constantly exposed to
teenagers” (Doc. 46, p. 13). At oral argument, Callahan’s attorney said that Steinaway
“wasn’t the guy for the job.” The fact that Steinaway was once sued by a student, however,
is not enough to show that Livingston’s training or supervision was inadequate. Steinaway
had training at the police academy at Washtenaw Community College, training from his
former employer, SRO and other training at Livingston, a specific one-week SRO training
in Mount Pleasant, and SRO training from Hartland High School’s prior SRO. In light of the
specific and tailored training that Steinaway received after he was sued while working for
a former employer, Callahan fails to make out a claim for failure to supervise and/or train.
Further, even if Callahan’s claim had merit, he has not established that Livingston
was deliberately indifferent to his constitutional rights, and, therefore, the “moving force”
behind his claimed constitutional violations. First, one prior lawsuit cannot establish a well15
settled custom necessary to show deliberate indifference. See Jones v. Muskegon Cnty.,
625 F.3d 935, 946-47 (6th Cir. 2010) (holding that “a jury could not reasonably infer from
[five prior incidents] alone that the County had a widespread, permanent, and well-settled
custom. . . .”). Second, Callahan cannot establish that there was a patently obvious failure
to supervise/train. As explained above, Livingston provided Steinaway with specific training
for his duties as a SRO. This training took place after Steinaway was sued while working
for a different employer. Accordingly, Callahan cannot show that Livingston was the
moving force behind his claimed constitutional violations and it is entitled to summary
judgment.
C. Steinaway’s Motion
Steinaway moves summary judgment on count II of the amended complaint (false
imprisonment). Although this claim is framed as one for false imprisonment, the underlying
basis is Callahan’s claim that he was falsely arrested. Thus, the Court will consider
whether Steinaway can maintain a claim of false arrest under Michigan law.
Steinaway says Callahan’s plea to disorderly conduct in state court precludes him
from bringing a false imprisonment claim because it proves he had probable cause to
initiate the arrest. The Court agrees.
The Michigan Court of Appeals has held that a conviction is conclusive proof of
probable cause. Blase v. Appicelli, 195 Mich. App. 174, 178 (1992). In Blase, the court of
appeals recognized that, “it is well established that a conviction, unless procured by fraud
or unfair means, is conclusive evidence of probable cause.” Id. (citing Moore v. Mich. Nat’l
Bank, 368 Mich. 71, 73 (1962); Piechowiak v. Bissel, 305 Mich. 486, 497 (1943)). “The
general rule applies to a conviction that results from a guilty plea.” Id. (citing Killian v.
16
Fuller, 162 Mich. App. 210, 215 (1987)). Here, Callahan pleaded guilty to a lesser offense
of disorderly conduct based on the actions that led to his arrest. See Devenpeck v. Alford,
543 U.S. 146, 153 (2004) (holding that the offense establishing probable cause to initate
the arrest does not have to be “closely related” to or “based on the same conduct” as the
offense identified by the arresting officer at the time of arrest.”).
Callahan has not challenged that his guilty plea to disorderly conduct was procured
by fraud. In his deposition testimony, Callahan stated that he felt “pressured” and scared
that if he did not accept the plea deal, he would face harsher punishment (Doc. 50-6, p.
18). He says he was “too intimidated” to tell the judge (Id.). In the next breath, however,
Callahan admitted that what he told the judge was true and that no one forced him to plead
guilty (Id.). Accordingly, under Blase, Callahan’s guilty plea is conclusive evidence of
probable cause. Steinaway is entitled to summary judgment on the false imprisonment
claim.
V. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, Hartland’s motion for summary judgment is
GRANTED, and Livingston and Steinaway’s motion for partial summary judgment is
GRANTED.
Counts II (False Imprisonment- Steinaway), VI (Failure to Supervise-
Hartland), and VII (Failure to Supervise- Livingston) are DISMISSED. Judgment will be
entered in favor of Hartland and Livingston. The case proceeds against Steinaway only on
counts I (Assault and Battery) and IV (42 U.S.C. § 1983 - Excessive Force).
SO ORDERED.
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12-10774 Callahan v. Hartland Consolidated Schools, et al
S/Avern Cohn
AVERN COHN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated: February 8, 2013
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed to the attorneys of record
on this date, February 8, 2013, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.
S/Sakne Chami
Case Manager, (313) 234-5160
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