Opinion ID: 423719
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: finding the federal right

Text: 5 This case is basically a suit for false arrest and malicious prosecution. These two causes of action are, of course, state tort claims. It is fundamental to our federal jurisprudence that state tort claims are not actionable under federal law; a plaintiff under section 1983 must show deprivation of a federal right. See, e.g., Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 149, 99 S.Ct. 2689, 2697, 61 L.Ed.2d 433 (1979). Nesmith offers two candidates for a federal right. First, he claims the malicious issuance of the summons without probable cause constitutes a deprivation of liberty without due process under the fourteenth amendment. Second, he claims those same facts also constitute an unreasonable seizure under the fourth and fourteenth amendments. 6 It is also fundamental to our jurisprudence that each alleged constitutional deprivation be considered on its own facts. This case presents a factual circumstance that is, to our knowledge, unique. One ground supporting the summons issued Nesmith, that concerning the demolition work, proved to be valid. 1 Thus, Nesmith legitimately and properly was under some compulsion to appear before the corporation court to defend the valid charge. 7 Given the fact that Nesmith was under a legitimate compulsion to appear before the corporation court, we find no deprivation of a constitutional right in an additional compulsion to make the same appearance. Nesmith's fourteenth amendment claim asserts a deprivation of liberty, but, put simply, no deprivation resulted from the presumedly groundless charge. Nesmith's fourth amendment claim asserts an unreasonable seizure. A fourth amendment seizure is also predicated on a diminution of liberty. See, e.g., United States v. Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. 873, 878, 95 S.Ct. 2574, 2578, 45 L.Ed.2d 607 (1975). Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 16, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 1977, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968). Again, given the compulsion of the valid charge, the invalid charge just did not reduce Nesmith's liberty. An additional lock on the door of a jail cell does not further diminish the liberty of the occupants, nor does an additional reason to appear before the La Marque Corporation Court diminish the liberty of someone already under a duty to make such an appearance.