Opinion ID: 170450
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Berney Lacked Authority to Use Force

Text: Berney was not authorized to use force, whether reasonably or not. Denver does not represent to licensees that its inspectors can lawfully use force against non-compliant business owners. To the contrary, Department policies specifically instruct business license inspectors not to become confrontational when business owners show resistance. See Aplt.App. at 289 (Many times the person being given the [N]otice [to License] will refuse to sign. Under those circumstances, do not become confrontational. Just write that there was a refusal to sign and leave the notice at the business.); id. at 225 (noting Berney's deposition testimony that he was aware that it was unlawful to physically attack a business owner in [his] position as an inspector for the [DEL]). Berney, in other words, did not have discretion to use force.