# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

No. 1 6- 31 31

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Darryl L. Rid dl e

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

v.

Serg ean t Ti m ot hy Riep e; Offic er Ri ch ard Ro bi ns on , #4 85 4; Offic er J oh n Do e; Alv in Bro ok s, i n h is off

ic ia l an d i nd iv id ua l ca pa ci ti es ; M ic ha el Rad er, i n h is
of fic ia l an d i nd iv id ua l ca pa ci ti es ; An ge la W as so n- Hun t, i n h er o ffi ci al an d
in di vi du al cap aci ti es

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an ts - App el le es

Dav id Kenn er, i n h is off

ic ia l an d i nd iv id ua l ca pa ci ti es

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t

Sy lv es te r “ Sl y ” Ja m es , in hi s o ffi ci al an d i nd iv id ua l ca pa ci ti es ; Dar ry l Fo rte , in hi s of fic ia l an d i nd iv id ua l ca pa ci ti es

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an ts - App el le es

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Weste rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur i - Kan sa s C it y

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Apri l 6 , 20 17
Fil ed : Au gu st 9, 2 01 7

__ __ __ __ __ __Befo re GRUENDER, MURPHY, an d KELLY, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

__ __ __ __ __ __

KELLY, Cir cu it Ju dg e.

Darryl Ri dd le was arre st ed an d ch arg ed wit h hi nd eri ng , ob st ru ct in g, res is ti ng ,

or ot he rwis e in te rfer in g wit h Kan sa s Ci ty po li ce of fic ers in vi ol at io n of Kan sa s Ci ty

Ord in an ce § 50 -4 4 ( a )

. Ri dd le br ou gh t su it ag ai ns t th e of fic ers who arre st ed an d

ch arg ed hi m , as well as ag ai ns t ot he r Kan sa s Ci ty po li ce of fic ia ls

, st at in g cl ai m s fo r,

in te r al ia

, m al ic io us pr os ecu ti on , fab r i c a ti on of ev id en ce, an d co ns pi racy. The

di st ric t co ur t gr an te d su m m ary jud gm en t in fav or of th e de fen da nt s, an d Ri dd le 1

ap pe al s. Fi nd in g n o re ve rs ib le erro r, we affi rm

.

I. Ba ck gr ou nd

The in ci de nt at is su e oc cu rred on Octo be r 1 2

, 2 0 13

, an d was cap tu red in

su bs ta nt ia l pa rt b y t h e o ffi cers ’ da sh bo ard vi de o cam era (d as hc am ). Tha t ev en in g,

Kan sa s C it y

Po li ce Office r Ri ch ard Ro bi ns on at te m pt ed to co nd uc t a t raff

ic st op of

Ri dd le ’s co us in

, Je real McKi nn ey

. In st ead of im m ed ia te ly pu ll in g ov er, McKi nn ey
dr ov e to Ri dd le ’s ho us e, pa rk ed in th e d r i ve way , an d go t ou t of hi s car. Ro bi ns on

ap pr oa ch ed McKi nn ey on th e pa ss en ge r si de of McKi nn ey ’s ve hi cl e an d to ok hi m to

th e gr ou nd

. Seei ng th e po li ce li gh ts

, Ri dd le

, Ri dd l e’s au nt

, an d on e or two ot he r

co us in s ex it ed th e ho us e. Ri dd le st oo d ab ou t te n feet fro m Ro bi ns on an d McKi nn ey

an d watc h e d as Ro bi ns on ha nd cu ffed McKi nn ey , wa lk ed hi m to hi s pa tro l car, an d

qu es ti on ed hi m

.

The Hon or ab le Fern an do J. Gait an , Jr

., Uni t e d S t a t e s Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e 1

W es te rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur i.

-2

-O ffi cer Ky le Old ha m arri ve d in a se pa rat e po li ce car, ex it ed hi s ve hi cl e, an d

ap pr oa ch ed th e sc en e. Ri dd le te st ifi ed th at he di d no t se e O l d h a m, bu t he fel t

so m eo ne to uc h hi s le ft pa nt s po ck et

. The n, Ri dd le st ep p e d b a c k f ro m Old ha m , br ou gh t hi s ha nd s ou t fro m be hi nd hi s ba ck

, an d sa id

, “ St op to uc hi ng m e.” Old ha m

rep li ed , “ I’m go in g to pa t y ou do wn” or “ I’m tryin g to pa t y ou do wn,” an d reac he d

ag ai n fo r Ri dd le ’s po ck et

. Old ha m tri ed to gr ab Ri dd le ’s le ft arm , bu t Ri dd le pu ll ed

it away. Ri dd le st at ed

, “ I’m at ho m e” o r “ Thi s i s m y ho us e,” an d p ul le d a way fro m
Old ha m on ce m or e. Old ha m ex pl ai ne d, “ You ’re ou t he re, so I ha ve to pa t y ou do wn;

m ak e su re y ou ha ve no th in g o n you .” Rid dl e co nt in ue d t o s te p b ack fro m Old ha m

.

At th at po in t, a th ird of

fic er, Serg ean t Tim ot hy Ri ep e, ru sh ed ov er to Old ha m

an d Ri dd le an d to ok Ri dd le to th e gr ou nd

. Ri dd le was ha nd cu ffed an d le ft st an di ng

in fro nt of Ro bi ns on ’s po li ce car. Old ha m , Ro bi ns on , an d Ri ep e st ep pe d ou ts id e of

th e vi ew of th e da sh cam an d di sc us se d wha t oc cu rred

. Ri dd le te st ifi ed th at he he ard

pa rts of th ei r co nv ers at io n, in cl ud in g co m m en ts ab ou t th e an gl e of th e cam era, ta ki ng

Ri dd le to th e gr ou nd

, an d arre st in g hi m

. On th e vi de o, an of fic er can be he ard as ki ng ,

“ Did th at gu y gi ve y ou an y sh it ? ” Ano th er of fic er res po nd s, “ He di dn ’t gi ve m e an y
sh it

. I di dn ’t se e hi m be hi nd m e un ti l Ky le st art ed ta lk in g to hi m

. I’d al read y go tt en

m y gu y cu ffed up an d ha d hi m ba ck on th e bu m pe r.” At th at po in t, Ro bi ns on tu rn ed

of f th e m ic ro ph on e an d ha d a co nv ers at io n wit h Ri ep e ab o u t t he ch arg es Ro bi ns on

in te nd ed to fil e ag ai ns t Ri dd le

.

Tha t ev en in g, Ro bi ns on dra fte d a n i nc id en t re po rt, wh ic h i n p art st at es :

Afte r I ga in ed co nt ro l of Arres t 1 [Mc Kin ne y ] an d walk ed
hi m to m y pa tro l car Arres t 2 [Ri dd le ] ap pr oa ch ed an d to ok

up a po si ti on wit hi n an arm s reac h of m e. PO Old ha m

. . . arri ve d as b a c k -u p an d he m ad e co nt act wit h Arres t 2.

Dur in g th e c o n ta ct PO Old ha m ad vi se d hi m th at he was
go in g to fri sk hi m , du e to hi m refu si ng to lea ve an d bei ng in cl os e pr ox im it y to m e an d Arres t 1

. Dur in g th e

-3

-at te m p t e d f r i sk Arres t 2 pu ll ed away fro m hi m an d st at ed

“ I do n’t wan t y ou to to uc h m e[.]” PO Old ha m ex pl ai ne d to
Arres t 2 th e reas on fo r th e fri sk an d at te m pt ed to fri sk hi m
ag ai n bu t he ag ai n pu ll ed away. Sg t Ri pe (s ic )

. . . ap pr oa ch ed an d us ed an arm ba r to ta ke hi m to th e gr ou nd

. Arres t 2 was ha nd cu ffed an d arre st ed fo r hi nd eri ng an d
in te rfer in g.

Ri dd le was ch arg ed wit h v io la ti ng Kans as Cit y Ordi na nc e § 50 -4 4( a), whi ch

in rel ev an t pa rt st at es : “ Any pe rs on who sh al l in an y way or m an ne r hi nd er, ob st ru ct

,

m ol es t, res is t or ot he rwis e in te rfer e wit h an y ci ty pu bl ic sa fet y of fic er

. . . , in cl ud in g,
bu t no t li m it ed to

. . . an y of fic er of th e ci ty po li ce de pa rtment

. . . in th e di sc ha rg e of

hi s/ he r of fic ia l du ti es sh al l be gu il ty of an or di na nc e vi ol at io n.” Ro bi ns on dr aft ed a

Gen eral Ordi na nc e Su m

m on s, wh ic h re ci te s t he fact s s up po rti ng th e ch arg e as :

Obs tru ct or res is t pu bl ic s a fet y of fic er, em pl oyee, or in sp ect or – Did hi nd er, ob st ru ct

, m ol es t, res is t or ot he rwis e in te rfer e wit h Kan sa s Ci ty Pu bl ic Safe ty Offi cer, em pl oyee

or in sp ect or in th e di sc ha rg e of hi s of fic ia l du ti es , to wit : App ro ach an d co m e in cl os e pr ox ic im it y (s ic ) to arre st in g of fic er an d arre st fai li ng to co m pl y wit h ve rb al co m

m an ds
of off ic er.

The ch arg e a g a in st Ri dd le was no t pr os ecu te d an d was ev en tu al ly di sm is se d. On

Octo be r 28 , 20 14 , Rid dl e fi le d t hi s l aws ui t.

Ri dd le ’s am en de d co m

pl ai nt st at ed ei gh t cl ai m s fo r rel ie f. Defen da nt s m ov ed

fo r su m m ary jud gm en t, an d in res po ns e, Ri dd le ab an d o n e d f i v e of hi s cl ai m s.

R i d dl e’s rem ai ni ng th ree cl ai m s were br ou gh t ag ai ns t Ro bi ns on an d Ri ep e f o r

m al ic io us pr os ecu ti on un de r Mi ss ou ri la w, “fa b r ic at io n of fal se jus ti fic at io n fo r

arre st ” un de r 42 U.S.C. § 19 83

, an d c o n s p ira cy to fab ric at e un de r § 19 83

. The

di st ric t co ur t gr an te d su m m ary jud gm en t ag ai ns t Ri dd le o n a l l cl ai m s, an d Ri dd le

ap pe al s.

-4

-II . Dis cus si on

W e rev ie w de no vo th e di st ric t cou rt’s gran t of su m m ary jud gm en t, “ vi ewin g

al l ev id en ce an d dr awin g al l r e as on ab le in fere nc es in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to ”

Ri dd le

. Helm ig v. Fo wler

, 82 8 F.3 d 75 5, 76 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 16 ). “ Su m m ary jud gm en t

is ap pr op ria te ‘if th e m ov an t sh ows th at th ere is no ge nu in e di sp ut e as to an y m at eri al

fact an d th e m ov an t is en ti tl ed to jud gm en t as a m at te r of la w.’ ” Id

. (q uo ti ng Fed

. R.

Ci v. P. 5 6( a)).

A. Mal ic io us Pros ecut io n Cla im

To su rv iv e su m

m ary jud gm en t on hi s m al ic io us pr os ecu ti on cl ai m un de r

Mi ss ou ri la w, Ri d d l e mu s t sh ow th at th e po li ce of fic ers la ck ed pr ob ab le cau se to

arre st an d pr os ec u t e hi m fo r a vi ol at io n of Kan sa s Ci ty Ord in an ce § 50 -4 4( a). See

Kur tz v. Ci ty of Sh rews bu ry , 24 5 F.3 d 75 3, 75 7– 58 (8 th Ci r. 20 01 ). The di st ric t co ur t

fo un d th at Ri dd le ha d co nc ed ed th at pr ob ab le cau se ex is te d whe n he ab an do ne d hi s

fal se arre st cl ai m , w h i c h a l s o ha s th e la ck of pr ob ab le cau se as an el em en t. Ri dd le

arg ue s th e di st ric t co ur t erre d. W e ag ree th at th e di st ric t co ur t sh ou ld no t ha ve rel ie d

on an ab an do ne d cl ai m to fin d th e pr ob ab le cau se el em en t un sa ti sf ie d. Howev er, we

co nc lu de th at t he cl ai m was pr op erl y di sm is se d be cau se Ri dd le ha s no t sh own th at

th ere is a ge nu in e di sp ut e of m a t e r i a l f a c t as to th e wan t of pr ob ab le cau se fo r hi s

arre st an d ch arg e. See Zah or sk y v. Grif fin

, Dy sa rt, Tay lo r, Pen ne r & Lay

, P.C., 69 0

S.W .2d 14 4, 15 1 (Mo

. C t

. App

. 19 85 ) (“ [T]he pr oo f of al l es se nt ia l el em en ts of

m al ic io us pr os ecu ti on , in cl ud in g wan t of pr ob ab le cau se , m us t be st ric t an d cl ear.” ).

Ri dd le was arre st ed pu rs ua nt to § 50 -4 4( a), wh ic h i n re le va nt pa rt m ak es it a
vi ol at io n to “ hi nd er, ob st ru ct

, m ol es t, res is t or ot he rwis e in te rfer e wit h an y ci ty pu bl ic

sa fet y of fic er

. . . i n th e d i s c h a r g e o f hi s/ he r of fic ia l du ti es .” Kan . C it y Co de § 50

- 44 (a). Sect io n 50 -4 4 is a “ [s ]im il ar pr ov is io n[ ]” to Mi ss ou ri St at ut e § 57 5.1 50

, whi ch

-5

-m ak es fo rm s of res is ti ng an d in te rfer in g wit h arre st s a m is de m ean or

. Kan

. Ci ty Co de

§ 50 -4 4; se e Mo

. Rev

. St at

. § 57 5.1 50 .1. Bu t Kan sa s Ci ty’ s or di na nc e is br oa de r th an

th e Mi ss ou ri st at ut e an d co ve rs a gr eat er ran ge of co nd uc t. See Kan sa s Ci ty v.

LaRo se , 52 4 S.W .2d 11 2, 11 7 (Mo

. ba nc 19 75 ) (p red eces so r to § 55 -4 4 “ ha s si m pl y

go ne fu rth er an d pr oh ib it ed in te rfer en ce” be y on d th at pr oh ib it ed in th e Mi ss ou ri

st at ut e).

The un di sp ut ed fact s de mon st rat e th at Ri dd le st ep pe d away fro m Old ha m

se ve ral ti m es , pu ll ed hi s arm away fro m Old ha m , an d p r e v e n t ed Old ha m fro m

c o n d u c t in g a pa t-d own se arch

. Eve n un de r th e na rro wer Mi ss ou ri st at ut e, su ch

ev id en ce p ro vi de s an off

ic er with pro ba bl e cau se to arre st a pe rs on for res is ti ng hi s

or he r de te nt io n. See Uni te d Stat es v. Col li ns , 20 0 F .3d 11 96

, 11 98 (8 th Ci r. 20 00 )
(an of fic er ha s pr ob ab le cau se to arre st un de r Mi ss ou ri la w, whe re de fen da nt “ reac te d
by jerk in g, an d tu rn in g away fro m [th e of fic er], jerk in g hi s arm free of [th e of fic er’s]

gr as p [][a]nd tak in g a co up le of s te ps [away] ” (al te rat io ns in ori gi na l))

.

Ri dd le ap pe ars to arg ue th at ev en if th ere was pr ob ab le cau se to arre st hi m , th e

fact s al le ge d in th e Su m

m on s do no t su pp or t pr ob ab le cau se fo r hi s pr os ecu ti on

. The

fact s st at ed in th e Su m

m on s to su pp or t th e ch arg e are: “ App ro ach an d co m e in cl os e

pr ox ic im it y (s ic ) to arre st in g of fic er an d arre st fai li n g t o c om pl y wit h ve rb al

co m m an ds of of

fic er.” Si m il ar fact s ha ve be en fo un d su ffi ci en t to co n s t i t ut e a
vi ol at io n of § 50 -4 4( a ) a nd ot he r or di na nc es li ke it

. Cf. LaRo se , 52 4 S.W .2d at

11 9– 20 (“ st an di ng in th e do or way an d refu si ng to un lo ck th e do or ” to pe rm it of fic er

to en te r “ co ns ti tu te d co nd uc t whi ch hi nd ered an d in te rfer ed wit h th e di sc ha rg e of th e
du ty of th e o ffi cers ”); Cit y

of S ed al ia v. Ru ss el l, 6 23 S.W .2d 60 9, 61 0– 11 (Mo

. Ct

. App

. 19 81 ) (rep eat ed ly “ di so be y in g a la wf ul co m m an d of a pol ic e of

fic er” co ns ti tu te d

“a c o u rs e of co nd uc t whi ch ob st ru ct ed an d was cal cu la te d to de feat [ t h e ]

in ve st ig at io n” ). The refo re, Ri dd l e h a s n o t sh own th at th e of fic ers la ck ed pr ob ab le

cau se to is su e th e v io la ti on ba se d o n t he fact s al le ge d i n t he ch arg in g d oc um en t.

-6

-Fi na ll y , Ri dd le ar g u e s t h a t th e di st ric t co ur t sh ou ld no t ha ve di sm is se d hi s

m al ic io us pr os ecu ti on cl ai m be cau se he pr o d u c e d e vi de nc e th at th e of fic ers ha d a

m al ic io us m ot iv e. Eve n if Ri dd le pr od uc ed ev id en ce of m al ic e, su ch ev id en ce wou ld

be in su ffi ci en t to su rv iv e su m m ary jud gm en t whe r e , as he re, Ri dd le ha s no t

de m on st rat ed a la ck of pr ob ab le cau se

. See Za h o r s ky, 69 0 S.W .2d at 15 1 (“ W he n

pr ob ab le cau se ex is ts

, th e is su e of m al ic e be co m es irr el ev an t be cau se ev en if m al ic e
is cl earl y sh own , th e act io n fo r m al ic io u s pr os ecu ti on m us t fai l.”)

. Acco rd in gl y ,

su m m ary jud gm en t o n t he m al ic io us pro se cu ti on cla im was p ro pe r.

B. Fab ri ca tio n o f Ev id ence Cla im

“ [A] m an uf

act ur ed fal se ev id en ce cl ai m req ui res pr oo f th at in ve st ig at or s
d e l i be rat el y fab ric at ed ev id en ce in or de r to fram e a cri m in al de fen da nt .” W in sl ow

v. Sm it h, 69 6 F.3 d 71 6, 73 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ). Ri d d l e arg ue s th at hi s fab ric at io n of

ev id en ce cl ai m was im

pr op erl y di sm is se d be cau se th e Su m m on s fal se ly st at es th at he

cam e in cl os e pr ox im it y to Ro bi ns on an d fai le d to co m pl y wit h th e ve rb al co m

m an ds

of an off ic er.

Ri dd le ha s no t rai se d a ge nu in e is su e of m at e r ia l fact reg ard in g th e fal si ty o f

th e fact s se t fo rth in th e Su m m on s. Ri dd le te st ifi ed th at he was wit hi n te n feet of

Ro bi ns on an d McKi nn e y; t h us , he was st an di ng in cl os e pr ox im it y to Ro bi ns on

. Mo reo ve r, th e vi de o of th e in ci de nt rev eal s th at Ro bi ns on ceas ed hi s qu es ti on in g of

McKi nn ey on ce he be cam e aware of th e co nf ro nt at io n be twee n Ri dd le an d Old ha m ,
pr ov id in g un di spute d ev id en ce th at Ri dd le in te rfer ed wit h an d ob st ru ct ed Ro bi ns on ’s

qu es ti on in g of McKi nn ey

. As to th e fai lu re to co m pl y , Ri dd le ap pe ars to arg ue th at

Old ha m ne ve r ga ve hi m a “ co m m an d,” bu t in st ead st at ed

, “ I’m go in g to pa t y ou
do wn” or “ I’m tryin g to pa t y ou do wn.” Eve n if th e Su m m on s m is ta ke nl y de sc rib ed

t h i s la ng ua ge as a co m

m an d, su ch ne gl ig en ce do es no t am ou nt to fab ric at io n o f

ev id en ce. See Liv ers v. Sch en ck

, 70 0 F.3 d 34 0, 35 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ) (“ Neg li ge nc e an d

ev en gr os s ne gl ig en ce is no t en ou gh ” to sh ow th at ev id en ce was fab ric at ed ). Ri dd le

-7

-al so arg ue s th at he di d in fact co m pl y , bu t th e vi de o refu te s su c h a c on te nt io n; it

sh ows th at Ri dd le co nt in ue d to ba ck up an d pu ll away aft er O l dh am ex pl ai ne d hi s

in te nt io n t o p at hi m

do wn.

Ri dd le po in ts to th e in ci de nt rep or t as ev id en ce of fab ric at io n, arg u i n g th at

Ro bi ns on , t he au th or of th e rep or t, di d n ot see or he ar th e ev en ts de sc rib ed th erei n.

It is no t im

pr op er, an d cert ai nl y no t ev id en ce of fab ric at io n, fo r an of fic er to rel y on
he ars ay to es ta bl is h th e fact s to su pp or t an arre st or c ha rg e. Cf. Car pe nt er v . Gage

, 68 6 F.3 d 64 4, 64 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ) (“ Alt ho ug h ne it he r de pu ty wit ne ss ed th is co nd uc t,

of fic ia ls m ay rel y on he ars ay st at em en ts to de te rm in e th at pr ob ab le cau se ex i s t s

. ” )

. Ri dd le sp eci fic al ly ch al le ng es th e tru th fu ln es s of th e po rti on of th e rep or t th at st at es ,

“ [d ]urin g th e co nt act PO Old ha m a d v i s ed [Ri dd le ] th at he was go in g to fri sk hi m .”

He co nt en ds th at th is se nt en ce m ak es it se em li ke Old ha m st at ed hi s in te nt io n to pa t

hi m do wn be fo re to uc hi ng hi m , whi ch Ri dd le di sp ut es

. Rea d i n g t h e rep or t in th e

li gh t m os t favo rab le to Ri dd le

, an y m is le ad in g im pr es si on th at th e rep or t m ay le av e

as to th e or de r of ev e n t s de m on st rat es at m os t ne gl ig en ce on th e pa rt of Ro bi ns on , whi ch is in su ffi ci en t to su st ai n a fab ric at io n of ev id en ce cl ai m

. See Liv ers , 70 0 F.3 d

at 35 1.

Fi na ll y , Ri dd le arg ue s th at th ere is su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce th at th e of fic ers ha d th e

m ot iv e to fal se ly ch arg e hi m in or de r to jus ti fy Ri ep e’s us e of fo rce. As ev id en ce of

m ot i v e , R i dd le po in ts to th e of fic ers ’ co nv ers at io n ab ou t th e an gl e of th e da sh cam , Ro bi ns on tu rn in g of

f th e m ic ro ph on e to di sc us s th e in ci d e nt an d th e ch arg es , Ro bi ns on ’s st at em en t th at “ He di dn ’t gi ve m e an y sh it ,” an d co nt rad ic to ry te st im on y

in th e of fic ers ’ de po si ti on s ab ou t who was go in g to writ e up th e ch arg es an d whe n th e

arre st de ci si on was m ad e. In co m bi na ti on wit h ev id en ce of fal si ty, su ch fact s, vi ewed

in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to Ri dd le

, can be rel ev an t to a fab ric at io n of ev id en ce

c l a i m. See, e.g ., W in sl ow, 69 6 F.3 d at 73 2– 35 ; W hi te v. Sm it h, 69 6 F.3 d 74 0

, 75 4– 57 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ). Bu t wit ho ut an y ev id en ce of fab ric at io n, ev id en ce of m ot iv e
is in su ffi ci en t to su rv iv e su m m a r y jud gm en t. See Liv ers , 70 0 F.3 d at 35 4 (“ [T]he

-8

-Fo ur te en th Am en dm en t’s gu aran te e of du e pr oc es s is vi ol at ed by ‘the m an uf act ur e

of

. . . fal se ev id en ce’ in or de r ‘to fal se ly fo rm ul at e a pr et en se of pr ob ab le cau se .’ ”
(s eco nd al te rat io n in or ig in al ) (q uo ti ng Mo ran v. Cl ark e, 29 6 F.3 d 63 8, 64 7 (8 th Ci r.

20 02 ))).

C. Cons pi ra cy

Ri dd le ’s civ il co ns pi racy clai m is ba se d o n t he same facts as t ho se off ered to

su pp or t hi s fab ric at io n of ev id en ce cl ai m

. To pr ev ai l on a § 19 83 co ns pi racy cl ai m ,
a p la in ti ff i s “ req ui red to pr ov e a de pr iv at io n of a co ns ti tu ti on al rig ht or p riv il eg e.”

W hi te v. McKi nl ey , 5 1 9 F .3d 80 6, 81 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). “ Abs en t a co ns ti tu ti on al

vi ol at io n, ‘the re is no act io na bl e co ns pi racy cl ai m .’ ” Sl us arch uk v. Hof f, 34 6 F.3 d

11 78

, 11 83 (8 th Ci r. 20 03 ) (q uo ti ng Co ok v. Ta d r o s , 3 1 2 F.3 d 38 6, 38 8 (8 th Ci r.

20 02 )). B e c au se Ri dd le ’s § 19 83 fab ric at io n of ev id en ce cl ai m was pr op erl y
di sm is se d, th e ci vi l co ns pi racy cl ai m ba se d on th e al le ge d fab ric at io n m us t al so fai l.

See Han te n v. Sch

. Dis t. of Ri ve rv ie w Gard en s, 18 3 F.3 d 79 9, 80 9 (8 th Ci r. 19 99 )
(aff irming di sm is sa l of § 19 83 co ns pi racy cl ai m be caus e the unde rl y ing co ns ti tu ti on al

cl ai m s h ad be en pro pe rly dis m is se d)

.

II I. Co ncl us io n

Fo r th e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we af fir m th e jud gm en t.

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