FI L ED U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S EL EVENTHCI RCUI T SEP 27, 2011 J OHN L EY CL ERK [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UN ITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELE VENTH CIRCUIT

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__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ D.C. Dock etNo. 1 :0 9- cv -0 32 69 -ODE ARTHUR L. BRIMS , ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll Pl ai nt iff -Ap pe ll an t, ve rs us POLICE OFFIC ER N. BARLOW , Bad ge #1 41 1, ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll Defen da nt -Ap pe ll ee, COBB C OUNTY POLICE DE PT., ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll Defen da nt .

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ App eal fro m

th e Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co urt forth e North ern Dis tri ctof Ge or gi a

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (Sep te m be r 27 , 20 11 ) Befo re TJ OFLAT, CARNES andFAY, Circ ui t J ud ge s. PER CURI AM:Arth urBri m s, p ro ceed in g pr o s e , app eal s t he di st ric t co urt’s o rd er g ran ti ng

su m m ary jud gm en t i n fa vo r of th e d efen da nt , Offic er Nat ha ni el Barl ow, i n B rims’ s ci vi l ri gh ts act io n b ro ug htun de r 42 U.S.C. § 1 98 3. Onap pe al , Bri m s ar gu es th at th e d is tri ctco urt s ho ul d n otha ve gra nt edsu m m ary jud gm en t t o B arl ow b ecau se th e ev id en ce es tabl is he d t ha t Ba rlo w vi ol at edhi s Fo urth Am en dm en t ri gh ts . For th e rea so ns st at edbe lo w, we affi rm . I. In20 09 , Bri m s fi le d a pr o s e § 1 98 3 c om pl ai ntag ai ns t Ba rlo w. His co m pl ai ntwas b as edon th e fo ll owi ng fact s. OnMay 30, 2 00 9, Br im s was wait in g in hi s v eh ic le at ash op pi ng pl aza wh enhe no ti ceda po li ce car pu ll up be hi ndhi m . Barl ow g otou t o f th e p ol ic e car , walk edto Bri m s’s v eh ic le , andin fo rm edBri m s th athi s re gi st rat io n h adexpi red . In re sp on se , Bri m s h an de d B arl ow a l et te r fro m th e Geo rg iaDepa rtment o f Mo to r Veh ic le s d em on st rat in g tha t h is car was va li dl y reg is te red . Barl ow the n “ pu t h is ha nd s o n [B rims] in anass au lt iv e m an ne r,” pu ll edhi m

ou t o f hi s v eh ic le , andus eda raci al ep it he t. Bar lo w han dc uf fedBri m s

“ fo r no reas on ” an d s earc he d B rims’ s v eh ic le witho uthi s co ns en t. Barl ow fi le d am ot io n fo r su m m ary jud gm en t. He arg ue d t ha t h is sea rch of Bri m s’s v eh ic le was l awfu l u nd er the au to m ob il e ex cep ti on to th e Fo urth Am en dm en t’s warr an t re qu ire m en t. He s ta te d t ha t h e h adpro babl e cau se to sea rch 2Bri m s’s v eh ic le be cau se he ha d n ot ic edBri m s re ach in g fr om on e si de of t he ve hi cl e to th e o th er as th ou gh he were try in g t o h id e co nt rab an d o r to sec ur e o r co nc eal a weap on . Barl ow fu rth er ex pl ai ne d t ha t h e h adpro babl e cau se to arre st Bri m s fo r a co nt ro ll edsubs tanc e v io la ti on be cau se he fou nda crac k p ip e wit h co cai ne res idue on th e fro ntsea t o f Bri m s’s v eh ic le . Ina supp orti ng affi da vi t, Ba rlo w exp la in edth at , on May 30, 2 00 9, at5: 30 pm , he was tra ve li ng inhi s p atro l ca r whe n h e o bs erv eda ve hi cl e b ei ng dri ve n wit h asu sp en de d re gi st rat io n. Aft er the ve hi cl e p ul le d i nt o apa rk in g l ot , Barl ow in it ia te d atra ffi c st op . Barl ow ap pr oa ch edth e v eh ic le an d i nf orm edth e driv er, Bri m s, t ha t h is ve hi cl e’s reg is tra ti on was e xp ire d. As Bri m s s earc he d fo r hi s reg is tra ti on , Barl ow re tu rn edto hi s p ol ic e cru is er an d c he ck eda po li ce d at ab as e to co nf irm th atBri m s’s re gi st rat io n h adex pi red . Whi le Barl ow was in hi s p atro l car, he no ti cedBri m s m ov in g abo utan d reac hi ng fro m

on e si de of h is ve hi cl e to an ot he r. He be li ev ed , bas edon hi s tra in in g a ndex pe rie nc e, th atBri m s m ay have be entrying to co nc eal co nt rab an d o r to ob ta in a weap on . Barl ow ca ll edforba ckup an d m ot io ne d fo r Bri m s t o g etou t of hi s v eh ic le . Barl ow s earc he d t he dri ve r’s co m pa rtment o f Bri m s’s v eh ic le an d di sc ov ereda gl as s p ip e wit h c rackco cai ne res idue . At th atpo in t, Ba rlo w ha nd cu ffedBri m s wi th ou t u si ng an y ap pr eci ab le for ce. 3Inad di ti on to hi s af fid av it , Barl ow s ub m it te d avi de o re co rd in g o f th e tr affi c st op tak enby the cam era i n h is pa tro l ca r. Barl ow ex pl ai ne d t ha t t he vi de ot ap e was no t p erfe ctbe cau se th e au di o re co rd in g was in te rm it te ntan d t he ti m e o n t he sc reen di d n otrefl ectth e actua l t im e. Neve rth el es s, h e as se rte d t ha t the vi de ot ap e accu rat el y

de pi ct edhi s en co un te r wit h B rims. He sta te d tha t t he vi de ot ap e h ad be enco nv ert edfro m

VHS form atin to a DVD, bu t h adno t b een alt eredin any ot he r way . The vi de ot ap e la rg el y

co rro bo rat es Barl ow’s ac co un t o f th e tr affi c st op . The reco rd in g b eg in s at5: 43 pm , as B arl ow an d B rims are s ta nd in g n ear B rims’ s ve hi cl e. Bri m s re en te rs hi s v eh ic le to lo okforhi s re gi st rat io n. At5: 46 , Bri m s ha nd s a p ap er t o B arl ow, an d B arl ow re tu rn s t o h is pa tro l ca r. At 5 :4 7, Ba rlo w walk s b ackto Bri m s’s v eh ic le . He m ot io ns forBri m s t o g etou t, an d B rims co m pl ie s. Ba rlo w per fo rm s a p at -d own sea rch of B rims’ s p ers on an d t he n se arch es th e driv er’s co m partment o f th e v eh ic le , di sc ov eri ng th e p ip e wit h c rack co cai ne . At 5: 51 , ano th er o ffi cer a rri ve s o n t he sce ne . Barl ow h an dc uf fs Bri m s wit ho utus in g a ny app reci ab le for ce, an d t he off ic ers walkBri m s b ackto Barl ow’s pa tro l ca r. At n o p oi ntdu rin g t he vi de ot ap e d oe s B arl ow h itor s tri ke Bri m s. Bri m s fi le d ares po ns e to Barl ow’s s umm ary jud gm en t m ot io n. Am on g ot he r th in gs , Bri m s ar gu edth atth e v id eo tape of t he tra ffi c st op was n otrel iabl e 4be cau se th e in it ia l t raff ic st op oc cu rredat 5 :3 0 p m , bu t the vi de ot ap e d idno t b eg in reco rd in g u nt il 5: 43 pm . He m ai nt ai ne d t ha t t he vi de ot ap e h adbe enalt eredto Barl ow’s ad va nt ag e. The di stric t co urt g ran te d B arl ow’s m ot io n fo r su m m ary jud gm en t. As a n in it ia l m at te r, th e co urt ex pl ai ne d t ha t i t wo ul d c red itth e v id eo tape ov er an y co nt rary ass ert io ns m ad e b y Barl ow. The di st ric t co urt ex pl ai ne d t ha t Br im s’s co nc lu so ry

ass ert io n t ha t t he vi de ot ap e h adbe enalt ereddi d n otcrea te a ge nu in e is su e as to it s re li ab il it y

be cau se Bri m s h adno t ex pl ai ne d h ow the ev en ts de pi ct ed on th e tape di ffer edfro m whatactua ll y

happ en ed . The di stric t co urt o bs erv edth atth e en co un te r be twee n B rims andBarl ow un di sp ut ab ly beg anas atra ffi c st op whi le Bri m s was dri vi ng a car wi th a rece nt ly laps edreg is tra ti on . The d is tri ctco urt n ot edth atth e v id eo tape co rro bo rat ed Barl ow’s co nt en ti on th atBri m s h adbe enm ov in g a ro un d i ns id e o f hi s v eh ic le . The co urt o bs erv edth atBarl ow h adreas onto be li ev e th atBri m s h adhi dd en co nt rab an d o r se cu reda weap on . The d is tri ctco urt co nc lu de d t ha t Ba rlo w had co nduc te d alawf

ul in ve st ig at ory

st op , sea rch , andarre st . The d is tri ctco urt al so de te rm in edth atBarl ow was en ti tl edto qu al ifi edimm un it y ev enif the sea rchha d no t b een lawf

ul . II. 5W e rev ie w a di st ric t co urt’s g ran t o f su m m ary jud gm en t de no vo . Man n v . Ta se r In t’l

, Inc . , 58 8 F .3d12 91 , 13 03 (11 th Cir . 20 09 ). Summ ary jud gm en t i s ap pr op ria te if “ th ere i s n o g en ui ne di sp ut e as to an y m at eri al factan d the m ov an t i s en ti tl edto jud gm en t as a m at te r of law.” Fe d.R .Civ .P. 56 (a). Gen eral ly, we m us t vi ew th e fac ts inth e li gh t m os t fa vo rab le to th e n on -m ov in g p art y an d draw al l reas on ab le in fere nc es infav or of t ha t p art y . Man n , 58 8 F .3dat 1 30 3. We m ay no t, h owe ve r, acce ptany fact s t ha t ar e “bl at an tl y

co nt rad ic te d b y

th e rec or d, s o th atno reas on ab le jury co ul d b el ie ve [th em ]. ” Sc ot t v. Ha rr is , 55 0 U.S. 3 72 , 38 0, 12 7 S .Ct. 1 76 9, 1 77 6, 1 67 L.Ed.2d68 6 (2 00 7) . In Sc ot t, th e Supr em e Co urt cred it eda vi de ot ap e rec or di ng of acar ch as e rat he r th anth e p la in ti ff’s co ntrary acco un t o f wha t o ccu rred . Id. at 3 78 -8 1, 1 27 S.Ct . at 1 77 5- 76 . The do ctrin e o f qu al ifi edimm un ity sh ie ld s g ov ern m en t o ffi ci al s s ue d i n th ei r in di vi du al cap aci ti es fro m civ il li ab il it y

if the ir c on du ctdi d n otvi ol at e

“ cl earl y est ab li sh edst atut ory

or c on st itut io na l ri gh ts of wh ic h areas on ab le pe rs on wou ldha ve kn own .” Har lo w v. Fit zg er ald , 45 7 U.S. 8 00 , 81 8, 1 02 S.Ct . 27 27 , 27 38 , 73 L.Ed.2d39 6 (1 98 2) . The qua li fie d i m m un it y an al y si s co ns is ts of t wo st ep s. Gri de r v. Cit

y o f Au bu rn , Ala . , 61 8 F .3d12 40 , 12 54 (11 th Cir . 20 10 ). Fir st , we m us t co ns id er wh ethe r th e p la in ti ff h as est ab li sh eda co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n. Id. Seco nd , we m

us t d et erm in e whe th er the rig htat i ss ue was “ cl earl y 6es tabl is he d” at t he ti m e o f th e o ffi ci al ’s act io n. Id . W e m ay

ad dr es s t ho se two st ep s i n wh at ev er o rd er we d eem m os t ap pr op ria te . Pea rs on v. Ca ll ah an , 55 5 U.S. 22 3, 2 36 , 12 9 S .Ct. 8 08 , 81 8, 1 72 L.Ed.2d56 5 (2 00 9) . Inth is cas e, m

uc h o f th e en co un te r be twee n B rims andBarl ow was cap tu red by the vi de o c am era i n B arl ow’s p atro l ca r. In t he pro ceed in gs be lo w, Brim s arg ue d t ha t t he vi de ot ap e was no t re li ab le ev id en ce b ecau se th e tr affi c st op be ga n at5: 30 pm

an d t he vi de o c am era d idno t b eg inreco rd in g u nt il 5: 43 . As Bar lo w ex pl ai ne d, h owe ve r, th e ti m e d is pl ay edon th e v id eo reco rd in g d oe s n otrefl ectth e

“ actua l t im e.” Als o, Br im s d idno t s pe ci fic al ly des cri be ho w th e ev en ts de pi ct ed on th e v id eo tape di ffer edfro m whatactua ll y

oc cu rred . There fo re, the di st ric t co urt ap pr op ria te ly con cl ud edth atBri m s h adno t ra is eda ge nu in e is su e o f m at eri al factas t o t he accu racy of th e v id eo tape . To th e ex te ntth atth e v id eo tape co nt rad ic ts Bri m s’s v ers io n o f th e fac ts , we m us t ac cep t t he vi de ot ap e as accu rat e an d re ject B rims’ s co nt rary sta te m en ts . Se e S co tt , 55 0 U.S. at37 8- 81 , 12 7 S .Ct. at 17 75 -7 6. Bri m s fa il edto est ab li sh th atBarl ow’s ac ti on s dur in g t he tra ffi c st op vi ol at edth e Fo urth Am en dm en t. Fi rs t, the in it ia l s to p o f Bri m s’s v eh ic le was la wfu l b ecau se Barl ow h adreas on to be li ev e th atth e reg is tra ti onforBri m s’s ve hi cl e h adbe ensu sp en de d. Th e fac t t ha t Br im s l at er m ay ha ve be enab le to 7pr oduc e a l et te r sh owi ng hi s re gi st rat io n t o b e v al idis irr el ev an t—th e is su e is

whe th er Ba rlo w hadreas on to be li ev e th atBri m s’s re gi strat io n was su sp en de d a t th e ti m e whe n h e in it ia te d t he tra ffi c st op . Becau se Bri m s d idno t d is pu te th athi s reg is tra ti on was l is te d a s b ei ng su sp en de d i n t he po li ce d at ab as e, th e d is tri ctco urt pr op erl y co nc lu de d t ha t t he in it ia l s to p o f Bri m s’s v eh ic le was l awfu l. As Ba rlo w was ch eck in g B rims’ s re gi st rat io n, h e n ot ic edBri m s m ov in g aro un d a ndreac hi ng fro m on e si de of h is ve hi cl e to th e o th er. Bri m s h as no t di sp ut edth athe was m ov in g a ro un d i n h is ve hi cl e. Bas edon hi s t rai ni ng an d ex pe rie nc e, Barl ow b el ie ve d t ha t Br im s m ay ha ve be entrying to sec ur e a weap on . At tha t p oi nt , itwas l awfu l fo r Bar lo w to co nduc t a p at -d own sea rch of B rims’ s pe rs on an d t o s earc h B rims’ s v eh ic le to en su re tha t Br im s d idno t p os e a thr eatto hi s s afet y . Se e Ari

zo na v. Jo hn so n , 55 5 U.S. 3 23 , __ _, 1 29 S.Ct . 78 1, 7 84 , 17 2 L.Ed.2 d 6 94 (20 09 ) (h ol di ng th atoff ic ers pe rfo rm in g atra ffi c st op m ay co nduc t a pa t-d own sea rch of a ny pas se ng er wh om th ey reas on ab ly sus pe ctto be arm edan d da ng ero us ); Mic hi

ga n v . Lon g , 46 3 U.S. 1 03 2, 1 05 1, 1 03 S.Ct . 34 69 , 34 82 , 77 L.Ed.2 d 1 20 1 (1 98 3) (ex pl ai ni ng th atoff ic ers m ay sea rch a ve hi cl e dur in g atra ffi c st op if t he y

ha ve “ anart ic ul ab le an d o bjec ti ve ly reaso nabl e b el ie f th atth e su sp ect is po te nt ia ll y

da ng ero us ” ). Bri m s’s s pe cu la ti on th atBarl ow wo ul d h av e drawn hi s s erv ic e rev ol ve r or

wait edfor

ba ckup if h e h adtru ly fearedforhi s s afet y were 8in su ffi ci en t t o c reat e a g en ui ne is su e as to whet he r th e se arch of h is ve hi cl e was

la wfu l. Dur in g h is sea rch of B rims’ s v eh ic le , Barl ow d is co ve reda gl as s p ip e wit h crac k c oc ai ne . There fo re, h e h adpro babl e cau se to arre stBarl ow fo r a co nt ro ll ed subs ta nc e v io la ti on . Fin al ly, th e v id eo tape sh ows th atBarl ow d idno t h itor s tri ke Bri m s, n ordi d h e u se ex ces si ve for ce wh enhe pl acedBri m s i n h an dc uf fs Inhi s co m

pl ai nt , Bri m s al so ass ert edth atBarl ow u se d araci al ep it he t wh il e pl aci ng hi m

un de r arre st . Thatco nt en ti on is no t d ire ct ly con tra di ct edby the vi de ot ap e b ecau se th e rel ev an t p orti on of t he vi de ot ap e d oe s n otha ve an y acco m panyin g aud io reco rd in g. Nev ert he le ss , th e is ol at edus e o f a rac ia l ep it he t, whi le de pl or ab le , do es no t ri se to th e le ve l o f a co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n u nl es s i t i s acco m pani edby oth er h aras sm en t o r m is co nduc t. Se e W il li ams v. Bra mer , 18 0 F.3 d 6 99 , 70 6 (5 th Cir . 19 99 ) (h ol di ng th at“ anoff ic er’s u se of araci al ep it he t, wit ho utha ras sm en t o r so m e o th er co nduc t t ha t d ep riv es th e v ic ti m of e st ab li sh ed rig ht s, d oe s n otam ou ntto anequa l p ro te ct io n v io la ti on ”); Ca rt er v. Mor ris , 16 4 F.3 d 2 15 , 21 9 n .3 (4 th Cir . 19 99 ) (s am e). Here, ev enif o ne were t o a ccep t Bri m s’s co nt en ti on th atBarl ow u se d araci al ep it he t, Br im s h as no t es tabl is he d th atBarl ow en ga ge d i n any oth er m is co nduc t. The refo re, t o t he ex te ntth atBri m s was att em

pt in g t o b rin g asep arat e equa l p ro te ct io n c la im , th atcla im is m eri tl es s. 9Bec au se Bri m s fa il edto est ab li sh a co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n, Ba rlo w was

en ti tl edto qu al ifi edimm

un it y . Se e Gri de r , 61 8 F .3dat 1 25 4. Acco rd in gl y , we affi rm th e d is tri ctco urt’s g ran t o f su m m ary jud gm en t. AFFIRMED.

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