Hunter v. Shelburne Police Department et al
Filing
69
ORDER granting 60 Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Chief Judge Christina Reiss on 9/19/2012. (pam)
U.S.DIST
t
DISTRICT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE
DISTRICT OF VERMONT
Fi
2012 SEP 19 PM 3: I 3
r{ljERK
t1
Frederick Hunter,
Plaintiff,
v.
Town of Shelburne, Shelburne
Police Department, Officer Bruce
Beuerlein, Officer Casco, Sergeant
Fortin,
Defendants.
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DEPUTY
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Case No. 5:1O-cv-206
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
(Doc. 60)
In this action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.c. § 1983, Plaintiff Frederick Hunter
alleges that in February 2009, officers ofthe Shelburne, Vermont Police Department
wrongfully removed him from his hotel room by use of excessive force, transported him
to state court, and restrained him in a chair for several hours. His Amended Complaint
asserts violations of his First, Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
Currently before the court is Defendants' motion for summary judgment. Mr. Hunter is
representing himself. All Defendants are represented by Nancy Sheahan, Esq.
I.
Mr. Hunter's Verified Allegations.
On February 3, 2009, Mr. Hunter checked into the North Star Motel in Shelburne,
Vermont. His initial Complaint claims that the following morning, he woke up and took
a bath. The Second Amended Complaint alleges that while he was getting dressed, police
entered his room, removed his eyeglasses, placed him in handcuffs, and transported him
by car to a courthouse in Burlington, Vermont.
Mr. Hunter claims that when he arrived at the courthouse, he was placed in a
restraint chair and a bag was put over his head. The Second Amended Complaint alleges
that "[t]he restraints wer[e] pulled so tight, blood flow was restricted in Plaintiff's arms
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and legs." (Doc. 30 at 5.) Despite crying out for help, Mr. Hunter allegedly remained in
the chair for six hours. He claims that medical records from the Vermont State Hospital
("VSH") will show that he was later provided medication for arm and leg pain.
Mr. Hunter's pleadings assert a wide range oflegal claims. He first contends that,
while at the courthouse, he was denied his First Amendment right to speak with friends
and family on the telephone. He further claims that over the course of two years he has
been harassed because "is a gay, black, Republican that is going to marry a man and
become a minister." Id. at 5. He alleges that he has been denied access to reading
material, that his legal paperwork was stolen, and that he has been denied the freedom to
express his political beliefs.
The Second Amended Complaint also asserts due process violations. Specifically,
Mr. Hunter alleges that he was not given notice of his "violations"; was "not allowed to
call witnesses when he was arrested"; was not taken before a judge after his arrest; and
was not provided adequate process before being taken to the VSH. Id. Mr. Hunter
further contends that use of the restraint chair violated his rights under the Eighth
Amendment; that Defendants violated his Fourth Amendment right to be free from an
unreasonable search and seizure; that Defendants failed to read him his Miranda rights;
and that Defendants both used excessive force and denied him medical care. Finally, he
asserts that at his subsequent criminal trial, a video introduced into evidence by the
prosecution was "a fake ... dubbed with the s[c]enery of the North Star Motel." Id. at 7.
II.
Defendants' Statement of Facts.
Defendants in this case are the Town of Shelburne and three Town police officers.
They present a different account of Mr. Hunter's arrest and detention. Defendants'
filings include the affidavit of Cathy Benway, who was employed as the front desk clerk
at the North Star Motel on the morning of February 4,2009. Ms. Benway attests that
while she was working at the front desk, "a man whom I did not recognize [later
identified as Mr. Hunter] came into the office and began screaming." (Doc. 60-5 at 2.)
Ms. Benway allegedly told the man to leave the office, but he instead came behind the
counter, pushed her, and "[a]t one point ... had [her] pinned to the floor." Id. at 3. Ms.
2
Benway's boyfriend, Winston Matot, arrived at the scene and "was able to pull Mr.
Hunter off of [her]." Id. Mr. Matot's affidavit states that "Mr. Hunter was extremely
belligerent and appeared to be intoxicated." (Doc. 60-6 at 2.)
Ms. Benway subsequently called the police. According to the sworn statement of
Officer Bruce Beuerlein, he and Sergeant Fortin were dispatched to the North Star Motel
after the police received a report of a guest causing a disturbance in the motel lobby .
When they arrived at the scene, a "visibl[y] upset" Ms. Benway described the alleged
attack. (Doc. 60-3 at 2.) She then instructed the police that she wanted Mr. Hunter to
leave the motel. The police also spoke with Mr. Matot, who corroborated Ms. Benway's
account.
The officers proceeded to Mr. Hunter's room, knocked on his door, and allege that
they could hear a male voice yelling inside. Mr. Hunter then allegedly opened the curtain
of the window next to the door. According to Officer Beuerlein's statement, Mr. Hunter
proceeded to yell at the officers "so forcibly that spittle and condensation could be seen
forming on the glass. Hunter looked very agitated; his behavior appeared menacing and
threatening in nature. He refused directions to open the door." Id. As the officers stood
by the door, "several guests stepped into the hallway in response to the noise coming
from Hunter's room." Id.
A third officer, Officer Casco, arrived at the motel, and the officers decided to
enter Mr. Hunter's room with a pass key obtained from the front desk "to investigate the
assault incident and in order to prevent a continuation of that crime." Id. Once in the
room, they ordered Mr. Hunter to the floor. Mr. Hunter again refused to comply, and
according to Officer Beuerlein, "was still standing between the two beds in the room
when he turned and appeared to be going toward some personal belongings located at the
head of one bed." Id. As a result ofthis behavior, "a Taser was deployed. The initial
impact of the Taser caused Hunter to fall backward to a sitting position on the bed." Id.
According to Officer Beuerlein's testimony at Mr. Hunter's criminal trial, the
police warned Mr. Hunter three times that the Taser would be used ifhe did not comply
3
with their orders. (Doc. 60-4 at 33.)1 After the Taser was allegedly deployed, probes
from the Taser came dislodged, and Mr. Hunter refused commands to lower himself to
the floor. The officers then decided to take him into physical custody. Id. at 36.
The police testified that Mr. Hunter vigorously resisted their efforts to restrain
him. Mr. Hunter conceded at trial that he had been non-compliant. Id. at 150 ("I do
passive resistance training .... 1 don't get up and walk. They got to carry me."). He
also testified that he was never tased.
After Mr. Hunter was removed from his room, it was allegedly difficult to place
"him into the back of [the police] cruiser. Again, he continued to resist." Id. at 38.
According to Officer Beuerlein's trial testimony, Mr. Hunter's resistance resulted "in
Sergeant Fortin having to go to the opposite side of the cruiser and actually pull Mr.
Hunter into the cruiser." Id. Sergeant Fortin and Officer Casco both testified that, while
being placed into the cruiser, Mr. Hunter kicked Officer Casco in the chest. Once in the
cruiser, Mr. Hunter allegedly "started kicking at the door and the back window" such that
the police were compelled to remove his shoes and place him in leg restraints. Id. at 98.
Officer Beuerlein and Sergeant Fortin proceeded to transport Mr. Hunter to the
Shelburne Police Department, where they allegedly placed him in a holding cell. Officer
Beuerlein's affidavit states that "[d]uring transport, Hunter continued to rant, expelling
spittle on several occasions. While at the Department, Hunter marked the window of the
holding cell with spittle." (Doc. 60-8 at 2.) Because of the continued spitting, a "spit
hood" was allegedly placed loosely over Mr. Hunter's head. Id. Officer Beuerlein
explains that "[a] spit hoot consists of a fabric mesh top with a cloth lower portion that
covers the mouth and is designed to prevent the transfer of an arrestee's bodily fluids to
the police while allowing the normal exchange of air and breathing." Id. at 3. The hood
1 Defendants rely upon prior trial testimony in their Statement of Undisputed Material Facts. It is unclear
whether the testimony given at Mr. Hunter's criminal trial is admissible, as it may constitute hearsay, see
Fed. R. Evid. 801, and the court lacks sufficient information to determine whether an exception applies
that would render it admissible. See Fed. R. Evid. 804(b)(1). At summary judgment, courts may only
consider admissible evidence. See Raskin v. Wyatt Co., 125 F.3d 55, 66 (2d Cir. 1997); Fed. R. Civ. P.
56(c)(4). Accordingly, the court refers to prior testimony only for the purpose of factual background, and
does not rely upon any assertions made in that testimony for purposes of ruling on the legal issues
presented by Defendants' summary judgment motion.
4
is secured by means of straps that extend from the front of the hood, under the detainee's
armpits, and through to loops on the back bottom of the hood. Officer Beuerlein avers
that, in Mr. Hunter's case, the hood was not tied down.
Officer Beuerlein and Sergeant Fortin subsequently transported Mr. Hunter to the
Chittenden County Courthouse in Burlington. During the drive, Mr. Hunter reportedly
slid the spit hood offhis face and continued to berate the officers. When they arrived at
the courthouse, Officers Beuerlein and Fortin transferred custody of Mr. Hunter to the
Chittenden County Sheriffs Department (the "Sheriffs Department"). Officer Beuerlein
confirms that the Sheriffs Department used a restraint chair to transport Mr. Hunter into
the courthouse, but attests that his personal involvement with Mr. Hunter ended once he
transferred custody to the Sheriffs Department. The Sheriffs Department later
transported Mr. Hunter to the VSH where he was held for thirty days.
Mr. Hunter was charged with resisting arrest and simple assault on a police
officer. At trial, a police cruiser dashboard video was introduced into evidence, allegedly
depicting portions of Mr. Hunter's arrest and transport. The three police officers
involved in the foregoing events testified. Mr. Hunter testified on his own behalf, denied
that any assault occurred, and claimed - as he does in this case - that the police entered
his room without cause, yelled at him, and handcuffed him. A jury convicted Mr. Hunter
on both counts, and the state court sentenced him to a term of six months to two years.
The conviction was affirmed on direct appeal. See State v. Hunter, 2011 WL 4976638
(Vt. Jan. 27, 2011) (unpublished Entry Order).
III.
Procedural Background.
Mr. Hunter filed his initial Complaint in this case on August 31, 2010. After
Defendant Shelburne Police Department moved to dismiss, Mr. Hunter filed an Amended
Complaint naming the Town of Shelburne as an additional Defendant. On May 2, 2011,
the court granted the motion to dismiss filed by the Shelburne Police Department and the
Town of Shelburne, but granted Mr. Hunter leave to amend his claims against the Town.
On June 3, 2011, Mr. Hunter filed his Second Amended Complaint. The Town again
5
moved to dismiss, and on November 14,2011, the court granted the motion and
dismissed the claims against the Town without prejudice.
Defendants, including the Town, filed the instant motion for summary judgment
on December 20,2011. On January 19,2012, Mr. Hunter responded with a filing in
which he asserted that he was attempting to obtain records from the defense attorney in
his criminal case, and that he could not respond to the summary judgment motion until
such files were obtained. Accordingly, he requested an enlargement of time in which to
oppose the summary judgment motion. The court discussed the enlargement of time at a
September 7,2011 hearing, and summarized the discussion in a recent Order as follows:
Mr. Hunter explained at the hearing that he is trying to obtain relevant
medical records, as well as legal files currently in the possession of his
former criminal defense attorney, Jasdeep Pannu, Esq. The court asked
counsel for Defendants to certify whether Defendants are in possession of
any of Mr. Hunter's medical records, and counsel for Defendants offered to
assist Mr. Hunter with drafting appropriate releases.
Defendants sent a certification to Mr. Hunter on September 15, 2011.
(Doc. 48.) Defendants have also produced medical records received from
the [VSH] and the Vermont Department of Corrections. (Docs. 65-3, 65
4.) Mr. Hunter now asserts that he never received releases from
Defendants' counsel, and that in addition to a release for Attorney Pannu's
records, he requires releases for medical records from the Veterans
Administration and Baptist Hospital. (Doc. 57.)
(Doc. 68 at 7.)
Defendants did not oppose the motion for enlargement of time, but suggested that
there had been a "misunderstanding" as to their obligation to provide Mr. Hunter with a
release. (Doc. 65 at 1.) On May 14,2012, the court allowed Mr. Hunter "additional time
in which to obtain the required documentation and respond to Defendants' summary
judgment motion." (Doc. 68 at 7.) The court further "invited," but did not require,
Defendants' counsel to assist Mr. Hunter with drafting releases "so that the parties may
readily obtain all discoverable medical and legal documents." ld. The court ordered Mr.
Hunter to respond to the pending summary judgment motion on or before June 29, 2012.
ld at 8. Over sixty days have passed since that deadline expired, and the court has not
6
received a summary judgment opposition from Mr. Hunter, a statement of disputed facts,
or a request for a further enlargement of time.
IV.
Conclusions of Law and Analysis.
A.
Summary Judgment Standard.
On a motion for summary judgment the court must construe the properly disputed
facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, see Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S.
372,378 (2007), and may grant summary judgment only where "there is no genuine issue
as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter oflaw." Fed. R.
Civ. P. 56(a); see 0 'Hara v. Nat 'I Union Fire Ins. Co. ofPittsburgh, PA, 642 F Jd 110,
116 (2d Cir. 2011) ("Summary judgment is appropriate only if, after drawing all
permissible factual inferences in favor of the non-moving party, there is no genuine issue
of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law."). The
moving party bears the burden of demonstrating that no genuine issue exists as to any
material fact, see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317,323-25 (1986), and the court
must resolve all ambiguities and draw all inferences in favor of the non-moving party.
See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); Holcomb v. Iona Coli.,
521 F.3d 130, 137 (2d Cir. 2008).
Mr. Hunter has not opposed the merits of Defendants' summary judgment motion.
Even though the motion has not been opposed, the court may not grant summary
judgment unless it determines, given the record before it, that Defendants are entitled to
judgment as a matter oflaw. See Vermont Teddy Bear Co. v. 1-800 Beargram Co., 373
F.3d 241,242 (2d Cir. 2004); see also D.H. Blair & Co., Inc. v. Gottdiener, 462 FJd 95,
110 (2d Cir. 2006) ("Even unopposed motions for summary judgment must fail where the
undisputed facts fail to show that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law.") (internal quotation marks omitted).
B.
The Scope of Plaintifrs Constitutional Claims.
Although the Second Amended Complaint sets forth a wide range of constitutional
claims, Defendants contend they were involved in only some of the events alleged in Mr.
Hunter's pleadings. It is undisputed that Sergeant Fortin and Officers Beuerlein and
7
Casco were personally involved in Mr. Hunter's arrest at the North Star Motel. Officer
Casco attests that he returned to other duties once Mr. Hunter was secured in the patrol
car. Officer Beuerlein and Sergeant Fortin transported Mr. Hunter to the Shelbl.lrne
Police Department, and then to the courthouse. According to Defendants, the Sheriffs
Department took control of Mr. Hunter once he arrived at the courthouse, and it was there
that he was allegedly placed in a restraint chair.
Where a non-movant fails to respond to a motion for summary judgment, a district
court has no duty to perform an independent review of the factual record to find proof of
a factual dispute. See Amnesty Am. v. Town ofW. Hartford, 288 F.3d 467,470 (2d Cir.
2002). Here, however, in an abundance of caution, the court will review the entire
record. Part of that record is Mr. Hunter's verified Second Amended Complaint. See
Patterson v. Cnty. ofOneida, NY., 375 F.3d 206,219 (2d Cir. 2004) ("a verified pleading
... has the effect of an affidavit and may be relied upon to oppose summary judgment").
The Second Amended Complaint alleges that certain events took place - such as
Mr. Hunter's placement in a restraint chair for several hours - without specifically
identifying the Shelburne Police officers as those responsible for the infringement upon
Mr. Hunter's freedom of movement. Although a verified complaint may be treated as an
affidavit for summary judgment purposes, its assertions must go beyond vague and
conclusory claims. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e) (requiring that non-movant "set forth
specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial"); Patterson, 375 F.3d at 219
("Nor is a genuine issue created merely by the presentation of assertions [in an affidavit]
that are conclusory."); Applegate v. Top Assoc., Inc., 425 F.2d 92, 97 (2d Cir. 1970)
(stating that the purpose of Rule 56[e] is to "prevent the exchange of affidavits on a
motion for summary judgment from degenerating into mere elaboration of conclusory
pleadings"). Moreover, even if an affidavit is non-conclusory,
it may be insufficient to create a factual issue where it possesses the
following two characteristics: (1) it constitutes almost the sole or exclusive
basis for a disputed issue of fact in the case (or, expressed differently, it is
largely unsubstantiated by any other direct evidence); and (2) it is so
lacking in credibility that, even after drawing all inferences in the light
8
most favorable to the non-movant, no reasonable jury could find for the
non-movant because the testimony is incomplete and/or replete with
inconsistencies and improbabilities.
Cusamano v. Sobek, 604 F. Supp. 2d 416,456 (N.D.N.Y. 2009) (citing Jeffreys v. City of
New York, 426 F.3d 549, 554-55 (2d Cir. 2005».
Here, Defendants have offered a series of statements and affidavits that are both
specific and consistent. One issue of material fact that is clearly asserted by Defendants
is that they were not personally involved with Mr. Hunter's custody after he was
delivered to the courthouse in Burlington. Contrasting Defendants' statements with Mr.
Hunter's vague allegations, the court finds that Defendants' involvement began with Mr.
Hunter's arrest and transport, and concluded when the Sheriffs Department took custody
of Mr. Hunter at the courthouse. As a result, only the following claims may be deemed to
arise out of Defendants' actions or omission: (1) excessive force; (2) unreasonable search
and seizure; (3) failure to read Miranda rights; and (4) denial of medical care.
C.
2
Excessive Force Claim.
Defendants contend that Mr. Hunter's excessive force claim is barred because "it
necessarily implies the invalidity of his criminal conviction or sentence." (Doc. 60-1 at
10.) Defendants' argument relies upon the U.S. Supreme Court's holding in Heck v.
Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486 (1994). In Heck, the Court held that a plaintiff in state
custody seeking relief under § 1983 for "harm caused by actions whose unlawfulness
would render a conviction or sentence invalid ... must prove" that the conviction has
been reversed, expunged, declared invalid, or called into question by a writ of habeas
2 Mr. Hunter alleges that "[t]he Shelburne trained police officers used a CD from a January 16,2005
traffic stop in Pensacola" that was "dubbed with the s[c]enery of the North Star Motel." (Doc. 30 at 7.)
Defendants assert that the video and audio recordings used at Mr. Hunter's trial were from the dashboard
video and sound system in a Shelburne Police Department cruiser, and were not altered in any way.
(Doc. 60-8 at 3); (Doc. 60-9 at 2-3.) The court also notes that defense counsel did not contest the
authenticity of these recordings. (Doc. 60-12 at 2.) Because no reasonable juror could find that the police
"dubbed" scenes from the motel onto a video from Mr. Hunter's arrest in Florida, the court grants
summary judgment in favor of Defendants on that claim. See Scott, 550 U.S. at 380 ("[w]hen opposing
parties tell two different stories, one of which is blatantly contradicted by the record, so that no reasonable
jury could believe it, a court should not adopt that version of the facts for purposes of ruling on a motion
for summary judgment"); Jeffreys, 426 FJd at 555 (holding that district courts can issue summary
judgment where "the facts alleged are so contradictory that doubt is cast upon their plausibility").
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corpus. Id. If a judgment in favor of the plaintiff "would necessarily imply the invalidity
of his conviction ... the complaint must be dismissed." Id. at 487. However, if"the
district court determines that the plaintiffs action, even if successful, will not
demonstrate the invalidity of any outstanding criminal judgment against the plaintiff, the
action should be allowed to proceed." Id.; see also McKithen v. Brown, 481 FJd 89, 102
(2d Cir. 2007) (holding that Heck turns on "whether a prisoner's victory in a § 1983 suit
would necessarily demonstrate the invalidity of his conviction or sentence; that a
prisoner's success might be merely helpful or potentially demonstrative of illegal
confinement is, under this standard, irrelevant").
Application of the Heck doctrine thus "requires the court to examine the
relationship between the criminal conviction and each of the plaintiffs civil claims."
Jackson v. Suffolk Cty. Homicide Bureau, 135 FJd 254,257 (2d Cir. 1998). Typically,
excessive force claims are not barred by Heck, as they often "lack[] the requisite
relationship to the conviction." Id.; see, e.g., MacLeod v. Town
0/ Brattleboro, 2012 WL
1928656, at *4 (D. Vt. May 25,2012) (holding that excessive force claim would not
negate lawfulness of arrest "or negate the unlawfulness of Plaintiffs attempt to resist
arrest" and was therefore not barred by Heck); Jeanty v. County a/Orange, 379 F. Supp.
2d 533,543 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) (a "judgment in favor of plaintiff on his § 1983 [excessive
force] action would not establish the invalidity of his conviction for Assault in the Third
Degree" under Heck); Sales v. Barizone, 2004 WL 2781752, at *13-14 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 2,
2004) ("[I]t is well established tha[t] an excessive force claim does not usually bear the
requisite relationship under Heck to mandate its dismissal.") (internal quotations and
citations omitted).
Mr. Hunter was convicted of resisting arrest and simple assault on a police officer.
Under Vermont law, the offense of resisting arrest is defined as "[a] person who
intentionally attempts to prevent a lawful arrest on himself or herself, which is being
effected or attempted by a law enforcement officer, when it would reasonably appear that
the latter is a law enforcement officer." 13 V.S.A. § 3017. Defendants argue that Heck
applies to Mr. Hunter's conviction for resisting arrest because "Plaintiff would have to
10
negate an element of the offense, namely, that his arrest was lawful." (Doc. 60-1 at 12.)
The Second Circuit has held, however, that "a lawful arrest ... may be accompanied by
excessive force," and that "the jury's return of a guilty verdict in state court for resisting
arrest ... does not necessarily preclude a subsequent claim of excessive force in federal
court." Sullivan v. Gagnier, 225 F.3d 161, 166 (2d Cir. 2000).
Defendants also note that in the state court criminal trial, Mr. Hunter's attorney
argued self-defense. Specifically, defense counsel argued that the police used excessive
force, and that this use of force justified Mr. Hunter's physical response. Defendants
contend that in order for this argument to have succeeded, the jury would have had to
find that the police did, in fact, use excessive force. Because the argument did not
succeed, Defendants argue that the jury rejected Mr. Hunter's claim of excessive force,
and that a different conclusion here would invalidate his conviction.
In Tracy v. Freshwater, 623 F.3d 90, 100 (2d Cir. 2010), the defendants argued
that a civil excessive force claim was collaterally estopped by a prior criminal
proceeding. The Second Circuit disagreed, but noted that such an argument could have
merit if based upon a different record. Specifically, the Second Circuit noted that while
the jury in Tracy had not been
asked to necessarily decide the factual and legal issues underlying
[plaintiffs] remaining excessive force claim, we do not foreclose the
possibility that a careful review of the criminal trial record would establish
otherwise. For example, assertion of a particular affirmative defense or use
of a special verdict form might indeed make clear that a criminal jury
necessarily decided factual and legal issues such as those remaining in this
case.
623 F.3d at 100.
In Mr. Hunter's case, defense counsel argued in his closing that when police "use
excessive force is when you are allowed to resist." (Doc. 60-4 at 183.) In rebuttal, the
prosecution argued that the use of "force was appropriate for the situation that the police
officers were facing at that point." Id. at 191. After closing arguments, the judge
instructed jurors that "[ a] person may use force to resist an arrest only if the police
11
employ excessive force. Excessive force is force which is greater than that which is
objectively reasonable in light of the facts and circumstances confronting the officers."
Id. at 202.
The trial judge's instruction to the jury echoed the federal standard for an
excessive force claim. The Fourth Amendment prohibits the use of excessive force by a
police officer in the course of effecting an arrest. See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386,
395 (1989). The test for whether the force used was excessive "'is one of objective
reasonableness.'" Bryant v. City o/New York, 404 F.3d 128, 136 (2d Cir. 2005) (quoting
Graham, 490 U.S. at 399). Consequently, courts commonly consider the circumstances
confronting the officers at the time, including: (1) the nature and severity of the crime
leading to the arrest, (2) whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of
the officer or others, and (3) whether the suspect was actively resisting arrest or
attempting to evade arrest by flight. Graham, 490 U.S. at 396.
Although it is not clear whether the state court jury considered each of the Graham
factors, the jury was plainly instructed that excessive force is viewed objectively, and
requires an examination of the "facts and circumstances confronting the officers." (Doc.
60-4 at 202.) Accordingly, the court finds that the state court jury addressed the question
of excessive force, was instructed regarding the appropriate standard, and decided that the
force used by Defendants was not excessive. The question of excessive force has
therefore been resolved, and consistent with the Second Circuit's ruling in Tracy, it
cannot be raised by Mr. Hunter in this case. 3
Moreover, Mr. Hunter asserted that his resistance to arrest was in self-defense.
According to the trial judge's instruction, a successful self-defense/excessive force
argument would have resulted in an acquittal on the charge of resisting arrest, and to
Federal courts give the same preclusive effect to a state court judgment as that judgment would receive
from a court within the state. Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Indus. Corp., 544 U.S. 280, 293 (2005).
Here, the requirements for collateral estoppel under Vermont law have been met, as the issue of excessive
force was resolved by a final judgment on the merits, there was a full and fair opportunity to litigate the
question in the prior action, and it is fair to apply preclusion in this case. See Lay v. Pettengill, 38 AJd
1139, 1148 (Vt. 2011). Furthermore, the Vermont Supreme Court has "recognized that collateral estoppel
can apply between criminal and civil cases." Id.
3
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accept such an argument now would necessarily invalidate his conviction. Cj, Hudson v.
Hughes, 98 F.3d 868,873 (5th Cir. 1996) ("Because self~defense is a justification defense
to the crime of battery of an officer, [plaintiffs] claim that [defendants] used excessive
force while apprehending him, ifproved, necessarily would imply the invalidity of his
arrest and conviction for battery of an officer."). Mr. Hunter has not shown that his
conviction for resisting arrest has been invalidated or otherwise called into question by
the state courts. See Heck, 512 U.S. at 486. The court therefore finds that Mr. Hunter's
excessive force claim is barred by both Heck and claim preclusion, and is therefore
DISMISSED.
D.
Unreasonable Search and Seizure Claim.
Defendants also argue that Mr. Hunter's claim of an unlawful search and seizure
fails on the merits for two reasons. First, the officers' entry into Mr. Hunter's hotel room
was lawful because the motel had terminated his rental period. And second, the entry
into Mr. Hunter's room was justified by probable cause and exigent circumstances.
1.
Reasonable Expectation of Privacy.
To prevail on an unreasonable search claim under the Fourth Amendment, a
plaintiff must show that he had a legitimate expectation of privacy in the place or item
searched. See Rawlings v. Kentucky, 448 U.S. 98,104 (1980). In general, individuals
have an expectation of privacy in their hotel rooms. See Stoner v. California, 376 U.S.
483,490 (1964). Nonetheless, the Second Circuit has held that "when a hotel guest's
rental period has expired or been lawfully terminated, the guest does not have a
legitimate expectation of privacy in the hotel room." United States v. Rahme, 813 F.2d
31, 34 (2d Cir. 1987) (citations omitted); see also United States v. Rambo, 789 F .2d 1289,
1295-96 (8th Cir. 1986) (no Fourth Amendment protection where guest was asked by
police, acting at request of hotel manager, to leave hotel because of his disorderly
behavior). Moreover, as the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals explained, "[d]isruptive,
unauthorized conduct in a hotel room invites intervention from management and
termination of the rental agreement. Thus, an individual 'cannot assert an expectation of
being free from police intrusion upon his solitude and privacy in a place from which he
13
has been justifiably expelled. '" United States v. Molsbarger, 551 F.3 d 809, 811 (8th Cir.
2009) (quoting Rambo, 789 F.2d at 1296).
Here, the officers were informed by the desk clerk that there had been an attack,
and that she wanted the attacker to leave. Although Hunter denies the attack, the relevant
inquiry under the Fourth Amendment is whether the officers acted reasonably based upon
the available objective facts. See generally Maryland v. Garrison, 480 U.S. 79, 88
(1987) (search of wrong apartment was not unreasonable given "objective facts available
to the officers at the time"); Scott v. United States, 436 U.S. 128, 137 (1978) ("[A]lmost
without exception in evaluating alleged violations of the Fourth Amendment the Court
has first undertaken an objective assessment of an officer's actions in light of the facts
and circumstances then known to him."); see also Hill v. Carroll County, Miss., 587 F.3d
230,240 (5th Cir. 2009) ("[W]hen reviewing a grant of summary judgment in the Fourth
Amendment context, after first construing disputed historical facts in favor of the non
movant, the court must then ask how a reasonable officer would have perceived those
historical facts.").
There is nothing in the record to suggest that the officers should have doubted the
credibility of either Ms. Benway or Mr. Matot. The court therefore finds that the police
reasonably believed Mr. Hunter had been justifiably evicted. Correspondingly, the
officers reasonably believed their actions were lawful because, based upon the
information provided to them, Mr. Hunter no longer had a reasonable expectation of
privacy in his motel room. See, e.g, Rambo, 789 F.2d at 1296; Molsbarger, 551 F.3d at
812 ("Any right Molsbarger had to be free of government intrusion into the room ended
when the hotel manager, properly exercising his authority, decided to evict the unruly
guests and asked the police to help him do so."); Young v. Harrison, 284 F.3d 863, 869
(8th Cir. 2002) (noting that case law made it "painfully clear" that hotel guest who was
justifiably evicted did not have expectation of being free from police intrusion). Without
a reasonable expectation of privacy, Mr. Hunter was not entitled to Fourth Amendment
protection, and the actions of the officers did not violate his rights. Defendants are
therefore entitled to summary judgment on Mr. Hunter's Fourth Amendment claim.
14
2.
Probable Cause and Exigent Circumstances.
In the alternative, Defendants contend that the warrantless entry into Mr. Hunter's
room was justified by "probable cause plus exigent circumstances." (Doc. 60-1 at 19.)
Assuming a legitimate expectation of privacy, warrantless entries by law enforcement
officers into residences, including hotel rooms, are presumptively unreasonable under the
Fourth Amendment. See Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 586 (1980); Stoner, 376
U.S. at 490. An exception to this presumption is where the officers have probable cause,
and exigent circumstances justify entry into the room. See Kirk v. Louisiana, 536 U.S.
635,638 (2002).
"Probable cause to arrest exists when the officers have knowledge or reasonably
trustworthy information of facts and circumstances that are sufficient to warrant a person
of reasonable caution in the belief that the person to be arrested has committed or is
committing a crime." Weyant v. Okst, 101 F.3d 845, 852 (2d Cir. 1996); see also Stevens
v. City o/New York, 2012 WL 3000677, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. July 17,2012). "The question
of whether or not probable cause existed may be determinable as a matter of law if there
is no dispute as to the pertinent events and the knowledge of the officers." Weyant, 101
F.3d at 852. The officers in this case received what they reasonably believed to be two
credible reports of an assault, and therefore had probable cause to arrest. See Curley v.
Vill. o/Suffern, 268 F.3d 65, 70 (2d Cir. 2001) ("[w]hen information is received from a
putative victim or an eyewitness, probable cause exists unless the circumstances raise
doubt as to the person's veracity").
The presence of exigent circumstances presents a closer question. The test to
determine exigent circumstances "is an objective one that turns on ... the totality of
circumstances confronting law enforcement agents in the particular case." See United
States v. MacDonald, 916 F.2d 766, 769 (2d Cir. 1990) (en banc). More specifically, the
question is whether "'the facts, as they appeared at the moment of entry, would lead a
reasonable, experienced officer, to believe that there was an urgent need to render aid or
take action.'" United States v. Simmons, 661 F.3d 151, 157 (2d Cir. 2011) (quoting
15
United States v. Klump, 536 F.3d 113, 117-18 (2d Cir. 2008)). The Second Circuit has
adopted a list of six factors to determine whether there were exigent circumstances:
(1) the gravity or violent nature of the offense with which the suspect is to
be charged; (2) whether the suspect "is reasonably believed to be armed";
(3) "a clear showing of probable cause ... to believe that the suspect
committed the crime"; (4) "strong reason to believe that the suspect is in
the premises being entered"; (5) "a likelihood that the suspect will escape if
not swiftly apprehended"; and (6) the peaceful circumstances of the entry.
United States v. Reed, 572 F.2d 412,424 (2d Cir. 1978) (quoting Dorman v. United
States, 435 F.2d 385, 392-93 (D.C. Cir. 1970)). The Second Circuit has also
"consistently emphasized that [these] factors are intended not as an exhaustive canon, but
as an illustrative sampling of the kinds of facts to be taken into account. Sometimes the
presence of a solitary factor suffices, alternatively, a combination of several."
MacDonald, 916 F.2d at 770.
Here, the officers were presented with a report of a violent offense, coupled with a
clear allegation, from both the victim and an eyewitness, that Mr. Hunter had committed
the crime. The police had strong reason to believe that Mr. Hunter was still in his motel
room, and that he was likely intoxicated. They accomplished a peaceful entry by means
of a pass key obtained from the front desk, and by taking Mr. Hunter into custody,
potentially avoided further harm to Ms. Benway and others at the motel. See, e.g.,
Rambo, 789 F.2d at 1291 (holding that plaintiffs appearance "gave the officers
reasonable grounds to conclude that ... he [would] continue to engage in conduct similar
to that which gave rise to the initial complaint"). There was no suggestion that Mr.
Hunter was armed, and it is not clear whether he was likely to escape. See Reed, 572
F.2d at 424.
The ultimate question is whether there was an "urgent need" to take Mr. Hunter
into custody before obtaining a warrant. See MacDonald, 916 F.2d at 769; see also
Kentucky v. King, 131 S. Ct. 1849, 1862 (2011) ("Any warrantless entry based on exigent
circumstances must, of course, be supported by genuine exigency."); Klump, 536 F.3d at
117-18 ("The core question is whether ... there was an 'urgent need to render aid or take
16
action.''') (citation omitted). Here, the police arrived at the motel and were told of an
aggressive and possibly intoxicated motel guest who had assaulted the front desk clerk.
The guest was still on the premises, and was believed to have gone back to his room
immediately prior to the officers' arrival. In his police report, Officer Beuerlein
explained that the police decided to "remove Hunter from the room at the request of the
desk clerk and to investigate the assault incident in order to prevent a continuation of the
crime." (Doc. 60-3 at 2.)
Viewing the facts in a light most favorable to Mr. Hunter, a rational jury would
likely find that the police were justified in entering his room and taking him into
immediate custody. The court need not decide this precise question, however, since even
assuming that a rational juror could find in favor of Mr. Hunter on his constitutional
claim, Defendants are nonetheless entitled to qualified immunity. A government official
is entitled to qualified immunity "if reasonable officers could disagree as to whether
exigent circumstances were present." Loria v. Gorman, 306 F.3d 1271, 1287 (2d Cir.
2002) (citing Koch v. Town o/Brattleboro, Vt., 287 F.3d 162, 169 (2d Cir. 2002) (holding
that a grant of summary judgment based on qualified immunity "was appropriate because
the officers reasonably believed that exigent circumstances justified their entry")).
Accordingly, the officers are entitled to qualified immunity on the unlawful entry claim if
they had a reasonable belief that their entry was justified by exigent circumstances, "even
if that belief was mistaken." Loria, 306 F.3d at 1282.
More specifically, qualified immunity protects police officers acting in their
official capacities from liability for damages "unless their actions violate clearly
established rights of which an objectively reasonable official would have known."
Thomas v. Roach, 165 F.3d 137, 142 (2d Cir. 1999); see also Martinez v. Simonetti, 202
F.3d 625, 633-34 (2d Cir. 2000). In analyzing claims of qualified immunity, a court must
assess: (1) "whether the facts that a plaintiff has ... shown make out a violation ofa
constitutional right"; and (2) "whether the right at issue was clearly established at the
time of defendant's alleged misconduct." Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231 (2009)
17
(citing Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194,201 (2001)). The court may address either prong
first in light of the circumstances of each case. Id. at 236.
"To be clearly established, a right must be sufficiently clear that every reasonable
official would have understood that what he is doing violates that right." Reichle v.
Howards, 132 S. Ct. 2088, 2093 (2012) (internal quotation marks and brackets omitted).
"This 'clearly established' standard protects the balance between vindication of
constitutional rights and government officials' effective performance of their duties by
ensuring that officials can reasonably anticipate when their conduct may give rise to
liability for damages." Id. (internal quotation marks and ellipsis omitted). When
determining whether a right is clearly established, this court looks to the law of the
Supreme Court and the Second Circuit at the time of the defendant's actions. Huminski
v. Corsones, 396 F.3d 53,88 (2d Cir. 2005) (citing Anderson v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635,
640 (1987)). At summary judgment, a "defendant is entitled to qualified immunity only
if he can show that, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff, no
reasonable jury could conclude that the defendant acted unreasonably in light of the
clearly established law." Ford v. Moore, 237 F.3d 156, 162 (2d Cir. 2001).
Here, the court finds that, assuming Mr. Hunter had an expectation of privacy in
the motel room notwithstanding his eviction, the officers are entitled to qualified
immunity for their entry. As noted above, the facts presented to the police were that an
agitated, violent, and possibly intoxicated man had just fled down the hallway after
allegedly assaulting the front desk clerk. In the words of Officer Beuerlein, entry was
required, in part, to "prevent a continuation of the crime." (Doc. 60-3 at 2.) As Officer
Beuerlein's statement suggests, this was not simply a case of the police following a crime
suspect to his place of abode with no further threat of immediate harm or violence.
Indeed, the Second Circuit has held that while probable cause and the presence of the
suspect are "important predicates" to a finding of exigent circumstances, they do not
suffice where "the crime involved is minor and there is no apparent potential for
violence." Loria, 306 F.3d at 1287. Here, not only was officer safety at issue, but
Officer Beuerlein's statement attests that there were additional guests standing outside
18
Mr. Hunter's room, as well as hotel staff, who could have become targets of his alleged
aggressions. (Doc. 60-3 at 2.); see United States v. Titemore, 335 F. Supp. 2d 502, 506
(D. Vt. 2004) ("A warrantless entry does not violate the Fourth Amendment if
circumstances suggest a threat to the safety of the general public or police officers."). In
light of these undisputed facts, and the prevailing case law, no reasonable juror could find
that the officers acted unreasonably in light of "clearly established statutory or
constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known." Harlow v.
Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982)). Defendants are therefore entitled to summary
judgment on Mr. Hunter's Fourth Amendment claim.4
E.
Failure to Read Miranda Warning.
The Amended Complaint alleges that "at no time did the arresting officers read
Plaintiff his [Miranda] Rights." (Doc. 30 at 4.) To the extent that this allegation is
intended to be an affirmative claim for relief, it is barred as a matter of law. It is well
settled that a civil claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cannot stand solely on the basis of an
alleged failure to administer Miranda warnings. Deshawn E. by Charlotte E. v. Sajir,
156 F.3d 340,346 (2d Cir. 1998) ("[P]laintiffs cannot base a § 1983 claim solely on a law
enforcement officer's failure to administer Miranda warnings."); Neighbour v. Covert, 68
F.3d 1508,1510-11 (2d Cir. 1995) ("[E]ven if we were to assume that [the plaintiffs]
Miranda rights had been violated, that violation, standing alone, would not form a basis
for liability under § 1983."). "Miranda warnings are a procedural safeguard rather than a
right explicitly stated in the Fifth Amendment. The remedy for a Miranda violation is the
exclusion from evidence of any ensuing self-incriminating statements[,]" rather than civil
liability under § 1983. Neighbour, 68 F.3d at 1510 (internal citation omitted).
Accordingly, Mr. Hunter was entitled to move for suppression of his statements in a
criminal case on the basis of the alleged Miranda violation, but that violation creates no
4 Any claim that Defendants were motivated by discriminatory animus due to Mr. Hunter's political
views, religious affiliations, or sexual orientation does not enter into the Fourth Amendment's objective
reasonableness analysis. See Graham, 490 U.S. at 397 ("the question is whether the officers' actions are
'objectively reasonable' in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them, without regard to their
underlying intent or motivation") (citing Scott, 436 U.S. at 137-39).
19
basis for liability in a civil case. Defendants are therefore entitled to summary judgment
on Mr. Hunter's Miranda claim.
F.
Deliberate Indifference to Mr. Hunter's Medical Needs.
The Second Amended Complaint alleges that "[t]he officers made no attempt to
get Plaintiff any medical care; even though, they claim to have used physical force and a
tazer." (Doc. 30 at 5.) At the time of the events set forth his pleadings, Mr. Hunter was a
pretrial detainee. The Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment dictates that a
pretrial detainee may not be punished in a cruel and unusual manner. Bell v. Wolfish, 441
U.S. 520, 536-37 (1979). Thus, in the context of a claim regarding the medical needs of a
state pretrial detainee, the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment "requires no
more" than the Eighth Amendment would in the case of a convicted prisoner. Caiazzo v.
Koreman, 581 F.3d 63, 70 (2d Cir. 2009).
The Eighth Amendment standard requires deliberate indifference to serious
medical needs. See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976). In order to succeed on
such a claim, a plaintiff must provide evidence of sufficiently harmful acts or omissions,
as well as intent to either deny or unreasonably delay access to needed medical care or
the wanton infliction of unnecessary pain. Id. at 104-06. Thus, there are both subjective
and objective components to the deliberate indifference standard. See Hathaway v.
Coughlin, 37 F.3d 63,66 (2d Cir. 1994). Objectively, the alleged deprivation must be
"sufficiently serious." Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991). Subjectively, the
defendant must have been actually aware of a substantial risk that the inmate would
suffer serious harm as a result of his actions or inactions. See Salah uddin v. Goard, 467
F.3d 263,279-80 (2d Cir. 2006). The fact that an official did not alleviate a significant
risk that he should have, but did not perceive does not constitute deliberate indifference.
See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825,834,838 (1994).
In the instant case, Defendants concede that they used physical force, including a
Taser. Notwithstanding their admitted use of force, their affidavits state that Mr. Hunter
did not have any apparent injuries after his arrest. Nor did he notify them of injuries or
request medical care. Mr. Hunter has not countered these assertions of fact.
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The court has allowed Mr. Hunter an opportunity to collect and present medical
evidence of physical harm. No such records have been submitted. As a result, the
undisputed record fails to show either sufficiently serious harm or deliberate indifference
by the officers named in this case. Defendants are therefore entitled to judgment as a
matter oflaw on Mr. Hunter's deliberate indifference to medical needs claim.
Conclusion
For the reasons set forth above, Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Doc.
60) is GRANTED and this case is DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED.
'Jh
Dated at Rutland, in the District of Vermont, this ~ day of September, 2012.
C istina Reiss, Chief Judge
United States District Court
21
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