Opinion ID: 65780
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Claims Under Louisiana Law

Text: Plaintiffs have alleged and briefed the following state-law claims against Tarver and Marcantel: (1) false arrest and imprisonment, (2) excessive force and battery; and (3) malicious prosecution. Plaintiffs have also asserted a vicarious liability claim against the Village of Turkey Creek. These claims are addressed in turn.
Under Louisiana law, [f]alse arrest and imprisonment occur when one arrests and restrains another against his will without a warrant or other statutory authority. Simply stated, it is restraint without color of legal authority. Kyle v. City of New Orleans, 353 So.2d 969, 971 (La.1977). A facially valid arrest warrant immunizes the officers from false arrest and imprisonment claims, thus precluding plaintiffs from maintaining this claim based on the second arrest. See Deville v. Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Dep't, 762 So.2d 641, 643 (La.Ct.App.2000); Rodriguez v. Deen, 759 So.2d 1032, 1035 (La.Ct.App. 2000); Molette v. City of Alexandria, 2005 WL 2445432, at  (W.D.La.2005). As to the first arrest, the officers had statutory authority for the arrest only if they had probable cause. Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure article 213 provides that a law enforcement officer may arrest a person without a warrant when that officer has `reason to believe that the person to be arrested has committed an offense.' State v. Smith, 960 So.2d 369, 375 (La.Ct. App.2007). This requires that an officer have probable cause for the arrest. See State v. Hathaway, 411 So.2d 1074, 1078-79 (La.1982). As discussed above, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiffs, Tarver lacked probable cause for the first arrest. Accordingly, the district court also erred in granting summary judgment to Tarver on plaintiffs' state-law false arrest and imprisonment claim, insofar as it relates to the August 2005 arrest. As to Marcantel's liability for the August 2005 arrest, we believe the decision in Kyle is instructive. Kyle involved false arrest and imprisonment claims asserted against two police officers who, relying on information communicated to them by two security guards, arrested the plaintiffs on suspicion that they had committed an armed robbery. See Kyle, 353 So.2d at 972. The Louisiana Supreme Court held that the officers could not be held liable for false arrest and imprisonment because the statements [of the security guards] gave the officers reasonable cause to believe that [the plaintiffs] had robbed the supermarket. Id. Similarly, in this case, the uncontroverted evidence shows that Marcantel relied on the seemingly reliable statements of officer Tarver as to Deville's speeding and refusal to accept a ticket. There is no evidence establishing that, at the time of the arrest, Marcantel had reason to disbelieve Tarver's description of the criminal activity, or to question his reasons for arresting Deville. Accordingly, under Kyle, the district court did not err in granting summary judgment to Marcantel on plaintiffs' state-law false arrest and imprisonment claim.
Louisiana's excessive force tort mirrors its federal constitutional counterpart. The use of force when necessary to make an arrest is a legitimate police function. But if the officers use unreasonable or excessive force, they and their employer are liable for any injuries which result. Kyle, 353 So.2d at 972. Whether the force used is reasonable depends upon the totality of the facts and circumstances in each case, and factors to consider are: (1) the known character of the arrestee, (2) the risks and dangers faced by the officers, (3) the nature of the offense involved, (4) the chance of the arrestee's escape if the particular means are not employed, (5) the existence of alternative methods of arrest, (6) the physical size, strength, and weaponry of the officers compared to the arrestee, and (7) the exigencies of the moment. Id. at 973. These considerations are sufficiently similar to the Graham factors that our decision on this claim mirrors our decision of plaintiffs' § 1983 excessive force claim, and we thus reverse the district court's grant of summary judgment to defendants on the state-law excessive force/battery claim. See Penn v. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, 843 So.2d 1157, 1159-60 (La.Ct.App.2003). [9]
Plaintiffs have also asserted a state-law claim against Marcantel alleging that he engaged in malicious prosecution in connection with the second arrest and subsequent charges. Unlike federal law, Louisiana recognizes a cause of action for malicious prosecution. See Jones v. Soileau, 448 So.2d 1268, 1271 (La.1984). The elements of the cause of action are: (1) the commencement or continuation of an original criminal or civil proceeding; (2) its legal causation by the present defendant in the original proceeding; (3) its bona fide termination in favor of the present plaintiff; (4) the absence of probable cause for such proceeding; (5) the presence of malice therein; and (6) damage conforming to legal standards resulting to plaintiff. Id. The district court's decision to grant summary judgment on this claim was proper for the following reasons. Plaintiffs must prove that the proceeding ended in a bona fide termination in Deville's favor. A procedural dismissal of the charges, even if the dismissal is with prejudice, does not satisfy that element of the cause of action. See Savoie v. Rubin, 820 So.2d 486 (La.2002). Rather, the element requires that the underlying litigation . . . be brought to a conclusion on the merits. Id. at 488. It is undisputed that the parish district attorney exercised his power to nolle prosse the charges, which is a procedural dismissal of the charges without prejudice  not a bona fide termination in the defendant's favor. [10]
Plaintiffs claim the Village of Turkey Creek is vicariously liable for the officers' tortious conduct. Municipalities do not enjoy special protection from vicarious liability under Louisiana law and are subject to respondeat superior like every other employer. See Brasseaux v. Town of Mamou, 752 So.2d 815 (La.2000). Although an employment relationship may in fact exist, the employer will not be liable for the substandard conduct of the employee unless the latter can be fairly said to be within the course and scope of employment with the former. Id. at 820. The district court did not reach the question of whether the Village of Turkey Creek is vicariously liable, concluding that it was entitled to summary judgment because plaintiffs failed to sustain their state-law claims against the individual defendants. Because this conclusion was in error, we reverse. On remand, should the district court reach the issue of the Village of Turkey Creek's vicarious liability, it should then consider in the first instance whether Marcantel and Tarver were acting within the scope of their employment such that the Village can be held liable for plaintiffs' viable state-law claims against the individual defendants.