Opinion ID: 152878
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Reasonableness of the Force Used by Price

Text: Having rejected Price's arguments that the district court improperly considered the extent of McAllister's injuries and his diabetic condition, we turn to the question of whether McAllister has come forward with enough evidence to create an issue of fact on whether Price's use of force was reasonable. McAllister argues that all three factors of the Graham test for unreasonable force weigh in his favor. He notes that he was involved in a traffic offense, rather than a serious crime. He argues that even if Price's erroneous belief that he was intoxicated was reasonable, he would only have reason to believe that McAllister had committed a nonviolent crime resulting in no physical injuries. Next, McAllister argues that he did not pose an immediate threat to Price or any other individual. McAllister has introduced evidence to suggest that he was only semiconscious and physically unable to even turn off the ignition of his car at the time of his encounter with Price. McAllister analogizes Price's argument that he might have attempted to drive off, causing another accident, to the argument that a fleeing felon might have been carrying a concealed weapon when there was no particular reason to believe the subject was armed. See Ellis v. Wynalda, 999 F.2d 243, 247 (7th Cir.1993) (rejecting qualified immunity for officer who shot fleeing suspect in the back when there was no evidence that the suspect was armed). Finally, McAllister argues that he was unable to flee or resist Price because of his diabetic episode. In support of this claim, he points to witness testimony that he was twitching or convulsing and McAllister's own testimony that he attempted to turn off the ignition but could not. McAllister also relies on the degree of force used against him to establish a constitutional violation. It is undisputed that McAllister suffered a broken hip, a bruised lung, and other bruises, scrapes, and cuts. McAllister underwent a surgical procedure to drain fluid from his injured lung, remained in the hospital for twenty-one days, and underwent several weeks of rehabilitation for his hip injury. As discussed in more detail in Section II.A, McAllister has introduced evidence sufficient for a jury to infer that his injuries were caused by Price's use of force. Viewed in the light most favorable to McAllister, the evidence shows that Price ignored obvious signs of McAllister's medical condition, pulled him out of the car, and took him to the ground with such force that McAllister's hip was broken and his lung bruised from the force of Price's knee in his back, not because such force was necessary but because Price was angry with McAllister. Even if Price was justified in using some force to remove McAllister from the vehicle, using the force involved here against a non-resisting suspect could have been unreasonable given the circumstances. Of course, this is not the only possible interpretation of the evidence, [1] but if believed it is sufficient for a jury to conclude that McAllister's use of force was excessive.