Terry Hebert, Sr. v. Arlene Rodriguez, et al, No. 10-30489 (5th Cir. 2011)

Annotate this Case
Download PDF
Case: 10-30489 Document: 00511472148 Page: 1 Date Filed: 05/10/2011 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS United States Court of Appeals FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT Fifth Circuit FILED No. 10-30489 May 10, 2011 Lyle W. Cayce Clerk TERRY HEBERT, SR., Plaintiff Appellant Appellee v. ARLENE RODRIGUEZ, individually and in her official capacity as a police officer; Defendant Appellant CRAIG MELANCON, Chief , in his official capacity as Chief of Police for Thibodaux Police Department; Thibodaux Police Department; Thibodaux City; Defendants-Appellees. Appeals from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (2:08-CV-5240) Before WIENER, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* After carefully considering this appeal in light of the briefs, oral argument, and pertinent portions of the record, we affirm. * Pursuant to 5th Circuit Local Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Circuit Local Rule 47.5.4. Case: 10-30489 Document: 00511472148 Page: 2 Date Filed: 05/10/2011 No. 10-30489 First, we affirm the district court s denial of Rodriguez s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict on this is Hebert s false-arrest claim.1 Hebert s primary evidence in support of his false-arrest claim was his own testimony at trial. Rodriguez would have us discredit this testimony in light of prior inconsistent statements. But she neglects that these pretrial statements go to Hebert s credibility as a witness, not the legal sufficiency of the evidence. The determination of a witness s credibility lies at the core of a jury s factfinding function 2 and is not the province of judges.3 In other words, it is irrelevant whether we are persuaded of Hebert s version of the events in this case what matters is that the jury was persuaded. The evidence here is sufficient to support the jury s finding. We also affirm the jury s damages award. The trial record contains legally sufficient evidence to support all of Hebert s damages claims: lost business income, emotional distress, and punitive damages. We also find that the punitive-damages award was not excessive. 1 We review de novo a district court s denial of a motion for judgment notwithstanding the jury s verdict, applying the same standard as the district court. Chevron USA, Inc. v. Aker Maritime, Inc., 604 F.3d 888, 893 (5th Cir. 2010) (citing E. Tex. Med. Ctr. Reg l Healthcare Sys. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 575 F.3d 520, 525 (5th Cir. 2009)). In an action tried by jury, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury s verdict. McBeth v. Carpenter, 565 F.3d 171, 176 (5th Cir. 2009) (citing Harrington v. Harris, 118 F.3d 359, 367 (5th Cir. 1997)). 2 9B CHARLES A. WRIGHT & ARTHUR MILLER , FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 2526 (3d ed. 2008) (quoting Battle v. United Parcel Servs., 438 F.3d 856, 862 (8th Cir. 2006)). 3 Leonard v. Dixie Well Serv. & Supply, Inc., 828 F.2d 291, 293 94 (5th Cir. 1987). 2 Case: 10-30489 Document: 00511472148 Page: 3 Date Filed: 05/10/2011 No. 10-30489 We further affirm the district court s award of attorney s fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 19884 the court s award was properly calculated and carefully explained. We further affirm the district court s dismissal of Hebert s municipalliability claims, which he argues sound in both federal and state law. As to his municipal-liability claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Hebert failed to present evidence to support one of the very few exceptions 5 to the general rule that local governments are liable only for their own illegal acts. 6 Thus, the district court was correct to dismiss his claim. As to municipal liability under Louisiana law, we hold that Hebert waived this claim by failing to properly present it to the district court7 and to this court on appeal.8 We further affirm the district court s dismissal of Hebert s defamation claims. Hebert has failed to show as he must to overcome the district court s 4 We review this award for an abuse of discretion, El Paso Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Richard R., 591 F.3d 417, 425 n.9 (5th Cir. 2009), asking whether the district court s factual findings were clearly erroneous, id., and reviewing its legal conclusions de novo, Dearmore v. City of Garland, 519 F.3d 517, 520 (5th Cir. 2008); Bailey v. Mississippi, 407 F.3d 684, 686 (5th Cir. 2005). 5 See Connick v. Thompson, 131 S. Ct. 1350, 1359 60 (2011) (liability where official policymakers fail to adequately train their employees about their duty to avoid violating citizens rights); City of St. Louis v. Praprotnik, 485 U.S. 112, 127 (1988) (liability under a ratification theory when authorized policymakers approve a subordinate s decision and the basis for it ); Monell v. New York City Dep t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691 (1978) (liability where action pursuant to official municipal policy caused the plaintiff s injury). 6 Pembaur v. Cincinnati, 475 U.S. 469, 479 (1986) (citing Monell, 436 U.S. at 665 83). 7 The district court repeatedly attempted to clarify the nature of Hebert s municipalliability claims before dismissing them, and Hebert failed to present the state-law theory it now urges. 8 The municipal-liability section of Hebert s opening appeal brief fails to cite even one legal authority, let alone a specific Louisiana authority that creates vicarious municipal liability for police torts. Arguments not raised in an appellant s opening brief are waived. Valle v. City of Houston, 613 F.3d 536, 544 (5th Cir. 2010) (Tharling v. City of Port Lavaca, 329 F.3d 422, 430 (5th Cir. 2003)). 3 Case: 10-30489 Document: 00511472148 Page: 4 Date Filed: 05/10/2011 No. 10-30489 grant of judgment as a matter of law a conflict in substantial evidence on each essential element of his defamation claims.9 Finally, we affirm the two evidentiary rulings Hebert now challenges. He argues that the district court erred by excluding the testimony of his expert witness, but this issue is mooted by the court s proper dismissal of his municipalliability claims. Hebert also argues that the district court erred in admitting, on a motion in limine, evidence of Hebert s twenty-six-year-old felony conviction. However, Hebert waived his objection to the admission of this evidence by first presenting it himself on direct examination.10 In conclusion, we AFFIRM in all respects the jury s verdict and the rulings of the district court. 9 Anthony v. Chevron USA, Inc., 284 F.3d 578, 583 (5th Cir. 2002). 10 Ohler v. United States, 529 U.S. 753, 760 (2000) ( A [party] who preemptively introduces evidence of a prior conviction on direct examination may not on appeal claim that the admission of such evidence was error. ). 4

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.