Case Name: Basant SIDHU and Sanjesh Singh, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. S. GARCIA, Sheriffs Deputy; et al., Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-11-22
Citations: 459 F. App'x 613
Docket Number: No. 10-17029
Parties: Basant SIDHU and Sanjesh Singh, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. S. GARCIA, Sheriffs Deputy; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: Before THOMAS, GOULD, and BYBEE, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 459
Pages: 613–614

Head Matter:
Basant SIDHU and Sanjesh Singh, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. S. GARCIA, Sheriffs Deputy; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
No. 10-17029.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Argued and Submitted Nov. 17, 2011.
Filed Nov. 22, 2011.
Herman Franck, Elizabeth Vogel, Esquire, Franck & Associates, Sacramento, CA, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.
Martha M. Stringer, Kathleen Jane Williams, Williams & Associates, Sacramento, CA, for Defendants-Appellees.
Stacey Singh, Vallejo, CA, pro se.
Before THOMAS, GOULD, and BYBEE, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Basant Sidhu and Sanjesh Singh appeal the summary judgment entered by the district court against them. We affirm. Because the parties are familiar with the history of the case, we need not recount it here.
I
The district court properly granted summary judgment on the Fourth Amendment claims, correctly concluding that the defendants were entitled to qualified immunity. In order to determine if qualified immunity applies, a two-part inquiry should be conducted: (1) did an officer's conduct violate a constitutional right; and (2) was the right which was violated clearly established at the time of the violation. Espinosa v. City & Cty. of San Francisco, 598 F.3d 528, 532 (9th Cir.2010). If an officer did not violate a constitutional right, then that officer is entitled to qualified immunity. Id.
In this case, the district court correctly determined that the plaintiffs' constitutional rights were not violated. The warrant-less search was justified by the emergency exception to the Fourth Amendment. The emergency exception is an extension of "police officers' community caretaking function" because it allows officers to respond to "emergency situations that threaten life or limb" in a timely manner. Hopkins v. Bonvicino, 573 F.3d 752, 763 (9th Cir.2009). To determine if the emergency exception applies, this court makes a fact-specific inquiry as to whether: "(1) considering the totality of the circumstances, law enforcement had an objectively reasonable basis for concluding that there was an immediate need to protect others or themselves from serious harm; and (2) the search's scope and manner were reasonable to meet the need." United States v. Snipe, 515 F.3d 947, 952 (9th Cir.2008).
Here, the deputies had an objectively reasonable basis for concluding Singh's spouse was in imminent need of their assistance. She had written an email requesting police assistance and further indicating that she may have been being held against her will. The emails also suggested she may have been in danger of harm from herself or others. When the deputies arrived at the house, they observed the furtive figure of a person inside the house. However, no one answered their knock at the door or telephone calls. The totality of these circumstances justified the entry into the house under the emergency exception. The manner and the scope of the deputies' entry and search were also both reasonable. Given the lack of a constitutional violation, the district court properly granted summary judgment on the Fourth Amendment claims.
II
The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying plaintiffs' motion for leave to amend their original complaint as untimely. See De Saracho v. Custom Food Mach., Inc., 206 F.3d 874, 878 (9th Cir.2000).
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.