Knibbs v. Momphard, No. 20-2243 (4th Cir. 2022)
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The Estate filed suit alleging claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and state law after Deputy Sheriff Anthony Momphard, Jr. fatally shot Michael Knibbs while Knibbs was standing inside his home holding a loaded shotgun. The district court concluded that defendant was entitled to qualified immunity from the Estate's section 1983 claim and that the Estate's state law claims against Deputy Momphard, Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland, and the insurance companies that issued the Sheriff's Office a liability insurance policy and a surety bond necessarily failed.
The Fourth Circuit vacated the district court’s award of summary judgment to Deputy Momphard on the Estate's section 1983 claim against him in his individual capacity. The court concluded that the district court erred in finding that there were no genuine issues of disputed material fact, and ultimately erred in finding that Deputy Momphard's use of force was reasonable as a matter of law at this stage in the proceedings. In this case, there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find that Knibbs never pointed his weapon at Deputy Momphard or made any furtive movements, thereby rendering unjustified the deadly force used against Knibbs. Furthermore, the court's case law demonstrates that the contours of Knibbs' constitutional right were clearly established at the time.
The court also vacated the district court's summary judgment as to the wrongful death claim for both compensatory and punitive damages under North Carolina law against Deputy Momphard in his individual capacity, and the claims under the Macon County Sheriff's Office's surety bond against Deputy Momphard and Sheriff Holland in their official capacities, and against Western Surety, for up to $25,000 in damages. However, the court affirmed the district court's conclusions that the Estate's Fourteenth Amendment claim fails as a matter of law; Macon County's liability insurance policy preserves the Sheriff’s Office's governmental immunity from suit; and the Estate's claims brought directly under the North Carolina Constitution are precluded. The court remanded for further proceedings.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on April 19, 2022.
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