Opinion ID: 772255
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Count II: Fourth Amendment--Excessive Force

Text: 14 The Fourth Amendment protects citizens against the use of excessive force during an arrest. See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 388 (1989). A seizure occurs if a government actor 'by means of physical force or show of authority, . . . in some way restrain[s] the liberty of a citizen.' Id. at 395 n.10 (quoting Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 19 n.16 (1968)). Whether excessive force was used is evaluated under the objective reasonableness standard, under which courts assess whether the actor's actions were objectively reasonable 'in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them, without regard to their underlying intent or motivation.' Id. at 397. We agree that the officers did not use excessive force in arresting Chapman. As explained, Chapman told the officers that the doctor said she could only take stairs one at a time, and the officers did not contravene this order. Knowing just this information, it was reasonable for the officers to believe that assisting Chapman into the van would not violate the doctor's order. In light of the facts and circumstances, the officers were not objectively unreasonable when they required Chapman to step into the van and assisted her in doing so. 15