Dent v. Montgomery County Police Department et al, No. 8:2008cv00886 - Document 48 (D. Md. 2010)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Chief Judge Deborah K. Chasanow on 9/17/10. (sat, Chambers)
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Dent v. Montgomery County Police Department et al Doc. 48 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND : MELISSA DENT : v. : Civil Action No. DKC 08-0886 : MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, et al. : MEMORANDUM OPINION Presently pending and reading for review in this civil rights case are: (1) a motion for summary judgment filed by Defendants Montgomery County Police Department, et al. (Paper 35) and (2) a motion to modify the scheduling order and extend time to respond (Paper 39). to Defendants’ motion for summary judgment The issues have been fully briefed and the court now rules pursuant to Local Rule 105.6, no hearing being deemed necessary. For the reasons that follow, Defendants’ motion for summary judgment will be granted in part and denied in part and Plaintiff’s motion to modify the scheduling order will be denied. I. Background A. Facts The following facts are undisputed. when the Melissa events Dent relevant was a to this resident of case As of October 2006, occurred, Gaithersburg, Plaintiff Maryland. Dockets.Justia.com Defendants are the Montgomery County Police Department, Officer Adam Siegelbaum, Officer Kimberly Wilson, Officer John Mullaney, and Officer Jennifer Phoenix. On October 7, 2006, Officers Siegelbaum, Wilson, Mullaney, and Phoenix (the “Officers”) were dispatched to Plaintiff’s home after Plaintiff’s friend, emergency assistance. Sabrina Gorham, called 911 for (Paper 35, Ex. 1, Nos. 4, 7; Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 16; Paper 43, Ex. B ¶ 6). Ms. Gorham told the 911 dispatcher that Plaintiff had taken some pills and asked for an ambulance. (Id.). house first. Officer Siegelbaum arrived at Plaintiff’s (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 7; Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 17; Paper 43, Ex. B ¶ 9). Plaintiff, Ms. Gorham, and her husband Sean Gorham were inside Plaintiff’s home. Officer Siegelbaum questioned Plaintiff about whether she was attempting to commit suicide and how many pills she took. (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 7; Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 18-24; Paper 43, Ex. B ¶ 10-11, 17). Officer Siegelbaum told Plaintiff that she was going to be taken to the hospital. Plaintiff (Paper 35, Ex. 2, No. 4; Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 26). refused to be taken to the hospital. (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 4; Paper 35, Ex. 3, No. 4; Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 26). While this exchange took place, Officers Mullaney and Phoenix arrived, followed by Officer Wilson. Paper 43, Ex. B ¶¶ 15). (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 29-30; These Officers also asked Plaintiff and 2 her friends questions about whether Plaintiff was attempting to commit suicide and how many pills she took. (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 4; Paper 35, Ex. 2, No. 4; Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 29-30; Paper 43, Ex. B ¶¶ 15). Nearly all of the remaining facts are in dispute. The Officers report the following facts: The Officers were dispatched to Plaintiff’s house for a “suicide in progress.” (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 4, 7). The Officers observed beer and pill bottles lying around the home. (Id.). When the Officers arrived, they observed that Plaintiff had red, watery, bloodshot eyes and spoke in slurred speech. (Paper 35, Ex. 5, at 28). The Officers asked Plaintiff how many pills she had taken and she gave responding varying that responses she had taken (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 4). to the the question, “whole eventually fucking bottle.” The Officers pleaded with Plaintiff for her to go with them for an emergency evaluation petition at the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. 7; Ex. 2; Ex. 3, No. 4; Ex. 4). the Officers. agitated. Plaintiff (Paper 35, Ex. 1, Nos. 4, Plaintiff refused to go with became violent, combative, and (Paper 35, Ex. 1, Nos. 4, 7, 22; Ex. 2, Nos. 4, 22). The Officers were concerned about Plaintiff’s health and safety and thought she had ingested drugs and alcohol. 3 (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 7). occur. The Officers thought that an overdose effect might (Id.). The Officers told Plaintiff that they needed to handcuff her and take her to the hospital. Plaintiff swung (Paper 35, Ex. Plaintiff’s her 1, left lit No. arm cigarette 7). for (Paper 35, Ex. 2, No. 4). at Officer handcuffing, Officer Mullaney and Siegelbaum. tried Plaintiff resisted, kicked, and tried to bite the Officers. Ex. 1, No. 7; Ex. 2, No. 4). to stop resisting, calm with more grab actively (Paper 35, The Officers instructed Plaintiff down, and give them her (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 7; Ex. 2, No. 4; Ex. 3, No. 4). responded to physical resistance. (Paper No. 4; Ex. 2, No. 4; Ex. 3, No. 4; Ex. 4, No. 4). hands. Plaintiff 35, Ex. 1, The Officers warned Plaintiff that she needed to cooperate or she would be Tased. (Paper 35, Ex. 3, No. 4). Officer Mullaney attempted to handcuff Plaintiff’s left arm, Officer Siegelbaum attempted to handcuff her right arm, and Officer Wilson attempted to control Plaintiff’s kicking legs. No. 4; Ex. 3, No. 4). inner thigh No. 4; Ex. backup. and 1, bit No. (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 7; Ex. 2, Plaintiff kicked Officer Wilson in the Officer 16). Siegelbaum. Officer Wilson (Paper 35, Ex. 3, No. 4). 4 (Paper 35, Ex. 3, radioed for further Officer Siegelbaum and Officer Wilson Tased Plaintiff so that they could handcuff her. (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 4; Ex. 3, No. 4; Ex. 4, No. 4). Emergency fire and rescue personnel were on the scene, but it was decided that Plaintiff would be transported to the hospital in the police cage car because of Plaintiff’s violent behavior. (Paper 35, Ex. 2, No. 8; Ex. 3, No. 8). The Officers asked the fire and rescue personnel what symptoms of overdose they should watch for during transport and were warned about possible complaints of chest pain. (Paper 35, Ex. 2, No. 8). In route to the hospital, Plaintiff complained of chest pains. (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 8; Ex. 2, No. 8). Officer Siegelbaum pulled the car over at a fire station so Plaintiff could be transferred into an ambulance for the rest of the ride to the hospital. Mullaney Ex. 1, (Paper 35, Ex. 1, No. 18; Ex. 2, No. 18). rode No. emergency 8; with Ex. evaluation Plaintiff 2, No. in 8). petition alcohol level was ambulance. Officer and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. blood the Phoenix Plaintiff was (Paper 35, Ex. 8). .284. (Paper 35, Ex. Officer (Paper 35, prepared an evaluated at Plaintiff’s 9, at 7). Plaintiff was transferred to Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health, where she was admitted for three days. (Paper 35, Ex. 10). Plaintiff’s version of the facts is strikingly different. Plaintiff reports the following facts: 5 On October 7, 2006, Plaintiff drank approximately four beers during the day in the company of two of her neighbors. ¶ 3). (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 3, 4; Ex. C That day, Plaintiff’s children were at Ms. Gorham’s home. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 4; Ex. B ¶ 1). Plaintiff decided to go to bed early, and took one or two sleeping pills. ¶¶ 6-7). (Paper 43, Ex. A Before Plaintiff went to sleep, she called Ms. Gorham to make sure that everything was set for Plaintiff’s children to stay overnight at the Gorhams’ home. Ex. B ¶ children 2). Plaintiff told that she goodnight said Ms. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 9; Gorham and (Paper 43, Ex. A at ¶ 11; Ex. B ¶¶ 2-3). that Plaintiff sounded loopy or drowsy. Ex. B ¶ 3). to that tell she Plaintiff’s loved them. Ms. Gorham expressed (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 10; Plaintiff indicated that she was fine and that her sleeping pills made her drowsy. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 10). Shortly thereafter, Ms. and Mr. Gorham decided to check on Plaintiff to make sure that she was okay, so they let themselves into her house with a key. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 13; Ex. B ¶ 4). Plaintiff was in her room, and Ms. Gorham asked Plaintiff to come downstairs and sit on the couch; she did so and began to smoke cigarettes. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 14; Ex. B ¶ 5). were no beer or pill bottles lying around the home. Ex. A ¶ 37; Ex. B ¶¶ 12-13). for an ambulance. There (Paper 43, Ms. Gorham called 911 and asked (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 16; Ex. B ¶ 6). 6 Ms. Gorham told the dispatcher that Plaintiff sounded a bit loopy and that she had taken a couple of pills. (Id.). Ms. Gorham told the dispatcher that Plaintiff was not suicidal. Ex. B ¶ 7). (Id.). Ms. Gorham reported that Plaintiff seemed alert. The 911 dispatcher said that an ambulance would be sent to Plaintiff’s house. About (Paper (Paper 43, 43, repeatedly (Id.). ten minutes Ex. A ¶ questioned later, 17; Ex. Officer B Plaintiff ¶ and Plaintiff of attempting suicide. Ex. B ¶¶ 10-11, 17). 9). Ms. Siegelbaum Officer Gorham Siegelbaum and accused (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 18-24; Plaintiff told Officer Siegelbaum that she had taken one or two pills. (Id.). Officer Siegelbaum told Plaintiff that she would be taken to the hospital. Ex. A ¶ 26). arrived. (Paper 43, Plaintiff did not want to go to the hospital in the custody of a police officer. (Id.). Officer Siegelbaum continued to tell Plaintiff that she had attempted suicide and question her about the number of pills she took. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 18-24; Ex. B ¶¶ 10-11, 17-18). The other Officers arrived and questioned Plaintiff in an aggressive and hostile manner. ¶ 15). The emergency (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 29-30; Ex. B medical personnel waited Plaintiff’s home but were not permitted to enter. Ex. A ¶ 28; Ex. C ¶¶ 7-9). outside of (Paper 43, No Officer asked Plaintiff if she 7 would be willing to be seen by a paramedic or other emergency medical professional. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 28). Officer Siegelbaum asked Ms. Gorham to retrieve the pill bottle for her sleeping pills, which she did. ¶ 14). (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 37; Ex. B Officer Siegelbaum called Poison Control, and the other Officers continued to question Plaintiff. ¶ 38). (Paper 43, Ex. A Plaintiff did not become aggressive with the Officers or verbally or physically threaten them. 32-34; Ex. B at ¶¶ 18-22). (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 27, When asked how many pills she took, Plaintiff did state, “Fuck it! I took one or two!” but did not say that she took “the whole fucking bottle.” ¶¶ 35-36; Ex. B ¶¶ 11, 16). (Paper 43, Ex. A Plaintiff told the officers that she was not going anywhere and instructed them to get out of her house. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 39-40). Plaintiff reports that Officers Siegelbaum and Mullaney picked or dragged her up off the couch and slammed her face down on the floor. Officer Mullaney (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 40, 43-44; Ex. B ¶ 22). drove his knee into Plaintiff’s back and grabbed her left arm and twisted it behind her back, and told her that he would break her other arm if she did not give it to her. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 44-45; Ex. B ¶¶ 23-24). Officer Siegelbaum drove his knee into Plaintiff’s and into her eye, causing it to become severely black and blue and swell shut. 8 (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 46, 53; Ex. B ¶ 23; Ex. E). Officers Siegelbaum and Wilson proceeded to Tase Plaintiff several times on her back. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶¶ 47-48; Ex. B ¶¶ 22-24). Plaintiff had twelve Taser burn wounds on her back. Ex. F). (Paper 43, Ms. Gorham pleaded with the officers to stop, and Officer Phoenix threatened to Tase Ms. Gorham. ¶ 50; Ex. B ¶ 25). (Paper 43, Ex. A Plaintiff had trouble breathing. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 54). Officer handcuffs. Plaintiff Siegelbaum led Plaintiff out of her home in (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 55; Ex. B ¶ 26; Ex. C ¶ 10). asked if she would be taken to the hospital, and Officer Siegelbaum responded that she would after he finished his paperwork. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 56). Officer Siegelbaum placed Plaintiff in his patrol car, later stopped and placed her on a curb, and finally placed her in an ambulance that took her to the hospital. B. (Paper 43, Ex. A ¶ 57; Ex. C ¶ 10). Procedural History On April 14, 2008, Plaintiff filed a complaint in this court, which alleged deprivation of her civil rights and gross negligence County. against (Paper 1). certain police officers and Plaintiff filed an amended complaint and later, on July 23, 2008, a second amended complaint. and 14). Montgomery Discovery ended on August 7, 2009. 9 (Papers 8 On September 8, 2009, Defendants (Paper 35). modify the filed a motion for judgment. On October 15, 2009, Plaintiff filed a motion to scheduling order and extend Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. II. summary time to respond to pursuant to (Paper 39). Summary Judgment Defendants have moved for summary Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56. judgment It is well established that a motion for summary judgment will be granted only if there exists no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986); Emmett v. Johnson, 532 F.3d 291, 297 (4th Cir. 2008). other words, if there clearly exists factual issues In “that properly can be resolved only by a finder of fact because they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party,” summary judgment is inappropriate. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250 (1986); JKC Holding Co. LLC v. Washington Sports Ventures, Inc., 264 F.3d 459, 465 (4th Cir. 2001). When ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must construe the facts alleged in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. See Scott v. Harris, 127 S.Ct. 1769, 1774 (2007); Emmett, 532 F.3d at 297. A party who bears the burden of proof on a particular claim must factually support 10 each element of his or her claim. 323. Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at “[A] complete failure of proof concerning an essential element . . . necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” Id. Thus, on those issues on which the nonmoving party will have the burden of proof, it is his or her responsibility to confront the motion for summary judgment with an affidavit or other similar evidence in order to show the existence of a genuine issue for trial. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 254; Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324. “A mere scintilla of proof, however, will not Jenney, suffice 327 F.3d to prevent 307, 314 summary (4th Cir. judgment.” 2003). Peters There must v. be “sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249. “If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted.” Id. at 249-50. (citations omitted). III. Analysis A. Fourth Amendment Claims Plaintiff’s second amended complaint alleges that the Officers violated Plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment rights by using excessive force against her and by hospital for an emergency evaluation. Officers had probable cause to forcing go to the Defendants argue that the transport 11 her Plaintiff to the hospital for her own safety and that none of the officers used excessive force against her. Defendants liken this case to three cases considered by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that address detentions for emergency evaluation. See S.P. v. City of Takoma Park, 134 F.3d 260 (4th Cnty., Md., 954 F.2d 960 Cir. 1998); (4th Cir. Gooden v. Howard 1992); Vanderwaart v. Baltimore Cnty., Md., 836 F.2d 548 (Table), No. 87-2067, 1987 WL 30227, *1 (4th Cir. 1987). Defendants note that it was reported to the Officers that Plaintiff had attempted to take her own life and the Officers saw empty beer and drug bottles in her home; as such, they thought she had the wherewithal to commit suicide. Defendants assert that “[b]ased on their training, investigation and observations, the officers reasonably believed Plaintiff had a mental disorder, and that there was a clear and imminent danger of her doing bodily harm to herself.” 35, Attach. 1, at 13). (Paper Defendants also argue that they are entitled to immunity for their actions under Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-623. Additionally, Defendants argue that the force used by the Officers Phoenix was had reasonable. no hands-on Defendants contact with assert that (1) Officer Plaintiff, (2) Officer Mullaney’s physical contact with Plaintiff was limited to him 12 grabbing her left arm and attempting to handcuff her, (3) Officer Siegelbaum’s physical contact with Plaintiff was limited to grabbing her arm, placing her on the floor, and using a Taser on Plaintiff so that he could handcuff her, and (4) Officer Wilson’s physical contact was limited to attempting to control Plaintiff’s legs when she was on the floor and using a Taser on Plaintiff. (Id. at 15-19). Plaintiff counters that Defendants did not have probable cause to detain her for an emergency evaluation and that the force used against her was excessive. Plaintiff argues that, after talking with her and her friends, the Officers had no reason to believe that she had a mental disorder or that she was a danger to herself or others. Plaintiff also contends that (Paper 43, Attach. 1, at 11). Defendants are not entitled to immunity for detaining her under Maryland law because they did not act “in (Id. at 12). good faith and with reasonable grounds.” Plaintiff asserts that the cases that Defendants cite are inapposite because the plaintiffs in those cases had exhibited seriously psychotic or violent behaviour. Plaintiff instead likens this case to Bailey v. Kennedy, 349 F.3d 731 (4th Cir. 2003), in which the Fourth Circuit found that officers did not have probable cause to detain the plaintiff for a psychiatric violation even though they had been informed that 13 the plaintiff was suicidal. Id. at 740-41. Additionally, Plaintiff argues that the Officers used excessive force against her because (1) Officer Phoenix did not protest or attempt to stop the other Officers and threatened to Tase Ms. Gorham; (2) Officer Mullaney threw Plaintiff on the ground, kneed her, and assisted the other Officers in Tasing her; (3) Officer Siegelbaum dragged Plaintiff off of her couch, slammed her on the floor, kneed her in the back and eye, twisted her arms, and Tased her no less than six times; and (4) Officer Wilson bound Plaintiff and Tased her no less than six times. Plaintiff argues that summary judgment should be denied because of genuine disputes of material fact. To prevail on a claim pursuant to Section 1983, a plaintiff must show that (1) the defendant deprived her of a right secured by the Constitution or the laws of the United States and (2) and the deprivation was color of state law. There is no achieved by the defendants acting under Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 696-97 (1976). dispute that the police officers’ actions constituted state action. The rights first were issue violated is whether when the Plaintiff’s officers Fourth made subject of a petition for an emergency evaluation. Health – General Code provides: 14 Amendment Plaintiff the The Maryland (a) A petition for emergency evaluation of an individual may be made under this section only if the petitioner has reason to believe that the individual: (1) Has a mental disorder; and (2) The individual presents a danger to the life or safety of the individual or of others. Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen § 10-622. Furthermore, Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-624 provides: (b) Any petitioner who, in good faith and with reasonable grounds, submits or completes a petition under Title 10, Subtitle 6, Part IV of the Health-General Article is not civilly or criminally liable for submitting or completing the petition. (c) Any peace officer who, in good faith and with reasonable grounds, acts as a custodian of an emergency evaluee is not civilly or criminally liable for acting as a custodian. Section 5-623 (b) also provides that “A person who in good faith and with reasonable grounds applies for involuntary admission of an individual is not civilly or criminally liable for making the application under Title 10, Subtitle 6, Part III of the HealthGeneral Article.” To seize an individual for an emergency medical evaluation, “an officer individual must posed have a probable danger cause to to herself involuntarily detaining the individual.” 266. 15 believe or that others the before See S.P., 134 F.3d at In Bailey, 349 F.3d at 739, the Fourth Circuit explained: Probable cause is a “practical, nontechnical conception” that addresses the “the factual and practical considerations of everyday life on which reasonable and prudent men, not legal technicians, act.” Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 231, 76 L. Ed. 2d 527, 103 S. Ct. 2317 (1993)(quotation marks omitted). It is a “fluid concept” that cannot be “reduced to a neat set of legal rules.” Id. at 232, 103 S.Ct. 2317. We have previously held that in the case of the law governing seizures for psychological evaluations, there is a “lack of clarity” as far as what constitutes probable cause. Gooden [], 954 F.2d [][at] 968 []. Viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, it cannot be determined as a matter of law that the officers had probable cause evaluation. dispatched evidence to seize Although for that a Plaintiff Defendants “suicide Defendants for an assert in progress,” were informed Plaintiff was not suicidal. emergency that they Plaintiff multiple arrived at calmly on her couch. were presented times that Ms. Gorham reported that she told the 911 dispatcher that Plaintiff was not suicidal. officers medical Plaintiff’s house, Plaintiff was When the sitting Plaintiff asserts that she told each of the officers that she had not attempted suicide and was not attempting to commit suicide. Plaintiff also contends that she told the officers that she had only taken one or two sleeping pills. Plaintiff, Ms. Gorham, 16 and Plaintiff’s neighbor Christine Nitterhouse testified that pills and beer bottles were not strewn about Plaintiff’s house. Defendants’ version of the facts, of course, contradicts Plaintiff’s account and calls into question whether Plaintiff interaction with her. that the 911 call was acting violently during their Defendants particularly rely on the fact was coded as a “suicide in progress.” However, as in Bailey, “[w]ithout more, the 911 report cannot bear the weight that the officers would place on it. The law does not permit ‘random or baseless detention of citizens for psychological evaluations.’” Gooden, 954 F.2d at 968). Bailey, 349 F.3d at 740 (quoting There are genuine issues of material fact as to whether Defendants had probable cause for detaining Plaintiff for an emergency medical evaluation and, in regard to the state law immunity defenses, as to whether Defendants acted “in good faith and with reasonable grounds” to petition for an emergency evaluation hospital. or Therefore, involuntarily summary admit judgment Plaintiff will be to denied the on Plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment claim that she was involuntarily detained and forced to go to the hospital for an emergency evaluation. The second issue is whether, even assuming there was probable cause to detain Plaintiff, the officers used excessive force against Plaintiff. The Supreme Court of the United States 17 has clarified that courts must use a standard of “objective reasonableness” to determine whether force used by police officers was excessive in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 388 (1989). The question is whether a reasonable officer in the same circumstances would have concluded that a threat existed justifying the particular use of force. Id. at 395. “A reviewing court must make ‘allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments - in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving.’” F.3d 125, 129 (4th Cir. 2001), Anderson v. Russell, 247 cert. denied, (2001)(quoting Graham, 390 U.S. at 397). 534 U.S. 949 “The court’s focus should be on the circumstances at the moment force was used and on the fact that officers on the beat are not often afforded the luxury of (quoting armchair Elliott reflection.” v. Leavitt, Anderson, 99 F.3d 247 640, F.3d 642 at (4th 130 Cir. 1996)(citations omitted)). There is a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether the force the officers used against Plaintiff was excessive. Plaintiff testified that she was not aggressive officers and that she asked them to leave her home. toward the Plaintiff recalls that the officers picked or dragged her off her couch 18 and threw her to the floor, kneeing her in the back and eye before they used their Tasers on her at least six times. On acted the other with hand, increasing Specifically, the the officers levels officers of recount agitation testified that that Plaintiff and violence. Plaintiff kicked Officer Wilson in the inner thigh and bit Officer Siegelbaum. The officers report that they warned Plaintiff that they would have to use their Tasers on her if she would not submit to being handcuffed and taken to the hospital. The only officer who had no hands-on contact with Plaintiff was Officer Phoenix. Plaintiff asserts that Officer Phoenix threatened to Tase her friends, but the Gorhams are not parties to this suit. Because Plaintiff has not presented evidence that Officer Phoenix used force against her, Officer Phoenix entitled to judgment Plaintiff’s against as a Fourth her. matter of Amendment The law that he rights by using remaining defendants, did not violate excessive however, force are not entitled to summary judgment as to Plaintiff’s excessive force Fourth Amendment claim because there are genuine issues of material fact as to whether their actions were reasonable. B. Fourteenth Amendment Claims Plaintiff’s complaint alleged that Defendants violated her Fourteenth Amendment rights when 19 they displayed deliberate indifference to her medical needs and, according to her opposition brief, when the officers “attempted to rob Plaintiff of her liberty without legal justification . . . and attempted to handcuff Plaintiff and drag her out of her home at night . . . .” (Paper 1 ¶¶ 22, 42, 62, and 82; Paper 43, Attach. 1, at 24). Defendants assert that Plaintiff was not deprived of any Fourteenth Amendment right because the officers did not display deliberate Attach. 1, indifference at 19). to her Plaintiff medical needs. contends that (Paper her 35, Fourteenth Amendment claims are not limited to the officers’ deliberate indifference officers’ to medical deprivation justification. The her of needs, her but liberty also include without the legal (Paper 43, Attach. 1, at 24). Fourteenth Amendment provides that no state “shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” U.S. Const. Amend. XIV. The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment “guarantees more than fair process” and heightened “includes protection a substantive against certain fundamental rights.” component government that provides interference with Martin v. St. Mary’s Dep’t of Social Servs., 346 F.3d 502, 511 (4th Cir. 2003). The core of substantive due process is to protect the individual against 20 “arbitrary action of government.” County of Sacramento v. Lewis, 523 U.S. 833, 845 (1998). “Only governmental conduct that ‘shocks the conscience’ is actionable as a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.” Young v. City of Mount Rainer, 238 F.3d 567, 574 (2001)(quoting County of Sacramento, 523 U.S. at 846). “[C]onduct that amounts to ‘deliberate indifference’ [] is viewed as sufficiently shocking to the conscience that it can support a Fourteenth Amendment claim.” Young, 238 F.3d at 575 (citations omitted). “Deliberate indifference requires a showing that the defendants actually knew of and disregarded a substantial risk of serious injury to the detainee or that they actually knew of and ignored a detainee’s serious need for medical care.” Id. at 575-76 (citations omitted). Plaintiff asserts that, after she was handcuffed, Officer Siegelbaum led her out of her home. Plaintiff asked if she would be taken to the hospital, and Officer Siegelbaum responded that she would after he finished his paperwork. not presented transported. evidence of how long she had Plaintiff has to wait to be Officer Siegelbaum placed Plaintiff in his patrol car, later stopped at a fire station when she complained of chest pain, and finally placed her in an ambulance that took her to the hospital. Plaintiff has not presented evidence that 21 Defendants actually knew of and disregarded a substantial risk of serious injury to her or that they actually knew of and ignored her serious need for medical care. has not presented sufficient evidence Therefore, Plaintiff regarding deliberate indifference for a jury to return a verdict in her favor. Additionally, as the Supreme Court explained in Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395 (1989), there is no separate due process claim for excessive force claims: Today we make explicit what was implicit in Garner’s analysis, and hold that all claims that law enforcement officers have used excessive force — deadly or not — in the course of an arrest, investigatory stop, or other “seizure” of a free citizen should be analyzed under the Fourth Amendment and its “reasonableness” standard, rather than under a “substantive due process” approach. Because the Fourth Amendment provides an explicit textual source of constitutional protection against this sort of physically intrusive governmental conduct, that Amendment, not the more generalized notion of “substantive due process,” must be the guide for analyzing these claims. All of Plaintiff’s claims regarding the deprivation of her liberty due to the officers’ actions of handcuffing her and taking her out of her home must be analyzed under the Fourth Amendment. Therefore, summary judgment will be granted in favor of Defendants on Plaintiff’s Fourteenth Amendment claims because she has not presented sufficient evidence for her deliberate 22 indifference claim and her excessive force claims will be evaluated under the Fourth Amendment. C. Qualified Immunity The doctrine of qualified immunity shields government officials “from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982). “Qualified immunity is ‘an immunity from suit, rather than a mere defense to liability; and like an absolute immunity, it is effectively lost if a case is erroneously permitted to go to trial.’” Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 376 n.2 (2007)(quoting Mitchell v. Forsyth, 472 U.S. 511, 526 (1985)(emphasis in original)). The Supreme Court of the United States recently revised the procedure for determining whether a defendant is entitled to qualified immunity. Pearson v. Callahan, 129 S.Ct. 808 (2009). Courts are no longer required to consider a rigid two prong analysis “in proper sequence,” as directed in Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 200 (2001). Instead, courts are “permitted to exercise their sound discretion in deciding which of the two prongs of the qualified immunity analysis should be addressed first in light of the circumstances in the particular case at 23 hand.” in Id. at 818. the light injury, . . . The first prong considers whether, “[t]aken most the favorable facts to alleged the show party [that] conduct violated a constitutional right[.]” at 201. If the evidence asserting establishes the the officer’s Saucier, 533 U.S. a violation of a constitutional right, the second prong is to assess whether the right was “clearly established” at the time of the events at issue. Id. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit set out the proper way to evaluate the separate Saucier issues: The “answer to both Saucier questions must be in the affirmative in order for a plaintiff to defeat a . . . motion for summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds.” Batten v. Gomez, 324 F.3d 288, 293-94 (4th Cir. 2003). The plaintiff bears the burden of proof on the first question i.e., whether a constitutional violation occurred. Bryant v. Muth, 994 F.2d 1082, th Cir. 1993)(“Once the defendant 1086 (4 raises a qualified immunity defense, the plaintiff carries the burden of showing that the defendant’s alleged conduct violated the law”); see also Crawford-El v. Britton, 523 U.S. 574, 589, 118 S.Ct. 1584, 140 L.Ed.2d 759 (1998)(noting that the Court’s qualified immunity holding in Harlow “related only to the scope of an affirmative defense” and did not change “the plaintiff’s burden of proving a constitutional violation”); Carr v. Deeds, 453 F.3d 593, Cir. 2006)(affirming summary 608 (4th judgment in qualified immunity appeal “because the plaintiff failed to bring forth admissible evidence from which the jury could conclude” that the officer used 24 excessive force); Figg v. Schroeder, 312 F.3d 625, 642 (4th Cir. 2002)(noting that a § 1983 plaintiff “must prove the illegality of the seizure”). The defendant bears the burden of proof on the second question - i.e., entitlement to qualified immunity. Wilson v. Kittoe, 337 F.3d 392, th 397 (4 Cir. 2003)(“The burden of proof and persuasion with respect to a claim of qualified immunity is on the defendant official.”); see also Bailey [], 349 F.3d [][at] 739 [](same); Tanner v. Hardy, 764 F.2d 1024, 1027 (4th Cir. 1985)(“It is a well established principle that qualified immunity . . . is a matter on which the burden of proof is allocated to the defendants.”); Logan v. Shealy, 660 F.2d 1007, 1014 (4th Cir. 1981)(“the good faith immunity of individual police officers is an affirmative defense to be proved by the defendant”); cf. Dennis v. Sparks, 449 U.S. 24, 29, 101 S.Ct. 183, 66 L.Ed.2d 185 (1980)(noting that in a § 1983 action “the burden is on the official claiming immunity to demonstrate his entitlement”); but cf. Harlow, 457 U.S. at 815 n. 24, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (explaining that the Court had not decided which party bears the burden of proof). Henry v. Purnell, 501 F.3d 374, 377-78 (4th Cir. 2007)(footnotes omitted). In considering the second prong of the Saucier framework, the key issue is whether the law at the time the events in question occurred “gave the officials ‘fair warning’ that their conduct was unconstitutional.” Marshall Univ., contours of the 447 F.3d right 292, must Ridpath 313 be 25 (4th v. Bd. Cir. sufficiently of 2006). clear Governors “[T]he that a reasonable official would violates that right.” (1987). understand that what he is doing Anderson v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635, 640 “[A]lthough the exact conduct at issue need not have been held to be unlawful in order for the law governing an officer’s actions to be clearly established, the existing authority must be such that the unlawfulness of the conduct is manifest.” Wilson v. Layne, 141 F.3d 111, 114 (4th Cir. 1998), aff’d, U.S. 526 603 (1999). If the right was not clearly established, the qualified immunity doctrine shields a defendant officer from liability. Plaintiff has met her burden for showing that the officers’ conduct violated her Fourth Amendment rights, both as to her right to be free of excessive force and to not be seized for an emergency medical evaluation without probable cause. have not entitled met to established excessive their burden qualified that force of immunity. individuals during proof the to demonstrate First, have course a the right of Defendants a to law be seizure, they is are clearly free from Turmon v. Jordan, 405 F.3d 202, 206 (4th Cir. 2005)(finding the “general right to be free from unreasonable seizures is as old as the Fourth Amendment”). It is equally well established that police may not use a Taser on a compliant adult. Second, Defendants have failed to demonstrate as a matter of law that Plaintiff’s 26 right to be free from seizure for an emergency medical evaluation absent probable cause was not clearly established at the time of the incident. right is not clearly Defendants do not explain why the established after the Fourth opinion in Bailey, 349 F.3d at 731, decided in 2003. summary judgment will be denied as to Circuit’s Therefore, Defendants’ qualified immunity claim. D. Maryland State Law Claims 1. Articles 24 and 26 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights Article 24 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights protects substantive due process rights and Article 26 protects the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. The provisions are construed in pari materia with the Fourteenth and Fourth Amendments respectively. of See the Canaj, United Inc. v. States Baker & Constitution, Div. Phase III, 391 Md. 374, 424 (2006); see also Carter v. State, 367 Md. 447, 458 (2002); State v. Smith, 305 cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1186 (1986). granted in favor of Defendants as Md. 489, 513-514 (1986), Summary judgment will be to Plaintiff’s Fourteenth Amendment claims so summary judgment will also be granted on Plaintiff’s due process claims under Article 24. 27 Article 26 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights protects the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.1 Maryland courts “have long recognized that Article 26 is in pari materia with the Fourth Amendment,” Richardson v. McGriff, 361 Md. 437, 452-53, omitted). 762 A.2d 48, 56 (2000)(internal citations As such, the disposition of Plaintiff’s § 1983 claim under the Fourth Amendment “dictates the same result on [her] Article 26 claim.” Mazuz v. Maryland, 442 F.3d 217, 231 (4th Cir. as 2006). Just summary judgment will be denied on Plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment claims, with the exception of her Fourth Amendment excessive force claim as to Officer Phoenix, summary judgment will be denied as to Plaintiff’s claims under Article 26. See id. (“Although, theoretically, the resolution of claims under the Fourth Amendment and Article 26 can differ, we discern no basis in this record or under Maryland law to support a different construction of these provisions.”) (internal citation omitted)). 1 Article 26 provides: “That all warrants, without oath or affirmation, to search suspected places, or to seize any person or property, are grievous and oppressive; and all general warrants to search suspected places, or to apprehend suspected persons, without naming or describing the place, or the person in special, are illegal, and ought not to be granted.” 28 2. Municipal Liability Defendants argue that Plaintiff’s evidence against Montgomery County is insufficient under Monell v. New York City Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978). 26). (Paper 35, at 23- Plaintiff concedes that she cannot prove her municipal liability claim discovery. against Montgomery County (Paper 43, Attach. 1, at 28). without additional As discussed below, Plaintiff will not be permitted to conduct additional discovery. Therefore, summary judgment will be granted in favor of Montgomery County on Plaintiff’s municipal liability claim. 3. Article III, § 40 Defendants move for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s claim under Article III, § 40 of the Maryland Constitution because Plaintiff has not made any claim that her property was taken for public use. Plaintiff agrees to a dismissal of her Article III, § 40 claim. Therefore, Plaintiff’s Article III, § 40 claim will be dismissed with prejudice. E. Punitive Damages Defendants move for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s claim for punitive damages, asserting that she has no evidence that the officers acted with malice. Plaintiff counters that she has (Paper 35, Attach. 1, at 30). presented 29 evidence that the officers acted in a hostile objective basis for doing so. Assuming compensatory and violent manner without an (Paper 43, Attach. 1, at 31). that Plaintiff damages against can the establish Defendant entitlement Officers, she to may only recover punitive damages against them under Section 1983 if she can show their conduct “to be motivated by evil motive or intent, or when it involves reckless or callous indifference to the federally protected rights of others.” U.S. 30, 56 (1983). damages are Similarly, under Maryland law, “[p]unitive available actual malice.” Smith v. Wade, 461 against individuals upon a showing of Robles v. Prince George’s County, 302 F.3d 262, 273 (4th Cir. 2002)(citing Bowden v. Caldor, Inc., 350 Md. 4, 23, 710 A.2d 267, 276 (1998)). Plaintiff has provided evidence that the officers unnecessarily restrained, kneed, and Tased her and forced her to go to the hospital in response to her denial of trying to commit suicide and her request for them to leave her home. Viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, there are sufficient disputes of material fact for the jury to decide the question of malice. 30 IV. Motion to Modify the Scheduling Order and to Extend Time to Respond to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment Plaintiff moves to modify the scheduling order to allow additional time for discovery.1 Plaintiff recounts the following case history: Per the Court’s Order of May 8, 2009, discovery closed and a status report was due on August 7, 2009 and dispositive motions were due on September 8, 2009. On August 7, 2009, through a joint status report, Plaintiff’s former attorney apparently agreed that the parties had completed discovery. However, that same day, Plaintiff’s former attorney filed a motion to withdraw his appearance. The Court granted the motion on September 1, 2009. (Paper 39, Attach. 2, at 2). Plaintiff notes that she was not able to retain new counsel until October 2009, in part because her former (Paper 41, attorney at 4-5). would not Plaintiff give now her asserts the that case file. her former attorney neglected to complete discovery and asks for discovery to be reopened so that she may retain experts to offer opinions as to (1) whether the force used by the officers was reasonable, (2) whether the training offered by Montgomery County was reasonable, (3) what are the appropriate police procedures in cases like 1 this one, and (4) what are the methods, This motion also requested an extension of time to file a response to the motion for summary judgment. That aspect of the motion was granted and Plaintiff’s response was filed December 4, 2009. See paper 42. 31 reasonableness, and appropriateness of Taser usage in this case. (Paper 39, Attach. 2, at 3). Defendants respond that discovery should not be reopened and that Plaintiff’s opposition judgment was untimely. to their motion (Paper 40, at 3-4). for summary Defendants contend that Plaintiff has failed to establish “excusable neglect” by her former attorney under Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(b)(1)(B). Because deadline the for Plaintiff’s motion to extend Plaintiff’s motion will Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(b)(1)(B). time opposition be was filed brief reviewed (Id. at 5). after had the passed, pursuant to This Rule requires “excusable neglect” for a motion to extend time when the motion is made after the time for the moving party to act has already expired. “[I]nadvertence, ignorance of the rules, or mistakes construing the rules do not usually constitute ‘excusable neglect.’” Thompson v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., 76 F.3d 530, 533 (4th Cir. 1996). While Plaintiff had ample time to find a new attorney and respond to Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff’s delay in responding did not prejudice Defendants. Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(b) governs the modification of a scheduling order. District courts have broad discretion to manage the timing of discovery, Ardrey v. United Parcel Service, 798 F.2d 679, 682 (4th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 934 (1987), and 32 the only formal limitation on this discretion with respect to consideration of motions to amend scheduling orders is that the moving party demonstrate good cause. Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(b)(4). “Good cause” is shown when the moving party demonstrates that the scheduling diligent order efforts. deadlines Potomac cannot Elec. be Power met Co. despite v. Elec. its Motor Supply, Inc., 190 F.R.D. 372, 375 (D.Md. 1999)(quoting Dilmar Oil Co., Inc. v. Federated Mut. Ins. Co., 986 F.Supp. 959, 980 (D.S.C. 1997), aff’d by unpublished opinion, 129 F.3d 116 (Table), 1997 WL 702267 (4th Cir. 1997). The parties have briefed the issue of excusable neglect under Rule 6(b)(1)(b) instead of good cause under Rule 16(b). Nevertheless, Plaintiff had ample time to conduct discovery. The discovery deadline was extended twice, from December 8, 2008 to February 23, 2009 and later August 7, 2009. former attorney propounded written discovery Plaintiff’s on all four officers and Montgomery County. Plaintiff’s new counsel has not shown attorney why Plaintiff’s conducting discovery. former lacked diligence in Plaintiff will not be allowed to conduct additional discovery and the scheduling order modified. Therefore, Plaintiff’s motion will be denied as to her request for additional time for discovery. 33 will not be V. Conclusion For the foregoing reasons, Defendants’ motion for summary judgment will Plaintiff’s be motion granted to in modify part the further discovery will be denied. and denied scheduling in order part to and allow A separate Order will follow. /s/ DEBORAH K. CHASANOW United States District Judge 34
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