FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, RA Y and M CM I LLI A N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s /

Jul y 14, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 29 7 . STEPHENS et al . v . ZIM M ERM A N.

R A Y , J u d g e.

J o s h u a Zi m

m erm an s u ed t h e M ay o r an d Al d erm en o f t h e Ci t y o f Sav an n ah (t h e

“ Ci t y ”) an d Sam an t ha St ep h en s

, a p o l i ce o ffi cer/ d et ect i v e t rai n ee wi t h th e Sav an n ah

Ch at ham M et ro p o l i t an Po l i ce Dep art m en t

, rai s i n g S t a t e law cl ai m s o f fal s e

i m p ri s o n m en t

, fal se arres t

, an d m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i o n. He am en d ed h i s co m p l ai n t to

a l l eg e a v i o l at i o n o f 4 2 USC § 19 8 3

. Th es e cl ai m s ari s e fro m Zi m m er m a n ’s

co n ten t i o n t h at he w as wro ng fu l l y arres ted an d pro s e c u t ed fo r cri m es rel at ed t o an

i n ci d en t o f v an d al i s m to v eh i cl es i n a d o wn to w n Sav an n ah park i n g g arag e. Th e t ri al

co u rt gran t ed i n part an d d en i ed i n p art t h e Ci t y an d St ep h en s ’ s m o t i o n s fo r s u m m aryju d g m en t as t o t h ei r res p ect i v e i m m u n i ti es

. Th e Ci t y an d St ep h en s ap peal ed

. 1 Fo r t h e

reas on s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s p ro p er w h en t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al

fact an d th e m o v an t i s en t i t l ed t o j u d gm en t as a m at t er o f l aw. O n ap peal

fro m t h e d en ial or g ran t of s u m m ary ju dg m en t

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt i s t o

co n d u ct a d e n o v o rev iew o f th e ev i d en ce t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h ere

ex i s ts a g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact

, an d wh et h er t he u n d i s p u t ed fact s

,

v i ewed i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e n on m o v i n g p a r t y

, warran t

ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed .) Ta yl or v. Ca mp b el l

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 2

, 36 2 (7 3 9

SE2 d 8 0 1) (2 0 1 3).

In b ri ef, t h e u n d erl y i ng b as i s fo r Zi m m erm an ’ s cl ai m s i s t h at s o m e wi t n es s es

t o l d p o li ce t hat on e o f s ev eral p erp et rat o rs was a b l ack m a l e

. Z i m m e r m an i s wh i t e.

He arg u es

, i n t er al i a, t h at he was wro n g fu l l y arres ted an d p r o s ecu ted b ecau s e

St ep h en s fai l ed t o perfo rm an ad eq u at e i n v es t ig at i o n

, i g n ored fact s, an d t es t i fi ed

fal s el y

. Th e Ci t y an d St ep hen s co u n t er t h a t

, u n d er t h e ap p l i cab l e l eg al s t an d ard

,

St ep h en s h ad pro bab l e cau s e t o arres t Zi m m erm an an d t h at t h e r e i s n o ev i d en ce o f

1 T h e ap p el l an t s req ues t ed t h at t ran s cri p t s n o t b e in cl u d ed i n t h e reco rd o n

ap p eal

.

2act u al m al i ce t r ig geri n g a wai v er o f th ei r res p ect i v e s o v erei g n an d o ffi ci al

i m m u ni t ies

.

Vi ewed m o s t fav orab l y t o Zi m m erm an as t h e n o n m o v i n g p art y

, t h e reco rd

rev eal s th at s o m e, bu t n o t a l l

, o f t h e w i t nes s es to t h e cri m es at is su e i d en t i fi ed t h e

s u s p ect s as t wo wh i t e m al es

, a Hi s p an i c m al e, an d a b lack m al e. Ot h er wi t n es s es o n l y

m en t i o n ed t h ree s u sp ect s, no n e o f wh o m was b l ack

. Th ree su s p ect s

, M i ch ael M art i n,

Rem i ji o Bo tel l o

, a n d Set h St rat t o n ev en t u al l y t en d ered g u i l t y p l eas

. M art i n an d

St rat to n are wh i t e; Bo tel l o i s Hi s p an i c.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at at ap p ro x i m at el y 2 : 20 a.m

. o n J u n e 2 5

, 2 01 1

, a g ro u p

o f m en d am ag ed fi v e v eh icl e s a n d a m o t o rcy cl e i n a Sav an n ah park i n g g arag e.

O f fi cer Am i r Del i c wi t h t h e Sav an n ah -Ch at h am M et ro p ol i t an Po l i ce Dep art m en t

co m p l et ed a p ol ice rep o rt o n t h e d a m a g e an d p o s s i b l e s u s p ect s

, an d h an dl ed i n i t i al

wi t n es s i n t erv iews . St ep h en s t h en b eg an i n v es t i g at i n g t h e cas e.

Del i c a n d St ep h en s b ot h fi l ed rep o rt s

. Del ic’ s rep o rt s t at es t hat ey ewi t n es s

M at th ew So ci en s k i s aw f

o ur m en

– t wo w h i t e m en

, o n e Hi s p an i c m an

, an d o n e b l ack

m an

– d am ag i ng m

u lt i p l e v eh i cl es i n t h e g arag e. So ci en s k i s aw t h e m en l eav e t h e

s cen e i n a g ray Ch ev ro l et Trai l b l azer wi th Geo rg i a l icen s e t ag n u m b er B I G 2 4 1 5.

St ep h en s d i d n o t i n t erv i ew So ci en s k i

.

3Del i c ’s rep o rt s t at es t h at ey ewi t n es s Meg an Neary

, wh o s e car was d am ag ed

,

t o l d hi m t h at s h e s aw t h ree m en

– t w o w h i t e m en an d a Hi s pan i c m an

– dam ag i n g

v eh icl es

, an d t h at th ey l eft t he s cen e in a d ark g ray s p or t u t i li t y v eh i cl e wi t h t h e

l i cen se p l at e BIG 2 41 5

. By co n t ras t

, St ep h en s ’ s rep o rt s ay s Neary s aw fo u r m en g et

o n a g arag e el ev at o r, th en s h e h eard s m as h i n g n o i s es

. Neary wen t t o an o t h er fl o or to

l o o k fo r h er car, s aw t wo m en d am ag i n g a v eh i cl e an d a t h i rd i n t h e d ri v er’ s s eat o f

a Trai l b l azer wi t h th e BIG 2 4 15 t ag

. St ep h en s ’ s rep ort s a ys N e ary s tat ed t h at “ al l

t h r ee su b ject s wh o were d am ag i n g t h e v eh icl e” (em p h as i s su p pl i ed ) t h en g o t i n t o t h e

Trai lb l azer. Sh e d es cri b ed th e dri v er as wh i t e an d o n e p as sen g er as L at i n o, b u t co u ld

n o t d es cri b e t h e p ers o n wh o g ot i n t h e b ack s eat

.

Del i c’ s rep o rt s t at es t h at Ch ri s t i na Bi rch fi el d

, th e g arag e at t en d an t, s aw a d ark

s p o rt u t i li t y v eh i cl e l eav in g t h e garag e aro u n d t h e t i m e o f t he i n ci d en t

. Sh e m en t i o n ed

t h r ee m en

– t h e d ri v er, wh o was wh i t e ; a n d t wo p as s en g ers

, o n e w h i t e an d o n e

Hi s p an i c. St ep h en s ’ s rep o rt i n d i cat es t hat Bi rch fi el d des cri b ed t he m en as “ arm y

g u y s ” wi t h wh o m s h e was fam i l i ar, an d t h at s h e h ad s een o n e o f th e su s p ect s w h o

l at er p l e d g u i l t y

, M art in

, arg ui n g wi t h p eo p l e i n an ot h er v eh i cl e. St ep hen s ’ s rep o rt

d o es no t m en t i o n t h e et h n i ci ty o r t h e n u m

b er o f m en Bi rch fi el d o b s erv ed

.

4Del i c’ s rep o rt i n d i cat es t h at h e was t h en ad v is ed t o co n t act Sean Yo u n g

, wh o

o wn ed t h e m o t o rcy cl e th at h ad b een d am ag ed d u ri n g t h e i n ci d en t

. Yo u ng was n o t an

ey ewi t n es s

. Yo u n g t o l d Del i c th at h e s p o k e w i t h t h e p ark i n g at t en d an t

, Bi rch fi el d,

an d bas ed o n t h at d i s cu s s i o n b el i ev ed h e k n ew t h e p erp et rat o rs

. Yo un g was a b o u n cer

at a l o cal cl u b an d s ai d h e saw t h e s u s p ect s m o s t week en d s

. He i d en ti fi ed t h em as

M art i n

, Bo t el l o , an d St rat t o n – t h e m en wh o ev en tu al ly

p l ed g u i lt y . He al s o s ai d h e

s aw a b l ack m an wi th t h em at t h e cl ub

, b u t d id no t k n o w t hat m an ’ s n am e. St ep h en s ’ s

rep o rt s t at es t h at Yo u ng t o l d h er t h e m en h a d b e e n i n t h e cl ub t h at ni g h t

, h ad l eft

t o g et h er, an d t h at “ th ey had g o tt en d ru n k b efo re an d h ad d o ne s t u p i d s t u ff l i k e t h at .”

Yo u n g al s o s ai d h e h ad cal led o n e o f t h e m en

, M art i n

, wh o den i ed i nv o lv em en t b ut

ad m i t t ed t h at h i s t ag n u m

b er was BIG 2 4 1 5

. Yo u n g d es cri bed M art i n as a wh i t e m al e

wi t h t at t o o “ s l eev es ,” St rat t on as a “ p o s si b l y wh i t e Lat i no m al e,” Bo t el l o as a Lat i n o

m al e, an d t h e fo u rt h s u s p ect as “ b l ack .”

St ep hen s al s o i n t erv i ewed t h e fo u r s u s p ect s

. St rat to n d en i ed dam ag i n g an y

v eh icl es

, b u t ack n o wl ed g ed t h at h e was o u t wi t h M art in , “ Ray ” Bo t el l o an d “ J o s h ”

Zi m m erm an o n t h e n i g h t in q u es t i o n

.

M art i n t o l d St ep h en s t h at al t ho u g h he was at t h e g arag e, h e w as i n t o x i cat ed an d

d i d n o t rem em

ber s eei n g h i s fri en d s d am ag e an y t hi n g

. He s ai d he w as wi t h St rat t o n

5an d “ Jo s h Zi m m erm an

, ” wh o m h e b el i ev ed l iv ed t o get h er, an d th at h e was al s o wi th

“ a M ex i can k i d n am ed Ray

. ”

Bo t el l o t o l d St ep h en s t h at h e h ad b een wi t h Mart i n

, an d wi t h “ Set h ” an d “ J o s h ”

wh o s e l as t n am es h e d id n o t kn o w. H e sai d h e k n ew ab o u t t h e d am ag e b u t co u l d n ot

rem em b er wel l en o u g h t o k no w i f he was i nv o lv ed

. He l at er ad m it t ed t h at h e an d t h e

m en h e was wi t h “ k i n d a w en t crazy i n th e g arag e,” t h at h e s m as h ed a w i n d sh i el d

, t h at

“ J o s h ” an d “ Set h ” p us h ed o v er a m o t o rcy cl e an d t h at t h e t h ree o f t h em were “ ru n n i n g

aro u n d d es t ro y i n g s t u ff,” b ut t h at M art in d i d n o t d o an y t h i n g

. St ep h en s ’ rep o rt d o es

n o t i n d i cat e t hat Bo t el l o s ai d an y t h in g ab o ut t h e et h n i ci t y o f t h e m en h e was wi t h

.

Us i n g s oci al m ed i a a n d o t h er res o u rces

, St ep h en s fo u n d an d i n t erv i ewed

Zi m m erm an

, wh o s ai d h e was n o t in d o wn t o wn Sav an n ah o n t h e n i g ht i n q u es t i o n.

He s ai d h i s ro o m

m at e co u l d v o u ch fo r h is b ei n g at ho m e. He d en i ed k n o wi n g

s u s p ect s M art i n

, St rat t o n

, an d Bo t el l o, o r th e v i ct i m Yo un g

, an d s ai d h e h ad n ev er

b een to t h e cl u b wh ere Yo u n g wo rk ed

.

Acco rd i ng t o St ep h en s ’ rep o rt

, Zi m m erm an l at er cal l ed h er t o s ay th at h e d id

k n o w St rat t o n b ecau s e St rat t o n h ad b een i n a fi g h t wi t h h i s ro o m m at e, t h at h e’ d s een

St rat to n t h e d ay h e g o t a tat t o o

, an d t h at St rat t o n was fram i n g h i m becau s e o f t h e fi g ht

wi t h Zi m m erm an ’ s ro o m

m at e. In h i s d ep o s i t i o n

, h o w ev er, Zi m m erm an s tat ed t h at h e

6l o o k ed u p St rat t o n an d M art in o n FaceBo o k an d reco g n i zed t h em fro m t h e t at t o o

p arl o r. Ho wev er, h e s ai d h e n ev er t o l d St ep h en s h e k n ew St rat t o n fro m an al t ercat i o n

w i t h h i s r o o m

m at e, b u t rat her th at h e t o l d h er h i s ro om m at e h ad a pri o r al t ercat i o n

wi t h t h e t at t o o art is t

.

St ep hen s o bt ai n ed warran t s fo r t h e s u sp ect s ’ arres t

, aft er co n s u lt in g wi t h h er

s u p eri o r. On l y a f

t e r Z i m m erm an was arres t ed d i d St ep hen s co n t act Zi m m erm an ’ s

ro o m m at e, wh o co n fi rm ed h i s al i b i

.

1

. Th e Ci t y an d St ep h en s arg u e g en eral l y t hat t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d h av e fo u n d

Zi m m erm an ’ s cl ai m s b arred b y s o v erei g n i m m u n i ty as t o t h e Ci t y an d o ffi ci al

i m m u ni t y as t o St ep h en s . W e ag ree.

(a) Ap p l i cab l e cau s e o f act i o n

.

T h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju dg m en t t o St ep h en s an d t h e Ci t y o n

Zi m m erm an ’ s cl ai m of fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t

, leav i n g

, as t o h is St at e l aw cl ai m s

, o n l y

t h e i s su es o f fal s e arres t an d m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i o n

. O u r cas e law d i s t i n g u i s h es

b et ween t h es e rem ai n i n g t o rt s : “ fal s e o r m al i ci o u s arres t i s d et en ti o n ‘ u n d er p ro ces s

o f l aw’ (OCGA § 5 1 -7 -1 ); an d

. . . m al ici o u s p ro s ecu t i o n i s d et en t i o n wi t h j u d i ci al

p ro ces s fo l l o wed b y p ro s ecu t i on (OCGA § 5 1 -7 -4 0 ).” Fer r el l v. M i k u l a

, 2 9 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 2 6

, 3 2 9 (2 ) (6 72 SE2 d 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Th e d i s t i n ct i o n i s i m p o rt an t b ecau s e

7“ [m ] al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i o n an d m al i ci o u s arres t are m ut u al ly ex cl u s i v e; i f o n e ri g h t o f

act i on ex i s t s

, t h e o th er d o es n ot .” ( C ita ti o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) P er r y v. Br o o ks

,

1 7 5 Ga. Ap p . 7 7 , 7 8 (3 ) (3 3 2 SE2 d 3 7 5 ) (1 9 8 5 ) .

W h ere, as h ere, t here h as b een an arres t p u rs u an t t o a warran t

, t h e r e m e dy

d ep en d s on wh et h er t h e accu sed was p ro s ecu t ed

. “ If aft er t h e arres t [,] t h e warran t i s

d i s m i s s ed o r n ot fo ll o wed u p

, t h e rem ed y i s fo r m al i ci o u s arres t

. Bu t i f t h e act i o n i s

carri ed o n t o a p r o s e c u t i o n, an act i o n fo r m al ici o u s p ro s ecu ti o n i s t h e excl u s i ve

r emed y

, an d an act i o n fo r m al i ci o u s arres t wi l l n ot l i e.” (Ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ; em p h as i s

s u p p li ed .) G a r n er v. Hei li g -Meyer s Fu r n it u r e Co

. , 2 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 0

, 7 8 1-7 8 2 (1 )

(5 2 5 SE2 d 1 4 5 ) (1 9 9 9 ). 2

Zi m m erm an was arres t ed p u rs u an t t o a warran t

. He was jai l ed an d rel eas ed

ab o ut t wo day s l at er aft er an i n it i al v id eo ap p earan ce b efo re a ju d g e. He was ch arg ed

wi t h fal s e s t at em en t s an d wri t i n g s an d wi t h fo u r c ou n t s o f cri m i nal d am ag e to

p ro p ert y

.

2 Al t h o u g h Zi m

m erm an ’ s co m

p l ai n t u ses th e t erm “ fal s e arres t ,” h e i n fact ci t es

t o an d s t at es a cl ai m u nd er O CGA § 5 1 -7 -1

, t h e s t at u te ad dres s i n g m al i ci ou s arres t

. Th e to rt s o f fal s e arres t an d m al i ci o u s arres t are d i fferen t

. Fal s e arres t co nt ai n s n o

m al i ce el em en t

. Zi m

m erm an cl earl y av erred t h at St ep h en s “ m al ici o u s l y cau s ed ” h i s

arres t

. See Dr u g Emp o r iu m, In c. v. Pea ks

, 22 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 1

, 1 2 8

- 1 2 9 (2 ) (d ) (4 8 8

SE2 d 5 0 0 ) (1 9 9 7 ) (wh ere th ere was n o av erm en t as t o m al i ce, co m p l ai n t d i d n ot

al l eg e m al ici o u s arres t b u t rat h er al l eg ed fal s e arres t).

8Aft er a prel i m i n ary h eari n g o n J u l y 1 4

, 2 0 1 1

, b e f o r e t h e Ch at h am Co u n t y

Reco rd er’ s Co u rt

, t h e ch arg es were d i s m i s s ed

. An i n qu i ry b efo re a “ co m m i t t i n g

c o urt ” i s a req u i red el em en t of m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i on cl ai m

. OCGA § 5 1 -7 -4 2 ; s e e

Ren to n v. W

a t so n

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 6

, 8 9 9 (1 ) ( 7 3 9 SE2 d 1 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Th e Ch at h am

Co u n t y Reco rd er’ s Co u rt is au t h o ri zed to t ak e an d en t ert ai n p l eas o f g u i l t y an d n o lo

co n ten d ere i n m i s d em ean o r cas es

. Po u g h v. S t a t e

, 1 6 2 Ga. Ap p. 6 3, 6 4 (1 ) (2 9 0 SE2 d

3 0 0 ) (1 9 8 2 ). As th e Reco rd er’ s Co u rt i s a co m m it t in g co u rt

, Zi m

m erm an ’ s on l y cl ai m

i s fo r m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i o n

. Per r y , s u p ra

.

(b ) M al i ci o u s p ro s ecu ti o n

.

Th e Ci ty an d St ep hen s arg u e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g a fact q u es t i o n

as to wh et h er St ep h en s h ad p ro b ab l e cau s e to arres t Z im m erm an i n t h e co n t ex t o f t h e

m al i ci ou s p ro s ecu t i o n cl ai m

. See Ren t o n

, s u p ra at 8 9 8 (1 ) (d efi n i n g t h e s i x el em en t s

o f a m al i ci o us p ro s ecu t i o n cl ai m ). W e ag ree.

Zi m m erm an es s en t i al l y arg u es t h ere was n o p ro b ab le cau s e an d t h a t t h i s

,

co u pl ed wi t h ev i d en ce o f act u al m al ice, n eces si tat es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h e Ci t y

an d St ep h en s ’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary j u d gm en t. To s u cces sfu l ly p ro s ecu t e a t o rt cl ai m

fo r m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i on

, “ a p l ai nt i ff m u s t s h o w t h at t h e d efen d an t act ed b o th

9wi t h o u t p ro b ab l e cau s e an d m al i ci o u s l y [.] ” (Ci t at io n s o m it t ed .) An d er so n v

. C o b b

,

2 5 8 Ga. Ap p . 1 5 9 , 1 6 0 (2 ) (5 73 SE2 d 4 1 7 ) (2 0 0 2).

M al i ce is an el em en t o f m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i o n an d m ay b e in ferred b y

a t o t al l ack o f p ro b ab l e cau se. 3 Ou r in i t i al i n q ui ry

, h o wev er, i s n o t

w h e t h e r [St ep h en s ] act ed m al i ci o u sl y fo r p u rp o ses o f t h e t o rt o f

m a l i c i o u s p ro s ecu t i o n

, bu t wh et her sh e act ed wi th a ct u a l m al i ce t hat

wo u ld ex e m

p t h er fro m o ffi ci al i m m u n i t y

. Offi ci al o r q u al i fi ed

i m m u n i t y p ro t ect s i n d iv i d u al p u b l i c ag en t s fro m pers o n al li ab i l it y fo r

d i s cret i o n ary act i o n s t a k e n w i t h i n t h e sco p e o f t h ei r offi ci al au t h o ri t y

,

an d d o n e wi t h ou t wi l fu l n es s

, m al i ce, o r co rru pt io n

. In Geo rg i a, a pu b l i c

o ffi cer m ay b e p ers o n al l y l i ab l e

. . . fo r d i scr e t io n ary act s p erfo rm ed

wi t h m al i ce o r an i n t en t t o i n ju re.

( P unc tua tion a nd f

oo t n o t es o m i tt ed ; em

p has i s in o ri g in al .) Ma r

s h a l l v. Br o wn i n g

, 3 1 0

Ga. A p p

. 6 4

, 6 7 (7 1 2 SE2 d 7 1 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Zi m m er m an act ed wi t h d i s cret i on ary au t h o ri t y

i n i nv es t i g at i n g an d o b t ai n i n g arres t warran t s . See An der s o n , s u p ra at 1 6 0 (2 ).

In t h e co n t ex t o f o ffi ci al i m m u n it y

, “ [a] ct ual m al i ce req ui res a d e l i b erat e

i n t en t i o n t o d o wro ng [.]

. . . Il l wi l l al o ne i s i n s u f f i c i en t t o es t ab l i s h act ual m al i ce;

3 See Jo s ep h v. Ho me Dep o t , In c ., 2 4 6 Ga. Ap p . 8 6 8 , 8 7 1-8 7 2 (2 ) (5 4 2 SE2 d

6 1 8 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (“ W an t o f pro bab l e cau s e i s t h e grav am en o f an act io n fo r m al i ci o u s

p ro s ecu ti o n ; an d t here can b e n o reco v ery b y th e pl ai n t i f f wh e n t h ere was an y

p ro b ab l e cau s e fo r t h e p ro s ecu t i o n

, ev en t h o u g h i t m ay ap p ear t hat t h e pro s ecu t o r was

act u at ed b y

i m p ro p er m o t i v es ”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

10[Zi m

m erm an ] m

u s t s h o w t h at [St ep h en s ] act ed wi t h t h e d el ib erat e i n t en t t o co m m i t

a wro n g fu l act o r wi th t h e d el ib erat e i n t e n t t o harm [h i m ] .” (Ci t at io n o m i t t ed .) Id

.

Del i b erat e i n t en t d oes no t m ean “ m erel y an in t en t t o d o t he act p u rp o rt ed l y res u l t i n g

i n t h e cl ai m ed i n

ju ry ” an d “ [a] ct u al m al i ce do es n o t i n c l u d e i m p l i ed m al i ce o r t h e

reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r t h e ri g h t s an d s afet y o f ot h ers .” (Fo ot n o t es o m i t t ed .) Ma r s h a l l

,

s u p ra at 6 8

.

Zi m m erm an arg u es th at St ep h en s s h o u l d h a v e i n ves t i g at ed fu rt h er b efo re

arres t i n g h i m , an d s h o u ld h av e q u es t i on ed wi t n es s es an d s us p ect s ab o u t t h e race o f

t h e fo u rt h s u s p ect

. H e al s o al l eg es t h at s h e m a d e i n co ns i s t en t

, p os s i b l y u n t ru e,

s t at em en t s

.

Ho wev er, wi t h o u t m o r e

, “ su ch act io n s d o n o t s h ow a d el i b erat e i n t en t to

co m m i t a wro n g fu l act o r t o h arm [Zi m m e rm an ] .” A n d er s o n

, s u p ra. W e fi n d n o

ev i d en c e t h a t St ep hen s was m o t i v at ed by pers o n al m al i ce t o ward Zi m m erm an

.

Fu rt h er, St ep h en s s ou g h t arres t warran t s b as ed o n i n fo rm at i o n t h at i n cl u d e d

s t at em en t s fro m o n e ey ewi t n es s wh o s ai d f o u r m en w ere i n v o lv ed

– t wo wh i t e m en

,

a Hi s pan i c m an

, an d a b l ack m an

, a n d t w o ot h er ey ewi t n es s es wh o rep o rt ed s eei n g

o n l y t wo wh i t e m al es an d a H i s p an ic m al e. Th e o t h er p ers on wh o t o l d o ffi cers a b l ack

m al e m i gh t b e i n v o lv ed was n o t an ey ewi t n es s. Fu rt h er, o n e p erp et rat or t ol d St ep h en s

11h e was wi t h “ J o s h Zi m m erm an ” o n t h e n ig h t in q u es t i on an d t h e o t h er t wo s u s p ect s

s ai d t h ey al s o were w i t h “ J os h .” St ep hen s t es t i fi ed t h at s he co u ld n o t fi n d a b l ack J os h

Zi m m erm an

, an d th at s he d i s cu s s ed h er fi n d i n gs wi t h h er s u perv i s o r, wh o co n cu rred

i n h er d eci si o n t o arres t Zi m m erm an

.

W h en St ep h en s i n t e r v i e w ed Zi m m erm an

, s h e n o t ed t h at ju st as th e o t h er

s u s p ect s h ad d o ne, h e i n it i al l y d en i ed i n v o l v em en t . He al s o i n i t i al ly s ai d h e d i d n ot

k n o w t h e o t h er s u s p ect s

, b u t l at er cal l ed St ep h en s t o s ay h e d i d k no w o n e o f t h em

. As

St ep h en s t es t i fi ed

, “ [T] h e fact t h at J o s h, ju s t as th e t h ree o f t h em t ri ed t o cl ear

t h em s el v es

, Jo s h fi rs t d en ied k n o wi n g wh o an y o f t hem were, t h en h ad s o m e s o rt o f

rel at i o n s h i p s wi t h Set h St rat t on

, wo u l d o n l y m ak e m e b el i ev e t h at

, y ou k n ow, ju s t as

t h ey t ri ed t o d i s as s o ci at e t h em sel v es wi t h t h in g s t hat o ccu rred , wh y wo u l d n ’ t h e? ”

Th i s Co urt h as fo u n d t h at i f a ju ry co u l d reas o n ab l y i n fer th at p o l i ce o ffi cers

arres t ed t h e p l ai n t i ff d es p it e k n o wi n g t h at t h e p lai n t i ff d i d n ot co m m it th e cri m es at

i s su e a n d

, t h u s

, th at t h e o ffi cers d el i b erat el y i n ten d ed t o d o a wro n g fu l act

, t h e

o ffi cers were n o t en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Ba t ea s t v. DeKa l b Co u n t y

, 2 5 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 3 1

, 1 3 2 -1 3 3 (5 7 2 SE2 d 7 5 6) (2 0 0 2 ). 4 Ho wev er, we al s o h av e d et erm i n ed t h at

4 W e n o te t hat p ro b ab l e cau s e d o es no t m an d at e ab s o l ut e v eri fi cat i o n

, b u t t h e

o ffi cer m u s t act w i t h a cert ai n l ev el o f reas o n ab l en es s i n b eg i n ni ng t h e p ro s ecu t i o n.

“ Th e [o ffi cer] is n o t n eces s ari l y req u i red t o v eri fy h is i nfo rm at i o n

, wh ere i t ap p ears

12wh ere an o ffi cer’ s d eci s i o n t o s eek w arran t s m i g h t b e ch aract eri zed as

“ m i s g ui ded ” t h ere was n ev ert h el es s n o ev id en ce t h a t t h e act i o n s were

t ak en wi t h act ual m al i ce fo r p u rp o ses of o ffi ci al i m m u n i t y

. Si m i l arl y

,

ab s en t m al ice or i n t en t t o i n ju re, n o l i ab i l i t y at tach es to t he offi cer’ s

ex erci s e o f [h er] l awfu l d i s cret i o n ev en wh en th e d eci s io n t o effect uat e

t h e arres t i s fl awed

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ma r s h al l , s u p ra at 6 9

.

Bas ed u p on th e fo reg oi n g

, w e f u r t h er fi nd t h at t h e Ci t y h as n o t wai v ed i t s

s o v erei g n i m

m u n i t y

. OCGA § § 3 6 -3 3 -1 (b ), 36 -3 3-3

. See Cr is p Co u n t y S ch o ol

S ys t em v. B r o wn

, 2 2 6 Ga. A p p

. 8 0 0

, 8 04 (2 ) (4 8 7 SE2 d 5 1 2 ) (1 9 97 ). Fo r t h e

fo reg o i n g reas o ns

, th e t ri al co u rt erred i n den y i n g t h e Ci ty ’ s an d St ep h en s ’ s m o t i o n

fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

2

. Zi m m erm an al l eg ed t hat h i s du e p ro ces s ri g ht s were v i o lat ed u nd er 4 2 USC

§ 1 98 3 b ecau s e he was arres t ed wi t h o u t p ro bab l e cau s e. St ep h en s an d t h e Ci t y arg u e

t h at Zi m m erm an rai s e d th is cl ai m on l y ag ai n s t t h e Ci t y an d n o t St ep h en s i n h er

t o b e rel i ab l e; b u t w h ere a reas o n ab l e m an wo u l d i n v es t i g at e fu rt h er b efo re beg i n n i n g

t h e p r o s e c u t i o n

, h e ma

y b e l i ab l e fo r fai l ure t o d o s o.” (Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ; em

p h as i s s u pp l i ed .) Jo s ep h , s u p ra at 8 7 2 (2 ).

13i n d i v i d u al cap a ci t y

. As a res u l t

, t h ey arg u e, t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i n g t h ei r

m o ti o n fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t as t o St ep h en s o n t h i s p oi n t

.

“ Wh e n i ss ues n o t rai s ed b y t h e p l ead i n g s are t ri ed b y ex p res s o r i m p l i e d

co n sen t o f t h e p art i es , t h ey s hal l b e t reat ed i n al l res pect s as i f t h ey h ad b een rai s ed

i n t he pl ea d i ng s .” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (b ). Becau s e t h e ap p el lan t s d i d n o t i n cl u d e

t ran s cri p t s o f t h e s u m

m ary ju d g m en t h eari n g i n t h e ap p el l at e reco rd

, we h av e n o way

o f k n o wi n g wh a t m at t ers or o bject io n s were rai s ed

. W e m u st as su m e th e tri al co u rt

h ad au t h o ri t y t o co n s i d er t h e i ss u e. See Jo h ns o n v. W a r e

, 3 1 3 G a. Ap p

. 7 7 4

, 7 7 6 (1 )

(7 2 3 SE2 d 1 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

To s u rv iv e t h e Ci t y an d St ep h e n s ’s b i d fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t i n a § 1 9 8 3

act i on

, Zi m

m erm an bears t h e b u rd en o f pro o f i n s h owi n g t h at g en ui n e i s s u es o f

m at eri al fact ex i st as t o wh et h er St ep h en s ’ s “ act s o r o m i s s i o n s

, p erfo rm ed u n d er co l o r

o f [S] tat e l aw, res u l t ed i n t h e d ep ri v at i o n o f a ri g h t

, p ri v i l eg e, or i m m u n it y p ro t ect ed

b y t h e Un it ed St at es Co n st i t ut i o n o r t h e l a ws o f t h e Un i t ed St at es .” (Ci t at i on s

o m it t ed .) Mea n s v. Ci t

y o f At l a n t a Po l i ce D ep t

., 2 62 Ga. A p p

. 7 00

, 7 0 5 (2 ) (5 8 6 SE2 d

3 7 3 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

I n t h e co n t ex t

, as h ere, o f a § 1 9 8 3 cl ai m p red i cat ed on a l ack o f p r o b a b l e

cau s e, “ [t ] h e Su prem e Co u rt h as h el d th at a p o l i ce o ffi cer wi l l b e l i ab l e u n der Sect i o n

141 9 8 3 i f [s ] he ap p l ies fo r a warran t an d ‘ a reas on ab ly wel l -t rai n ed o ffi cer

. . . wo u ld

h av e k n o wn t h at [h er] affi d av i t fai l ed to es t ab li s h p ro bab l e cau s e an d t h at [s ] h e

s h o u l d n o t h av e ap p l i ed fo r t h e w arran t .’ ” (Pu nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) F ra n kl i n v.

Co n s o l i da t ed Go vt

. of Co l u mb u s

, Ga

. , 2 3 6 Ga. A p p

. 4 6 8

, 4 7 1 (2 ) (5 1 2 SE2 d 3 5 2 )

(1 9 9 9), ci t i n g Ma ll ey v. Br i g g s

, 4 7 5 U. S. 3 35

, 3 4 5 (III) (1 0 6 SCt 10 9 2, 89 LE2 d 2 7 1 )

(1 9 8 6).

Zi m m erm an arg u es t hat St ep h en s ’ s i n v es t i g at i o n l ead i n g u p t o h i s arres t was

co n st i t u t io n al l y d efi ci en t b ecau s e s h e el ect e d n o t t o p u rs ue eas il y as cert ai n ab l e

i n fo rm at i o n reg ard i n g t h e et h n i ci t y o f t h e f o u r t h s u s p ect

, t h ere was co n fl i ct i n g

i n fo rm at i o n as t o t h e fo u rt h s u s p ect ’ s res i d en t i al ad d res s

, an d b ecau s e s h e fai l e d to

i n t erv i ew h i s al i b i wi t n es ses u n t i l aft er h e was arres ted

. W h i l e i n t h e § 1 9 8 3 co n t ex t

t h e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t has fo u n d t h at “ an o ffi cer m ay n o t ch oo s e t o i g no re i n fo rm at i o n

t h at has b een o ffered to h i m o r h er

. . . o r el ect n o t to o b tai n eas i l y di s co v erab l e

fact s[,] ” Ki n gs la n d v. Ci t

y o f Mi a mi

, 3 8 2 F.3 d 1 2 20

, 1 2 2 9 (2 ) (1 1t h Ci r. 20 0 4 ), t h at

Co u rt al s o reco g n i zed t h at p o l i ce o f f i c e r s “ are no t req u i red to p erfo rm erro r-free

i n v es t i g at i o n s ” o r “ i n v es t i g a t e ev ery pro ffered cl ai m o f i n n o cen ce.” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) Id . at n . 1 0.

15Pro b ab l e cau s e ex i s t s i f t h e fact s an d ci rcu m s t an ces wi th i n t h e offi cer’ s

k n o wl ed g e, o f wh i ch h e o r s h e h as reas o n ab l y tru s two rt h y i n fo rm at i o n

,

wo u ld cau s e a p ru d en t p ers o n t o b el i ev e, u nd er th e ci rcu m s tan ces

s h o w n

, t h at th e s u s p ect h as co m m i t t ed

. . . an o ffen se. Ho wev er, t h e

ap p ro p ri a t e i n qu i ry fo r q u al i fi ed i m m u n i t y i s n o t wh et h er t h ere w as

p ro b ab l e cau s e, b u t wh et h er t h ere was “ arg uab l e” p ro b ab l e cau s e t o

arres t

. In o t h er w o rd s

, we m u s t d et erm i n e wh et h er reas o nab l e offi cers

i n t h e s am e ci rcu m st an ces an d p o s s es s i n g t h e s am e k no w l e d g e as th e

Defen d an t s co u ld h av e b el i ev ed t hat p ro b ab l e cau s e ex i s t ed t o arres t

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as is o m i t t ed .) P icken s v. Ho l l o wel l

, 5 9 F.3 d

1 2 0 3

, 1 2 0 6 (II) (A) (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 5 ). As o ut l in ed i n Di v is i on 1

, g i ven t h e i n fo rm at i o n

b efo re h er at t h e t i m e of th e arres t

, we can n o t s ay th at n o reas o n ab l e o ffi cer i n t h e

s am e ci rcu m s t an ces an d wi t h t h e s a m e k n o wl ed ge St ep h en s p o s s es s ed co ul d h av e

b el i ev ed h e o r s h e h ad p ro bab l e c a u s e t o arres t Zi m m erm an

. Fu rt h er, wh i l e

St ep h en s’ s i nv es t i g at i o n was l es s t han perfect

, “ [i ] n ad v ert en t erro rs

, h o nes t m i s t ak es

,

ag en cy co n fu s io n

, ev en neg l i g en ce i n t h e p erfo rm an ce o f o f f i ci al du t ies

, d o n ot

warran t red res s u n d er [4 2 USC § 1 9 8 3 ] .” (Ci tat i o n an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Fo r ney

v. Pu r vi s , 1 9 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 92 , 1 9 5 (1 ) (3 7 8 SE2 d 4 7 0) (1 98 9 ).

3

. Gi v en o u r d et erm i n at i o n s i n Di vi s i o n s 1 an d 2

, we n eed n ot reach ap p el l an t s ’

rem ai n i n g co nt en t i on s o f erro r.

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed

. Ba r nes

, P

. J., co n cu r

s

. McMi l l i an

, J., co n cu r

s i n j u d g men t

o n l y a s t o Di vi s i o n 1 a n d co n cu r s f u l l y o t her wi s e.

16