Court Opinion

ID: 9918300
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-12 16:01:51.986695+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:27.744654
License: Public Domain

USCA11 Case: 23-10907   Document: 27-1    Date Filed: 01/11/2024   Page: 1 of 26

                                                 [DO NOT PUBLISH]
                                 In the
                 United States Court of Appeals
                        For the Eleventh Circuit

                         ____________________

                               No. 23-10907
                         Non-Argument Calendar
                         ____________________

        HILTON GERMANY,
                                                    Plaintiﬀ-Appellant,
        JONNIE BEY,
                                                              Plaintiﬀ,
        versus
        CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, et al.,

                                                          Defendants,

        OFFICER SLATER,
        Individually,
        RICHARD FLANNERY,
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1      Date Filed: 01/11/2024      Page: 2 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                          2

        OFFICER WILLIAM HALL,
        Individually,
        OFFICER KEITH WOODEN,
        Individually,

                                                       Defendants-Appellees.

                             ____________________

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Northern District of Alabama
                       D.C. Docket No. 5:18-cv-01745-LCB
                            ____________________

        Before NEWSOM, LAGOA, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.
        PER CURIAM:
               Hilton Germany, Jr., proceeding pro se, appeals the district
        court’s dismissal with prejudice of his pro se civil rights suit, as a
        sanction for misconduct during the litigation. Germany also
        appeals the district court’s failure to recuse and the district court’s
        order grating partial summary judgment against him. For the
        following reasons, we affirm.
                                       I.
               Although this is an appeal of a dismissal, it is not (as we will
        explain) an appeal arising from a motion to dismiss under Federal
        Rule of Civil Procedure 12. That is to say, we need not take the
USCA11 Case: 23-10907          Document: 27-1          Date Filed: 01/11/2024          Page: 3 of 26

        23-10907                    Opinion of the Court                                  3

        well-pled allegations as true for our purposes. Instead, we recite
        the undisputed facts as they were established at the time of
        summary judgment.1
                On October 23, 2016, Germany called 911 and asked for
        police to come to his home and remove his wife. He began the call
        by telling the dispatcher, “I’m not trying to be funny. I’m fucking
        serious. . . . I need a police officer to come out here.” The
        dispatcher took down his address and asked what happened.
        Germany responded, “I just need a police officer to come out here.
        That’s what I’m requesting.” When the dispatcher asked again,
        “what happened?”, Germany doubled down, replying “No,
        motherfucker. I just told you what the fuck I need, right? So that’s
        what I need you to do.” “I don’t give a fuck about your job,” he
        continued, demanding “Look man, just send the fucking police out.

        1 The events underlying this suit were captured on video by the officers’

        bodycams. That video footage, along with recordings of 911 calls that
        Germany placed, were filed on the record as summary-judgment exhibits.
        Because neither party disputed the authenticity of those video and audio
        recordings, the district court treated the recordings as undisputed evidence.
        This is consistent with the Supreme Court and our Circuit’s precedents. See
        Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380–81 (2007) (holding that, where a video—
        whose authenticity the plaintiff hadn’t attacked—“so utterly discredited” the
        plaintiff’s version of events, “the Court of Appeals should not have relied on
        such visible fiction [as the plaintiff’s testimony]; it should have viewed the facts
        in the light depicted by the videotape.”); Morton v. Kirkwood, 707 F.3d 1276,
        1284 (11th Cir. 2013) (“[W]here an accurate video recording completely and
        clearly contradicts a party’s testimony, that testimony becomes incredible.”);
        id. (“At times, we too have discarded a party’s account when the account is
        inherently incredible and could not support reasonable inferences sufficient to
        create an issue of fact.”).
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1     Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 4 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                        4

        That’s all I asked for.” Then Germany hung up. He called back a
        few minutes later and reached a different dispatcher. This time, he
        identified himself, gave his address, and repeated his request to
        have someone removed from his home. He told this dispatcher, “I
        need someone to bring a police officer. I’m trying to restrain
        myself from killing anybody. . . . I just need someone to come to
        remove a person.”
               Officer Hall was the first to arrive at the scene. He found
        Germany standing in the front yard and asked Germany what was
        going on. Germany explained that he wanted his wife removed
        from the home. Hall told Germany that, because the couple was
        married, he could not make Germany’s wife leave her own home.
        To that, Germany replied “Well, I’m just letting y’all know, I don’t
        want to have no problem with someone getting killed.” Hall
        counseled Germany to be careful with his words because “if she
        hears you saying that, she can press charges.” Hall then tried to ask
        Germany what exactly happened and whether Germany had any
        injuries, but Germany refused to provide any details—he merely
        reiterated his desire to have his wife removed. Hall asked for
        Germany’s name, and he replied “Hilton.” Hall then asked for
        Germany’s last name, and Germany became irate, telling Hall that
        he does not like to repeat himself. Hall told Germany there was no
        need to become disrespectful and that he was there to help, and
        Germany began shouting, “I don’t give a fuck. Get the fuck up out
        of here.” At this point, Jonnie Bey (Germany’s mother) came out
        of the house and approached Germany and Hall, explaining, “My
        son has PTSD. . . . I’m trying to explain to you, my son has PTSD.
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1     Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 5 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                        5

        . . . If you keep asking him the same things, he is going to have a
        problem.” After Germany began screaming obscenities on the
        front lawn, Hall told Germany to put his hands behind his back.
        Rather than comply with Hall’s order, Germany turned away from
        Hall and walked back toward the house, yelling “this is my
        motherfucking property.” Hall followed Germany to the front
        porch and, as Germany reached the door, Hall told Germany “you
        need to come back down here.” Germany shouted back that Hall
        needed to “get the fuck up out my property,” and walked inside the
        house.
               Hall stated in a sworn declaration that, based on Germany’s
        “loud, profane, and violent language and his repeated statements
        that he wanted his wife out of the house, [Hall] was concerned that
        Germany’s earlier threats that he might kill someone might be
        directed at his wife.” Based on that fear and the Huntsville Police
        Department’s domestic violence policy, which requires officers to
        “take reasonable measures to assist and/or assure the immediate
        safety of every person who may be affected,” Hall decided he
        needed to keep Germany away from anyone else in the house to
        deescalate the situation. Hall, therefore, followed Germany to the
        front porch, but Bey stepped in to block his path. When Hall
        (again) instructed Germany to come back down to the yard,
        Germany yelled back, “Get the fuck up out of here. . . . Get the fuck
        off my property.” Germany then entered the home and stood, in
        Hall’s view, behind the glass door. Backup then began to arrive.
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1     Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 6 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                        6

                Bey positioned herself between Germany (in the front door)
        and Hall (at the front steps), blocking Hall’s pathway. She
        reiterated Germany’s distaste for answering questions; Hall’s
        questions, she said, pushed Germany “from 0 to 1000,” and she was
        unable to control Germany when he was “at this level” because of
        his size. Bey also told Hall that Germany could not control himself
        when he is “out of control” and angry. When Germany yelled over
        his mother with another profanity-laced tirade, Bey begged her
        son, “I’m your voice of reason, let me talk, please.”
               Hall explained that as a matter of state law, because the
        situation involved domestic violence, he needed Germany to come
        back outside and talk. Hall made clear to Bey that if Germany did
        not come out, Hall would have to go in. As Germany turned away
        from the door and started pacing inside the house, Hall asked Bey
        if there were any weapons in the house, and Bey said she was not
        aware of any.
               During most of this interaction, Germany was standing
        immediately inside the glass front door, in Hall’s line of sight. But
        as Hall spoke to Bey, Germany moved further into the house and
        disappeared from view. Hall ordered, “Sir, I need you to come
        back here,” to no avail. Then, over Bey’s protests, Hall (followed
        by Officers Wooden, Flannery, and Slater—all of whom had
        arrived while Hall was talking to Germany and Bey) entered the
        home. Inside, the officers found Germany walking down a
        staircase next to the kitchen. Hall told Germany he was under
        arrest and ordered him to put his hands behind his back. When
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1     Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 7 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                        7

        Germany questioned why (“I ain’t turning around. For what?”),
        Hall told him he was being arrested for disturbing the peace.
        Germany, increasingly argumentative, responded “It’s my fucking
        property. I can say whatever I want.” Flannery chimed in and told
        Germany to cooperate with Hall, but Germany turned his anger
        on Flannery, telling him to “shut the fuck up. Like I said, I’m not
        about to fucking go nowhere.”
                Faced with Germany’s increasing anger and lacking
        cooperation, Wooden sprayed Germany with oleoresin capsicum
        (“OC,” or pepper spray). A struggle then ensued as the officers
        tried, for approximately one minute, to handcuff Germany. The
        bodycam footage shows a chaotic scene, with multiple officers
        grappling with Germany, their commands to “put your hands
        behind your back” muddled with screams from Germany’s family
        members and a crying baby. After about 35 seconds, the officers
        got Germany down to the ground where he continued to struggle.
        After another 30 seconds or so on the ground, the officers
        handcuffed Germany.
               The parties all agree that Flannery, Hall, Wooden, and Slater
        all struck, punched, or used pressure-point holds on Germany
        during the scuffle, but because of the chaotic scene and close range,
        the bodycam footage does not show precisely what happened after
        Germany was on the ground. After Germany was cuffed, he first
        refused to move outside voluntarily. But once the officers lifted
        him to his feet, he cooperated with their effort to walk him outside
        to a patrol car.
USCA11 Case: 23-10907           Document: 27-1          Date Filed: 01/11/2024            Page: 8 of 26

        23-10907                     Opinion of the Court                                    8

              The day after his arrest, Germany went to the hospital. He
        had some bruising below his right eye and on his upper arms; he
        complained of “mild pain on multiple locations”; and he denied
        ever having lost consciousness. The physician who treated
        Germany prescribed medication to treat his pain and sent him
        home.
               Germany was charged with resisting arrest and disturbing
        the peace, but the Huntsville prosecuting attorney filed a motion
        for nolle prosequi, which the state court granted.
               In 2018, Germany and Bey paid the requisite fee and filed
        their suit alleging false arrest, excessive force, and assault and
        battery. In the complaint, Germany and Bey named Officers Slater,
        Flannery, Wooden, Hall, and Sellers as defendants, all in their
        individual capacities.2 In their Second Amended Complaint,
        Germany and Bey asserted fourteen claims, falling into five
        categories: (1) a false arrest of Germany by Officer Hall (Count 1);
        (2) excessive force against Germany by Officers Slater, Flannery,
        Wooden, Hall, and Sellers (Counts 2 to 6); (3) excessive force
        against Bey by Officer Hall (Count 7); (4) assault and battery against

        2 Germany also named the City of            Huntsville, Alabama (“the City”), as a
        defendant. The district court later granted summary judgment to the City
        based on a state law grant of immunity. But Germany does not challenge the
        ruling in favor of the City on appeal, so he has abandoned the issue. See United
        States v. Campbell, 26 F.4th 860, 873 (11th Cir. 2022) (“[F]ailure to raise an issue
        in an initial brief . . . should be treated as a forfeiture of the issue, and therefore
        the issue may be raised by the court sua sponte [only] in extraordinary
        circumstances.”).
USCA11 Case: 23-10907        Document: 27-1        Date Filed: 01/11/2024        Page: 9 of 26

        23-10907                  Opinion of the Court                              9

        Germany by Officers Slater, Flannery, Wooden, Hall, and Sellers,
        and the City of Huntsville (Counts 8 to 13); and (5) assault and
        battery against Bey by Officer Slater (Count 14). The Defendants
        answered, denied liability, and asserted defenses.
               Following discovery, each of the Defendants moved for
        summary judgment.3 The Defendants all argued that, among
        other things, they were entitled to qualified immunity from the
        § 1983 claims and state-agent and statutory immunity from any
        state law claims. In support, they submitted joint evidentiary
        materials, including police policies, bodycam videos from the
        officers, transcripts and recordings of Germany’s calls to 911,
        depositions of the parties, and Germany’s arrest report.
               Following a hearing, the district court issued an order on the
        summary judgment motions. 4 After reviewing bodycam footage
        of the underlying incident—the authenticity of which was not in
        dispute—the district court found that the officers were entitled to
        qualified immunity on all of Bey’s claims and many of Germany’s.
               Officer Hall, the district court concluded, was entitled to
        qualified immunity on Germany’s false arrest claim because at least

        3 Officers Sellers and Flannery also moved for judgment on the pleadings.

        That motion does not feature in the present appeal.
        4 The district court granted summary judgment to all Defendants as to Bey’s

        claims. Bey did not file a notice of appeal or join in Germany’s notice and is
        not a part of this appeal. And, as we’ve said, Germany has not appealed the
        district court’s grant of state-law immunity to the City. We consider,
        therefore, only the summary judgment rulings relevant to Germany’s claims
        against the officers.
USCA11 Case: 23-10907     Document: 27-1      Date Filed: 01/11/2024    Page: 10 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                       10

        arguable probable cause existed for Germany’s arrest under the
        City’s ordinance for disturbing the peace. Further, the district
        court found that Officer Hall was permitted to enter Germany’s
        house without a warrant under the exigent-circumstances and
        rendering-aid exceptions. Thus, the district court granted Officer
        Hall’s motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity
        as to Count 1.
                The district court also found that all the officers were
        entitled to partial summary judgment on Germany’s excessive-
        force claims (counts 2 to 6) because most—but not necessarily all—
        of their conduct during his arrest merited qualified immunity. The
        district court, having already determined that Germany’s arrest
        was proper, turned to whether the force used was proper.
        Examining reasonableness under Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386
        (1989), the district court concluded that the officers were forced to
        respond quickly to Germany’s hostile behavior and that their initial
        use of force was objectively reasonable under the circumstances.
        Accordingly, they were entitled to qualified immunity for their
        actions up until the time that Germany was prone on the ground.
        The district court also found that the Defendants’ actions of
        spraying Germany with OC, using hand strikes before he was taken
        to the ground, and wrestling him to the ground were justified
        under the circumstances.
               The district court noted, however, that Germany testified
        that the officers continued to choke and punch him after he had
        given up and was handcuffed, and, if Germany’s allegations were
USCA11 Case: 23-10907         Document: 27-1         Date Filed: 01/11/2024         Page: 11 of 26

        23-10907                   Opinion of the Court                                11

        proven true, the officers would not be entitled to qualified
        immunity for this conduct. While the officers denied this
        allegation, the video footage during the approximately thirty-
        second period after Germany was taken to the ground was unclear
        because of the physical struggle and chemic spray. The video did
        not clearly show when Germany was handcuffed or whether he
        was choked. Thus, the district court found that a genuine dispute
        existed as to whether Defendants used excessive force in
        completing the arrest, and, accordingly, it denied summary
        judgment as to whether the officers were entitled to qualified
        immunity for their actions after Germany was taken to the ground,
        as alleged in Counts 2 to 5. Thus, the district court granted
        summary judgment, in part, to Defendants as to Counts 2 to 6,
        based on qualified immunity for their conduct before wrestling
        Germany to the ground.
               The district court also found that the officers were entitled
        to summary judgment on Germany’s assault and battery claims,
        with a similar limited exception, because most of their conduct
        during his arrest merited qualified immunity. Germany’s assault
        and battery allegations were essentially the same as his excessive
        force allegations, so the district court analyzed the claims together.
        The court granted summary judgment in part and denied it in part
        as to Counts 9 to 13, with the same distinction as the counts for
        excessive force.5

        5 Officer Sellers later moved to reconsider its denial of his motion. The district

        court agreed and entered summary judgment in his favor because “the
USCA11 Case: 23-10907       Document: 27-1       Date Filed: 01/11/2024       Page: 12 of 26

        23-10907                 Opinion of the Court                           12

               The remaining Defendants—Officers Slater, Flannery,
        Wooden, and Hall—prepared to defend themselves at trial
        concerning whether they committed assault and battery, or used
        excessive force, after wrestling Germany to the ground. In October
        2021, Germany’s counsel withdrew from the case with leave of the
        court. After pushing back the trial date a few times, the district
        court held a status conference in July 2022, during which it ordered
        the parties to exchange certain trial-related documents by October
        1, 2022.
                Sometime after this deadline passed, the remaining
        Defendants moved the district court to sanction Germany under
        Rule 41(b) based on his alleged refusal to comply. They argued
        that sanctions were warranted because Germany failed to follow
        the district court’s instruction to submit his opening statement,
        and, instead, left a voicemail threating to defame defense counsel,
        their staff, and their law firm. The district court held a hearing on
        the motion in November 2022 but held it in abeyance, warning
        Germany to (1) maintain a high standard of civility for the rest of
        the proceedings, (2) not make faces or giggle in court, and (3) not
        argue outside the narrow issue remaining at trial.
              The district court then scheduled a pretrial conference for
        February 24, 2023. Germany did not appear at this conference.
        The remaining Defendants responded by renewing their motion
        for sanctions, because, in addition to their previous reasons,

        bodycam footage at issue clearly shows that he did not touch Germany in any
        way during the process of German’s arrest.”
USCA11 Case: 23-10907     Document: 27-1      Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 13 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                        13

        Germany continued to defy court orders and wrongly accuse
        defense counsel of perjury. They noted that Germany had failed
        to file a statement of damages or a witness list on time, had not
        produced his exhibits, and had not attended the pretrial conference
        in the case, all of which were required by duly issued orders.
        Germany responded by arguing only that the Defendants
        improperly submitted motions “when court is not in operating
        hours and during the weekends and this should not be acceptable.”
               The case proceeded to trial on February 27, 2023). After the
        jury was selected, the district court heard oral argument on the
        pending motions. The Defendants argued in support of their
        renewed motion for sanctions, reiterating their written arguments
        and highlighting how Germany’s noncompliance with pretrial
        deadlines had limited their ability to adequately prepare for trial.
        In particular, the Defendants said, “we never received the medical
        records . . . We never got a damages statement. There’s been
        various other orders of the Court that have been violated. And so
        certainly it’s well within the Court’s discretion to dismiss this case
        on any number of those issues, but here we have all of them
        combined.” Germany argued against the renewed motion for
        sanctions, claiming that he understood the judge to mean that if he
        submitted the documents, he would not have to attend the pretrial
        conference. He claimed that he suffered from memory loss and
        blamed the judge for his noncompliance, because “you were not
        allowing me to write down anything.” Germany also insisted that
        he “didn’t know [he] needed to provide a statement of damages.”
        During Germany’s argument, the district court had to remind him
USCA11 Case: 23-10907        Document: 27-1        Date Filed: 01/11/2024        Page: 14 of 26

        23-10907                  Opinion of the Court                              14

        to act and perform in a civil manner and to show respect for the
        proceedings rather than “shak[ing] his head or tak[ing] an attitude”
        with the court.6 The court again held the motion for sanctions in
        abeyance but warned Germany that he had must follow court
        orders and that it was “up to [him] going forward whether [he]
        want[s] this case to survive or not.”
                Germany’s pattern of noncompliance continued throughout
        trial as he repeatedly disregarded the district court’s orders
        regarding form, procedure, prohibition of certain topics and words,
        and submission of a damages statement. The court warned
        Germany throughout trial about his behavior and comments and
        repeatedly told Germany that, if an attorney had acted anywhere
        close to his behavior, he or she would have been held in contempt
        and sanctioned upon the first refusal to follow orders. As one
        example, after Germany violated a motion in limine order by
        referring to his arrest as “police brutality” in front of the jury, the
        district court admonished Germany (out of the presence of the
        jury) that “Your comments right there in front of the jury were
        absolutely 100 percent improper. You do that again, then I’m
        going to have to decide whether I let this case go forward.”
              During Germany’s own testimony, he repeatedly discussed
        matters which had been excluded as improper. Eventually, in the

        6 At this point, the district court specifically cautioned Germany that “If Mr.

        Canupp shook his head at me, I would probably have him dragged out of here
        by the marshals. But I am not going to do that to you. I just need you to act
        in a civil and kind way until we get through this trial.”
USCA11 Case: 23-10907     Document: 27-1      Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 15 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                        15

        presence of the jury, the district court cautioned Germany, “Sir,
        you are trying my patience, I will advise you, sir, that I can dismiss
        this action if you fail to obey my orders. Now, I am going to ask
        you to comply with my orders. I do not want to dismiss this action.
        I want the jury to be able to decide it. But I will use the powers
        that I should fairly use, because everybody in this trial – you and
        these officers – deserve a fair trial. And that’s what we’re going to
        have.” After that last exchange, the district court excused the jury
        for a recess and the Defendants renewed their motion for
        sanctions, requesting dismissal because Germany had continuously
        violated orders and had yet to produce the required damages
        statement. The district court then summarized all of the actions by
        Germany that had warranted sanctions and dismissal through day
        two of the trial. Nevertheless, Germany was permitted to proceed,
        under threat of sanctions and dismissal upon another violation.
               On the third day of trial, in regard to the still-missing
        damages statement, the district court warned Germany “very
        honestly, if an attorney was standing there representing you, I can’t
        think of a reason that I would not sanction him, and possibly with
        dismissal of the case. And so, obviously, Mr. Canupp has made that
        motion, and I would say that issue is still very much in play.”
        Germany, seemingly nonplussed, replied “I’d just like to say can
        you please do what you’re going to do? Because you keep
        threatening me. Just do what you are going to do. Are you going
        to dismiss the case? Dismiss the case. It’s fine with me. I’m not
        going to disagree with you. I am not going to argue.” The district
USCA11 Case: 23-10907     Document: 27-1     Date Filed: 01/11/2024   Page: 16 of 26

        23-10907              Opinion of the Court                      16

        court again held the motion for sanctions and motion to dismiss
        under advisement.
               Later that day, defense counsel raised to the district court
        that Germany had (again) violated the district court’s in limine
        order excluding any discussion of the disposition of his arrest and
        criminal charges. After the district court reiterated its order
        excluding that topic, Germany reiterated that if the Defendants
        mentioned his charges (they had not), “I’m definitely going to tell
        [the jury] I’m not guilty.” The court responded, “You’re going to
        continue to defy this order? You’re going to continue to refer to
        the criminal charges? Is that what you’re telling me?” Germany
        replied that he would do as he believed the Defendants had done,
        which was to discuss the dropped charges.
               That same afternoon, the district court admonished
        Germany for being “disrespectful” and “mak[ing] faces when you
        sisagree with my ruling,” and reminded him that “I expect you to
        conduct yourself with the same civility that any other person
        would in this courtroom.” When Germany made some mocking
        hand gesture towards the jury during this exchange, the district
        court told Germany “Do not use those hand moves. It is
        disrespectful. Mr. Canupp would be in the jail right now if – I’m
        talking. You’re not talking.” “At some point,” the district court
        warned Germany, “I’m not going to put up with this.”
              The district court then cautioned Germany to “tread lightly”
        with a witness, to which Germany responded, “Your Honor, can
        you stop threatening me?” The jury was excused from the
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1       Date Filed: 01/11/2024       Page: 17 of 26

        23-10907                Opinion of the Court                           17

        courtroom and the district court reprimanded Germany,
        explaining, “Sir, when I tell you to follow my orders and the law,
        that’s not a threat. . . . If you are going to keep this up, just go ahead
        and tell me now. If you are going to continue to not follow my
        orders, be disrespectful in front of this jury to the attorneys, the
        parties, and this Court, if you intend to continue to do that, I need
        to know right now.” The district court asked, “Do you intend to
        follow my orders or not?” Germany responded, “I don’t know.”
        The district court then asked, “Are you going to follow my orders
        and be civil and conduct yourself in a good manner if this trial
        continues?” Germany responded “I am being civil,” and then
        repeated the same answer three more times, dodging the district
        court’s question of whether Germany would follow orders for the
        rest of trial. The district court ordered him to be held in contempt.
                After a brief recess, the district court sanctioned Germany
        and dismissed his case with prejudice. The district court explained
        its rationale as follows:
               For all of the reasons that we’ve covered in Mr.
               Canupp’s motion for sanctions, your complete
               disregard for decorum in this Court, your complete
               disregard for my motions in limine, your failure to
               comply with my pretrial order, and provide them
               even a statement of damages even to now, and then
               your absolute insulting behavior in front of this jury,
               in front of these parties, in front of this Court and
               your – and, let me say, and your own unwillingness
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1      Date Filed: 01/11/2024      Page: 18 of 26

        23-10907                Opinion of the Court                         18

               to commit to stop doing that, I find your behavior is
               willful. I find that there is no lesser sanction than the
               dismissal of your case. This case is dismissed with
               prejudice.
                Then, in a written order memorializing the dismissal, the
        district court described Germany’s behavior as “the worst behavior
        this [c]ourt has ever observed of a pro se litigant, or for that matter,
        any litigant.” In the order, the court explained that it tried to work
        with Germany as a pro se plaintiff, but he made that impossible and
        showed no remorse for any of his actions). At some great length,
        the district court detailed Germany’s inappropriate behavior before
        and during trial. It determined there were at least three
        independent bases for dismissing Germany’s case with prejudice as
        a sanction: (1) he failed to appear at a pretrial conference violating
        Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(a); (2) he violated court orders
        repeatedly, including by continually referring to matters that were
        excluded by the its previous order; and (3) his inappropriate
        behavior at trial that was “hostile, argumentative, and insolent”
        and “willful and designed to be provocative.” The district court
        noted that it had warned Germany many times regarding his
        defiance of court orders and inappropriate behavior, yet he
        disregarded those warnings. Accordingly, the district court
        dismissed the case with prejudice pursuant to Rules 16(f) and 41(b),
        and its inherent authority, and granted the Defendants’ renewed
        motion for sanctions.
               This appeal ensued.
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1       Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 19 of 26

        23-10907                Opinion of the Court                         19

                                          II.
               First, we address Germany’s claim that the district court
        erred by failing to recuse from his case. We generally review a
        judge’s decision not to recuse himself for an abuse of discretion.
        United States v. Berger, 375 F.3d 1223, 1227 (11th Cir. 2004). But if a
        party fails to invoke a federal recusal statute to the district court,
        we review for plain error. Hamm v. Members of Bd. of Regents, 708
        F.2d 647, 651 (11th Cir. 1983). Under the plain-error standard, an
        appellant must show that there was (1) an error, (2) that was plain,
        and (3) the error affected his substantial rights. Higgs v. Costa
        Crociere S.P.A. Co., 969 F.3d 1295, 1307 (11th Cir. 2020). “If all three
        conditions are met, an appellate court may then exercise its
        discretion to notice a forfeited error, but only if (4) the error
        seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of
        judicial proceedings.” Id. (quoting United States v. Smith, 459 F.3d
        1276, 1283 (11th Cir. 2006)).
                A judge must sua sponte recuse himself “in any proceeding in
        which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned” or
        “[w]here he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party.”
        28 U.S.C. § 455(a), (b)(1). “The test is whether an objective,
        disinterested, lay observer fully informed of the facts underlying
        the grounds on which recusal was sought would entertain a
        significant doubt about the judge’s impartiality.” Parker v. Connors
        Steel Co., 855 F.2d 1510, 1524 (11th Cir. 1988).
             “Ordinarily, a judge’s rulings in the same or a related case
        may not serve as the basis for a recusal motion.” McWhorter v. City
USCA11 Case: 23-10907     Document: 27-1      Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 20 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                        20

        of Birmingham, 906 F.2d 674, 678 (11th Cir. 1990). “The judge’s bias
        must be personal and extrajudicial; it must derive from something
        other than that which the judge learned by participating in the
        case.” Id. “The exception to this rule is ‘when a judge’s remarks in
        a judicial context demonstrate such pervasive bias and prejudice
        that it constitutes bias against a party.’ Mere ‘friction between the
        court and counsel, however, is not enough to demonstrate
        pervasive bias.’”          Thomas v. Tenneco Packaging Co.,
        293 F.3d 1306, 1329 (11th Cir. 2002) (quoting Hamm, 708 F.2d at
        651).
               Here, because Germany did not seek recusal or invoke a
        federal recusal statute before the district court, we review the issue
        for plain error only. Hamm, 708 F.2d at 651. We easily conclude
        that the district court judge did not commit error, plain or
        otherwise, by failing to sua sponte recuse himself. Nothing in the
        record suggests that his impartiality could have been reasonably
        questioned or that he labored under any personal bias or prejudice.
        And notably, the judge granted Germany far more lenience on his
        improper behavior than an attorney would have received for the
        same conduct—a point which the district court repeatedly made
        on the record below.
              Germany’s grievance on appeal is based, instead, on non-
        controversial evidentiary rulings and comments on courtroom
        etiquette. Germany points to several moments at trial during
        which the district court judge made rulings that were unfavorable
        to him: first, Germany complains that “in the opening, the defense
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1      Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 21 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                         21

        was permitted to argue, over objection, that the plaintiff had
        reached for an officer’s gun, even though everyone knew that not
        to be the case.” The district court overruled Germany’s objection,
        explaining “this is just a statement of what she expects the evidence
        will show, just as yours was what you expected it would
        show.” There’s no appearance of bias or impropriety there.
                Second, Germany points to a moment during a witness
        examination during which he protested, “Your Honor, it seems
        that y’all rushing me. It been seven years that I been – been police
        brutalized,” and the district court instructed the jury to “disregard
        the word brutalized. That was an absolutely improper
        comment.” Again, there is no reasonable appearance of bias in a
        district court’s straightforward enforcement of its in limine
        rulings.
                Third, Germany insists the district court “went out of its
        way to intimidate” his mother when she was being impeached on
        cross-examination. Germany’s mother had contradicted her own
        deposition testimony and, when confronted with the deposition
        transcript, she accused defense counsel of misquoting her. The
        district court then excused the jury and admonished her about
        truthfulness on the stand, telling her “[I]f you tell something that’s
        not the truth, it is a felony. I am not going to allow something that
        is not the truth [to] come from this witness stand, and it is as simple
        as that . . . . If you do not give them a truthful answer, it would be
        my duty to forward this to the United States Attorney. I will leave
        it at that.” Germany’s mother responded, “I’m going to say my
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1       Date Filed: 01/11/2024    Page: 22 of 26

        23-10907                Opinion of the Court                        22

        truth because I don’t recall it,” prompting the district court to again
        explain that lying under oath is punishable by contempt and that
        he would have a marshal take her into custody if she weren’t
        truthful. As before, we see no appearance of bias or prejudice in
        the district court’s appropriate admonition of a recalcitrant witness.
                 Finding no error plain or otherwise, we affirm as to this
        issue.
                                         III.
                We turn, next, to Germany’s appeal of the Rule 41(b)
        dismissal. We review the dismissal of an action under Rule 41(b)
        for an abuse of discretion. Gratton v. Great Am. Commc’ns, 178 F.3d
        1373, 1374 (11th Cir. 1999). Discretion means the district court has
        a “range of choice, and that its decision will not be disturbed as long
        as it stays within that range and is not influenced by any mistake of
        law.” Guideone Elite Ins. Co. v. Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, Inc.,
        420 F.3d 1317, 1324 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting Ameritas Variable Life
        Ins. Co. v. Roach, 411 F.3d 1328, 1330 (11th Cir. 2005)). “Thus, when
        employing an abuse of discretion standard, we will leave
        undisturbed a district court's ruling unless we find that the district
        court has made a clear error of judgment, or has applied the wrong
        legal standard.” Id. at 1325.
               We construe a pro se litigant’s pleadings liberally. Alba v.
        Montford, 517 F.3d 1249, 1252 (11th Cir. 2008). But issues not
        briefed on appeal are deemed abandoned. Access Now, Inc. v. Sw.
        Airlines Co., 385 F.3d 1324, 1330 (11th Cir. 2004). An appellant fails
        to adequately brief a claim when he does not “plainly and
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1      Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 23 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                         23

        prominently raise it.” Sapuppo v. Allstate Floridian Ins. Co., 739 F.3d
        678, 681 (11th Cir. 2014) (quoting Cole v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 712 F.3d
        517, 530 (11th Cir. 2013)). Further, when a district court order is
        based on multiple, independent grounds, an appellant must show
        that “every stated ground for the judgment against him is
        incorrect.” Id.
                Further, although pro se parties’ pleadings are liberally
        construed by courts, pro se litigants are not relieved from following
        procedural rules. Albra v. Advan, Inc., 490 F.3d 826, 829 (11th Cir.
        2007). A district court may dismiss a case for failure to comply with
        court rules “under the authority of either Rule 41(b) or the court's
        inherent power to manage its docket.” Weiland v. Palm Beach Cnty.
        Sheriff's Off., 792 F.3d 1313, 1321 n.10 (11th Cir. 2015). To dismiss
        with prejudice under Rule 41(b), the court must find that: “(1) a
        party engage[d] in a clear pattern of delay or willful contempt
        (contumacious conduct); and (2) the district court specifically finds
        that lesser sanctions would not suffice.” Betty K Agencies, LTD. v.
        M/V MONADA, 432 F.3d 1333, 1337–38 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting
        World Thrust Films, Inc. v. Int’l Fam. Ent’mt, Inc., 41 F.3d 1454, 1456
        (11th Cir. 1995)). A court also has the inherent authority to
        sanction parties for “violations of procedural rules or court orders,”
        up to and including dismissals with prejudice. Donaldson v. Clark,
        819 F.2d 1551, 1557 n.6 (11th Cir. 1987).
              As to the first prong of a Rule 41(b) dismissal under Betty K,
        simple negligence will not suffice. McKelvey v. AT&T Tech., Inc.,
        789 F.2d 1518, 1520 (11th Cir. 1986). As to the second prong, a
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1      Date Filed: 01/11/2024     Page: 24 of 26

        23-10907               Opinion of the Court                         24

        district court must “consider the possibility of alternative, lesser
        sanctions.” Zocaras v. Castro, 465 F.3d 479, 484 (11th Cir. 2006). But
        although dismissal with prejudice is a drastic remedy, we have
        found that “dismissal upon disregard of an order, especially where
        the litigant has been forewarned, generally is not an abuse of
        discretion.” Moon v. Newsome, 863 F.2d 835, 837 (11th Cir. 1989).
              Here we note that although the district court provided three
        independent bases for dismissal—Rule 41(b), Rule 16(f), and its
        inherent authority to manage the courtroom and docket—
        Germany only argues on appeal that the sanctions were improper
        under Rule 41(b). Thus, he has abandoned any argument that
        dismissal was improper under either Rule 16(f) or the court’s
        inherent authority. See Sapuppo, 739 F.3d at 681. Because Rule 16(f)
        and the district court’s inherent authority both constituted
        independent, alternate grounds for dismissing Germany’s case with
        prejudice, we affirm the district court’s order. See id.
                But even if we consider Germany’s arguments on the merits,
        they still fail. The district court did not abuse its discretion in
        dismissing his case with prejudice as a sanction under Rule 41(b)
        because Germany repeatedly failed to follow the Federal Rules of
        Civil Procedure and the district court’s orders, both before and
        during trial. See Gratton, 178 F.3d at 1374; Betty K, 432 F.3d at 1337;
        Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). Particularly, Germany’s inappropriate
        conduct included: threatening defense counsel; failing to attend a
        pretrial conference; making faces and giggling during proceedings;
        falsely accusing defense counsel of perjury; repeatedly failing to file
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1        Date Filed: 01/11/2024      Page: 25 of 26

        23-10907                Opinion of the Court                           25

        his damages statement; repeatedly defying the order excluding
        mention of the dismissal of his criminal charges; and stating that he
        would continue to violate orders despite admonishment. This
        flagrant disregard for the Rules and the court’s orders showed a
        “clear pattern of . . . willful contempt (contumacious conduct).”
        See Betty K, 432 F.3d at 1337–38. Further, dismissal did not come
        easily, nor was it the result of a kneejerk reaction from the district
        court: the Defendants sought sanctions several times before and
        during trial. Each time, Germany had the opportunity to respond.
        And the district court also warned Germany several times before
        and during trial that his continued inappropriate behavior would
        lead it to grant the Defendants’ motion and dismiss the case. Given
        the record evidence we discussed above, we find that the district
        court’s explicit finding that lesser sanctions would not suffice is
        amply supported. See Betty K, 432 F.3d at 1338.
               Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion in
        dismissing the case under Rule 41(b), and we affirm in this respect
        as well.
                                           IV.
              Germany also challenges the district court’s grant of partial
        summary judgment to the Defendants. We conclude, however,
        that our affirmance of the dismissal with prejudice renders it
        unnecessary for us to review the merits of any prior interlocutory
        order. See, e.g., Garcia v. Berkshire Life Ins. Co. of Am., 569 F.3d 1174,
        1183 (10th Cir. 2009) (declining to address summary judgment
        order given affirmance of dismissal as a sanction for abusive
USCA11 Case: 23-10907      Document: 27-1       Date Filed: 01/11/2024       Page: 26 of 26

        23-10907                Opinion of the Court                           26

        litigation practices); Sere v. Bd. of Trs. of Univ. of Ill., 852 F.2d 285,
        288 (7th Cir. 1988) (declining to review interlocutory Federal Rule
        of Civil Procedure 12(b) dismissal order that preceded dismissal of
        remaining claim as sanction for discovery violation); Ash v. Cvetkov,
        739 F.2d 493, 497 (9th Cir. 1984) (declining to review earlier
        interlocutory orders when affirming dismissal for failure to
        prosecute); Hughley v. Eaton Corp., 572 F.2d 556, 557 (6th Cir. 1978)
        (declining to review previous interlocutory orders when affirming
        dismissal for failure to prosecute). We will not wade back into the
        merits of Germany’s case after the district court has seen fit to
        dismiss him for misconduct—a decision we affirm here. To do so
        would contravene the purpose of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
        41(b) and 16(f) and undermine the district court’s authority to
        punish contemptuous and abusive conduct.
               For these reasons, we affirm.
               AFFIRMED.