Opinion ID: 793983
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Claims of Wrongful Arrest and Brady Violations Against Tarter

Text: 87 Tarter appeals, in part, the district court's denial of qualified immunity with reference to Plaintiff's allegations of wrongful arrest and Brady violations. 88 With respect to the wrongful arrest, Tarter's sole issue with the district court goes to the district court's determination that a reasonable jury might conclude that Tarter lacked probable cause to arrest Plaintiff following Ms. S's identification. The district court held that the jury might find that Tarter had several reasons for believing Ms. S was mistaken [in her identification] and that he therefore lacked probable cause to arrest Plaintiff. (J.A. at 205.) 6 In a § 1983 action, the existence of probable cause is a question of fact. See United States v. Gaudin, 515 U.S. 506, 521, 115 S.Ct. 2310, 132 L.Ed.2d 444 (1995). Tarter does not dispute the legal theory of Plaintiff's claim — that without probable cause, the arrest would have violated Plaintiff's clearly established constitutional rights. Because Tarter's argument goes to whether or not the pretrial record sets forth a `genuine' issue of fact for trial this Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain Tarter's appeal of the district court's denial of qualified immunity on Plaintiff's wrongful arrest claim. Johnson, 515 U.S. at 313, 115 S.Ct. 2151. 89 The district court also denied Tarter qualified immunity on Plaintiff's allegation that Tarter withheld exculpatory evidence — the existence of the fourth rape — in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). Again, Tarter's sole argument with the district court's denial of qualified immunity goes to whether there exists a genuine issue of fact for trial. Tarter argues that Plaintiff failed to establish that Tarter was aware of the fourth rape or that the fourth rape was, in fact, exculpatory. (Defs. Final Brief 50.) 90 Both of these arguments take issue with the district court's determination that there exists a genuine issue of fact for trial. Exculpatory evidence is evidence which is material to either guilt or punishment, Brady, 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, and materiality under Brady is a mixed question of law and fact for the jury, see United States v. Phillip, 948 F.2d 241, 250 (6th Cir.1991). The district court held that there exists a genuine issue of fact with respect to the materiality of the fourth rape. Moreover, whether Tarter was aware of the rape is an underlying issue of fact inherent in the district court's decision. 7 Accordingly, this Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain Tarter's appeal from the district court's denial of qualified immunity for Plaintiff's claim of Brady violations. Johnson, 515 U.S. at 313, 115 S.Ct. 2151. 91