Collup v. City of Reno Police Department

Filing 30

ORDER granting 28 Motion to Dismiss. Plaintiff's request for leave to amend is granted; amended complaint due within 15 days. Signed by Judge Brian E. Sandoval on 07/31/09. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - LG)

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I THE UNI ED STATES DI T R I T CO U RT N T S C D I T R I T O F NEVA D A S C
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C I Y O F RENO ,ex r l is T e .t 13 RENO POLI E DEPARTM ENT , C Do Es IV ,RO E CORPORATI NS IV , O 14 15
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i cl si e, nuv Def ndant . e s

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Pr s n l b f r t e Cour i De en an Ci ofReno' (De en an ' Mot n t e e ty e o e h ts f d t t y s ' f d f) i o s o

19 Dim is Pl it r Ame de Complit( 2 ) fld Augu t8,20 8. Plit fRay on s s ani s f nd an # 8 ,i e s 0 ani f md 20 Col p (plit f) fld an Oppost n ( 29)t t i Mot n on Nov m b r1 , 08,and l d an i ' i ud f e io # i o hs i o e e O 20
21 aler atvel ask t e Cour f rI ave t am end. tn i y sh to e o
22 Pl i tf' Orgi alCom pl i twas fl d i t e Second Judii lDit itCour oft e a n ifs i n an i nh e c a s rc th

23 Stt o Nev d ( o.CVO7 01 60)on J l 1 ,20 7. OnAu us 8,2007,Deenda t ae f a a N 4 uy 3 0 gt fn
24 tm el r m ovedt ecaset t i Cour.( etf rRemoval#1)1) On Sept m ber18, i ye h o hs t P .o ( . e 2008,

25 t e Ma ita eJ dgeisu danOr er # 6) an igPl it feav t amendhsComplit h g sr t u se d ( 2 gr t n ani l e o f i an
26 t r m ove a cl i of negl ence,butdenyi g Pl i tf,on gr unds of f tly, I ave t oe am i g n a n if o u it e i o

substt t nam ed pari sf rJohn Doe def ndant .On Sept m ber30, iu e to e e s e 2008, aitf fl d Pl n if i e

hi Amen ed Complit( 27) whc De en an n w mo est dim is. s d a n # , ih f d t o v oss
1 BACKG RO U ND .
4 The Am ended Com pl i tpr vi es no f c ualdescrpton oft e i ci entgii g rse an o d at ii h nd vn i

5 t t i ac i n, m aki g i uncl ar w hat Pl i tl specii al aleges t have occured. o h s to nt e ani fc l l y o r 6 Alhough i i notentr l cl arfom t e f ce oft e Com pl i t i appear t atPl i tf t ts ie y e r ha h an ,t sh a n if

al gest a o f e s o t e Reno Pol e Dep rmen (RPD' volt d hsr hs un ert e l e h t fi r f h c i c a t t ' ' i ae i i t d h ) g
8 Foudh Am endm entt r ugh use ofexcessie f r e, ho v o c and now brngsan acton f rdam ages i io

9 un er42 U. . . 1 8 . d SC j 9 3 10 Plit al gest a t eCi ofRen (Ci ', c igt r u ht e RPD, ne l en ani l ge h th t y o . t ' a t ho g h y) n was g i t g
ll i hii g ofier who ' ad a r pu aton f rf i r t pr t c t e ci i rght ofper ons i n rn fs c ' h e t i o a l e o o e t h vl i s u s n

12 cu t dyand us o e c s ie f re ont os p r ons' ( m . so e f x e sv o c h e e s . A Compl( 27 $6) Pl it' ' . # ) . an i f f
13 f rheral gest att ese negl enty hied ofier t en subj ct d Pl itf t ' nlwf l ut l e hh i lr g fc s h e e a n if o ' a u, u

14 unus ied,e c s ie,an d m agig f r e. L- a $7. As a r suto t i f r e,Plit j t i x e sv f da n o c ' du t ' e l f hs o c a n i l
15 al ges physialand ment ldamage 'n excess of$10, 00, aswelas f rhermedial l e c a ' i 0* l ut c

l6 dama es'nanamoun n t es n l k own.L.a W 8 9.Pl it f fer nof rh rac u l g' i t o pr e ty n 'd. t - a n i o f s u t e f t a '. f
17 det i i hi Am ended Com pl i t Def ndantnow brngs t i M oton t Dim i s and al n s s an. e i hs i o ss

18 ar uest atPl i tf' Am ended Com pl itf i t com pl wih t e r quiem ent ofFed. g h a n ifs an a l o s ythe r s R.

l9 Ci. 8, d f i t s a ea cli up nwhc r l fc n be gr n ed un erRul 1 ( )6) v P. an al o t t s am o ih ei a e at d e 2 b( .
20 I. LEGAL STANDARD I

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Rue 8( )2)r qur s t a a pla ig c nt i . sh r an pai s a e en oft e l a ( e ie h t e d n o a n 1 o t d l n t t m t h a

22 cl i showi gt att e pl aderi entted t r l f' Com pl it t atar vague,concl sor , am nhh e s il o e i . e' ans h e uy
23 gener l and don' s tf rh any m at ralf ct ar pr pery di m i sed. Norh St rI tl a, te ot ei a s e o l s s t a n 'v.

24 Ar . o. i Cor Comm' ,7 O F.d 5 8,5 3 ( t Ci.1 83) Pladigsm u tc n ai en u h z n 2 2 7 8 9h r 9 . e n s otn og
f c s t s at a cl i t ati pl usi l on is f c ,r t ert an m er l conceiabl .BelAt. at o t e a m h s a be t a e ah h ey ve ll

Cor .v.Twom bl,55O U. .544,570 ( 007) A I er lit r r t ton of a cii rght o v S 2 . i a ne p e a i b vl i s

1 com pl i tm ay notsuppl ess ntal em ent oft e cl i t atwer noti ii l pl d. Iev an y e i el s h am h e n ta l e v y

2 v Bd.of Re ent of Unv.ofAl . 67 F.d 2 6,268 ( t Ci.19 2) Vague an . ns i a, 3 2 6 9h r 8 . d
3 concl sor al gatons ofofi i lpari i aton i ci i rght vi ltons ar notsufii ntt u yl i e fa c t p i n vl i s oa i c e fc e o 4 w ihst nd a m oton t di m i s. $. The pl it f td l g wi atlas some degr e of ta ioss . an i mus d l e t e t f ae h e
.

5

padi ul rt over ac s whih def ndantengaged i 't atsuppors Pl i tf' cl i .Jones c a iy tt c e n 'h t a n ifs a m

6 v.Cmt .Red v l D en Aa nc ,73 F. d 6 6, - 1( t Ci.1 8 ) Th c m plit v e eo m t e v 3 2 4 650 5 9 h r 9 4 . e o a n
7 mustd ie f i notce and sat t e el ment oft e cli pl il and succicl. L=. d v ar i g teh e s h am any n ty ' d '
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9 11 DI C U SS I N 1. S O

10 A.Moton t di m is underF d.R.Ci . 8( )2) i oss e v P. a (
11 Def ndant ar ues t at Pl i tf s Am ended Com pl i tf i t m eett e m i i al e g h a n ir an al o s h nm

1 n t e pea ig r qui m en s p es rb d b Rul 8( )1 2) bec us t e Amen ed 2 o i l dn e r c e t r c ie y e a ( aeh d
13 Com pl i t' r vi es no f c ualal gatons'and ' ont i s onl al gatons made i t e an ' o d p at li e c an yl i e nh

14 absr c wihoutr f r ncet anyspecii f cs ivoligt e plitE ' ( otn t Dim is ta t t ee e o fc a t n vn h an i ' M ' o s s

15 ( 28)2) De en an ar uest atb c us t e Amen ed Complitc nt i s n s ecfc # . fd tg h ea e h d an o a n o p i i
16 f ct alal gatons,i pr vi es i sufi i ntnotce t pr par a def nse. au li e t o d n fc e ioee e I or ert sats y t e notce r quiem enti a cii rght case,t e pl itf m us n d o if h ier n vl i s h a n if t S l ge wih atI as som e degr e ofpariul rt over ac s whi h def ndantengaged i , sl ae t et e t ai c y tt c e n' ' Jones, 733 F. d at650- 1.Com pl it t atar vague,concl sor , 2 5 an s h e u y gener l and don' set a, t f rh any m at ral ac s ar pr pery di m i sed. Norh St r 720 F. d at583. Vague and ot ei f t e o l s s t a, 2 concl sor al gatons ofof ci lpadi i aton i ci i rght vi i tons ar notsufi i ntt u yl i e ia cp i n vl i s o a i e fce o 22 wihs and a m oton t di m is,I ev,673 F. d at268. tt i ossv 2 23 Pl i tf' Am ended Com pl i tst t s t o ditnctcl i s. Pl i t al ges t att e a n ifs an a e w si am an i l le hh

24 Ciy and RPD hied pol e ofier wih a r put ton f rf ing t pr t c t e ci i rght of t r i c fc s t e a i o al o o e t h vl i s 25 suspect i cus ody. Pl i tf nextal ges t att ese ofier act d wih r ckl ssness, sn t a n if l e hh fc s e tee

26 ne l en e, d ex e sv f re,es lngi ij rest Plit .Th Amend d Compl it g i c an c s ie o c r ut n nu i o an i g i fe e an

does not i entf t e ofier . I does notpr vi e any specii det i aboutt e ofi er d iy h fc s t od fc a l h fc s r put tons ot er t an t e concl sor I gal s at m ent t at t ei r put ton was f r e ai h h h u ye te h h r e ai o 3 excessie f r e. I does notdescrbe t e ofier ' r at entofpl itl i any det i ot er v oc t i h fc s te m ani n al h ,

4 t an t cai t a i was d nlwf l un u t id,e c s ie,an d magig, r s ln i h o l m h tt d a u, j s ie x e sv u f da n ' e ut g n ' i

5 t e er , aif l p r an n a d diabl g ij r s t pait f n o yan p y h . ( m . l v e p n u, e m e t n s i n u i ' o l n i' b d d s c e ' A s n e fs
6 Compl(/ 7)2) . /2 .
P l i tf sf i r t des rbe wih any pari ul r yt e over act i whi h Def ndant a n ir a l e o u ci t tc a i h t t sn c e 8 engaged deprves Def ndantofm eani gf lnotce. The com pl iti vague,concl sor , i e nu i an s uy 9 gener l and doesn' set f rh any mat ralf c s. Concl sor al gatons of ofii l a, t ot ei at uyli e fa c 10 pari i aton i cii rght vi l tons ar notsuli i ntt wihst nd a m oton t di m is. tc p i n v l i s o a i e ce o t a i oss C onsequenty, he Am ended Com pl i tf i t pr vi e t e notc r quied by Rul 8, lt a n al o o d h s ie e r e and

12 i subj ctt dim isal s e oss.
13 Def ndant al o m ove t dim is Pl i t fsAm ended Com pl i tf rf iur t s at e ss o s s a n i' f an o a l e o t e

14 a cli up n whih r l fc n be gr n e u d rFed.R.Ci.P.1 ( )6) Be au e t e am o c ei a e a td n e v 2 b( . c s h
15 Cour fnds t e pl adi gs i sufi i ntunderRul 8,i i unnecessar t addr ss t e Rul ti h e n n fc e e ts yo eh e

16 1 ( )6)ar u en sat hstme. 2b( g m t ti i
17 B. Requestf rI ave t am end t e com pl i t oe o h an .

18

Pl itf pr sent addii nalf ct al det i i hi O pposii n not f und i t e a n if e s to au al n s s to o nh

19 c m plit and s a es 's h ul t e E our fn t a t e c m pan i i an way Ickn , o an, t t , El o d h q t id h t h o lit s n y a ig
20 Pl itf r quest t athe be al w ed t am end hi com pl i tt corectany defci nci s. a n if e sh l o o s an o r ie e ' '

21 ( ppn ( 2 ) . O ' # 9 6)
22 23 Thi Cour has i deed f und t e Am ended Com pl i t I cki g i f c ualdet i s t n o h an a n n a t al sufi i ntt pr vi e m eani gf l i et def ndant .Pl itf' r ques f rl avet am end fc e o o d n u notc o e s a n ifs e to e o

24 t e c m pl i tw i consequenty be consi e r d. ho an l l l de

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26

L av t amen ' halb feel gie wh nj s ies r qui s'F d, . i. . ( ) e eo d ' l e r y v n e u tc o e r . e R C vP 15 a . s e'
UnderRul 15( ) Iave t amend shoui be gr nt d feel untlt e def ndantfls a e a ,e o d a e r y ih e i e

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r sponsie pl adi g. Afer t at poi t I ave t am end shoul be gr nt d unl ss e v en th n, e o d ae e

2 amen m en ( ) d c u e prj diet t eopp sn pady ( )i s u h i b df i , 3) d t 1 woul a s eu c o h o ig , 2 s o g t n a at ( h 3 i f tl,or( )c e t s un ue dely Uni d St t s e .r l L e v Smi Kl e Beec am . s ui e 4 ra e d a. t e ae x e. e . t i hn h 4 I c , 45F.d 1 48, 05 ( t Ci 20 1 .Th s f cor ar o un qu l gh , ddely, n .2 3 0 1 2 9 h r 0 ) e e a t s e f e a wei t an . a 5 b i el i is fii n t j si Ia et amen .DCD Pr ar ms. t . L ih on, F. d y t f s n u f e to u t y e v o s, c f d o a L d v. ea t 833 2
6 183,186 ( t Ci.1987) Futlyofamendmentcan,byisel,ustf t edenil a moton 9h r . it i t fj iy h a of i

7 f rIav t amend. Bonn v.Caler n,5 F.d 81 ,845 ( t Ci.19 5) A pr pos d o e eo i do 9 3 5 9h r 9 . oe
8 am endm ent i f tl i no setoff c s c n be pr ved undert e amendm entt atwoul s ui f e at a o h h d 9 cons iut a val cl i ordef nse. See M ierv.Rvk f- ext n.I c. 845 F. d 209,21 tt e i am d e l l o fs o n , 2 4

10 ( t Ci 1 8 ) ' n t er acoro c sin l c nsder d when r ve ig t e de aio a 9 h r 9 8 . ' o h f t c a o al o i e . A y e iw n h n l f
11 m oton f rI ave t am end i whet ert e pl i tf has pr vi usl am ended herc m pl it' i oe o s h h a n if ' eo y o an . 12 DCD Pr ar m s, oa 833 F. d at183 n3.The padyopposi gt e am endm entbear t e bur en 2 nh sh d

13 ofshowi g why am endm entshoul notbe gr nt d. I appli g t i r l , he Nit Cicui n d ae n yn hs ue t nh r t
14 has st t d t at' ul 15' pol y off vorng amendm ent t pl adi gs shoul be appl d ae h ' e s i R c ai so e n d i e

l5 wih 'xtem e l er ly.'DCD Pr ar m s.Lt .v.Lei ht n,833 F.d 183,186 ( t Ci. ter i ai ' b t' oa d ao 2 9h r

16 1 87) 9.

17

Sic Fed. Ci. 1 ( )i t bec n tu dwi ' xtem eI er ly' heCou t l ne R. v P. 5 a s o o s r e t ' r i ai ,t he b t' rwi l

18 gr ntPl itf I ave t am end hi com pl i ti or ert i cl de suf ci ntspecii f c ual a a n if e o s an n d o n u ie fc a t

19 de ai t s t f Rues 8( )2)an 1 ( )6) The Cour i mid ult a Pl it f h s t l o aiy l s s a( d 2b( . t s n f h t ani a f
2O am ended hi c m pl i tonce aleady. However Pl itf' def cther i I r el f r al s o an r , a n ifs e e s ag y om , 21 si c gr at rf ct aldet i have been al ged i docum ent ot ert an t e Com pl i t ne e e a u al s l e n sh h h an. 22 23 Furher or ,Def ndan has notopposed t i second m oton f rI ave t amend. tme e t hs i oe o The second amended com pl itshoul cont i f ct al an d a n a u descrptonsoft e i ci ent ii h nd ,

24 i cl di g specii des rptons oft e al ged pol e m iconduc ,r t ert an t e gener l nun fc ci i hl e i c s t ah h h a

25 Igal oncu inspr s ned i t i Amen edCom pait( 27) Plit f h lr m anb u d e c lso e e t n h s d l n / . a n i s a le i o n / f
26 by t e or eroft e M agi tat Judge w ih r spec t t e substt ton ofpari s as nam ed h d h sr e te to h iu i t e

1 def ndant . e s 2 3 Consi erng t e f c s Pl itf pr sent d i hi O pposii n and i t e f ct d i h at a n if e ens to nh as r f r nced by t e M agitat Judge' pr vi us r l g on a m oton t am end,i does not ee e h sr e s e o ui n io t

4 appeart atam endm entt t i com pl i twoul be f tl ,nort ati i soughti bad f ih. h o hs an d ui e h ts n at 5 Si ce Def ndanthas aleady once per it d Pl i tl t am end hi cl i ,a 15- ay del y n e r m te a n i o s am d a

6 wil pr j die Def ndant norcause undue dely. lnot e u c e , a
7 I . CO N C LUS I N V O
8 Fort e f r goi g r asons,I I HEARBY ORDERED t atCiyofReno' M oton t h oe n e TS h t s io

9 Dim is( 28 i GRANTED. s s # )s
10 I I FURTHER ORDERED tA tPl i tf' r ques f rl avet am end i GRANTED. TS Ia a n i s e f to e o s

11 Pl it s alfl hi amen e c m plit t i f t en( 5)da so t i Or er ani h li s l e d d o a n wi n ie 1 hf y f hs d .
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DATED:Thi 31stday ofJul ,2009. s y

U N I ED STATES DI TR I T JUDG E T SC

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