Opinion ID: 795902
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Obtaining a False Statement from a Jailhouse Informant

Text: 41 The Amended Complaint also alleges that the ADAs violated Yarris's constitutional rights when they obtain[ed] a false statement from a jailhouse informant. (Am.Compl.¶ 93.) According to the Amended Complaint, after Yarris was charged with murder, rape, kidnaping, and robbery, he was returned to his prison cell, which was located next to a cell occupied by Charles Catalino, who had been convicted of burglarizing ADA Ryan's home and was awaiting sentencing. (Am. Compl.¶ 42.) Yarris alleges that the following ensued: 42 43. Charles Catalino subsequently falsely reported, and, perjuring himself, testified at trial, that Yarris expressed concern that his blood would be discovered at the scene of the murder and that he had committed the rape and murder, a statement now known to be absolutely false in light of DNA evidence conclusively showing that Yarris was not the rapist or murderer. 43 44. Yarris believes and therefore avers that Catalino received a reduced sentence on the burglary charge to run concurrent with an existing sentence, was allowed conjugal visits with his spouse, and was released later in 1982. 44 (Am.Compl.¶¶ 43-44.) Yarris thus claims that the ADAs used a `stick and carrot' treatment to elicit [Catalino's] false testimony. (Am.Compl.¶ 54.) 45 Based on these allegations, the ADAs are entitled to absolute immunity from Yarris's claim that they obtained a false statement from a jailhouse informant. As a general matter, we note that a prosecutor is absolutely immune from liability for using false testimony in connection with [a] prosecution. Kulwicki, 969 F.2d at 1465; see also Imbler, 424 U.S. at 430, 96 S.Ct. 984. With respect to the solicitation of false statements alleged here, the ADAs are entitled to absolute immunity to the extent that their conduct occurred while they were acting as advocates rather than investigators. As the Amended Complaint makes clear, Yarris had already been charged with the Craig crimes before Catalino made any statements about what Yarris told him while they were held in adjacent prison cells. (Am.Compl.¶¶ 41-43.) Thus, although the Amended Complaint does not describe in detail when or how the ADAs obtain[ed] a false statement from a jailhouse informant (Am. Compl.¶ 93), the allegations relating to Catalino's false statements indicate that the ADAs' involvement with Catalino's statements occurred after Yarris's prosecution for those crimes had begun. See Rose v. Bartle, 871 F.2d 331, 344-45 (3d Cir.1989) (granting absolute immunity where complaint alleged that prosecutors solicited perjured testimony for use in grand jury proceedings); Brawer v. Horowitz, 535 F.2d 830, 832-34 (3d Cir.1976) (granting absolute immunity where complaint alleged that federal prosecutor and witness conspired to use perjured testimony to secure plaintiffs' convictions). Accordingly, the ADAs are entitled to absolute immunity from this claim. 46