Opinion ID: 490121
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Instructions to Jury

Text: 56 Finally, the above dispositions of Robison's claims have several implications for the instructions to be given to the jury in connection with its consideration of the Sec. 1983 claim for excessive use of force and the pendent claim of battery. Without purporting to be exhaustive, we make the following observations as to distinctions that should be drawn in order to provide a proper framework for the jury's deliberations. 57 First, in light of our ruling that Harrison's taking of the children is protected by qualified immunity, the charge to the jury should include the instruction that he was privileged to take the children into custody and was privileged to use such force against Robison as was objectively reasonable to gain and maintain that custody. Cf. Restatement (Second) of Torts Sec. 134(a) (1965) (common law makes privileged the use of force that the actor reasonably believes is necessary to maintain custody). 58 Second, the jury should be advised that it may have to consider separately the questions of what events occurred and how much force was used. If the jury accepts the testimony, in accordance with Harrison's version of the events, that Harrison did no more than pin Robison against the car, it must return a verdict for Harrison, for that act alone could not reasonably be found, in the circumstances, to constitute excessive force. Alternatively, if the jury finds that Harrison performed the acts attributed to him by Robison, it must still draw its own conclusions as to whether the amount of force used was excessive in the circumstances. For example, it may conclude that Robison initiated the use of force and that the acts attributed to Harrison constituted merely a reasonable response; or it might credit the testimony that Robison seemed to reach for Harrison's gun, an act that would require a conclusion that the acts attributed to Harrison were not excessive. In either of these examples, the jury would be required to return a verdict in favor of Harrison. 59 Third, the jury should be advised as to any difference between the excessiveness requirements of the Sec. 1983 claim and those of the state-law battery claim, for, in general, the constitutional protection is nowhere nearly so extensive as that afforded by the common law tort action for battery.... Johnson v. Glick, 481 F.2d at 1033. Thus, though it may be that under state law the use of any force in excess of the amount needed to accomplish the privileged taking of the children could expose Harrison to liability for battery, see Chase v. Watson, 56 A. at 11; but cf. Restatement (Second) of Torts Sec. 132 comment a (1965) (no liability for force used in making arrest unless force is clearly excessive), the standard for liability under Sec. 1983 is generally that the amount of force must have been such as to 'offend hardened sensibilities'  or have constituted force that was  'brutal' and 'offensive to human dignity,'  Johnson v. Glick, 481 F.2d at 1033 n. 6 (quoting Rochin v. California, 342 U.S. at 172, 174, 72 S.Ct. at 209, 210). 60 Finally, the instructions should make clear that, if the jury finds Harrison liable for excessive use of force, any damage award must be strictly limited to the injury caused by the excessive component of the force used. Damages may not properly be awarded either for the nonexcessive component of the force used or for the taking of the Robison children into custody. Cf. NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co., 458 U.S. 886, 918, 921-23, 102 S.Ct. 3409, 3428, 3430-31, 73 L.Ed.2d 1215 (1982) (damages cannot be awarded for part of course of conduct that is protected activity). Given the number and variety of distinctions that the jury will likely be required to draw, both as to liability issues and as to damages issues, the district court might well consider submitting written interrogatories to the jury pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 49 in order to ensure that each of the pertinent factors is independently considered and decided.