Monroe v. McNairy County
Monroe v. McNairy County
Opinion of the Court
Before the Court are Defendants McNairy County, Tennessee; Ricky Roten; Scott Heathcock; Allen Strickland; and Dustin Brown’s (hereinafter “Defendants”) Motion for Summary Judgment (D.E. #123) filed on April 29, 2011. Plaintiffs Dale Monroe and Amanda Dabbs, individually and as next friend of C.B.D. and M.D.D., have responded in opposition to Defendants’ Motion (D.E. # 135), to which Defendants have filed a reply (D.E. # 137). Plaintiffs filed their own Motion for Summary Judgment (D.E. # 124) on April 30, 2011. Defendants have responded in opposition (D.E. # 130) to Plaintiffs’ Motion, and Defendant Robert Corey Dabbs has filed a separate response in opposition (D.E. # 134). Finally, Defendant Robert Corey Dabbs filed a Motion for Summary Judgment (D.E. # 127) on May 1, 2011, to which the other Defendants have responded (D.E. # 131) as well as Plaintiffs (D.E. # 136). This matter was reassigned to the undersigned for all further proceedings on December 30, 2011. For the reasons set forth below, Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED IN PART, DENIED IN PART. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgement is GRANTED IN PART, DENIED IN PART. Defendant Dabbs’ Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiffs Dale Monroe and Amanda Dabbs, individually and as next of friend of her minor children C.B.D. and M.D.D., filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging that Defendants McNairy County, Tennessee; Sheriff Ricky Roten; Deputy Scott Heathcock; and Deputy Dustin Brown
Unless otherwise noted the following facts are not in dispute for purposes of the parties’ Motions for Summary Judgment. Bobby and Amanda Dabbs separated in November 2005 after Ms. Dabbs learned that her husband was engaging in an extra-marital affair with Melanie Pettigrew (“Pettigrew”).
During the first week, the minor children shall reside with the Mother on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday, and shall reside with the Father on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. During the second week, the minor children shall reside with the Father on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday, and with the Mother on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The Parties will alternate each week thereafter until a Permanent Parenting Plan shall be put into effect.
(Ex. to Heathcock Aff., D.E. # 123-10.) Ms. Dabbs contends that she did not receive a copy of the temporary parenting plan until months after it was issued.
During the " pendency of their divorce, the Dabbs encountered a number of disagreements over their respective child custody and visitation rights. Bobby Dabbs alleged that many times his wife failed to transfer their children to his custody according to the terms of the temporary parenting plan. According to Defendants, Mr. Dabbs filed a report with the McNairy County Sheriffs Department on ten occasions in 2006 in order to document the missed exchanges.
Mr. Dabbs made one such report on March 18, 2006. Deputy Scott Heathcock, who responded to the report, called Ms. Dabbs’ cell phone and left her a voicemail. When she called him back, Deputy Heath-cock allegedly told Ms. Dabbs that she was not following the temporary parenting plan established by the court and advised her to comply in the future. Ms. Dabbs admits that she was aware of the parenting plan by late March 2006 because her attorney filed a motion to modify it on March 24, 2006. However, she insists that her husband had also failed to follow the plan and had requested multiple deviations from its schedule.
On April 19, 2006, at 9:40 a.m., Mr. Dabbs again went to the McNairy County Justice Complex to report that Ms. Dabbs was not allowing him to see their children under the terms of the parenting plan (D.E. # 69-2). Some time later that day, Ms. Dabbs was allegedly confronted by her husband and a McNairy County deputy sheriff that she thought was Allen Strickland.
On May 27, 2006, Mr. Dabbs filed another report with the McNairy County Sheriffs Department, alleging that Ms. Dabbs had failed to show up to exchange their children as required by the parenting plan. Deputy Heathcock accompanied Mr. Dabbs to the Dabbs’ residence. According to Ms. Dabbs, Deputy Heathcock pulled his patrol car into her circular driveway while Mr. Dabbs remained in a vehicle by the mailbox. Deputy Heathcock knocked on the front door and asked that she come to the door but Ms. Dabbs refused. Ms. Dabbs testified that Deputy Heathcock knocked on her door for approximately ten minutes and then looked in the house’s windows when she did not answer. Ms. Dabbs also stated that while Deputy Heathcock was knocking, she received a telephone call from Darlene Reeves who said that her husband had heard on the radio a warrant was out for Ms. Dabbs’ arrest. However, Deputy Heathcock never announced to Dabbs that he had a warrant for her arrest, and he left the residence after she did not come to the door.
On May 31, 2006, Mr. Dabbs again went to the McNairy County Sheriffs Department to report that his wife did not make the scheduled exchange of their minor children. Mr. Dabbs met with Sheriff Roten and Deputy Heathcock at which time Heathcock prepared an incident report. According to Deputy Heathcock, Sheriff Roten also directed him to prepare an arrest warrant for Ms. Dabbs charging her with the offense of custodial interference and to go to Ms. Dabbs’ residence to see if she would allow Mr. Dabbs to have the children. Deputy Heathcock thereafter drove to the Dabbs home, with Mr. Dabbs following in a separate vehicle. Upon arriving at the home, Mr. Dabbs stayed on the street while Heathcock went to the door. According to Ms. Dabbs, Deputy Heathcock knocked on the door and announced that he had a warrant for her arrest and that he was there to take the children. Deputy Heathcock states that he simply knocked on the door, rang the doorbell, and asked that she come to the door to speak with him. He testified that he could hear the television on inside and thought he heard someone run through home. However, when no one came to the door, Deputy Heathcock walked away and told Mr. Dabbs that no one was home.
Deputy Heathcock testified that as he was preparing to leave the Dabbs residence on May 31, 2006, Selmer Chief of Police Neil Burks, who lives on the same street as Ms. Dabbs, pulled up.
When Deputy Heathcock left the residence on May 31, 2006, Ms. Dabbs called her father to come for C.B.D. and M.D.D. so that Ms. Dabbs could go to work. Ms. Dabbs testified that she left her residence and drove to the Bancorp South building in Selmer, Tennessee, where she was scheduled to clean. Upon her arrival at work, Michael Gilbert of the Selmer Police De
In the mean time, Deputy Heathcock acted on Chief Burks’ tip and set up surveillance outside of the Dabbs’ neighborhood to see if Monroe would come to the home as Burks reported. Deputy Heath-cock called in to speak with Chief Deputy A.C. Felker and advised Felker that he had a warrant for Ms. Dabbs’ arrest. Deputy Heathcock explained the tip from Burks and told Chief Deputy Felker that he was going to try and pick up Ms. Dabbs on the warrant if she was in Monroe’s vehicle. After waiting for some time, Deputy Heathcock observed a truck matching Chief Burks’ description of Monroe’s truck and driving from the direction of Dabbs’ street. As Deputy Heathcock followed the truck on Highway 45, he ran its tags and then called on the radio to advise Chief Deputy Felker that he intended to stop the truck and determine whether Amanda Dabbs was inside. Deputy Heathcock then activated his blue lights and stopped the vehicle. Heathcock observed that Monroe was driving and C.B.D. and M.D.D. were in the truck with him. However, Ms. Dabbs was not in the vehicle. Deputy Heathcock asked Monroe to exit and to come to the rear of the vehicle because he did not want to say anything in front of the children. Deputy Heathcock testified that he then told Monroe that he had an arrest warrant for Ms. Dabbs and that if he arrested her, the children would go with Mr. Dabbs who was waiting just up the street.
While Deputy Heathcock was talking with Monroe, Chief Deputy Felker, Deputy Kim Jordan f/k/a Kim Hurley, and Deputy Bobby Crumby arrived at the scene of the stop.
The last encounter at issue between the parties occurred on September 18, 2006. Amanda Dabbs and Bobby Dabbs met in the parking lot of the McNairy County Justice Complex for a prearranged transfer of M.D.D. Mr. Dabbs arrived to take custody of the child with his girlfriend Melanie Pettigrew. After Ms. Dabbs refused to complete the exchange because of
At the same time, Deputy Dustin Brown observed Pettigrew in the parking lot and served her with a subpoena. According to Deputy Brown, Mr. Dabbs was visibly upset and expressed frustration that his former wife had refused to exchange their child. Mr. Dabbs asked Deputy Brown to approach Ms. Dabbs and tell her that Mr. Dabbs and Pettigrew had married and ask if she would allow him to have M.D.D. Deputy Brown drove to the end of the justice complex driveway to contact Ms. Dabbs. At that point Ms. Dabbs was still on the phone and subsequently informed Deputy Brown that on the advice of her attorney she did not have to transfer M.D.D. to her husband. She also told Deputy Brown that Mr. Dabbs and Pettigrew could not be married because the divorce was not yet final. Ms. Dabbs was then free to leave the parking lot.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a) provides that a party is entitled to summary judgment if the moving part “shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
Summary judgment must be entered “against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.”
ANALYSIS
I. Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike Defendant Dabbs’ Motion for Summary Judgment
As an initial matter, the Court must consider Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike Defendant Robert Dabbs’ Motion for Summary Judgment. The Court’s deadline for filing dispositive motions in this case was April 30, 2011.
II. Section 1983 Claims Against Defendants in Their Individual Capacities
Title 42 U.S.C. § 1983 imposes liability on any “person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom or usage, of any State” subjects another to “the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws.”
Government officials, including police officers, are immune from civil liability unless, in the course of performing their discretionary functions, they violate a plaintiffs clearly established constitutional rights.
Plaintiffs argue that Defendants’ conduct violated their rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures....”
With these principles in mind, the Court will consider each instance of allegedly unconstitutional seizures.
A. April 19, 2006 Seizure of Amanda Dabbs
First, the parties dispute whether Amanda Dabbs and the minor Plaintiffs, C.B.D. and M.D.D., suffered Fourth Amendment violations when a McNairy County sheriffs deputy and Bobby Dabbs blocked their vehicle in a private driveway on April 19, 2006. Plaintiffs argue that they were unconstitutionally seized because the deputy and Mr. Dabbs blocked Amanda Dabbs’ vehicle preventing her from leaving the driveway. Defendants argue that the deputy had reasonable suspicion to conduct a brief seizure.
The Court holds that Defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to this incident. As a threshold issue, Plaintiffs have alleged that Deputy Allen Strickland was the officer who blocked Ms. Dabbs’ vehicle in a private driveway on this occasion, their only allegation against Deputy Strickland. And yet the parties have stipulated to the dismissal without prejudice of Plaintiffs’ claims against Strickland, which would include their claims based on events of April 19, 2006. As such, Strickland is no longer a party to this suit and Plaintiffs’ claim about the April 19 seizure is technically no longer before the Court. Even so, Defendants have apparently conceded that Deputy Bradley Smith, and not Strickland, was the officer who made contact with Ms. Dabbs on April 19, 2006. And yet Plaintiffs have not named Deputy Smith as a defendant in this matter and have otherwise taken no steps to amend their pleadings to add a claim against Deputy Smith. Neither party has addressed whether the substitution of Deputy Smith would be proper at this juncture of the case, especially whether the relation back requirements of Rule 15(c)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure can be satisfied under the circumstances.
Even if Plaintiffs had sought leave to add Deputy Smith, the Court holds that Defendants are nevertheless entitled to summary judgment on the claim. In this case, Ms. Dabbs testified that she pulled
Two recent decisions from the Sixth Circuit have held that a person is seized within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment when a police officer positions his patrol car to block the citizen’s vehicle and prevent her from leaving.
Having concluded that the April 19, 2006 encounter was an investigative detention, the Court must determine whether the deputy had a constitutionally permissible basis for the detention. “The police may conduct a limited investigatory detention of someone, falling short of arrest, if they reasonably suspect a person committed a crime.”
Based on the record before the Court, the Court holds that the deputy had reasonable suspicion to briefly detain Ms. Dabbs. Defendants argue that the deputy had reasonable suspicion that Amanda Dabbs was in violation of Tennessee’s custodial interference statute. Tenn.Code. Ann. § 39-13-306 makes it a class E felony for a parent to “[d]etain [a] child within this state ... after the expiration of the noncustodial natural or adoptive parent or guardian’s lawful visitation period, with the intent to violate ... a temporary or permanent judgment or a court order regarding the custody or care of the child.”
The Court holds that the McNairy County Sheriffs Department had reasonable suspicion to stop Ms. Dabbs on April 19, 2006 to determine whether she was in violation of the custodial interference statute. There is evidence that Mr. Dabbs made an in-person report to the sheriffs department that Ms. Dabbs was violating his custodial rights to have their children on that date.
B. May 27, 2006 and May 31, 2006 Knocks at Amanda Dabbs’ Residence
Next, the parties dispute whether Amanda Dabbs was unconstitutionally detained when Deputy Heathcock arrived at her residence on May 27, 2006, and again on May 31, 2006, and knocked at her front door. Defendants seek summary judgment as to both incidents. In both instances, Mr. Dabbs reported to the sheriffs department that his wife had failed to show up to exchange their children according to the parenting plan. Deputy Heath-cock responded by going to Ms. Dabbs’ residence to speak with her. On both days, Deputy Heathcock knocked on Dabbs’ door and left when she refused to answer. Defendants contend that these two incidents do not amount to Fourth Amendment violations because Deputy Heathcock never spoke with Dabbs, let alone seized her or detained her. The Court notes that Plaintiffs have failed to respond to this portion of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment.
The Court holds that Deputy Heath-cock’s attempts to speak with Amanda Dabbs at her residence do not constitute constitutional violations. A person is not “seized” for Fourth Amendment purposes merely because a police officer knocks on the door and asks the individual to talk.
C. May 31, 2006 Traffic Stop of Dale Monroe
Plaintiffs next claim that Deputy Heath-cock’s traffic stop of Plaintiff Dale Monroe
[e]ven assuming that Deputy Heathcock misinterpreted the requirements of the parenting plan or that it did not grant him the authority to seize the Dabbs children, however, the Court cannot conclude that he was either plainly incompetent or that he knowingly violated the minor Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment rights and is therefore not entitled to qualified immunity.63
The Court went on to hold that Defendants Chief Deputy Felker, Deputy Hurley, and Deputy Crumby had no duty to intervene and were entitled to qualified immunity. However, the Court denied Defendants’ motion for summary judgment for initially seizing Monroe and the children during the traffic stop. Thus, the remaining claim is Monroe’s claim that Deputy Heathcock violated his Fourth Amendment rights by stopping his vehicle on May 31, 2006, as well as the claims of the minor children who were passengers in Monroe’s truck.
Plaintiffs now argue that summary judgment should be granted in their favor because the warrant for Ms. Dabbs’ arrest was invalid and Deputy Heathcock lacked articulable facts supporting his belief that Dabbs was in Monroe’s vehicle or reasonable suspicion that Dale Monroe was engaged in criminal activity. For their part, Defendants contend that they are entitled to summary judgment because (1) Deputy Heathcock had either probable cause or reasonable suspicion to suspect that Amanda Dabbs was present in Monroe’s vehicle at the time of the stop; (2) any defect in the warrant for Dabbs’ arrest is immaterial because custodial interference is a Class E felony and no warrant was needed; and (3) the stop of Monroe only lasted a few minutes and any Fourth Amendment violation was de minimis. Defendants also contend that Deputy Heathcock is entitled to qualified immunity because his actions were objectively reasonable. Because the Court finds that the material facts underlying the May 31, 2006 stop are in dispute, summary judgment in favor of any party is not appropriate.
The Court finds that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether Deputy Heathcock had reason to suspect that Ms. Dabbs would be in Monroe’s vehicle. According to Defendants, Chief Burks gave Deputy Heathcock information that each time police officers left the Dabbs home, Monroe would pick up Ms. Dabbs and her children and Dabbs would hide in the vehicle to avoid detection. Chief Burks also allegedly gave Heathcock a description of Monroe’s truck. Based on this informa
Defendants raise the issue of whether a warrant for Amanda Dabbs’ arrest was even needed. The Court finds that this issue is not dispositive at this stage in light of the disputed facts about Chief Burks’ tip. The question before the Court is whether Deputy Heathcock had reasonable suspicion to detain Dale Monroe and the minors traveling in Monroe’s vehicle. Even if Deputy Heathcock had probable cause to arrest Ms. Dabbs without a valid warrant (or even reasonable suspicion to detain her), he lacked any reasonable suspicion to detain Monroe. Assuming Chief Burks never gave him the tip, as Chief Burks claims, Deputy Heathcock had no basis to suspect that Ms. Dabbs was a passenger in Monroe’s truck. Therefore, Defendants’ contention about the necessity of a warrant is not dispositive.
The Court is likewise unpersuaded by Defendants’ assertion that Monroe’s constitutional deprivation was de minimis. Defendants rely on the Court’s previous order in this case granting summary judgment in favor Selmer Police Officer Michael Gilbert.
D. September 18, 2006 Stop of Amanda Dabbs
The parties next move for summary judgment on the Plaintiffs’ claim that Deputy Brown unconstitutionally seized Amanda Dabbs and M.D.D. on September 18, 2006. At issue is whether the exchange between Deputy Brown and Ms. Dabbs in the parking lot of the McNairy County Justice Complex was a consensual encounter or a seizure under the Fourth Amendment. The Court holds that the episode amounts only to a consensual encounter and thus no constitutional violation occurred.
As a preliminary issue, the Court highlights Judge Breen’s previous ruling on this issue that questions of fact about the encounter precluded granting qualified immunity to Deputy Brown. The Court held, “Amanda Dabbs’s version of the events, if true, may support a finding that Deputy Brown violated the Plaintiffs clearly established Fourth Amendment rights by engaging her in a(sic) unlawful traffic stop.”
Since Judge Breen’s ruling, Amanda Dabbs has given deposition testimony to elaborate on the events of September 18, 2006. Ms. Dabbs testified that she agreed to the custody exchanges at the justice complex because she felt safer there.
It was during her phone call to her attorney’s office that Ms. Dabbs noticed a patrol car pull up behind her with its blue lights activated.
Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, the Court holds that under the circumstances, Deputy Brown did not “seize” Ms. Dabbs for purposes of the Fourth Amendment. Despite Plaintiffs’ characterization of this event as an impermissible investigatory stop, the Court holds that Deputy Brown’s actions were consistent with a consensual encounter. As the Court has already observed, “[l]aw enforcement officers do not violate the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable seizures” by approaching individuals in public places and asking questions.
In the case at bar, the Court previously denied Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to this incident and concluded that Deputy Brown was not entitled to qualified immunity. Ms. Dabbs’ earlier summary judgment affidavit could be read to describe a situation in which Deputy Brown initiated a Terry stop by activating his blue lights and keeping Ms. Dabbs’ from leaving the scene. Ms. Dabbs stated that she had stopped her car at a stop sign leaving the parking lot and that Deputy Brown had pulled up behind her, thereby preventing her from driving on. That version of events, however, is fundamentally different than the account Ms. Dabbs gave in her June 2010 deposition. Ms. Dabbs has now testified that she did not stop her vehicle because of a stop sign and even admitted that there was no stop sign where she pulled her vehicle over. Ms. Dabbs’ stated that she stopped to place a call to her attorney’s office for legal advice about the ramifications of refusing to give her child to her husband. Ms. Dabbs specifically stated that she did not intend “to totally leave the parking lot” until she could speak to her attorney’s office and be sure that she would not “get into trouble.” Ms. Dabbs further testified that she remained parked and engaged in a conversation with her lawyer’s paralegal for around five minutes before Deputy Brown ever contacted her. In fact, Ms. Dabbs’s phone call continued after Deputy Brown left, and as a result she stayed at the location for a brief while longer.
Because of Ms. Dabbs’ stated intention not to leave the parking lot until she had obtained legal advice about her actions, it cannot be said that Deputy Brown in any way detained her or restricted her freedom of movement. Deputy Brown simply approached Ms. Dabbs where she was parked and engaged in a brief conversation. The Court holds that this amounted to no more than a consensual encounter. While there remains a dispute about whether Deputy Brown actually used his cruiser’s blue lights, other courts including the Sixth Circuit have held that the use of police lights alone does not transform an otherwise consensual encounter into a seizure.
E. Claims Against Sheriff Roten in his Individual Capacity
Plaintiffs have alleged that Sheriff Roten failed to properly train or supervise the McNairy County Sheriffs deputies at all relevant times in this case. It is not clear to the Court whether Plaintiffs’ claims against Sheriff Roten are strictly in his official capacity as McNairy County Sheriff or in both his individual and official capacities. Of course, any claims against a McNairy County employee in his official capacity, including Sheriff Roten, are simply claims against McNairy County itself.
In order to prove a § 1983 claim against Sheriff Roten in his individual capacity, Plaintiffs must prove that Sheriff Roten was personally involved in the alleged deprivation of Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights during the May 31, 2006 traffic stop.
The record shows that Sheriff Roten was aware of the custody dispute between Amanda and Robert Dabbs on May 31, 2006. Deputy Heathcock has testified that on that day Sheriff Roten directed him to prepare a warrant for the arrest of Amanda Dabbs based on the charge of custodial interference.
The Court finds that it need not resolve the issue in order to determine Sheriff Roten’s liability in his individual capacity. Plaintiffs argue that the basis for their § 1983 claims against Sheriff Roten in his individual capacity is Roten’s order to Heathcock to attempt to arrest Amanda Dabbs without a proper warrant.
Moreover, Plaintiffs have not attempted to show that Sheriff Roten directed Deputy Heathcock to conduct a traffic stop and detain Dale Monroe. Sheriff Roten flatly denied that he instructed Deputy Heathcock to pull Monroe’s vehicle over on May 31, 2006, or that he ever spoke to Heathcock at all about Monroe on that day.
Likewise, Plaintiffs have not argued that Sheriff Roten knowingly acquiesced in the alleged violation. Despite Plaintiffs’ failure to make this argument, the Court finds that there is evidence in the record that on May 29, 2006, two days before the traffic stop, Monroe had met with Sheriff Roten
However, Plaintiffs’ burden is not simply to show that Roten acquiesced to the traffic stop but that Roten “knowingly acquiesced in the unconstitutional conduct of Deputy Heathcock.”
For these reasons, the Court concludes that Sheriff Roten had no personal involvement in conducting the allegedly improper traffic stop. Therefore, Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment as to this claim against Sheriff Roten in his individual capacity is GRANTED, and Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED as to this issue.
F. Conspiracy to Deprive Plaintiffs of their Constitutional Rights
Finally, Plaintiffs have alleged that Defendant Robert Dabbs conspired with other Defendants to violate Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights by engaging in a pat
Viewing the record in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, the Court holds that Plaintiffs have not met their burden to adduce evidence, direct or circumstantial, of a conspiracy between Mr. Dabbs and any state actor. The Court emphasizes that Plaintiffs’ only triable claim for a constitutional deprivation is the May 31, 2006 traffic stop of Dale Monroe and the minor Plaintiffs. However, there is no evidence that Mr. Dabbs formed an agreement with Deputy Heathcock to detain Monroe or in any way directed Heath-cock to make the traffic stop. Heathcock became involved on May 31, 2006, only after Mr. Dabbs made a complaint to the sheriffs department about his custodial rights. It is clear that Mr. Dabbs involved the McNairy County Sheriffs Department on many occasions when he had a custody dispute with his estranged wife. There is no evidence, however, that Mr. Dabbs went to the sheriffs department because he had entered into a conspiracy with Deputy Heathcock, or any other officer, to harass Ms. Dabbs or Monroe. In fact, Mr. Dabbs’ undisputed testimony was that he would make a report to the sheriffs department every time he did not get the children and believed he should have, just to document the event.
Furthermore, it is undisputed that on May 31, 2006, Deputy Heathcock went to Ms. Dabbs’ home at the direction of Sheriff Roten, and not Robert Dabbs. Not only have Plaintiffs not contested this fact, but Plaintiffs have sought to hold Sheriff Roten liable for his instructions to Deputy Heathcock to go to the home and make contact with Amanda Dabbs. When Ms. Dabbs did not come to the door, Deputy Heathcock informed Mr. Dabbs that no one was home and apparently prepared to leave. It was at this point in the episode that Deputy Heathcock claims Chief Burks pulled up in his vehicle and offered the tip about Dale Monroe secreting Ms. Dabbs and the children away in order to avoid Mr. Dabbs, a claim Chief Burks now denies. According to Heathcock, he conducted surveillance and waited for Monroe because of the tip. In any event, even accepting that Deputy Heathcock did not have the tip from Chief Burks, the undisputed evidence shows that Heathcock engaged in the surveillance and waited to detain Monroe without the prior authorization or approval of Sheriff Roten or at the behest of Robert Dabbs. Heathcock testified that after he determined to wait for Monroe, he told Dabbs about his plan to conduct surveillance and to see if Amanda Dabbs would be traveling with Monroe.
Plaintiffs claim that Mr. Dabbs has admitted “that he conspired by consenting to the taking of his children from someone rightfully entitled to have them.”
III. Section 1983 Claims Against McNairy County
The Court holds that Defendant McNairy County is entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims against it. Plaintiff has alleged that the policy of Defendant McNairy County was the moving force behind the deprivation of their constitutional rights. As an initial matter, Defendant McNairy County is entitled to summary judgment as to the claims on which the Court has already granted summary judgment in favor of the individual Defendants. The Court has concluded that there are no triable issues of fact and that the individual Defendants are entitled to judgment as a matter of law with respect to the April 19, 2006 encounter; the May 27, 2006, and May 31, 2006 knocks at Amanda Dabbs’ residence; and the September 18, 2006 encounter, all involving Plaintiff Amanda Dabbs. Absent proof that an arrest or seizure violated a plaintiffs federal constitutional rights, there can be no local government liability under Monell v. Department of Social Services of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978).
As previously noted, only Plaintiffs’ claim related to the May 31, 2006 traffic stop of Dale Monroe and the minor Plaintiffs remains. A plaintiff may not prevail against a municipality under § 1983 based solely on the conduct of a municipal employee such as a sheriffs deputy because “respondeat superior is not available as a theory of recovery under section 1983.”
In making this showing, a § 1983 plaintiff must identify a municipal policy or custom that was the moving force behind the plaintiffs injury.
The Sixth Circuit has held that “the finding of a custom or policy is the initial determination to be made in any municipal liability claim.”
Applying these principles to Plaintiffs’ claims, the Court finds that Plaintiffs failed to adduce any evidence that McNairy County’s failures to train or supervise sheriffs deputies “were representative of a clear and persistent pattern” of deliberate indifference.
It is true that Plaintiffs have alleged multiple constitutional violations committed by sheriffs deputies against them in this ease. However, the Court has held that all of the individual Defendants, except Deputy Heathcock, were entitled to summary judgment. In Deputy Heath-cock’s case, Plaintiffs have only created a triable issue as to Heathcock’s qualified immunity for the traffic stop involving Dale Monroe. This single incident is a far cry from a pattern or custom of constitutional infringements. Even if the Court had held that the individual Defendants were not entitled to summary judgment as to all of the other claims, Plaintiffs still had the burden “reach beyond the facts of this case”
Finally, Plaintiffs allege that the Defendants acted in violation of the Federal Kidnapping Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1201. All Defendants have moved for summary judgment as to any claims arising from this statute. The Court holds that summary judgment is proper on these claims. First, the Federal Kidnapping Act is a criminal statute, and there is no indication that Congress intended to create a private right of action for violations of its provisions.
Plaintiffs also allege that the conduct of all Defendants violated a litany of state laws, including statutory violations for kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated kidnapping, false imprisonment, aiding and abetting custodial interference, assault, and aggravated assault. Plaintiffs further allege claims for assault, battery, and aggravated assault. Defendants first argue that these statutes are criminal in nature and do not confer a private right of action on the Plaintiffs. In determining whether a statute creates a private right of action under Tennessee law, courts must decide whether the legislature intended to confer such a right by examining the express statutory language, statutory structure, and legislative history.
V. Claims Under the Tennessee Constitution
Defendants have moved for summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ various claims for violation of the Tennessee constitution. Although Plaintiffs have not responded to these issues in their briefing, Defendants correctly argue that there is
VI. Common Law Tort Claims
A. Tort Claims Against the Individual Defendants and McNairy County
With respect to Plaintiffs’ common law tort claims against McNairy County and any of its employees, the claims are governed by the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act (“GTLA”), Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-20-101 et seq. Section 29-20-201(a) provides that “[e]xcept as may be otherwise provided in this chapter, all governmental entities shall be immune from suit for any injury which may result” from the exercise of government duties.
Applying these principles to the case at bar, the Court concludes that Defendants are entitled to judgment as a matter of law on Plaintiffs’ tort claims. The Court has already held that Plaintiffs’ claims for damages based on violations of federal and state criminal statutes are not cognizable as civil claims. Though it is not clear to the Court that Plaintiffs have stated separate common law tort claims, the Court holds that the GTLA bars such claims against McNairy County and its employees. Plaintiffs’ claims against McNairy County and the officers of its sheriffs department arise out of the same circumstances giving rise to their civil rights claim under § 1983 for violations of Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights. The Court holds then that the GTLA’s civil rights exception applies and that these Defendants are immune from suit. Therefore, Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment as to these claims is GRANTED.
B. Tort Claims Against Defendant Robert Dabbs
Plaintiffs have also alleged claims sounding in tort against Defendant Robert Dabbs. Defendant Dabbs argues that Plaintiffs cannot prove their tort claims against him because there is no evidence that he personally engaged in any conduct injuring Plaintiffs such as an assault, false imprisonment or kidnapping. In their briefing on these claims, Plaintiffs explain, “The allegation [of false imprisonment and aggravated assault] against Robert Corey Dabbs stems from his actions of conspiring with those officers to harass Amanda Dabbs and her family concerning child custody in order for him to have visitation when he wanted it instead of when he was suppose to have it under color of law derived from the officers in this case.”
CONCLUSION
Based on the parties’ briefs and viewing the entire record of this case in the light most favorable to the non-moving parties, the Court holds that the only triable claim for a constitutional violation is the May 31, 2006 traffic stop of Dale Monroe and the minor Plaintiffs. Questions of fact remain about whether Deputy Heathcock had reasonable suspicion to pull over Monroe’s truck in an effort to find Amanda Dabbs, thereby precluding summary judgment on this episode. Otherwise, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on all of Plaintiffs other constitutional claims. The § 1983 claims of Plaintiff Amanda Dabbs in her individual capacity are therefore dismissed, and only the § 1983 claims of Dale Monroe and the claims on behalf of the minor Plaintiffs for the May 31, 2006 detention will go to the jury.
Additionally, Defendants are entitled to judgment as a matter of law as to Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims against Sheriff Roten in his individual capacity, the § 1983 conspiracy claims against Defendant Robert Dabbs, and the § 1983 claims against McNairy County. As for Plaintiffs’ claims pursuant to the Federal Kidnapping Act, the Tennessee kidnapping statutes, and the Tennessee constitution, Defendants are also entitled to summary judgment. Finally, McNairy County and its employees retain sovereign immunity under the GTLA for any of Plaintiffs’ claims sounding in tort, and Defendant Robert Dabbs is entitled to judgment as a matter of law as to Plaintiffs’ claims that he conspired with McNairy County employees to engage in any tortious conduct.
Therefore, the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendants McNairy County, Tennessee; Ricky Roten; Scott Heathcock; Allen Strickland; and Dustin Brown is GRANTED IN PART, DENIED IN PART. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment is also GRANTED IN PART, DENIED IN PART. Defendant Robert Corey Dabbs’ Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
. Defendant Allen Strickland was dismissed by stipulation of all the parties on April 29, 2011 (D.E. # 122).
. The Court has previously granted summary judgment in favor of the Defendants as to the Plaintiffs' Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment claims. See Order Granting in Part, Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, 7-8 Aug. 5, 2008 (D.E. # 85). As a result only Plaintiffs Fourth Amendment claims remain.
. Pettigrew was dismissed as a defendant in this matter by stipulation of all the parties on April 29, 2011 (D.E. # 121).
. In her deposition, Amanda Dabbs stated that she thought the officer was Allen Strickland but admitted that she was not sure. As previously noted, the parties have since stipulated to the dismissal of Strickland as a Defendant in this case. In their response to the Plaintiffs' motion, Defendants concede that the officer involved in the April 19, 2006 incident was actually Deputy Bradley Smith. However, Smith is not a named Defendant in this case, and Plaintiffs have never sought leave to add him as a party.
. The Plaintiffs dispute this fact because Burks has denied speaking with Deputy Heathcock or any other law enforcement officer about the Dabbs situation. (Burks Dep. 18:11-19:3, 27:19-28:24, Aug. 18, 2010.)
. The Court previously granted summary judgment in favor of Gilbert and the City of Selmer, Tennessee. See Order Granting Mot. Summ. J. Defs. City of Selmer & Michael Gilbert, Nov. 6, 2007, 520 F.Supp.2d 917 (W.D.Tenn. 2007) (J. Todd) (D.E. # 51).
. In a prior order, the Court determined that Chief Deputy Felker, Deputy Jordan, and Deputy Crum by were entitled to qualified immunity and granted summary judgment in their favor. See Order Granting in Part, Denying in Part Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, Aug. 5, 2008 (D.E. # 85).
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Canderm Pharmacal, Ltd. v. Elder Pharms., Inc., 862 F.2d 597, 601 (6th Cir. 1988).
. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986).
. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
. Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348.
. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).
. Id. at 251-52, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
. Lord v. Saratoga Capital, Inc., 920 F.Supp. 840, 847 (W.D.Tenn. 1995) (citing Street v. J.C. Bradford & Co., 886 F.2d 1472, 1478 (6th Cir. 1989)).
. Adams v. Metiva, 31 F.3d 375, 379 (6th Cir. 1994).
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a); see also Celotex, ATI U.S. at 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
. D.E. #117.
. E.g. Thomas v. Harvey, 381 Fed.Appx. 542 (6th Cir. 2010) (district court did not abuse discretion by considering amended summary judgment motion that was four days late).
. 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
. Waeschle v. Dragovic, 576 F.3d 539, 543 (6th Cir. 2009), cert. denied,-U.S.-, 130 S.Ct. 2063, 176 L.Ed.2d 414 (2010).
. Humes v. Gilless, 154 F.Supp.2d 1353, 1357 (W.D.Tenn. 2001).
. Wittstock v. Mark A. Van Sile, Inc., 330 F.3d 899, 902 (6th Cir. 2003).
. Hills v. Kentucky, 457 F.3d 583, 587 (6th Cir. 2006).
. Jefferson v. Lewis, 594 F.3d 454, 459-60 (6th Cir. 2010) (citations omitted).
. Chappell v. City of Cleveland, 585 F.3d .901, 907 (6th Cir. 2009) (citing Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 129 S.Ct. 808, 815, 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009)).
. Id.
. Id.
. Miller v. Sanilac Cnty., 606 F.3d 240, 247 (6th Cir. 2010) (citation omitted).
. Dunn v. Matatall, 549 F.3d 348, 353 (6th Cir. 2008) (quotation omitted).
. U.S. Const. amend. IV.
. United States v. Davis, 514 F.3d 596, 607 (6th Cir. 2008) (citations and quotations omitted).
. Bennett v. City of Eastpointe, 410 F.3d 810, 821 (6th Cir. 2005).
. United States v. Williams, 615 F.3d 657, 663 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting United States v. Drayton, 536 U.S. 194, 200, 122 S.Ct. 2105, 153 L.Ed.2d 242 (2002)).
. Bennett, 410 F.3d at 821 (quoting Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 19 n. 16, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968)).
. Krantz v. City of Toledo Police Dep’t, 197 Fed.Appx. 446, 452 (6th Cir. 2006) (citing Terry, 392 U.S. at 30, 88 S.Ct. 1868).
. United States v. See, 574 F.3d 309, 313 (6th Cir. 2009).
. Id. (citing Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119, 124, 120 S.Ct. 673, 145 L.Ed.2d 570 (2000)).
. See, 574 F.3d at 313 (quotations omitted).
. Id. (citation omitted).
. Rule 15(c)(1)(C) provides that
[a]n amendment to a pleading relates back to the date of the original pleading when ... the amendment changes the party or the naming of the party against whom a claim is asserted, if Rule 15(c)(1)(B) is satisfied and if, within the period provided by Rule 4(m) for serving the summons and complaint, the party to be brought in by amendment (i) received such notice of the action that it will not be prejudiced in defending on the merits; and (ii) knew or should have known that the action would have been brought against it, but for a mistake concerning the proper party’s identity.”
. United States v. Gross, 662 F.3d 393, 399-400 (6th Cir. 2011); United States v. See, 574 F.3d 309, 313 (6th Cir. 2009).
. See, 574 F.3d at 312.
. Gross, 662 F.3d at 396-97.
. Id. at 397.
. See, 574 F.3d at 313.
. In O’Malley v. City of Flint, 652 F.3d 662, 668-69 (6th Cir. 2011), the Sixth Circuit distinguished See and Gross in a case where a suspect pulled his car into a private driveway, exited the vehicle and walked toward the house. The police officer then pulled into the driveway blocking the suspect's vehicle. The court concluded that the facts of that case were factually distinguishable because "O'Malley not only reasonably thought he was free to leave his vehicle at the time of the alleged seizure, but in fact had left it and was walking away.” Id. at 669. It also noted that "parking behind a vehicle in a driveway does not inherently send a message of seizure because it is how driveways are routinely used.” Id. The Court finds O’Malley distinguishable because Dabbs was backing her car out of the driveway, and not simply parking the vehicle, when she discovered the officer’s presence.
. Manley v. Paramount’s Kings Island, 299 Fed.Appx. 524, 527 (6th Cir. 2008) (per curiam).
. Gross, 662 F.3d at 399 (quoting Terry, 392 U.S. at 21, 88 S.Ct. 1868) (quotations omitted).
. O’Malley, 652 F.3d at 670 (quoting Smoak v. Hall, 460 F.3d 768, 779 (6th Cir. 2006) (quotations and ellipsis omitted)).
. Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-306(a)(2) & (e).
. See D.E. # 69-2.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Amanda Dabbs Dep. 130:4-132:10, Apr. 1, 2009.
. Id. at 132:17-133:3.
. See Manley, 299 Fed.Appx. at 527 (victim's complaint and identification of suspect provided reasonable suspicion for Terry stop); Williams v. Leatherwood, 258 Fed.Appx. 817, 821 (6th Cir. 2007) (citizen complaints of criminal activity and description of suspect and vehicle gave rise to reasonable suspicion).
. O’Malley, 652 F.3d at 670.
. See United States v. Campbell, 486 F.3d 949, 957 (6th Cir. 2007); United States v. Nappier, 155 Fed.Appx. 859, 864 (6th Cir. 2005) ("[W]hen the officers went to the entrance of Nappier’s residence, knocked on the door, waited for him to respond, and asked him to identify himself when he appeared, the officers were engaging Nappier in a consensual contact that did not implicate the Fourth Amendment.”).
. Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 434, 111 S.Ct. 2382, 115 L.Ed.2d 389 (1991).
. Nappier, 155 Fed.Appx. at 864.
. Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defs.' Mot. Summ. J. 19, Aug. 8, 2008.
. See Brendlin v. California, 551 U.S. 249, 255-56, 127 S.Ct. 2400, 168 L.Ed.2d 132 (2007) ("[Ajlthough we have not, until today, squarely answered the question whether a passenger is also seized, we have said over and over in dicta that during a traffic stop an officer seizes everyone in the vehicle, not just the driver.”).
. See Order Granting Mot. Summ. J. Defs. City of Selmer & Michael Gilbert, Nov. 6, 2007 (J. Todd) (D.E. # 51).
. Id. at 4.
. Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defs.' Mot. Summ. J. 15, Aug. 8, 2008.
. Amanda Dabbs Aff. ¶ 5 (D.E. # 70-2).
. Id.
. Id. at 14. The Court also rejected Defendants’ contention that Deputy Brown had reason to suspect Ms. Dabbs based on previous complaints filed against her by Bobby Dabbs. Id. at 15.
. Amanda Dabbs Dep. 416:18-24, June 28, 2010.
. Id. at 243:15-21.
. Id. at 243:22-244:12.
. Id. at 245:6-20.
. Id. at 245:9-13.
. Id. at 245:18-246:1.
. Id. at 246:8-24.
. Id. at 248:1-4.
. Id. at 248:5-8.
. Id. at 248:9-12.
. Id. at 250:1-4.
. U.S. v. Gross, 624 F.3d 309, 315 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting United States v. Drayton, 536 U.S. 194, 200, 122 S.Ct. 2105, 153 L.Ed.2d 242 (2002)).
. Id. (quoting United States v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 554, 100 S.Ct. 1870, 64 L.Ed.2d 497 (1980)).
. Id. (quoting United States v. Peters, 194 F.3d 692, 698 (6th Cir. 1999)).
. E.g. United States v. Carr, 355 Fed.Appx. 943, 946 (6th Cir. 2009) ("Another factor that may have some bearing on whether there was a Terry stop is that the police may not have left their emergency lights on during the encounter, but instead may have used those lights only to identify themselves.''); United States v. Garrett, 106 Fed.Appx. 423, 427-28 (6th Cir. 2004) (finding officer’s approach with blue lights and his display of badge amounted to a consensual encounter). See also United States v. Perez, 443 F.3d 772, 778 (11th Cir. 2006) ("Lt. Gonzalez briefly flashed his blue lights, but only to identify himself as a police officer because he arrived at the scene in an unmarked car. Notably, at no point did Lt. Gonzalez block Valdez's truck or otherwise obstruct Perez, Valdez, or the others' exit from the area.”); United States v. Dockter, 58 F.3d 1284, 1287 (8th Cir. 1995) ("Deputy Meier pulled his vehicle behind their parked car and activated his amber warning lights" and "There was no behavior by the officer that would differentiate this encounter from one where an officer approaches a stranded motorist to offer assistance.").
. Alkire v. Irving, 330 F.3d 802, 810 (6th Cir. 2003) ("[Individuals sued in their official capacities stand in the shoes of the entity they represent.”) (citing Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165, 105 S.Ct. 3099, 87 L.Ed.2d 114 (1985)).
. Miller v. Calhoun Cnty., 408 F.3d 803, 817 n. 3 (6th Cir. 2005) ("Because § 1983 liability cannot be imposed under a theory of respondea! superior, proof of personal involvement is required for a supervisor to incur personal liability.”).
. Bellamy v. Bradley, 729 F.2d 416, 421 (6th Cir. 1984).
. Heathcock Dep. 109:12-22.
. Id. at 98:7-17.
. Id.
. Id. at 99:4-20.
. Id. at 110:1-8; 114:11-17. Sheriff Roten testified that although he did not remember whether he told Heathcock he would have the warrant signed, he very well "could have.” Roten Dep. 67:2-8, Aug. 24, 2010.
. Roten Dep. 67:10-22; 68:15-22. Sheriff Roten stated that he contacted the attorney for McNairy County, the McNairy County district attorney, and a judge, asking all three for advice about the custodiad interference law. Id. at 68:17-22.
. Pis.’ Resp. Opp’n Defs.' Mot. Summ. J. 8 (D.E. # 135).
. Roten Dep. 86:24-87:12; 88:21-89:3.
. Monroe Aff. II 2 (D.E. # 125-2).
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. at ¶ 4.
. Roten Aff. ¶¶ 20, 21 (D.E. # 123-9).
. Bellamy, 729 F.2d at 421.
. Memphis, Tenn. Area Local, Am. Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO v. City of Memphis, 361 F.3d 898, 905 (6th Cir. 2004) (quoting Cooper v. Parrish, 203 F.3d 937, 952 n. 2 (6th Cir. 2000)).
. Id. (citing Dennis v. Sparks, 449 U.S. 24, 27-28, 101 S.Ct. 183, 66 L.Ed.2d 185 (1980)); United States v. Price, 383 U.S. 787, 86 S.Ct. 1152, 16 L.Ed.2d 267 (1966) (other citations omitted).
. Revis v. Meldrum, 489 F.3d 273, 290 (6th Cir. 2007) (citations omitted).
. Bazzi v. City of Dearborn, 658 F.3d 598, 602 (6th Cir. 2011).
. Jackim v. Sam’s East, Inc., 378 Fed.Appx. 556, 564-65 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting Weberg v. Franks, 229 F.3d 514, 528 (6th Cir. 2000)).
. Id. (quoting Spadafore v. Gardner, 330 F.3d 849, 854 (6th Cir. 2003)).
. Pis.' Resp. to Def. Dabbs’ Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 9 (D.E. # 136-1) (citing Robert Corey Dabbs Dep. 104-105, Mar. 31, 2009) .
. Id. (citing Dabbs Dep., 216-17 July 16, 2010) .
. Revis, 489 F.3d at 291 (citing Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., Inc., 457 U.S. 922, 941, 102 S.Ct. 2744, 73 L.Ed.2d 482 (1982)).
. Pls.' Resp. to Del. Dabbs' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 8.
. Heathcock Dep. 162:14-22.
. Id. at 162:20-22.
. Id. at 162:22-24.
. Pis.' Resp. Opp’n Def.'s Mot. Summ. J. 7 (D.E. # 136).
. Jackim, 378 Fed.Appx. at 564 (quotation and ellipsis omitted).
. Wilson v. Morgan, 477 F.3d 326, 344 (6th Cir. 2007). See also Jones v. Reynolds, 438 F.3d 685 (6th Cir. 2006) ("Accordingly, whether it was the policy of the department not to stop drag races occurring in Detroit (as Jones claims) or whether state law prevented the department's intervention (as the City claims) makes no difference to the outcome of this dispute. That the officers did not violate Denise Jones’ constitutional rights eliminates any potential derivative liability of the City.”).
. Vereecke v. Huron Valley Sch. Dist., 609 F.3d 392, 403 (6th Cir. 2010) (citing Monell, 436 U.S. at 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018).
. Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs of Bryan Cnty. v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 404-405, 411, 117 S.Ct. 1382, 137 L.Ed.2d 626 (1997); City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 388-89, 109 S.Ct. 1197, 103 L.Ed.2d 412 (1989).
. Vereecke, 609 F.3d at 403 (citing Doe v. Claiborne Cnty., 103 F.3d 495, 507 (6th Cir. 1996)).
. Id. (citing Turner v. City of Taylor, 412 F.3d 629, 639 (6th Cir. 2005)).
. Monell, 436 U.S. at 690, 98 S.Ct. 2018.
. Powers v. Hamilton Cnty. Pub. Defender Comm’n, 501 F.3d 592, 607 (6th Cir. 2007) (quoting Monell, 436 U.S. at 690-91, 98 S.Ct. 2018).
. Porter v. City of Columbus Div. of Police, 395 Fed.Appx. 197, 203-204 (6th Cir. 2010) (citing Monell, 436 U.S. at 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018).
. Doe, 103 F.3d at 508 (citing Feliciano v. City of Cleveland, 988 F.2d 649, 655 (6th Cir. 1993)).
. Id. at 509.
. Id. at 508.
. Thomas v. City of Chattanooga, 398 F.3d 426, 432-33 (6th Cir. 2005).
. City of Canton, 489 U.S. at 392, 109 S.Ct. 1197.
. Berry v. City of Detroit, 25 F.3d 1342, 1354 (6th Cir. 1994) (citing City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 397, 109 S.Ct. 1197, 103 L.Ed.2d 412 (1989)).
. Thomas, 398 F.3d at 432-33 (”[W]ithout showing more than officer Abernathy’s potentially excessive use of force in this particular case, Thomas cannot survive summary judgment.”) (citing Monell, 436 U.S. at 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018; Brown, 520 U.S. at 410, 117 S.Ct. 1382).
. Connick v. Thompson, — U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 1350, 1359-60, 179 L.Ed.2d 417 (2011).
. Id. at 433.
. Id. (citing Doe, 103 F.3d at 508).
. Pis.' Mot. Summ. J. 8, Apr. 30, 2011 (D.E. # 125).
. Thomas, 398 F.3d at 434.
. See Peet v. City of Detroit, 502 F.3d 557, 568 (6th Cir. 2007) ("[N]o reasonable juror could infer such a custom or policy based on a mere three instances [of police misconduct] that are limited to one police investigation.”); Ellis ex rel. Pendergrass v. Cleveland Mun. Sch. Dist., 455 F.3d 690, 701 (6th Cir. 2006) ("To establish deliberate indifference through these reports [of sexual abuse], Pendergrass would have had to allege and put on some evidence that two incidents of abuse over two years is an excessive number.”); Doe, 103 F.3d at 508 (no municipal liability where school board knew that teacher may have sexually abused students in the past and failed to remove him without proof of failures to take action against other teachers engaging in similar conduct).
. Doe, 103 F.3d at 508. See also Brown, 520 U.S. at 411, 117 S.Ct. 1382, 137 L.Ed.2d 626 ("But this showing of an instance of inadequate screening is not enough to establish 'deliberate indifference.' In layman's terms, inadequate screening of an applicant's record may reflect 'indifference' to the applicant’s background. For purposes of a legal inquiry into municipal liability under § 1983, however, that is not the relevant 'indifference.' A plaintiff must demonstrate that a municipal decision reflects deliberate indifference to the risk that a violation of a particular constitutional or statutory right will follow the decision.”) (emphasis in original).
. Because the Court grants judgment as a matter of law to McNairy County, the Court need not address Defendants' argument that Plaintiffs cannot recover punitive damages against McNairy County.
. Giano v. Martino, 673 F.Supp. 92, 95-96 (E.D.N.Y. 1987) ("Federal Kidnapping Act was never intended to confer rights on the victim of a kidnapping, and does not do so by its language.”), aff'd, 835 F.2d 1429 (2d Cir. 1987).
. 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(1).
. § 1201(a); United States v. Boettcher, 780 F.2d 435 (4th Cir. 1985) (discussing history of parent exception to § 1201(a)).
. Brown v. Tenn. Title Loans, Inc., 328 S.W.3d 850, 855 (Tenn. 2010).
. Id. at 856; Premium Fin. Corp. of Am. v. Crump Ins. Sens, of Memphis, 978 S.W.2d 91, 93 (Tenn. 1998); Holt v. Macy's Retail Holdings, Inc., 719 F.Supp.2d 903, 915 & n. 17 (W.D.Tenn. 2010).
. Cline v. Rogers, 87 F.3d 176, 179-80 (6th Cir. 1996).
. Tenn.Code. Ann. § 29-20-201(a).
. § 29-20-205.
. Johnson v. City of Memphis, 617 F.3d 864, 871-72 (6th Cir. 2010) (construing the Tennessee GTLA civil rights exception).
. Pis.’ Resp. Opp'n Def.’s Mot. Summ. J. 6-7 (D.E. # 136).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Dale MONROE, and Amanda Dabbs, individually and as next friend of C.B.D. and M.D.D. v. McNAIRY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
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