Opinion ID: 406593
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Claims Concerning the May 25, 1978 Incident

Text: 13 Appellant maintains that the District Court erred in granting summary judgment to Detectives Carrig and Greene, the two police officers involved in the May 25, 1978 incident, on the ground that appellant failed to present any evidence of a physical assault and battery. Certain language in the District Court's written opinions does, at first blush, support appellant's contention. Specifically, the District Court stated in its April 30, 1980 and January 29, 1981 opinions that verbal abuse alone is insufficient to state a cause of action under section 1983, 13 citing, inter alia, Johnson v. Glick for the proposition that liability under that statute depends upon a showing of physical assault and battery. See R.E. 18-19, 29. Although we agree with appellant's contention that the District Court misinterpreted Johnson v. Glick, see Part II.B. infra, we do not believe that its decision rested on that misinterpretation. On the contrary, reading the court's opinions in their entirety, it is clear that the District Court decision is based upon appellant's failure to produce evidence of any conceivable violation. 14 The court granted summary judgment to Detective Carrig because appellant failed to produce any evidence to contradict the affidavit in which Carrig denied that any assault and battery, verbal abuse, or entry without permission occurred during the May 25, 1978 interview. In its April 30, 1980 memorandum opinion, the court expressly stated that appellant's failure to present any evidence to the contrary of Carrig's sworn denials leads this court to grant the motion (for summary judgment) as to the May 25 interview. R.E. 19. Similarly, the District Court's January 29, 1981 opinion makes it clear that the court granted summary judgment to District of Columbia Detective Greene regarding the May 25, 1978 incident because of appellant's total failure to raise any specific factual issues, and the fact that the undisputed facts do not support (appellant's) claim of constitutional violation .... R.E. 29. Thus, we conclude that the District Court's decision to grant summary judgment to the officers was not based on an erroneous construction of the requirements for establishing a constitutional claim under section 1983. 15 We also uphold the District Court's conclusion that appellant failed to raise any issues of fact material to his claims that the police officers violated his Fourth Amendment rights during the May 25, 1978 interview. Under Rule 56(e), Fed.R.Civ.P., when a party has properly pleaded and supported a motion for summary judgment, the opposing party must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial and may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading .... Local Rule 1-9(h) of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia further requires a party opposing summary judgment to file a concise 'statement of genuine issues' setting forth all material facts as to which it is contended there exists a genuine issue necessary to be litigated, and shall include therein references to the parts of the record relied on to support such statement. 14 Appellant clearly did not comply with these rules. 15 In opposing the motion for summary judgment filed by the Arlington County police officers, appellant generally argued that disputed factual issues remained but did not specifically controvert any of the denials in Detective Carrig's affidavit. Nor did he cite any record evidence, relying instead on the complaint itself. See Record, Entry No. 58. In opposing the motion for summary judgment filed by the District of Columbia defendants, appellant did submit a statement of genuine factual issues. In that statement, however, he did not set forth specific, material facts, but simply asserted, without citing evidence in the record, that there was a disputed issue as to the nature and extent of Defendant Greene's involvement in the May 25, 1978, incident and whether such conduct amounted to an assault or battery. Record, Entry No. 93. 16 Given this record, we hold that the District Court did not err in concluding that appellant failed to raise any specific factual issues concerning the May 25, 1978 incident or in granting summary judgment to appellees Carrig and Greene for that reason. 17 16