Court Opinion

ID: 3187562
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-03-22 16:03:01.634573+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:08:29.504717
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                  United States Court of Appeals
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       Tenth Circuit

                            FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT                        March 22, 2016
                        _________________________________
                                                                      Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                          Clerk of Court
DAVID WEBB,

             Plaintiff - Appellant,

v.                                                        No. 15-4078
                                              (D.C. No. 1:11-CV-00128-DB-DBP)
TIMOTHY SCOTT, Police Officer at                           (D. Utah)
Ogden City Police Department; FNU
MURRAY, Police Officer at Ogden City
Police Department; JON GREINER, Chief
of Police at Ogden City Police Department,

             Defendants - Appellees,

and

TERRY L. THOMPSON, Sheriff for
Weber County; ROBERT WEST, Sgt. at
Weber County Correctional Facility;
ALTON JOHNSON, Sgt. at Weber County
Correctional Facility; ANDREW FLATT,
Correctional Officer at Weber County
Correctional Facility; KEVIN MCCLEOD,
Undersheriff at Weber County Sheriff’s
Office; KEVIN BURTON, Captain and
Corrections Division Chief Deputy at
Weber County Correctional Facility; FNU
GATES, Correctional Officer at Weber
County Correctional Facility,

             Defendants.
                      _________________________________

                             ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

      *
       After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of
                                                                          (continued)
                       _________________________________

Before LUCERO, GORSUCH, and McHUGH, Circuit Judges.
                  _________________________________

      David Webb appeals the district court’s grants of summary judgment and

qualified immunity in favor of Timothy Scott, Kevin Murray, and Jon Greiner

(collectively, “Ogden Defendants”). The district court certified its grant of summary

judgment as final under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b). Exercising jurisdiction under 28

U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.

                                           I

      Greiner is the former Ogden City Chief of Police, and Scott and Murray are

Ogden City police officers. On July 20, 2011, Webb was driving in Ogden City

when Murray pulled him over for a traffic equipment violation. According to

Murray’s affidavit, as he was driving behind Webb it appeared that Webb’s license

plate light may not have been functioning. Webb contends that his license plate light

was functioning properly and points to evidence supporting that position. Murray

counters that he could not confirm the malfunction while his headlights were shining

on Webb’s license plate, but established that the light was not functioning after he

turned his headlights off. A dash camera recording from the patrol car neither

confirms nor contradicts Murray’s or Webb’s claims due to the video’s poor quality.

this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding
precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral
estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with
Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.

                                          -2-
      Murray arrested Webb without a warrant for the malfunctioning license plate

light and took him to the Weber County Correctional Facility (“WCCF”). At

Murray’s request, Webb was strip searched during the booking process. Murray

completed a Weber County “Probable Cause Affidavit” with information pertaining

to Webb’s arrest (the “Affidavit”). That form was placed in a filing receptacle in the

WCCF’s booking area to await a judge’s approval or denial. According to the Weber

County Sheriff, it was WCCF practice for a judge to review the affidavits in the filing

receptacle at least every other day. But for unknown reasons, a judge never reviewed

the Affidavit. Consequently, Webb remained in the WCCF for five days without

receiving a judicial probable cause determination. Webb eventually received a

hearing, during which the prosecutor struck all charges. He was then released.

      Webb filed this pro se action raising claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985,

and 1986.1 As relevant to this appeal, Webb challenged the legality of the traffic

stop, his arrest, the strip search, and his detention without a prompt judicial probable

cause determination.

      Ogden Defendants moved for summary judgment on all claims. A magistrate

judge issued a report and recommendation (“R&R”) recommending the motion be

granted. After Webb filed pro se objections to the R&R, the court appointed counsel.

      1
        Webb fails to develop an argument regarding §§ 1985 and 1986, and thus
those claims are waived.

                                           -3-
It ordered Webb, through counsel, to file a new objection to the R&R.2 After

reviewing Webb’s objections and Ogden Defendants’ responses, the district court

adopted the R&R and granted Ogden Defendants summary judgment on all claims.

      Although several claims remained pending against other defendants, Webb

filed in this court a Petition for Permission to Appeal the summary judgment ruling in

favor of Ogden Defendants. We denied his petition. Webb v. Scott, No. 15-602,

order at 3 (10th Cir. April 21, 2015). Ogden Defendants then moved the district

court to certify its summary judgment ruling as final under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b).

The court granted that motion, and Webb filed a notice of appeal.3

                                           II

      On appeal, Webb challenges only the district court judgment pertaining to

Murray. He does not argue that the judgment was erroneous as to Scott. And as to

Greiner he only argues a violation of the Hatch Act. This claim is waived because

Webb’s objections to the R&R stated that he did not object to dismissing his Hatch

Act claims. Soliz v. Chater, 82 F.3d 373, 375-76 (10th Cir. 1996) (arguments not

raised in objections to R&R are waived).

      2
        After filing objections to the R&R on his behalf, Webb’s counsel withdrew,
and he resumed proceeding pro se.
      3
         Webb now argues that the summary judgment grant is not appealable because
there is factual overlap between some of his claims against Ogden Defendants and
several other defendants. We disagree. The rights and liabilities of Ogden
Defendants were finally decided in the summary judgment order, In re Integra Realty
Res., Inc., 262 F.3d 1089, 1107 (10th Cir. 2001), and it was within the discretion of
the district court to grant Rule 54(b) certification.

                                           -4-
      We review the district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo, viewing

the evidence in the light most favorable to Webb. Schneider v. City of Grand

Junction Police Dep’t, 717 F.3d 760, 766 (10th Cir. 2013). “The court shall grant

summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any

material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ.

P. 56(a). To defeat summary judgment based on qualified immunity, a plaintiff must

“show (1) a reasonable jury could find facts supporting a violation of a constitutional

right, which (2) was clearly established at the time of the defendant’s conduct.”

Estate of Booker v. Gomez, 745 F.3d 405, 411 (10th Cir. 2014). Because Webb

proceeds pro se, we liberally construe his filings. See Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d

1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991).

                                            A

      Webb contends there are disputed issues of material fact which preclude

summary judgment on his claims that Murray, the arresting officer, lacked reasonable

suspicion for the traffic stop. “A traffic stop is valid under the Fourth Amendment if

the stop is based on an observed traffic violation or if the police officer has

reasonable articulable suspicion that a traffic or equipment violation has occurred or

is occurring.” United States v. Villa-Chaparro, 115 F.3d 797, 801 (10th Cir. 1997)

(quotations omitted). The reasonableness of a traffic stop does not depend on the

subjective motivation of the officer. Id. Rather, “[r]easonable suspicion requires that

an officer provide some minimal level of objective justification.” United States v.

Vercher, 358 F.3d 1257, 1261 (10th Cir. 2004) (quotations omitted). “Moreover,

                                           -5-
reasonable suspicion may be supported by an objectively reasonable good faith belief

even if premised on factual error. [And] reasonable suspicion may rely on

information less reliable than that required to show probable cause, and it need not be

correct.” Id. (quotations omitted).

       Murray’s affidavit indicates that, while following Webb’s car, he turned his

headlights off momentarily and observed that Webb’s license plate light was not

functioning. Webb argues that the dash cam video contradicts Murray’s assertion

that he turned his headlights off, but we agree with the district court that the video is

inconclusive on that point. Webb also contends that the district court improperly

disregarded evidence that his license plate light was functioning at the time of the

stop. But a mistaken, yet reasonable, belief that a traffic violation has occurred is

sufficient to support a traffic stop. Id.

       Webb also argues that Murray intentionally turned off his wireless microphone

when constitutional violations occurred. The video does not substantiate this claim.

Instead, the video shows that Murray’s wireless microphone was turned on before he

exited the patrol car, and it stayed on until shortly after the passenger in Webb’s car

left the scene. This chronology is consistent with Murray’s affidavit, in which he

states it is his practice to turn off his wireless microphone just before he begins

transporting an arrestee to jail when there are no other witnesses to be interviewed.

Webb does not point to evidence inconsistent with Murray’s account.

                                            -6-
      Because Webb has not pointed to any fact in the record that would allow a

rational jury to find that Officer Murray lacked reasonable suspicion to stop him, we

affirm the district court’s grant of qualified immunity on this claim.4

                                           B

      We reach a different conclusion on Webb’s illegal arrest claim. An arrest must

be based on probable cause, which “exists if facts and circumstances within the

arresting officer’s knowledge and of which he or she has reasonably trustworthy

information are sufficient to lead a prudent person to believe that the arrestee has

committed or is committing an offense.” York v. City of Las Cruces, 523 F.3d 1205,

1210 (10th Cir. 2008) (quotations omitted). Probable cause “require[es] something

more than a bare suspicion.” Storey v. Taylor, 696 F.3d 987, 992 (10th Cir. 2012)

(quotations omitted). The district court held there was no genuine dispute that

Murray had probable cause to arrest Webb for having a non-functioning license plate

light. The court pointed to Murray’s belief that the light was not working; the fact

(confirmed by the dash cam video) that Murray told Webb he was under arrest for

that reason; Webb’s failure to state during the stop that his license plate light was

      4
         Webb also contends that the district court abused its discretion by denying
his motion to provide additional time for discovery regarding eight other prior traffic
stops by Murray to flesh out a race-based claim of selective enforcement. Webb
argues that the district court failed to consider the discretionary factors relevant to
reopening discovery. See Smith v. United States, 834 F.2d 166, 169 (10th Cir. 1987)
(listing permissible factors). Webb’s contention is factually inaccurate. The district
court considered whether discovery would likely lead to relevant evidence, id., and
found that it would not. Webb does not provide any other basis suggesting that the
district court abused its discretion by denying additional time.

                                           -7-
functioning; and Murray’s field report reiterating that he arrested Webb for a faulty

equipment violation.

      But Webb submitted evidence that his license plate light was functioning at the

time of the stop. He stated in his verified complaint that he observed that the light

was working from his position in the patrol car after he was arrested. In an affidavit

opposing Ogden Defendants’ summary judgment motion, Webb pointed to a portion

of the dash cam video in which the headlights from Murray’s patrol car are not

shining on his license plate, and it appears that the plate is lighted. Webb argued in

his counseled objections to the R&R that Murray failed to confirm that Webb’s

license plate light was malfunctioning after stopping Webb, and that the dash cam

video does not show Murray looking at the license plate on his way to the driver’s

side of Webb’s car. The district court determined that the video did not confirm

whether the light was functioning, but nevertheless accepted as true Murray’s

assertion that the light was not functioning. And the court failed to consider Webb’s

assertions in his verified complaint that his license plate light was functioning at the

time of the stop. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Webb,

Schneider, 717 F.3d at 766, a rational jury could find that the light was functioning,

and that there was not any reasonably trustworthy information to allow a prudent

person to believe it was not, York, 523 F.3d at 1210.

       Murray argues against this conclusion by suggesting that Webb’s arguments

rely on “new evidence” submitted after the magistrate judge filed his R&R—and

specifically evidence submitted in Webb’s counseled objection to the R&R. But the

                                           -8-
R&R considered allegations in Webb’s verified complaint and in Webb’s affidavit,

and the dash cam video was in the summary judgment record. Moreover, the district

court solicited Webb’s supplemental, counseled objections to the R&R, and it did not

state in its order adopting the R&R that it had refused to consider arguments made in

those objections.

       Murray alternatively argues that, even considering Webb’s evidence that his

license plate light was working at the time of the traffic stop, summary judgment was

nonetheless appropriate. He cites an unpublished decision holding that an officer had

reasonable suspicion to stop a car for having its headlights off, even though the

headlights were, in fact, on. Valencia v. De Luca, 612 F. App’x 512, 516-17 (10th

Cir. 2015). But consistent with Valencia, we have affirmed the district court’s ruling

that Murray had reasonable suspicion to stop Webb. Murray fails to address Webb’s

argument that he cannot meet the higher probable cause standard. Storey, 696 F.3d at

992.

       Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Webb, we conclude there

is a genuine issue of material fact whether Murray had probable cause to arrest Webb

for having a non-functioning license plate light. We therefore reverse the district

court’s grant of summary judgment on this claim.5

       5
        The district court did not grant Murray qualified immunity on this claim and
Ogden Defendants do not argue that Murray is entitled to qualified immunity even if
Webb demonstrated a Fourth Amendment violation. Consequently, we do not
address that issue.

                                          -9-
                                            C

      Webb also alleges that the strip search performed at the WCCF violated the

Fourth Amendment. Chapman v. Nichols, 989 F.2d 393, 395 (10th Cir. 1993) (strip

searches of minor traffic offense detainees without particularized reasonable

suspicion are unconstitutional). The parties first debate whether this issue is properly

before us. Ogden Defendants argue that Webb did not raise this claim against

Murray in his complaint. We disagree. The complaint asserted that Murray violated

Webb’s constitutional rights in connection with the strip search, and it alleged that

Murray was present when the strip search occurred. Ogden Defendants also contend

that Webb did not assert an illegal strip search claim against Murray in his summary

judgment motion. This, too, is belied by the record. Finally, Ogden Defendants

chide Webb for failing to assert his illegal strip search claim in opposition to their

summary judgment motion, but they acknowledge that they did not address that claim

in their motion. If they did not seek summary judgment on this claim, there was not

any reason for Webb to argue against the same.

      However, Ogden Defendants are correct that the summary judgment order did

not rule on Webb’s illegal strip search claim against Murray. But in light of Webb’s

inclusion of that claim in his complaint and in his summary judgment motion, we

conclude that this omission was an oversight, rather than a holding that Webb failed

to assert the claim against Murray.

      If a district court fails to rule on a claim, we ordinarily remand to the district

court to consider the claim in the first instance. See Tabor v. Hilti, Inc., 703 F.3d

                                          -10-
1206, 1227 (10th Cir. 2013). We do not discern any reason to deviate from that

practice with regard to this claim, the proper resolution of which is not “beyond any

doubt.” Singleton v. Wulff, 428 U.S. 106, 121 (1976). Ogden Defendants’ sole

argument is that Webb did not raise this claim against them. They do not address

whether Webb has demonstrated a genuine issue of material fact that Murray violated

his clearly established Fourth Amendment right. 6 And they do not urge any basis for

this court to decide this issue in the first instance. Accordingly, we direct the district

court to consider this claim on remand.

                                            D

      Webb also appeals the grant of summary judgment and qualified immunity to

Murray on Webb’s claim of prolonged detention without probable cause. Under the

Fourth Amendment, a person arrested without a warrant is entitled to a prompt

judicial determination of probable cause to justify any significant pretrial detention.

Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S. 103, 114, 125 (1975). In general, a probable cause

determination is sufficiently prompt if it occurs within 48 hours of an arrest. Cty. of

Riverside v. McLaughlin, 500 U.S. 44, 56 (1991). If the arrestee does not receive a

probable cause determination within 48 hours, the government bears the burden “to

demonstrate the existence of a bona fide emergency or other extraordinary

circumstance.” Id. at 57.

      6
         We note that the record reflects evidence that Murray personally participated
in the alleged violation. Specifically, the summary judgment order cites a document
indicating that Murray requested the strip search.

                                           -11-
      The parties do not dispute that Webb had a Fourth Amendment right to a

prompt probable cause determination, and that such a right was clearly established

during Webb’s detention. Webb was detained at the WCCF for five days without a

judicial probable cause determination, and Ogden Defendants do not identify a bona

fide emergency or other extraordinary circumstance justifying his prolonged

detention. Id. The district court nevertheless granted summary judgment and

qualified immunity to Murray on this claim, holding there was not any evidence that

Murray personally violated Webb’s clearly established constitutional right because

Murray relinquished custody of Webb when he was booked at the WCCF, and thus

Murray was not personally involved in his prolonged detention.

      Webb argues that Murray was responsible under Utah law for promptly

bringing Webb before a magistrate. In Wilson v. Montano, 715 F.3d 847 (10th Cir.

2013), we looked to state law to determine who has a duty to ensure an arrestee

receives a prompt judicial probable cause determination. Id. at 854. We referenced

New Mexico law requiring that “[w]henever a peace officer makes an arrest without

warrant for a misdemeanor within magistrate trial jurisdiction, he shall take the

arrested person to the nearest available magistrate court without unnecessary delay.”

Id. at 855 (quoting N.M. Stat. § 35-5-1). Because the statute expressly assigned the

duty to the arresting officer, the complaint in Wilson sufficiently alleged personal

involvement by the arresting officer. Id. at 855.

      The relevant Utah Statute does not expressly impose the same duty on an

arresting officer. See Utah Code § 77-7-23(1)(a) (“When an arrest is made without a

                                          -12-
warrant by a peace officer or private person, the person arrested shall be taken

without unnecessary delay to the magistrate.”). But the Utah Supreme Court has

observed that the person making an arrest has that duty. McFarland v. Skaggs Cos.,

678 P.2d 298, 301 (Utah 1984) (“In the case of a lawful arrest without a warrant, the

person making the arrest must present the prisoner promptly before a magistrate. An

unreasonable delay in this respect will . . . render the actor liable for that portion of the

imprisonment which is in excess of the reasonable period allowed for such presentment.”

(quotation omitted)). Based on this observation, arresting officers in Utah bear

responsibility for a judicial probable cause determination, and thus Murray was

personally involved in Webb’s alleged prolonged detention.

       That Murray relinquished control of Webb at the WCCF does not alter our

analysis. In Wilson, the transfer of custody to authorities at the county jail did not

negate the arresting officer’s duty under state law to take the arrestee promptly before

a judicial officer. Rather, we concluded in Wilson that the complaint stated a

plausible prolonged detention claim against both the arresting officer and the jail

authorities. 715 F.3d at 855, 858. Ogden Defendants do not cite any law weighing

against joint responsibility.

       Because Murray was personally involved in the alleged deprivation of Webb’s

Fourth Amendment right to a prompt judicial determination of probable cause, and

because Webb has presented evidence upon which a reasonable jury could find facts

supporting a violation of his clearly established constitutional right, Estate of Booker,

                                             -13-
745 F.3d at 411, Murray is not entitled to qualified immunity on this claim. For the

same reasons, Murray is not entitled to summary judgment.7

      7
         Webb raises several other claims that are procedurally barred. A pro se party
must comply with the same procedural rules as other litigants. Garrett v. Selby
Connor Maddux & Janer, 425 F.3d 836, 840 (10th Cir. 2005). Webb admits that he
did not raise his argument that Ogden Defendants’ counsel had a conflict of interest
below, nor does he cite the record to support his contention that he raised a First
Amendment claim or a claim for destruction of evidence below, 10th Cir. R.
28.2(C)(2), and our review of the record does not reveal any such instances. These
claims are waived. Somerlott v. Cherokee Nation Distribs., Inc., 686 F.3d 1144,
1150 (10th Cir. 2012) (issue is preserved if party alerts district court to the issue and
seeks a ruling). In addition, in his counseled objections to the R&R Webb: (1) stated
that he did not object to dismissing his claims of intentional infliction of emotional
distress, excessive force, conspiracy, failure to intervene, violation of the Hatch Act,
violation of the Fifth Amendment, and his state-law claims; (2) stated that his pro se
complaint should be construed as an individual action, rather than a class action; and
(3) failed to argue, as he does before us, that Murray’s qualified immunity was
abrogated by 42 U.S.C. § 2000d-7. These claims are all waived. Soliz, 82 F.3d at
375-76. Webb also inadequately develops his arguments that the district court erred
in denying leave to file both an amended complaint and a supplemental opposition to
the motions for summary judgment. These arguments are likewise waived. Gaines-
Tabb v. ICI Explosives, USA, Inc., 160 F.3d 613, 623-24 (10th Cir. 1998)
(“[A]rguments not set forth fully in the opening brief are waived.”).

                                          -14-
                                          III

      We REVERSE the district court’s grant of summary judgment to Murray on

Webb’s illegal arrest claim and its grants of summary judgment and qualified

immunity to Murray on Webb’s prolonged detention claim. We REMAND these

claims for further proceedings in the district court. On remand, we further direct the

district court to consider Webb’s illegal strip search claim against Murray. We

otherwise AFFIRM. We DENY Webb’s motion for sanctions.

                                           Entered for the Court

                                           Carlos F. Lucero
                                           Circuit Judge

                                         -15-