Fletcher v. Jasper Police Department

Filing 19

MEMORANDUM ORDER OVERRULING OBJECTIONS AND ADOPTING THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION that plaintiff's claims of excessive force are clearly barred by the statute of limitations. Signed by Judge Marcia A. Crone on 11/19/12. (mrp, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

LEONA ANN FLETCHER,
Plaintiff,
versus
JASPER POLICE DEPARTMENT, et al.,
Defendants.

EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:09-CV-977

MEMORANDUM ORDER OVERRULING OBJECTIONS AND ADOPTING THE
MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Plaintiff, Leona Ann Fletcher, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, brings this lawsuit
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, against the following defendants: The Jasper Police Department,
Officer Connie Jordan, Officer Foster and Officer Pullan, all officers with the Jasper Police
Department.
The Court referred this matter to the Honorable Keith F. Giblin, United States Magistrate
Judge, at Beaumont, Texas, for consideration pursuant to applicable laws and orders of this Court.
The Magistrate Judge recommends plaintiff’s claims of false arrest/imprisonment and excessive
force should be dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
The Court has received and considered the Report and Recommendation of United States
Magistrate Judge filed pursuant to such referral, along with the record, and pleadings. Plaintiff
filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation. This requires a de novo
review of the objections in relation to the pleadings and the applicable law. See FED . R. CIV . P.
72(b).

After careful consideration, the Court finds plaintiff’s objections are without merit and are
overruled. As to plaintiff’s claims of false arrest/imprisonment, there is no cause of action for
false arrest under Section 1983 unless the arresting officer lacks probable cause. See Fields v. City
of South Houston, 922 F.2d 183, 189 (5th Cir. 1991). As the Magistrate Judge correctly
concluded, plaintiff concedes she was arrested pursuant to a warrant. Plaintiff, however, only
argues that she was innocent of the offense charged and does not challenge the validity of the
arrest warrant. Absent some argument the arresting officers lacked probable cause, plaintiff
cannot succeed on her false arrest/imprisonment claims. Id. Furthermore, plaintiff’s claims of
excessive force are clearly barred by the statute of limitations. Plaintiff’s claims accrued on or
about May 13, 2006 and June 16, 2006. However, plaintiff did not file the present lawsuit until
November 19, 2009, well over a year past the applicable two year statute of limitations. See
Burrell v. Newsome, 883 F.2d 416, 419 (5th Cir. 1989); Ali v. Higgs, 892 F.2d 438, 439 (5th Cir.
1990) (the applicable statute of limitations under Texas law is two years).
ORDER
Accordingly, the objections of the plaintiff are OVERRULED. The findings of fact and
conclusions of law of the Magistrate Judge are correct, and the report of the Magistrate Judge is
ADOPTED. A final judgment will be entered in this case in accordance with the Magistrate

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Judge’s recommendations.
SIGNED at Beaumont, Texas, this 7th day of September, 2004.
SIGNED at Beaumont, Texas, this 19th day of November, 2012.

________________________________________
MARCIA A. CRONE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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