Opinion ID: 356040
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Propriety of a New Trial.

Text: 48 In arguing that the trial judge erred in denying her motion for a new trial, appellant Leslie Landrum reiterates her excessive force argument, concluding that the jury verdict is contrary to the evidence and instructions. We have already ruled that the policemen used excessive force as a matter of law. We still need to analyze appellant's argument, however, in light of the principal applicable instructions. Instruction No. 11 read as follows: 49 In connection with plaintiff's first and second causes of action, defendants contend that their actions did not deprive the plaintiff's decedent of his federal constitutional rights in that the defendants' actions were lawfully performed within the scope of their authority as police officers. In that regard the defendants claim: 50 1) That at the time of the incident in question here, they believed in good faith that they had probable cause to attempt to arrest plaintiff's decedent for a violation of Nebraska law; and 51 2) That the force used in attempting to make this arrest was reasonably necessary under the circumstances. 52 If the defendants reasonably believed that they were acting by authority of a valid state law in attempting to arrest plaintiff's decedent and that they had probable cause as that term is explained to you in these instructions, to attempt to arrest the plaintiff's decedent, and if the defendants acted in good faith on the basis of these beliefs, then the defendants' reasonable belief and good faith would lawfully authorize the defendants to attempt to arrest plaintiff's decedent. 53 If, in addition, the force utilized by defendants in attempting to effectuate this arrest were reasonably necessary, as explained elsewhere in these instructions, and were not excessive, then you must find for the defendants in connection with plaintiff's first and second causes of action. 54 If on the other hand you find by a preponderance of the evidence that defendants did not have probable cause to attempt to arrest plaintiff's decedent or if you find that defendants did have probable cause to arrest plaintiff's decedent but used excessive and unreasonable force in attempting to make that arrest, then you may find for plaintiff on the first and second causes of action. Instruction No. 14 read as follows: 55 In making an arrest, a police officer may use whatever force is reasonably necessary. Reasonable force is generally that amount of force which an ordinary, prudent and intelligent person with the knowledge and in the situation of the police officer would have deemed necessary under the circumstances. 56 In determining whether or not the defendants used only such force as was reasonably necessary in attempting to arrest Roy Lee Landrum, you must bear in mind that the statutes of the State of Nebraska in full force and effect at the time of the incident in question provided in part that the use of deadly force in making an arrest is not justifiable unless: 57 1) The arrest is for a felony; 58 2) The person making the arrest is authorized to act as a police officer. 59 3) The person believes that the force used creates no substantial risk of injury to innocent bystanders; and 60 4) The person believes that the crime for which the arrest is made involved conduct including the use or threatened use of deadly force or that there exists a substantial risk that the person to be arrested will cause death or serious bodily harm if his apprehension is delayed. 61 Deadly force is defined as force which a person uses with the purpose of causing death or serious bodily harm or force which the person knows to create a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm. Purposely firing a firearm in the direction of another person or at a vehicle in which another person is believed to be constitutes deadly force. 62 Instruction number 11 appears to apply the good faith test to the issue of probable cause to arrest, but as we have noted, the appellant does not contest that the police officers were justified in attempting to arrest the decedent, Roy Lee Landrum. The court, however, failed to instruct the jury that they must consider the good faith defense with regard to the police officers' use of unreasonable force. 19 The jury was simply informed in instruction 14 that (r)easonable force is generally that amount of force which an ordinary, prudent and intelligent person with the knowledge and in the situation of the police officer would have deemed necessary under the circumstances. 20 63 Thus, the trial court did not submit to the jury any good faith defense relating to the use of a firearm in conformity with the police manual. In essence, the instructions called upon the jury to rule whether the use of deadly force by the police officers was or was not reasonable. By dismissing the action, the jury determined that police officers Moats and Rockwell exercised reasonable force in shooting at the fleeing Roy Lee Landrum. But, as we have held in part III of the opinion, such deadly force was excessive under the circumstances as a matter of law. On the theory upon which the case was submitted to the jury, the jury verdict stands unsupported by the evidence and is contrary to the instructions. 64 Accordingly, appellant is entitled to a new trial. On retrial appellees have the right to a proper instruction on their good faith defense, and they bear the burden of proof on this issue. 21 65 Reversed and remanded for a new trial.