Opinion ID: 70929
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: False Imprisonment of Ortega

Text: 14 Because we have already determined that Christian lacked probable cause to arrest Ortega, we now hold that Ortega's detention pursuant to that arrest constituted false imprisonment under section 1983. 15 A detention on the basis of a false arrest presents a viable section 1983 action. Reeves v. City of Jackson, 608 F.2d 644 (5th Cir.1979) (section 1983 claims for false arrest and false imprisonment presented where, without probable cause, officers arrested and detained stroke victim in belief he was intoxicated); see also Cannon, 1 F.3d at 1562 (a detention on the basis of misidentification may present a viable section 1983 claim). A false imprisonment claim under section 1983 is based on the protection of the Fourteenth Amendment against deprivations of liberty without due process of law. Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 142, 99 S.Ct. 2689, 2693-94, 61 L.Ed.2d 433 (1979). Where a police officer lacks probable cause to make an arrest, the arrestee has a claim under section 1983 for false imprisonment based on a detention pursuant to that arrest. Groman v. Township of Manalapan, 47 F.3d 628, 636 (3d Cir.1995). This false imprisonment claim under section 1983 is grounded in the Fourth Amendment's guarantee against unreasonable seizures. Groman, 47 F.3d at 636; see also Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S. 103, 125, 95 S.Ct. 854, 868-69, 43 L.Ed.2d 54 (1975) (The Fourth Amendment requires a timely judicial determination of probable cause as a prerequisite to detention of a prisoner arrested upon information filed by the state prosecutor). Additionally, we note that, under certain circumstances, a detention following a valid arrest may present a viable section 1983 claim where the detainee protests the detention on the basis of misidentification. Cannon, 1 F.3d at 1562 (citing Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 145, 99 S.Ct. 2689, 2694-95, 61 L.Ed.2d 433 (1979)). 16 Under section 1983, Ortega must meet the elements of common law false imprisonment and establish that the imprisonment resulted in a violation of due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. 2 Cannon, 1 F.3d at 1562-63 (citing Douthit v. Jones, 619 F.2d 527 (5th Cir.1980). The complaint contains facts that satisfy the section 1983 standard for false imprisonment. The complaint demonstrates that as a result of the unlawful arrest, appellees detained Ortega for five months without conducting a line-up or affording other opportunities for him to prove his innocence. Ortega had a constitutional right to be free from detention where the circumstances and facts under Christian's consideration demonstrated that Christian clearly lacked probable cause to make an arrest. Cannon, 1 F.3d at 1563. In light of the sparse information Christian had when he made the arrest, Christian knew or should have known that the imprisonment of Ortega may have constituted an unlawful imprisonment under section 1983 in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. Cannon, 1 F.3d at 1563. 17 From the facts and law in this case, we hold that Ortega has pleaded a valid false imprisonment claim under § 1983 against Christian. As to the claim against Taylor and the MDPD, we cannot determine from the facts as set forth in the complaint whether those parties are subject to section 1983 liability for Ortega's detention. Although Ortega simply makes boilerplate allegations about those parties' involvement, we remain uncertain about all of the circumstances surrounding Ortega's five month detention. Sivard v. Pulaski County, 959 F.2d 662, 668-669 (7th Cir.1992). We believe that Ortega's vague allegations sufficiently state a cause of action requiring further proceedings to fully develop the record. Sivard, 959 F.2d at 668. Accordingly, we hold that Taylor and the MDPD are not entitled to judgment as a matter of law at the pleadings stage on the false imprisonment claim under section 1983. Swint, 51 F.3d at 999-1000; Swerdloff, 584 F.2d at 60; Sivard, 959 F.2d at 668-69 (reversing summary judgment because of the inexplicable nature of [plaintiff's] detention). 18