Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00169/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00169-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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26 ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION - 1

2:06-CV-0169-RRB-GGH

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

No. 2:06-CV-0169-RRB-GGH

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS’

MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION

BUT GRANTING BIFURCATION

At Docket 46 are Defendants County of Sacramento, et al.

(“Defendants”) with a Motion for Reconsideration of Court’s Ruling

on Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment or in the Alternative,

Partial Summary Judgment. The motion is opposed at Docket 48 and,

for reasons stated herein, is hereby DENIED.

Plaintiff’s expert testified that certain videotapes

showed deputies acting with excessive force. Docket 48 at 3

(citations omitted).

If a jury concludes the deputies were indeed acting with

excessive force, and everything the deputies did was within the

department’s policies, customs, and practices, as set forth by

Defendants’ agents, i.e., Captain Iwasa, and Sheriff McGinness,

BRANDEN JOHNSON,

Plaintiff,

vs.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, et al.,

Defendants.

Case 2:06-cv-00169-RRB-GGH Document 58 Filed 09/27/07 Page 1 of 2
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26 ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION - 2

2:06-CV-0169-RRB-GGH

than a jury could further find that Defendants have a custom,

practice or policy of excessive force. As a consequence, the Court

concludes triable issues of fact exist as to whether: (1) such a

policy and/or custom exists; and (2) this policy and/or custom was

the moving force behind the alleged excessive force used against

Plaintiff. Monell v. Department of Social Services of City of New

York, 436 U.S. 658, 694-95 (1978)(since this case may involve

official policies and/or customs as the moving force of the alleged

constitutional violation, triable issues of fact exist).

However, the first issue the jury must consider is

whether excessive force was employed in this case. If it was not,

there will be no need to address the Monell issue. Therefore, the

Court will bifurcate the issues for trial. If the jury finds that

excessive force was employed in this matter, additional testimony

will be taken and the jury will be asked to address the Monell

issue.

ENTERED this 27th day of September, 2007.

S/RALPH R. BEISTLINE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:06-cv-00169-RRB-GGH Document 58 Filed 09/27/07 Page 2 of 2