Case Name: Randall FONTANA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CITY OF AUBURN et al., Defendants, and Sgt. James Nordenger, Defendant-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-03-09
Citations: 679 F. App'x 613
Docket Number: No. 14-35784
Parties: Randall FONTANA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CITY OF AUBURN et al., Defendants, and Sgt. James Nordenger, Defendant-Appellee.
Judges: Before: GRABER, IKUTA, and HURWITZ, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 679
Pages: 613–614

Head Matter:
Randall FONTANA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CITY OF AUBURN et al., Defendants, and Sgt. James Nordenger, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 14-35784
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted March 7, 2017 Seattle, Washington
Filed March 09, 2017
Dan N. Fiorito, III, Esquire, Attorney, The Law Office of Dan N. Fiorito III, Seattle, WA, for Plaintiff-Appellant
Amanda Gabrielle Butler, Attorney, Richard Brooks Jolley, Esquire, Attorney, Keating Bucklin McCormack, Seattle, WA, for Defendants-Appellees
Before: GRABER, IKUTA, and HURWITZ, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously concludes that this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Plaintiff Randall Fontana timely appeals the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Defendant Sergeant James Nordenger on Plaintiffs 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims of unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution. Reviewing de novo the district court's ruling that Nordenger is entitled to qualified immunity and viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, Reza v. Pearce, 806 F.3d 497, 502 (9th Cir. 2015), we affirm.
1. The district court correctly held that Nordenger is entitled to qualified immunity on the unlawful arrest claim. Given the facts known to Nordenger—including the threatening nature of Plaintiffs statements, their proximity in time to the Lakewood killings, the reliability of the named citizen informant who was interviewed by officers, and the reports of Plaintiffs post-statement conduct—it was "reasonably arguable that there was probable cause for arrest." Rosenbaum v. Washoe Cty., 663 F.3d 1071, 1076 (9th Cir. 2011) (per cu-riam) (emphasis omitted).
2. The district court correctly held that Nordenger is entitled to qualified immunity on the malicious prosecution claim. The evidence does not disclose "wrongful motives or reckless disregard of' Plaintiffs rights. State v. Chenoweth, 160 Wash.2d 454, 158 P.3d 595, 602 (2007). Plaintiff has not overcome the ordinary presumption that the decision to file criminal charges "result[ed] from an independent determination on the part of the prosecutor, [which] precludes liability for those who participated in the investigation or filed a report that resulted in the initiation of proceedings." Awabdy v. City of Adelanto, 368 F.3d 1062, 1067 (9th Cir. 2004).
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
. Because the district court correctly ruled on qualified immunity, we need not and do not address the court's alternative ground for granting summary judgment—issue preclusion. Also, because Plaintiff's opening brief challenges the summary judgment only as to Nordenger, we do not address the summary judgment in favor of the other Defendants. See Smith v. Marsh, 194 F.3d 1045, 1052 (9th Cir. 1999) (holding that arguments not raised in a party's opening brief generally are waived).