Sunde v. Haley, et al, No. 3:2012cv00416 - Document 119 (D. Nev. 2014)
Court Description: ORDER granting Defendants' 107 Motion for Summary Judgment. The Clerk shall enter judgment and close the case. Signed by Judge Robert C. Jones on 9/25/2014. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - KR)
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Sunde v. Haley, et al Doc. 119 Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 1 of 13 1 RICHARD A. GAMMICK Washoe County District Attorney 2 5 HERBERT B. KAPLAN Deputy District Attorney Nevada State Bar 7395 P.O. Box 11130 Reno, NV 89520-0027 (775) 337-5700 6 ATTORNEY FOR WASHOE COUNTY 3 4 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 9 *** 10 VIKTORIYA SOKOL SUNDE et al. , 11 Plaintiffs, 12 Case No. 3:12-CV-00416-RCJ-WGC vs. PROPOSED ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 13 MICHAEL HALEY et al., 14 Defendants. / 15 16 This matter was initiated by Plaintiff, VIKTORIYA SOKOL SUNDE, by the filing of a 17 complaint on August 7, 2012. The Complaint alleged approximately 19 different federal and 18 state law claims. Included as a plaintiff in that complaint was J. Michael Sunde, Ms. Sunde’s 19 husband. Defendants filed motions to dismiss, which were granted in part and denied in part by 20 virtue of the Court’s Order entered on March 7, 2013. (Doc #32) In sum, the Court granted the 21 motions to dismiss with the exception of the excessive force claim against only Deputy Lightner 22 and the unlawful arrest claim against both Deputy Lightner and Deputy Shigeta, which are the 23 only surviving claims. The Court also dismissed all claims brought by J. Michael Sunde, leaving 24 only Ms. Sunde as the sole remaining plaintiff. 25 26 Deputy Lightner and Deputy Shigeta filed a motion for summary judgment on March 28, 2014. That motion is presently before the Court for adjudication. -1Dockets.Justia.com Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 2 of 13 1 Ms. Sunde failed to file any opposition to that motion for summary judgment. Pursuant 2 to LR 7-2(d), “The failure of an opposing party to file points and authorities in response to any 3 motion shall constitute a consent to the granting of the motion.” 4 I. 5 FACTS The material facts not genuinely in issue, or those which cannot be genuinely disputed, 6 involved in this matter are as follows. 7 On August 18, 2010, Ms. Sunde was a party in a hearing being conducted in Department 6 of the 8 Second Judicial District Court, in and for Washoe County, State of Nevada. Complaint (Doc #1) 9 at p. 1, &1. The Honorable Brent Adams presided over the August 18, 2010 hearing. Deputy 10 Charles Lightner is a deputy sheriff and was acting in the capacity as bailiff for Judge Adams’ 11 courtroom on that date. Complaint (Doc #1) at p. 4, &10. Deputy Robert Shigeta is a deputy 12 sheriff and was acting in that capacity as he was present in Judge Adams’ courtroom. Complaint 13 (Doc #1) at p. 4, &11. 14 Prior to the hearing on August 18, 2010, Deputy Malloy informed Deputy Lightner that 15 Ms. Sunde had been involved in another incident at the courthouse in which she was disruptive 16 to the extent that deputies were summoned to intervene. The prior incident occurred in July 17 2010 when Ms. Sunde appeared at the courthouse along with her husband. At that time, Ms. 18 Sunde and her husband, J. Michael Sunde, were seeking an immediate hearing due to actions 19 taken in connection with the paralegal business the subject of that underlying litigation. Ms. 20 Sunde was very upset and agitated at the time due to the actions of William O’Mara and David 21 O’Mara, the attorneys who were representing the adverse party in the underlying litigation. Due 22 to Ms. Sunde’s behavior at the courthouse that day, deputies were summoned to intervene to stop 23 Ms. Sunde’s disruptive behavior. 24 On August 18, 2010, while the hearing was in progress, Judge Adams admonished Ms. 25 Sunde several times for disrupting the proceedings. At the afternoon break, Judge Adams had 26 informed Deputy Lightner, in an effort to maintain the order and decorum of the proceedings, -2- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 3 of 13 1 that he should remove Ms. Sunde from the courtroom if she spoke or disrupted the hearing again. 2 After the hearing had reconvened following the afternoon break, Ms. Sunde spoke a few words 3 from counsel table while her husband was testifying on the witness stand, and was immediately 4 ordered by Judge Adams removed from the courtroom.1 After Judge Adams had ordered Ms. 5 Sunde removed from the courtroom, he stated, “I also want to note for the record that Mrs. 6 Sunde, despite the admonition of the Court, has continued to speak out during these proceedings, 7 and that will not be permitted. That’s why, a few moments ago, she was removed from the 8 courtroom. If she resists the conduct of the bailiff in enforcing decorum of the courtroom, she 9 will be arrested and taken into custody. I will not permit any outburst on the part of any party to 10 this proceeding, they’ll be dealt with severely by the Court.” Deputy Lightner, pursuant to Judge Adams’ order, approached Ms. Sunde and asked her 11 12 to leave the premises. Ms. Sunde initially resisted the order to leave the courtroom, refusing to 13 comply and huffed. Deputy Lightner, pursuant to Judge Adams’ order, escorted Plaintiff out of 14 the courtroom. Deputy Lightner used a light touch in escorting Plaintiff out of the courtroom. 15 Deputy Shigeta opened the courtroom door for Deputy Lightner and Ms. Sunde to exit the 16 courtroom. Almost immediately upon entering the vestibule area outside of the courtroom, Ms. 17 Sunde turned her back to the wall and turned in an aggressive manner facing Deputy Lightner 18 and said something to Deputy Lightner, during which time she struggled against the hold of 19 Deputy Lightner on her arm, pulling out of the light touch. Ms. Sunde raised her right hand during the incident. Deputy Lightner perceived Ms. 20 21 Sunde’s actions as aggressive and threatening. Deputy Lightner then turned Ms. Sunde away 22 from him, and gained control of her against the wall of the vestibule area, while placing her arm 23 behind her back in a rear wristlock hold. The incident in the vestibule area happened very 24 quickly. “It happened in an instant.” Deputy Lightner was reacting and acting as he had been 25 26 1 Plaintiff alleges that court was in recess at the time she was ordered removed. Complaint at pp. 6-7, at &25. The record clearly indicates that court was not in recess. In any event, this fact is of no significance and does not create an issue of fact that would preclude summary judgment. -3- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 4 of 13 1 trained in the police academy. Deputy Shigeta then placed Ms. Sunde in handcuffs. Ms. Sunde 2 initially resisted the application of the handcuffs, but eventually cooperated. The handcuffs were 3 placed on Ms. Sunde in an attempt to calm her down, as she continued to yell and scream at the 4 deputies. Deputy Lightner did not hit Ms. Sunde on the wrists with handcuffs or anything else. 5 The application of the handcuffs was not done with any intention to injure or punish Ms. Sunde. 6 After Deputy Lightner once again had control of Ms. Sunde, he and Deputy Shigeta took her out 7 of the vestibule area and seated her outside of the courtroom. Deputy Lightner remained 8 standing next to Ms. Sunde and the two continued a conversation, with Ms. Sunde being very 9 animated at times, shouting profanities. Deputy Shigeta stood nearby. 10 After Deputy Lightner realized that Ms. Sunde was not going to calm down, as she 11 continued to exhibit hostile behavior, he returned to the courtroom to resume his bailiff 12 responsibilities as the hearing was still ongoing and court was still in session, and other deputies 13 had arrived. At that time, Deputy Shigeta assumed a position standing next to Ms. Sunde. Ms. 14 Sunde was red in the face during the duration of the incident and was very agitated and angry. 15 At no time during the incident did Deputy Lightner smile, smirk or appear to be enjoying the 16 incident with Ms. Sunde; instead, Deputy Lightner was focused on quickly resolving the 17 situation and attempting to calm down Ms. Sunde. Two other Washoe County Deputies arrived 18 at the scene when Deputy Lightner returned to the courtroom. Video at 4:49:03. Sergeant 19 Hamilton approached Ms. Sunde and had his K9 sit next to him while he and other deputies tried 20 to calm Ms. Sunde down. Ms. Sunde continued yelling at the deputies in an animated fashion, 21 yelling obscenities at them and was very angry. Ms. Sunde was then escorted out of the hallway 22 area to the portion of the facility to prepare her for transport to the Washoe County Jail. Video at 23 4:55:27. Ms. Sunde was placed in chains for transport including on her waist, wrists, and around 24 her neck. 25 26 During the time Ms. Sunde was in the holding area, Deputy Lightner was completing the probable cause sheet, which required him to obtain information from Ms. Sunde. Ms. Sunde -4- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 5 of 13 1 refused to answer Deputy Lightner’s questions, responding only to Deputy Kellie Wright. Ms. 2 Sunde continued to yell between answering questions and had trouble maintaining focus. Upon 3 her arrival at the jail facility, Ms. Sunde was seen by Andrea O’Brien in Intake. Ms. Sunde 4 complained of a swollen right arm and pain in her right wrist area. The injuries consisted of 5 “discoloration on her right arm on the triceps” and some redness on her wrist after “Sokol 6 continued to rub the area while she attempted to speak” with the deputy. Deputy Lightner has no connection to or familial or other affiliation with any of the other 7 8 participants, including Judge Adams, David O’Mara or anyone else involved in the underlying 9 civil lawsuit in connection with which Ms. Sunde appeared in Department 6 on August 18, 2010. There was no preplanned scheme on the part of Deputy Lightner, Judge Adams and 10 11 David and Bill O’Mara to treat Ms. Sunde any differently than anyone else. Any conversation 12 that occurred between Deputy Lightner and David O’Mara prior to or during the course of the 13 court proceeding was nothing more than friendly discussion of ordinary everyday nature that one 14 would have with an acquaintance and the same type in which David O’Mara engages with many 15 of the other Court bailiffs. On August 25, 2010, the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal 16 17 Complaint charging Ms. Sunde with Disturbing the Peace, a misdemeanor, and Resisting a 18 Public Officer, a misdemeanor, after conducting an independent investigation. On or about 19 December 2, 2010, the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the criminal action, 20 noting “insufficient evidence” to proceed with the case. Deputy Lightner was exonerated in 21 connection with the internal review of the incident conducted by the Office of Professional 22 Integrity. 23 II. 24 LEGAL STANDARD FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT A court must grant summary judgment when “the movant shows that there is no genuine 25 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. 26 R.Civ. P. 56(a). Material facts are those which may affect the outcome of the case. See -5- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 6 of 13 1 Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A dispute as to a material fact is 2 genuine if there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the nonmoving 3 party. See id. A principal purpose of summary judgment is “to isolate and dispose of factually 4 unsupported claims.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24 (1986). In determining 5 summary judgment, a court uses a burden shifting scheme: 8 When the party moving for summary judgment would bear the burden of proof at trial, it must come forward with evidence which would entitle it to a directed verdict if the evidence went uncontroverted at trial. In such a case, the moving party has the initial burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of fact on each issue material to its case. 9 C.A.R. Transp. Brokerage Co. v. Darden Rests., Inc., 213 F.3d 474, 480 (9th Cir. 2000) (citations 6 7 10 and internal quotation marks omitted). In contrast, when the nonmoving party bears the burden 11 of proving the claim or defense, the moving party can meet its burden in two ways: (1) by 12 presenting evidence to negate an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case; or (2) by 13 demonstrating that the nonmoving party failed to make a showing sufficient to establish an 14 element essential to that party’s case on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. 15 See Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323-24. If the moving party fails to meet its initial burden, 16 summary judgment must be denied and the court need not consider the nonmoving party’s 17 evidence. See Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 159-60 (1970). 18 If the moving party meets its initial burden, the burden then shifts to the opposing party 19 to establish a genuine issue of material fact. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio 20 Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). To establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing 21 party need not establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that “the 22 claimed factual dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties’ differing 23 versions of the truth at trial.” T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 F.2d 24 626, 631 (9th Cir. 1987). In other words, the nonmoving party cannot avoid summary judgment 25 by relying solely on conclusory allegations unsupported by facts. See Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 26 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). Instead, the opposition must go beyond the assertions and -6- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 7 of 13 1 allegations of the pleadings and set forth specific facts by producing competent evidence that 2 shows a genuine issue for trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e); Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324. At the summary judgment stage, a court’s function is not to weigh the evidence and 3 4 determine the truth, but to determine whether there is a genuine issue for trial. See Anderson, 5 477 U.S. at 249. The evidence of the nonmovant is “to be believed, and all justifiable inferences 6 are to be drawn in his favor.” Id. at 255. But if the evidence of the nonmoving party is merely 7 colorable or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted. See id. at 249-50. 8 III. ANALYSIS OF CLAIMS 9 There are two remaining claims in this case: 1) unlawful arrest claim asserted against 10 both Deputy Lightner and Deputy Shigeta; and 2) excessive force claim asserted against only 11 Deputy Lightner. 12 A. 13 U.S.C.A. Const. Amend. IV provides 14 16 The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 17 For any warrantless arrest to be constitutional, probable cause must exist at the time of 18 the arrest. Allen v. City of Portland, 73 F.3d 232, 236-237 (9th Cir.1995). “[I]f an officer has 19 probable cause to believe that an individual has committed even a very minor criminal offence in 20 his presence, he may, without violating the Fourth Amendment, arrest the offender.” Atwater v. 21 Lago Vista, 532 U.S. 318, 354 (2001). Probable cause requires “only the probability, and not a 22 prima facie showing, of criminal activity.” Franklin v. Fox, 312 F.3d 423, 438 (9th 23 Cir.2002)(quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 235 (1983)). 15 UNLAWFUL ARREST CLAIM 24 Probable cause exists so long as the arresting officer has probable cause to arrest the 25 suspect for any criminal offense, regardless of the stated reason for the arrest. Davenpeck v. 26 Alford, 543 U.S. 146, 153-55 (2004). In determining whether probable cause exists, “[A]ll facts -7- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 8 of 13 1 known to the arresting officer and all reasonable inferences that could be drawn are considered.” 2 United States v. Thornton, 710 F.2d 513, 515 (9th Cir.1983) (citing Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S. 3 103, 111-14 (1975). “[P]robable cause exists where under the totality of the circumstances 4 known to the officer, a prudent person would have concluded that there was a fair probability 5 that the suspect had committed or was committing a crime. United States v. Noster, 590 F.3d 6 624, 629-30 (9th Cir. 2009). Because probable cause must be evaluated from the perspective of 7 “prudent men, not legal technicians,” Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160, 176, 69 S.Ct. 8 1302, 1311, 93 L.Ed. 1879 (1949), an officer need not have probable cause for every element of 9 the offense. United States v. Thornton, 710 F.2d 513, 515 (9th Cir.1983). 10 Additionally, the United States Supreme Court has recognized that officers can have 11 reasonable, but mistaken, beliefs as to the facts establishing the existence of probable cause, 12 without holding the officers liable for having violated the arrestee’s constitutional rights. 13 Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 206 (2001). 14 1. Probable Cause Existed 15 Ms. Sunde was arrested on August 18, 2010. A criminal complaint was filed by the 16 Washoe County District Attorney’s Office containing one count for Disturbing the Peace, a 17 violation of Washoe County Code 53.140 and 125.050, NRS 203.010, a misdemeanor, and one 18 count for Resisting a Public Officer, Washoe County Code 53.200 and 125.050, a misdemeanor. 19 Those charges were dismissed by the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office based on 20 “insufficient evidence.” 21 22 Despite the criminal charges having been dismissed, there was probable cause to arrest Ms. Sunde. 23 Defendants have met their burden to show that probable cause existed. 24 Ms. Sunde’s conduct, as evidenced on the video of the incident, and as further evidenced 25 by the affidavits filed herein, was offensive and threatening, as she was verbally abusive and 26 hysterical in the Washoe County Courthouse. She willfully disturbed the peace both in the -8- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 9 of 13 1 courtroom, in the vestibule area, and outside of the courtroom due to her loud and offensive 2 conduct. There was probable cause to arrest Ms. Sunde under Washoe County Code 53.140 3 (Disturbing the peace). 4 Ms. Sunde willfully resisted Deputy Lightner as he attempted to peacefully escort her 5 from the courtroom. Specifically, Ms. Sunde pulled away from Deputy Lightner and turned 6 toward him, thereby delaying and obstructing Deputy Lightner from discharging his duty as a 7 bailiff. Resistance “runs the gamut from the purely passive protestor who simply refuses to 8 stand, to the individual who is physically assaulting the officer.” Bryan v. MacPherson, 630 9 F.3d 805, 830 (9th Cir.2010). Even passive resistance may support the use of some degree of 10 governmental force if necessary to attain compliance. Id. There was probable cause to arrest 11 Ms. Sunde under NRS 199.280 and/or Washoe County Code 53.200 (Resisting public officer). 12 In addition, Ms. Sunde’s conduct interfered with the peaceful conduct normally carried 13 out in the Washoe County Courthouse. That building is undoubtedly a “public building.” Ms. 14 Sunde was requested to leave the building due to her behavior and refused to do so, having to 15 have Deputy Lightner and others assist her leaving. There was probable cause to arrest Ms. 16 Sunde based on NRS 203.119 (Commission of act in public building or area interfering with 17 peaceful conduct of activities) as well. 18 Accordingly, Plaintiff’s wrongful arrest claim must fail, as there is no genuine dispute as 19 to any material fact and Deputy Lightner and Deputy Shigeta are entitled to judgment as a matter 20 of law. 21 22 23 24 2. Qualified Immunity For Arrest In the alternative, Deputy Lightner and Deputy Shigeta are entitled to qualified immunity in connection with the arrest. An officer who makes an arrest without probable cause may still be entitled to qualified 25 immunity if he reasonably believed there to have been probable cause. See Ramirez v. City of 26 Buena Park, 560 F.3d 1012, 1024 (9th Cir.2009). The linchpin of the qualified immunity -9- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 10 of 13 1 analysis is the reasonableness of the officer's conduct in the particular case at hand. Anderson, 2 483 U.S. at 638, 107 S.Ct. 3034. 3 Under 42 U.S.C. §1983, all governmental employees engaged in their professional 4 capacity are entitled to at least qualified immunity from suit. The fundamental purpose served 5 by permitting officials to assert this defense is to prevent “excessive disruption of government” 6 by enabling a resolution of liability claims against officials at the earliest possible time. Harlow 7 v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818(1982). Qualified immunity balances “the need to hold public 8 officials accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly and the need to shield officials 9 from harassment, distraction, and liability when they perform their duties reasonably.” Pearson 10 v. Callahan, 129 S. Ct. 808, 815 (2009). 11 The linchpin of qualified immunity is objective reasonableness. Anderson, 483 U.S. at 12 639, 107 S.Ct. 3034. So long as the officer's actions, viewed from the perspective of the officer 13 at the time, can be seen to be within the range of reasonableness, then no liability will attach. 14 See id. 15 The dispositive question is “whether it is reasonably arguable that there was probable 16 cause for arrest-that is, whether reasonable officers could disagree as to the legality of the arrest 17 such that the arresting officer is entitled to qualified immunity.” Rosenbaum v. Washoe Cnty., 18 663 F.3d 1071, 1076 (9th Cir. 2011). 19 Here, it would not be clear to all reasonable officers that Plaintiff was not committing a 20 crime. As set forth in more detail hereinabove, it would be entirely reasonable for an officer to 21 believe that Ms. Sunde was committing the crimes of 1) Resisting a Public Officer, 2) Disturbing 22 the Peace, and 3) Commission of act in public building or area interfering with peaceful conduct 23 of activities. The evidence in this case supports such a finding. At the very least, reasonable 24 officers could disagree as to the legality of the arrest such that the arresting officers are entitled 25 to qualified immunity. Accordingly, even if probable cause did not exist, Deputy Lightner and 26 Deputy Shigeta would be entitled to a grant of qualified immunity. -10- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 11 of 13 1 B. 2 When effecting an arrest, the Fourth Amendment requires that officers use only such EXCESSIVE FORCE CLAIM FAILS 3 force as is “objectively reasonable” under the circumstances. Jackson v. Cty. of Bremerton, 268 4 F.3d 646, 651 (9th Cir.2001). “The ‘reasonableness’ of a particular use of force must be judged 5 from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of 6 hindsight.” Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865 (1989). To determine 7 whether the force used was reasonable, we must balance “the nature and quality of the intrusion 8 on the individual's Fourth Amendment interest against the countervailing governmental interests 9 at stake.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). All determinations of unreasonable force, 10 however, “must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split 11 second judgments-in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving-about the 12 amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.” Graham, 490 U.S. at 396B97, 109 13 S.Ct. 1865. 14 In the instant case, Deputy Lightner was presented with a very volatile situation. Ms. 15 Sunde was extremely upset by the course of proceedings in the litigation in which she was 16 involved. Deputy Lightner knew that Ms. Sunde had already exhibited an inability to control 17 herself in that same public building, requiring the summoning of numerous deputies to intervene 18 a month prior to the incident at issue here. Deputy Lightner had been present in court during 19 which Ms. Sunde repeatedly disrupted the proceedings, requiring Judge Adams to admonish her 20 as to appropriate conduct in the courtroom. Ms. Sunde was agitated. Ms. Sunde was ordered 21 removed from the courtroom and she was resisting that order. Deputy Lightner perceived Ms. 22 Sunde’s actions as aggressive and hostile. He believed that Ms. Sunde was going to assault him. 23 Considering the information known to Deputy Lightner at the time, it was reasonable for him to 24 perceive Ms. Sunde as a threat to his safety. Ms. Sunde was actively resisting Deputy Lightner. 25 In fact, Ms. Sunde began resisting Deputy Lightner when he had approached her in the 26 courtroom and indicated that she had to leave the courtroom. While that resistance subsided -11- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 12 of 13 1 temporarily while she walked from counsel table to the doorway exiting the courtroom, Ms. 2 Sunde almost immediately began resisting again once through the doorway. When Deputy 3 Lightner attempted to merely control Ms. Sunde, who had been aggressive and hostile toward 4 Deputy Lightner, she continued to resist him. 5 Deputy Lightner also had very little time to determine the type and amount of force that 6 appeared to be necessary. This was a quickly evolving situation, which everyone involved 7 acknowledges. Deputy Lightner was forced to react quickly. 8 As the United States Supreme Court has recognized, 9 Not every push or shove, even if it may later seem unnecessary in the peace of a judge’s chambers, violates the Fourth Amendment. The calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split second judgments-in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving-about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation. 10 11 12 13 Graham, 490 U.S. at 396-97 (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). 14 The United States Supreme Court has warned against “unrealistic second-guessing” of a 15 police officer acting “in a swiftly developing situation.” United States v. Sharpe, 470 U.S. 675, 16 686 (1985). “The question is not simply whether some other alternative was available, but 17 whether the police acted unreasonably in failing to recognize or to pursue it.” Id. at 687; see also 18 Sokolow, 490 U.S. at 10 (reasonableness of officer’s decision to forcibly detain suspect does not 19 turn on availability of less intrusive investigatory techniques). 20 21 22 Ms. Sunde’s version of events is contradicted by the video and by reality. The allegations she makes are simply implausible-no reasonable juror could believe it. When faced with this threat, Deputy Lightner, in a very swiftly developing situation, 23 merely took action to gain control of Ms. Sunde, who was struggling against him doing so. His 24 actions were reasonable under the circumstances. The force used cannot be considered to be 25 excessive under the circumstances, which included having to make a split second decision as to 26 how to respond to a hostile, aggressive woman who was known to have had other incidents at the -12- Case 3:12-cv-00416-RCJ-WGC Document 118 Filed 09/23/14 Page 13 of 13 1 courthouse that required intervention on the part of deputies, and who had throughout the course 2 of the proceeding from which she was removed shown a total disregard for the sanctity of the 3 courtroom or the proceedings. There was no intent to harm Ms. Sunde and there is nothing in the 4 record to suggest that that was the motivation. 5 The force used, viewed in the context of a reasonable officer on the scene and allowing 6 for the fact that officers often have to make split-second decisions under evolving and uncertain 7 circumstances, was “objectively reasonable” under the circumstances. 8 9 10 11 12 For those reasons, the excessive force claim fails. There is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and Deputy Lightner is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. IV. CONCLUSION IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 107) is GRANTED. 13 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall enter judgment and close the case. 14 IT IS SO ORDERED. 15 Dated this 25th day of September, 2014. Dated this day of , 2014. 16 17 18 ROBERT C. JONES United States District Judge 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 -13-
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