Opinion ID: 692285
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jury Instruction on the Use of Excessive Force

Text: 17 We must next decide whether the district court erred in instructing the jury on the law governing the proper use of force against prisoners. We review a district court's rulings on points for the jury charge for abuse of discretion. Waldorf v. Shuta, 896 F.2d 723, 740 (3d Cir.1990) (citation omitted). At trial, counsel for Douglas and counsel for appellants presented the jury with two mutually exclusive and inconsistent theories concerning the beatings which allegedly occurred. Douglas argued before the jury that he was beaten without provocation by prison guards. Appellants defended on the theory that the alleged beatings never occurred and, thus, they could not have possibly participated in such conduct. Nevertheless, appellants also requested the district court to charge the jury on the proper and reasonable use of force in a prison setting. 12 18 The district court rejected the proposed jury instruction offered by appellants, and in its place used its own charge regarding the use of excessive force in a prison context. 13 Appellants argue that the charge given by the district court is inadequate because it fails to convey the notion that force is not constitutionally 'excessive' just because it turns out to have been unnecessary in hindsight. Appellants' Brief at 16 (emphasis in original). 19 Contrary to the position espoused by appellants, the jury instruction adequately insulated appellants from liability if the jury concluded that they used excessive force, even if it is later determined to have been unnecessary. If force was applied in a good faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, App. at 272 (emphasis supplied), the jury presumably would conclude that although the use of force was excessive, it was still justified given the circumstances. Further, the jury was instructed that it could believe a version of the events other than that presented by Douglas or appellants--a version whereby appellants used force against Douglas, but it was not excessive, or that it was excessive, but nonetheless appeared justified under the circumstances. App. at 268. A jury verdict that force was justifiably used against Douglas and such force as was used was reasonable under the circumstances was not in accord with the contentions of any of the parties to this litigation, but the jury could reasonably come to such a conclusion by accepting some of the evidence offered by each party. 20 A party is entitled to a jury instruction that accurately and fairly sets forth the current status of the law. See McPhee v. Reichel, 461 F.2d 947, 950 (3d Cir.1972) (It is the responsibility of the trial judge to provide the jury with a clear and accurate statement of the law....); Resolution Trust Corp. v. Eason, 17 F.3d 1126, 1132 (8th Cir.1994) (as long as entire charge fairly and adequately contains law applicable to case, judgment will not be disturbed on appeal); Harrison v. Otis Elevator Co., 935 F.2d 714, 717 (5th Cir.1991) (trial court has broad discretion to compose jury instructions, as long as they are fundamentally accurate and not misleading). No litigant has a right to a jury instruction of its choice, or precisely in the manner and words of its own preference. See Heller Int'l Corp. v. Sharp, 974 F.2d 850, 860 (7th Cir.1992) (district court has substantial discretion with respect to specific wording of jury instructions and need not give proposed instruction if essential points are covered by those that are given); Anderson v. Branen, 17 F.3d 552, 559-60 (2d Cir.1994) (litigant is entitled to instruction that correctly reflects applicable law and sufficiently covers essential issues, but party is not entitled to prescribe exact language of that charge). We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in rejecting the proposed jury instruction offered by appellants. The charge of the district court was proper and adequate under the facts of this case.