Document: 543 U.S. 194 BROSSEAUv.HAUGEN No. 03-1261. Supreme Court of United States. Decided December 13, 2004. Respondent Haugen filed suit pursuant to 42 U. S. C. § 1983, alleging that petitioner Brosseau, a police officer, violated his Fourth Amendment right be free from excessive force when she shot him in the back as he fled vehicle. The Federal District granted Brosseau summary judgment, finding her entitled qualified immunity. In reversing, Ninth Circuit found had Haugen's and that, because was clearly established, not Held: wrongly decided immunity issue. Qualified shields an officer makes decision even if constitutionally deficient, reasonably misapprehends law governing circumstances confronted. Saucier v. Katz, 533 194, 206. focus is on whether fair notice conduct unlawful. If at time did establish would violate Constitution, should subject liability. This inquiry "undertaken light specific context case, broad general proposition." Id., 201. case far obvious one where tests set out Graham Connor, 490 386, Tennessee Garner, 471 1, can "clearly establish" answer, without body relevant law. handful cases Brosseau's situation show this area which result depends very much facts each case; suggest actions fell "`hazy border between acceptable force,'" S., 206; by no means "`"clearly establis[h]"'" Amendment, id., 202. Certiorari granted; 339 F. 3d 857, reversed remanded. ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT APPEALS NINTH CIRCUIT. PER CURIAM. 1 Officer Rochelle member Puyallup, Washington, Police Department, Kenneth attempted flee enforcement authorities subsequently action States for Western Washington Rev. Stat. 1979, 1983. He alleged fired constituted federal constitutional rights.1 judgment after Appeals reversed. 857 (2003). Following two-step process (2001), found, first, and, second, established thus then petitioned writ certiorari, requesting we review both Appeals' determinations. We grant petition question reverse. 2 material facts, construed most favorable Haugen, are follows.2 On day before fracas, Glen Tamburello went station reported former crime partner his, stolen tools shop. later learned there felony no-bail warrant arrest drug other offenses. next morning, spray painting Jeep Cherokee mother's driveway. whereabouts, cohort Matt Atwood drove pickup truck house pay visit. A fight ensued, witnessed neighbor who called 911. 3 heard report men were fighting yard responded. When arrived, attempting get into Tamburello's pickup. arrival created distraction, provided opportunity away. ran through hid neighborhood. requested assistance, shortly thereafter, two officers arrived with K-9 help track down. During search, lasted about 30 45 minutes, instructed remain They Deanna Nocera, girlfriend also present 3-year-old daughter, small car daughter. parked street front driveway; Nocera's driveway facing Jeep; angled somewhat left. 4 feet away 20 An radioed down seen man backyard. direction, appeared. past turned With still pursuit, jumped driver's side closed locked door. believed running retrieve weapon. 5 Jeep, pointed gun ordered ignored command continued look keys so could started. repeated commands hit window several times handgun, failed deter Haugen. third or fourth try, shattered. unsuccessfully grab struck head barrel butt gun. undeterred, succeeded starting Jeep. As started it began move, She rear forward angle, hitting back. explained "`fearful foot [she] immediate area, [and] occupied vehicles [Haugen's] path any citizens might area.'" 3d, 865. 6 Despite being hit, words, "`st[ood] gas'"; navigated "`small, tight space'" avoid vehicles; swerved across neighbor's lawn; street. 882. After half block, realized been brought halt. suffered collapsed lung airlifted hospital. survived shooting pleaded guilty "eluding." Wash. Code 46.61.024 (1994). By pleading, admitted manner indicating "a wanton wilful disregard lives . others." Ibid. 1983 against Brosseau. 7 * 8 confronted claim immunity, court must ask first following question: "Taken party asserting injury, do officer's right?" recognized, governed principles enunciated (1985), 386 (1989). These claims judged under Amendment's "`objective reasonableness'" standard. 388. Specifically regard deadly force, Garner unreasonable "seize unarmed, nondangerous suspect dead." 11. But "[w]here has probable cause believe poses threat serious physical harm, either others, prevent escape using force." 9 express view correctness itself. however decided, wrong issue immunity.3 10 U.S., 206 (qualified operates "to protect sometimes `hazy force'"). Because unlawful, reasonableness backdrop conduct. liability or, indeed, burdens litigation. 11 It important emphasize "must undertaken previously said context: 12 "[T]here doubt supra, establishes proposition use contrary objective standards reasonableness. Yet enough. Rather, emphasized Anderson [v. Creighton] `that official have established" more particularized, hence relevant, sense: contours sufficiently clear reasonable understand what doing violates right.' 483 [635,] 640 [(1987)]. dispositive determining unlawful confronted." 201-202. 13 acknowledged statement law, but proceeded find warning Garner. F.3d, 873-874. doing, mistaken. lead text, cast high level generality. See 396 ("`[T]he test capable precise definition mechanical application'"). Of course, these Hope Pelzer, 536 730, 738 (2002) (noting Eighth violation "obvious" need materially similar established). Pace Capobianco, 283 F.3d 1275, 1283 (CA11 2002) (explaining involving fleeing vehicle "when decisions such Graham, see some guide us many different kinds circumstances; kind (clear answers) apply" hand). alone offer basis decision. 14 therefore turn whether, actions, established"'" "`particularized'" sense violating right. parties point only "situation [Brosseau] confronted": shoot disturbed felon, avoiding capture vehicular flight, persons risk flight.4 Specifically, points Cole Bone, 993 2d 1328 (CA8 1993), Smith Freland, 954 343 (CA6 1992). 15 cases, courts presented others. 1333 (holding "had posed imminent harm innocent motorists well themselves"); 2d, 347 weapon" holding stop possibly injuring others reasonable). closer case. There, engaged chase, appeared end cornered dead-end residential suspect, however, freed speeding At point, shot, killed suspect. held Amendment. noted like here, proven almost anything capture" major to, among Estate Starks Enyart, 230 (CA7 inappropriate concluded suspect's failure brake suddenly stepped just-started grave justify force. 234. 16 three taken together undoubtedly None them squarely governs here; they force.'" 17 reversed, remanded further proceedings consistent opinion. 18 ordered. Notes: asserted pendent state-law city department. presently arises posture motion required all draw inferences favor nonmoving party, SeeSaucier 201 (2001). occasion reconsider our instruction inSaucier lower decide prior deciding question. exercise reversal procedure here simply correct misapprehension number vein postdate question,i. e., February 21, 1999, Cowan ex rel. Cooper Breen, 352 756, 763 (CA2 2003); 1281-1282 2002); Scott Clay County, 205 867, 877 2000); McCaslin Wilkins, 183 775, 778-779 1999); Abraham Raso, 279, 288-296 (CA3 1999). decisions, given inquiry. 19 JUSTICE BREYER, whom SCALIA GINSBURG join, concurring. I join Court's opinion write separately my concern matter refers footnote 3, namely, way evaluate notes, ante, 198, n. requires (1) (2) am concerned current rule rigidly unnecessarily difficult questions available easier (e. g., immunity) will satisfactorily resolve court. Indeed courts' dockets crowded, rigid "order battle" little administrative effectively insulated review, Bunting Mellen, 541 1019, 1025 (2004) (SCALIA, J., dissenting denial certiorari). For reasons, think 21 STEVENS, dissenting. 22 answer clear: Under objectively attempt escape. What nonetheless apparent well-trained shoes killing unconstitutional. answered jury. 23 Law never damages failing anticipate novel developments Accordingly, whenever based defense available. Harlow Fitzgerald, 457 800, 818 (1982). Prompt dismissal protects unnecessary litigation accords wise "policy adjudication questions." County Sacramento Lewis, 523 833, 859 (1998) (STEVENS, concurring judgment). When, applicable settled, "we address outset." Ibid.; Siegert Gilley, 500 226 (1991). limits decades. 24 1985, unarmed burglar unconstitutional seizure. 1. considered, rejected, State's contention prohibition seizures common-law rule, allowed whatever necessary effectuate felon. 12-13. recognized fashioned virtually felonies punishable death" long guns police, modern departments majority large cities firing weapon felon death bodily harm. 13-19. "changes legal technological context" made old obsolete. 15. 25 Unlike "excessive force" degree permissible varies widely "deadly kill order stated rule: 26 "The suspects, circumstances, unreasonable. better suspects die than Where resulting apprehend does so.... may seize dead.... 27 "Where Thus, threatens committed infliction threatened used escape, if, feasible, given." 11-12. 28 common justifications plainly inapplicable anyone weapon, defend herself.1 person violent crime; nor reason permitted Indeed, nothing record intended anyone.2 "threat others," 11, provides sole justification while accidentally collide pedestrian another Whether enhanced minimized debatable, accident surely fugitive.3 difficulty endorsing assumption Constitution. II 29 despite having deficient conduct, so, statutory rights known." Harlow, 818. requirement designed ensure proscribed. 739 (2002). "general statements inherently incapable giving warning," Lanier, 520 259, 271 (1997), firmly rejected notion "an protected unless unlawful," Creighton, 635, (1987). search applying standard ill advised. Hope, 741 ("Although earlier `fundamentally similar' provide especially strong support conclusion finding"); 269. relies inapposite fact, serve illuminate patent unreasonableness actions.4 31 Rather uncertainty likely consequences flight — precisely, how making split-second assessed foreseeability prevents me answering presents. quintessentially "fact-specific" question, judges try "as law." Cf. Anderson, 641. Although preferable earliest possible stage litigation, preference give license take factual Hunter Bryant, 502 224, 229 (1991) (per curiam) judgment); 233 dissenting) ("`Whether trier directed verdict [the] lack proper jury reach'" (quoting Bryant Treasury Dept., Secret Service, 903 717, 721 (CA9 1990))). bizarre scenario described convinces jurors disagree My strongly reinforced differing opinions expressed Judges reviewed record. III 32 its reverse full briefing oral argument woefully unpersuasive. deliberately him, issues same those nonfatal wound. seriously colleagues confident benefit briefs facts.5 minimum, Circuit's erroneous, extraordinary remedy warranted facts. R. Stern, E. Gressman, & Shapiro, Practice 281 (6th ed. 1986). 33 sum, settled jurisprudence nearly decades, acted outside delineated bounds. Nonetheless, genuine standing otherwise, falls purview 34 respectfully dissent. attested floorboard sometime during struggle, fact hotly contests, evidence fired, believed, thought, access moment shooting, disposal. nonviolent offense, suspected burglary, approximately minutes incident. behest private individuals scene inside their respective vehicles. daughter four slightly blocking driveway, last backyard, houses supporting allegation "willfully fire intent murder me," Record, Doc. includes expert articulated intention force,"id., 24. Moreover, Department Firearms Review Board "chose Haugen." 27, Exh. H. InCole 18-wheel tractor-trailer sped tollbooth high-speed pursuit excess 90 miles per hour high-traffic interstate holiday season. course driver passed traffic shoulders interstate, repeatedly ram cars, 100 passenger off road, roadblocks, driving wheels fugitive's truck. 1330-1331. Only finally resort disable driver. Similarly, 1992), led reaching speeds hour. initially field, directly toward car, forcing move allowing continue chase. 344. additional second time, smashed unoccupied again, stark contrast, immobile, best, just moving. driven speeds; rammed, ram, nearby cars ongoing chase inform probable-cause analysis. recitation up obscures undisputed contends dangerous perhaps terrorist escaped convict spree danger community relate act escaping

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