Court Opinion

ID: 3015981
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:14:57.551171+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:03:11.596100
License: Public Domain

OPINION
 

  BECKER, Circuit Judge.
 

  Plaintiffs Mark W. Barshinger (“Barshinger”) and Henrietta D. Barshinger appeal from an order of the District Court granting summary judgment to defendants Steven R. Buffington, Francis N. New-hams, Darragh’s Auto Body and the City of York. It would be difficult to improve upon the comprehensive discussion of the facts and the merits contained in the District Court’s opinion, and, our scope of review being
  
   de novo,
  
  we affirm essentially for the reasons set forth therein.
 

  As the District Court explained, with respect to the unlawful search and seizure claim, the undisputed facts of record establish that appellants’ building had serious structural problems; the roof was partially collapsed; the rear wall of the home was completely gone; the walls were deteriorating; and Barshinger exacerbated the situation by placing numerous vehicles on the first floor and basement of the property. As we read the record, there were exigent circumstances that justified the warrantless entry into the property on October 4, 2001.
 

  At all events, the District Court properly concluded that appellees New-hams and Buffington were immune from liability on the unlawful search and seizure claim because the law was not clearly established at the time that they acted. With respect to the malicious prosecution claim, it is undisputed in this case that Mark Barshinger was found guilty on several of the October 2001 citations issued against him, and hence he cannot establish an essential element of a malicious prosecution claim. With respect to the May 2002 citations, there was no lack of probable cause to support the charges, as the property remained hazardous.
 

  Finally, Mark Barshinger’s First Amendment retaliation claims are patently without merit. The record establishes that defendant Buffington acted within his municipal authority to issue the citations for the violations of the fire code; the record is devoid of any evidence of improper motive; and the record does not support the contention that Buffington retaliated against Mark Barshinger or that the asserted violations were mere “pretext” for his decision.
 

 
   *785
   
  The judgment of the District Court will be affirmed.