Opinion ID: 772948
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Plaintiff's Gross Negligence Claim

Text: 29 Under Michigan's governmental immunity statute, police officers are immune from tort liability for injuries caused by them while acting in the course of their employment if, among other conditions, their tortious conduct was not grossly negligent. Mich. Comp. Laws §691.1407(1)-(2)(c). Michigan's governmental immunity statute defines gross negligence as conduct so reckless as to demonstrate a substantial lack of concern for whether an injury results. Mich. Comp. Laws §691.1407(2)(c). 30 Apparently, from the face of Kostrzewa's complaint, he argues that, even if Officers Kocenda and Jenkins did not act intentionally in their allegedly rough treatment of him, the officers' conduct was severe enough to constitute gross negligence. The district court, in dismissing plaintiff's gross negligence claim, relied on its earlier determination in the excessive force context that an officer's decision to handcuff an arrestee, regardless of the size of the arrestee's wrists, is objectively reasonable. Because the decision to handcuff Kostrzewa was objectively reasonable, the district court determined, the plaintiff could not possibly show that the officers' conduct was unreasonable, let alone so reckless as to demonstrate a substantial lack of concern for whether an injury results. Mich. Comp. Laws §691.1407(2)(c). 31 Based on the facts alleged in the complaint, we believe that the district court erred in dismissing plaintiff's gross negligence claim against Officers Kocenda and Jenkins. As noted earlier, we disagree with the district court's holding that an officer's decision to cuff a person when detaining him, regardless of the size of his wrists, is objectively reasonable. The officers in this case cuffed Kostrzewa, despite his large wrists, and then allegedly drove recklessly back to the station, further injuring the plaintiff. Although plaintiff requested medical attention, the officers recuffed him on his trip to the hospital and until he was treated by the doctor, despitethe fact that, by this time, plaintiff's wrists were extremely swollen, red and painful. J.A. at 11 (Compl.). Given these facts, it is not beyond doubt that the plaintiff will be unable to show that the officers' conduct was so reckless as to demonstrate a substantial lack of concern for whether an injury results. Mich. Comp. Laws §691.1407(2)(c). Thus, we REVERSE the district court's decision dismissing plaintiff's gross negligence claim against Officers Kocenda and Jenkins. 32