2005 Decisions

Opinions of the United

States Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit

6-29-2005

Boatner v. Hinds

Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 05-1320

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Recommended Citation

"Boatner v. Hinds" (2005). 2005 Decisions. Paper 944.

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CPS-197 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

NO. 05-1320

________________

HARRY BOATNER,

 Appellant

 v.

SANDRA HINDS, Jail Nurse; MELISSA AMODIE, District Justice;

TOM SANSONE, Detective; WILLIAM F. HALL, Warden;

NEW CASTLE POLICE DEPT.; DAVID CUMO, Police Officer

_____________________________________

On Appeal From the United States District Court

For the Western District of Pennsylvania

(D.C. Civ. No. 02-cv-01671)

District Judge: Honorable Arthur J. Schwab

_______________________________________

Submitted For Possible Dismissal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) 

April 7, 2005

Before: ALITO, McKEE and AMBRO, Circuit Judges

(Filed June 29, 2005 )

_______________________

OPINION

_______________________

PER CURIAM
 Boatner also appears to seek injunctive relief, but nowhere is it made clear what 1

specific injunctive relief is requested.

2

Harry Boatner appeals from the District Court’s unfavorable resolution of his complaint

seeking monetary damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Because we conclude that the 1

complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and seeks monetary relief

against defendants who are immune, and because the appeal is frivolous, we will dismiss

under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).

On July 17, 2002, Boatner attempted to burglarize a school. While breaking into

the building, he injured his hand and went to a nearby hospital for stitches. Boatner was

arrested after police discovered discarded bloodstained clothing in the hospital’s

bathroom. The clothing matched those worn by the suspect as described by several

witnesses at the scene. The police applied for a search warrant to take Boatner’s blood

and match it against the blood found on the clothes and at the school. The warrant

application was granted. Several officers retrieved Boatner from a jail holding area and

when they informed him of the warrant, he resisted, injuring Officer Sansone. During the

extraction, the nurse missed finding a vein several times due to Boatner’s struggling, but

then wiped blood from a wound he suffered while resisting the escorting officers. 

On September 30, 2002, Boatner filed an action under § 1983 against six named

defendants. Specifically, Boatner claims nurse Sandra Hines took his blood without

consent; New Castle County District Justice Amodie issued a search warrant without

probable cause; Officer Sansone used excessive force; Officer Cumo arrested him without
3

probable cause; Warden Hall employed workers who committed unlawful acts, and the

New Castle County Police Department “did employ an abusive police officer.” 

On February 19, 2004, the District Court either dismissed the complaint or granted

summary judgment as to all claims and parties with the exception of the excessive force

claim against Officer Sansone. On July 14, 2004, Boatner moved to amend his complaint

adding two new defendants: Major Micco for using threats and excessive force to hold his

arm during the withdrawal of blood, and Captain Adamo who allegedly assaulted and

injured Boatner during an unidentified incident. The motion to amend was denied. On

January 3, 2005, the District Court granted Defendant Sansone’s motion for summary

judgment. Boatner then filed this appeal challenging each of the District Court’s orders.

With respect to his claims against Justice Amodie and Nurse Hines, the defendants

are immune from suit. There is no doubt Justice Amodie is entitled to absolute judicial

immunity for the act of and consequences stemming from the issuance of the search

warrant. See Gallas v. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 211 F.3d 760, 768-69 (3d Cir.

2000). Defendant Hines is also immune from suit. An “action taken pursuant to a

facially valid court order receives absolute immunity from § 1983 lawsuits for damages.” 

Hamilton v. Leavy, 322 F.3d 776, 782-83 (3d Cir. 2003). Nurse Hines was acting

pursuant to a facially valid warrant to withdraw blood. Accordingly, Amodie and Hines

are absolutely immune from suit under § 1983.
4

With respect to Officers Cumo and Sansone, an appeal from the denial of the

claims is frivolous. Boatner’s claim against Cumo cannot be sustained. Probable cause is

determined by the totality of the circumstances. See Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 233

(1983). Based on Cumo’s affidavit of probable cause, the factual basis of which goes

largely unchallenged, there can be no doubt that probable cause existed. With respect to

Officer Sansone, the claim is equally frivolous. A year after filing the initial complaint,

Boatner was convicted and sentenced on charges stemming from his assault on Sansone. 

At the sentencing hearing, Boatner admitted that he had no recollection of the event and

stated, “I would be more apt to take his [Sansone’s] word about what happened than my

own, because I don’t know.” Boatner presents no other evidence to support his

allegations. 

With respect to Warden Hall and the New Castle County Police Department, see

Bonenberger v. Plymouth Township, 132 F.3d 20, 25 n.4 (3d Cir. 1997) (“we treat the

municipality and its police department as a single entity for purposes of § 1983

liability.”), Boatner fails to state a claim. A government entity may be liable for the

actions of its employees only if the plaintiff identifies a policy or custom that amounts to

deliberate indifference to individual rights. See City of Canton, Ohio v. Harris, 489 U.S.

378, 388-89 (1989); Natale v. Camden County Corr. Facility, 318 F.3d 575, 583-84 (3d

Cir. 2003). Because in neither case does Boatner allege any policy or custom that caused

the alleged violation, he fails to state a claim.
5

Finally, we review the denial of a motion to amend a complaint for abuse of

discretion. See Fraser v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 352 F.3d 107, 116 (3d Cir. 2003). 

The District Court denied Boatner’s motion to amend because first, the inclusion of the

two new defendants constituted undue delay. At least with respect to Micco, Boatner was

aware of the basis for a complaint at the time of filing. He states he feared retaliation

from Micco, but provides no basis for such assumptions. Second, with respect to Adamo,

Boatner fails to indicate how Adamo is connected to the current action. Defending

against such a claim would clearly prejudice the defense. Accordingly, an appeal from

the District Court’s decision is frivolous.

For the foregoing reasons, the appeal is utterly lacking in legal merit. We will

dismiss under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii). Boatner’s request for appointment of

counsel on appeal is denied.