THI RD DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and M C M I LLI A N, J.

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 l s .us /r ule s

M ar ch 10, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 57 2 . M E RCADO v . SW OOPE.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Fo l l owi n g h is arres t fo r s cal p i n g t i ck et s, Bo bb y Ry d el l Swo o p e fi l ed s u i t

ag ai n s t A t l an t a Po l ice Offi cer N i ch o l as M ercad o

, as s ert i n g

, am o n g o t h er c o u n t s

, a

cl ai m fo r fal s e im

p ri s o n m e n t

. A f

t e r a t ri al

, t h e ju ry ret u rn ed a v erd ict i n fav o r o f

Swo o p e. M ercad o n o w ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al of h is m o ti o n fo r ju d g m en t

n o t wi t h s t an d i n g t he v erd ict (“ j.n .o

. v .”), en um erat i n g as erro r t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fai l u re

t o fi n d th at h e i s en t i t l ed t o o ffi ci al i m m u n i t y

. Fo r t h e reas o ns th at fo l l o w, we ag ree

an d rev ers e t h e ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Swo o pe.

In rev i ewi n g t h e d en i al o f a m o t io n fo r j.n .o .v

., t h i s Co u rt “ m u s t affi rm i f t h ere

i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, an d i n m ak in g t h i s d et erm i n at i o n

, we

m u st co n s t ru e t he ev i d en ce i n t he l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p rev ai l in g p art y .”(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W r i g h t v. Ap a rt men t In ves t men t a n d Mg mt

. Co

. ,

3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 7

, 58 8 (7 2 6 SE2 d 77 9 ) (2 0 1 2). “ Th e d et erm i n at i v e qu e s t i o n i s n ot

w h e t h e r t h e v erd i ct an d t h e ju d g m en t of t h e t ri al were m erel y au t h o ri zed

, b ut i s

wh et h er a co n t rary ju dg m en t w as d em an d ed .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed

. ) Id

.

So v i ewed

, th e ev id en ce s ho ws t h at o n t h e m o rn i n g o f J an u ary 2 0

, 2 0 1 3,

Swo o p e pu rch as ed a t i ck et t o t h e NFC Co n feren ce Ch am pi o n s h i p Gam e fro m a fri en d

fo r $ 2 0 0

. Swo o pe arri v ed at t he Geo rg i a Do m e s o m e ti m e l at er th at d ay an d s at at t h e

rai l i n g on t h e s i d ewal k l ead i n g u p t o t h e en t ran ce b efo re t h e g am e b eg an

. A cco rd i n g

t o Swo o p e, as h e was s i tt i n g o n t h e rai l s , a m an an d a wo m an wh o ap p eared t o b e a

c o u p l e

, a p pro ach ed h i m an d s ai d t h ey n eed ed t wo t i ck et s t o t h e g am e. He t o l d t h e

co u pl e h e o n l y h ad o n e t i ck et an d t h at h e p l an ned to u s e i t h i m s el f. Th e co u p l e t h en

s p o k e t o a g en t l em an s t an d in g n earb y

, wh o al t h o u g h u n k n o w n t o Swo o p e, was l at er

i d en t i fi ed as Geral d J o nes

. 1 Swo o p e t es t ifi ed t h at t h e n ex t th i n g h e k n ew, an o ffi cer

cam e u p an d p l aced h i m u nd er arres t fo r s cal p i n g

. He an d J o n es were t ran s po rt ed to

1 At t ri al an d o n ap p eal , Swo o p e co n ced es t h at h e was s t an d i n g n ear J o n es

.

2a m i n i preci n c t an d i ss u ed a ci tat i o n

. Swo o p e l at er ap peared i n co u rt t o ad d res s t h e

ci t at i o n b u t was n ot co nv i ct ed o f t h e ch arg e. 2

In Sep t em

b er 2 0 1 3

, Swo o p e fi l ed a ci v i l s u i t ag ai n s t th e Ci t y o f At l an t a (t h e

“ Ci t y ”) an d M ercad o

, b o t h i n d iv i d u al l y an d i n h i s o ffi ci al cap aci ty

, as s ert in g cl ai m s

o f fal s e arres t ; fal s e i m

pri so n m en t ; m al i ci o us pro s ecu t io n ; n eg li g en t h iri n g

, t rai n i n g,

an d s u p erv i s i o n ; n e g l i g en ce; an d i n vas i o n o f p ri v acy

. Fo l l owi n g d i s co v ery

, t h e

d efen d an t s m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e g r o u n d s t h at Swo o pe’ s cl ai m s

ag ai n s t t he Ci t y are b arred b y t h e d o ct ri n e o f s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y an d th at M ercad o

i s en t it l ed t o o ffi ci al i m

m u n i ty

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n wi t h reg ard t o al l

cl ai m s ag a i n s t t h e Ci t y an d ag ai n st M ercad o i n h i s o ffi ci al cap aci t y

. 3 H o wev er, t h e

t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

, al th ou g h t h e warran t l es s arres t o f Swo op e was a d i s cret i o n ary

act , an i s su e o f fact rem ai n ed reg ard i n g w h et h er M ercad o act ed wi t h act u al m al i ce,

t h u s p recl u d i n g s u m

m ary ju dg m en t o n t h e cl ai m s ag ai n st M ercad o in d i v i d u al l y

.

Th ereaft er, t h e cas e p ro ceed ed t o t ri al

.

2 Th ere i s s om e i n d icat i o n i n t h e reco rd th at th e ch arg e was d i s m i ss ed b ecau s e

Swo o p e was m i s t ak en l y

ci t ed u n d er t h e wro n g ci t y o rd i n an ce.

3 Fo r a fu rt h er ex p l an at i o n o f t h e s ep arat e d o ct ri n es o f so v erei g n i m m u n i t y an d

o ffi ci al i m

m un i t y

, s ee Ta t t n a ll Co u n ty v. Ar ms tr o n g

, 3 3 3 G a. A p p

. 4 6

, 4 8 -5 0 (1 ) (7 7 5

SE2 d 5 7 3 ) (2 0 1 5), ov erru l ed o n o t h er g r ou n d s

, Ri ver a v. W a sh i n g t o n

, 2 98 Ga. 7 7 0

(7 8 4 SE2 d 7 7 5 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

3M ercad o ’ s t es t im o ny at t ri al d i sag reed sh arp l y w i t h Swo o p e’ s vers i o n o f

ev en ts

. M ercad o t es t ifi ed t h at h e an d In v es t ig at o r Kat i e Rei s t er, h i s p art n er t h at d ay

,

were wo rk in g an un d erco v er s cal p i n g d et ai l al on g wi t h a “ tak ed o w n t eam .” As p art

o f t h at d et ai l

, t h ey were i n s t ru ct ed t o l o o k fo r p eo p l e s cal pi n g ti ck et s an d t o i d en t i fy

an y o n e s el l i n g f

a k e t i ck et s. W h en M ercad o an d Rei s ter arri v ed

, t h ey s aw J o n es

h o l d i n g t i ck et s

. Mercad o an d J on es m ad e ey e co n t act an d wal k ed t o ward each o t h er,

an d J o n es s ai d t h at h e wan t ed $ 3 6 0 fo r h i s ti ck et s

. Ac co rd in g t o M ercad o, Swo o p e

t h en i n t e r j e c t e d h im s el f an d s ai d he h ad a t i ck et

. M ercad o as k ed h i m ho w m u ch h e

wan ted

, an d Swo o p e t o l d hi m t o m ak e h i m an o ffer. M ercad o t o l d h i m

, “ It ’ s y o u r

t i ck et

. It ’ s y o u r p ri ce.” Swo o pe res p o n d ed t h at h e wan t ed $ 2 5 0

, an d M ercad o ag reed

aft er s eei n g t h at h e h ad an act u al p ap er t i ck et

. M ercad o t h en g av e h i s tak ed o w n s i g n al

an d nearb y o ffi cers cam e o v er an d arres t ed J o n es an d Swo op e. Mercad o an d Rei s t er

q u i ck l y m o v ed o n t o fi nd o t h er s cal p ers an d h ad n o fu rt h er co nt act wi t h Swo o p e t h at

d ay

. Rei s t er t es t i fi ed t hat w h il e J o n es w as t h ei r i n i t i al fo cu s

, s he an d M ercad o

b el i ev ed t h at J on es an d Swo o p e were wo rk i n g t o g et her. At t ri al

, Swo o p e co n t i n u ed

t o d en y th at h e ap p ro ach ed M ercad o

, b ut ad m i t t ed o n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n th at h e t o ld

M ercad o “ if I was s el l i n g t i ck et s , h e wo u ld h av e t o m ak e m e an o ffer,” b u t cl ai m ed

t h at h e was “ p ro b ab l y

l au g h in g an d jo k i ng .”

4At t h e cl o s e o f t he p l ai nt i ff’ s ev i d en ce, M ercad o m o v ed fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

.

Al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co urt q u es t i o n ed wh et h er t h ere h ad b een “ an y ev i den ce o f a

d el i b erat e i n ten t t o d o wro n g,” i t u l t i m at el y d en i ed t h e m o t i o n

, fi n d i n g “ t h ere m ay b e

s l ig h t ev i d en ce” o f m al i ce. 4 At t h e cl o s e of al l ev id en ce, M ercad o ren ewed h i s m o t i o n

fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt ag ai n den i ed

. Th e ju ry ret u rn ed a v erd i ct in

fav o r o f Swo o p e an d award ed h i m $1 9 ,2 4 0. Mercad o t hen m o v ed fo r a j.n .o .v

. Aft er

t h e t ri al co urt d en ied t he j.n .o v ., t h i s ap p eal fo ll o wed

.

In h i s s o l e en u m erat io n of erro r, M ercad o as sert s th at t h e tri al co u rt erred in

fi nd i ng t h at h e was no t en t i t l ed t o o ffi ci a l i m m u ni t y

. “ Th e d o ct ri n e o f o ffi ci al

i m m u ni t y

, al s o k n o wn as q u al i fi ed i m m u n i t y

, o ffers pu b l i c o ffi cers an d em p l o ye e s

l i m i ted p ro t ect i o n fro m s u i t i n t h ei r p ers o n al cap aci t y

. ” Ca mer o n v. La n g

, 2 7 4 Ga.

1 2 2 , 1 2 3 (1 ) (5 4 9 SE2 d 34 1 ) (2 0 0 1 ). “ Becau s e t h e rat i o n al e fo r q u al ifi ed i m m u n i t y

i s to p ro t ect t h e in d ep en den t ju d g m en t o f p u b li c em p l o y ees wi t h o u t p o t en t i al t h reat

o f l i ab i l i t y

, . . . a co u rt m u s t co n s i d er as a t h res ho l d i s s ue wh et h er t h e o ffi cer i s

en t i t l ed t o q ual i fi ed i m

m u n i t y fro m

p ers o n al l i ab i l i t y

i n a l aws ui t fo r d am ag es .” Id

.

at 1 2 2

.

4 At t h at p oi n t

, Swo op e wi t h d rew h i s c l a im s fo r m al i ci ou s p ro secu t i o n an d fal s e

arres t , l eav i n g o n l y t h e fal s e i m p ri s on m en t cl ai m

rem ai n i n g.

5Th e 1 9 9 1 Am en dm en t t o t h e Geo rg i a Co n s t i t u ti on p ro vi des t h at p u b l i c

em pl o y ees “ m ay b e li ab l e fo r i n ju ri es an d dam ag es cau s ed by t h e n e g l i g en t

p erfo rm an ce o f, o r neg l i g en t fai l u re t o p erfo rm , t h ei r m in i s t eri al fu n ct i o n s an d m ay

b e l iab l e fo r i n

ju ri es an d d am ag es i f t h ey act wi t h act u al m al i ce o r wi t h act u al i n t en t

t o cau s e i n

ju ry i n t h e perfo rm an ce o f t h ei r o ffi ci al fu nct i o n s

. ” Ga. Co n st

. o f 1 9 8 3,

Art

. I, Sec. II, Par. IX (d ). Th e d eci s i o n to m ak e a w arran t l es s arres t

, s u ch as t h e o n e

at i s s ue h ere, i s co n si d ered a d is cret i o n ary act wi t h in t h e s co p e o f t h e o ffi cer’ s o ffi ci al

fu n ct i o n s

. See Ta

yl o r v. W a l d o , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p . 1 0 8 , 1 1 0 (1 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 2 7 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

W e m u s t t h erefo re d et erm i n e wh et h er t h ere w a s a n y ev i den ce t o s u p p ort t h e ju ry ’ s

v erd i ct t h at M ercad o act ed wi th act u al m al i ce o r act u al i n ten t t o i n ju re Swo o p e.

Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt has h el d t h at

, in t h e co n t ex t o f o ffi ci al i m m u n i t y

, “ ‘ act u al

m al i ce’ req u i res a d el i b erat e i nt en t i o n to d o w ro n g

. ” Mer r o w v. H a w k i n s

, 2 6 6 Ga.

3 9 0

, 3 9 1 (4 6 7 SE2 d 3 3 6 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (act u al m al i ce i s m o re t h an i m p l ied m al i ce o r

reck l es s d i s reg ard fo r th e ri g h t s o f o t h ers ). “ A del i b erat e i n t en ti on t o d o wro n g s u ch

as t o co n s t i t u t e t h e act u al m al i ce n eces sary to o v erco m e offi ci al im m u n i t y m u s t b e t h e

i n t en t to cau s e t h e h arm s u ffered b y th e p l a i n t i ff[] .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) S

el vy v. Mo rr i s o n

, 29 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 2

, 7 0 4 (6 6 5 SE2 d 4 01 ) (2 00 8 ). An d an

act u al i n ten t t o cau s e i n

ju ry h as b een d efi n ed as “ an act u al i nt en t t o cau s e harm t o t h e

6p l ai n t i ff, n o t m erel y an i nt en t t o d o t h e act p u rp o rt ed l y res ul t i n g in th e cl ai m ed i n ju ry

.

Th i s d efi n i ti o n o f i n t en t co n tai n s as p ect s o f m al i ce, perh ap s a wi ck ed o r ev i l m o t i v e.”

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Id

. at 7 0 5 (fi n d i n g no j u ry q u es t i o n o f m a l i ce, d es p i t e ev i d en ce

t h at o ffi cer i n i t i al l y l eft p l ai n ti ff’ s h om e t h en y el l ed “ F[* ** ] th i s s h i t

, arres t t h a t

b [* * ** ] t o o !”, y el l ed fo r h er t o o p en th e do o r o r h e wo u l d k i ck i t i n

, s l am m ed h er face

i n t o t he wal l , an d k i ck ed h er l eg s o u t fro m u n d er h er, cau s i n g h er s o n t o g et i n ju red

i n t he p ro ces s b efo re ch arg i n g h er wi th d i so rd erl y co n du ct ).

Ho wev er, t h e “ p ub l i c o ffi cer o r em p lo y ee’ s s u b

ject i v e feel i n g o r m en t al s t at e

i s i rrel ev an t u n l es s i t p ro m p t s h i m o r h er t o i n t en d t o d o a l eg al l y u n ju s t i fi ab l e

act i on .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Del o ng v. Do men i ci

, 2 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 7,

7 5 9 (6 1 0 SE2 d 6 9 5) (2 0 0 5 ), o verru l ed o n o t h er g ro u n d s

, Zi l ke v. S t a te

, 2 99 Ga. 2 3 2,

2 3 5 (7 8 7 SE2 d 7 4 5 ) (2 0 1 6). “ A l l t hat i s req u ired fo r a lawf u l wa rran t l es s arres t i s

p ro b ab l e cau s e. To d et erm in e w h et h er p r o b a b l e cau s e ex i s t ed

, we l o o k at t h e fact s

wi t h i n t h e o f

f i cer’ s k n owl ed g e at t h e m o m en t of arres t .” Id

. T h us

, ev en i f i t i s l at er

d et erm i n ed t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff h ad n o t co m m i t ted t he cri m e fo r wh i ch he w as arres t ed

,

t h e l eg i t i m acy o f t h e o ffi cer’ s act i o n s wo u ld no t be n eg at ed i f at t h e m o m en t o f arres t

h e reas o n ab l y

b el iev ed t h e p l ai n t i ff h ad co m m i t t ed t h e cri m e. Id

.

7Here, co n s t ru i ng t h e ev i den ce t o s u p p o rt t h e j u ry ’ s v erd i ct

, Swo o p e ad m i t t ed

t h at h e was s t an di n g n ear J o nes

, wh o h e d o es n o t d i s pu t e was s cal p in g t i ck et s

, an d

t h at Swo op e t o l d Mercad o t o “ m ak e h i m an o ffer” fo r t h e t i ck et , al b ei t al leg ed l y as

a jo ke. Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s tan ces

, M ercad o’ s b el i ef t h at Swo o p e was s el l i n g h i s

t i ck et t o o was reas o n ab l e, an d t he arres t was t h erefo re leg al l y j u s ti fi ab l e. See Del o n g

,

2 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 6 0 . “ E v en wh en an arres ti n g o ffi cer o perat es o n a m i s t ak en b el i ef

t h at an arres t is a

p p r opr iat e, o ffi ci al i m

m u n i t y s ti ll ap p l ies .” (Ci t at io n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) S

el vy

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 0 6, n .1 7. “ Ou r t as k i s n o t t o d eci d e, wi t h t h e b en efi t

o f h i n d s i g h t

, wh at t h e o ffi cers s ho u l d h av e d on e. W e are co n cern ed o n ly wi t h wh et h er

t h ei r b eh av i o r s h o wed a del i b erat e i n t en ti on t o co m m i t a wro n g fu l act .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Id . at 7 0 7

.

“ Ap p l y i n g t h e fo reg o i n g

, we fi nd t h at t h e ev i den ce d em an d s t h e co n cl u s i o n

t h at [M ercad o ] act ed wi th ou t act ual m al i ce. Th ere i s n o ev i d en ce t hat [h e] was

m o ti v at ed b y a p ers o n al an i m u s t o ward [Swo o p e]

. N o r i s [h e] ac c u s e d o f

m an u fact u ri n g ev i d en ce o r k n owi n g l y pres en t i n g p erju red t es t i m o n y .” Ma r s h a l l v

.

Br o wn i n g

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4

, 6 8 ( 7 1 2 SE2 d 7 1 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Cf. Ga r d n er v. Ro g er

s

, 2 2 4

8Ga. A p p. 1 6 5 (4 8 0 SE2 d 2 17 ) (1 9 9 6); 5 Ci t y o f At la n t a v. S

h aver s

, 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 9 5

(7 5 6 SE2 d 2 0 4 ) (2 01 4), o verru l ed o n o t h er g ro u n d s

, Ri ver a v. W a s hi n g t o n

, 2 9 8 Ga.

7 7 0 (7 8 4 SE2 d 7 7 5 ) (2 01 6 ); 6 La g r o o n v. La ws o n

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 4 (7 59 SE2 d 8 7 8 )

(2 0 1 4) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n ly ). 7 Th u s

, ev en aft er g i v i n g Swo o p e ev ery b en efi t o f

5 In t h at cas e, a p o l i ce o ffi cer co m p let ed an i n t erv iew wi t h a s u s p ect at h e r

h o u s e an d t o l d h er t h at h e was n o t g o i n g t o arres t h er at t h at t i m e. B u t w h e n t h e

s u s p ect t ri ed to s h u t h er d o o r, t h e o ffi cer p us h ed h i s way back i n

, us ed p h y s ical fo rce

t o t ak e h er i n t o cu s t o d y an d t h en t o o k h er t o an o t h er l o cat i o n wh ere h e d is cu s s ed wi th

a co ll eag u e h o w t o d ev i se g ro u n d s o n w h i c h t o arres t h er. W e fo u n d t hat ev i d en ce

creat ed a ju ry qu es t io n co n cern i n g wh et h er th e o ffi cer had act u al m al ice ag ai n s t t h e

p l ai n t i ff. Ga r d

n er

, 22 4 Ga. Ap p . at 1 6 9 (4 ).

6 Th ere, fo l l o wi n g a m i st ak en r ep o rt t h at t h e pl ai nt i ff h ad s t ol en ab an d o n ed

m o ney o rd ers fro m a g as s t at i o n

, p o li ce arri v ed an d v iewed t h e v id eo t ap e fr o m t h e

s t ore’ s s ecu ri ty cam era, wh i ch s h o wed t h at p lai n t i ff h ad n o t t ak en t h e i t em s

. S h a ver s

, 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 96

. Des p i t e l earn i n g t h a t t h e p l ai n t i ff had n o t t ak en th e i t em s

, t h e

o ffi cer arres t ed h i m an d t o o k h i m t o t h e p o l i ce s t at i o n wh ere h e w as h el d fo r s ev eral

h o u rs

. Id

. Th e o ffi cer t au n ted h i m

, t el l i n g h i m h e was g o i n g “ t o m a k e th e ch arg es

s t ick ” n o m at ter wh at

. Th e o ffi cer ch arg ed h i m w i t h fel o n y t h eft by t ak i n g an d

t ran s po rt ed h i m t o j ai l ; t h e ch arg e was u l t i m at el y d i s m i s sed

. Id

. T h i s ev id en ce was

s u ffi ci en t t o creat e a q ues ti o n o f act u al m al i ce fo r t h e ju ry . Id . at 9 8-9 9 (1 ) (b ).

7 In La g r o o n

, t h ere was ev i d en ce t h at o ffi cers us ed th reat s t o p res s u re t een ag ed

ey ewi t n es s es i nt o g i vi ng fal s e s t at em en t s ag ai n s t t h e p l ai n t i ffs

. 3 28 Ga. A p p

. at 6 1 9

(2 ) (a). In ad d it i o n

, an offi cer d et ai n ed o n e o f th e p lai n t i ffs o v ern i g h t b e f o re

i n t erv i ewi n g h er, an d t h en h e d i d no t q u es t i o n h er ab o ut t h e c h a r g es

, b u t i n s t ead

q u es ti o n ed h e r a b o u t h e r es t ran g ed h u s b an d

, wh om h e k new. Id

. at 6 1 7 (1 ). Th e

o ffi cer tau n t e d h er, t el l i n g h er h e h ad her h u sb an d ’ s cel l p h o n e n u m b er an d wo u ld

cal l h i m t o co m e t o th e s h eri ff’ s o ffi ce an d t h at h e wo u l d b e pers o n al ly tes t i fy i n g

ag ai n s t h er i n her di v o rce act i o n

. Id

. W e fo u nd a j u ry co u l d i n fer fro m t h i s ev i d en ce

t h at t h e o ffi cers act ed w it h act ual m al i ce. Id . at 6 1 9 (2 ).

9t h e d o u b t

, we can n o t co n cl u d e t h a t h e p res en ted ev i d en ce t h at co u l d au th o ri ze a

fi nd i ng o f a c t u a l m al ice su ffi ci en t t o p i erce th e s hi el d of offi ci al i m m u n i t y

.

Acco rd in g ly , t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g M ercad o’ s m o t i o n fo r j.n .o .v

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Mi l l er

, P. J., a nd

McFa dd en , P. J., co n cu r

.

10