Court Opinion

ID: 4194233
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-08 20:00:54.102478+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:13:27.774612
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                ____________

                                     No. 16-3354
                                    ____________

                                  STEVEN BERRY,
                                      Appellant

                                          v.

          MATTHEW KABACINSKI, Individually and in his official capacity
                 as Trooper for the Pennsylvania State Police
                                ____________

                     On Appeal from United States District Court
                        for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                             (M.D. Pa. No. 1-15-cv-00169)
                     District Judge: Honorable Martin C. Carlson
                                    ____________

                  Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
                                   May 25, 2017

             Before: HARDIMAN, ROTH, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.

                                (Filed: August 8, 2017)
                                     ____________

                                      OPINION*
                                    ____________

FISHER, Circuit Judge.

      *
        This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7
does not constitute binding precedent.
       Steven Berry appeals the District Court’s order granting summary judgment

against him on his malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment claims. We

will affirm.

                                            I.

       During the course of their fractious marriage, which ultimately ended in divorce,

Steven Berry (“Berry”) and Joan Berry (“Joan”) each obtained several Protection from

Abuse Orders (“PFAs”) against the other. In March 2013 Berry pleaded guilty in

Pennsylvania state court to four counts of violating one such PFA and was sentenced to

18 months’ probation.

       On May 10, 2013, Pennsylvania State Trooper Matthew Kabacinski responded to

a call at Joan’s home. Joan alleged that Berry violated a PFA by sending her text

messages and attending an event at their daughter’s school that he knew Joan was also

attending. Joan told Kabacinski that, while at the event, Berry approached her, tapped her

on the shoulder, and handed her flowers for one of their daughters. Joan also informed

Kabacinski about Berry’s convictions for past PFA violations.

       Trooper Kabacinski’s subsequent investigation confirmed that Berry had a

criminal record for prior PFA violations and that there was an extant PFA prohibiting

Berry from contacting Joan except to facilitate visitation of their children. Kabacinski

discussed Joan’s allegations and the results of his investigation with the York County,

Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Office. Based on their conversation, an Assistant

                                            2
District Attorney advised Kabacinski to file charges of stalking, harassment, and

violation of a PFA. These charges ultimately led to Berry’s arrest.

        At a preliminary hearing in state court, based on Joan and Trooper Kabacinski’s

testimony, a magistrate judge concluded that there was probable cause to support the

charges filed against Berry. Because Berry was serving a term of probation at the time of

his arrest, he was denied bail. Thereafter, Berry petitioned for habeas corpus relief

arguing that there was no probable cause to support the charges and that Joan was lying.

A York County, Pennsylvania judge held a hearing, concluded that there was sufficient

prima facie evidence to support the charges, and denied Berry’s petition. Berry elected to

proceed to trial on the charges.

        Berry was acquitted of stalking and harassment. With respect to the PFA violation

charge, Berry agreed to participate in a drug and alcohol counseling program, to undergo

a mental health evaluation, and to the entrance of a new PFA. Upon Berry’s successful

completion of the program and after a new PFA was entered against him, the earlier PFA

violation charge was withdrawn.

        Berry then brought this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Trooper

Kabacinski, asserting malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment claims.

The District Court entered summary judgment in favor of Kabacinski. 1 It reasoned that

Berry’s inability to show that the underlying criminal proceeding terminated in his favor

1
    2016 WL 3683158 (M.D. Pa. July 12, 2016).
                                           3
was fatal to his malicious prosecution claim, and that because Kabacinski had probable

cause to believe Berry violated a PFA, Berry’s false arrest and false imprisonment claims

were untenable. The District Court also concluded that Kabacinski was entitled to

qualified immunity. Berry appeals.

                                           II.

      The District Court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, and we have

jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. “We exercise plenary review over a district court’s

order granting summary judgment and apply the same standard the district court

applied.”2 We will affirm if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the

nonmoving party, “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the movant is

entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”3 We may affirm the District Court on any

ground supported by the record.4

                                          III.

      On appeal, Berry argues that (1) there was no probable cause to arrest and

prosecute him, (2) the criminal proceedings terminated in his favor, and (3) Trooper

Kabacinski is not entitled to qualified immunity. Because we agree with the District

Court that probable cause existed, we need not and do not reach Berry’s other arguments.

2
  Carvalho-Grevious v. Del. State Univ., 851 F.3d 249, 256 (3d Cir. 2017).
3
  Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).
4
  Mancini v. Northampton Cty., 836 F.3d 308, 313 (3d Cir. 2016).
                                            4
       The absence of probable cause is an element of malicious prosecution, false arrest,

and false imprisonment claims.5 “Probable cause exists if there is a ‘fair probability’ that

the person committed the crime at issue.”6 “[P]robable cause to arrest exists when the

facts and circumstances within the arresting officer’s knowledge are sufficient in

themselves to warrant a reasonable person to believe that an offense has been or is being

committed by the person to be arrested.”7 As long as probable cause existed to support

any single offense that could have been charged, an arrest is deemed supported by

probable cause.8

       Here, Joan told Trooper Kabacinski that Berry violated a PFA by initiating

physical contact with her at their daughter’s school and by sending her multiple text

messages. Kabacinski’s investigation revealed that there was indeed an extant PFA

5
  See DiBella v. Borough of Beachwood, 407 F.3d 599, 601 (3d Cir. 2005) (malicious
prosecution); Groman v. Twp. of Manalapan, 47 F.3d 628, 634, 636 (3d Cir. 1995) (false
arrest and false imprisonment).
6
Wilson v. Russo, 212 F.3d 781, 789 (3d Cir. 2000) (quoting Sherwood v. Mulvihill, 113
F.3d 396, 401 (3d Cir. 1997)).
7
  Orsatti v. N.J. State Police, 71 F.3d 480, 483 (3d Cir. 1995).
8
  Barna v. City of Perth Amboy, 42 F.3d 809, 819 (3d Cir. 1994). However, “probable
cause on one charge does not foreclose a malicious prosecution cause of action based on
additional charges for which there was no probable cause.” Dempsey v. Bucknell Univ.,
834 F.3d 457, 477 (3d Cir. 2016) (citation and emphasis omitted). In such cases, the
plaintiff must show that “the additional charges for which there might not have been
probable cause . . . resulted in additional restrictions on his liberty beyond those
attributable to the prosecution on the . . . charges for which there was probable cause.”
Johnson v. Knorr, 477 F.3d 75, 86 (3d Cir. 2007). Berry does not explain how the
stalking and harassment charges caused an additional restriction on his liberty and has
therefore forfeited that argument. See United States v. Pelullo, 399 F.3d 197, 222 (3d Cir.
2005).

                                             5
prohibiting Berry from contacting Joan. These facts create a fair probability that Berry’s

actions violated the PFA and a reasonable jury could not find a lack of probable cause to

arrest and prosecute him for that violation. Berry’s claims thus fail.

       Because summary judgment was warranted on Berry’s claims based on the

existence of probable cause, we need not and do not reach Berry’s other arguments.

                                             IV.

       For the reasons set forth above, we will affirm.

                                              6