Opinion ID: 60510
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whittington’s Lawsuit

Text: Whittington filed a complaint in Florida state court alleging multiple state law and federal constitutional violations, including false arrest, against Surfside, as a municipality, and Officers Perez and Giambalvo, individually. The defendants removed the case to federal court and moved to dismiss Whittington’s complaint. The district court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss in part and allowed Whittington to reallege some of his claims in an amended complaint.3 After Whittington filed a second amended complaint, the defendants moved for summary judgment. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendants on all claims.4 Subsequently, Whittington settled his claims against Officers Perez and in the district court, we decline to address it. Access Now, Inc. v. Southwest Airlines Co., 385 F.3d 1324, 1331 (11th Cir. 2004) (stating rule that this Court generally will not consider an issue on appeal that was not raised first in the district court). 3 The district court dismissed with prejudice Whittington’s state law claims of negligence and malicious prosecution against Surfside and his federal due process claims against Surfside, Officer Perez, and Officer Giambalvo. Because Whittington does not challenge these dismissals on appeal, these claims are now deemed abandoned. Access Now, Inc., 385 F.3d at 1330. 4 Specifically, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants on Whittington’s claims against (1) Surfside for state law false arrest and false imprisonment and under § 1983 for false arrest and substantive due process and equal protection violations; and (2) Officers Giambalvo and Perez under § 1983 for false arrest, excessive force, and substantive due process and equal protection violations. 5 Giambalvo individually. This appeal involves only his § 1983 claim for false arrest against the Town of Surfside.5