Source: http://www.ecases.us/case/c2409046/davenport-v-rodriguez/
Timestamp: 2020-06-05 05:20:15
Document Index: 538964091

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1476', '§ 1476', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 101']

Davenport v. Rodriguez, Southern District of Texas, US Federal District Court Cases, Federal Courts, COURT CASE
Davenport v. Rodriguez , 147 F. Supp. 2d 630 ( 2001 )
Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), Defendants have moved to dismiss Plaintiff's § 1983 and state law tort claims on the grounds that they fail to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. In the alternative, Defendants have moved pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(e) for a more definite statement of the basis of Plaintiff's constitutional claims against Officer Rodriguez.
When considering a motion to dismiss under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), the Court accepts as true all well-pleaded allegations in the complaint, and views them in a light most favorable to the plaintiff. See Malina v. Gonzales, 994 F.2d 1121, 1125 (5th Cir.1993). Unlike a motion for summary judgment, a motion to dismiss should be granted only when it appears without a doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of her claims that would entitle her to relief. Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S. Ct. 99, 102, 2 L. Ed. 2d 80 (1957); Tuchman v. DSC Communications Corp., 14 F.3d 1061, 1067 (5th Cir.1994). The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has noted that dismissal for failure to state a claim is disfavored and will be appropriate only in rare circumstances. Mahone v. Addicks Util. Dist. Of Harris County, 836 F.2d 921, 926 (5th Cir.1988). Finally, the Court notes that recent judicial attempts to impose a "heightened pleading standard" for § 1983 claims against municipalities have been expressly rejected by the Supreme Court. See Leatherman v. Tarrant County Narcotics Intelligence and Coordination Unit, 507 U.S. 163, 167, 113 S.Ct. *635 1160, 1163, 122 L. Ed. 2d 517 (1993) ("We think it impossible to square the "heightened pleading standard" applied by the Fifth Circuit in this case with the liberal system of "notice pleading" set up by the Federal Rules."). Thus § 1983 claims against municipalities are governed by the standard of Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2), and Plaintiff need only submit "a short and plain statement of the claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief."
Since Defendants filed their Motion to Dismiss, the Court has given Plaintiff leave to amend her Complaint. Plaintiff has accordingly filed a Third Amended Original Complaint. There is no question that this is now the "live" Complaint, superseding the Second Amended Original Complaint. However, there is some question respecting the precise effect Plaintiff's amendment must have on Defendants' Motion to Dismiss. At least one panel of the Fifth Circuit has stated that a Motion to Dismiss filed in response to an Original Complaint does not address a subsequently filed Amended Complaint. See Dean v. Ford Motor Credit Co., 885 F.2d 300, 302 (5th Cir.1989) (stating that for purposes of preserving an appeal, a Rule 12(b)(6) Motion filed in response to an Original Complaint did not address the amended Complaint). Read by itself, that language would seem to indicate that Defendants' Rule 12(b)(6) Motion is void. However, such an interpretation seems to elevate form over substance. See 6 Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller, & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice & Procedure § 1476 (1990). A more natural interpretation is one that would consider the differences between the Original Complaint and the amended version. To the extent that the defects raised in the Motion to Dismiss remain in the Amended Complaint, a court should simply apply the Motion to that pleading. See Wright & Miller, supra, § 1476 (stating that a court should not require defendants to file a new Motion to Dismiss "simply because an amended pleading was introduced while their motion was pending"). Thus, it becomes necessary to examine each of the claims articulated in Plaintiff's Third Amended Original Complaint in light of the defects in her Second Amended Original Complaint raised by Defendants' Motion to Dismiss.
Plaintiff has alleged that Officer Rodriguez lacked probable cause to arrest her. Officer Rodriguez did not witness the alleged criminal behavior and thus presumably made his decision to arrest based on the accusation of Mr. Stewart. Whether Officer Rodriguez had knowledge that would warrant a prudent person's belief that Plaintiff had already committed the alleged crime is highly dependant on the particular facts and circumstances. What he was told by Mr. Stewart and his own observations would be highly relevant. Thus, 12(b)(6) dismissal for failure to state a claim would be inappropriate. Plaintiff is entitled to discovery on this issue. Given the fact that Officer Garcia did not witness the alleged theft, no money was found on Plaintiff's person, and Plaintiff was ultimately released, Plaintiff has stated a claim which can survive a Motion to Dismiss.[1]
Plaintiff fails to state a claim for excessive force, however. Claims involving the use of excessive force are based upon an alleged violation of the Fourth Amendment. Graham, 490 U.S. at 388, 109 S.Ct. at 1867-68. In order to sustain a cause of action for use of excessive force, the evidence must establish that the use of force was "objectively unreasonable." Id. at 397, 109 S.Ct. at 1872. The Fifth Circuit has established a three-part test for consideration of a claim of excessive force brought under § 1983. In order to prevail under this statute, the Plaintiff must show (1) an injury (2) which resulted directly and only from a use of force that was clearly excessive to the need, and (3) the excessiveness of which was objectively unreasonable. Fontenot v. Cormier, 56 F.3d 669, 674 (5th Cir.1995); Johnson v. Morel, 876 F.2d 477, 480 (5th Cir.1989) (en banc).
The only use of force alleged by Plaintiff is Rodriguez's action of placing her in handcuffs and "shoving" her into the police car. Plaintiff alleges only psychological injuries, though some of these injuries allegedly had subsequent physical manifestations. Whether or not there is a physical injury requirement for an excessive force claim,[2] Plaintiff does not proper *637 ly allege a claim for excessive force. Had Plaintiff alleged that she was handcuffed too tightly, for instance, or that the officer had pointed a gun at her and threatened to shoot while she was being arrested, she may have stated a claim. See Heitschmidt v. City of Houston, 161 F.3d 834, 839-40 (5th Cir.1998) (holding that an allegation that Plaintiff was handcuffed too tightly for four hours and denied access to the bathroom while being detained during the search of a house stated a claim for excessive force); Thompson v. City of Galveston, 979 F. Supp. 504, 509-10 (S.D.Tex. 1997) (Kent, J.) (suggesting that an action might lie for excessive force for a police officer holding a gun to the head of a nine year old and threatening to pull the trigger). Merely being handcuffed and taken to the police station, however, is not excessive force, but standard police practice. There is no right against being handcuffed. See Peters, 57 F.Supp.2d at 374-75 (holding that being handcuffed, shackled, and verbally abused does not give rise to a claim of excessive force under § 1983); Horton v. Town of Brookfield, 2001 WL 263299, * 7 (D.Conn. March 15, 2001); Scott v. County of Nassau, 1998 WL 874840, *5 (E.D.N.Y Dec. 11, 1998); Murphy v. Neuberger, 1996 WL 442797, at * 8 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 6, 1996).
Because Plaintiff's suit names a municipality as a defendant, Plaintiff must also allege a basis for municipal liability. Although municipalities are "persons" within the meaning of § 1983, they may only be held liable if the constitutional harm suffered was the result of an "official policy, custom, or pattern." See Monell v. Dept. of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 692-94, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 2037-38, 56 L. Ed. 2d 611 (1978); Burns v. City of Galveston, 905 F.2d 100, 102 (5th Cir.1990). Municipalities may not be held liable under either a theory of respondeat superior or vicarious liability. See Oklahoma City v. Tuttle, 471 U.S. 808, 817, 105 S. Ct. 2427, 2433, 85 L. Ed. 2d 791 (1985); Monell, 436 U.S. at 691, 98 S.Ct. at 2036; Doe v. Taylor Indep. School Dist., 15 F.3d 443, 452 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc). In addition, municipalities may not be held liable under § 1983 for mere negligence in oversight. See Rhyne v. Henderson Cty., 973 F.2d 386, 392 (5th Cir.1992) (citing City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 387, 109 S. Ct. 1197, 1204, 103 L. Ed. 2d 412 (1989)).
The Court notes that actually establishing liability under § 1983 for improper hiring is a difficult task. At trial, Plaintiff must show evidence of a custom or policy, which caused Plaintiff's injuries, and which is attributable to the City of Brazoria. See Bennett v. City of Slidell, 728 F.2d 762, 767 (5th Cir.1984) (en banc). More than one instance of constitutional injury is normally required to demonstrate such a policy or custom. See Spiller v. City of Texas City, 130 F.3d 162, 167 (5th Cir.1997). Furthermore, the Defendants are not necessarily liable just because they employ some alleged tortfeasors. See Brown, 520 U.S. at 403, 117 S.Ct. at 1387. "Only where adequate scrutiny of an applicant's background would lead a reasonable policymaker to conclude that the plainly obvious consequence of the decision to hire the applicant would be the deprivation of a third party's federally protected right can the official's failure to adequately scrutinize the applicant's background constitute `deliberate indifference.'" Id. at 411, 117 S.Ct. at 1392.
But Plaintiff is not yet at the summary judgement or trial stage, so the only issue is whether she has stated a claim which survives Defendants' 12(b)(6) motion. Here, Plaintiff has alleged a constitutional violation, specifically a violation of the Fourth Amendment. Plaintiff has alleged that Defendants' agents acted under color of law. Plaintiffs have alleged that the police officer's conduct was the result of improper screening of officers that the City employs and the City's "get tough" policy on employees of Stewart Food. If these allegations are ultimately proven true, they might suffice to establish municipal liability. Given that Plaintiff's allegations must be viewed in the light most favorable to their position, see Malina, 994 F.2d at 1125, and given that the Court is forbidden to impose any "heightened pleading standard" in this § 1983 action, see Leatherman, 507 U.S. at 167, 113 S.Ct. at 1163, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has stated a claim for which relief may be granted. Accordingly, Defendants' Motion to Dismiss is DENIED with respect to Plaintiff's § 1983 claim against the City.
Turning to Defendants' Motion for a More Definite Statement, the Court observes that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not contemplate the pleading of all relevant facts in intimate detail. See Mitchell v. E-Z Way Towers, Inc., 269 F.2d 126, 132 (5th Cir.1959) ("In view of the great liberality of Fed.R.Civ.P. 8, permitting notice pleading, it is clearly the policy of the Rules that Rule 12(e) should not be used to frustrate this policy by lightly requiring a plaintiff to amend his complaint which under Rule 8 is sufficient to withstand a motion to dismiss."); see also Leatherman, 507 U.S. at 167, 113 S.Ct. at 1163 (rejecting a heightened pleading standard for § 1983 claims against municipalities). "Consequently, a motion for more definite statement is generally disfavored and is used to provide a remedy only for an unintelligible pleading rather than a correction for lack of detail." Frazier v. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transp. Auth., 868 F. Supp. 757, 763 (E.D.Pa.1994).
Defendants ask that Plaintiff be compelled to plead with particularity how Officer Rodriguez violated her federal rights. The Fifth Circuit has imposed a heightened pleading standard in § 1983 cases. Elliott v. Perez, 751 F.2d 1472, 1481-82 (5th Cir.1985). The United States Supreme Court subsequently eliminated the requirement as it applies to suits against municipalities. Leatherman, 507 U.S. at 168, 113 S.Ct. at 1163. It did not reach the question of whether the requirement exists for claims against officials in their individual capacities. Id. at 166-67, 113 S.Ct. at 1162. Arguably, the reasoning of Leatherman applies with equal force to claims against individuals. In Leatherman the Court argued that the only provision for heightened pleadings in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure was found in Rule 9(b) which requires particularity in complaints alleging fraud or mistake. Nowhere do the Rules make any heightened pleading requirement for suits against municipalities, and the creation of such a rule should come from amendment of the rules, not judicial interpretation. Id. at 168-69, 113 S.Ct. at 1163. The same argument could be made for suits against officers in their individual capacities, because the Federal Rules do not create a heightened pleading standard for § 1983 claims against individuals either. Several Courts in this Circuit have extended the holding of Leatherman in this fashion. See Callaghan v. Congemi, 1993 WL 114523, * 6 (E.D.La.1993); Dodson v. City of Kenner, 1993 WL 149111, at *1 (E.D.La.1993). Nevertheless, the Fifth Circuit has not drawn this conclusion from Leatherman. See Schultea v. Wood, 47 F.3d 1427, 1430 (5th Cir.1995).
Plaintiff alleges intentional infliction of emotional distressan intentional tort under Texas law. The TTCA provides that a municipality cannot be liable for any claims "arising out of assault, battery, false imprisonment, or any intentional tort ...." Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 101.057(2). A review of Plaintiff's Complaint reveals that her intentional tort allegations are not waived by the TTCA. Therefore, this claim is absolutely barred by sovereign immunity. See City of San Antonio v. Dunn, 796 S.W.2d 258, 261 (Tex.App.San Antonio 1990, writ denied) (holding that no waiver of municipal liability existed under the TTCA where plaintiff's claims arose out of allegations of intentional torts, including false arrest and excessive force); Townsend v. Memorial Medical Center, 529 S.W.2d 264, 266-67 (Tex.App.Corpus Christi 1975, writ ref'd n.r.e.); accord Jones v. Houston Independent School Dist., 979 F.2d 1004, 1007 (5th Cir.1992).
[3] Whether a warrantless arrest for a misdemeanor offense not committed in an officer's presence is per se a Fourth Amendment violation is a question apparently left open by the Supreme Court in Lago Vista. See id., 532 U.S. at ___ n. 11, 121 S.Ct. at 1550 n. 11 ("We need not, and thus do not, speculate whether the Fourth Amendment entails an `in the presence' requirement for purposes of misdemeanor arrests."). Nevertheless, many Circuits have held that any requirement that the offense be committed in an officer's presence for a misdemeanor arrest is not of constitutional dimension. See Atwater v. City of Lago Vista, 195 F.3d 242, 245 n. 3 (5th Cir. 1999) (collecting authorities), aff'd 532 U.S. ___, 121 S. Ct. 1536, 149 L. Ed. 2d 549 (2001). Thus, although the alleged misdemeanor offense was not committed in Officer Rodriguez's presence, the Court concludes that no Fourth Amendment violation exists for the custodial arrest itself.
DocketNumber： CIV. A. G-00-755
Citation Numbers： 147 F. Supp. 2d 630
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