Jensen et al v. Burnsides et al, No. 3:2006cv02356 - Document 89 (D. Ariz. 2008)
Court Description: ORDER denying as moot 72 Motion for Judgment; granting in part and denying in part 75 Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment. Directing the Clerk of the Court to terminate this action. Signed by Judge G Murray Snow on 10/22/08.(DMT, )
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Jensen et al v. Burnsides et al 1 Doc. 89 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 SANDY JENSEN; ROGER JENSEN, ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) vs. ) ) ) CHEE YAZZIE BURNSIDES; CITY OF) WILLIAMS, ) ) Defendants. ) ) ) No. CV-06-2356-PHX-GMS ORDER 16 17 Pending before the Court are Defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Dkt. 18 # 72) and Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. # 75), as well as the responses 19 and replies relevant thereto (Dkt. ## 73, 74, 80, 85). For the following reasons, the Court 20 grants Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment and denies as moot Defendants’ Motion 21 for Judgment on the Pleadings.1 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 Plaintiffs have requested oral argument. The request is denied because the parties have thoroughly discussed the law and the evidence, and oral argument will not aid the Court’s decision. See Lake at Las Vegas Investors Group, Inc. v. Pac. Malibu Dev., 933 F.2d 724, 729 (9th Cir. 1991). Dockets.Justia.com BACKGROUND 1 2 On February 5, 2006, Roger Heath Jensen drove an ATV across private railroad 3 property and onto a public road. (Dkt. # 76 at 1; Dkt. # 81 at 2.) In doing so, he was seen 4 by City of Williams Police Officer Chee Yazzie Burnsides. (Dkt. # 76 at 1; Dkt. # 81 at 2.) 5 Burnsides later made contact with Jensen at a local diner and questioned him about 6 trespassing on railroad property. (Dkt. # 76 at 1; Dkt. # 81 at 2.) Burnsides learned that 7 Jensen’s license was revoked and was informed by a City of Williams police dispatcher that 8 Jensen was on probation. (See Dkt. # 76 at 2; Dkt. # 81 at 2.) Burnsides arrested Jensen and 9 took him to the City of Williams police station. (Dkt. # 76 at 2; Dkt. # 81 at 3.) 10 At the station, Burnsides began to process Jensen. As Burnsides later explained, 11 Jensen “seemed not to be having trouble with being arrested. He didn’t seem like he was 12 going to give me any trouble.” (Dkt. # 76 at 2; Dkt. # 81 at 3.) Thus, Burnsides sat Jensen 13 on a bench next to him, and although Jensen’s hands were cuffed, Burnsides did not cuff 14 Jensen to the bench. (Dkt. # 76 at 3; Dkt. # 81 at 4.) Burnsides proceeded to administer 15 several intoxilyzer tests, although the parties disagree about exactly when that occurred. 16 (Dkt. # 76 at 2; Dkt. # 81 at 2-3.) The parties also dispute how Jensen’s hands became 17 positioned in front of him. According to Burnsides, Jensen maneuvered his handcuffs from 18 behind his back to the front. (Dkt. # 76 at 3.) Plaintiffs assert that Jensen’s hands were 19 handcuffed in front by Burnsides. (Dkt. # 81 at 4.) 20 Either way, it is undisputed that Jensen attacked Burnsides without provocation.2 21 (Dkt. # 76 at 3; Dkt. # 81 at 4-5.) Jensen knocked Burnsides to the floor when he was 22 looking away, and Burnsides was semi-conscious until he felt Jensen begin to kick him in 23 the head. (Dkt. # 76 Ex. 1 at 275.) Burnsides attempted to get up, but Jensen continued to 24 kick and knee him in the head and torso. (Id.) Burnsides finally managed to stand up and 25 26 27 28 2 Plaintiffs lodge no evidentiary objections to Burnsides’ deposition, from which the following description of the altercation is derived. The only salient difference Plaintiffs raise regarding Burnsides’ account of the altercation itself is to note that Burnsides elsewhere described Jensen’s initial blows as being “hit[s],” rather than “kick[s].” (Dkt. # 81 at 5, 6.) -2- 1 attempted to grab Jensen’s handcuffs, but Jensen jerked them away from Burnsides’ grasp. 2 (Id. at 276.) Burnsides then grabbed onto Jensen and called out for help. (Id.) 3 Jensen, however, spun away from Burnsides and slammed him into a wall. (Id.) 4 Jensen then pushed Burnsides onto a desk and leaned down on him, preventing Burnsides 5 from getting up. (Id. at 277.) Fighting to pull away, Burnsides grabbed his Taser and 6 discharged it into Jensen’s abdomen. (Id.) In Burnsides’ words: “I could hear it going off. 7 I don’t know. He stiffened up for just a little bit, but then he seemed to just fight harder after 8 that. It seemed like every time I got him with the Taser, he just fought harder.” (Id.) In all, 9 Burnsides discharged the Taser four times, but Jensen continued to fight. (See id. at 277-80.) 10 The two men fell to the ground, and Jensen eventually got on top of Burnsides, making it 11 difficult for him to breathe. (Id.) 12 Then, Jensen grabbed for the Taser. (Id. at 279.) “[H]e pulled my wrist back. And 13 I felt like he was breaking my fingers he was prying them off so hard, and I got real scared, 14 scared for my life.” (Id.) Burnsides remembered the experience of being hit with a Taser 15 during police training: “I could hear everything going on around me, I could see everything, 16 but I was incapacitated. I couldn’t do a thing. And I thought, I’m going to get Tased and I’m 17 going to sit there and watch him shoot me.” (Id.) 18 “And when he started to get my last fingers off and twisted my wrist back and started 19 yanking on the Taser, I knew I had to do something.” (Id.) Burnsides un-holstered his pistol 20 and ordered Jensen to “stop fighting or I’m going to shoot.” (Id. at 282.) Jensen responded 21 “Go ahead.” (Id.) “I felt like he was getting control of that Taser, and he was on top of me 22 and had me pinned. There was nothing I could do.” (Id. at 283.) Burnsides fired, killing 23 Jensen. (See id.) 24 A police dispatcher in another part of the station had heard Burnsides’ yelling and 25 observed portions of the fight on a security camera. (See Dkt. # 76 at 3-5; Dkt. # 81 at 7-9, 26 11, 13.) She saw Jensen grabbing Burnsides, punching him, and falling down on him. (Dkt. 27 # 76 at 3-4; Dkt. # 81 at 7-9; see also Dkt. # 81 Ex. 19(h) at 129.) From her observation of 28 -3- 1 the fight, the dispatcher concluded that Jensen was a mortal threat to Officer Burnsides and 2 she feared for Burnsides’ life. (Dkt. # 76 at 3-4; Dkt. # 81 at 8, 11.) 3 On October 3, 2006, Plaintiffs (Jensen’s parents) filed a complaint against Burnsides, 4 the City of Williams Police Department, the City of Williams, and twenty fictitious 5 individuals.3 (Dkt. # 2.) Plaintiffs alleged: (1) a violation of Jensen’s rights to life, liberty, 6 freedom from excessive force, and freedom from pre-conviction punishment; (2) a violation 7 of Plaintiffs’ right to a familial relationship; (3) municipal liability for those violations; (4) 8 wrongful death; (5) negligent infliction of physical harm and distress; and (6) negligent 9 supervision and training. (Dkt. # 2 at 6-11.) On April 11, 2008, Defendants filed their 10 Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. (Dkt. # 72.) On May 6, 2008, Defendants filed their 11 Motion for Summary Judgment. (Dkt. # 75.) JURISDICTION 12 13 The Court has federal question jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims. See 28 14 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1343. The Court has supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ related state 15 law claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367. DISCUSSION 16 17 I. Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment 18 A. Legal Standard 19 Summary judgment is appropriate if the admissible evidence, viewed in the light most 20 favorable to the nonmoving party, “show[s] that there is no genuine issue as to any material 21 fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); 22 see Jesinger v. Nev. Fed. Credit Union, 24 F.3d 1127, 1130 (9th Cir. 1994). The moving 23 party bears the initial burden of supporting its contention that there is no genuine issue of 24 material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986). The burden is then on 25 the nonmoving party to establish that a genuine issue of material fact exists. See id. 26 3 27 28 The City of Williams Police Department has since been dismissed from this action by stipulation. (See Dkt. # 19.) Plaintiffs have never moved this Court to substitute any real persons for the fictitious individuals named in the Complaint. -4- 1 Substantive law determines which facts are material, and “[o]nly disputes over facts that 2 might affect the outcome of the suit . . . will properly preclude the entry of summary 3 judgment.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). Similarly, the 4 dispute must be genuine; that is, the evidence must be “such that a reasonable jury could 5 return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. 6 B. 7 Defendants move for summary judgment on all of Plaintiffs’ claims. (Dkt. # 75 at 5- 8 17.) Plaintiffs’ first, second, and third causes of action present federal law claims, and 9 Plaintiffs’ fourth, fifth, and sixth causes of action present state law claims. (See Dkt. # 2 at 10 Analysis 6-11.) Each group of claims will be addressed together. 1. 11 Federal Claims 12 In their Complaint, Plaintiffs alleged a violation of Jensen’s and Plaintiffs’ civil rights 13 as a result of Burnsides’ alleged use of excessive force, as well as municipal liability for 14 those violations. (Dkt. # 2 at 6-8.) Defendants move for summary judgment on each of those 15 causes of action. (Dkt. # 75 at 5-14.) a. 16 Excessive Force 17 Both Plaintiffs and Defendants agree that Plaintiffs present a claim for excessive force 18 (see Dkt. # 75 at 5; Dkt. # 80 at 3) and that this claim is properly analyzed under the Fourth 19 Amendment (see Dkt. # 75 at 5-6; Dkt. # 80 at 3).4 If a party moves for summary judgment 20 on an excessive force claim against a police officer, there are two separate circumstances 21 under which summary judgment would be appropriate: (1) if the officer’s actions were 22 objectively reasonable, Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 388 (1989); and (2) if the officer 23 has qualified immunity, Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 202 (2001). 24 25 26 27 28 4 Plaintiffs assert that their excessive force claims implicate the Fourteenth Amendment only insofar as it incorporates the Fourth Amendment against the states. (Dkt. # 80 at 3.) Thus, Plaintiffs concede that the only substantive analysis that applies is that of the Fourth Amendment. -5- 1 Under the objective reasonableness test, the Court must balance the nature and quality 2 of the intrusion on the subject’s constitutional rights against the government’s countervailing 3 interests, with “careful attention to the facts and circumstances of each particular case, 4 including the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat 5 to the safety of the officer[] or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting 6 to evade arrest by flight.” Graham, 490 U.S. at 396. “The ‘reasonableness’ of a particular 7 use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather 8 than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.” Id. (citing Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 20-22 (1968)). 9 “The calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are 10 often forced to make split-second judgments – in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and 11 rapidly evolving – about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.” Id. 12 at 396-97. 13 “The qualified immunity inquiry, on the other hand, has a further dimension. . . . If 14 the officer’s mistake as to what the law requires is reasonable, [then] the officer is entitled 15 to the immunity defense.” Saucier, 533 U.S. at 205. Qualified immunity is meant “to protect 16 officers from the sometimes hazy border between excessive and acceptable force.” Id. at 206 17 (internal quotations omitted). Courts are to “concentrate at the outset on the definition of the 18 constitutional right and to determine whether, on the facts alleged, a constitutional violation 19 could be found[.]” Id. at 207. Thus, the first step of the qualified immunity inquiry is a 20 determination of whether Plaintiffs can pass the objective reasonableness test. See id. at 200 21 (“[T]he first inquiry must be whether a constitutional right would have been violated on the 22 facts alleged[.]”). If Plaintiffs cannot pass this “threshold question,” then “there is no 23 necessity for further inquiries concerning qualified immunity.” Id. at 201. 24 Here, Plaintiffs cannot pass the objective reasonableness test for establishing the 25 violation of a constitutional right. The facts alleged, viewed in the light most favorable to 26 Plaintiffs, are functionally indistinguishable from those in Billington v. Smith, 292 F.3d 1177 27 (9th Cir. 2002). In Billington, a suspect fled from a police officer and a high-speed car chase 28 ensued. Id. at 1180. The suspect’s car eventually crashed, and the pursuing police officer -6- 1 exited his vehicle and approached the wreck, intending to render assistance and arrest the 2 suspect. Id. Although other officers were on the way, the officer in question was the only 3 officer at the scene. Id. After the officer approached the wreck, the suspect grabbed him by 4 the throat and started hitting the officer. Id. at 1181. The officer tried to back away, but the 5 suspect held onto him, yelling at the officer to shoot him. Id. The officer repeatedly struck 6 the suspect in the head with a large flashlight, to no effect. Id. The suspect continued to 7 punch and kick the officer as the two grappled, landing one blow that cut the officer’s head 8 and knocked off his glasses. Id. According to the officer, the two men then began struggling 9 for the officer’s firearm, and the officer felt the slide move back toward the locked position 10 (so that it could not fire). Id. At that point, fearing for his life, the officer moved the slide 11 forward and fired, killing the suspect. Id. The accounts of witnesses who observed the fight, 12 while differing in certain respects, were generally in agreement that the suspect was the 13 aggressor and was winning the fight. Id. at 1182. 14 The Billington court pointed out that “[a] police officer may reasonably use deadly 15 force where he ‘has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a threat of serious 16 physical harm, either to the officer or to others.’” Id. at 1184 (quoting Tennessee v. Garner, 17 471 U.S. 1, 11 (1985)). The court then concluded that “[u]nder the circumstances, a 18 reasonable officer would perceive a substantial risk that [the suspect] would seriously injure 19 or kill him, either by beating and kicking him, or by taking his gun and shooting him with 20 it.” Id. at 1185. Significantly, the Ninth Circuit held that the officer’s actions were 21 objectively reasonable even though there was a genuine issue of fact as to whether the men 22 were grappling over the firearm. Id. The Ninth Circuit so reasoned because the officer “was 23 locked in hand-to-hand combat and losing,” and thus whether the men were grappling over 24 the firearm was not a “material” fact. Id. (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)). Specifically, the 25 court relied on the facts that the suspect was “the aggressor,” was “actively, violently, and 26 successfully resist[ing] arrest and physically attack[ing]” the officer, and “was getting the 27 upper hand.” Id. Thus, the court concluded that the suspect “posed an imminent threat of 28 injury or death; indeed, the threat of injury had already been realized by [the suspect’s] blows -7- 1 and kicks.” Id. On that basis, the Ninth Circuit found summary judgment appropriate. See 2 id. 3 In this case, likewise, the only facts in the record regarding the altercation establish 4 that Officer Burnsides “was locked in hand-to-hand combat and losing.” Id. 5 86 ¶ 198.) Jensen attacked Burnsides, knocking him to the ground and striking him in the 6 head and torso. (Dkt. # 76 Ex. 1 at 274-75.) Burnsides attempted to subdue Jensen and 7 called out for help, but no help came. (Id. at 276.) Burnsides repeatedly attempted to 8 incapacitate Jensen with the Taser, but “he just fought harder.” (Id. at 277.) Jensen then 9 pinned Burnsides to the ground and began to pry the Taser out of his hand. (Id. at 279.) 10 Jensen persisted even though Burnsides un-holstered his pistol and threatened to shoot, 11 actually telling Burnsides to “go ahead.” (Id. at 282.) It was not until Burnsides was holding 12 onto the Taser by his “last fingers,” pinned to the ground with no avenue of escape, that he 13 used deadly force. (Id. at 282-83.) Like Billington, the only independent witness to the fight 14 (the police dispatcher) agreed that Jensen was attacking Burnsides and was a mortal threat 15 to him. (See Dkt. # 76 at 3-5; Dkt. # 81 at 7-9, 11, 13; see also Dkt. # 81 Ex. 19(h) at 129.) 16 Plaintiffs raise no evidentiary objections to any of Burnsides’ testimony and offer no 17 evidence that Jensen did not attack Burnsides, that he did not strike him repeatedly, that he 18 did not pin him to the ground, and that he did not attempt to get the Taser out of his hand. 19 Plaintiffs’ arguments about the timing of the intoxilyzer tests, whether Jensen’s blows are 20 more properly described as “hitting” or “kicking,” and whether Jensen maneuvered his hands 21 in front or whether they were cuffed in front initially are simply not relevant to the fact that 22 the two men were engaged in a physical altercation and the officer was losing. Plaintiffs 23 point out that Jensen was “handcuffed” and “unarmed,” but, even in that condition, it is 24 undisputed that he was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the officer and had gained the 25 upper hand. Plaintiffs point out that Jensen had been subjected to four Taser applications, 26 but, again, the evidence is undisputed that those applications, like the flashlight strikes to the 27 suspect’s head in Billington, did not deter the decedent from assaulting the officer. See 292 28 F.3d at 1181. Similarly, Plaintiffs’ arguments that Burnsides “knew that backup was on the -8- (See Dkt. # 1 way” and that his Taser was “on the safety” are undermined by the fact that the officer in 2 Billington also knew that backup was on the way, and also allowed his firearm to enter a 3 locked mode, but neither factor affected the Ninth Circuit’s analysis. See id. The undisputed 4 facts establish that Jensen posed “an immediate threat to the safety of the officer[]” and was 5 “actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight.” Graham, 490 U.S. at 396. 6 Thus, under Billington, Burnsides’ actions were objectively reasonable.5 7 Plaintiffs attempt to distinguish Billington in two ways. First, Plaintiffs argue that 8 “[t]his case is distinguished from [Billington] in that there is no evidence that [Jensen] hit or 9 kicked Burnsides.” (Dkt. # 80 at 9.) This argument is inexplicable given Plaintiffs’ 10 subsequent admission: “Plaintiffs will concede that Burnsides’ deposition testimony provides 11 that [Jensen] was kicking him in the face and in the head.” (Dkt. # 81 at 5.) Regardless, not 12 only is there evidence that Jensen physically attacked and forcefully struck Burnsides in a 13 variety of ways (Dkt. # 76 Ex. 1 at 274-83), but there is no evidence in the record to 14 contradict that evidence. Plaintiffs’ argument is therefore unavailing. 15 Second, Plaintiffs attempt to distinguish Billington by arguing that “the testimony is 16 uncontroverted that [Jensen] did not reach for Burnsides’ gun.” (Dkt. # 80 at 9.) This is true, 17 but immaterial. Billington explicitly stated that whether or not an assailant reaches for an 18 officer’s firearm is not a material fact if the officer “was locked in hand-to-hand combat and 19 losing.” 292 F.3d at 1185. Under such circumstances, “a reasonable officer would perceive 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 5 Plaintiffs also argue that their police expert has concluded that it was objectively unreasonable to shoot Jensen. (Dkt. # 80 at 9; see Dkt. # 81 Ex. 7 ¶ 12.) Defendants object to this evidence on a variety of grounds. (Dkt. # 86 at 6-8.) However, as stated by the Ninth Circuit in Billington, “for summary judgment purposes, ‘the fact that an expert disagrees with the officer’s actions does not render the officer’s actions unreasonable.’” 292 F.3d at 1189 (quoting Reynolds v. County of San Diego, 84 F.3d 1162, 1170 (9th Cir. 1996)). The expert (who, in fact, is the same expert that was involved in the Billington case) relies on the same evidence advanced by Plaintiffs (see Dkt. # 81 Ex. 7 ¶ 12), and the Court has concluded that none of that evidence is material to whether the officer’s use of force was objectively reasonable under the reasoning of Billington. Because the evidence would not create a genuine issue of material fact even if admissible, the Court need not reach Defendants’ evidentiary arguments. -9- 1 a substantial risk that [the suspect] would seriously injure or kill him, either by beating and 2 kicking him, or by taking his gun and shooting him with it.” Id. (emphases added). Thus, 3 Plaintiffs offer the Court no reason to find Billington distinguishable. 4 Having examined all of the evidence in the record, and having viewed that evidence 5 in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, the Court finds that there is no genuine issue of 6 material fact as to the objective reasonableness of Burnsides’ actions and that Defendants are 7 entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Thus, “there is no necessity for further inquiries 8 concerning qualified immunity,” Saucier, 533 U.S. at 201, and Defendants’ Motion for 9 Summary Judgment must be granted on Plaintiffs’ excessive force claims.6 b. 10 Municipal Liability 11 Defendants move for summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ claim that the City of Williams 12 is subject to liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Dkt. # 75 at 11-14.) Defendants spend 13 several pages discussing how the evidence in the record leaves no inference that the City 14 engaged in negligent hiring, training, and supervision, or that it ratified or tolerated the use 15 of excessive, unreasonable, and deadly force by its officers. (Dkt. # 75 at 11-13.) In fact, 16 Defendants break down their argument into three separate subsections based on Plaintiffs’ 17 claims, with specific legal and factual argument under each. (See id.) Defendants have met 18 their initial burden of disputing whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, and thus the 19 burden is on Plaintiffs to establish such fact. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-23. 20 Plaintiffs’ response, after restating the undisputed legal standard, is this: Plaintiffs submit that there is evidence of a widespread policy and custom of the City of Williams of deliberate indifference in governing its police department. (See PSOF ¶¶ 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 71, 72, 73, 74, 102, 106, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 116, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 160, and 165.). This 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 6 The Court’s resolution of Plaintiffs’ excessive force claims obviates any need to determine whether punitive damages are available against Burnsides in his individual capacity, and Plaintiffs concede that they are not asserting punitive damages against the City of Williams. (Dkt. # 80 at 13.) Thus, the Court need not reach the parties’ arguments about punitive damages. - 10 - 1 wide spread [sic] practice was the moving force behind the constitutional violations perpetrated against [Jensen] by Burnsides. 2 3 (Dkt. # 80 at 10-11.) That is the entirety of Plaintiffs’ response. 4 Plaintiffs’ response is insufficient to constitute an argument before this Court. “Our 5 circuit has repeatedly admonished that we cannot manufacture arguments [for a party] . . . . 6 Rather, we review only issues which are argued specifically and distinctly . . . .” Indep. 7 Towers of Wash. v. Washington, 350 F.3d 925, 929 (9th Cir. 2003) (internal quotations 8 omitted and emphasis added). Moreover, “[w]e require contentions to be accompanied by 9 reasons.” Id. at 930 (emphasis added). If an argument is not properly argued and explained, 10 the argument is waived. See, e.g., id. at 929-30 (holding that a party’s argument was waived 11 because “[i]nstead of making legal arguments,” the party simply made a “bold assertion” of 12 error, with “little if any analysis to assist the court in evaluating its legal challenge”); Hibbs 13 v. Dep’t of Human Res., 273 F.3d 844, 873 n.34 (9th Cir. 2001) (finding that an assertion of 14 error was “too undeveloped to be capable of assessment” and thus waived). 15 As expressed by the Ninth Circuit in Keenan v. Allan, this requirement is particularly 16 important in responding to a motion for summary judgment, and the failure to properly argue 17 that a genuine issue of material fact exists will not prevent a trial court from entering 18 summary judgment. See 91 F.3d 1275, 1278-79 (9th Cir. 1996) (declining to scour either the 19 record or a party’s briefings, which “obfuscate[d] rather than promote[d] an understanding 20 of the facts,” to determine if a genuine issue of material fact existed because a court is 21 entitled to rely on “the nonmoving party to identify with reasonable particularity the evidence 22 that precludes summary judgment”). In fact, the Keenan court found the nonmoving party’s 23 briefs deficient specifically because they “habitually list[ed] multiple citations in lieu of 24 simply stating the material facts disputed on appeal.” Id. at 1279. The Ninth Circuit 25 therefore found that the nonmoving party had “failed to identify any triable issue of material 26 fact.” Id. 27 Here, Plaintiffs make the bold assertion that evidence supports their claim for 28 municipal liability, and then cite a string of paragraph numbers from their statement of facts - 11 - 1 that ostensibly support that contention. (Dkt. # 80 at 10-11.) That is not an argument, much 2 less the “specific[] and distinct[]” argument that is required. See Indep. Towers, 350 F.3d at 3 930. Neither is Plaintiffs’ contention “accompanied by reasons.” Id. at 930. Moreover, 4 Plaintiffs’ factual assertion is no more than a “list [of] multiple citations in lieu of simply 5 stating the material facts disputed,” which the Ninth Circuit has found improper in opposing 6 a motion for summary judgment. See Keenan, 91 F.3d at 1279. Therefore, Plaintiffs have 7 “failed to identify any triable issue of material fact,” id., and Defendants’ motion must be 8 granted. 9 However, even if Plaintiffs’ assertion could be termed an acceptable argument, 10 summary judgment would still be appropriate because none of the citations to which 11 Plaintiffs refer raise a genuine issue of material fact on Plaintiffs’ claim for municipal 12 liability under § 1983. “[A] municipality can be found liable under § 1983 only where the 13 municipality itself causes the constitutional violation at issue.” City of Canton v. Harris, 489 14 U.S. 378, 385 (1989) (citing Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694-95 (1978)). 15 To succeed on a § 1983 cause of action against a municipality, Plaintiffs must show that a 16 policy, practice, or custom of the municipality permitted the alleged constitutional violation 17 to occur. See Christie v. Iopa, 176 F.3d 1231, 1235 (9th Cir. 1999). However: 18 19 20 21 [I]t is not enough for a § 1983 plaintiff merely to identify conduct properly attributable to the municipality. The plaintiff must also demonstrate that, through its deliberate conduct, the municipality was the “moving force” behind the injury alleged. That is, a plaintiff must show that the municipal action was taken with the requisite degree of culpability and must demonstrate a direct causal link between the municipal action and the deprivation of federal rights. 22 Bd. of County Comm’rs v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 404 (1997). “Where a plaintiff claims that 23 the municipality has not directly inflicted an injury, but nonetheless has caused an employee 24 to do so, rigorous standards of culpability and causation must be applied to ensure that the 25 municipality is not held liable solely for the actions of its employee.” Id. at 405. There is 26 no issue for trial unless there is sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party; if the 27 28 - 12 - 1 evidence is merely colorable or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be 2 granted. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50. 3 Here, the paragraphs to which Plaintiffs refer contain no evidence of a “direct causal 4 link between the municipal action and the deprivation of federal rights.”7 Brown, 520 U.S. 5 at 404. Paragraphs 23-31 merely contain procedural facts about who occupied the position 6 of police chief at any given time. (See Dkt. # 81 ¶¶ 23-31.) Paragraphs 32-38 contain the 7 opinion of a single police officer that he and other officers were stressed about the 8 administrative setup of the police department. (See Dkt. # 81 ¶¶ 32-38.) There is no 9 evidence, however, that any such stress caused Burnsides’ actions. While there is evidence 10 that Burnsides reported being stressed on January 22 (see Dkt. # 81 ¶ 74), there is no 11 evidence that any such stress caused his actions on the day of the incident two weeks later. 12 Paragraphs 71-74, 102, and 106 refer to the deposition of a police supervisor who wrote in 13 a memo, as Plaintiffs put it, that “the integrity of the Williams Police Department had been 14 jeopardized” by its relationship with the City of Williams. Again, there are no facts 15 suggesting that Burnsides’ actions on the day in question were in any way caused by the 16 relationship between the City and its police department. Paragraphs 109-31 involve the 17 deposition of an interim administrative chief, who testified that he discussed the contents of 18 the supervisor’s memo with the supervisor. (See Dkt. # 81 ¶¶ 109-31.) Just as the 19 supervisor’s own testimony does not make any allegations causally related to the incident, 20 the administrative chief’s recapitulation of that testimony does not raise any facts linking 21 municipal action or inaction to a deprivation of Jensen’s and Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights. 22 Finally, Paragraphs 160 and 165 discuss Burnsides’ complaints about the administrative 23 chief. They too do not state any facts linking the City’s actions and Jensen’s death, much 24 less facts of sufficient causality so as to survive summary judgment. 25 26 7 27 28 As above, the Court need not resolve Defendants’ evidentiary objections to these asserted facts because, even if admissible, they would not raise facts sufficient to survive summary judgment. - 13 - 1 In short, none of Plaintiffs’ citations raise evidence implicating a “direct causal link 2 between the municipal action and the deprivation of federal rights.” Brown, 520 U.S. at 404. 3 Even if the facts to which Plaintiffs refer could be interpreted as raising a colorable inference 4 of municipal liability, that would not satisfy the “rigorous standards of culpability and 5 causation [that] must be applied to ensure that the municipality is not held liable solely for 6 the actions of its employee.” Id. at 405; see Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50. Therefore, 7 summary judgment is appropriate on Plaintiffs’ claim for municipal liability. 8 9 10 Thus, the Court grants summary judgment to Defendants on all of Plaintiffs’ federal law claims. 2. State Claims 11 Defendants also move for summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ state law claims. 12 However, because the Court has entered summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ federal law claims, 13 the original basis for federal jurisdiction over this case no longer exists. In this situation, the 14 Court has the discretion either to retain jurisdiction over the case or to dismiss the case so 15 that it may proceed in state court. See Acri v. Varian Assocs., Inc., 114 F.3d 999, 1000 (9th 16 Cir. 1997) (“[A] federal district court with power to hear state law claims has discretion to 17 keep, or decline to keep, them under the conditions set out in § 1367(c) . . . . That state law 18 claims should be dismissed if federal claims are dismissed before trial has never meant that 19 they must be dismissed.”) (internal citations and quotations omitted). That decision is 20 informed by the values of “economy, convenience, fairness, and comity.” Id. at 1001 21 (internal quotations omitted). The United States Supreme Court has held that “in the usual 22 case in which all federal-law claims are eliminated before trial, the balance of factors . . . will 23 point toward declining to exercise jurisdiction over the remaining state-law claims.” 24 Carnegie-Mellon Univ. v. Cohill, 484 U.S. 343, 350 n.7 (1988). 25 In this case, the balance of factors counsel that the Court should decline to exercise 26 jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims. This case is still at a sufficiently early stage 27 such that little, if any, judicial economy will be lost in declining jurisdiction, and it will 28 certainly be as convenient and fair to the parties to litigate the state law claims in state court. - 14 - 1 Moreover, as several of the issues in this case may require interpretation of Arizona law, the 2 Arizona courts have a vested interest in interpreting and applying state law themselves. 3 Therefore, the Court declines to exercise jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s state law claims. 4 Plaintiffs are free to refile their state law claims in state court. 5 Because the Court no longer has jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ state law claims, 6 Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment on those claims is denied as moot. 7 II. 8 9 10 Defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings Defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings likewise involves only Plaintiffs’ state law claims. Because the Court no longer has jurisdiction over those claims, Defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings is denied as moot. 11 CONCLUSION 12 Plaintiffs have failed to raise any genuine issue of material fact that would prevent 13 entry of summary judgment on their federal law claims, and the Court declines to exercise 14 jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims. 15 16 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. # 75) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. 17 18 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Dkt. # 72) is DENIED AS MOOT. 19 20 21 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED directing the Clerk of the Court to terminate this action. DATED this 22nd day of October, 2008. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 - 15 -
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