Court Opinion

ID: 3166148
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-12-29 19:01:49.232152+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:56:52.530765
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                  United States Court of Appeals
                                                          Tenth Circuit

                                                      December 29, 2015
                                   PUBLISH            Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                          Clerk of Court
                  UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                                 TENTH CIRCUIT

DEBRA JONES and ARDEN C.
POST, individually and as the natural
parents of Todd R. Murray; DEBRA
JONES, as personal representative of
the Estate of Todd R. Murray, for and
on behalf of the heirs of Todd R.
Murray,

      Plaintiffs - Appellants,
v.                                               No. 14-4040
VANCE NORTON, Vernal City police
officer in his official and individual
capacity; VERNAL CITY;
BLACKBURN COMPANY, d/b/a
Thomas-Blackburn Vernal Mortuary;
DAVE SWENSON, in his individual
capacity; CRAIG YOUNG, in his
individual capacity; REX OLSEN, in
his individual capacity; JEFF CHUGG,
in his individual capacity;
ANTHONEY BYRON, in his
individual capacity; BEVAN
WATKINS, in his individual capacity;
TROY SLAUGH, in his individual
capacity; SEAN DAVIS, in his
individual capacity; UINTAH
COUNTY,

      Defendants - Appellees.
______________________________
DEBRA JONES, individually and as
the natural parent of Todd R. Murray,
and as personal representative of the
 Estate of Todd R. Murray, for and on
 behalf of the heirs of Todd R. Murray;
 ARDEN C. POST, individually and as
 the natural parent of Todd R. Murray,

       Plaintiffs - Appellants,
 v.                                                  No. 14-4144
 VANCE NORTON, Vernal City police
 officer in his official and individual
 capacity; VERNAL CITY;
 BLACKBURN COMPANY, d/b/a
 Thomas-Blackburn Vernal Mortuary;
 DAVE SWENSON, in his individual
 capacity; CRAIG YOUNG, in his
 individual capacity; REX OLSEN, in
 his individual capacity; JEFF CHUGG,
 in his individual capacity;
 ANTHONEY BYRON, in his
 individual capacity; BEVAN
 WATKINS, in his individual capacity;
 TROY SLAUGH, in his individual
 capacity; SEAN DAVIS, in his
 individual capacity; UINTAH
 COUNTY,

       Defendants - Appellees.

        APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                      FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
      (D.C. Nos. 2:09-CV-00730-TC-EJF and 2:09-CV-00730-TC-BCW)

Frances C. Bassett and Jeffrey S. Rassmussen (Thomas W. Fredericks, Jeremy J.
Patterson, Martha L. King, and Matthew J. Kelly, and Todd K. Gravelle, with
them on the briefs), of Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP, Louisville, Colorado,
for Plaintiffs-Appellants.

                                          2
J. Clifford Petersen, Assistant Attorney General for the State of Utah (Sean D.
Reyes, Utah Attorney General, with him on the brief), Salt Lake City, Utah, for
State Defendants-Appellees, Dave Swenson, Craig Young, Rex Olsen, Jeff Chugg
and Sean Davis.

Jesse C. Trentadue (Britton R. Butterfield with him on the brief) of Suitter Axland
PLLC, Salt Lake City, Utah, for Defendants-Appellees Vance Norton, Vernal
City, Anthoney Byron, Bevan Watkins, Troy Slaugh and Uintah County.

Nathan R. Skeen (Julianne P. Blanch and Robert W. Thompson, with him on the
brief), of Snow, Christensen & Martineau, Salt Lake City, Utah, for Defendant-
Appellee Blackburn Company, Inc.

Before BRISCOE, McKAY and BACHARACH, Circuit Judges.

BRISCOE, Circuit Judge.

      This case arises from the death of Ute Tribe member Todd R. Murray on

April 1, 2007, following a police pursuit. Murray’s parents Debra Jones and

Arden Post, on behalf of themselves and Murray’s estate, brought a 13-count

complaint in the district court alleging various constitutional violations under 42

U.S.C. § 1983, conspiracy to violate civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1985, and state

tort claims. These claims were alleged in varying permutations against nine

individual law enforcement officers, their government employers, and a private

mortuary (collectively, “Defendants”). Plaintiffs also sought sanctions against

Defendants for alleged spoliation of evidence. The district court granted

summary judgment to the mortuary on Plaintiffs’ emotional distress claim, and to

                                         3
all remaining Defendants on all federal claims. The court also dismissed as moot

Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment on the status of Indian lands, and

denied Plaintiffs’ motion for spoliation sanctions. The district court declined to

exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law torts after

disposing of the emotional distress claim and the federal claims. Costs were

taxed in favor of Defendants, and the court denied Plaintiffs’ motion to reconsider

the taxation of those costs. Plaintiffs now appeal all of these rulings in two

appeals. In Case No. 14-4040, we affirm the district court on each issue. As

regards Case No. 14-4144, we affirm the district court’s denial of sanctions

against the City of Vernal, but we dismiss the appeal of taxation of costs because

we lack appellate jurisdiction.

                                          I

      On the morning of April 1, 2007, Trooper Dave Swenson of the Utah

Highway Patrol was involved in a high-speed chase of a vehicle in which Murray

was the passenger. At some point during the chase, Swenson conveyed to

dispatch that the driver appeared to be a tribal male. The driver eventually ran

off the road in a remote desert area within the Ute Tribe’s Uncompahgre

Reservation (“Reservation”). Trooper Swenson, who was in uniform, got out of

his patrol car and shouted at the two men to stop and get on the ground. Plaintiffs

contend that Murray paused for a moment before running from the car, but the

trooper’s dashboard camera video reveals no perceptible pause. Swenson did not

                                          4
see any weapons in Murray’s hands or waistband. Murray and the driver ran in

opposite directions, and Swenson notified dispatch that two “runners,” both

“tribal males,” had fled on foot. Swenson pursued the driver, eventually arresting

him.

       Three nearby officers responded quickly to the chase: off-duty City of

Vernal Police Detective Vance Norton, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Craig

Young, and Uintah County Sheriff’s Deputy Anthoney Byron. When these

officers arrived, Swenson pointed them in Murray’s direction. Norton, Byron,

and Young then began searching the desert for Murray. None of these officers

were cross-deputized to exercise law enforcement authority on the Reservation.

       The search ended when Murray suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

Plaintiffs contend that Detective Norton shot Murray, but Defendants contend that

Murray shot himself. Norton testified that as he crested a hill on foot, he saw

Murray and shouted, “Police, get on the ground.” App. Vol. III at 2410. Norton

was wearing plain clothes, and estimates he was approximately 140 yards away

from Murray. Murray did not get on the ground, but instead ran in Norton’s

general direction. As Murray drew closer, Murray fired a shot at Norton, which

landed near Norton’s feet. Detective Norton returned fire, shooting twice in rapid

succession, and ran back up the hill he had just come down. When he reached

what he believed to be a safe distance, he began to dial dispatch on his cell phone.

While Norton attempted this call, he saw Murray “put the gun to his head. And I

                                          5
think I told him–once or twice screamed, you know, [p]ut the gun down, and then

he pulled the trigger, and he just went straight down.” App. Vol. XI at 3236. A

later investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which

has exclusive jurisdiction to investigate incidents on the Reservation involving

non-tribal law enforcement officers, revealed that Detective Norton’s .40 caliber

shell casings were 113 yards from where Murray was shot. When Norton reached

dispatch, he notified them that Murray “just shot himself in the head” and

requested an ambulance. App. Vol. VI at 1827.

      In the meantime, before shots were fired, Deputy Byron and Trooper Young

were also searching for Murray. Byron testified that he and Young were walking

through a gully, and saw Norton standing on the top of a hill. Byron heard “some

crackling noise,” but was not sure if it was a gunshot. App. Vol. VIII at 2420.

As they made their way through the gully, Byron saw Murray “walking, and . . .

swinging his arms.” Id. Byron could not tell whether Murray was holding

anything. Byron then again heard “crackling,” could no longer see Detective

Norton, and saw Murray “go[] from walking to going down.” Id. Byron

estimated he was at least 200 yards from Murray, and 400 to 500 yards from

where he saw Norton on the top of the hill. He did not see anyone else.

      Byron and Young then reunited with Norton on the hill where they had just

seen him. Byron and Young proceeded down the hill, guns drawn, to where

Murray was lying. Murray was on his back, bleeding from a gunshot wound to

                                         6
the head. He was unconscious, but still breathing. Trooper Young testified that

he saw a .380 caliber gun and casings on the ground near Murray. Byron rolled

Murray from his back onto his side and handcuffed him while Young kept his

weapon aimed at Murray. None of the officers attempted to provide first aid or

any other assistance. Murray remained unconscious, lying on his right side and

handcuffed, until the ambulance arrived.

      Plaintiffs vehemently dispute Detective Norton’s and Deputy Byron’s

testimony that Murray shot himself. Plaintiffs believe Norton shot Murray

“execution-style” at close range and planted the .380 caliber gun found near

Murray’s body. To support their theory, Plaintiffs point principally to the fact

that Murray was right-handed, but the shot entered the left side of his head.

Plaintiffs’ various experts in police procedures opined that a conclusion that a

right-handed person inflicted a gunshot wound to the left side of his own head is

suspicious, and it is usually necessary to corroborate that conclusion with other

forensic trace evidence, such as blood blowback on the victim’s hands.

      The remaining individual Defendants arrived either in the half hour before

the ambulance arrived, or shortly after the ambulance took Murray to the hospital

and their minor involvement need not be recited. These Defendants are: Division

of Wildlife Resource Investigator Sean Davis, Uintah County Sheriff’s Deputies

Troy Slaugh and Bevan Watkins, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Rex Olsen, and

Utah Highway Patrol Lieutenant Jeff Chugg.

                                           7
      Agent Rex Ashdown, the FBI agent assigned to the investigation, arrived

after Murray was taken to the hospital. Neither the FBI, nor any FBI agents are

named defendants in this lawsuit. According to Ashdown, officers at the scene

told him that Murray shot himself, and this “influence[d]” how he went about the

investigation. App. Vol. XVII at 5545. Ashdown admits he took some

information from the officers “at face value.” Id. at 5560. Agent Ashdown: (1)

took custody of the .380 gun and shell casings found near Murray, but did not

order any testing; (2) did not confiscate Detective Norton’s gun or order any

testing; and (3) did not confiscate either Murray’s or any of the officers’ clothing,

testifying later that Norton’s clothes and hands appeared clean. Agent Ashdown

retired about two months later.

      After Agent Ashdown retired, FBI Agent David Ryan took over the

investigation of Murray’s death. The FBI later used the .380 caliber weapon as

evidence in an unrelated prosecution, and the gun was destroyed after the

conclusion of that prosecution pursuant to a court order in that case. Although

Agent Ryan knew the gun was evidence in an officer-involved shooting, he did

not notify the Utah Highway Patrol, the Uintah County Sheriffs, or the City of

Vernal Police that it was going to be destroyed. Nor did he attempt to prevent the

gun from being destroyed.

      Detective Norton’s gun and shell casings were recovered from the scene.

As far as the record reveals, the casings are still in the possession of Vernal City

                                          8
police. After Murray’s death, Vernal Chief of Police Greg Jensen, not a

defendant here, inspected Norton’s gun visually, kept it for several days, and then

returned it to Norton.

      While the investigation at the scene was underway, Murray was taken to a

hospital in Vernal, Utah, where he was pronounced dead. Deputy Byron, who had

accompanied the ambulance to the hospital, was joined there by two other officers

who are not defendants in this action. After Murray’s death, the three men began

what they later claimed was evidence collection: taking photographs of Murray’s

body, gathering his clothing in bags, and putting bags over Murray’s hands. A

member of the hospital staff drew a vial of blood from Murray’s body at the

officers’ request. One of the officers took Murray’s clothes and the blood, but it

is unknown what became of these items.

      Deputy Byron placed his index finger in both of Murray’s head wounds.

According to Byron, he did this to determine the location of the entrance wound

and the exit wound. But Plaintiffs’ experts testified that this tampering was not

only unusual, but potentially harmful to the investigation. One expert stated that

in his thirty years of experience in police practices, he had “never heard or seen

an instance where a law enforcement officer inserted a finger into a gunshot

wound prior to examination by the medical examiner,” which “can introduce

contamination, remove evidence and alter the appearance of the wound.” App.

Vol XVIII at 5688. Even experts retained by Defendants agreed that there was no

                                          9
reason for the “turning, moving of limbs, [and] undressing” of Murray, and that

probative trace evidence could have been lost as a result. App. Vol VI at

1628–29. Nonetheless, Dr. Edward Leis, the Deputy Medical Examiner who

performed the official medical examination of Murray’s body, testified that any

potential contamination caused by the officers’ meddling would not have altered

his determination regarding the location of the entry and exit wounds or his

conclusion that Murray died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Dr. Leis is not a

defendant in this action.

      Murray’s body was transported from the hospital to The Blackburn

Company (“Blackburn”), a mortuary and funeral home, where it was kept until the

medical examiner’s office could retrieve it the following day. Colby DeCamp, a

mortuary apprentice, was asked by law enforcement officers to draw blood.

DeCamp, who is also not a defendant in this action, testified that he remembered

at least the following officers were present: Chief Jensen, Detective Norton, and

Keith Campbell (a Deputy Medical Examiner and a Deputy Sheriff, not a

defendant). In order to draw the blood, DeCamp made an incision in Murray’s

neck, which he testified is a common practice used to draw blood from deceased

persons who have sustained significant blood loss. After drawing the blood,

DeCamp immediately gave the sample to the officers, but it is unknown what

became of the blood sample after that. Plaintiffs described the incision as a

“jagged-gash” on Murray’s remains. App. Vol. IV at 1231. Plaintiffs believe the

                                         10
incision in the neck was an effort to send a threatening message to Murray’s

family, but DeCamp testified that he did not know Murray or his family, nor did

he believe that the incision would cause emotional distress.

      The following day, Murray’s body was taken to the Utah State Office of the

Medical Examiner where Dr. Leis performed an examination. Dr. Leis testified

that he did not believe Murray’s injury was survivable, or at least Murray would

have remained “in a chronic vegetative state,” App. Vol. XVII at 5537, and thus

the officers who were at the scene could not have saved his life by administering

aid. Plaintiffs’ forensics experts opined that “many victims of gunshot injuries to

the head survive,” App. Vol. XIII at 3789, and that Murray’s injury “would not be

considered universally . . . fatal,” App. Vol. XVIII at 5687, but these experts did

not offer evidence that Murray’s particular injury was surviveable.

      Although Agent Ashdown requested that a full autopsy be performed, Dr.

Leis decided to conduct only an external physical examination. According to Dr.

Leis, after performing the external physical examination and reading a

preliminary report prepared by Keith Campbell the prior evening, he concluded

that a full autopsy was unnecessary. A full autopsy might have revealed more

information about the trajectory and type of bullet that killed Murray, as well as

whether there was any evidence of a struggle which may have preceded his death.

      Dr. Leis determined that the wound on the left side of Murray’s head was

the entrance wound and that the wound on the right was the exit wound. Because

                                         11
of soot in the entrance wound and surrounding abrasions to the skin, Dr. Leis

concluded that the gun was in close proximity to the skin when it was discharged,

and described the entry wound as a “contact wound.” Id. at 3364. Dr. Leis

completed a death certificate that listed the cause of Murray’s death as suicide

resulting from a gunshot wound to the head.

                                          II

      Following Murray’s death, Plaintiffs filed a civil suit in Utah state court,

which included numerous claims. The State of Utah, no longer a party, removed

the action to federal court. After entering several rulings, the district court has

now disposed of all claims contained in the Plaintiffs’ third and final amended

complaint. The district court first entered summary judgment in favor of

Blackburn on Plaintiffs’ claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress. The

district court also twice denied Plaintiffs leave to amend their emotional distress

claim. The district court then ruled that the United States’ treaty with Murray’s

tribe, the Ute, did not give rise to a private right of action against municipalities

or individuals enforceable through 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and dismissed that count on

the pleadings. The district court then issued a trio of opinions, granting summary

judgment to all municipal and individual Defendants on the remaining civil rights

claims (unlawful seizure, excessive force, failure to intervene, and conspiracy),

dismissing the remaining state tort claims, and dismissing as moot Plaintiffs’

motion for partial summary judgment on the status of Indian lands. The district

                                          12
court also denied Plaintiffs’ motion to reconsider an earlier ruling that the Utah

Governmental Immunity Act applies to the defendant officers. Finally, the

district court denied Plaintiffs’ request for sanctions against all individual

Defendants and Uintah County for alleged spoliation of evidence, but reserved

judgment on whether the City of Vernal might be liable for sanctions. After

further argument, the district later denied those sanctions as well.

      After the entry of final judgment in this case, the district court taxed costs

against Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs’ subsequent request for reconsideration of the

taxation of costs was denied. We conclude we have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.

§ 1291 to address all issues raised in both Case Nos. 14-4040 and 14-4144, except

the taxation of costs.

                                          III

      We have divided Plaintiffs’ substantive and procedural claims into the

following groups: (1) 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims for unlawful seizure, excessive use

of force, and failure to intervene in the violation of constitutional rights; (2) 42

U.S.C. § 1983 claim for violation of individual rights under the Ute Treaty; (3) 42

U.S.C. § 1985 claim for conspiracy to violate civil rights; (4) state law tort claims

of intentional infliction of emotional distress, wrongful death, and assault and

battery; (5) spoliation sanctions; and (6) taxation of costs.

1. Unlawful seizure, excessive force, and failure to intervene

      The district court granted summary judgment to all Defendants on

                                          13
Plaintiffs’ claims of unlawful seizure, excessive force, and failure to intervene in

the ongoing violation of constitutional rights, all brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

We review the grant of summary judgment de novo. Tabor v. Hilti, Inc., 703 F.3d

1206, 1215 (10th Cir. 2013). We view the facts in the light most favorable to the

nonmovant and draw all reasonable inferences in the nonmovant’s favor. Id.

Summary judgment is appropriate only if “there is no genuine dispute as to any

material fact.” Id. (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a)). “A fact is ‘material’ if, under

the governing law, it could have an effect on the outcome of the lawsuit. A

dispute over a material fact is ‘genuine’ if a rational jury could find in favor of

the nonmoving party on the evidence presented.” Id. (quoting Equal Emp’t

Opportunity Comm’n v. Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp., 220 F.3d 1184, 1190

(10th Cir. 2000)).

      We first dispense with Plaintiffs’ unlawful seizure claims, and the

remaining constitutional claims unravel from there. Plaintiffs argue that

Detective Norton, Trooper Young, and Deputy Byron seized Murray without

probable cause or reasonable suspicion. They also allege these officers, along

with Trooper Swenson, unconstitutionally pursued and seized Murray on

Reservation land where they have no jurisdiction, even if arguably they had

cause. Plaintiffs argue further that the officers’ employers, Uintah County and

the City of Vernal, failed to properly train and supervise the officers, or

alternatively, implemented policies and procedures that were deliberately

                                          14
indifferent to Murray’s rights.

       In order for Plaintiffs to succeed on their unlawful seizure claims, there

must have been a seizure which invokes the protections of the Fourth

Amendment. A seizure occurs when “an individual remains in the control of law

enforcement officials because he reasonably believes, on the basis of their

conduct toward him, that he is not free to go.” Michigan v. Chesternut, 486 U.S.

567, 577 (1988).

       Plaintiffs contend the following events are seizures: (1) Trooper Swenson’s

order to Murray to get on the ground at the conclusion of the car chase, (2) the

search for, and closing in on Murray, and (3) Murray’s fatal gunshot wound,

which Plaintiffs believe was inflicted by Detective Norton, not Murray himself.

The district court ruled that no reasonable jury could find for Plaintiffs on any of

these theories. 1

       Plaintiffs’ first theory is that Murray “momentarily halted” when Trooper

Swenson commanded him to stop as he got out of the pursued vehicle. Aplt. Br.

at 40. But the dashboard camera video demonstrates that there was no

submission, not even an ephemeral one. See California v. Hodari D., 499 U.S.

621, 626 (1991) (explaining that an officer’s command to halt is not a seizure

       1
        It is undisputed that Deputy Byron’s handcuffing Murray was an unlawful
seizure of a tribal member on tribal land. See Ross v. Neff, 905 F.2d 1349,
1353–54 (10th Cir. 1990). The district court ruled that Byron was entitled to
qualified immunity. Plaintiffs do not challenge this ruling on appeal.

                                          15
until the person actually submits to the command); Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372,

380 (2007) (in the context of a videotape: “[W]hen opposing parties tell two

different stories, one of which is blatantly contradicted by the record, so that no

reasonable jury could believe it, a court should adopt that version of the facts for

purposes of ruling on a motion for summary judgment.”). Thus, we conclude,

Swenson never seized Murray.

      Second, Plaintiffs argue that, under a totality of the circumstances, the

officers had seized Murray in the moments before Murray was shot, even if he

shot himself. Aplt. Br. at 40 (citing Jones v. Hunt, 410 F.3d 1221, 1226 (10th

Cir. 2005) (reciting several factors which contribute to a seizure)). In relevant

part, Jones points out that the threatening presence of officers, brandishing of a

weapon, aggressive tone of voice, interaction in a nonpublic place, and absence of

other members of the public can contribute to finding a seizure. 410 F.3d at

1225–26. Here, Detective Norton, who was in a remote area but at a distance

from Murray, ordered Murray to the ground. It is also reasonable to infer from

Deputy Byron’s testimony that he and Trooper Young could see Murray, that

Murray reciprocally was aware of Byron and Young as well. It is also undisputed

that Norton fired two shots at Murray.

      However, no reasonable jury could find a seizure had occurred in the

moments before shots were fired because there is no evidence that Murray ever

submitted to any show of authority. Even if one assumes Murray heard Norton’s

                                          16
shouts from over 100 yards away, Norton testified that Murray began running

toward him and fired at him, rather than submitting. Additionally, even if we

assume Murray was aware of Byron and Young in the other direction, there is no

indication that Murray submitted to their presence. Nothing in the officers’

actions “terminate[d] [Murray’s] movement” or otherwise caused the officers “to

have physical control” over Murray. See Brooks v. Gaenzle, 614 F.3d 1213,

1223–24 (10th Cir. 2010). 2

      Finally, Plaintiffs argue that Murray did not shoot himself, but that

Detective Norton shot him at close range, thereby effectuating a seizure. Our best

understanding of Plaintiffs’ theory is this: Norton had the .380 weapon found near

Murray, caught up to Murray either in his vehicle or on foot, used either the .380

or his .40 caliber weapon to shoot Murray at close range, and planted the .380

near Murray. To support this theory, Plaintiffs offer these facts: (1) that Murray

was right-handed, but the entrance wound was on the left side of his head; (2)

Trooper Swenson did not see any weapons on Murray when he ran from the car;

and (3) no blood or tissue “blowback” was documented on Murray’s left hand or

on the .380 firearm recovered near him.

      These facts could not lead a reasonable jury to conclude that Detective

      2
        Plaintiffs argue that if Murray shot himself, his suicide would constitute a
seizure because it was motivated by being “caught.” Aplt. Br. at 41 n.74; Aplt.
Reply Br. at 19. However, Plaintiffs provided no authority upon which to base
such a conclusion.

                                          17
Norton inflicted Murray’s fatal contact wound. To the contrary, this extensive

record could only lead a reasonable jury to conclude that no other person,

including Detective Norton, was within 100 yards of Murray when he was shot,

and so Murray is the only person who could have inflicted a contact wound.

Norton testified that he saw Murray shoot himself from an estimated 140 yards

away. Plaintiffs argue that Norton’s testimony should be disregarded because he

is the accused officer. But even if this court were to disregard Norton’s

testimony, the remainder of Defendants’ evidence remains uncontroverted.

Deputy Byron testified that he heard crackling and saw Murray fall to the ground

immediately after seeing Detective Norton on a hill at a distance from Murray.

Agent Ashdown found two shell casings from Norton’s gun 113 yards away from

where Murray fell, and observed that Norton had no blood on him when he was

seen immediately after Murray was shot. Plaintiffs do not contest the medical

evidence that Murray died of a contact wound, and Plaintiffs fail to present any

evidence that anyone else got close to Murray. Thus, although the question of

who inflicted Murray’s fatal gunshot wound is certainly material, there is no

genuine dispute of fact that the shooter was anyone but Murray himself.

      Without a seizure, there can be no violation of the Fourth Amendment and

therefore no liability for the individual Defendants. In the absence of a seizure

we need not address the tribal status of lands on which the purported seizures

occurred. As for the City of Vernal and Uintah County, “[w]hen there is no

                                         18
underlying constitutional violation by a[n] . . . officer, there cannot be an action

for failing to train or supervise the officer.” Apodaca v. Rio Arriba Cty. Sheriff’s

Dep’t, 905 F.2d 1445, 1447–48 (10th Cir. 1990) (citing City of Los Angeles v.

Heller, 475 U.S. 796, 799 (1986)).

      Additionally, without a seizure, there can be no claim for excessive use of

force in effectuating that seizure. See County of Sacramento v. Lewis, 523 U.S.

833, 843–44 (1998). That leaves Plaintiffs’ claim of excessive use of force in

violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. 3 Id. The core

concept of due process protection against excessive use of force is the protection

against government action which is arbitrary or “shocks the conscience.” Id. at

845–46. “[O]nly the most egregious official conduct can be said to be ‘arbitrary

in the constitutional sense.’” Id. at 846 (quoting Collins v. City of Harker

Heights, 503 U.S. 115, 129 (1992)).

      As the application of force, Plaintiffs point to “brandish[ing] and

threaten[ing] deadly force,” apparently referring to Norton firing at Murray, and

Byron and Young approaching him with their guns drawn after he was down.

Aplt. Br. at 43. Plaintiffs attempt to rely on Black v. Stephens, 662 F.2d 181 (3d

Cir. 1981), to argue the officers here used excessive force. However, Black is

      3
        Although Plaintiffs briefed for this court the protections of substantive
due process under the Fifth Amendment, we interpret their arguments under the
Fourteenth Amendment because they seek relief against state, rather than federal,
actors.

                                          19
unhelpful to Plaintiffs because there, a plainclothes detective, who did not

identify himself, aimed his service weapon at a man’s head in an unprovoked road

rage incident, with the man’s wife also in the line of fire. 662 F.2d at 183–85.

Here, Plaintiffs offered no evidence to counter Detective Norton’s testimony that

Murray fired first and Detective Norton returned fire. With respect to Deputy

Byron and Trooper Young’s armed approach of Murray after he was down,

Murray was unconscious and would not have been aware of the weapons, nor did

the officers apply any force directly to Murray. 4 The record contains no evidence

that these two officers ever fired at or verbally threatened Murray.

      Therefore, nothing about the officers’ approach toward Murray shocks the

conscience or was arbitrary. We affirm the district court’s grant of summary

judgment to Defendants on the excessive force claim. As with the unlawful

seizure claims, the municipalities are not liable in the absence of a constitutional

violation. Apodaca, 905 F.2d at 1447–48.

      Without either an unlawful seizure or an excessive use of force, Plaintiffs’

claim that the nine individual Defendants are liable for a failure to intervene in

the violation of constitutional rights also fails. In order to be liable for failure to

intervene, the officers must have “observe[d] or ha[d] reason to know” of a

constitutional violation and have had a “realistic opportunity to intervene.”

      4
        Deputy Byron did handcuff Murray, but Plaintiffs do not argue on appeal
that he used excessive force in doing so.

                                          20
Vondrak v. City of Las Cruces, 535 F.3d 1198, 1210 (10th Cir. 2008) (quoting

Anderson v. Branen, 17 F.3d 552, 557 (2d Cir. 1994)).

      Plaintiffs focus their arguments on the officers’ opportunities to intervene,

but ignore the requirement that the officers must have knowledge of a

constitutional violation. While this court has not directly stated as much, other

circuits have acknowledged that “[i]n order for there to be a failure to intervene,

it logically follows that there must exist an underlying constitutional violation[.]”

See Harper v. Albert, 400 F.3d 1052, 1064 (7th Cir. 2005). We are unaware of

any failure to intervene case in which this court has reversed either a grant of

summary judgment or qualified immunity to a government actor without first

finding at least a genuine issue of material fact as to an underlying constitutional

violation. Cf. Estate of Booker v. Gomez, 745 F.3d 405, 422–23 (10th Cir. 2014)

(denying summary judgment and qualified immunity to government defendants on

failure to intervene in excessive use of force where plaintiffs’ genuinely disputed

facts, if true, would constitute a clearly established excessive use of force); Casey

v. City of Fed. Heights, 509 F.3d 1278, 1283–85 (10th Cir. 2007) (reversing grant

of summary judgment to government defendants on failure to intervene claim

where genuine issues of material fact remained on excessive use of force claim).

We therefore affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment to Defendants

on the failure to intervene claim.

                                          21
2. Violation of Ute Treaty

      Plaintiffs brought a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that all of the

individual Defendants violated Murray’s rights under the “Ute Treaty” 5 between

the Ute Tribe and the United States. The district court dismissed the Treaty claim

on the pleadings, concluding that the Ute Treaty does not confer an individual

right for which § 1983 provides a remedy against individuals or municipalities.

Instead, the district court concluded, the Treaty only creates an individual right

against the United States, which must be enforced directly through the Treaty

itself. We review a dismissal for failure to state a claim de novo. Seattle-First

Nat’l Bank v. Carlstedt, 800 F.2d 1008, 1011 (10th Cir. 1986).

      Section 1983 is not an independent source of rights, but rather a vehicle

through which one may vindicate rights conferred elsewhere in the Constitution

and laws of the United States. Gonzaga Univ. v. Doe, 536 U.S. 273, 285 (2002).

It is the violation of these federally-conferred rights, not merely violations of

federal law, which give rise to § 1983 actions. Id. at 282–83. Plaintiffs argue

these rights arise here from the “Bad Men Clause” 6 of the Ute Treaty:

      5
        Two treaties comprise the “Ute Treaty” at issue here. An 1863 Treaty
created the Uncompahgre Reservation, and an 1868 Treaty contains the language
Plaintiffs argue confers a right enforceable via § 1983. See Treaty with the Utah
Tabeguache Band, Oct. 7, 1863, 13 Stat. 673; Treaty with the Ute, art. 6, Mar. 2,
1868, 15 Stat. 619. As Plaintiffs do, we read the two treaties together, referring
to them as one “Ute Treaty.”
      6
          Several treaties between the United States and various Native American
                                                                       (continued...)

                                          22
      If bad men among the whites or among other people, subject to the
      authority of the United States, shall commit any wrong upon the
      person or property of the Indians, the United States will, upon proof
      made to the agent and forwarded to the Commissioner of Indian
      Affairs at Washington City, proceed at once to cause the offender to
      be arrested and punished according to the laws of the United States,
      and also reimburse the injured person for the loss sustained.

Treaty with the Ute, art. 6, Mar. 2, 1868, 15 Stat. 619.

      Even though the Treaty can be read to grant individual rights to Ute

members, the text is clear that those rights only arise directly against the United

States, and must be enforced through the mechanism prescribed in the Treaty,

rather than the general § 1983 remedy. The remedy for Plaintiffs’ claimed

wrongs is that “the United States will . . . reimburse the injured person for the

loss sustained” and cause the “bad men” to be arrested if his acts were criminal.

Treaty with the Ute, 15 Stat. at 620 (emphasis added).

      Other courts have come to the same conclusion on similar Bad Men

Clauses. 7 E.g., Hebah v. United States, 428 F.2d 1334, 1335–36, 1339–40 (Ct.

      6
        (...continued)
tribes contain similar or identical language, commonly referred to as a “Bad Men
Clause.” See Lillian Marquez, Making Bad Men Pay: Recovering Pain and
Suffering Damages for Torts on Indian Reservations under the Bad Men Clause,
20 Fed. Cir. B.J. 609, 610–13 (2010–2011).
      7
         The Court of Federal Claims, in parallel litigation to this case, ruled that
it had jurisdiction pursuant to the Ute Treaty Bad Men Clause to address at least
some of Plaintiffs’ claims against the individual defendants here, as well as the
FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs officials involved. Jones v. United States, 122
Fed. Cl. 490, 517–23 (Fed. Cl. July 30, 2015), appeal docketed, No. 15-5148
(Fed. Cir. Sept. 10, 2015). The Court of Federal Claims dismissed the action,
                                                                         (continued...)

                                          23
Cl. 1970) (holding for the first time that the Bad Men Clause does give rise to

individual rights, and plaintiff could sue the United States directly for

reimbursement of damages she suffered from her husband’s death at the hands of

the Indian Police Force); Tsosie v. United States, 825 F.2d 393, 394, 398 (Fed.

Cir. 1987) (holding that an identical Bad Men Clause permitted individual

“reimbursement from the federal treasury” after suffering an assault at the hands

of a U.S. Public Health Service hospital employee); Elk v. United States, 87 Fed.

Cl. 70, 72–73, 78–79 (Fed. Cl. 2009) (permitting a member of the Oglala Sioux

Tribe to recover directly from the United States under an identically worded

treaty for an assault perpetrated by a U.S. Army recruiter).

      This reading of the Ute Treaty also comports with the Supreme Court’s

statements that a well-developed enforcement mechanism granted directly through

a statute will foreclose the ability to pursue a § 1983 action. See Gonzaga, 536

U.S. at 284–85 n.4; Wright v. City of Roanoke Redevelopment & Hous. Auth.,

479 U.S. 418, 423, 426 (1987) (noting that where a comprehensive scheme

provided for private actions, Congress expressed an intent to foreclose remedies

under § 1983, but where the statute or its regulations had “never provided a

procedure by which [persons] could complain . . . about the alleged [violations],”

      7
       (...continued)
however, because the district court’s factual findings in this case resulted in issue
preclusion. Id. at 523–30.

                                          24
§ 1983 action was not precluded); Middlesex Cty. Sewerage Auth. v. Nat’l Sea

Clammers Ass’n, 453 U.S. 1, 20 (1981).

      While Plaintiffs cite several cases which they argue support their filing of a

§ 1983 action to enforce their treaty rights, each of these cases either hold that the

treaties at issue do not provide a § 1983 remedy, or grant a § 1983 remedy based

on treaty language that is not present in the Ute Treaty. E.g., Hoopa Valley Tribe

v. Nevins, 881 F.2d 657, 662–63 (9th Cir. 1989) (finding no § 1983 remedy);

Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians v. Minnesota, 853 F. Supp. 1118, 1122,

1125–26 (D. Minn. 1994) (permitting a § 1983 action based on “the privilege of

hunting, fishing, and gathering”). If anything, these cases stand for the accepted

premise that the specific language of a treaty determines whether that treaty gives

rise to a § 1983 remedy. We agree with the district court that the Ute Treaty does

not provide for a § 1983 remedy, and affirm the district court’s dismissal of

Plaintiffs’ treaty violation claim.

3. Conspiracy to violate civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(2) and (3)

      Plaintiffs claim that the individual Defendants conspired to obstruct justice,

and to violate Murray’s civil rights, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1985(2) and (3),

respectively. The district court granted summary judgment to Defendants on both

conspiracy claims.

      The relevant portion of § 1985(2) provides a right of action “if two or more

persons conspire for the purpose of impeding, hindering, obstructing, or

                                          25
defeating, in any manner, the due course of justice in any State or Territory, with

intent to deny to any citizen the equal protection of the laws.” 42 U.S.C. §

1985(2). Section 1985(3), clause 1, provides a right of action “[i]f two or more

persons in any State or Territory conspire . . . for the purpose of depriving, either

directly or indirectly, any person or class of persons of the equal protection of the

laws.” 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3).

      Among other elements, both causes of action require a showing of “some

racial, or perhaps otherwise class-based, invidiously discriminatory animus

behind the conspirators’ action.” Griffin v. Breckenridge, 403 U.S. 88, 102

(1971); see also Murray v. City of Sapulpa, 45 F.3d 1417, 1423 (10th Cir. 1995);

Smith v. Yellow Freight Sys., Inc., 536 F.2d 1320, 1323 (10th Cir. 1976). The

focus of the racial animus inquiry is the government actor’s “intent, motive, or

purpose.” Pueblo Neighborhood Health Ctrs., Inc. v. Losavio, 847 F.2d 642, 647

(10th Cir. 1988). To avoid summary judgment, Plaintiffs must point to “specific,

nonconclusory evidence” that the Defendants’ actions were “improperly

motivated.” Id. at 650.

      Plaintiffs’ only support for their racial animus theory is that some of the

officers were aware of Murray’s race, there was “significant racial tension” in the

local culture, and that “[t]he only plausible explanation for the abusive way that

[Defendants] handled every aspect of this incident,” and the “brazen and flagrant”

“evidence tampering” is “racial bias.” App. Vol. XVIII at 5791. These facts,

                                          26
even if fully accepted and considered together, do not amount to the specific,

nonconclusory evidence of invidiously race-based animus required to avoid

summary judgment on a conspiracy claim. Trooper Swenson’s identification of

the vehicle’s occupants as “tribal males” to dispatch was merely descriptive.

There is no evidence that Norton, Byron, or Young pursued Murray on foot

because of his race, even if we assume they heard Trooper Swenson identify the

vehicle’s occupants as such. The remaining officers arrived well after Murray

was shot, and there is no evidence that their behavior was based on racial or any

other animus. We therefore affirm summary judgment in favor of the individual

Defendants on Plaintiffs’ § 1985(2) and (3) claims.

4. State law torts

      Plaintiffs brought a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress

(“IIED”) against Blackburn, and claims of wrongful death and assault and battery

against Detective Norton. We first address the IIED claim.

      Plaintiffs alleged that Blackburn, the funeral home and mortuary where

Murray’s body was temporarily housed on the day of his death, is vicariously

liable for emotional distress they experienced based on their later seeing the

incision made on Murray’s neck. The district court granted Blackburn summary

judgment, and denied Plaintiffs leave to amend their IIED claim.

      When a plaintiff is not present during the allegedly tortious act, Utah law

requires, among the other elements of an IIED claim, that the defendant

                                         27
committed the act with the intention of inflicting injury upon the absent plaintiff.

Hatch v. Davis, 147 P.3d 383, 388 (Utah 2006). Plaintiffs’ IIED claim fails

because it is undisputed that they were not present when the incision was made

and they cannot demonstrate that Blackburn apprentice Colby DeCamp intended

to inflict any injury upon Plaintiffs. DeCamp testified that he did not know

Murray or the Plaintiffs at the time, and that he made the incision only at the

request of law enforcement officers to obtain a blood sample. Plaintiffs do not

dispute this testimony, but merely argue “the very nature of the desecration

itself,” i.e., the appearance of the incision, satisfies the “presence” requirement.

Aplt. Br. at 52. But Plaintiffs offer no authority to support this argument.

Summary judgment in favor of Blackburn on the IIED claim is affirmed.

       Relatedly, Plaintiffs take issue with the district court’s denial of their two

requests for leave to amend their complaint with respect to the IIED claim. In

general, leave to amend a complaint should be freely granted “when justice so

requires.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). However, if the amendment would be futile,

we will uphold the denial of a requested amendment. Full Life Hospice, LLC v.

Sebelius, 709 F.3d 1012, 1018 (10th Cir. 2013). A denial of leave to amend a

complaint is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Id. Where the reason for denial of

leave to amend is futility, we review de novo the legal basis for the finding of

futility. Id.

       Plaintiffs first sought leave to add DeCamp and Vernal Police Chief Greg

                                           28
Jensen individually as defendants in the IIED claim. Adding DeCamp and Jensen

would be futile because the statute of limitations had already run when Plaintiffs

sought this amendment. Cabaness v. Thomas, 232 P.3d 486, 496 (Utah 2010)

(noting that the IIED statute of limitations is four years); Blackburn Supp. App. at

11. We see no “mistake concerning the proper party’s identity” such that the

amendment would relate back, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(c)(1)(C), and, as a result, no

abuse of discretion by the district court in denying this amendment.

      After entry of summary judgment in favor of Blackburn, Plaintiffs again

sought leave to amend their complaint, this time to add negligence and other torts

of lesser fault. However, as Plaintiffs acknowledge, their request was a year late

under the district court’s scheduling order. Plaintiffs asked the district court to

modify its scheduling order, but the district court refused. Plaintiffs’ argument

that they “could not have anticipated” the entry of summary judgment in favor of

Blackburn is unpersuasive. App. Vol. V at 1433. The district court’s denials of

Plaintiffs’ requests for leave to amend their IIED claim are affirmed.

      In addition to its IIED claim against Blackburn, Plaintiffs alleged state law

claims of wrongful death and assault and battery against Detective Norton. After

resolving Plaintiffs’ federal claims in favor of Defendants, the district court

declined to retain supplemental jurisdiction and dismissed these claims without

prejudice. We review that decision for abuse of discretion. Exum v. U.S.

Olympic Comm., 389 F.3d 1130, 1139 (10th Cir. 2004). Plaintiffs provide no

                                         29
basis for a conclusion that the district court abused its discretion in failing to

retain jurisdiction over these state law claims.

5. Sanctions for spoliation of evidence

      Plaintiffs appeal the district court’s denial of their requested sanctions for

alleged spoliation of evidence. Plaintiffs sought default judgment and the

application of adverse inferences against all individual and government

Defendants, as well as lesser sanctions in the alternative. Sanctions for spoliation

of evidence are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry.

Co. v. Grant, 505 F.3d 1013, 1032 (10th Cir. 2007). “[W]e accept the district

court’s factual findings unless they are clearly erroneous.” Id.

       A spoliation sanction is proper where: “(1) a party has a duty to preserve

evidence because it knew, or should have known, that litigation was imminent,

and (2) the adverse party was prejudiced by the destruction of the evidence.”

Turner v. Pub. Serv. Co. of Colorado, 563 F.3d 1136, 1149 (10th Cir. 2009)

(quoting Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. Grant, 505 F.3d 1013, 1032 (10th

Cir. 2007)). The entry of default judgment or the imposition of adverse

inferences require a showing of bad faith. Id. (adverse inferences); Lee v. Max

Int’l, LLC, 638 F.3d 1318, 1321 (10th Cir. 2011) (default judgment). “Mere

negligence in losing or destroying” evidence is not enough to support imposition

of either of these harsh sanctions. Turner, 563 F.3d at 1149 (quoting Aramburu v.

Boeing Co., 112 F.3d 1398, 1407 (10th Cir. 1997)).

                                           30
      Plaintiffs argue that they were prejudiced by Defendants’ spoliation or

complete loss of the following evidence: (1) Murray’s testimony, because officers

failed to administer life-saving aid to Murray at the scene; (2) the .380 caliber

firearm attributed to Murray; (3) Detective Norton’s .40 caliber firearm; and (4)

any trace evidence that could have been recovered from the scene, Murray’s body

and clothes, or Detective Norton’s body, clothes, or vehicle on the day of the

shooting. Plaintiffs believe that this evidence would have tended to show that

Murray did not shoot himself, but was instead shot by Detective Norton.

Plaintiffs ask this court to find that the Defendants acted in bad faith because

“[n]o [other] reasonable justification exists for Defendants’ disregard for the

evidentiary duties they were under.” Aplt. Br. at 27.

      With respect to preserving Murray’s life, and therefore his testimony, the

district court found, based on Dr. Leis’ testimony, that Plaintiffs were not

prejudiced because Murray’s injuries were not survivable. We see no clear error

in the district court’s consideration of the medical facts, and therefore agree that

the failure to administer aid did not result in prejudice to Plaintiffs’ case.

      Regarding the destruction of the .380 caliber weapon found near Murray,

the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying sanctions because

Defendants here lack the level of culpability required for the spoliation of

evidence outside of their control. See Silvestri v. Gen. Motors Corp., 271 F.3d

583, 591 (4th Cir. 2001) (sanctioned party had access to evidence for his own

                                           31
investigation, but did not notify other party); Ehrenhaus v. Reynolds, 965 F.2d

916, 921 (10th Cir. 1992) (listing culpability as a relevant factor in considering

default judgment sanctions); K-Con Bldg. Sys., Inc. v. United States, 106 Fed. Cl.

652, 664 (Fed. Cl. 2012) (government allowed a witness to remove documents,

and the witness then caused those documents to be destroyed). Once Agent

Ashdown arrived, the FBI had exclusive jurisdiction over the investigation, and

was entirely responsible for preserving the .380 caliber weapon as evidence and

preventing its ultimate destruction. Neither Plaintiffs nor Defendants were

notified in advance of the weapon’s destruction.

      Plaintiffs also contend the Defendants failed to preserve trace evidence that

may have been recovered from Detective Norton’s .40 caliber gun, such as

blowback which would implicate it as the fatal weapon. Even if insufficient

examination of Norton’s gun may have prejudiced Plaintiffs, the district court did

not abuse its discretion in finding that none of the Defendants here had a duty to

preserve it. The persons with the most obvious responsibility for preserving that

evidence, Agent Ashdown and Chief Jensen, are not parties to this litigation and

therefore cannot be the subject of sanctions. It is arguable that Norton had an

independent duty to preserve any trace evidence on his own firearm because he,

independent of the FBI investigation, could reasonably have anticipated litigation.

However, the district court’s rejection of this theory does not amount to an abuse

of discretion.

                                         32
      Finally, Plaintiffs request sanctions for spoliation of trace evidence from

the scene of the shooting, Murray and Detective Norton’s skin and clothing, and

from Norton’s vehicle. Plaintiffs’ strongest support for the imposition of

sanctions is the conduct of Deputy Byron, 8 who accompanied Murray to the

hospital, was involved in removing Murray’s clothes and taking samples which

have been lost, tampered with his body, and fingered Murray’s head wound—all

before the medical examiner had an opportunity to examine Murray’s body.

Plaintiffs’ and Defendants’ experts agreed that these actions could have

contaminated or removed trace evidence, and were unnecessary and inappropriate.

      Despite how disturbing Deputy Byron’s behavior was, the district court

found no prejudice resulting from these acts. Dr. Leis testified that potential

contamination from Byron’s actions would not have changed his ultimate

conclusion regarding Murray’s cause of death. None of the blood improperly

extracted before the official medical exam was analyzed, and so the district court

reasoned there was no prejudice because it was not used against Plaintiffs. The

      8
         Arguments regarding failure to swab for gunshot residue, search for
bullets, or inspect Norton’s car are much weaker. Defendants presented
unrebutted testimony that gunshot residue tests are unreliable and law
enforcement agencies have therefore ceased using them. A gunshot residue test
on Detective Norton would have added nothing to the investigation because he
admitted to firing his weapon twice. The district court found that none of the
Defendants had a duty to document the scene because it was within the province
of the FBI. Plaintiffs have also failed to articulate what relevant evidence might
have been gleaned from investigating Norton’s vehicle.

                                         33
district court further noted that Plaintiffs failed to point to any specific relevant

evidence that would have been found on Murray’s clothing. The district court

concluded Plaintiffs had not established any prejudice resulting from the handling

of Murray’s body after his death and therefore denied Plaintiffs’ request for

sanctions. Although these acts appear at best sloppy and unorthodox, and at

worst suspicious, the district court’s denial of sanctions was not an abuse of

discretion.

6. Taxation of costs

      After the district court entered final judgment, the state (Highway Patrol

and DWR officers) and municipal (remaining individuals and municipalities)

Defendants successfully sought costs, and Plaintiffs sought review of the clerk’s

taxation of costs. After Plaintiffs and Defendants submitted briefs on the costs

issue, the district court referred the motion to a magistrate judge pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A). The magistrate judge issued a memorandum decision and

order denying Plaintiffs’ motion for review and upholding the clerk’s entry of

costs. This order was not in the form of a recommendation, and was not reviewed

or adopted by a district judge. The clerk then entered an amended final judgment,

to include the costs. The state and municipal Defendants argue that this court

lacks jurisdiction to review the taxation of costs because the magistrate judge’s

ruling is not an appealable order.

      Plaintiffs had fourteen days to object from the date of the magistrate

                                           34
judge’s order under a § 636(b)(1)(A) referral. Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a). Plaintiffs

“may not assign as error a defect in the order not timely objected to.” Id.

Moreover, “[u]nder 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A), a magistrate judge may not issue a

final order directly appealable to the court of appeals.” S.E.C. v. Merrill Scott &

Assocs., Ltd., 600 F.3d 1262, 1269 (10th Cir. 2010) (quoting Hutchinson v. Pfeil,

105 F.3d 562, 566 (10th Cir. 1997)). 9 We therefore lack appellate jurisdiction

over the magistrate judge’s order denying reconsideration of costs, and dismiss.

                                         IV

      With the exception of the taxation of costs under Case No. 14-4144, the

judgment of the district court is affirmed in Case Nos. 14-4040 and 14-4144.

Defendants’ motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction is granted with regard to

the taxation of costs, and denied with respect to all other issues. Plaintiffs’

motion to seal Volume XIX of the record is granted. Plaintiffs’ motion to file a

supplemental appendix is denied.

      9
        The grant of authority under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) includes the ability to
issue final appealable orders, but requires consent of the parties. 28 U.S.C. §
636(b) and (c)(3); Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(c); Phillips v. Beierwaltes, 466 F.3d 1217,
1220–22 (10th Cir. 2006). The parties here did not consent, either expressly or
impliedly, and so even construed under § 636(c), the magistrate judge’s order is
not appealable.

                                         35