Opinion ID: 6333813
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Intercede and Integral

Text: Participation Officers can be held liable for failing to intercede in situations where excessive force is claimed to be employed by other officers only if “they had an opportunity to intercede.” Cunningham v. Gates, 229 F.3d 1271, 1289–90 (9th Cir. 2000) (finding a failure to intervene claim failed because there was no realistic opportunity for officers to prevent a rapidly unfolding shooting). Furthermore, officers can be held liable for excessive force on a theory of integral participation only if they participate “in some meaningful way” in the specific actions that constituted the violation. Boyd v. Benton County, 374 F.3d 773, 780 (9th Cir. 2004). Assuming arguendo that Officer Michael Rodriguez beat Hughes and allowed the dog to bite Hughes after he was handcuffed, the sole alleged acts which could rise to the threshold of an Eighth Amendment violation in this case, the video footage demonstrates that those acts took place during the rapidly unfolding chaos of the physical struggle to apprehend Hughes. Officer Molthen, who was on the other side of the home at the time, and Agents Chris Rodriguez and Casillas, who are not canine handlers, cannot be held liable for fleeting acts which they did not commit, came without warning, and could not have prevented. While the evidence against Officer Michael Rodriguez is sufficient to survive summary judgment as to the claim of his posthandcuffed punching and dog-biting, the excessive force claims against Officer Molthen, Agent Chris Rodriguez, and Agent Casillas, based on theories of failure to intervene and failure to intercede, fail as a matter of law. HUGHES V. RODRIGUEZ 21