Davidson v. Deschutes County et al

Filing 46

ORDER: Adopting Magistrate Coffin's Findings and Recommendation 41 allowing defendants John and Caren Burton's motion for attorney's fees 38 in the amount of $4,185. Plaintiff's request of this Court to deny defendants' petition for attorney's fees is DENIED. See formal ORDER. Signed on 12/10/2015 by Chief Judge Ann L. Aiken. (rh)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON MARTIE DAVIDSON, Case No. 6:15-cv-00052-TC ORDER Plaintiff, v. DESCHUTES COUNTY, JOHN AND CAREN BURTON, CHRIS KABER, and JENNIFER GASPARD, Defendants. Mikel R. Miller Law Office of Mikel R. Miller, P.C. 26 N.W. Hawthorne Avenue Bend, Oregon 97703 Attorney for Plaintiff Geordie Duckler The Animal Law Practice 9397 S.W. Locust Street Tigard, Oregon 97223 Attorney for Defendants John and Caren Burton Page 1 - ORDER AIKEN, Chief Judge: Magistrate Judge Coffin filed his Findings and Recommendation on February 13, 2013. The matter is now before me pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § objects 636(b) (1) (B) to any Recommendation, and Fed. portion the of district R. Civ. a P. 72 (b). Magistrate's court must When a party Findings make a de and novo determination of that portion of the Magistrate's report. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) (1) (B); McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Commodore Bus. Mach., 656 F.2d 1309, 1313 (9th Cir. 1981). Plaintiff brought this action asserting state law claims of malicious prosecution and defamation against defendants John and Caren Burton claims ("the against Burtons") . defendants Plaintiff Deschutes also County, asserted Chris various Kaber, and Jennifer Gaspard, including a claim for false arrest pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Compl. ~~ 37-72. On June 24, 2014, Magistrate Coffin dismissed plaintiff's defamation claim against the Burtons and granted summary judgment for the Burtons on plaintiff's malicious prosecution claim. (doc. 31 at 7, 12) (doc. 33, adopting Findings and Recommendation) . The court also dismissed all claims against the other defendants. (doc. 31 at 1). Plaintiff declined to amend the complaint. Plaintiff now objects to Magistrate Coffin's Findings and Recommendation awarding $4,185 in attorney's fees to the Burtons for time billed regarding plaintiff's malicious prosecution claim. Page 2 - ORDER Obj. to Findings and Recommendation 1. Because plaintiff asserted no federal claims against the Burtons, attorney's fees under 42 U.S.C. plaintiff's federal § the Burtons can recover 1988 only if they demonstrate false arrest claim and her state malicious prosecution claim share a common core of facts. See, e.g., Maher v. Gagne, 448 U.S. 122, 132 (1980) (awarding attorney's fees for a state law claim pendent to a substantial constitutional claim); Carreras v. City of Anaheim, (where a common nucleus of 768 F.2d 1039, 1050 (9th Cir. 1985) operative facts exists substantial federal claim and a pendent state claim, between a attorney's fees may be awarded pursuant to Section 1988). Plaintiff asserts Magistrate Coffin erred in holding a common core of facts exists prosecution claims. between Obj . to her false Findings and arrest and malicious Recommendation 2. In support of her malicious prosecution claim, plaintiff alleged the Burtons "pushed the Deschutes County District Attorney to charge someone" and "pushed for prosecution of [plaintiff] with no reason to believe she had done anything to deserve prosecution." Compl. 55, 57. 'J['J[ In support of her false arrest claim, plaintiff alleged defendants Kaber and Gaspard "refused to investigate whether the facts admitted to by [p]laintiff could have caused the injuries they sought to blame on [p]laintiff" and were "more interested in pacifying the Burton[s than] they were interested in pursuing the truth." Id. at Page 3 - ORDER 'J[ 63. The complaint confirms Magistrate Coffin's conclusion: plaintiff's claims for false arrest and malicious prosecution arise out of a common core of facts because both claims involve facts leading up to and motivating the prosecution of plaintiff. Plaintiff further objects to Magistrate Coffin's award because, though plaintiff "could have amended her claim," she was unable to do so due to "the emotional [p] laintiff, and her own personality, damage [which] inflicted on prevented her from being able to see the matter through to the end." Obj. to Findings and Recommendation deciding not to 2. amend Plaintiff's her subjective defamation claim motivation is irrelevant for to determining whether the Burtons are entitled to attorney's fees in connection with the malicious prosecution claim. I have given the file of this case a de novo review. I ADOPT Magistrate Coffin's Findings and Recommendation (doc. 41) allowing defendants John and Caren Burton's motion for attorney's fees (doc. 38) in the amount of $4,185. Plaintiff's request of this Court to deny defendants' petition for attorney's fees is DENIED. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated this December 2015. Ann Aiken United States District Judge Page 4 - ORDER

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