Opinion ID: 700522
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Findings of Fact on the Assault Claim

Text: 32 Roadway also alleges that the district court erred in finding that Lightning reasonably apprehended that he would be struck by Mr. Keahon. This court will hold a finding of fact clearly erroneous if the record lacks substantial evidence to support it. Thelma C. Raley, Inc. v. Kleppe, 867 F.2d 1326, 1328 (11th Cir.1989). 33 The record possesses substantial evidence to support the district court's finding on this issue. Lightning testified that Keahon jumped up and tried to hit me. The district court found Lightning credible and was not troubled by Lightning's failure to mention Keahon's attempt to hit him when reporting the confrontation to a colleague. Keahon did not testify at trial, and the district court (reasonably, we believe) drew a negative inference from his failure to do so. Two people present in the room during the incident testified that Keahon did not attempt to strike Lightning. The district court, however, found one of those men, Roy Sweatman, wholly uncredible. Warren Wilhoite, a witness not present in the room during the incident, testified that no one threw a punch during the encounter. The district court found that it was difficult ... to believe that [Wilhoite] could have observed everything. Wilhoite also testified that Scott Heard restrained Keahon during the incident, a fact that tends to support Lightning's version of events. In sum, the district court did not clearly err in finding that Keahon assaulted Lightning. 34