Opinion ID: 551133
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Defendant Nagy's Motion for Summary Judgment.

Text: 53 The amended complaint's only allegations pertaining to defendant Nagy are set forth in Count I. This count alleges that Nagy participated in a conspiracy to falsely prepare an affidavit alleging unlawful activity by Thomas Stockheimer. Plaintiffs allege that this affidavit served as a basis for the issuance of a search warrant by Judge Brennan. Based on these factual allegations, plaintiffs contend that defendant Nagy committed criminal trespass and illegally confiscated property. Additionally, the plaintiffs allege that in executing this search warrant Nagy was involved in an assault and battery upon plaintiff Kathryn Stockheimer. Plaintiffs seek to recover monetary damages pursuant to these Count I allegations. 54 Nagy moves the Court for summary judgment arguing that he is absolutely immune form civil damages based on the doctrine of quasi-judicial immunity or, in the alternative, that the doctrine of qualified immunity cloaks him from civil liability since he acted in good faith and with a reasonable belief in the validity of the search warrant. 55 To prevail on a motion for summary judgment, the moving party must show the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, viewing all factual inferences in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Adickes v. S.H. Kress and Company, 398 U.S. 144 (1970). 56 Here, plaintiffs have not submitted any briefs or affidavits in response to Nagy's motion for summary judgment. Rule 56(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require[s] a party opposing a motion for summary judgment, supported by affidavits, to produce enough evidentiary matter to establish a genuine issue for trial for the 'very mission of the summary judgment procedure is to pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a genuine need for trial.'  Markwell v. General Tire And Rubber Company, 367 F.2d 748, 750 (7th Cir.1966) quoting 6 Moore's Federal Practice (2d ed.) p 56.01(14). Since plaintiffs have not responded to defendant Nagy's summary judgment motion, this motion must be resolved on the basis of the pleadings and defendant Nagy's evidentiary submissions filed in support of his motion. See Young v. South Side Packing Company, 369 F.Supp. 59, 60 (E.D.Wis.1973). 57 In executing the search warrant, defendant Nagy, then a Clark County deputy sheriff, was acting pursuant to a Wisconsin circuit court order. Inasmuch as plaintiffs are alleging that defendant Nagy, in his individual capacity, trespassed and illegally confiscated property while obeying a court order, defendant Nagy is absolutely immune from liability on civil damages. Nonjudicial officials whose official duties have an integral relationship with the judicial process are entitled to absolute immunity for their quasi-judicial conduct. Henry v. Farmer City State Bank, 808 F.2d 1228, 1238 (7th Cir.1986) (holding that the enforcement of a court-ordered judgment is intimately related with the judicial process, and a person obeying that court order has quasi-judicial or absolute immunity for his acts as directed by the court). 58 Regarding that aspect of plaintiffs' allegations pertaining to Nagy's participation in a conspiracy to prepare a false affidavit, the Court finds that Nagy is immune from civil liability for these alleged acts. In Malley v. Briggs, --- U.S. ----, 106 S.Ct. 1092, 1097 (1986), the United States Supreme Court recently announced that a law enforcement officer is entitled to qualified immunity from liability for damages under Sec. 1983 for his conduct in applying for an arrest warrant by presenting a complaint and an affidavit. The Supreme Court stated that in determining whether a law enforcement officer is afforded the protection of qualified immunity in the warrant application setting, the test is whether a reasonably well-trained officer would have applied for the warrant, with the knowledge that probable cause is required. Malley, 106 S.Ct. at 1098. 59 Wis.Stat. Sec. 968.12(1) requires a showing of probable cause before a search warrant may issue. Probable cause is shown where there are sufficient facts to excite an honest belief in a reasonable mind that objects sought are linked with the commission of a crime, and that the objects sought will be found in the place to be searched. State v. Edwards, 98 Wis.2d 367, 373, 297 N.W.2d 12 (1980). This probable cause showing may be based upon an affidavit whose contents derive from the affiant's information and belief. Wis.Stat. Sec. 968.12(2). 60 Nagy's affidavit, submitted in conjunction with the search warrant application, identifies two people who observed the commission of a crime and noted the documents used in that crime. The court transcript of the proceedings conducted pursuant to the search warrant application included the testimony of one of these eye witnesses and of Nagy himself. Considering this evidence of probable cause, and recognizing that plaintiffs have not responded to the summary judgment motion, the Court finds that Nagy had a reasonable basis for applying for the subject search warrant. Accordingly, the Court finds that defendant Nagy is immune from liability for damages in this action for his conduct in applying for the search warrant.