FI L ED

U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S

EL EVENTH CI RCUI T

J UNE 7, 2010

J OHN L EY

CL ERK [ P U B L I S H ]

I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C I R C U I T

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o

. 0 9

- 1 2 9 6 5

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

D

. C

. D o c k e t N o

. 0 7

- 0 1 0 1 3

- C V

- 5

- V E H

J O I B R O W N

, S H A U N S O N I A

,

P l a i n t i f f s

- A p p e l l a n t s

,

v e r s u s

C I T Y O F H U N T S V I L L E

, A L A B A M A

, G E R A L D L

. N O R R I S

,

J

. A N D E R S O N

,

J I M M Y A N D E R S O N

,

D e f e n d a n t s

- A p p e l l e e s

,

C H R I S H I N E S

,

D e f e n d a n t

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A p p e a l f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t

f o r t h e N o r t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f A l a b a m a

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ( J u n e 7

, 2 0 1 0 )B e f

o r e H U L L

, W I L S O N a n d F A R R I S

, C i r c u i t J u d g e s

. *

H U L L

, C i r c u i t J u d g e :

I n t h i s 4 2 U

. S

. C

. § 1 9 8 3 a c t i o n

, P l a i n t i f f s

- A p p e l l a n t s J o i B r o w n a n d S h a u n

S o n i a b r i n g f

e d e r a l a n d s t a t e c l a i m s f o r f a l s e a r r e s t a n d e x c e s s i v e f o r c e

. P l a i n t i f

f s

a p p e a l t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s g r a n t o f s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t t o t h e D e f e n d a n t s

- A p p e l l e e s

– t h e C i t y o f H u n t s v i l l e

, A l a b a m a ( t h e “ C i t y ” )

, a n d t w o p o l i c e o f f i c e r s

– o n t h e

b a s i s o f q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y a n d s t a t e

- l a w i m m u n i t y

. A f t e r r e v i e w a n d o r a l

a r g u m e n t

, w e a f

f i r m i n p a r t a n d r e v e r s e i n p a r t

.

I

. F A C T U A L B A C K G R O U N D

A t t h i s j u n c t u r e

, w e o u t l i n e t h e P l a i n t i f f s ’ v e r s i o n o f t h e e v e n t s

. 1

A

. B r o w n ’ s A r r e s t

O n J u n e 2

, 2 0 0 5

, a t a r o u n d 8 : 3 0 p

. m

. , P l a i n t i f f S h a u n S o n i a a r r i v e d i n h i s

S U V a t a W a l

- M a r t i n H u n t s v i l l e

, A l a b a m a

. S e v e r a l o t h e r p a s s e n g e r s w e r e i n t h e

S U V

, i n c l u d i n g T r a v i s J o n e s

. P l a i n t i f f S o n i a p a r k e d n e a r t h e e n t r a n c e o f t h e

Honora ble J erome Fa

rris, United States Circuit J udg e for the Ninth Circuit, sitt ing by *

desig nation.

We review a g rant of summar y judgme nt de novo, dra

wing all rea sonable infe renc es in 1

favor of the non-moving party . Ander son v. Cag le’s, I nc., 488 F .3d 945, 951 (11th Cir. 2007).

Summary judgme nt is appropriate when “ there is no ge nuine issue as to any materia l fac t and

that the movant is entitled to judgment a s a matter of law.” F ed. R. Civ. P. 56(c).

2W a l

- M a r t

. S o n i a a n d h i s p a s s e n g e r s w e n t i n t o t h e W a l

- M a r t a n d r e m a i n e d i n s i d e

t h e W a l

- M a r t f

o r f o r t y t o f i f t y m i n u t e s

.

A r o u n d 9 : 3 0 p

. m

. , P l a i n t i f f B r o w n a r r i v e d a t t h e W a l

- M a r t t o m e e t T r a v i s

J o n e s

. B r o w n w a s d r i v i n g a c a r a c t u a l l y o w n e d b y J o n e s

. B r o w n a d m i t s s h e w a s

p l a y i n g “ l o u d ” m u s i c i n t h e c a r a s s h e a r r i v e d

. B r o w n s t o p p e d h e r c a r b e h i n d 2

P l a i n t i f f S o n i a ’ s S U V

, r o l l e d h e r d r i v e r ’ s s i d e w i n d o w h a l f w a y d o w n

, a n d s p o k e t o

S o n i a a n d J o n e s

, w h o w e r e s t a n d i n g n e x t t o B r o w n ’ s c a r

. B r o w n t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e

w a s p l a y i n g t h e m u s i c l o u d e n o u g h f o r i t t o b e h e a r d o u t s i d e t h e c a r

, b u t n o t l o u d

e n o u g h t o p r e v e n t c o n v e r s a t i o n f r o m t h e d r i v e r ’ s s i d e w i n d o w t o i n d i v i d u a l s

o u t s i d e t h e v e h i c l e

.

Br own testified that her

music was “loud” and that she r olled her w indow halfwa y down 2

afte r she pa

rked in the Wal-Ma

rt parking lot:

Q: Not what y our volume is, but what’s the volume of

y our music?

[Brown]: Yea

h, that’s what I ’m say ing, w e’r e talking

to where , like, we unde rstand wha t eac h other is

talking a bout, so I don’t know, like, wha t the

volume would be to any one else

. Q: To use y our word, I believe y ou descr ibed it as y our

music was loud in the ca

r; would that be a ccur ate?

[Brown]: Yes.

Q: Okay

. [Brown]: Yes.

Q: Your music wa s loud?

[Brown]: Yes.

Q: And y our window is rolled down?

[Brown]: I t’s halfwa y down, just my

window.

Q: The drive r’s side window?

[Brown]: Yes c orre ct.

3A r o u n d t h i s t i m e

, m e m b e r s o f t h e M a d i s o n

- M o r g a n C o u n t y S t r a t e g i c

C o u n t e r d r u g T e a m ( t h e “ S T A C T e a m ” )

, i n c l u d i n g D e f e n d a n t s S e r g e a n t N o r r i s a n d

I n v e s t i g a t o r A n d e r s o n

, w e r e c o n d u c t i n g a d r u g b u s t r e s u l t i n g f r o m a n u n d e r c o v e r

d r u g b u y i n t h e W a l

- M a r t p a r k i n g l o t

. T h e S T A C T e a m w a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5

- 6

p a r k i n g s p o t s a w a y f

r o m B r o w n ’ s v e h i c l e a n d c o u l d h e a r m u s i c c o m i n g f r o m h e r

c a r

.

A f t e r s p e a k i n g f

o r a m i n u t e o r t w o w i t h P l a i n t i f f S o n i a a n d T r a v i s J o n e s

,

P l a i n t i f f B r o w n w a s t o l d b y a l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r t o t u r n h e r m u s i c d o w n

. I t

i s n o t c l e a r w h i c h o f

f i c e r o r d e r e d B r o w n t o t u r n d o w n h e r m u s i c o r h o w m a n y

t i m e s h e m a d e t h e r e q u e s t ( w i t n e s s a c c o u n t s v a r i e d f r o m o n e t o t h r e e )

. B r o w n 3

t u r n e d t h e m u s i c o f

f c o m p l e t e l y

. D e f

e n d a n t N o r r i s a p p r o a c h e d B r o w n i n h e r 4

v e h i c l e a n d i n f

o r m e d h e r s h e c o u l d g o t o j a i l f o r p l a y i n g m u s i c t o o l o u d

. B r o w n

r e p l i e d

, “ I k n o w t h a t y o u c a n g i v e m e a t i c k e t f o r t h i s

. ”

A c c o r d i n g t o P l a i n t i f

f B r o w n

, N o r r i s t h e n b e g a n y e l l i n g a n d a c t i n g

Br own orig inally

stated that she wa s told to t urn her music down only

once. B rown late r 3

stated that it was “possible,” but not her re collection, that someone (she wa s not entirely sure

who) c ould have told her

to turn her music down more than once . (“Q : Do y ou think it’s

possible, though, that he could have told y ou befor e that, that may have be en the se cond or third

time he told y ou, is that possibl e? [Brown]: (Shaking H ead) . Q: Not possible? [Brown]:

(Shaking Hea d). Q: No? [Brown]: I don’t think so, but it could be possible, but I persona lly

don’t think, no. Q: I f it was done, y ou didn’t hear it? [Brown]: Correct.” ).

Def endant Ser g eant Nor

ris stated that he c ould not reca ll if or when B rown turne d the 4

music in her ca

r off or down.

4“ u n p r o f

e s s i o n a l [ l y ] ” t o w a r d s B r o w n

. B r o w n “ p a n i c k e d ” a n d s t a r t e d a n a u d i o

r e c o r d i n g o f N o r r i s ’ s a c t i o n s w i t h h e r m o b i l e p h o n e

. B r o w n i n f o r m e d N o r r i s t h a t

s h e w a s r e c o r d i n g h i m

, s t a t i n g

, “ [ S ] i r

, I ’ m n o t r e c o r d i n g y o u r f a c e

, I ’ m r e c o r d i n g

t h e w a y y o u ’ r e t a l k i n g t o m e

, I ’ m a f e m a l e

, y o u d o n ’ t h a v e t o t a l k t o m e l i k e t h a t

. ”

D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s g a v e P l a i n t i f f B r o w n c l e a r i n s t r u c t i o n s a t l e a s t t w i c e t o

s t e p o u t o f t h e v e h i c l e

, s t a t i n g s h e w a s u n d e r a r r e s t a n d s h o u l d “ g e t t h e f u c k o u t t h e

c a r

. ” B r o w n i n i t i a l l y h a d s o m e t r o u b l e u n l o c k i n g h e r c a r ’ s d o o r s b e c a u s e i n a

p a n i c s h e t u r n e d o f

f t h e c a r ’ s e n g i n e w h i l e t h e c a r ’ s a u t o m a t i c t r a n s m i s s i o n w a s i n

“ d r i v e ” w i t h t h e d o o r s l o c k e d

, a n d s h e w a s u n a b l e t o u n l o c k t h e d o o r w h i l e t h e c a r

w a s t u r n e d o f

f a n d s t i l l i n d r i v e

. B r o w n t e s t i f i e d :

Q : H o w m a n y t i m e s d i d [ S e r g e a n t N o r r i s ] t e l l y o u t o

g e t o u t o f t h e c a r ?

[ B r o w n ] : H e t o l d m e t o g e t t h e F o u t t h e v e h i c l e t w i c e

,

t o m y k n o w l e d g e

, a n d h e s a i d i t l i k e t h a t

, g e t t h e f u c k

o u t

, g e t t h e f

u c k o u t

, y o u k n o w

, b a c k t o b a c k

. A n d

, I ’ m

, l i k e

, y o u k n o w

, o k a y

, a n d I t r i e d

, b u t t h e d o o r

– h i s

–

T r a v i s ’ c a r

, w h e n y o u p u t i t [ i n ] d r i v e

, i t a u t o m a t i c a l l y

l o c k s t h e d o o r s

, a n d o n c e i t ’ s s t i l l i n d r i v e

, y o u c a n ’ t

m a s h t h a t b u t t o n t o u n l o c k i t

. I t w o n ’ t u n l o c k

.

Q : H e t e l l s y o u t o g e t o u t o f t h e c a r ?

[ B r o w n ] : U h

- h u h ( N o d d i n g h e a d )

.

Q : D o y o u i m m e d i a t e l y g e t o u t ?

[ B r o w n ] : I c a n ’ t

.

5Q : D o y o u i m m e d i a t e l y g e t o u t o f t h e c a r ?

[ B r o w n ] : I c a n ’ t

.

A t s o m e p o i n t d u r i n g t h e t i m e i n w h i c h P l a i n t i f f B r o w n w a s a t t e m p t i n g t o

g e t o u t o f t h e c a r

, D e f

e n d a n t N o r r i s r e a c h e d i n t o t h e c a r w i n d o w t o r e t r i e v e

B r o w n ’ s m o b i l e p h o n e

, i n c l u d i n g r e a c h i n g b e t w e e n B r o w n ’ s l e g s

, w h e r e s h e h a d

p l a c e d t h e p h o n e

. A t a r o u n d t h e s a m e t i m e

, T r a v i s J o n e s t r i e d t o h e l p B r o w n g e t

o u t o f h i s v e h i c l e

. N o r r i s t o l d J o n e s t h a t

, “ i f h e c [ a m e ] a n y f u r t h e r

, h e w [ o u l d ]

a r r e s t h i m

. ” P l a i n t i f

f B r o w n a s k e d P l a i n t i f

f S o n i a t o “ u s e [ h i s ] p h o n e a n d r e c o r d ”

D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s ’ s a c t i o n s

.

B r o w n a l s o t o l d N o r r i s t h a t

, “ i f y o u ’ l l l e t m e o u t o f t h e v e h i c l e

– i f y o u ’ l l l e t

m e t u r n t h e c a r o n

, p u t i t i n p a r k

, I w i l l g e t o u t o f t h e v e h i c l e

. ” A c c o r d i n g t o

B r o w n

, N o r r i s t h e n “ p a u s e d f o r a m i n u t e

. ” B r o w n e v e n t u a l l y t u r n e d o n t h e c a r ’ s

e l e c t r i c a l s y s t e m

, p u t t h e c a r i n p a r k

, a n d o p e n e d t h e d o o r

. I n h e r t e s t i m o n y

, 5

B r o w n m a i n t a i n s t h a t s h e d i d n o t r e s t a r t t h e c a r ’ s e n g i n e

, b u t m e r e l y t u r n e d t h e k e y

t o “ o n ” t o p o w e r u p t h e c a r ’ s e l e c t r o n i c s

.

Def endant Nor

ris stated that during the time in which B rown wa s still in the vehicle, it 5

appea red to him that she wa s locking the ca r door a s he tried to open it and w as shifting the ca r

into drive. I t also appea

red to De fenda

nt Norris that B rown wa s try ing to dr ive off. Norris c ould

not rec all, howeve r, if the ve hicle ac tually moved. Def

endant Ande rson, who obser ved these

events fr om a close distanc e, testified that he did not see any thing to indicate that Br own was

attempting to f

lee. Ande rson testified: “Q. D id y ou see a ny thing to y ou that indicated that Ms.

Br own was a ttempting to flee ? [Anderson]. No, sir, I can’ t say that I did.”

6P l a i n t i f f B r o w n p u t h e r f

o o t a n d a r m o u t s i d e t h e c a r d o o r

, t r y i n g t o g e t o u t o f

t h e v e h i c l e

. D e f

e n d a n t N o r r i s t h e n “ s l a m [ m e d ] t h e d o o r b a c k ” a n d y e l l e d

, 6

“ [ S ] h e ’ s t r y i n g t o r u n

, s h e ’ s t r y i n g t o r u n [

. ] ” B r o w n s c r e a m e d

, “ [ N ] o

, I ’ m n o t

, n o

,

I ’ m n o t

. ”

D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s t h e n s p r a y e d P l a i n t i f f B r o w n w i t h p e p p e r s p r a y i n h e r

m o u t h

, e y e s

, a n d f

a c e

. I t i s u n c l e a r h o w l o n g N o r r i s u s e d p e p p e r s p r a y ; a c c o u n t s

r a n g e f r o m a h a l f s e c o n d t o t h r e e s e c o n d s

. B r o w n t e s t i f i e d t h a t N o r r i s s p r a y e d h e r

w i t h p e p p e r s p r a y a s h e w a s p u s h i n g h e r b a c k i n t o t h e c a r a n d y e l l i n g t h a t s h e w a s

t r y i n g t o r u n

. N o r r i s t h r e w B r o w n o u t o f t h e v e h i c l e w h i l e h o l d i n g h e r a r m a n d

7

Br own testified: 6

Q. [] Was there a

point in ti me when [Norr is] took out his pepperspray and spra y ed y ou?

[Brown]. Yes, sir.

Q. When did that happen? Where we re y ou, and whe re w as he?

[Brown]. He wa s outside the vehicle, but it was a fter I had turne d

the ca r on, put it in park, and my foot was out the door

and my arm

was out the door. I

was g etting out of

the vehicle , and that’s whe n

he starte d to screa

m, she’s try ing to r

un, and he shut the door

on

my leg , and I scooted it – y ou know, I

moved it back, a

nd he

mace d me at the sa me time.

. . . . I was mac ed af

ter the c ar w as in park a

nd afte r I opened the door.

[Norris] shut the door bac k.

Def endant Nor

ris descr ibed a ve rsion of eve nts ge nera lly at odds with Br own’s ver sion. 7

Norris testified tha t he told Brow n at least thre e times to turn her music down a nd, afte r the last

time, told her that he would a rre st her if she did not turn the music down. N orris could not re call

if Br own eve r lower ed the volume of her music or

turned it off c ompletely

. Norris orig inally

decide d to arre st Brow n for violation of a noise ordinanc e. Upon be ing inf ormed that she w as

under a rre st, Brow n stated, “N o, I ' m not under ar rest,” a nd said she would leave. Nor ris saw

7h a i r a n d s l a m m e d h e r o n t o t h e g r o u n d

. D e f e n d a n t A n d e r s o n

, w h o w a s n e a r b y

d u r i n g N o r r i s ’ s e x c h a n g e w i t h B r o w n

, a s s i s t e d N o r r i s i n r e m o v i n g B r o w n f r o m t h e

c a r b y g r a b b i n g o n e o f B r o w n ’ s a r m s

, p u l l i n g h e r o u t o f t h e c a r

, a n d p l a c i n g h e r

f a c e

- d o w n o n t h e g r o u n d

. N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n h a n d c u f f e d B r o w n ’ s h a n d s b e h i n d

h e r b a c k w h i l e s h e w a s o n t h e g r o u n d

.

P l a i n t i f f B r o w n ’ s p h o n e w a s b r o k e n d u r i n g t h i s s c u f f l e

. S o n i a a n d B r o w n

b o t h t e s t i f

i e d t h a t N o r r i s b r o k e B r o w n ’ s p h o n e

. D e f e n d a n t A n d e r s o n t e s t i f

i e d t h a t

B r o w n h e l d t h e p h o n e i n h e r h a n d s u n d e r h e r b o d y a s s h e w a s p l a c e d f a c e

- d o w n o n

t h e g r o u n d

. D e f

e n d a n t N o r r i s g r a b b e d a t t h e p h o n e a s h e w a s t r y i n g t o p l a c e

h a n d c u f f s o n B r o w n

, a n d t h e p h o n e s n a p p e d i n t o t w o p i e c e s

. S o n i a t e s t i f i e d t h a t

h e s a w N o r r i s t a k e B r o w n ’ s b r o k e n p h o n e

, p u t i t i n a b a g w i t h S o n i a ’ s p h o n e

, a n d

p l a c e t h e b a g o n t o p o f a c a r

. A c c o r d i n g t o B r o w n

, a n a u d i o r e c o r d i n g o f h e r

e x c h a n g e s w i t h N o r r i s w a s s a v e d t o h e r c e l l p h o n e

. B r o w n w a s l a t e r t o l d b y

s o m e o n e i n t h e p o l i c e d e p a r t m e n t t h a t h e r p h o n e w a s b e i n g h e l d i n e v i d e n c e

. T h e

p h o n e

, i n c l u d i n g i t s r e c o r d i n g s

, w a s n o t r e t u r n e d t o h e r

.

B r o w n s u s t a i n e d b u r n s t o h e r f a c e f r o m t h e p e p p e r s p r a y a n d s c r a p e s t o h e r

Br own lock her

car doors, place the ca

r into drive, and make pre para tions to drive away . Norris

stated that B rown re fused to g et out of the c ar. N orris then told Plaintiff Br own that he would

use peppe r spra

y on her if she did not comply . Norris spra y ed peppe r spra

y at B rown’s

ey ebrow s. Norris also testified tha t he did not attempt to take B rown’s mobile phone and did not

know she wa s rec ording him.

8k n e e a n d e l b o w s

. B r o w n d i d n o t s e e k m e d i c a l t r e a t m e n t f o r h e r i n j u r i e s

.

D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s a r r e s t e d P l a i n t i f f B r o w n f

o r d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t a n d

r e s i s t i n g a r r e s t a n d t r a n s p o r t e d h e r t o j a i l

. B r o w n w a s f o u n d g u i l t y i n t h e D i s t r i c t

C o u r t o f M a d i s o n C o u n t y

, A l a b a m a o f r e s i s t i n g a r r e s t b u t n o t g u i l t y o f d i s o r d e r l y

c o n d u c t

. B r o w n a p p e a l e d h e r c o n v i c t i o n t o t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t o f M a d i s o n C o u n t y

.

O n N o v e m b e r 2 9

, 2 0 0 6

, w h i l e o n a p p e a l

, s t a t e p r o s e c u t o r s n o l l e p r o s s e d B r o w n ’ s

r e s i s t i n g a r r e s t c h a r g e

.

B

. S o n i a ’ s A r r e s t

P l a i n t i f f S o n i a a l s o w a s a r r e s t e d a n d c l a i m s h i s a r r e s t v i o l a t e d h i s

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s

. S o n i a w a l k e d o u t o f W a l

- M a r t a r o u n d 9 : 1 0 p

. m

. a n d n o t i c e d

t h e S T A C t e a m c o n d u c t i n g a n u n d e r c o v e r d r u g b u s t

. P o l i c e I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n

,

t h e a g e n t i n c h a r g e o f t h e u n d e r c o v e r d r u g b u y

, b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e a r r e s t e d d r u g

s u s p e c t s ’ s u p p l i e r w o u l d b e n e a r b y

. S o n i a w a s s t a n d i n g n e a r B r o w n ’ s c a r w h e n

D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s t o l d B r o w n t o g e t o u t o f t h e c a r

.

B r o w n i n s t r u c t e d P l a i n t i f f S o n i a t o r e c o r d w h a t D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s w a s d o i n g

t o h e r

. S o n i a c o m p l i e d b y r e c o r d i n g t h r e e 1 0

- s e c o n d v i d e o c l i p s o n h i s m o b i l e

p h o n e

. I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n a p p r o a c h e d S o n i a a n d r e q u e s t e d t h e p h o n e

. S o n i a

t o l d H u d s o n t h a t h e c o u l d n o t h a v e h i s p h o n e

. H u d s o n t h e n t o l d S o n i a h e w a s

u n d e r a r r e s t a n d h a n d c u f f e d h i m

. S o n i a a s k e d w h y h e w a s u n d e r a r r e s t

, a n d

9H u d s o n r e p l i e d t h a t S o n i a h a d y e l l e d i n t h e p a r k i n g l o t

, w h i c h S o n i a d e n i e s

. 8

H u d s o n t o o k S o n i a ’ s p h o n e d u r i n g t h e a r r e s t

.

S o n i a d o e s n o t d i s p u t e t h a t I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n w a s t h e o n e w h o t o l d S o n i a

h e w a s u n d e r a r r e s t a n d t h a t H u d s o n h a n d c u f f e d S o n i a

. T r a v i s J o n e s t e s t i f i e d t h a t

,

p r i o r t o S o n i a ’ s a r r e s t

, h e s a w N o r r i s p o i n t a t S o n i a a n d s a y

, “ A r r e s t h i m

, t o o

. ”

S o n i a h e a r d N o r r i s s t a t e t h a t b o t h S o n i a a n d B r o w n w e r e “ g o i n g t o j a i l [

. ] ” S o n i a

a l s o t e s t i f

i e d

, h o w e v e r

, t h a t h e d i d n o t h a v e a n y i n f o r m a t i o n s u g g e s t i n g t h a t N o r r i s

k n e w a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a r r e s t t h a t S o n i a w a s b e i n g a r r e s t e d

.

D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n b o t h d e n y i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h e d e c i s i o n t o

a r r e s t P l a i n t i f

f S o n i a

. N o r r i s c o n t e n d s h e w a s f o c u s e d o n a r r e s t i n g B r o w n a n d w a s

u n a w a r e o f w h a t w a s s a i d b e t w e e n S o n i a a n d I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n

. D e f e n d a n t 9

A n d e r s o n t e s t i f

i e d t h a t h e w a s u n a w a r e o f w h a t h a p p e n e d b e t w e e n S o n i a a n d

Sonia testified: “[I nvestig ator Hudson] states to me, well, y ou y elled in Wal-Mart 8

parking lot. Iasked him ar e y ou serious, and the n he basic ally g rabbe d my

hands and turne d me

around a nd put a cuf

f on. And he couldn’t g et my other a rm around so he g ot another c uff I

believe a nd put it on.” Wit h the exception of Hudson, the other witnesses who saw

this incident

corr oborate Sonia’s asser tion that he did not y ell. Def endant Ande rson stated he could not

reme mber “ Mr. Sonia y elling a ny thing a t Sgt. Norr is . . . or at any body else.” Non-de fenda

nt

L ieutenant Jim my

Winn i ndicated tha t “during the time [he] was looking at [I nvestig ator Hudson

and Sonia],” he neve r hea rd any y elling.

Serg eant Nor

ris testified that he “ did not see Mr. Sonia once [he] started de aling with 9

Ms. Brow n,” and w hile he “r eca ll[ ed] seeing I nvestig ator Hudson, a nd . . . Mr. Sonia,” did not

know wher e they

wer e.

10I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n

. N e i t h e r D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s n o r A n d e r s o n w e r e s u p e r v i s o r s 1 0

a t t h e t i m e o f S o n i a ’ s a r r e s t

. T h e r e c o r d e v i d e n c e d o e s n o t r e f l e c t t h a t N o r r i s o r

A n d e r s o n h a d a u t h o r i t y t o d i r e c t t h e a c t i o n s o f I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n

, w h o m a d e t h e

a r r e s t o f S o n i a

.

P l a i n t i f f S o n i a c l a i m s N o r r i s

, A n d e r s o n

, o r H u d s o n d e l e t e d v i d e o e v i d e n c e

f r o m h i s c e l l p h o n e a f

t e r i t w a s t a k e n d u r i n g t h e a r r e s t

. N e i t h e r D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s

n o r A n d e r s o n t o o k S o n i a ’ s c e l l p h o n e f r o m h i m a t t h e s c e n e ; h o w e v e r

, S o n i a

c l a i m s h e w i t n e s s e d D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s e v e n t u a l l y o b t a i n p o s s e s s i o n o f h i s c e l l

p h o n e

. W h e n I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n r e t u r n e d S o n i a ’ s c e l l p h o n e t o h i m t h e n e x t d a y

,

t w o o f t h e t h r e e v i d e o c l i p s t h a t S o n i a h a d r e c o r d e d o f B r o w n ’ s a r r e s t w e r e g o n e

.

S o n i a t e s t i f

i e d

, “ I d o n ’ t k n o w w h o d e l e t e d i t b u t I k n o w w h e n I g o t t h e p h o n e b a c k

I o n l y h a d o n e v i d e o

. ” I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n d e n i e s d e l e t i n g

, o r e v e n k n o w i n g o f

,

a n y v i d e o c l i p s

.

P l a i n t i f f S o n i a w a s a r r e s t e d a n d t r a n s p o r t e d t o j a i l

. I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n w a s

t h e o n l y o f

f i c e r w h o p h y s i c a l l y a r r e s t e d a n d h a n d c u f f e d S o n i a a t t h e W a l m a r t

p a r k i n g l o t

. O n c e a t t h e j a i l

, h o w e v e r

, D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s w a s t h e o n l y o f f i c e r

Ander son swore in a

n aff idavit that he “did not ar

rest Sonia, participa te in Sonia’s 1 0

arr est, or have any

involvement in the decision to arr est Sonia.” Ande rson “did not observe

Sonia’s arr est,” “ was not eve n awa re tha t Sonia was being arr ested be cause at the time of his

arr est [he] was a ssisti ng Serg eant Ge rry Norris with the a

rre st of plaintiff J oi Brow n,” and w as

“not the off

icer who deve loped proba

ble ca use to arr est Sonia.”

11p r e s e n t d u r i n g S o n i a ’ s b o o k i n g

, a n d h e c o m p l e t e d t h e p a p e r w o r k

. N o r r i s “ i n i t i a l l y

[ ] w r o t e h a r a s s m e n t ” a s t h e c h a r g e a g a i n s t S o n i a b u t c h a n g e d t h e c h a r g e t o

“ d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t

. ” B o t h I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n a n d N o r r i s a r e l i s t e d a s a r r e s t i n g

o f f i c e r s o n t h e A l a b a m a U n i f o r m A r r e s t R e p o r t ( t h e “ R e p o r t ” ) r e l a t i n g t o S o n i a ’ s

a r r e s t

. I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n s i g n e d t h e c r i m i n a l c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t S o n i a a n d w a s

l i s t e d a s t h e c o m p l a i n a n t o n t h e w a r r a n t f o r S o n i a ’ s a r r e s t

.

T h e d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t c h a r g e a g a i n s t S o n i a w a s n o l l e p r o s s e d t w o m o n t h s

a f t e r S o n i a ’ s a r r e s t

.

C

. D i s t r i c t C o u r t P r o c e e d i n g s

O n M a y 3 1

, 2 0 0 7

, P l a i n t i f f s B r o w n a n d S o n i a f

i l e d t h i s § 1 9 8 3 a c t i o n

a g a i n s t D e f

e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n

, i n d i v i d u a l l y

, a n d a g a i n s t t h e C i t y

.

P l a i n t i f f s d i d n o t s u e I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n

. 1 1

P l a i n t i f f s ’ c u r r e n t a m e n d e d c o m p l a i n t a l l e g e s f o u r c o u n t s : ( 1 ) B r o w n ’ s a n d

S o n i a ’ s § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m s f o r f a l s e a r r e s t a g a i n s t N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n ; ( 2 ) B r o w n ’ s 1 2

a n d S o n i a ’ s s t a t e

- l a w c l a i m s f o r f a l s e a r r e s t / f

a l s e i m p r i s o n m e n t a g a i n s t N o r r i s

,

A n d e r s o n

, a n d t h e C i t y ; ( 3 ) B r o w n ’ s § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m s f o r e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e a g a i n s t

Plaintiffs init ially

sued City

police off

icer Chris Hines, alleg ing he was the of fice r who 1 1

arr ested Sonia. Hines late r wa s dismis sed, and Plaintiffs do not appe al that dismissal.

Title 42, section 1983 provides individuals with a fe dera l remedy for the de privation of 1 2

rig hts, privilege s, or immuniti es protec ted by the Constitut ion or the laws of the United States

that are committed under c olor of state la w. Von Stein v. Br esche r, 904 F .2d 572, 578 (11th Cir.

1990).

12N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n ; a n d ( 4 ) B r o w n ’ s s t a t e

- l a w c l a i m f o r a s s a u l t a n d

b a t t e r y / e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e a g a i n s t N o r r i s

, A n d e r s o n

, a n d t h e C i t y

. 1 3

D e f e n d a n t s m o v e d f

o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t o n t h e b a s i s o f q u a l i f i e d

i m m u n i t y f

o r P l a i n t i f

f s ’ § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m s a n d s t a t e

- l a w i m m u n i t y f o r P l a i n t i f

f s ’ s t a t e

l a w c l a i m s

. O n M a y 1 4

, 2 0 0 9

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t g r a n t e d t h e D e f e n d a n t s ’ s u m m a r y

j u d g m e n t m o t i o n s

. B r o w n v

. C i t y o f H u n t s v i l l e

, N o

. 0 7

- 1 0 1 3

, s l i p

. o p

. ( N

. D

. A l a

.

M a y 1 4

, 2 0 0 9 )

. P l a i n t i f f s t i m e l y a p p e a l e d

.

I I

. D I S C U S S I O N

W e f i r s t o u t l i n e t h e q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y d e f

e n s e t o § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m s

, t h e n

a d d r e s s e a c h P l a i n t i f

f ’ s § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m s

, a n d c l o s e b y c o n s i d e r i n g t h e D e f e n d a n t s ’

i m m u n i t y f

r o m t h e s t a t e

- l a w c l a i m s

.

A

. Q u a l i f

i e d I m m u n i t y

“ Q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y o f

f e r s c o m p l e t e p r o t e c t i o n f o r g o v e r n m e n t o f

f i c i a l s

s u e d i n t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l c a p a c i t i e s i f t h e i r c o n d u c t ‘ d o e s n o t v i o l a t e c l e a r l y

e s t a b l i s h e d s t a t u t o r y o r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s o f w h i c h a r e a s o n a b l e p e r s o n w o u l d

h a v e k n o w n

. ’ ” V i n y a r d v

. W i l s o n

, 3 1 1 F

. 3 d 1 3 4 0

, 1 3 4 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 2 ) ( q u o t i n g

H a r l o w v

. F i t z g e r a l d

, 4 5 7 U

. S

. 8 0 0

, 8 1 8

, 1 0 2 S

. C t

. 2 7 2 7

, 2 7 3 8 ( 1 9 8 2 ) )

. A l a w

Plaintiffs Brow n and Sonia conc eded to the district c ourt that summary judgme nt was 1 3

appropr iate to the City

on their § 1983 cla ims for false arr est and e x cessive f orce . Plaintiffs did

not appea l the district court’s g rant of summar y judgme nt to the Cit y

on their § 1983 cla ims, so

that issue is not before us now. The only rema ining c laims ag ainst the City are state-law

claims.

13e n f

o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r i s e n t i t l e d t o q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y i f “ a n o b

j e c t i v e l y r e a s o n a b l e

o f f i c e r i n t h e s a m e s i t u a t i o n c o u l d h a v e b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e f o r c e u s e d w a s n o t

e x c e s s i v e

. ” I d

. Q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y f

r o m s u i t i s i n t e n d e d t o “ a l l o w g o v e r n m e n t

o f f i c i a l s t o c a r r y o u t t h e i r d i s c r e t i o n a r y d u t i e s w i t h o u t t h e f e a r o f p e r s o n a l l i a b i l i t y

o r h a r a s s i n g l i t i g a t i o n

, p r o t e c t i n g f r o m s u i t a l l b u t t h e p l a i n l y i n c o m p e t e n t o r o n e

w h o i s k n o w i n g l y v i o l a t i n g t h e f e d e r a l l a w

. ” L e e v

. F e r r a r o

, 2 8 4 F

. 3 d 1 1 8 8

, 1 1 9 4

( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 2 ) ( i n t e r n a l q u o t a t i o n m a r k s a n d c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d )

.

C o u r t s u t i l i z e a t w o

- p a r t f r a m e w o r k t o e v a l u a t e q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y c l a i m s

. 1 4

O n e i n q u i r y i n a q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y a n a l y s i s i s w h e t h e r t h e p l a i n t i f f ’ s a l l e g a t i o n s

,

i f t r u e

, e s t a b l i s h a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l v i o l a t i o n

. H o p e v

. P e l z e r

, 5 3 6 U

. S

. 7 3 0

, 7 3 6

, 1 2 2

S

. C t

. 2 5 0 8

, 2 5 1 3 ( 2 0 0 2 ) ( c i t i n g S a u c i e r v

. K a t z

, 5 3 3 U

. S

. 1 9 4

, 2 0 1

, 1 2 1 S

. C t

.

2 1 5 1

, 2 1 5 6 ( 2 0 0 1 ) )

. I f t h e f a c t s

, c o n s t r u e d a s t h e y m u s t b e i n t h i s s u m m a r y

j u d g m e n t a p p e a l i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o t h e p l a i n t i f

f

, s h o w t h a t a

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t h a s b e e n v i o l a t e d

, a n o t h e r i n q u i r y i s w h e t h e r t h e r i g h t v i o l a t e d

w a s “ c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d

. ” S a u c i e r

, 5 3 3 U

. S

. a t 2 0 1

, 1 2 1 S

. C t

. a t 2 1 5 6

. B o t h

e l e m e n t s o f t h i s t e s t m u s t b e p r e s e n t f o r a n o f f i c i a l t o l o s e q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y

, a n d

Prior to apply ing the two-par t test, the initi al inquiry

in a qualified immunity

case is 1 4

whether the public offic ial proves “ that he wa s acting within the scope of his discr etionary

authority when the a lleg edly

wrong ful ac ts occurr ed.” L ee, 284 F .3d at 1194 (interna l quotation

marks omitted). The pa

rties in this case do not conte st that Norris and Ande rson wer e ac ting

within the scope of the ir discre tionary authority as law e nforc ement off

icer s at the time of

Br own’s and Sonia’ s arr ests, so we proc eed to c onsider whe ther qua lified immunit y is available

as a de fense

.

14t h i s t w o

- p r o n g e d a n a l y s i s m a y b e d o n e i n w h a t e v e r o r d e r i s d e e m e d m o s t

a p p r o p r i a t e f

o r t h e c a s e

. P e a r s o n v

. C a l l a h a n

, 5 5 5 U

. S

.

_ _ _ , 1 2 9 S

. C t

. 8 0 8

, 8 2 1

( 2 0 0 9 )

.

B

. B r o w n ’ s § 1 9 8 3 F a l s e A r r e s t C l a i m s

P l a i n t i f f B r o w n a r g u e s N o r r i s ’ s a r r e s t o f h e r w a s n o t s u p p o r t e d w i t h

a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i s a g r e e d a n d g r a n t e d q u a l i f i e d

i m m u n i t y t o N o r r i s f

o r B r o w n ’ s a r r e s t

. W e a f f i r m

.

A n a r r e s t w i t h o u t a w a r r a n t a n d l a c k i n g p r o b a b l e c a u s e v i o l a t e s t h e

C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d c a n u n d e r p i n a § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m

, b u t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f p r o b a b l e c a u s e

a t t h e t i m e o f a r r e s t i s a n a b s o l u t e b a r t o a s u b s e q u e n t c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c h a l l e n g e t o

t h e a r r e s t

. C a s e v

. E s l i n g e r

, 5 5 5 F

. 3 d 1 3 1 7

, 1 3 2 6

- 2 7 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 9 ) ; K i n g s l a n d

1 5

v

. C i t y o f M i a m i

, 3 8 2 F

. 3 d 1 2 2 0

, 1 2 2 6

, 1 2 3 2 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 4 ) ; O r t e g a v

. C h r i s t i a n

,

8 5 F

. 3 d 1 5 2 1

, 1 5 2 5 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 6 )

. P r o b a b l e c a u s e e x i s t s w h e r e t h e f a c t s w i t h i n

t h e c o l l e c t i v e k n o w l e d g e o f l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c i a l s

, d e r i v e d f

r o m r e a s o n a b l y

t r u s t w o r t h y i n f

o r m a t i o n

, a r e s u f

f i c i e n t t o c a u s e a p e r s o n o f r e a s o n a b l e c a u t i o n t o

b e l i e v e t h a t a c r i m i n a l o f f e n s e h a s b e e n o r i s b e i n g c o m m i t t e d

. M a d i w a l e v

.

The F ourth Amendment, whic h is applicable to the States throug h the Four teenth 1 5

Amendment, g uara

ntees the r ight a g ainst unrea sonable sea rche s and seizures. Von Stein, 904

F.2d a t 578; U.S. C onst. amend. I V. An ar rest without probable cause violates the F ourth

Amendment. Madiwa le v. Savaiko, 117 F .3d 1321, 1324 (11th Cir. 1997). This cause of ac tion

may be asse rted throug h § 1983 as a c laim for dama g es. Von Stein, 904 F.2d a t 578.

15S a v a i k o

, 1 1 7 F

. 3 d 1 3 2 1

, 1 3 2 4 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 7 )

.

T o r e c e i v e q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y

, a n o f

f i c e r n e e d n o t h a v e a c t u a l p r o b a b l e

c a u s e

, b u t o n l y “ a r g u a b l e ” p r o b a b l e c a u s e

. H o l m e s v

. K u c y n d a

, 3 2 1 F

. 3 d 1 0 6 9

,

1 0 7 9 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 3 ) ; M o n t o u t e v

. C a r r

, 1 1 4 F

. 3 d 1 8 1

, 1 8 4 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 7 )

.

A r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e e x i s t s w h e r e “ r e a s o n a b l e o f f i c e r s i n t h e s a m e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d p o s s e s s i n g t h e s a m e k n o w l e d g e a s t h e D e f e n d a n t s c o u l d h a v e

b e l i e v e d t h a t p r o b a b l e c a u s e e x i s t e d t o a r r e s t P l a i n t i f f

. ” K i n g s l a n d

, 3 8 2 F

. 3 d a t

1 2 3 2 ( q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d ) ; a c c o r d R e d d v

. C i t y o f E n t e r p r i s e

, 1 4 0 F

. 3 d 1 3 7 8

,

1 3 8 2 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 8 ) ; G o l d v

. C i t y o f M i a m i

, 1 2 1 F

. 3 d 1 4 4 2

, 1 4 4 5

- 4 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

.

1 9 9 7 ) ( d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t u n d e r F l o r i d a l a w ) ; V o n S t e i n v

. B r e s c h e r

, 9 0 4 F

. 2 d

5 7 2

, 5 7 9 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 0 )

. “ I n d e e d

, i t i s i n e v i t a b l e t h a t l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c i a l s

w i l l i n s o m e c a s e s r e a s o n a b l y b u t m i s t a k e n l y c o n c l u d e t h a t p r o b a b l e c a u s e i s

p r e s e n t

, a n d i n s u c h c a s e s t h o s e o f f i c i a l s s h o u l d n o t b e h e l d p e r s o n a l l y l i a b l e

. ” V o n

S t e i n

, 9 0 4 F

. 2 d a t 5 7 9 ( q u o t a t i o n m a r k s a n d e l l i p s e s o m i t t e d ) ; s e e a l s o H u n t e r v

.

B r y a n t

, 5 0 2 U

. S

. 2 2 4

, 2 2 7

, 1 1 2 S

. C t

. 5 3 4

, 5 3 6 ( 1 9 9 1 ) ( “ E v e n l a w e n f o r c e m e n t

o f f i c i a l s w h o r e a s o n a b l y b u t m i s t a k e n l y c o n c l u d e t h a t p r o b a b l e c a u s e i s p r e s e n t a r e

e n t i t l e d t o i m m u n i t y

. ” ( q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d ) ) ; M o n t o u t e

, 1 1 4 F

. 3 d a t 1 8 4

( “ T h u s

, t h e q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y s t a n d a r d i s b r o a d e n o u g h t o c o v e r s o m e ‘ m i s t a k e n

j u d g m e n t [ ] ’

. . . . ” )

. T h e s t a n d a r d i s a n o b j e c t i v e o n e a n d d o e s n o t i n c l u d e a n

16i n q u i r y i n t o t h e o f f i c e r ’ s s u b

j e c t i v e i n t e n t o r b e l i e f

s

. R u s h i n g v

. P a r k e r

, 5 9 9 F

. 3 d

1 2 6 3

, 1 2 6 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 0 )

.

W h e t h e r a n o f

f i c e r p o s s e s s e s p r o b a b l e c a u s e o r a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e

d e p e n d s o n t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e a l l e g e d c r i m e a n d t h e o p e r a t i v e f a c t p a t t e r n

. S k o p

v

. C i t y o f A t l a n t a

, 4 8 5 F

. 3 d 1 1 3 0

, 1 1 3 7

- 3 8 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 7 ) ; C r o s b y v

. M o n r o e

C o u n t y

, 3 9 4 F

. 3 d 1 3 2 8

, 1 3 3 3 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 4 )

. S h o w i n g a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e

d o e s n o t

, h o w e v e r

, r e q u i r e p r o v i n g e v e r y e l e m e n t o f a c r i m e

. S c a r b r o u g h v

.

M y l e s

, 2 4 5 F

. 3 d 1 2 9 9

, 1 3 0 2

- 0 3 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 1 )

. I f t h e a r r e s t i n g o f f i c e r h a d

a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e t o a r r e s t f o r a n y o f f e n s e

, q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y w i l l a p p l y

.

S k o p

, 4 8 5 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 3 8

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, w e c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r D e f e n d a n t S e r g e a n t

N o r r i s h a d a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e t o a r r e s t P l a i n t i f f B r o w n f

o r d i s o r d e r l y

c o n d u c t

. 1 6

A l a b a m a l a w d e f

i n e s d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t a s :

( a ) A p e r s o n c o m m i t s t h e c r i m e o f d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t i f

,

w i t h i n t e n t t o c a u s e p u b l i c i n c o n v e n i e n c e

, a n n o y a n c e o r

a l a r m

, o r r e c k l e s s l y c r e a t i n g a r i s k t h e r e o f

, h e :

. . . ( 2 ) M a k e s u n r e a s o n a b l e n o i s e

. . . .

We consider only

the disorder ly

conduct c harg e bec ause Ser g eant Nor ris is entitled to 1 6

qualified immunity

if he ha d arg uable pr obable c ause to a rre st either for

disorderly

conduct or

for r esisting a

rre st. W e also note tha t the resisting arr est cha rg e ag ainst Plainti ff B rown a rose

from her conduct dur ing the arr est for disorde rly conduct, so the r esisting a rre st charg e depe nds

in part on the va lidity

of Plaintiff Br own’s ar

rest for disorderly

conduct.

17A l a

. C o d e § 1 3 A

- 1 1

- 7 ( 1 9 7 5 )

. D i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t i s a C l a s s C m i s d e m e a n o r

. I d

. 1 7

§ 1 3 A

- 1 1

- 7 ( b )

. W h e r e t h e d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t c h a r g e i s p r e m i s e d u p o n s u b s e c t i o n

( a ) ( 2 ) ’ s “ u n r e a s o n a b l e n o i s e ” p r o s c r i p t i o n

, w e m u s t c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r t h e n o i s e

m a d e w a s u n r e a s o n a b l e u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. S w a n n v

. C i t y o f H u n t s v i l l e

, 4 5 5

S o

. 2 d 9 4 4

, 9 5 0 ( A l a

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 8 4 ) ; s e e a l s o A l a

. C o d e § 1 3 A

- 1 1

- 7 c m t

. ¶ 9

( “ U n r e a s o n a b l e w a s c h o s e n r a t h e r t h a n l o u d a s l o u d n o i s e s a r e s o m e t i m e s

a p p r o p r i a t e

. ” )

. T h e r e q u i s i t e i n t e n t m a y b e i n f e r r e d f r o m t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e 1 8

d e f e n d a n t

. S e e A l a

. C o d e § 1 3 A

- 1 1

- 7 c m t

. ¶ 3

.

D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s h a d a t l e a s t a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e t o a r r e s t B r o w n f o r

d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t

. T h e f a c t s

, e v e n w h e n v i e w e d i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o

B r o w n

, a r e t h a t B r o w n a r r i v e d i n t h e W a l

- M a r t p a r k i n g l o t i n a v e h i c l e p l a y i n g

At oral a rg ument, Def

endants’ c ounsel confir

med that a disorde rly

conduct c harg e 1 7

require s a phy sical ar

rest – i.e., Ser g eant Nor

ris could not mere ly

have issued Plaintiff B rown a

citation or ticket for

disorderly

conduct.

The intent ele ment in § 13A-11-7( a)( 2) save s the prohibition on “unrea sonable noise” 1 8

from being an unconstitutional restriction on F irst Amendment fre e-spe ech r ights. Sterling v. State, 701 So.2d 71, 74 (Ala. Crim. App. 1997). Plaintiffs do not challeng e the va lidity of §

13A-11-7( a)( 2) on constitutional gr ounds. Rather, they claim the district cour

t erre d beca

use,

“B rown’s c onduct during Norris’ a rre sting of he r wa s part of he r leg itimate resistance to the

unlawful a

rre st, was protec ted Fir st Amended spee ch, ca nnot supply

probable cause for the pr ior

decision to arr est, and wa s an attempt to communicate with the scre aming Norris that is not a

violation of the disorderly conduct statute.” Contrary to Plainti ffs’ c laims, the district court

based its ar g uable pr obable c ause c onclusion on the loud noise from B rown’s music, whic h is

not even a

rg uably protec ted Fir st Amendment speec h. See B rown v. City of Huntsville, No. 07-

1013, slip. op. at 27 (N.D. Ala. Ma y 14, 2009) (“ Her e, at a

minimum , Def

endants Nor

ris and

Ander son had ar g uable pr obable c ause to a rre st Brow n for disorde rly conduct a s Br own admits

that she wa s play ing music tha t was loud and that the dr iver’s side w indow was rolled dow n

half-w ay . . . [and] there is no dispute that Defe ndants Norr is and Ander son persona lly hear d the

music that Br own was pla y ing . . . .” ).

18a d m i t t e d l y “ l o u d ” m u s i c

, s t o p p e d h e r c a r i n t h e p a r k i n g l o t

, r o l l e d d o w n t h e

d r i v e r ’ s s i d e w i n d o w t o s o m e e x t e n t

, a n d s p o k e o u t o f t h e w i n d o w t o J o n e s w h i l e

t h e m u s i c s t i l l w a s p l a y i n g

. B r o w n ’ s m u s i c w a s l o u d e n o u g h t h a t S e r g e a n t N o r r i s

a n d I n v e s t i g a t o r A n d e r s o n

, w h o w e r e a t t h e t i m e s e v e r a l p a r k i n g s p o t s a w a y f r o m

h e r v e h i c l e

, h e a r d t h e m u s i c

. L i e u t e n a n t W i n n

, I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n

, a n d

I n v e s t i g a t o r L e f

t w i c h a l s o h e a r d l o u d m u s i c

. T h e p l a y i n g o f l o u d m u s i c i s a

w i l l f u l a c t

. S e r g e a n t N o r r i s t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e h a d t o t e l l B r o w n t h r e e t i m e s t o t u r n

h e r m u s i c d o w n

. B r o w n a d m i t s s h e w a s t o l d o n c e a n d t h a t h e r m u s i c w a s l o u d a n d

t h a t i t w a s p o s s i b l e s h e w a s t o l d a s e c o n d o r t h i r d t i m e

, b u t s h e d i d n o t h e a r i t

.

B r o w n a t l e a s t o n c e h a d t o a s k T r a v i s J o n e s t o r e p e a t w h a t w a s s a i d t o h e r b y a l a w

e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r o u t s i d e h e r c a r

, p r o v i d i n g s o m e c o n t e x t f o r h o w l o u d h e r

m u s i c m u s t h a v e b e e n

.

I n s h o r t

, w e l o o k o n l y t o w h e t h e r a r e a s o n a b l e o f f i c e r

, k n o w i n g w h a t

S e r g e a n t N o r r i s k n e w a t t h e t i m e

, o b j e c t i v e l y c o u l d h a v e b e l i e v e d p r o b a b l e c a u s e

e x i s t e d

. W e c o n c l u d e B r o w n ’ s a c t i o n s i n p l a y i n g l o u d m u s i c

, s t o p p i n g h e r c a r

, a n d

r o l l i n g h e r w i n d o w d o w n c o u l d h a v e i n d i c a t e d t o a n o b j e c t i v e l y r e a s o n a b l e o f

f i c e r

a t t h e s c e n e t h a t B r o w n w a s m a k i n g u n r e a s o n a b l e n o i s e w i t h i n t e n t t o c r e a t e p u b l i c

a n n o y a n c e

, e v e n i f t h o s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w e r e i n s u f f i c i e n t t o p r o v e a n a c t u a l

v i o l a t i o n o f § 1 3 A

- 1 1

- 7

. S e e

, e

. g

. , H u t c h i n s v

. C i t y o f A l e x a n d e r C i t y

, 8 2 2 S o

. 2 d

194 5 9

, 4 6 2 ( A l a

. C r i m

. A p p

. 2 0 0 0 ) ( f i n d i n g p r i m a f

a c i e c a s e o f d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t

w h e r e d e f

e n d a n t m a d e u n r e a s o n a b l e n o i s e i n p u b l i c a r e a o f p o l i c e s t a t i o n )

. T h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t c o n s e q u e n t l y d i d n o t e r r i n d e t e r m i n i n g S e r g e a n t N o r r i s w a s e n t i t l e d

t o q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y o n P l a i n t i f f B r o w n ’ s § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m f o r f a l s e a r r e s t

.

P l a i n t i f f B r o w n ’ s f

a l s e a r r e s t c l a i m a g a i n s t D e f e n d a n t A n d e r s o n a l s o f

a i l s

.

N o r r i s

, n o t A n d e r s o n

, m a d e t h e d e c i s i o n t o a r r e s t B r o w n

. B r o w n d o e s n o t i d e n t i f y

a n y c o n d u c t o f D e f

e n d a n t A n d e r s o n t h a t w o u l d s u p p o r t a f a l s e a r r e s t c l a i m a g a i n s t

h i m

. I n a n y e v e n t

, t h e r e w a s a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e f o r B r o w n ’ s a r r e s t

. W h i l e

A n d e r s o n a l s o a s s i s t e d N o r r i s i n r e m o v i n g B r o w n f r o m t h e v e h i c l e

, w e c o n s i d e r

t h a t c o n d u c t i n o u r d i s c u s s i o n o f B r o w n ’ s e x c e s s i v e f o r c e c l a i m

. Q u a l i f

i e d

i m m u n i t y a p p l i e s t o D e f e n d a n t A n d e r s o n f

o r B r o w n ’ s f

a l s e a r r e s t c l a i m

.

C

. S o n i a ’ s § 1 9 8 3 F a l s e A r r e s t C l a i m s

I t i s u n d i s p u t e d t h a t I n v e s t i g a t o r H u d s o n

, w h o m S o n i a d i d n o t s u e

, w a s t h e

o f f i c e r w h o w i t n e s s e d S o n i a ’ s b e h a v i o r a n d a c t u a l l y a r r e s t e d a n d h a n d c u f f e d S o n i a

a n d s i g n e d t h e c r i m i n a l c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t S o n i a

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t e r r i n

g r a n t i n g q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y t o D e f

e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n b e c a u s e t h e y d i d

n o t p a r t i c i p a t e i n S o n i a ’ s a r r e s t a n d w e r e n o t H u d s o n ’ s s u p e r v i s o r s

. 1 9

The district cour

t pointed out that Pl aintiffs’ c omplaint does not alleg e conduc t ag ainst 1 9

Ander son sugg esting any involvement in Sonia’s arre st. There is a question as to whethe r Sonia

even ha s alleg ed a § 1983 f alse a rre st claim ag ainst Anderson, but the pa rties have briefe d the

case as if Sonia does a lleg e a § 1983 f alse a rre st claim ag ainst Anderson, so we consider tha t

20T o e s t a b l i s h § 1 9 8 3 l i a b i l i t y

, a p l a i n t i f f m u s t s h o w “ p r o o f o f a n a f f i r m a t i v e

c a u s a l c o n n e c t i o n ” b e t w e e n a g o v e r n m e n t a c t o r ’ s a c t s o r o m i s s i o n s a n d t h e a l l e g e d

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l v i o l a t i o n

, w h i c h “ m a y b e e s t a b l i s h e d b y p r o v i n g t h a t t h e o f f i c i a l w a s

p e r s o n a l l y i n v o l v e d i n t h e a c t s t h a t r e s u l t e d i n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l d e p r i v a t i o n

. ”

Z a t l e r v

. W a i n w r i g h t

, 8 0 2 F

. 2 d 3 9 7

, 4 0 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 8 6 )

. M e r e l y b e i n g p r e s e n t

w i t h t h e a r r e s t i n g o f

f i c e r s a t t h e s c e n e i s n o t e n o u g h

, u n l e s s t h e p l a i n t i f f c a n s h o w

t h a t t h e d e f

e n d a n t o f

f i c e r w a s p a r t o f t h e c h a i n o f c o m m a n d a u t h o r i z i n g t h e a r r e s t

a c t i o n

.

H e r e

, t h e f

a c t s d o n o t s h o w p e r s o n a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n b y D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s o r

A n d e r s o n i n S o n i a ’ s a r r e s t

. V i e w e d i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

- f a v o r a b l e t o P l a i n t i f

f S o n i a

,

w h i l e D e f

e n d a n t N o r r i s w a s a r r e s t i n g P l a i n t i f f B r o w n

, h e s a i d “ a r r e s t [ S o n i a ]

,

t o o

. ” H o w e v e r

, N o r r i s w a s n o t H u d s o n ’ s s u p e r v i s o r o r e v e n i n H u d s o n ’ s c h a i n 2 0

o f c o m m a n d

. H u d s o n h a d h i s o w n a u t h o r i t y t o a r r e s t a n d a c t u a l l y u t i l i z e d i t a t t h e

s c e n e

. W h i l e H u d s o n w a s a r r e s t i n g S o n i a

, N o r r i s w a s b u s y a r r e s t i n g B r o w n a n d

t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e w a s n o t a w a r e H u d s o n w a s a r r e s t i n g S o n i a

. T h e r e w a s n o a c t i v e

p e r s o n a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n b y N o r r i s i n S o n i a ’ s a r r e s t

, m u c h l e s s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o

claim her e. We deter

mine that the evidenc e does not e stablish a constitutional viol ation by

Ander son as to Sonia’s arr est. Fur ther, in ana ly

zing whethe r De fenda

nts Norris and Ande rson

can be liable for Sonia’ s false a rre st claim, we a ssume for the purposes of this opinion that nonparty I nvestig ator Hudson violated Sonia’ s Fourth Ame ndment rig hts by arr esting him without

arg uable pr obable c ause.

Norris de nies he said this, but Travis Jones testified that he hea rd Norr is say

it. 2 0

21i n t e r v e n e i n H u d s o n ’ s a r r e s t a t t h e s c e n e

. A t m o s t

, P l a i n t i f f s h a v e s h o w n t h a t

N o r r i s a r g u a b l y w a n t e d H u d s o n t o a r r e s t S o n i a

. B u t a n o f f i c e r ’ s s u b

j e c t i v e i n t e n t

i s i r r e l e v a n t i n a q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y a n a l y s i s

. B e c a u s e N o r r i s d i d n o t a r r e s t S o n i a

a n d h a d n o s u p e r v i s o r y c o n t r o l o v e r t h e o f f i c e r w h o d i d

, q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y i s

a p p r o p r i a t e

.

A c c o r d i n g l y

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t e r r i n g r a n t i n g q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y t o

D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n o n S o n i a ’ s § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m s f o r f a l s e a r r e s t

.

D

. B r o w n ’ s § 1 9 8 3 E x c e s s i v e F o r c e C l a i m

P l a i n t i f f B r o w n c l a i m s D e f

e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n u s e d e x c e s s i v e

f o r c e d u r i n g h e r a r r e s t

.

“ T h e F o u r t h A m e n d m e n t ’ s f r e e d o m f r o m u n r e a s o n a b l e s e a r c h e s a n d

s e i z u r e s e n c o m p a s s e s t h e p l a i n r i g h t t o b e f r e e f r o m t h e u s e o f e x c e s s i v e f o r c e i n

t h e c o u r s e o f a n a r r e s t

. ” L e e

, 2 8 4 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 9 7 ( c i t i n g G r a h a m v

. C o n n o r

, 4 9 0 U

. S

.

3 8 6

, 3 9 4

- 9 5

, 1 0 9 S

. C t

. 1 8 6 5

, 1 8 7 1 ( 1 9 8 9 ) )

. “ ‘ F o u r t h A m e n d m e n t j u r i s p r u d e n c e

h a s l o n g r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e r i g h t t o m a k e a n a r r e s t o r i n v e s t i g a t o r y s t o p

n e c e s s a r i l y c a r r i e s w i t h i t t h e r i g h t t o u s e s o m e d e g r e e o f p h y s i c a l c o e r c i o n o r

t h r e a t t h e r e o f t o e f

f e c t i t

. ’ ” L e e

, 2 8 4 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 9 7 ( q u o t i n g G r a h a m

, 4 9 0 U

. S

. a t

3 9 6

, 1 0 9 S

. C t

. a t 1 8 7 1

- 7 2 )

. B u t w h i l e s o m e f o r c e i s p e r m i t t e d i n e f

f e c t i n g a n

a r r e s t

, w h e t h e r t h e f

o r c e i s r e a s o n a b l e d e p e n d s o n “ a c a r e f u l b a l a n c i n g o f t h e

22n a t u r e a n d q u a l i t y o f t h e i n t r u s i o n o n t h e i n d i v i d u a l ’ s F o u r t h A m e n d m e n t i n t e r e s t s

a g a i n s t t h e c o u n t e r v a i l i n g g o v e r n m e n t a l i n t e r e s t s a t s t a k e

. ” V i n y a r d

, 3 1 1 F

. 3 d a t

1 3 4 7 ( q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d )

. 2 1

A l a w e n f

o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r r e c e i v e s q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y f

o r u s e o f f

o r c e

d u r i n g a n a r r e s t i f a n o b j e c t i v e l y r e a s o n a b l e o f

f i c e r i n t h e s a m e s i t u a t i o n c o u l d

h a v e b e l i e v e d t h e u s e o f f o r c e w a s n o t e x c e s s i v e

. I d

. ; G r a h a m

, 4 9 0 U

. S

. a t 3 9 6

- 9 7

,

1 0 9 S

. C t

. a t 1 8 7 2 ; L e e

, 2 8 4 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 9 7

. “ U s e o f f o r c e m u s t b e j u d g e d o n a

c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s ‘ f

r o m t h e p e r s p e c t i v e o f a r e a s o n a b l e o f f i c e r o n t h e s c e n e

, r a t h e r

t h a n w i t h t h e 2 0 / 2 0 v i s i o n o f h i n d s i g h t

. ’ ” P o s t v

. C i t y o f F o r t L a u d e r d a l e

, 7 F

. 3 d

1 5 5 2

, 1 5 5 9 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 3 ) ( q u o t i n g G r a h a m

, 4 9 0 U

. S

. a t 3 9 6

, 1 0 9 S

. C t

. a t 1 8 7 2 )

,

m o d i f i e d

, 1 4 F

. 3 d 5 8 3 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 4 )

. W e j u d g e u s e o f f o r c e s o l e l y o n a n

o b j e c t i v e b a s i s

, a n d w e d o n o t c o n s i d e r a n o f f i c e r ’ s s u b

j e c t i v e b e l i e f

. H a d l e y v

.

G u t i e r r e z

, 5 2 6 F

. 3 d 1 3 2 4

, 1 3 3 0 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 )

.

“ T o b a l a n c e t h e n e c e s s i t y o f t h e u s e o f f o r c e

. . . a g a i n s t t h e a r r e s t e e ’ s

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s

, a c o u r t m u s t e v a l u a t e s e v e r a l f a c t o r s

, i n c l u d i n g ‘ [ 1 ] t h e

s e v e r i t y o f t h e c r i m e a t i s s u e

, [ 2 ] w h e t h e r t h e s u s p e c t p o s e s a n i m m e d i a t e t h r e a t t o

Howeve r, “e ven de minimis force will violate the Four th Amendment if the off

icer is 2 1

not entitled to arre st or detain the suspec t.” Reese v. Her bert, 527 F .3d 1253, 1272 (11th Cir.

2008) (quotation mar

ks omitt ed). We a lrea dy

conclude d above tha t arg uable pr obable c ause

exis ted to arr est Br own, so our question now is whethe r Norr is and Ander son used too much

forc e in ef

fec ting that a

rre st.

23t h e s a f

e t y o f t h e o f

f i c e r s o r o t h e r s

, a n d [ 3 ] w h e t h e r h e i s a c t i v e l y r e s i s t i n g a r r e s t o r

a t t e m p t i n g t o e v a d e a r r e s t b y f l i g h t

. ’ ” V i n y a r d

, 3 1 1 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 4 7 ( q u o t i n g G r a h a m

,

4 9 0 U

. S

. a t 3 9 6

, 1 0 9 S

. C t

. a t 1 8 7 2 )

. “ O u r c a s e s h o l d t h a t g r a t u i t o u s u s e o f f o r c e

w h e n a c r i m i n a l s u s p e c t i s n o t r e s i s t i n g a r r e s t c o n s t i t u t e s e x c e s s i v e f o r c e

. ” H a d l e y

,

5 2 6 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 3 0

.

O n s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s

, t h i s C o u r t h a s e v a l u a t e d t h e u s e o f p e p p e r s p r a y

d u r i n g a n a r r e s t

. I n V i n y a r d v

. W i l s o n

, w e r e v e r s e d a g r a n t o f q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y

t o a n o f f i c e r w h o u s e d p e p p e r s p r a y o n a n a r r e s t e e

. T h e p l a i n t i f f w a s u n d e r a r r e s t

f o r d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t a n d d e t a i n e d i n t h e b a c k o f a p o l i c e c a r

, w i t h h e r h a n d s

c u f f e d b e h i n d h e r b a c k a n d w i t h a g l a s s o r p l a s t i c p a r t i t i o n s e p a r a t i n g t h e o f f i c e r

f r o m t h e a r r e s t e e

. V i n y a r d

, 3 1 1 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 4 9

, 1 3 5 5

. T o s t o p t h e a r r e s t e e f r o m

r e t u r n i n g t h e o f

f i c e r ’ s e x c h a n g e s o f o b s c e n i t i e s a n d i n s u l t s d u r i n g a f o u r

- m i l e r i d e

t o t h e j a i l

, t h e o f

f i c e r s t o p p e d h i s c a r

, g r a b b e d t h e a r r e s t e e ’ s a r m a n d h a i r

, a n d

s p r a y e d h e r i n t h e f

a c e w i t h t w o o r t h r e e b u r s t s o f p e p p e r s p r a y

. I d

. a t 1 3 4 3

. T h i s

C o u r t h e l d t h a t t h i s u s e o f f o r c e c l e a r l y e x c e e d e d t h e F o u r t h A m e n d m e n t ’ s

e x c e s s i v e n e s s t h r e s h o l d

. I d

. a t 1 3 4 8

, 1 3 5 5 ( “ C o u r t s h a v e c o n s i s t e n t l y c o n c l u d e d

t h a t u s i n g p e p p e r s p r a y i s e x c e s s i v e f o r c e i n c a s e s w h e r e t h e c r i m e i s a m i n o r

i n f r a c t i o n

, t h e a r r e s t e e s u r r e n d e r s

, i s s e c u r e d

, a n d i s n o t a c t i n g v i o l e n t l y

, a n d t h e r e

i s n o t h r e a t t o t h e o f

f i c e r s o r a n y o n e e l s e

. ” )

. W e b a s e d o u r h o l d i n g o n a l l G r a h a m

24f

a c t o r s w e i g h i n g i n f

a v o r o f t h e p l a i n t i f

f a r r e s t e e : ( 1 ) h e r c r i m e o f d i s o r d e r l y

c o n d u c t w a s m i n o r ; ( 2 ) u n d e r h e r v e r s i o n o f t h e f a c t s

, s h e w a s s e c u r e d a n d w a s n o t

p o s i n g a s a f

e t y t h r e a t t o t h e o f

f i c e r

, h e r s e l f

, o r o t h e r s ; a n d ( 3 ) s h e d i d n o t r e s i s t

a r r e s t o r a t t e m p t t o f

l e e

. I d

. a t 1 3 4 7

- 4 8

.

W e l a t e r a p p l i e d V i n y a r d ’ s h o l d i n g s i n R e e s e v

. H e r b e r t

, 5 2 7 F

. 3 d 1 2 5 3

,

1 2 7 3

- 7 4 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 )

, d e n y i n g q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y t o o f

f i c e r s w h o u s e d p e p p e r

s p r a y i n t h e f

a c e o f a n a r r e s t e e w h o “ w a s l y i n g f a c e d o w n o n t h e g r o u n d

, w a s n o t

s u s p e c t e d o f h a v i n g c o m m i t t e d a s e r i o u s c r i m e

, d i d n o t p o s e a n i m m e d i a t e t h r e a t o f

h a r m t o a n y o n e

, a n d w a s n o t a c t i v e l y r e s i s t i n g o r e v a d i n g a r r e s t

. . . . ” I d

.

I n c o n t r a s t

, t h i s C o u r t h a s n o t e d t h a t t h e u s e o f p e p p e r s p r a y i s n o t e x c e s s i v e

f o r c e i n s i t u a t i o n s w h e r e t h e a r r e s t e e p o s e s a t h r e a t t o l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r s o r

o t h e r s

, u s e s f

o r c e a g a i n s t o f

f i c e r s

, p h y s i c a l l y r e s i s t s a r r e s t

, o r a t t e m p t s t o f l e e

, i n

w h i c h c a s e s p e p p e r s p r a y i s a p e r m i s s i b l e w a y t o “ d i s a b l e a s u s p e c t w i t h o u t

c a u s i n g p e r m a n e n t p h y s i c a l i n j u r y

. ” V i n y a r d

, 3 1 1 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 4 8 ( q u o t a t i o n m a r k s

o m i t t e d )

. “ I n d e e d

, p e p p e r s p r a y i s a v e r y r e a s o n a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e t o e s c a l a t i n g a

p h y s i c a l s t r u g g l e w i t h a n a r r e s t e e

. ” I d

. F o r e x a m p l e

, i n G a r r e t t v

. A t h e n s

- C l a r k e

C o u n t y

, 3 7 8 F

. 3 d 1 2 7 4

, 1 2 8 0

- 8 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 4 )

, w e h e l d t h a t u s e o f p e p p e r s p r a y

w a s n o t e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e w h e r e t h e a r r e s t e e l e d p o l i c e o n a h i g h

- s p e e d v e h i c l e

c h a s e

, p h y s i c a l l y r e s i s t e d a r r e s t

, a t t e m p t e d t o f l e e

, a t t e m p t e d t o h a r m l a w

25e n f

o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r s

, a n d a t t e m p t e d t o t a k e a n o f f i c e r ’ s p i s t o l

. I d

. a t 1 2 7 6

- 7 7

. I n

M c C o r m i c k v

. C i t y o f F o r t L a u d e r d a l e

, 3 3 3 F

. 3 d 1 2 3 4 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 3 )

, w e

d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e u s e o f p e p p e r s p r a y o n a s u s p e c t e d v i o l e n t f e l o n w a s a

r e a s o n a b l e r e s p o n s e t o t h e s c e n e c o n f r o n t i n g t h e o f

f i c e r

– a v i c t i m o n t h e f

l o o r

w i t h a b l e e d i n g h e a d w o u n d a n d h e r l i k e l y a s s a i l a n t s t a n d i n g n e a r h e r a n d a r m e d

w i t h a w a l k i n g s t i c k

. I d

. a t 1 2 4 4

- 4 5

. “ G i v e n t h a t p e p p e r s p r a y o r d i n a r i l y c a u s e s 2 2

o n l y t e m p o r a r y d i s c o m f o r t

, i t m a y b e r e a s o n a b l y e m p l o y e d a g a i n s t p o t e n t i a l l y

v i o l e n t s u s p e c t s

, e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e s u s p e c t s w h o h a v e a l r e a d y a s s a u l t e d a n o t h e r

p e r s o n a n d r e m a i n a r m e d

. ” I d

. a t 1 2 4 5

.

G i v e n t h e f

a c t s i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f

a v o r a b l e t o B r o w n

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

i m p r o p e r l y g r a n t e d s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t t o D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s o n B r o w n ’ s e x c e s s i v e

f o r c e c l a i m

. U n d e r B r o w n ’ s v e r s i o n

, N o r r i s ’ s a c t i o n s i n e f f e c t i n g t h e a r r e s t

c o n s t i t u t e e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e

. E a c h G r a h a m f

a c t o r s u p p o r t s B r o w n

. F i r s t

, B r o w n w a s

n o t a r r e s t e d f

o r a s e r i o u s c r i m e

. S e c o n d

, B r o w n d i d n o t p o s e a t h r e a t t o a n y o n e ’ s

s a f e t y

. T h i r d

, u n d e r B r o w n ’ s a c c o u n t o f t h e f a c t s

, s h e w a s c o o p e r a t i v e

, w a s n o t

r e s i s t i n g a r r e s t

, a n d w a s n o t a t t e m p t i n g t o f l e e

. S h e c o m p l i e d w i t h D e f e n d a n t

N o r r i s ’ s r e q u e s t s a n d a t t e m p t e d t o g e t o u t o f t h e v e h i c l e b u t w a s d e l a y e d b y t h e

This Court also concluded tha t there is no constitutional require ment that a law 2 2

enfor ceme nt office r first g ive the suspec ted violent felon a verba l warning and opportunity to

submit before using pepper spray . McCormick, 333 F .3d at 1245.

26d o o r l o c k s

, w h i c h s h e c l e a r l y c o m m u n i c a t e d t o N o r r i s

. B r o w n t h e n h a d a c t u a l l y

o p e n e d t h e d o o r a n d w a s g e t t i n g o u t w h e n N o r r i s p u s h e d h e r b a c k i n t h e c a r a n d

s p r a y e d h e r

. N o r r i s ’ s s u b j e c t i v e b e l i e f

s a r e n o t r e l e v a n t

. W h a t w e c o n s i d e r i n s t e a d

i s w h a t a n o b

j e c t i v e l y r e a s o n a b l e o f

f i c e r i n N o r r i s ’ s s i t u a t i o n w o u l d h a v e b e l i e v e d

,

t a k i n g a s t r u e B r o w n ’ s t e s t i m o n y

. G i v e n t h a t B r o w n h a d s u b m i t t e d t o N o r r i s ’ s

a u t h o r i t y

, w a s g e t t i n g o u t o f t h e c a r t o b e a r r e s t e d

, a n d p o s e d n o t h r e a t

, N o r r i s ’ s

c o n d u c t i n p u s h i n g h e r b a c k i n t o t h e c a r

, g r a t u i t o u s l y u s i n g p e p p e r s p r a y

, a n d t h e n

s l a m m i n g h e r t o t h e p a v e m e n t

, w a s e x c e s s i v e f o r c e t h a t v i o l a t e d B r o w n ’ s

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s

. 2 3

F u r t h e r m o r e

, a n o b

j e c t i v e l y r e a s o n a b l e p o l i c e o f f i c e r w o u l d h a v e k n o w n i t

w a s u n l a w f

u l t o u s e p e p p e r s p r a y a n d o t h e r f o r c e a g a i n s t a n a r r e s t e e w h o w a s

s u s p e c t e d o n l y o f a m i n o r o f f e n s e ( p l a y i n g m u s i c t o o l o u d )

, w a s n o t t h r e a t e n i n g

t h e o f f i c e r o r t h e p u b l i c

, w a s n o t a t t e m p t i n g t o f l e e

, a n d w h o h a d c o m m u n i c a t e d

h e r w i l l i n g n e s s t o b e a r r e s t e d

. A l t h o u g h t h e l a w p e r m i t s s o m e u s e o f f o r c e i n a n y

a r r e s t f o r e v e n m i n o r o f

f e n s e s

, t h e l a w w a s c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d i n 2 0 0 5 t h a t

D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s ’ s c o m b i n e d g r a t u i t o u s u s e o f p e p p e r s p r a y a n d o t h e r f o r c e

a g a i n s t B r o w n i n t h i s m i n o r o f f e n s e c o n t e x t v i o l a t e d t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n

. S e e

, e

. g

. ,

Although w e primar ily

discuss Norris’s use of peppe r spra y , we r eitera te that B rown’s 2 3

excessive forc e cla im concer ns the entirety

of the for ce use d by

Norris in ef

fec ting the a

rre st,

including the forc e used to throw he r out of the c ar f ace -down, slam her

on the pave ment, and

handcuf f her

.

27V i n y a r d

, 3 1 1 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 4 7

- 4 9 ; L e e

, 2 8 4 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 9 8

- 1 2 0 0

. 2 4

T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a c c o r d i n g l y e r r e d i n g r a n t i n g q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y t o

D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s o n B r o w n ’ s e x c e s s i v e f o r c e c l a i m

.

A s t o D e f

e n d a n t A n d e r s o n

, h o w e v e r

, t h e r e i s s o m e q u e s t i o n o v e r w h e t h e r

P l a i n t i f f B r o w n e v e n s u e d A n d e r s o n f o r e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e

. W e n e e d n o t r e s o l v e t h a t

i s s u e

. T h e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e t h a t A n d e r s o n u s e d a n y p e p p e r s p r a y

. A n d e r s o n a t

m o s t a s s i s t e d N o r r i s i n p u l l i n g B r o w n o u t o f t h e c a r

, w h i c h i n t h i s c a s e i s a

p e r m i s s i b l e u s e o f f

o r c e i n e f

f e c t i n g a n a r r e s t

. A l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r ’ s r i g h t t o

a r r e s t n e c e s s a r i l y c a r r i e s w i t h i t t h e a b i l i t y t o u s e s o m e f o r c e i n m a k i n g t h e a r r e s t

.

L e e

, 2 8 4 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 9 7

- 9 8

. F o r e v e n m i n o r o f f e n s e s

, p e r m i s s i b l e f

o r c e i n c l u d e s

p h y s i c a l r e s t r a i n t

, u s e o f h a n d c u f f s

, a n d p u s h i n g i n t o w a l l s

. S e e N o l i n v

. I s b e l l

,

2 0 7 F

. 3 d 1 2 5 3

, 1 2 5 7 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 0 ) ( “ [ T ] h i s C i r c u i t h a s e s t a b l i s h e d t h e p r i n c i p l e

t h a t t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f d e m i n i m i s f o r c e

, w i t h o u t m o r e

, w i l l n o t s u p p o r t a c l a i m f o r

e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e F o u r t h A m e n d m e n t

. ” ) ; L e e

, 2 8 4 F

. 3 d a t 1 2 0 0

( c i t i n g c a s e s p e r m i t t i n g u s e o f h a n d c u f f s ) ; J o n e s v

. C i t y o f D o t h a n

, 1 2 1 F

. 3 d 1 4 5 6

,

1 4 6 0 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 7 ) ( n o c o n s t i t u t i o n a l v i o l a t i o n t o s l a m p l a i n t i f f a g a i n s t w a l l

,

k i c k p l a i n t i f

f ’ s l e g s a p a r t

, a n d r e q u i r e p l a i n t i f f t o r a i s e a r m s a b o v e h i s h e a d ) ; G o l d

,

The Court applied V iny ard’ s holding in Reese v. Her bert, 527 F .3d at 1273-74, 2 4

concluding it was excessive for ce to use pepper spray on a non-thre atening arr estee who was

fac e-dow n on the g round and suspe cted of only a minor off

ense. B eing a 2008 ca se, howe ver,

Reese c annot be use d to establish the constitutional bounds of Defe ndant Norr is’s 2005 conduct.

281 2 1 F

. 3 d 1 4 4 2 a t 1 4 4 6

- 4 7 ( n o c o n s t i t u t i o n a l v i o l a t i o n f o r a r r e s t i n g p l a i n t i f

f f o r

d i s o r d e r l y c o n d u c t a n d a f f i x i n g h a n d c u f

f s t o o t i g h t l y ) ; P o s t

, 7 F

. 3 d a t 1 5 5 9

- 6 0 ( n o t

e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e t o a r r e s t p l a i n t i f

f f o r b u i l d i n g c o d e v i o l a t i o n b y p u s h i n g h i m u p

a g a i n s t w a l l a n d a p p l y i n g c h o k e h o l d t o u n r e s i s t i n g p l a i n t i f f w h i l e a f

f i x i n g

h a n d c u f f s )

. B e c a u s e A n d e r s o n w a s p e r m i t t e d t o u s e s o m e f o r c e i n a r r e s t i n g

B r o w n

, B r o w n h a s n o t s h o w n A n d e r s o n ’ s c o n d u c t i n f o r c i b l y r e m o v i n g B r o w n

f r o m t h e c a r v i o l a t e d h e r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s

. 2 5

E

. P l a i n t i f

f s ’ S t a t e

- L a w C l a i m s

P l a i n t i f f s B r o w n a n d S o n i a a r g u e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n g r a n t i n g t h e

D e f e n d a n t s i m m u n i t y f

r o m P l a i n t i f

f s ’ s t a t e

- l a w c l a i m s

. B r o w n a n d S o n i a a s s e r t e d

s t a t e

- l a w c l a i m s f

o r f a l s e a r r e s t / f

a l s e i m p r i s o n m e n t a g a i n s t D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s

,

A n d e r s o n

, a n d t h e C i t y

. B r o w n a l s o a s s e r t e d a c l a i m f o r a s s a u l t a n d

b a t t e r y / e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e a g a i n s t t h e s e D e f

e n d a n t s

.

U n d e r A l a b a m a l a w

, “ [ s ] t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y p r o t e c t s s t a t e e m p l o y e e s

, a s

a g e n t s o f t h e S t a t e

, i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f t h e i r j u d g m e n t i n e x e c u t i n g t h e i r w o r k

r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s

. ” E x p a r t e H a y l e s

, 8 5 2 S o

. 2 d 1 1 7

, 1 2 2 ( A l a

. 2 0 0 2 )

. I n E x p a r t e

A non-a rre sting off

icer may be liable f

or anothe r off

icer ’s use of e x cessive f

orce , but 2 5

only if “the non- intervening office r wa s in a position to i nterve ne y et fa iled to do so.” Hadle y

, 526 F.3d a t 1330-31. Be cause the re levant eve nts happene d so quickly , the re cord doe s not

ref lect any point at which Ander son could have intervene d to preve nt Norris’s use of excessive

forc e, espe cially

pepper spray , on Br own. Ander son acc ording ly is not li able f

or fa ilure to

intervene in Norris’s use of forc e.

29C r a n m a n

, 7 9 2 S o

. 2 d 3 9 2 ( A l a

. 2 0 0 0 )

, a p l u r a l i t y o f t h e A l a b a m a S u p r e m e C o u r t

r e s t a t e d a n d c l a r i f

i e d t h e s c o p e o f A l a b a m a ’ s s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y d o c t r i n e

, w h i c h

b a r s s u i t a g a i n s t l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r s e f f e c t i n g a r r e s t s

, e x c e p t t o t h e e x t e n t t h e

o f f i c e r a c t e d w i l l f

u l l y

, m a l i c i o u s l y

, f

r a u d u l e n t l y

, i n b a d f

a i t h

, b e y o n d h i s l e g a l

a u t h o r i t y

, o r u n d e r a m i s t a k e n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f l a w

, o r i f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o r l a w s

o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o r A l a b a m a r e q u i r e o t h e r w i s e

. I d

. a t 4 0 5

. 2 6

T h e r e i s a l s o s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y i n A l a b a m a

.

S p e c i f i c a l l y

, § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 o f t h e A l a b a m a C o d e c o n t a i n s a p r o v i s i o n i m m u n i z i n g l a w

e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r s f r o m t o r t l i a b i l i t y f

o r c o n d u c t w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f t h e i r

d i s c r e t i o n a r y l a w e n f

o r c e m e n t d u t i e s

. A l a

. C o d e § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 ( a ) ( 1 9 9 4 ) ( “ E v e r y

p e a c e o f f i c e r

. . . s h a l l h a v e i m m u n i t y f r o m t o r t l i a b i l i t y a r i s i n g o u t o f h i s o r h e r

c o n d u c t i n p e r f

o r m a n c e o f a n y d i s c r e t i o n a r y f u n c t i o n w i t h i n t h e l i n e a n d s c o p e o f

h i s o r h e r l a w e n f

o r c e m e n t d u t i e s

. ” )

. C r a n m a n ’ s t e s t f o r s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y

g o v e r n s w h e t h e r l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r s a r e e n t i t l e d t o s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y u n d e r § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 ( a )

. E x p a r t e C i t y o f T u s k e g e e

, 9 3 2 S o

. 2 d 8 9 5

,

9 0 4 ( A l a

. 2 0 0 5 ) ( “ T h e r e s t a t e m e n t o f S t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y a s s e t o u t i n C r a n m a n

,

7 9 2 S o

. 2 d a t 4 0 5

, n o w g o v e r n s t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f w h e t h e r a p e a c e o f f i c e r i s

e n t i t l e d t o i m m u n i t y u n d e r § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 ( a )

. ” )

. S o f o r o u r p u r p o s e s

, t h e q u e s t i o n o f

The Ala bama Supre me Court formally adopted the Cra

nman plurality ’s state-a g ent 2 6

immunit y test in Ex parte Butts, 775 So.2d 173, 177-78 (Ala. 2000)

.

30w h e t h e r C i t y p o l i c e o f f i c e r s D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n r e c e i v e i m m u n i t y f o r

P l a i n t i f f s ’ s t a t e

- l a w c l a i m s d e p e n d s o n a p p l i c a t i o n o f C r a n m a n ’ s s t a t e

- a g e n t

i m m u n i t y t e s t

.

T h e A l a b a m a S u p r e m e C o u r t e s t a b l i s h e d a b u r d e n

- s h i f t i n g f r a m e w o r k f

o r

a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e s t a t e

- a g e n t i m m u n i t y t e s t

. A d e f e n d a n t i n i t i a l l y b e a r s t h e b u r d e n

o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t h e w a s a c t i n g i n a f u n c t i o n t h a t w o u l d e n t i t l e t h e a g e n t t o

i m m u n i t y

. E x p a r t e E s t a t e o f R e y n o l d s

, 9 4 6 S o

. 2 d 4 5 0

, 4 5 2 ( A l a

. 2 0 0 6 )

. “ I f t h e

S t a t e a g e n t m a k e s s u c h a s h o w i n g

, t h e b u r d e n t h e n s h i f t s t o t h e p l a i n t i f

f t o s h o w

t h a t t h e S t a t e a g e n t a c t e d w i l l f u l l y

, m a l i c i o u s l y

, f

r a u d u l e n t l y

, i n b a d f

a i t h

, o r

b e y o n d h i s o r h e r a u t h o r i t y

. ” I d

.

T u r n i n g t o t h e c l a i m s a g a i n s t D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n

, t h e r e i s n o

d i s p u t e t h a t b o t h N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n w e r e a c t i n g w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f t h e i r

d i s c r e t i o n a r y f

u n c t i o n s a s l a w e n f

o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r s ; P l a i n t i f

f s a d m i t t e d a s m u c h i n

t h e i r b r i e f o p p o s i n g s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

. ( “ M a k i n g a n a r r e s t i s a d i s c r e t i o n a r y

f u n c t i o n

. ” )

. P l a i n t i f

f s t h u s b e a r t h e b u r d e n o f s h o w i n g t h a t D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d

A n d e r s o n a c t e d w i l l f

u l l y

, m a l i c i o u s l y

, f

r a u d u l e n t l y

, i n b a d f

a i t h

, b e y o n d t h e i r l e g a l

a u t h o r i t y

, o r u n d e r a m i s t a k e n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e l a w

.

A s t o P l a i n t i f

f B r o w n ’ s f

a l s e a r r e s t / f

a l s e i m p r i s o n m e n t c l a i m

, w e c o n c l u d e

B r o w n h a s n o t m e t t h i s b u r d e n

. T h e A l a b a m a S u p r e m e C o u r t h a s a p p l i e d t h e

31s a m e “ a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e ” s t a n d a r d u t i l i z e d i n t h i s C o u r t ’ s f e d e r a l q u a l i f

i e d

i m m u n i t y c a s e s f

o r d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r a c i t y p o l i c e o f f i c e r r e c e i v e s s t a t e

- a g e n t

i m m u n i t y f

o r h i s r o l e i n a n a r r e s t

. B o r d e r s v

. C i t y o f H u n t s v i l l e

, 8 7 5 S o

. 2 d 1 1 6 8

,

1 1 8 0 ( A l a

. 2 0 0 3 ) ( “ I f

. . . a j u r y q u e s t i o n e x i s t s a s t o w h e t h e r [ t h e o f f i c e r ] a c t e d

w i t h a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e

, [ t h e n ] t h e s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t [ t o t h e o f f i c e r ] m u s t

b e r e v e r s e d

. ” )

. A s h e l d a b o v e

, D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n r e c e i v e q u a l i f i e d

i m m u n i t y f

o r t h e i r c o n d u c t i n a r r e s t i n g B r o w n b e c a u s e t h e f a c t s

, c o n s t r u e d i n t h e

l i g h t m o s t f

a v o r a b l e t o B r o w n

, s h o w t h a t t h e y h a d a r g u a b l e p r o b a b l e c a u s e t o

a r r e s t B r o w n

. D e f

e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n r e c e i v e b o t h s t a t e

- a g e n t a n d

s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y u n d e r § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 ( a ) f r o m B r o w n ’ s f

a l s e

a r r e s t c l a i m f

o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n s

.

P l a i n t i f f B r o w n ’ s a s s a u l t a n d b a t t e r y / e x c e s s i v e f o r c e c l a i m a g a i n s t

D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n p r e s e n t s a c l o s e r q u e s t i o n

, b u t

, s i m i l a r t o o u r

r e a s o n i n g f

o r d e n y i n g D e f

e n d a n t N o r r i s q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y f

o r h i s u s e o f p e p p e r

s p r a y a n d o t h e r f

o r c e a g a i n s t B r o w n

, D e f e n d a n t N o r r i s a l s o d o e s n o t r e c e i v e s t a t e

a g e n t o r s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y f

o r t h a t c o n d u c t

. C o n s t r u i n g

t h e f a c t s i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f

a v o r a b l e t o P l a i n t i f

f B r o w n

, D e f

e n d a n t N o r r i s ’ s u s e o f

p e p p e r s p r a y a n d o t h e r f o r c e a g a i n s t P l a i n t i f

f B r o w n w a s d o n e i n t e n t i o n a l l y

,

g r a t u i t o u s l y

, a n d i n v i o l a t i o n o f P l a i n t i f f B r o w n ’ s c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

32r i g h t s

, s u p p o r t i n g a n i n f e r e n c e t h a t N o r r i s a c t e d w i l l f u l l y a n d i n b a d f

a i t h

. I n

c o n t r a s t

, D e f

e n d a n t A n d e r s o n ’ s u s e o f f o r c e a g a i n s t P l a i n t i f

f B r o w n d o e s n o t

c o n s t i t u t e a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l v i o l a t i o n

, a n d n e i t h e r d o e s i t s h o w t h e r e q u i r e d

w i l l f u l n e s s

, m a l i c i o u s n e s s

, f r a u d

, o r b a d f

a i t h n e c e s s a r y t o d e n y A n d e r s o n s t a t e

a g e n t a n d s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y

.

A s t o P l a i n t i f

f S o n i a ’ s f

a l s e a r r e s t / f

a l s e i m p r i s o n m e n t c l a i m

, S o n i a h a s n o t

c a r r i e d h i s b u r d e n t o s h o w f a c t s s u p p o r t i n g w i l l f

u l

, m a l i c i o u s

, o r b a d f

a i t h a c t i o n s

b y D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n

. H u d s o n

, n o t N o r r i s o r A n d e r s o n

, a c t u a l l y

a r r e s t e d a n d h a n d c u f

f e d S o n i a

. A t m o s t

, N o r r i s a l l e g e d l y s a i d “ a r r e s t ” S o n i a

, b u t

g i v e n t h a t N o r r i s h a d n o a u t h o r i t y o v e r H u d s o n

, t h a t a l o n e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s t r i p

a w a y N o r r i s ’ s s t a t e

- a g e n t a n d s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y

.

F i n a l l y

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t c o r r e c t l y g r a n t e d s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t t o t h e C i t y

f r o m b o t h P l a i n t i f

f s ’ s t a t e

- l a w f

a l s e a r r e s t / f

a l s e i m p r i s o n m e n t c l a i m s a n d B r o w n ’ s

s t a t e

- l a w a s s a u l t a n d b a t t e r y / e x c e s s i v e f o r c e c l a i m

. “ [ U ] n d e r p r i n c i p l e s o f

v i c a r i o u s l i a b i l i t y

, w h e r e a m u n i c i p a l e m p l o y e e e n j o y s i m m u n i t y

, t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y

l i k e w i s e i s i m m u n e a s t o c l a i m s b a s e d o n t h e e m p l o y e e ’ s c o n d u c t

. ” C i t y o f B a y o u

L a B a t r e v

. R o b i n s o n

, 7 8 5 S o

. 2 d 1 1 2 8

, 1 1 3 1 ( A l a

. 2 0 0 0 )

. I n c a s e s s u c h a s t h i s

w h e r e t h e “ m u n i c i p a l e m p l o y e e ” i s a l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f

f i c e r

, A l a b a m a ’ s

s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y e x p l i c i t l y e x t e n d s a n o f f i c e r ’ s i m m u n i t y

33t o t h e e m p l o y i n g m u n i c i p a l i t y

. A l a

. C o d e § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 ( b ) ( “ T h i s s e c t i o n i s i n t e n d e d

t o e x t e n d i m m u n i t y o n l y t o p e a c e o f f i c e r s a n d g o v e r n m e n t a l u n i t s o r a g e n c i e s

a u t h o r i z e d t o a p p o i n t p e a c e o f f i c e r s

. ” ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) ; E x p a r t e C i t y o f

G a d s d e n

, 7 8 1 S o

. 2 d 9 3 6

, 9 4 0 ( A l a

. 2 0 0 0 ) ( c o n c l u d i n g § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 ( a ) g a v e o f f i c e r

d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f

u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y a n d “ [ t ] h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 ( b )

. . .

e x t e n d s t h a t d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y t o t h e C i t y ” ) ; B o r d e r s

, 8 7 5 S o

. 2 d a t

1 1 8 3

. B e c a u s e w e f

i n d t h a t N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n a r e e n t i t l e d t o s t a t u t o r y

,

d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f

u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y f

o r B r o w n ’ s a n d S o n i a ’ s f a l s e a r r e s t / f

a l s e

i m p r i s o n m e n t c l a i m s

, § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 ( b ) e x t e n d s t h a t i m m u n i t y t o t h e C i t y a s w e l l

.

A s t o B r o w n ’ s a s s a u l t a n d b a t t e r y / e x c e s s i v e f o r c e c l a i m

, h o w e v e r

, N o r r i s i s

n o t e n t i t l e d t o s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y

, a n d t h u s § 6

- 5

- 3 3 8 ( b )

c a n n o t i m m u n i z e t h e C i t y

. T h e C i t y i n s t e a d r e l i e s o n a n o t h e r s t a t u t e p r o v i d i n g t h a t

A l a b a m a c i t i e s a r e n o t v i c a r i o u s l y l i a b l e f o r t h e t o r t s o f t h e i r a g e n t s

, u n l e s s t h e

a g e n t a c t e d w i t h “ n e g l e c t

, c a r e l e s s n e s s

, o r u n s k i l l f u l n e s s

. ” A l a

. C o d e § 1 1

- 4 7

- 1 9 0

( “ N o c i t y o r t o w n s h a l l b e l i a b l e f o r d a m a g e s f

o r i n j u r y d o n e t o o r w r o n g s u f f e r e d

b y a n y p e r s o n o r c o r p o r a t i o n

, u n l e s s s u c h i n j u r y o r w r o n g w a s d o n e o r s u f f e r e d

t h r o u g h t h e n e g l e c t

, c a r e l e s s n e s s

, o r u n s k i l l f u l n e s s o f s o m e a g e n t

, o f f i c e r

, o r

e m p l o y e e o f t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y

. . . . ” ) ; s e e H a r d i n v

. H a y e s

, 5 2 F

. 3 d 9 3 4

, 9 3 9 n

. 9

( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 5 ) ( “ § 1 1

- 4 7

- 1 9 0 i m p o s e s r e s p o n d e a t s u p e r i o r l i a b i l i t y o n

34m u n i c i p a l i t i e s f o r e m p l o y e e n e g l i g e n c e ” )

. “ S e c t i o n 1 1

- 4 7

- 1 9 0 p r o v i d e s f o r a n

a c t i o n a g a i n s t a m u n i c i p a l i t y f o r t h e ‘ n e g l e c t

, c a r e l e s s n e s s o r u n s k i l l f u l n e s s ’ o f i t s

a g e n t s

, n o t f

o r t h e i r i n t e n t i o n a l t o r t s

. ” F r a n k l i n v

. C i t y o f H u n t s v i l l e

, 6 7 0 S o

. 2 d

8 4 8

, 8 5 0 ( A l a

. 1 9 9 5 ) ; s e e E x p a r t e C i t y o f G a d s d e n

, 7 1 8 S o

. 2 d 7 1 6

, 7 2 1 ( A l a

.

1 9 9 8 ) ( “ S e c t i o n 1 1

- 4 7

- 1 9 0

. . . a b s o l v e s a c i t y f r o m l i a b i l i t y f

o r a n i n t e n t i o n a l t o r t

c o m m i t t e d b y o n e o f i t s a g e n t s

. . . . ” )

. I n s u m

, u n d e r § 1 1

- 4 7

- 1 9 0

, a c i t y i s l i a b l e

f o r n e g l i g e n t a c t s o f i t s e m p l o y e e s w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f t h e i r e m p l o y m e n t

, b u t n o t

i n t e n t i o n a l t o r t s o f i t s e m p l o y e e s

.

C o m p l i c a t i n g m a t t e r s i s B o r d e r s

, 8 7 5 S o

. 2 d a t 1 1 8 3

, w h e r e t h e A l a b a m a

S u p r e m e C o u r t h e l d t h a t w h e r e i t w a s u n c l e a r w h e t h e r t h e p l a i n t i f f ’ s c l a i m s f

o r

“ a s s a u l t a n d b a t t e r y

, f

a l s e i m p r i s o n m e n t a n d f a l s e a r r e s t

, ” a c t u a l l y a s s e r t e d

“ v i c a r i o u s l i a b i l i t y f

o r a n i n t e n t i o n a l t o r t a g a i n s t t h e C i t y

, ” § 1 1

- 4 7

- 1 9 0 w o u l d n o t

i m m u n i z e t h e C i t y “ w h e r e a p l a i n t i f f a l l e g e s a f

a c t u a l p a t t e r n t h a t d e m o n s t r a t e s

n e g l e c t

, c a r e l e s s n e s s

, o r u n s k i l l f u l n e s s

. ” I d

. ( q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d )

. I n t h i s

c a s e

, h o w e v e r

, a l l o f B r o w n ’ s e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e d t h a t N o r r i s ’ s u s e o f p e p p e r s p r a y

a n d o t h e r f

o r c e a g a i n s t h e r w a s i n t e n t i o n a l

, a s o p p o s e d t o n e g l e c t f u l o r c a r e l e s s

.

T h e f a c t u a l i s s u e s i n t h i s c a s e a r e n o t o v e r w h e t h e r N o r r i s ’ s a c t s w e r e i n t e n t i o n a l

,

b u t o v e r w h a t B r o w n d i d o r d i d n o t d o b e f o r e N o r r i s a c t e d

, t h e e x t e n t o f f o r c e

N o r r i s u s e d

, a n d w h e t h e r B r o w n ’ s a c t i o n s j u s t i f i e d N o r r i s ’ s u s e o f f

o r c e i n

35r e s p o n s e

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a c c o r d i n g l y d i d n o t e r r i n g r a n t i n g i m m u n i t y t o t h e 2 7

C i t y o n B r o w n ’ s s t a t e

- l a w a s s a u l t a n d b a t t e r y / e x c e s s i v e f o r c e c l a i m a g a i n s t N o r r i s

.

I I I

. C O N C L U S I O N

I n s u m

, w e a f

f i r m i n p a r t a n d r e v e r s e i n p a r t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s o r d e r

, d a t e d

M a y 1 4

, 2 0 0 9

, g r a n t i n g q u a l i f i e d a n d s t a t e

- l a w i m m u n i t i e s t o D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s

a n d A n d e r s o n a n d t h e C i t y

. W e c o n c l u d e : ( 1 ) D e f e n d a n t s N o r r i s a n d A n d e r s o n a r e

e n t i t l e d t o q u a l i f

i e d i m m u n i t y f

r o m P l a i n t i f

f s B r o w n ’ s a n d S o n i a ’ s f e d e r a l f a l s e

a r r e s t c l a i m s a n d s t a t e

- a g e n t a n d s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y f

r o m

B r o w n ’ s a n d S o n i a ’ s s t a t e

- l a w f a l s e a r r e s t / f

a l s e i m p r i s o n m e n t c l a i m s ; a n d ( 2 )

D e f e n d a n t A n d e r s o n i s e n t i t l e d t o q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y f

r o m B r o w n ’ s § 1 9 8 3

e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e c l a i m a n d t o s t a t e

- a g e n t a n d s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n

i m m u n i t y f

r o m B r o w n ’ s s t a t e

- l a w c l a i m f o r a s s a u l t a n d b a t t e r y / e x c e s s i v e f o r c e

.

W e r e v e r s e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t o r d e r g r a n t i n g t o N o r r i s ( 1 )

q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y f

r o m B r o w n ’ s § 1 9 8 3 e x c e s s i v e f o r c e c l a i m a n d ( 2 ) s t a t e

- a g e n t

a n d s t a t u t o r y

, d i s c r e t i o n a r y

- f u n c t i o n i m m u n i t y f

r o m h e r s t a t e

- l a w a s s a u l t a n d

b a t t e r y / e x c e s s i v e f

o r c e c l a i m

. F i n a l l y

, w e a f f i r m t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s g r a n t o f

Whil e the Plaintiffs’ Ame nded Complaint alleg es the c onduct of Nor ris and Ande rson 2 7

was “ either ne g lige nt, wanton, malicious, willful, or in bad fa ith,” Am. Compl. ¶¶ 27, 38, at the

summary judgme nt stag e the e vidence showed Nor ris acte d intentionally . No evidenc e showe d

either N orris or Ande rson ac ted neg lige ntly or ca rele ssly . I n Bor ders, the pla intiff disavowed

any claim of a

n intentional tort and instead conte nded “tha t his alleg ations are all based upon the

‘neg lect, ca

rele ssness, or unskillfulness’ of [the defe ndant].” Bor ders, 875 So.2d at 1183.

36i m m u n i t y t o t h e C i t y f r o m P l a i n t i f

f s ’ s t a t e

- l a w f

a l s e a r r e s t / f

a l s e i m p r i s o n m e n t a n d

a s s a u l t a n d b a t t e r y / e x c e s s i v e f o r c e c l a i m s

.

A F F I R M E D I N P A R T

, R E V E R S E D I N P A R T

, A N D R E M A N D E D

.

37