Opinion ID: 200002
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Rejected Instructions Concerning Crosby

Text: 65 Wilson objected to the judge's refusal to instruct on two alternate theories of liability implicating Crosby, both of which involved Carchedi: (1) that Crosby could be found liable for having failed to protect Wilson from Carchedi during the second spraying incident; or (2) that Crosby could be found liable as a joint tortfeasor with Carchedi. 66 [A] trial court's refusal to give a particular instruction constitutes reversible error only if the requested instruction was (1) correct as a matter of substantive law, (2) not substantially incorporated into the charge as rendered, and (3) integral to an important point in the case. Elliott v. S.D. Warren Co., 134 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 1998) (quoting United States v. DeStefano, 59 F.3d 1, 2 (1st Cir.1995)). A [litigant] is not entitled to any specific words of instruction, but only to instructions that properly convey the applicable law of the case. Kinan v. City of Brockton, 876 F.2d 1029, 1037 (1st Cir.1989) (quoting Kibbe v. City of Springfield, 777 F.2d 801, 810 (1st Cir.1985)). 67 It is settled in this Circuit that an officer may be liable for failing to intervene in appropriate circumstances to protect a detainee from the excessive use of force by a fellow officer. Gaudreault, 923 F.2d at 207 n. 3. However, in Gaudreault, this Court found no liability where an attack was over in a matter of seconds, because the defendant officers did not have a realistic opportunity to intercede. Davis v. Rennie, 264 F.3d 86, 98 n. 10 (1st Cir.2001) (discussing Gaudreault ). The struggle in the cellblock vestibule lasted only a few seconds. Carchedi was not initially involved as a combatant. She appeared on the scene while Crosby and Tagliaferri were thrashing about in the effort to subdue Wilson. In these circumstances, even if the jury were to credit Wilson's testimony that Carchedi had ordered Crosby to hold up Wilson's head (the better to spray him), it could not reasonably find that Crosby had an opportunity to reflect on the wisdom of obeying Carchedi's command. 29 68 The request for a joint tortfeasor instruction fails for a similar reason, although as a preliminary matter, we do not agree with appellees' argument that `joint tortfeasor' liability does not appear to exist under [section] 1983. As we pointed out in Martinez v. Colon, 54 F.3d 980, 985 n. 4 (1st Cir.1995): 69 A constitutional duty to intervene may... arise if onlooker officers are instrumental in assisting the actual attacker to place the victim in a vulnerable position.... In such a scenario, the onlooker officers and the aggressor officer are essentially joint tortfeasors and, therefore, may incur shared constitutional responsibility. See generally Monroe v. Pape, 365 U.S. 167, 187, 81 S.Ct. 473, 5 L.Ed.2d 492 (1961) (advising courts to read section 1983 against the backdrop of historical tort liability). 70 Here, however, as in Martinez, there is no evidence to support the existence of a joint enterprise between Crosby and Carchedi. Carchedi, as noted, intervened only after the fray had begun. While there is no requirement that a plaintiff seeking to establish joint venture liability prove the existence of an anticipatory compact, aiding and abetting liability does require proof that a defendant associated himself with the venture, participated in it as something he wished to bring about, and sought by his actions to make it succeed. United States v. Garcia-Rosa, 876 F.2d 209, 217 (1st Cir.1989). Mere presence, which is the most that can be said about Crosby, does not establish a joint venture. United States v. Hensel, 699 F.2d 18, 36 (1st Cir. 1983). 71 The issue for the jury was whether Crosby had used excessive force against Wilson at any time during his detention. The court properly instructed the jury in this regard: 72 Mr. Wilson alleges that Officer Crosby used excessive force against him by spraying him with pepper spray, by pushing him, by forcing him to the floor or into the cell and by kicking or kneeing him.... You have viewed the videotape and have listened to the evidence, and it is for you to determine the circumstances of any physical contact between Officer Crosby and Mr. Wilson.... (emphasis added). 73 Consistent with this instruction the court put two special questions regarding Crosby to the jury. The first asked whether Crosby's use of pepper spray constituted an excessive use of force; the second asked whether Crosby had used excessive force against Wilson  at any other time.  (Emphasis added). We see no error.