Ketcham v. City of Mount Vernon et al

Filing 101

OPINION AND ORDER: For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration (ECF No. 85) is DENIED. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause on 4/10/2024) (ate)

U NI T E D S T A T E S DI S T RI C T C O U R T
S O U T H E R N DI S T RI C T O F N E W Y O R K
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R O N A L D K E T C H A M,
Pl ai ntiff,

O PI NI O N A N D O R D E R

-a g ai nst -

1 7-c v - 7 1 4 0 ( A E K)

T H E CI T Y O F M O U N T V E R N O N, A L L E N
P A T T E R S O N, a n d MI C H A E L H U T C HI N S,
D ef e n d a nts.
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T H E H O N O R A B L E A N D R E W E. K R A U S E, U. S. M. J.
F oll o wi n g a t w o- d a y b e n c h tri al, t h e C o urt iss u e d a n O pi ni o n a n d Or d er fi n di n g t h at
Pl ai ntiff R o n al d K et c h a m ( “ Pl ai ntiff ”) f ail e d t o pr o v e b y a pr e p o n d er a n c e of t h e e vi d e n c e t h at
D ef e n d a nts Cit y of M o u nt V er n o n, All e n P att ers o n ( “ P att ers o n ”), a n d Mi c h a el H ut c hi ns
( “ H ut c hi ns ”) ( c oll e cti v el y, “ D ef e n d a nts ”) w er e li a bl e f or e x c essi v e f or c e p urs u a nt t o 4 2 U. S. C. §
1 9 8 3 or f or ass a ult a n d b att er y p urs u a nt t o N e w Y or k St at e l a w. E C F N o. 8 3 ( “ O pi ni o n ” or
“ O p . ”). C urr e ntl y b ef or e t h e C o urt is Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n f or r e c o nsi d er ati o n p urs u a nt t o L o c al
Ci vil R ul e 6. 3 of t h e L o c al R ul es of t h e U nit e d St at es Distri ct C o urts f or t h e S o ut h er n a n d
E ast er n Distri cts of N e w Y or k a n d R ul e 5 9 of t h e F e d er al R ul es of Ci vil Pr o c e d ur e. E C F N o.
8 5. F or t h e r e as o ns t h at f oll o w, Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n is D E NI E D.
B A C K G R O U N D
T h e C o urt ass u m es t h e p arti es’ f a mili arit y wit h t h e C o urt’s fi n di n gs of f a ct i n t his m att er,
w hi c h ar e s et f ort h i n d et ail at p a g es 2 - 1 3 of t h e O pi ni o n. R el e v a nt f a cts ar e r e c o u nt e d b el o w as
n e e d e d f or t h e C o urt’s a n al ysis of t h e c urr e nt m oti o n.

DI S C U S SI O N
I.

L e g al St a n d a r d G o v e r ni n g

M oti o ns f o r R e c o nsi d e r ati o n

“ T h e st a n d ar ds g o v er ni n g R ul e 5 9( e) a n d L o c al Ci vil
N e w Y or k, N o. 2 2-c v - 8 9 0 2 ( L T S), 2 0 2 3 W L

R ul e 6. 3 ar e t h e s a m e. ” L o g a n v.

8 6 1 8 7 2 6, at * 2 ( S. D. N. Y. D e c. 1 3, 2 0 2 3). “I n t h e

i nt er ests of fi n alit y a n d c o ns er v ati o n of s c ar c e j u di ci al r es o ur c es, t h e C o urt will gr a nt
r e c o nsi d er ati o n of its or d ers o nl y i n e xtr a or di n ar y cir c u mst a n c es. ” N utti n g v. Zi m m er, I n c., N o.
1 8- m d - 2 8 5 9 ( P A C), 2 0 2 1 W L

4 2 5 1 9 0 6, at * 1 ( S. D. N. Y. S e pt. 1 7, 2 0 2 1) (cl e a n e d u p ). “ A p art y

m o vi n g f or r e c o nsi d er ati o n u n d er L o c al Ci vil R ul e 6. 3 m ust ‘ p oi nt t o c o ntr olli n g d e cisi o ns or
d at a t h at t h e c o urt o v erl o o k e d —m att ers, i n ot h er w or ds, th at mi g ht r e as o n a bl y b e e x p e ct e d t o
alt er t h e c o n cl usi o n r e a c h e d b y t h e c o urt.’ ” I d. ( q u oti n g S hr a d er v. C S X Tr a ns p., 7 0 F. 3 d 2 5 5,
2 5 7 ( 2 d Cir. 1 9 9 5)). “[ L o c al Ci vil]

R ul e 6. 3 is i nt e n d e d t o e ns ur e t h e fi n alit y of d e cisi o ns a n d t o

pr e v e nt t h e pr a cti c e of a l osi n g p art y pl u g gi n g t h e g a ps of a l ost m oti o n wit h a d diti o n al m att ers.
A c o urt m ust n arr o wl y c o nstr u e a n d stri ctl y a p pl y [ L o c al Ci vil] R ul e 6. 3 s o as t o a v oi d
d u pli c ati v e r uli n gs o n pr e vi o usl y c o nsi d er e d iss u es a n d t o pr e v e nt [ L o c al Ci vil] R ul e 6. 3 fr o m
b ei n g us e d t o a d v a n c e diff er e nt t h e ori es n ot pr e vi o usl y ar g u e d . . . . ” Hi n ds C o u nt y v. W a c h o vi a
B a n k N. A. , 7 0 0 F. S u p p. 2 d 3 7 8, 4 0 7 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 0) ( cl e a n e d u p). “ A m oti o n f or
r e c o nsi d er ati o n s h o ul d b e gr a nt e d o nl y w h e n t h e [ m o v a nt] i d e ntifi es a n i nt er v e ni n g c h a n g e of
c o ntr olli n g l a w, t h e a v ail a bilit y of n e w e vi d e n c e, or t h e n e e d t o c orr e ct a cl e ar err or or pr e v e nt
m a nif est i nj usti c e. ” K ol el B et h Y e c hi el M e c hil

of T arti k o v, I n c. v. Y L L Irr e v o c a bl e Tr ., 7 2 9 F. 3 d

9 9, 1 0 4 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 3) ( q u ot ati o n m ar ks o mitt e d).
II.

A p pli c ati o n of t h e L e g al St a n d a r d
Pl ai ntiff s e e ks r e c o nsi d er ati o n of t h e C o urt’s O pi ni o n o n t hr e e gr o u n ds: ( 1) t h e C o urt

m is a p pli e d t h e l e g al st a n d ar d g o v er ni n g e x c essi v e f or c e cl ai ms as arti c ul at e d i n Gr a h a m v.

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C o n n or , 4 9 0 U. S. 3 8 6 ( 1 9 8 9); ( 2) t h e C o urt wr o n gl y b as e d its d e cisi o n r e g ar di n g e x c essi v e f or c e
as t o t h e ti g ht n ess of t h e h a n d c uffs o n t h e e xt e nt of Pl ai ntiff’s i nj uri es; a n d ( 3) t h e C o urt f ail e d t o
m a k e s uffi ci e ntl y s p e cifi c fi n di n gs r e g ar di n g Pl ai ntiff’s r es e m bl a n c e t o D o mi ni c U zilli a
( “ U zilli a ”), t h e i n di vi d u al f or w h o m P att ers o n a n d H ut c hi ns (t h e “I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts ”) h a d
a n arr est w arr a nt, as r e q uir ed b y R ul e 5 2 of t h e F e d er al R ul es of Ci vil Pr o c e d ur e. S e e g e n er all y
E C F N o. 8 6 ( “ Pl.’s M e m. ”). T h e C o urt a d dr ess es e a c h of t h es e ar g u m e nts i n t ur n.
A.

T h e C o u rt’s A p pli c ati o n of t h e Gr a h a m
1.

F a ct o rs

L e g al St a n d a r d G o v e r ni n g E x c ess i v e F o r c e Cl ai ms

1
0F

I n t h e O pi ni o n, t h e C o urt s et f ort h t h e st a n d ar d g o v er ni n g Pl ai ntiff’s e x c essi v e f or c e
cl ai m s. S e e O p . at 1 9 - 2 0. T o r eit er at e, w h e n a n “ e x c essi v e f or c e cl ai m aris es i n t h e c o nt e xt of
a n arr est or i n v esti g at or y st o p of a fr e e citi z e n, it is m ost pr o p erl y c h ar a ct eri z e d as o n e i n v o ki n g
t h e pr ot e cti o ns of t h e F o urt h A m e n d m e nt. ” Gr a h a m v. C o n n or , 4 9 0 U. S. 3 8 6, 3 9 4 ( 1 9 8 9).
“ D et er mi ni n g w h et h er t h e f or c e us e d t o eff e ct a p arti c ul ar s ei z ur e is r e as o n a bl e u n d er t h e F o urt h
A m e n d m e nt r e q uir es a c ar ef ul b al a n ci n g of t h e n at ur e a n d q u alit y of t h e i ntr usi o n o n t h e
i n di vi d u al’s F o urt h A m e n d m e nt i nt er ests a g ai nst t h e c o u nt er v aili n g g o v er n m e nt al int er ests at
st a k e. ” I d. at 3 9 6 ( q u ot ati o n m ar ks o mitt e d). Pr o p er a p pli c ati o n of t h e r e as o n a bl e n ess t est
“r e q uir es c ar ef ul att e nti o n t o t h e f a cts a n d cir c u mst a n c es of e a c h p arti c ul ar c as e, i n cl u di n g t h e
s e v erit y of t h e cri m e at iss u e, w h et h er t h e s us p e ct p os es a n i m m e di at e t hr e at t o t h e s af et y of t h e
offi c ers or ot h ers, a n d w h et h er h e is a cti v el y r esisti n g arr est or att e m pti n g t o e v a d e arr est b y

1

As t h e C o urt st at e d i n t h e O pi ni o n, “[t]h e el e m e nts of N e w Y or k ass a ult a n d b att er y a n d
S e cti o n 1 9 8 3 e x c essi v e f or c e cl ai ms ar e ‘s u bst a nti all y i d e nti c al. ” O p. at 2 5 ( q u oti n g T ar dif v.
Cit y of N e w Y or k , 9 9 1 F. 3 d 3 9 4, 4 1 0 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 1) ( q u ot ati o n m ar ks o mitt e d)). A c c or di n gl y,
t h e C o urt’s dis c ussi o n i n t his O pi ni o n a n d Or d er of t h e r e as o n a bl e n ess of t h e f or c e us e d b y t h e
I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts a p pli es e q u all y t o Pl ai ntiff’ s S e cti o n 1 9 8 3 cl ai m a n d his st at e l a w cl ai ms
f or ass a ult a n d b att er y.

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fli g ht. ” I d. T h es e t hr e e c o nsi d er ati o ns ar e k n o w n as t h e “ Gr a h a m f a ct ors. ” S e e Br o w n v. Cit y of
N e w Y or k , 7 9 8 F. 3 d 9 4, 1 0 0, 1 0 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 5).
“[ R] e as o n a bl e n ess of a p arti c ul ar us e of f or c e m ust b e j u d g e d fr o m t h e p ers p e cti v e of a
r e as o n a bl e offi c er o n t h e s c e n e, r at h er t h a n wit h t h e 2 0/ 2 0 visi o n of hi n dsi g ht ” —i n d e e d, “[ n] ot
e v er y p us h or s h o v e, e v e n if it m a y l at er s e e m u n n e c ess ar y i n t h e p e a c e of a j u d g e’s c h a m b ers,
vi ol at es t h e F o urt h A m e n d m e nt. ” Gr a h a m , 4 9 0 U. S. at 3 9 6 ( cl e a n e d u p). Ulti m at el y, “[t] h e
c al c ul us of r e as o n a bl e n ess m ust e m b o d y all o w a n c e f or t h e f a ct t h at p oli c e offi c ers ar e oft e n
f or c e d t o ma k e s plit -s e c o n d j u d g m e nts . . . a b o ut t h e a m o u nt of f or c e t h at is n e c ess ar y i n a
p arti c ul ar sit u ati o n. ” I d. at 3 9 6- 9 7.
T his r e as o n a bl e n ess i n q uir y is a n “ o bj e cti v e ” o n e: “t h e q u esti o n is w h et h er t h e offi c ers’
a cti o ns ar e o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e i n li g ht of t h e f a cts a n d cir c u mst a n c es c o nfr o nti n g t h e m,
wit h o ut r e g ar d t o t h eir u n d erl yi n g i nt e nt or m oti v ati o n. ” I d. at 3 9 7. “Gr a h a m t h us st a n ds f or t h e
pr o p ositi o n t h at a g o v er n m e nt offi c er m a y n ot i ntr u d e o n a p ers o n’s F o urt h A m e n d m e nt ri g hts b y
e m pl o yi n g a d e gr e e of f or c e b e y o n d t h at w hi c h is w arr a nt e d b y t h e o bj e cti v e cir c u mst a n c es of a n
arr est. ” C u gi ni v. Cit y of N e w Y or k , 9 4 1 F. 3 d 6 0 4, 6 1 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 1 9).
2.

O bj e cti v e R e as o n a bl e n ess of t h e Us e of F o r c e

I n his m oti o n f or r e c o nsi d er ati o n, Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot c o nt e n d t h at t h e C o urt misst at e d t h e
a p pli c a bl e l e g al st a n d ar d; r at h er, h e m ai nt ai ns t h at t h e C o urt err e d b y f aili n g t o pr o p erl y ass ess
t h e i m p a ct of c ert ai n f a ct ors i n t h e a n al ysis of w h et h er t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ us e of f or c e
w as o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e. T h e f o c us of Pl ai ntiff’s ar g u m e nt is t h at t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts
l a c k e d pr o b a bl e c a us e t o arr est hi m o n M ar c h 2 8, 2 0 1 7, a n d t h er ef or e a n y us e of f or c e w as
o bj e cti v el y u nr e as o n a bl e . S e e Pl.’s M e m. at 8 ( “[P]r o b a bl e c a us e is dir e ctl y r el e v a nt t o b ot h
iss u es: w h et h er a n arr est w as l a wf ul a n d w h et h er t h e f or c e us e d w as e x c essi v e. ”) ( e m p h asis i n

4

ori gi n al).

M or e s p e cifi c al l y, Pl ai ntiff i nsists t h at t h e C o urt err e d b e c a us e ( 1) Pl ai ntiff di d n ot

r es e m bl e U zilli a s uffi ci e ntl y t o gi v e ris e t o pr ob a bl e c a us e f or his arr est; ( 2) t h e I n di vi d u al
D ef e n d a nts f ail e d t o e n g a g e i n a s uffi ci e nt i n v esti g ati o n of Pl ai ntiff’s i d e ntit y pri or t o arr esti n g
hi m; ( 3) t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ f ail ur e t o i d e ntif y t h e ms el v es n e g at e d t h e fi n di n g t h at
Pl ai ntiff w as r e sisti n g arr est; a n d ( 4) t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts ’ c o n d u ct e x c e e d e d t h e s c o p e of a
T err y st o p. S e e g e n er all y i d. S e cti o ns I. B.-I. E. Pl ai ntiff ’s c o nt e nti o ns miss t h e m ar k, h o w e v er,
i n si g nifi c a nt p art b e c a us e cl ai ms f or f als e arr est ar e disti n ct fr o m cl ai ms f or e x c essi v e f or c e .
I n d e e d, pri or t o s u m m ar y j u d g m e nt bri efi n g i n t his c as e, Pl ai ntiff sti p ul at e d t o t h e dis miss al of
his cl ai ms f or f als e arr est a n d u nl a wf ul i m pris o n m e nt, s e e E C F N o. 3 8, a n d t h e tri al t her ef or e
i n v ol v e d o nl y cl ai ms f or e x c essi v e f or c e a n d ass a ult a n d b att er y.
I n e v al u ati n g a cl ai m f or t h e all e g e d us e of e x c essi v e f or c e d uri n g t h e c o urs e of a n arr est,
t h e l a wf ul n ess or u nl a wf ul n ess of t h e arr est —i. e., w h et h er t h e d ef e n d a nt p oli c e offi c e rs h a d
pr o b a bl e c a us e t o eff e ct u at e t h e arr est —is n ot dis p ositi v e i n ass essi n g t h e r e as o n a bl e n ess of t h e
us e of f or c e b y t h os e offi c ers.

T h e S e c o n d Cir c uit h as “ m a d e cl e ar t h at t h e u nl a wf ul n ess of a n

arr est d o es n ot m a k e t h e f or c e us e d t o eff e ct u at e t h at arr est p er s e u nr e as o n a bl e a n d e x c essi v e
u n d er t h e F o urt h A m e n d m e nt. ” A p o nt e v. K a n b ur , N o. 2 0- 6 2 4, 2 0 2 1 W L 3 8 5 4 0 6 9, at * 4 ( 2 d
Cir. A u g. 3 0, 2 0 2 1) (s u m m ar y or d er). I n A p o nt e , t h e pl ai ntiff c o nt e n d e d t h at t h e distri ct c o urt
err e d “ b y i nstr u cti n g t h e j ur y t h at w h et h er K a n b ur a n d his f ell o w offi c ers h a d a w arr a nt f or
A p o nt e’s arr est o n A u g ust 1 0, 2 0 1 5 w as irr el e v a nt t o t h eir ass ess m e nt of w h et h er K a n b ur
ulti m at el y us e d e x c essi v e f or c e. ” 2 0 2 1 W L 3 8 5 4 0 6 9, at * 3. B ut th e p a n el r ej e ct e d t his
ar g u m e nt, a n d “ a gr e e[ d] wit h t h e distri ct c o urt t h at t h e f a ct t h at K a n b ur a n d t h e ot h er offi c ers o n
t h e s c e n e h a d n o w arr a nt w as irr el e v a nt i n t his e x c essi v e f or c e c as e. ” I d. at * 4. I m p ort a ntl y, t h e
p a n el hi g hli g ht e d t h e f a ct t h at A p o nt e — li k e Pl ai ntiff h er e— w as n ot p urs ui n g a f als e arr est cl ai m

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at t h e ti m e of tri al, a n d o bs er v e d t h at “ i n a n y e v e nt, t h e i n q uir y i n a n e x c essi v e f or c e c as e is
diff er e nt. I n ot h er w or ds, t h e j ur y i n [ A p o nt e’s] c as e w as c h ar g e d wit h d et er mi ni n g w h et h er
K a n b ur us e d f or c e of a n y ki n d a g ai nst A p o nt e a n d, if s o, w h et h er t h at f or c e w as o bj e cti v el y
r e as o n a bl e u n d er t h e cir c u mst a n c es, n ot w h et h er K a n b ur h a d a l a wf ul b asis t o eit h er e nt er
A p o nt e’s a p art m e nt or arr est hi m. ” I d. It w as n ot n e c ess ar y f or t h e fi n d er of f a ct (t h e j ur y) i n
A p o nt e t o e v e n c o nsi d er t h e a bs e n c e of a n arr est w arr a nt “t o pr o p erl y ass ess t h e t ot alit y of t h e
cir c u mst a n c es s urr o u n di n g K a n b ur’s all e g e d us e of e x c essi v e f or c e . . . . ” I d. (i nt er n al cit ati o n
o mitt e d).
T h e c as e l a w cit e d i n A p o nt e r ei nf or c es t h e c o n cl usi o n t h at f als e arr est a n d e x c essi v e
f or c e cl ai ms ar e disti n ct, a n d t h at w h et h er or n ot pr o b a bl e c a us e e xists is n ot t h e “ c e ntr al iss u e, ”
Pl. ’s M e m. at 8, i n t h e a n al ysis of o bj e cti v e r e as o n a bl e n ess t h at Pl ai ntiff m a k es it o ut t o b e. I n
Z ell n er v. S u m m erli n , 4 9 4 F. 3 d 3 4 4, 3 7 7- 7 8 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 7), t h e S e c o n d Cir c uit affir m e d t h e
distri ct c o urt’s r ej e cti o n of pl ai ntiff’s ar g u m e nt “t h at t h e j ur y s h o ul d h a v e b e e n i nstr u ct e d t h at if
it f o u n d [ pl ai ntiff] h a d b e e n arr est e d wit h o ut pr o b a bl e c a us e, it m ust fi n d t h at a n y f or c e us e d b y
d ef e n d a nts i n t h e c o urs e of t h at arr est w as e x c essi v e a n d t h us m ust r et ur n a v er di ct i n his f a v or
o n t h e e x c essi v e f or c e cl ai m. ” S e e A p o nt e , 2 0 2 1 W L 3 8 5 4 0 6 9, at * 4. Si mil arl y, i n J o n es v.
P ar ml e y , 4 6 5 F. 3 d 4 6, 6 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 6), t h e p a n el d et er mi n e d, i n t h e q u alifi e d i m m u nit y
c o nt e xt, t h at t h e distri ct c o urt mis a p pr e h e n d e d t h e l a w i n t his Cir c uit t o b e t h at “ a n y f or c e
e m pl o y e d b y a p oli c e offi c er w o ul d b e u nl a wf ul s o l o n g as pr o b a bl e c a us e di d n ot e xist, e v e n if
t h e d et ai n e e h a d t hr e at e n e d t h e offi c er wit h si g nifi c a nt h ar m. ” S e e A p o nt e , 2 0 2 1 W L 3 8 5 4 0 6 9,
at * 4 . A n d as a Ni nt h Cir c uit p a n el h el d i n B ei er v. Cit y of L e wist o n , 3 5 4 F. 3 d 1 0 5 8, 1 0 6 4 ( 9t h
Cir. 2 0 0 4), “ [ b]e c a us e t h e e x c essi v e f or c e a n d f als e arr est f a ct u al i n q uiri es ar e disti n ct,
est a blis hi n g a l a c k of pr o b a bl e c a us e t o m a k e a n arr est d o es n ot est a blis h a n e x c essi v e f or c e

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cl ai m, a n d vi c e -v ers a. ” S e e A p o nt e , 2 0 2 1 W L 3 8 5 4 0 6 9, at * 4. T h e S u pr e m e C o urt als o h as
s u g g est e d t h at “it w o ul d b e g oi n g e ntir el y t o o f ar t o s u g g est t h at a n y F o urt h A m e n d m e nt
vi ol ati o n t h at is c o n n e ct e d t o a r e as o n a bl e us e of f or c e s h o ul d cr e at e a v ali d e x c essi v e f or c e
cl ai m . ” C nt y. of L os A n g el es v. M e n d ez , 1 3 7 S. Ct. 1 5 3 9, 1 5 4 7 ( 2 0 1 7) ( e m p h asis i n ori gi n al).
S e e A p o nt e , 2 0 2 1 W L 3 8 5 4 0 6 9, at * 4.
M u c h of Pl ai ntiff’s ar g u m e nt f or r e c o nsi d er ati o n f o c us es o n t h e pr e mis e t h at h e di d n ot
b e ar a si g nifi c a nt r es e m bl a n c e t o U zilli a, t h e i n di vi d u al f or w h o m t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts h a d
a v ali d arr est w arr a nt. N ot a bl y, h o w e v er, Pl ai ntiff’s c o u ns el di d n ot a d dr ess t his iss u e i n t h e
pr o p os e d fi n di n gs of f a ct a n d c o n cl usi o ns of l a w pri or t o tri al, s e e E C F N o. 6 6, eli cit e d n o
e vi d e n c e at tri al t o att e m pt t o est a blis h t h e t y p es of disti n cti o ns t h at ar e e m p h asi z e d i n t h e
bri efi n g o n t his m oti o n, s e e g e n er all y E C F

N os. 9 3, 9 5 ( Tri al Tr a ns cri pts ( “ Tr ”)), a n d m a d e n o

p oi nts a b o ut t h e p ur p ort e d p h ysi c al dissi mil ariti es i n cl osi n g ar g u m e nts a n d r e b utt als at t h e e n d
of tri al, s e e g e n er all y E C F N o. 8 0. T h e e vi d e n c e i n t h e r e c or d r e g ar di n g Pl ai ntiff’s r es e m bl a n c e
t o U zilli a c o m es fr o m Pl ai ntiff’s o w n a d missi o ns: Pl ai ntiff t estifi e d at tri al t h at w h e n h e s a w a
p h ot o gr a p h of U zilli a w hil e h e w as i n t h e b a c k s e at of t h e p oli c e v e hi cl e, h e “ c o n c e d e d at t h at
ti m e t h at [ U zilli a] l o o k e d li k e [ hi m], ” Tr. at 9 9- 1 0 0; a d diti o n all y, P att ers o n t estifi e d at tri al t h at
w hil e Pl ai ntiff w as i n t h e p oli c e v e hi cl e, Pl ai ntiff o bs er v e d hi m a n d H ut c hi ns p assi n g t h e pi ct ur e
of U zilli a b et w e e n t h e m, a n d w h e n P att ers o n as k e d “ d o es n’t t h at l o o k li k e y o u ?, ” Pl ai ntiff a gr e e d
t h at it di d, Tr. at 1 8 2. S e e O p. at 6 n. 5 a n d 1 1.
M or e o v er, i n A p o nt e , t h e S e c o n d Cir c uit r eit er at e d t h at “t h e r e as o n a bl e n ess of t h e us e of
f or c e is e x a mi n e d fr o m t h e o bj e cti v e st a n d p oi nt of t h e p oli c e offi c er, ” a n d n ot e d t h at “t h e
arr est e e’s s u bj e cti v e b eli ef r e g ar di n g t h e sit u ati o n ” is n ot r el e v a nt t o t h e d et er mi n ati o n of
w h et h er t h e us e of f or c e w as e x c essi v e u n d er t h e t ot alit y of t h e cir c u mst a n c es. 2 0 2 1 W L

7

3 8 5 4 0 6 9, at * 5 ( citi n g E hl ers v. Cit y of R a pi d Cit y , 8 4 6 F. 3 d 1 0 0 2, 1 0 1 1 ( 8t h Cir. 2 0 1 7) ( “[ A] n
arr est e e’s s u bj e cti v e m o ti v e d o es n ot b e ar o n h o w r e as o n a bl e offi c ers w o ul d h a v e i nt er pr et e d his
[ or h er] b e h a vi or. ”)). T h e p a n el r ej e ct e d A p o nt e’s ar g u m e nt t h at t h e l a wf ul n ess of t h e p oli c e
offi c er’s “ w arr a ntl ess e ntr y i nt o his a p art m e nt b e ars o n t h e r e as o n a bl e n ess of [ A p o nt e’s ] b eli ef
t h at h e w as n ot l e g all y r e q uir e d t o g o a n y w h er e wit h t h e offi c ers w h o visit e d his h o m e. ” I d.
( e m p h asis i n ori gi n al). Si mil arl y h er e, t h e r el e v a nt q u esti o n is n ot w h et h er Pl ai ntiff b eli e v e d t h at
h e w as r esisti n g arr est or b eli e v e d t h at h e w as y el li n g a n d m o vi n g his b o d y i n a n eff ort t o a v oi d
a n u n w a nt e d i nt er a cti o n wit h str a n g ers w h o w er e tr yi n g t o a b d u ct hi m. S e e Tr. at 8 0- 8 1, 8 9- 9 2.
R at h er, w h at is d et er mi n ati v e of Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai m is w h et h er or n ot t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’
us e of f or c e — vi e wi n g t h e cir c u mst a n c es wit h w hi c h t h e y w er e c o nfr o nt e d fr o m t h e offi c ers’
st a n d p oi nt —w as o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e.
A c c or di n gl y, t h e C o urt r e affir ms its c o n cl usi o n t h at t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ us e of
f or c e w as o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e u n d er t h e t ot alit y of t h e cir c u mst a n c es i n t his c as e, w hi c h
i n cl u d e t h e u n dis p ut e d f a cts t h at P att ers o n a n d H ut c hi ns, wit h a v ali d arr est w arr a nt i n h a n d,
a p pr o a c h e d Pl ai ntiff wit h t h e mist a k e n u n d erst a n di n g t h at h e w as U zilli a . As e x pl ai n e d i n t h e
O pi ni o n:
B ot h P att ers o n a n d H ut c hi ns t estifi e d t h at t h e y i nt er pr et e d Pl ai ntiff’s
i niti al p h ysi c al r e a cti o n— w h et h er b e n di n g his k n e es or t a ki n g o n e st e p
b a c k w ar ds — as t h e ass u m pti o n of a fi g hti n g st a n c e, e v e n t h o u g h Pl ai ntiff
h a d n ot r ais e d his ar ms or b all e d his h a n ds i nt o fists. T h es e si mil ar
(t h o u g h n ot i d e nti c al) el e m e nts of t esti m o n y fr o m t h e offi c ers ar e cr e di bl e,
a n d it is u n d erst a n d a bl e t h at t h e offi c ers u n d erst o o d Pl ai ntiff t o b e
p ositi o ni n g hi ms elf i n a w a y t h at m a d e it a p p e ar as t h o u g h h e w as
pr e p ar e d t o d ef e n d hi ms elf r at h er t h a n v ol u nt aril y c o m pl y wit h p oli c e
r e q u ests. Pl ai ntiff’s r es p o ns es t o P att ers o n’s i niti al q u esti o ns a n d
st at e m e nts— “ w h o ar e y o u, ” a n d “I’ m t a ki n g y o u i n ” — w er e c h all e n gi n g
r at h er t h a n c o m pli a nt ( as ki n g P att ers o n “ w h o ar e y o u, ” a n d r es p o n di n g
“f or w h at ” ), a n d P att ers o n a n d H ut c hi ns r e as o n a bl y b eli e v e d t h e y w er e
i nt er a cti n g wit h U zilli a, a m a n f or w h o m t h e y h a d a n a cti v e arr est w arr a nt
a n d w h o t h e y b eli e v e d r esi d e d n e ar b y. T a ki n g all of t his e vi d e n c e

8

t o g et h er, t h e C o urt fi n ds t h at t h e l a c k of cl arit y b y P att ers o n at t h e o uts et,
c o m bi n e d wit h Pl ai ntiff’s si g nifi c a nt r es e m bl a n c e t o U zilli a, Pl ai ntiff’s
d ef e nsi v e r es p o ns es t o P att ers o n’s r e m ar ks, a n d Pl ai ntiff’s mi n or
a dj ust m e nts of his b o d y i n a m a n n er t h at s u g g est e d a d ef e nsi v e p ost ur e l e d
t o t h e u nf ort u n at e s eri es of e v e nts t h at f oll o w e d.
O p . at 1 5- 1 6.

2
1F

Pl ai ntiff c o nt e n ds t h at t h e C o urt’s fi n di n g t h at t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts f ail e d t o i d e ntif y
t h e ms el v es as p oli c e offi c ers n e g at e d t h e fi n di n g t h at Pl ai ntiff w as r esisti n g arr est f or p ur p os es of
t h e t hir d Gr a h a m f a ct or. But t his a g ai n s p e a ks t o Pl ai ntiff’s s u bj e cti v e b eli ef r e g ar di n g t h e
M ar c h 2 8, 2 0 1 7 i n ci d e nt, n ot t h e o bj e cti v e r e as o n a bl e n ess of t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ vi e w of
Pl ai ntiff’s b e h a vi or u n d er t h e cir c u mst a n c es. Alt h o u g h t he C o urt di d fi n d t h at P att ers o n di d n ot
cl e arl y i d e ntif y hi ms elf, a n d r e c o g ni z e d t h at t h e e n c o u nt er b et w e e n Pl ai ntiff a n d t h e I n di vi d u al
D ef e n d a nts li k el y w o ul d n ot h a v e pr o c e e d e d as it di d h a d h e d o n e s o, se e i d. at 1 4 , t h e C o urt als o
n ot e d t h at “ Pl ai ntiff a c k n o wl e d g e d t h at h e h a d s o m e i n kli n g d uri n g t h e e n c o u nt er t h at P att ers o n
w as a p oli c e offi c er — h e o bs er v e d P att ers o n’s b a d g e as h e a p pr o a c h e d, Tr. 7 5; h e r e c o g ni z e d t h e
‘ ar m b ar’ as a l a w e nf or c e m e nt t e c h ni q u e, Tr. 8 3- 8 4; a n d h e s a w P att ers o n’s pr o p erl y h olst er e d
fir e ar m, Tr. 8 6. ” I d. Ulti m at el y , t h e C o urt w as c all e d u p o n t o r es ol v e t h e q u esti o n of w h et h er,
vi e wi n g t h e sit u ati o n fr o m t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ p oi nts of vi e w, t h eir us e of f or c e i n
2

I n t h e dis c ussi o n of its cr e di bilit y fi n di n gs a n d ass ess m e nt of k e y dis p ut e d iss u es, t h e
C o urt n ot e d t h at ( 1) d uri n g t h e ti m e t h at h e w as h a n d c uff e d a n d pl a c e d a g ai nst t h e f e n c e,
Pl ai ntiff w as “ m o vi n g his h e a d c o nst a ntl y fr o m si d e t o si d e, ” w as “s o a git at e d t h at h e w as y elli n g
a n d s cr e a mi n g t o s u c h a d e gr e e t h at his v oi c e b e c a m e h o ars e ,” a n d w as “ m o vi n g his t ors o t o a
s u bst a nti al d e gr e e ” as t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts att e m pt e d t o h a n d c uff hi m, O p. at 1 6; ( 2) w h e n
Pl ai ntiff w as m o v e d fr o m t h e f e n c e t o t h e p oli c e v e hi cl e, “i n t h e c o nt e xt of t h e c h a oti c s c e n e —
wit h Pl ai ntiff still s cr e a mi n g a n d y elli n g, n ot w a nti n g t o g et i nt o t h e c ar, a n d a cti v el y tr yi n g t o
pr e v e nt hi ms elf fr o m b ei n g pl a c e d i n t h e c ar . . . Pl ai ntiff’s h e a d w as i n a d v ert e ntl y c a us e d t o
c o m e i nt o c o nt a ct wit h t h e d o or [,] ” i d. at 1 6 - 1 7; a n d ( 3) Pl ai ntiff c o m pl ai n e d a b o ut t h e h a n d c uffs
b ei n g t o o ti g ht “ o n c e h e w as i n t h e c ar , ” b ut h e “ di d n ot e v e n r e ali z e t h at t h e h a n d c uffs w er e o n
his wrists u ntil h e w as i nsi d e of t h e c ar, a n d . . . t h e h a n d c uffs w er e r e m o v e d v er y s h ortl y aft er h e
c o m pl ai n e d a b o ut t h e m, ” i d. at 1 8. All of t h es e fi n di n gs c o ntri b ut e d t o t h e l e g al c o n cl usi o n t h at
t h e f or c e us e d b y t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts w as o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e u n d er t h e cir c u mst a n c es.

9

arr esti n g Pl ai ntiff w as o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e . P att ers o n’s st a n d p oi nt w as t ha t of a p oli c e offi c er,
w e ari n g his s hi el d ar o u n d his n e c k a n d a p pr o a c hi n g a m a n w h o r es e m bl e d s o m e o n e f or w h o m h e
a n d his p art n er h a d a n arr est w arr a nt , a n d w h o r e a ct e d t o P att ers o n’s a p pr o a c h a n d q u esti o ns,
b ot h p h ysi c all y a n d v er b all y, i n a r esist a nt m a n n er. B y t h e ti m e

H ut c hi ns, w h o h a d b e e n p ar ki n g

t h e c ar, j oi n e d P att ers o n t o assist i n pl a ci n g Pl ai ntiff i n h a n d c uffs, Pl ai ntiff w as t wisti n g his
b o d y, m o vi n g his h e a d fr o m si d e t o si d e, a n d s cr e a mi n g. S e e i d. at 1 6. H ut c hi ns’s st a n d p oi nt
w as t h er ef or e t h at of a p oli c e offi c er, vi e wi n g his p art n er tr yi n g t o eff e ct u at e t h e arr est of a m a n
f or w h o m t h e y h a d a n arr est w arr a nt, w h o w as a cti v el y r esisti n g.
I n t h e c o nt e xt of a b e n c h tri al, t h e C o urt, “[ a]s t h e fi n d er of f a ct, . . . is e ntitl e d t o m a k e
cr e di bilit y fi n di n gs a b o ut t h e wit n ess es a n d t esti m o n y a n d t o dr a w r e as o n a bl e i nf er e n c es fr o m
t h e e vi d e n c e pr es e nt e d. ” U nit e d St at es v. As ar e , 4 7 6 F. S u p p. 3 d 2 0, 2 6 ( S. D. N. Y. 2 0 2 0); s e e
F a nt asi a v. M o nt efi or e N e w R o c h ell e , N o. 2 2- 2 9 4 0- c v, 2 0 2 3 W L 7 6 4 8 3 3 0, at * 3 ( 2 d Cir. N o v.
1 5, 2 0 2 3) (s u m m ar y or d er) ( “ W e gi v e gr e at d ef er e n c e t o a distri ct c o urt’s fi n di n gs of f a ct
f oll o wi n g a b e n c h tri al, es p e ci all y w h er e, as h er e, t h os e fi n di n gs l ar g el y t ur n o n cr e di bilit y
ass ess m e nts of t h e t estif yi n g wit n ess es. ”).

H er e, t h e C o urt ass ess e d t h e wit n ess es’ cr e di bilit y

a n d dr e w r e as o n a bl e i nf ere n c es fr o m t h e e vi d e n c e pr es e nt e d, as it w as e ntitl e d t o d o, a n d
c o n cl u d e d t h at t h e I ndi vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ us e of s o m e d e gr e e f or c e t o eff e ct u at e Pl ai ntiff’s
arr est w as o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e, as it w as b as e d o n a n o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e b eli ef t h at
Pl ai ntiff , w h o l o o k e d li k e a m a n f or w h o m t h e y h a d a n o utst a n di n g arr est w arr a nt, w as a cti n g i n
a r esist a nt m a n n er . Pl ai ntiff ’s m oti o n f or r e c o nsi d er ati o n b as e d o n t h e C o urt’s a p pli c ati o n of t h e
Gr a h a m f a ct ors is D E NI E D.

10

B.

E x c essi v e F o r c e B as e d o n t h e Ti g ht n ess of t h e H a n d c uffs

Pl ai ntiff als o c o nt e n ds t h at t h e C o urt s p e cifi c all y err e d i n its e v al u ati o n of t h e p orti o n of
Pl ai ntiff’s e x c essi v e f or c e cl ai ms b as e d o n t h e ti g ht n ess of t h e h a n d c uffs. Pl.’s M e m. at 2 0- 2 1.
T h e C o urt dis a gr e es.
Pl ai ntiff first c h all e n g es t h e d e cisi o n wit h r es p e ct t o t h e h a n d c uffs o n t h e gr o u n d t h at “t h e
I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ us e of f or c e w as u nr e as o n a bl e fr o m t h e st art, ” s o t h er e w as “ n o
j ustifi a bl e r e as o n ” f or pl a ci n g Pl ai ntiff i n h a n d c uffs i n t h e first i nst a n c e, a n d t h e i nj uri es h e
s uff er e d w er e “ gr at uit o us. ” I d. at 2 0. B e c a us e, as e x plai n e d i n S e cti o n II. A. 2, s u pr a, t h e C o urt
s e es n o b asis t o r e c o nsi d er its d et er mi n ati o n t h at t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts di d n ot us e e x c essi v e
f or c e “fr o m t h e st art ” ( or at all), t his is n ot a vi a bl e c h all e n g e t o t h e C o urt’s d e cisi o n r e g ar di n g
t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ us e of h a n d c uffs. As t h e C o urt e x pl ai n e d i n t h e O pi ni o n:
Pl ai ntiff [’s] . . . a d o pti o n of a d ef e nsi v e p h ysi c al p ost ur e a n d his
c h all e n gi n g r es p o ns es t o P att ers o n’s q u esti o ns a n d st at e m e nts m a d e it
o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e, i n li g ht of all of t h e cir c u mst a n c es pr es e nt e d at t h at
m o m e nt, f or P att ers o n a n d H ut c hi ns t o i niti at e t h e pr o c ess of att e m pti n g t o
p h ysi c all y r estr ai n Pl ai ntiff a n d t a k e hi m i nt o c ust o d y. At t h at p oi nt,
P att ers o n a n d H ut c hi ns w er e s e e ki n g t o e x e c ut e a n arr est w arr a nt f or
U zi lli a, w er e still r e as o n a bl y u n d er t h e i m pr essi o n t h at Pl ai ntiff w as
U zilli a, a n d w er e t h er ef or e t a ki n g st e ps t h at w er e r e as o n a bl y n e c ess ar y t o
eff e ct u at e t h e arr est. T h e n Pl ai ntiff b e g a n t o p h ysi c all y r esist t o a gr e at er
d e gr e e, m o vi n g a n d t wisti n g his t ors o a n d m o vi n g his h e a d, all w hil e
s cr e a mi n g at t h e t o p of his l u n gs, s u c h t h at it t o o k t w o offi c ers a p eri o d of
mi n ut es t o ulti m at el y pl a c e Pl ai ntiff i nt o h a n d c uffs. T h er e is n o q u esti o n
t h at s o m e d e gr e e of f or c e w as us e d at t his st a g e of t h e e n c o u nt er, b ut i n
li g ht of t h e C o urt’s f a ct u al fi n di n gs r e g ar di n g Pl ai ntiff’s m o v e m e nt a n d
c o n d u ct at t his ti m e, t h e C o urt c o n cl u d es t h at t h e d e gr e e of f or c e us e d b y
t h e offi c ers t o pl a c e Pl ai ntiff i n h a n d c uffs i n or d er t o pl a c e hi m u n d er
arr est —i n cl u di n g t h e us e of t h e ar m b ar t e c h ni q u e, t h e a p pli c ati o n of t h e
h a n d c uffs, a n d pl a ci n g Pl ai ntiff a g ai nst t h e c h ai n li n k f e n c e — w as
o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e i n li g ht of t h e cir c u mst a n c es pr es e nt e d.

11

O p. at 2 0- 2 1 ( e m p h asis i n ori gi n al). I n ot h er w or ds, b as e d o n t h e C o urt’s ass ess m e nt of t h e
t ot alit y of t h e cir c u mst a n c es, th e C o urt c o n cl u d e d t h at t h e d e gr e e of f or c e us e d, i n cl u di n g t h e us e
of h a n d c uffs, w as o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e.
N e xt, Pl ai ntiff c h all e n g es t h e C o urt’s d e cisi o n o n t h e gr o u n d t h at t h e C o urt i m pr o p erl y
f o c us e d o n t h e e xt e nt of Pl ai ntiff’s i nj uri es fr o m t h e ti g ht n ess of t h e h a n d cuffs a n d t h er ef or e
f ail e d t o pr o p erl y e v al u at e w h et h er t h e us e of t h e h a n d c uffs w as o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e. Pl.’s
M e m. at 2 0 - 2 1. B ut t h e C o urt, citi n g C u gi ni v. Cit y of N e w Y or k , 9 4 1 F. 3 d 6 0 4, 6 1 3 ( 2 d Cir.
2 0 1 9) — a c as e t h at Pl ai ntiff hi ms elf cit es i n his m oti o n f or r e c o nsi d er ati o n —di d c o nsi d er
“ w h et h er a n offi c er r e as o n a bl y s h o ul d h a v e k n o w n d uri n g h a n d c uffi n g t h at his us e of f or c e w as
e x c essi v e. ” O p. at 2 2 ; s e e als o C u gi ni , 9 4 1 F. 3 d at 6 1 3 ( “ A pl ai ntiff s atisfi es t his r e q uir e m e nt if
eit h er t h e u nr e as o n a bl e n ess of t h e f or c e us e d w as a p p ar e nt u n d er t h e cir c u mst a n c es, or t h e
pl ai ntiff si g n al e d h er distr ess, v er b all y or ot h er wis e, s u c h t h at a r e as o n a bl e offi c er w o ul d h a v e
b e e n a w ar e of h er p ai n, or b ot h. ”). As t h e C o urt f urt h er e x pl ai n e d, a g ai n q u oti n g C u gi ni , “[i] n
t his Cir c uit, w h er e a n offi c er’s us e of f or c e i n h a n d c uffi n g is pl ai nl y u nr e as o n a bl e u n d er t h e
cir c u mst a n c es or w h er e a pl ai ntiff m a nif ests cl e ar si g ns of [ his] distr ess — v er b all y or
ot h er wis e — a f a ct fi n d er m a y d e ci d e t h at t h e offi c er r e as o n a b l y s h o ul d h a v e k n o w n t h at his us e
of f or c e w as e x c essi v e f or p ur p os es of est a blis hi n g a F o urt h A m e n d m e nt vi ol ati o n. ” O p. at 2 2
( q u ot ati o n m ar ks o mitt e d) ( e m p h asis i n ori gi n al). R at h er t h a n f o c usi n g o nl y o n t h e e xt e nt of
Pl ai ntiff’s i nj uri es, t h e C o urt c o nsi d er e d n ot o nl y t h e o bj e cti v e r e as o n a bl e n ess of t h e us e of
h a n d c uffs u n d er t h e cir c u mst a n c es, b ut als o t h e e vi d e n c e t h at Pl ai ntiff c o m pl ai n e d o nl y o n c e t o
P att ers o n a n d H ut c hi ns a b o ut t h e ti g ht n ess of t h e h a n d c uffs, a n d t h at aft er h e di d s o, P att ers o n
r em o v e d t h e h a n d c uffs ri g ht a w a y.

S e e i d. ( Pl ai ntiff “t estifi e d t h at t h e h a n d c uffs w er e r e m o v e d

‘ wit hi n s e c o n ds’ of hi m m a ki n g his c o m pl ai nt. ”).

12

T h e C o urt t h e n c o n cl u d e d its a n al ysis b y a d dr ess i n g t h e e vi d e n c e r e g ar di n g t h e e xt e nt of
Pl ai ntiff’s wrist i n j uri es. C u gi ni d o es n ot b ar c o urts fr o m c o nsi d eri n g t his e vi d e n c e as o n e of
s e v er al f a ct ors i n m a ki n g a d et er mi n ati o n as t o w h et h er t h e us e of h a n d c uffs c o nstit ut e d
e x c essi v e f or c e. S e e 9 4 1 F. 3 d at 6 1 3. I n f a ct, “t h e d e gr e e of i nj ur y t o t h e arr est e e’s wrists ” w as
d es cri b e d b y t h e C u gi ni p a n el as o n e of t h e e vi d e nti ar y f a ct ors t h at “ m a y, i n d e e d, pr o v e us ef ul t o
a distri ct c o urt i n ass essi n g t h e s o u n d n ess of a h a n d c uffi n g- b as e d e x c essi v e f or c e cl ai m. ”

3
2F

I d.

T h e S e c o n d Cir c uit ’s e arli er o pi ni o n i n t his c as e, as q u ot e d b y Pl ai ntiff i n his r e c o nsi d er ati o n
m oti o n , c o nt ai ns si mil ar l a n g u a g e: “t h e a bs e n c e of s eri o us i nj ur y is c ert ai nl y a m att er t h at t h e
j ur y c a n c o nsi d er i n ass essi n g b ot h t h e r e as o n a bl e n ess of t h e f or c e a n d p ot e nti al d a m a g es fr o m
a n y mis c o n d u ct. ” K et c h a m v. Cit y of M o u nt V er n o n , 9 9 2 F. 3 d 1 4 4, 1 5 1 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 1).
T h er ef or e, w h er e, as h er e, t h e C o urt w as sitti n g as t h e fi n d er of f a ct f oll o wi n g a b e n c h tri al, it
w as e ntir el y a p pr o pri at e f or t h e C o urt t o c o nsi d er “t h e a bs e n c e of s eri o us i nj ur y ” d u e t o t h e
ti g ht n ess of t h e h a n d c uffs. B ut as is e vi d e nt fr o m t h e O pi ni o n, t h e C o urt di d n ot r el y s ol el y o n
e vi d e n c e r e g ar di n g Pl ai ntiff’s d e gr e e of i nj ur y fr o m t h e h a n d c uffi n g i n r e a c hi n g t h e
d et er mi n at i o n t h at t h e cir c u mst a n c es of t h e a p pli c ati o n of h a n d c uffs t hr o u g h t h e c o urs e of t h e
I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ e n c o u nt er wit h Pl ai ntiff o n M ar c h 2 8, 2 0 1 7 di d n ot c o nstit ut e e x c essi v e
f or c e. Pl ai ntiff ’s m oti o n f or r e c o nsi d er ati o n as t o t his iss u e is D E NI E D. 4
3F

3

T h e C u gi ni p a n el i n di c at e d t h at w h et h er “ t h e arr est e e’s h a n d c uffs w er e unr e as o n a bl y
ti g ht” a n d w h et h er “ t h e d ef e n d a nts i g n or e d t h e arr est e e’s pl e as t h at t h e h a n d c uffs w er e t o o ti g ht”
als o w er e e vi d e nti ar y f a ct ors t h at m a y “ pr o v e us ef ul ” i n s u c h c as es. 9 4 1 F. 3 d at 6 1 3 ( q u oti n g
Es m o nt v. Cit y of N e w Y or k , 3 7 1 F. S u p p. 2 d 2 0 2, 2 1 5 ( E. D. N. Y. 2 0 0 5)).
4

Pl ai ntiff d o es n ot s e e k r e c o nsi d er ati o n of t h e C o urt’s c o n cl usi o n t h at t h e I n di vi d u al
D ef e n d a nts ’ f ail ur e t o d o u bl e l o c k Pl ai ntiff’s h a n d c uffs di d n ot ris e t o t h e l e v el of e x c essi v e
f or c e.

13

C.

S uffi ci e n c y of t h e F a ct u al Fi n di n gs

Fi n all y, Pl ai ntiff c o nt e n ds t h at t h e C o urt n e e d e d t o pr o vi d e a m or e d et ail e d e x pl a n ati o n of
its f a ct u al fi n di n g t h at Pl ai ntiff b or e a “si g nifi c a nt r es e m bl a n c e ” t o U zilli a. Pl.’s M e m. at 2 1- 2 2.
H e ass erts t h at a n a p p ell at e c o urt c a n n ot e v al u at e t his fi n di n g “ b e c a us e t h e tri al r e c or d c o nt ai ns
n o t w o p h ot o gr a p hs ( or e v e n p h ysi c al d es cri pti o ns) t o c o m p ar e. ”

5
4F

I d. at 2 2. R ul e 5 2( a) of t h e

F e d er al R ul es of Ci vil Pr o c e d ur e pr o vi d es t h at “ [i] n a n a cti o n tri e d o n t h e f a cts wit h o ut a j ur y . . .
t h e c o urt m ust fi n d t h e f a cts s p e ci all y a n d st at e its c o n cl usi o ns of l a w s e p ar at el y. ” F e d. R. Ci v.
P. 5 2( a)( 1). “ T h at r ul e r e q uir es t h e c o urt t o m a k e s uffi ci e ntl y d et ail e d fi n di n gs t o i nf or m t h e
a p p ell at e c o ur t of t h e b asis of t h e d e cisi o n a n d t o p er mit i nt elli g e nt a p p ell at e r e vi e w. ” N ajj ar
Gr p., L L C v. W est 5 6t h H ot el L L C , 8 5 0 F. A p p’ x 6 9, 7 5 n. 4 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 2 1) (s u m m ar y or d er)
( q u ot ati o n m ar ks o mitt e d). R ul e 5 2( a)( 1) “ d o es n ot r e q uir e eit h er p u n ctili o us d et ail or sl a vis h
tr a ci n g of t h e cl ai ms iss u e b y iss u e a n d wit n ess b y wit n ess. ” I d. ( q u ot ati o n m ar ks o mitt e d). “ As
a g e n er al r ul e c o urts ar e n ot r e q uir e d t o m a k e fi n di n gs o n iss u es t h e d e cisi o n of w hi c h is
u n n e c ess ar y t o t h e r es ults t h e y r e a c h. ” I d. at 7 5 (cl e a n e d u p).
I n t h e O pi ni o n, t h e C o urt n ot e d t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts’ t esti m o n y t h at t h e y t h o u g ht
Pl ai ntiff r es e m bl e d U zilli a. S e e O p. at 3 ( “ As t h e offi c ers tr a v el e d n ort h b o u n d i n t h eir v e hi cl e
al o n g M ai n Str e et, P att ers o n i n di c at e d t o H ut c hi ns t h at h e s a w s o m e o n e w h o fit U zilli a’s
d es cri pti o n w al ki n g s o ut h b o u n d o n t h e si d e w al k o n M ai n Str e et, a n d t ol d H ut c hi ns t o st o p t h e
c ar s o t h e y c o ul d i n v esti g at e. Tr. 1 6 1- 6 3, 2 8 5- 8 6. ”), 1 2 ( “ H ut c hi ns r e c all e d t h at o n c e Pl ai ntiff
w as i n t h e c ar, h e g ot i nt o t h e dri v er’s s e at, P att ers o n g ot i nt o t h e p ass e n g er’s s e at, a n d b ef or e

5

Of c o urs e, if Pl ai ntiff’s c o u ns el b eli e v e d t h at a p h ot o gr a p h of Pl ai ntiff’s f a c e w as
n e c ess ar y t o h a v e a c o m pl et e r e c or d, t h e n c o u ns el s h o ul d h a v e att e m pt e d t o i ntr o d u c e s u c h a
p h ot o gr a p h i n e vi d e n c e. Ot h er p h ot o gr a p hs of Pl ai ntiff, s h o wi n g his i nj uri es fr o m t h e M ar c h 2 8,
2 0 1 7 e n c o u nt er, w er e r e c ei v e d i n e vi d e n c e. S e e Tr. at 4 8- 5 1.
14

H ut c hi ns b e g a n t o dri v e a w a y, h e t ur n e d ar o u n d t o Pl ai ntiff a n d s ai d, ‘ w e b e e n l o o ki n g f or y o u
f or a l o n g ti m e, Mr. U zilli a.’ Tr. 2 9 3- 9 4. ”). A n d as r ef er e n c e d a b o v e, t h e C o urt als o n o t e d
Pl ai ntiff’s tri al t esti m o n y t h at aft er b ei n g s h o w n U zilli a’s p h ot o gr a p h b y t h e I n di vi d u al
D ef e n d a nts, h e c o n c e d e d t h at U zilli a’s p h ot o gr a p h l o o k e d li k e hi m, Tr. 9 9- 1 0 0, a n d P att ers o n’s
t esti m o n y i n w hi c h h e r e c o u nt e d t h at Pl ai ntiff a gr e e d t h at t h e p h ot o gr a p h of U zilli a l o o k e d li k e
hi m, Tr. 1 8 2.
As e x pl ai n e d i n S e cti o n II.A. 2 , s u pr a, t h e iss u e of w h et h er t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts h a d
pr o b a bl e c a us e t o arr est Pl ai ntiff is n ot dis p ositi v e as t o t h e q u esti o n of w h et h er t h e f or c e us e d
w as o bj e cti v el y r e as o n a bl e.

Pl ai ntiff pr o vi d es n o s uffi ci e nt e x pl a n ati o n as t o w h y t h e C o urt’s

r eli a n c e o n t h e p arti es’ t esti m o n y r e g ar di n g t h e a d mitt e d r es e m bl a n c e b et w e e n Pl ai ntiff a n d
U zilli a is i ns uffi ci e nt t o s u p p ort its fi n di n g t h at t h e I n di vi d u al D ef e n d a nts h a d a n o bj e cti vel y
r e as o n a bl e b eli ef t h at t h e m a n t h e y w er e str u g gli n g t o pl a c e u n d er arr est w as t h e s a m e m a n f or
w h o m t h e y h a d a n o utst a n di n g arr est w arr a nt. N or d o es Pl ai ntiff st at e w h at f urt h er d et ail
r e g ar di n g t h e b asis f or t h e C o urt’s fi n di n g of r es e m bl a n c e is n e e de d i n or d er t o f a cilit at e
a p p ell at e r e vi e w of t h e C o urt’s d e cisi o n r e g ar di n g Pl ai ntiff’s cl ai ms of e x c essi v e f or c e . R ul e
5 2( a)( 1) is t h er ef or e n ot a b asis f or t h e C o urt t o r e c o nsi d er a n y as p e ct of its d et er mi n ati o ns i n
t his m att er, a n d Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n f or r e c o nsi d er ati o n o n t his gr o u n d is als o D E NI E D.
*

*

*

*

*

*

I n s u m, Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n f ails t o s atisf y t h e l e g al st a n d ar d a p pli c a bl e t o m oti o ns f or
r e c o nsi d er ati o n. H e n eit h er p oi nts t o a n y c h a n g e i n t h e l a w or n e w e vi d e n c e, a n d h e d o es n ot
d e m o nstr at e a n e e d t o c orr e ct cl e ar err or or pr e v e nt m a nif est i nj usti c e.

15

C O N C L U SI O N
F or t h e f or e g oi n g r e as o ns, Pl ai ntiff’s m oti o n f or r e c o nsi d er ati o n ( E C F N o. 8 5 ) is
D E NI E D.
D at e d: A pril 1 0, 2 0 2 4
W hit e Pl ai ns, N e w Y or k

S O O R D E R E D.
___________________________________
A N D R E W E. K R A U S E
U nit e d St at es M a gistr at e J u d g e

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