BOYD v. KELTY et al

Filing 55

OPINION. Signed by Judge Jose L. Linares on 4/27/17. (DD, )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
Civil Action No.: 14-5586 (JLL)

LEROY BOYD,

Plaintiff,
OPINION
V.

DONNA KELTY, et al.,
Defendants.

LINARES, District Judge.
This matter comes before the Court by way of Defendants Sr. Parole Officer Lt. Donna
Kelty, Sr. Parole Officer Jacob, Sr. Parole Officer Kreitz, Sr. Parole Officer Marrone, Sr. Parole
Officer Mitchell, and Sr. Parole Officer Santibanez’s Motion for Summary Judgment pursuant to
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 and Local Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56.1 (ECF No. 51).
Plaintiff has not submitted an opposition to said motion. The Court decides this matter without
oral argument pursuant to Rule 78 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. For the reasons set
forth below, the Court grants Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment.

I.

BACKGROUND’

On September 8, 2014, Plaintiff instituted the within action alleging that Defendants
Giovanni Santibanez and Marsha Mitchell used excessive force while effectuating an arrest
warrant at Plaintiffs home. (Def. SMF

¶ l-2)(citing generally Compl.). Plaintiff further alleged

that Defendants collectively denied him medical attention for the supposed injuries sustained
during the arrest. (Def. SMf

¶ 3). This Court granted Plaintiffs application to proceed informa

pauperis and permitted all claims to proceed, except for those against Defendant Carla Shabazz.
(Def SMF

¶ 5). Plaintiff has never attempted to reintroduce claims against Defendant Shabazz.

(See generally Civ. No. 14-55 86).

The factual background surrounding the 2014 arrest is as follows. In 2008, Plaintiff was
convicted of eluding law enforcement and operating a vehicle in a reckless manner. (Def. SMf

¶

9). He received a ten-year prison sentence with a five year [sic] parole disqualification term” as a
result of the 2008 incident. (Id.). In 2013, Plaintiff became eligible for, and was granted, parole
and placed under the supervision of the New Jersey State Parole Board. (Def. SMF

¶ ¶ 10-11).

Plaintiffs parole terms included reporting to his parole officer, refraining from using alcohol and
drugs, maintaining gainful employment, avoiding any establishment that served alcohol, and
attending a Community Resource Program (“CRC Program”). (Def. SMF

¶ 13).

These background facts are taken from the Defendants’ statements of material facts, pursuant to Local Civil Rule
56.1. (ECF No. 5 1-2, Defendants’ Rule 56.1 Statement of Facts (“Def. SMf”)), as well as Plaintiffs Complaint (ECF
No. 1 (“Compl.”)). Additionally, the Court notes that, despite sua sponte providing Plaintiff with a four-week
adjournment of the Motion and Opposition dates (ECF No. 54), Plaintiff has not opposed Defendants’ Motion. Since
no opposition to Defendants’ Motion has been submitted there are no disputes regarding the statements contained in
Def. SMf. Accordingly, the Court treats the statements contained in Def. SMF as undisputed. See L. Civ. R.
56.l(a)(”The opponent of summary judgment shall furnish, with its opposition papers, a responsive statement of
material facts, addressing each paragraph of the movant’s statement, indicating agreement or disagreement and, if not
agreed, stating each material fact in dispute and citing to the affidavits and other documents submitted in connection
with the motion; any material fact not disputed shall be deemed undisputed for pttrposes of the summary judgment
motion.”)(emphasis added).

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At the time of his arrest, Plaintiff was still under the Parole Board’s supervision and was
residing at 510 Bond Street in Elizabeth, NJ. (Def. SMF ¶J 12, 14). On January 2, 2014, Plaintiff
had a face-to-face meeting with Defendants, where he was instructed to report to the CRC
Programs seven days a week for thirty days, and was also sanctioned for previously failing to
appear at the CRC Program and reporting to his parole officer. (Def. SMF

¶J

15-16). On January

7, 2014, the Parole Board attempted to visit Plaintiffs home, after he failed to appear at the CRC
Program without giving advanced notice. (Def. SMF

¶ 17).

Plaintiff did not answer the door, and

reporting instructions were left at the front door. (Id.). Defendants attempted another unsuccessful
visit on January 9, 2014, and unsuccessfully tried to follow up with Plaintiff via text messages.
(Def. SMF

¶

1$). On that same date, Defendant Santibanez left an additional reporting notice at

Plaintiffs home that advised that Defendants did not know where Plaintiff was. (Def. $MF

¶ 20).

On January 16, 2014, the Parole Board issued an arrest warrant due to Plaintiffs failure to
report to the “Day Reporting Center program,” since Plaintiffs failure to report was considered a
serious and/or persistent violation of the terms of his parole. (Def. SMF ¶j 21, 22). Said warrant
was signed by Defendant Kelty and assigned to be effectuated by “Parole District Office 5, which

[1

Defendants are or were a part [of].” (Def. SMF

¶J 24-25).

Pursuant to the warrant, Defendants Kelty, Jacob, Kreitz, Marrone, Mitchell, and
Santibanez reported to Plaintiffs home. (Def. SMF

¶

26). Defendants Kelty and Jacob were

stationed at the back of the home while Defendant Marrone was stationed at the front of them
home. (Def. SMF

¶J 28-29).

(Def. SMF

¶ 29).

When the aforementioned Defendants were in

place, Defendants Santibanez, Kreitz, and Mitchell knocked of Plaintiffs front door and spoke
with a woman who identified herself as Plaintiffs sister’s friend. (Def SMf

3

¶J

30-3 1). This

unidentified woman granted Defendants Santibanez, Kreitz, and Mitchell access to the home.
(Def. SMF

¶ 31). Upon entering the home, Defendants Santibanez, Kreitz, and Mitchell spoke

with Plaintiffs sister, Nacolia Boyd, in the stairwell and explained that they were there to
effectuate the arrest warrant. (Def SMf

¶ 33).

Defendants Santibanez, Kreitz, and Mitchell proceeded up to the second floor where they
observed Plaintiff laying on a mattress on the floor with a woman. (Def. SMF
woman was ordered out of the room. (Def. SMF

¶ 34-3 5). The

¶ 36). At first, Plaintiff had his eyes closed and

his arms tucked underneath him. (Def SMf ¶ 37). Defendant Santibanez announced his presence
to Plaintiff, indicated he was there to effectuate the arrest warrant, and ordered Plaintiff to stand
up. (Def. SMF ¶ 38). This command was ignored by Plaintiff, as Plaintiff merely raised his head,
looked at the officers, and then lowered it back down to the mattress. (Def. SMf

¶ 39-40).

Thereafter, Defendant Santibanez observed Plaintiff reach into his waist area, prompting
Defendant Santibanez to approach Plaintiff and attempt to stand him up. (Def. SMf

¶ 42-43).

At this time, Plaintiff began resisting arrest with physical force, causing Defendants Santibanez
and Mitchell to hold him still. (Def. SMF ¶ 44). Plaintiff continued to resist the arrest, and, at one
point caused the arresting Defendants to fall to the ground with him. (Def. SMF

¶J

45, 47).

Plaintiffs sister observed the arrest and recounted that Plaintiff did in fact resist same despite her
pleas for him to “calm down.” (Def. SMf

¶ 48).

After approximately five minutes of struggle, Plaintiff was eventually handcuffed. (Def.
$MF

¶J 49-50). Defendants Santibanez, Kreitz, and Mitchell attempted to escort Plaintiff out of

the bedroom, at which time Plaintiff stated he was not leaving and further resisted Defendants.
(Def. SMF

¶ 5 1-52). Plaintiff then head-butted Defendant Santibanez and said “that’s resisting”
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arrest. (Def. SMf ¶ 53). Ultimately, Plaintiff was escorted out of the home and placed in the back
of a transportation vehicle. (Def. SMF

¶ 54). Plaintiff kicked Defendant $antibanez in the face as

Defendant Santibanez was attempting to fasten Plaintiffs seatbelt. (Def. $MF

¶ 55).

“A review of Defendants’ actions revealed that [D]efendants $antibanez, Mitchell, and
Kreitz used an appropriate level of force due to Plaintiffs combative behavior. (Def. SMF ¶ 57).
Indeed, Defendants only used physical force and no form of mechanical force, such as objects or
weapons. (Def. $MF

¶ 58). An internal report listed Defendant Kreitz as a defendant who used

force, but Plaintiff has not alleged, no is there evidence to support, that Defendant Kreitz ever
came into contact with Plaintiff. (Def. SMF ¶ 60). None of the Defendants used any hand strikes,
objects, or weapons when subduing Plaintiff, and Plaintiff has conceded that Defendants Jacob,
Marrone, and Kelty never utilized force in restraining him. (Def. SMF ¶J 6 1-62). At no point did
Plaintiff ever request any medical attention. (Def. $MF

¶J 64-66).

Afier being secured in the transportation vehicle, Plaintiff was transported to Union County
Jail and then to Trinitas Medical Center by Defendants Santibanez and Jacob. (Def. SMF

¶J 67-

68). During the transportation, Plaintiff made verbal threats against Defendants $antibanez and
Jacob. (Def. SMF

¶ 69). Additionally, “Plaintiff... [expressed] anger during the [transportation]

by yelling and later kicking the inside of the transportation vehicel [sic].” (Def. $MF ¶ 70). Prior
to being admitted, “Defendants called for emergency monitoring officers to assist them because
Plaintiff was still behaving uncooperatively, specifically by failing to comply with orders to exit
the vehicle.” (Def SMF

¶ 77). While waiting for the emergency monitoring officers, Plaintiff

scratched his face with a seatbelt causing his face to bleed. (Def. $MF ¶ 78).

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While at Trinitas, medical professionals noted Plaintiff had some bruising above his left
eyebrow, as well as tenderness on the bridge of his nose. (Def SMF

¶ 80). Plaintiff underwent a

CT Scan of his head, which was unremarkable, and received wound care. (Def. SMF

¶ 81-82).

At no point during his treatment did Plaintiff indicate any respiratory issues or loss of
consciousness. (Def. SMF

¶ 83). Indeed, his medical records contain no evidence Plaintiff was

ever placed in a choke hold. (Def. SMF

¶ 84). Plaintiff was cleared for incarceration and was

transported back to the Union County Jail. (Def. SMF

¶J 84-87).

While Plaintiff testified at his deposition that he suffered from a bruised wrist from the
handcuffs being applied tightly and a left eye injury, his medical records do not support said
contentions. (Def. SMF

¶J 8 8-89). Moreover, as of time this application by Defendants, Plaintiff

has not reported any eye issues. (Def. SMF

¶ 90). Plaintiff also claimed he suffered a “tooth

injury,” but his medical records do not corroborate that claim either. (Def. SMF ¶j 91-95). No
expert has opined that Plaintiff suffered any trauma by any third-party, including Defendants, nor
do his medical records support such contentions. (Def. SMF
II.

¶J 96-99).

LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate when, drawing all reasonable inferences in the non
movant’s favor, there exists no “genuine dispute as to any material fact” and the movant is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law. See fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477
U.S. 242, 255 (1986). “[Tjhe moving party must show that the non-moving party has failed to
establish one or more essential elements of its case on which the non-moving party has the burden
of proof at trial.” McCabe v. Ernst & Young, LLP, 494 f.3d 418, 424 (3d Cir. 2007) (citing Celotex
Coip. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986)).

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The Court must consider all facts and their reasonable inferences in the light most favorable
to the non-moving party. See Pa. Coal Ass ‘11 v. Babbitt, 63 F.3d 231, 236 (3d Cir. 1995). If a
reasonable juror could return a verdict for the non-moving party regarding material disputed
factual issues, summary judgment is not appropriate. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 242-43 (“At the
summary judgment stage, the trial judge’s function is not himself to weigh the evidence and
determine the truth of the matter but to determine whether there is a genuine issue for trial.”).
III.

ANALYSIS

Defendants move for judgment as a matter of law for the following reasons: 1) any claims
against any Defendant acting in his or her official capacity must be dismissed because state
officials acting in their official capacity are not “persons” for purposes of

§ 1983 claims; 2)

Defendants cannot be held liable for excessive force claims because their actions were reasonable
under the circumstances; 3) Defendants $antibanez and Mitchell did not use excessive force and
therefore there was no unconstitutional act on their part; 4) Plaintiff has failed to show any
evidence that he was unconstitutionally denied medical care; 5) Plaintiff has failed to show that
Defendant Kelty should be liable for unconstitutional violations in a supervisory capacity; and 6)
Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity. The Court agrees with Defendants and addresses
each argument separately below.
Section 1983 provides, in relevant part:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation,
subjects, or causes to be
custom, or usage, of any State or Territory
subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the
jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or
immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party
injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for
redress.
.

.

.

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.

.

42 U.S.C.

§ 1983 (emphasis added). Therefore, to state a claim for relief under § 1983, a plaintiff

must allege two elements: (1) a person deprived him or caused him to be deprived of a right
secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States, and (2) the deprivation was done under
color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42,48 (1988); Piecknickv. Pennsylvania, 36 F.3d
1250, 1255-56 (3d Cir. 1994)(emphasis added). It has long been established that “neither a State
nor its officials acting in their official capacities are ‘persons’ under

§ 1983.” Will v. Michigan

Dept. of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71 (1989)(ernphasis added); Grabow v. Southern State
Correctional Facility, 726 F. Supp. 537, 538-39 (D.N.J. 1989); see Marsden v. Federal 30?, 856
F. $upp. 832, 836 (S.D.N.Y. 1994); see also Mitchell v. Chester County farms Prison, 426 F.
Supp. 271, 274 (E.D. Pa. 1976).
As Defendants correctly note, Plaintiffs Complaint fails to identify whether he seeks
damages from Defendants in their official or individual capacities. However, should Plaintiff seek
compensation for actions taken by Defendants in their official capacities, such claims are barred.
This is because Defendants, acting in their official capacities, are not persons for purposes of

§

1983 claims. Accordingly, Defendants are all entitled to judgment as a matter of law for any
claims relating to their actions in their official capacities.
The Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the use of force against a pre-trial detainee where
that force amounts to punishment. See Jackson v. Phelps, 575 F. App’x 79, 83 (3d Cir. 2014).
When assessing whether an excessive force claim is viable, the Court must ask whether, “from the
perspective of the officer at the time of the incident and not with the benefit of hindsight,” the
officers were objectively reasonable in their use of force. Santini v. Fuentes, 795 F.3d 410, 417
(3d Cir. 2015) (citing Maryland v. Garrison, 480 U.S. 79, 85, 107 5. Ct. 1013, 94 L. Ed. 2d 72,

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(1987)). This is a “highly individualized and fact specific” inquiry, in which the Court must
examine the “totality of the circumstances,” including “(1) the severity of the crime at issue, (2)
whether the suspect poses an imminent threat to the safety of the police or others in the vicinity,
and (3) whether the suspect attempts to resist arrest or flee the scene.” Id. (citing Graham v.
Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 (1989)).

The Third Circuit has identified a non-exhaustive list of factors to determine whether the
force employed during an arrest was reasonable. These factors include: (1) the severity of the
crime at issue; (2) whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officer or
others; (3) whether the suspect is actively resisting being seized or attempting to evade seizure by
flight; (4) the possibility that the sttspect is violent or dangerous; (5) the duration of the police
action; (6) whether the police action takes place in the context of effecting an arrest; (7) the
possibility that the suspect may be armed; and (8) the number of persons the officer must contend
with at one time. Kopec v. Tate, 361 f.3d 772, 776-77 (3d Cir. 2004)(emphasis added). Not all of
these factors are relevant in all cases, and other factors may be considered. Id. In addition, courts
have held that the presence or absence of a physical injury is a factor in determining the
reasonableness of a law enforcement officer’s ttse offorce. See Velitts v. Twp. ofHamilton, 754
F. Supp. 2d 689, 694 (D.N.J. 2010), aff in relevant part, 466 fed. App’x. 133, 136-37 (3d Cir.
2012)(emphasis added).
Here, there is no dispute that Plaintiff was both nonresponsive to Defendants, as well as
combative. (Def. SMF

¶ 45-78).

Plaintiff initially refused to respond Defendants’ commands,

despite the fact that they announced they were there to effectuate an arrest warrant. (Def. SMF.

¶ 3 8-43).

Afier acting inappropriately, Defendants attempted to stand Plaintiff up off his mattress,

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which is when he began to physically resist. (Def. SMF
handcuffs he refused to leave his home. (Def SMf

¶ 44-47). When Plaintiff was finally in

¶J 5 1-53). Once placed in the transportation

vehicle, Plaintiff became angry, yelled at Defendants, and kicked the inside of the vehicle. (Def.
SMF ¶J 52-5 5).
None of the evidence in this matter indicate that any Defendant acted in an inappropriate
manner. Indeed, there is no evidence Defendants struck Plaintiff or used force in excess of that
which was necessary to effectuate the arrest. There is no evidence that Plaintiff sustained any
injury, aside from those which were self-inflicted. Rather, the record shows that Plaintiff acted in
a threatening manner toward Defendants which placed their safety at risk. The evidence also
indicates that when Defendants approached Plaintiff, that Plaintiff acted in a dangerous maimer
toward Defendants and was combative. All of Defendants interactions with Plaintiff were in
connection with their attempts to effectuate a lawful arrest. Thus, the Court concludes that there
is no genuine issue of material fact that Defendants did not use excessive force and that they are
entitled to judgment as a matter of law on said claim. This analysis extends to Defendants
Santibanez and Mitchell and thus disposes of Defendants’ third argument in support of summary
judgment as well.
The Court applies the Fourteenth Amendment’s “deliberate interference” standard to
Plaintiffs claims for inadequate medical care during the course of his arrest.

See Smith v.

Gransden, 553 Fed. Appx. 173, 177 (3d Cir. 2014)(holding that “[d]eliberate indifference to the
medical needs of arrestees violates their Fourteenth Amendment right to due process”)(ernphasis
added); see also Suarez v. City ofBayonne, 566 Fed. Appx. 181, 187 (3d Cir. 2014)(applying the
deliberate indifference standard to a plaintiffs claim for denial of medical care allegedly suffered

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during the course of an arrest). Pursuant to the deliberate interference standard, a plaintiff must
provide evidence of “(1) a serious medical need,

.

.

.

(ii) acts or omissions by [law enforcement]

officials that indicate deliberate indfference to that need,

.

.

.

and (iii) a causal connection between

the indifference and the plaintiffs injury.” Smith, 553 Fed. Appx. at 177 (emphasis added)(internal
citations and quotations omitted).

This standard also governs a pretrial detainee’s denial of

medical care claim. See Natale v. Camden Cty. Corr. Facility, 318 F.3d 575, 581 (3d Cir. 2003).
The Third Circuit has explained that “[a] medical need is serious

.

.

.

if it is one that has been

diagnosed by a physician as requiring treatment or one that is so obvioits that a lay person would
easily recognize the necessityfor a doctor attention.” Monmouth Cty. Corr. Institutional Inmates
v. Lanzaro, 834 f.2d 326, 346 (3d Cir. 1987)(ernphasis added).
Here, Plaintiff has produced no evidence that he suffered from any injury, let alone one
that required serious medical attention. Rather, the record indicates that, after being examined by
medical professionals, it was determined that Plaintiffs health was unremarkable. (Def. SMF

¶J

80-84). Indeed, afier being examined at Trinitas, Plaintiff was cleared for incarceration, and the
only injury noted was Plaintiffs self-inflicted face laceration. (Def. SMf ¶J 84-88). Accordingly,
Plaintiff was not in need of serious medical attention, and was provided with adequate medical
treatment for any ailments that were manifest at the time of his arrest. Because Plaintiff cannot
demonstrate a serious medical ailment, let alone a serious medical need, Plaintiff cannot maintain
a failure to provide adequate medical care claim against Defendants and the claim is dismissed.
Additionally, while it is possible to raise Constitutional violation claims against a
supervisory defendant, such as Defendant Kelty herein, a “defendant in a civil rights action must
have personal involvement in the alleged wrongs” and a plaintiff must therefore provide evidence

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of a supervisory defendant’s involvement in the alleged violation through means other than
vicarious liability. Rode v. Dellarciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207-08 (3d Cir. 1988)(ernphasis added).
Generally, a plaintiff must therefore show each supervisor’s participation in the alleged wrong by
pleading either that the supervisor’s “establishment of policies, practices or customs

.

.

.

directly

caused the constitutional violation[,] personal liability based on the supervisor participating in the
violation of [the p]laintiffs right, [that the supervisor] direct[ed] others to violate [the p]laintiff s
rights, or [that the supervisor had actual] knowledge of and acquiesc[ed] to a subordinate’s
conduct.” Doe v. New Jersey Dep’t of Corr., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69569, 2015 WL 3448233,
*9 (D.N.J. May 29, 2015)(quotingBarkes v. first Corr. Med., Inc., 766 F.3d 307, 3 16-20 (3d Cir.
2014), rev’don other grounds, 135 S. Ct. 2042 (2015)); see also Tenon v. Dreibelbis, 606 F. App’x

681, 688 (3d Cir. 2015)(hold that a

§ 1983 plaintiff pleading supervisory liability must establish

defendant’s “participation [in the alleged wrong], or actual knowledge and acquiescence, to be
liable”).
Where a Plaintiffs policy-based supervisory liability claim arises out of an alleged failure
by a supervisor to train or correct the behavior of his subordinates, the plaintiff must establish that
the supervisor’s actions “amount to ‘deliberate indifference to the rights of persons with whom the
[untrained employees] come into contact.” Connick v. Thompson, 563 U.S. 51 (2011)(quoting
City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 37$, 38$ (1989)). Deliberate indifference is “a stringent
standard of fault, requiring proof that a municipal actor disregarded a known or obvious
consequence of his action.” Id. (quoting 3d. Of County Comm ‘rs of Bryan Cnty. v. Brown, 520
U.S. 397, 410 (1997)). Thus, the Defendant’s alleged inaction must be severe enough to be the
“functional equivalent of a decision by the [supervisor] to violate the Constitution.” Id. at 61-62

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(Canton, 489 U.S. at 395). Generally, establishing deliberate indifference requires that a plaintiff
plead facts showing a “pattern of similar constitutional violations by untrained employees.” Id. at
62.
Here, the evidence in the record simply does not support Plaintiffs claims against
Defendant Kelty, in her role as a supervisor. No evidence can even be vaguely connected to
Defendant Kelty’s involvement in any of Plaintiffs claims. Indeed, Plaintiff cannot point to a
single action or inaction on behalf of Defendant Kelty that could support a claim that she failed to
properly supervise Defendants. More so, the record is bare of any evidence that there is, or ever
was, any pattern of similar constitutional violations by Defendant Kelty’s supposedly untrained
subordinates. The record does not even indicate that Defendant Kelty’s department possibly has
any unconstitutional policies or procedures that pertain to Plaintiffs claims. Hence, all claims
against Defendant Kelty, in her supervisory capacity, must be dismissed.
finally, any claims against Defendants in their individual capacities also fail, as they are
entitled to qualified immunity. Qualified immunity shields government officials “from liability
for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established

...

constitutional

rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Harlow 1’. fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818
(1982).

“For quahfied immunity to attach, an official must demonstrate Izis conduct was

objectively reasonable.” Id. at 818-19 (emphasis added). Qualified immunity is unavailable to a
defendant government official if plaintiffs complaint meets two prongs: (1) the facts alleged by
plaintiffshow the violation ofa constitutional right; and (2) the plaintiffs constitutional right was
clearly established at the time of the violation. Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201(2001 )(emphasis
added), overruled in part on other grounds by Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223 (2009)(”If no

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constitutional right would have been violated were the allegations established, there is no necessity
for further inquiries concerning qualified immunity.”); George v. Re/i/el, 738 f.3d 562, 572 (3d
Cir. 2013).
Here, Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity for two reasons. First, as explained
above, none of the evidence in the record indicates that any Defendant violated Plaintiffs
Constitutional rights.

Moreover, even if this Court were to agree that Defendants violated

Plaintiffs Constitutional rights, which is does not, the Court has already concluded that
Defendants actions were reasonable given the circumstances. As detailed, Plaintiffs actions were
combative and threatening during the time of his arrest by Defendants. Plaintiff was hostile and
posed a threat to Defendants. Despite this threat, Defendants never took any action that could
objectively be viewed as excessive or unnecessary. Rather, Defendants expressed restraint and
poise during the arrest process.

Accordingly, no claim may lie against Defendants in their

individual capacity.
IV.

CONCLUSION

For the aforementioned reasons, Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment is granted in
its entirety and Plaintiffs complaint against Defendants is hereby dismissed with prejudice. An
appropriate Order accompanies this Opinion.

DATED: April %20l7
L. LINARES
STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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