Goldman v. Williams
Opinion of the Court
ORDER ADOPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S MEMORANDUM AND RECOMMENDATION
Having reviewed the Magistrate Judge’s Memorandum and Recommendation, the objections thereto, and the response to the objections, the court is of the opinion that said Memorandum and Recommendation should be adopted by this court.
It is, therefore, ORDERED that the Memorandum and Recommendation is hereby ADOPTED by this court.
MEMORANDUM AND RECOMMENDATION
Pending before the court
The court has considered the motions, all of the briefs, the summary judgment evidence, and the applicable law. For the reasons set forth below, the court RECOMMENDS that Defendant Montgomery County’s motion to dismiss be GRANTED, Defendant Skero’s motions for summary judgment be GRANTED, Defendant Williams’ motions for summary judgment be GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.
I. Case Background
Plaintiff filed this civil rights action against a municipal police officer, a state trooper, and a county for violating Plaintiffs constitutional rights, also asserting various state law causes of action. The allegations arise out of Plaintiffs arrest for driving while intoxicated and her subsequent detention at the Montgomery County jail.
A. Factual Background
1. The Stop and Arrest Based on Summary Judgment Evidence
On February 26, 2012, Plaintiff was traveling from Houston to on Interstate
Gammons reported to the Walker County 911 operator that the driver had “actually straightened up a little bit” but, before hitting the wall, had been “driving on the shoulder of the road for a couple miles at a high rate of speed.”
The Willis police officer was Defendant Skero, who had been dispatched pursuant to the 911 call.
Defendant Skero approached Plaintiffs car and asked Plaintiff to step out of the car with her license and insurance card.
Defendant Skero walked around Plaintiffs car and stopped in the grass near the front of the car.
While explaining that she was traveling from Houston where.she had been staying with her mother to her home in Dallas, Plaintiff stepped awkwardly off the pavement into the grass.
After allowing Plaintiff to get her neck brace out of her car, Defendant Skero pointed to the ground next to the right rear tire and told Plaintiff, “Stay right here for me don’t move okay, stay right here.”
Defendant Skero stepped out of his patrol unit, asking Plaintiff what she was doing.
Defendant Skero returned and questioned Plaintiff about medications that were prescribed after her back surgery.
Skero: [20:20] Okay, stand over here for me. Did you just have that surgery and stuff when?
Goldman: January 20.
Skero: January 20. They didn’t prescribe you any medication or anything, pain pills or anything?
Goldman: Sure they did.
Skero: Okay. You told me they didn’t. You told me you don’t take them.
Goldman: I said I don’t take them.
Skero: So they prescribed them, but you don’t take them?
Goldman: That’s right.
Skero: Okay so you haven’t taken anything today? At all?
Goldman: Uh, about 8 o’clock this morning.
Skero: What did you take?
Goldman: I took a pain pill.
Skero: Okay, you just told me you don’t take pain pills.
Goldman: [Inaudible 20:54] Are you going to arrest me. [Inaudible] I can’t bear it — I can’t—
Skero: Well what is it? You’re telling me you don’t take pain pills. Now you[’re] telling m[e] you took one at 8 o’clock this morning.
Goldman: Well from 8 o’clock to 2 o’clock that’s my regular—
Skero: But you just told me you don’t take them.
Goldman: I take them in the morning, one". I take the one pill for pain, the thyroid, a[n] anti-depressant and, uh, an antibiotic.48
Defendant Skero instructed Plaintiff on the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (“HGN”) test, a sobriety field test that asks a suspect to follow the officer’s finger with her eyes without moving her head.
Defendant Skero threatened Plaintiff that, if she did not follow his instructions, his “only alternative [was] to take [her] to jail, take the dog to the pound ... and impound [Plaintiffs] car.”
Defendant Williams, a state trooper, first became involved about 3:00 p.m. when he heard a call over the radio to locate the black Toyota Prius traveling northbound on I-45.
When he arrived at the scene, Defendant Williams conferred with Defendant Skero about what he had observed.
Williams: Barely?
Goldman: Yeah.
Williams: Yeah, but you did hit the wall?
Goldman: I looked down for a minute.
Williams: [Inaudible 01:51] well Officer Skero told me on the phone a little bit ago, he got behind you, he saw you swerving, and everything.
Goldman: Okay.
Williams: Okay. Is there any reason for that?
Goldman: You know I was trying to go to the next exit, call my friends in Dallas, tell them that I’m staying overnight in a hotel. I don’t feel like driving.63
Plaintiff volunteered that her mother was dying.
Defendant Williams asked Plaintiff to “stay right there a minute” and walked all the way around the car to look at the damage on Plaintiffs car.
Defendant Williams then began the HGN test.
Defendant Williams attempted the test four times, stopping between attempts to repeat the instruction to follow the tip of his finger.
Defendant Williams said that he would try it one more time, and Plaintiff asked if he could do it more slowly.
Defendant Williams told Plaintiff to turn around and put her hands behind her back.
Plaintiff asked about her purse and her “private stuff,” to which Defendant Skero stated that the officers would get everything.
After a brief discussion with Defendant Williams, Defendant Skero called an ambulance to get Plaintiff checked because of her medical conditions, particularly diabetes.
Goldman: Then I’ll call my attorney.
Williams: Well, you call your attorney.
Goldman: Before I will pass or I subject to any test, I want my attorney.
Williams: An attorney is not an option at this point right now.
Goldman: Why?
Williams: Because these are field tests. Your attorneys are not allowed to be present.102
While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Plaintiff asked to sit, and the officers allowed her to sit facing out on the front of her car.
Plaintiff asked for a tissue out of her purse.
Defendant Williams read Plaintiff her rights, to which Plaintiff responded that she understood them and wished to terminate the interview.
Plaintiff answered Defendant Williams’ inquiry on her last dose of Hydrocodone by telling him that she took “them” the prior day — once.
The paramedics arrived and were briefed by Defendant Skero.
Overhearing a discussion between one of the paramedics and Defendant Williams about having animal control pick up Plaintiffs dog, Plaintiff objected.
While this conversation ensued, Defendant Williams asked Plaintiff to stand, but Plaintiff refused to leave her dog.
Defendant Williams buckled Plaintiff into the front passenger seat of his vehicle.
Goldman: Now?
Williams: I am requesting a specimen of your blood right now.
Goldman: Absolutely not. You can take an alcohol test, but not a blood test. Williams: Okay.
Goldman: Because I have just gotten out of spinal surgery, and I did take a pill last night.143
Plaintiff sat in the car while Defendant Williams inventoried the contents of her car.
Defendant Williams exited the vehicle and returned several more times while Plaintiff remained in the car.
After animal control had taken Plaintiffs dog, the wrecker had taken her car, and the 911 witness had filled out a witness statement, Defendant Williams drove Plaintiff to the Montgomery County jail.
At the jail, four of Plaintiffs medications were held for Plaintiff but not administered while she was in custody.
In her affidavit, Plaintiff swore that she did not “speed or swerve improperly in and out of lanes on the highway” while driving that day.
Plaintiff stated in the affidavit that, after she was stopped, she was not at any time unsteady on her feet, that she had no trouble standing, walking, or talking, that
In her deposition, Plaintiff admitted that she did swerve “[vjery, very little” while driving on February 26, 2012.
Defendant Skero stated, in a declaration, that he found his observation of Plaintiff swerving and the “fresh damage” on her car to provide corroboration for the 911 witness’s account.
Defendant Williams charged Plaintiff with the offense of Driving While Intoxicated.
Defendant Williams recorded in the statement of probable cause information about Defendant Skero’s actions and observations prior to Defendant Williams’ arrival.
2. Plaintiffs Allegations Concerning Her Time in Jail
For the entire time that Plaintiff was in custody, she was not allowed to lie down from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. or to rest against a wall.
Plaintiff was never provided with a toothbrush, toothpaste, or a towel and was not given a blanket until her second day of incarceration.
Plaintiff was not allowed to continue taking any of her prescription medications, including insulin, and her medical braces were taken away.
Staff at the jail withheld her cell phone, which she need to retrieve telephone numbers of those individuals who could assist her with bail, and failed to inform her of payment options for securing bail.
B. Procedural Background
On February 21, 2014, Plaintiff filed this action against Defendants Williams, Skero, and Montgomery County, alleging false arrest/false imprisonment in violation of the Fourth Amendment pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (“Section 1983”) and malicious prosecution pursuant to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 41.003.
On May 5, 2014, Defendant Williams answered and raised qualified, official, and statutory immunity.
After the briefing was complete on Defendants’ dispositive motions, Plaintiff filed a motion for leave to file a second amended complaint, which the court granted.
In Plaintiffs second amended complaint, she pled the following constitutional violations pursuant to Section 1983: (1) use of excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment
Plaintiff also alleged the following state law causes of action: (1) malicious prosecution against Defendants Skero and Williams; (2) intentional infliction of emotional distress against Defendants Skero and Williams; (3) defamation against Defendants Skero and Williams; and (4) negligence against Defendants Williams and Montgomery County.
On July 25, 2014, Defendant Montgomery County filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiffs second amended complaint.
On August 21, 2014, Defendant Skero filed a motion for summary judgment on all of the claims asserted against him.
On September 12, 2014, Defendant Williams filed a motion for summary judgment on all of the claims asserted against him.
On September 18, 2014, Defendant Skero filed a motion for Rule 11 sanctions based on Plaintiffs omission of facts from her second amended complaint that Defendant Skero contended were fatal to her claims against him.
On September 26, 2014, Plaintiff filed a notice of dismissal of the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim against all Defendants, the defamation claim against all Defendants, and the negligence claim
On October 17, 2014, the court held a hearing on several pending motions.
On November 7, 2014, Defendant Skero renewed his motion for sanctions on identical grounds.
On December 30, 2014, Plaintiff filed a notice of dismissal of her malicious prosecution claim and her declaratory judgment request.
On February 3, 2015, Defendants Skero and Williams filed a motion for sanctions.
The pending dispositive motions are fully briefed and ready for the court’s consideration.
II. Section 1983
A plaintiff can establish a prima facie ease under Section 1983
A. Fourth Amendment Standards
The Fourth Amendment,
In order to establish an excessive force claim, a plaintiff must show: (1) an injury; (2) that resulted directly from the use of force that was excessive; and (3) the force used was unreasonable. Carnaby v. City of Houston, 636 F.3d 183, 187 (5th Cir. 2011) (citing Freeman v. Gore, 483 F.3d 404, 416 (5th Cir. 2007)). The plaintiffs resulting injury need not be significant but must be more than de minimis. Glenn v. City of Tyler, 242 F.3d 307, 314 (5th Cir. 2001). The particular context must be examined to determine whether the officer acted reasonably in terms of the amount of force deployed. Id. Reasonableness swings in the balance of the degree of intrusion on the individual’s constitutional rights, as measured by the amount of force used, and the importance to the government of apprehending the individual. See Graham, 490 U.S. at 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865; Ikerd v. Blair, 101 F.3d 430, 434 (5th Cir. 1996).
Factors such as the following are pertinent to the inquiry: 1) whether the suspect was armed; 2) whether the suspect posed an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or the public; 3) whether the suspect resisted arrest; 4) whether a warrant was employed and the severity of the crime for which the suspect was to be arrested; 5) whether more than one suspect or police officer was involved; and 6) whether other dangerous or exigent circumstances existed at the time of arrest. See Graham, 490 U.S. at 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865; Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 11, 105 S.Ct. 1694, 85 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985); Brown v. Glossip, 878 F.2d 871, 874 (5th Cir. 1989).
The Fourth Amendment generally requires police to secure a warrant before conducting a search. Maryland v. Dyson, 527 U.S. 465, 466, 119 S.Ct. 2013, 144 L.Ed.2d 442 (1999). However, there is an exception in the context of vehicles, when a search may be justified by probable cause. Id. at 466-67, 119 S.Ct. 2013.
Claims of false arrest and false imprisonment both rely on the absence of probable cause. Haggerty v. Tex. S. Univ., 391 F.3d 653, 655-56 (5th Cir. 2004); Brown v. Lyford, 243 F.3d 185, 189 (5th Cir. 2001). A warrantless arrest must be supported by “probable cause to believe that a criminal offense has been or is being committed.” Devenpeck v. Alford, 543 U.S. 146, 152, 125 S.Ct. 588, 160 L.Ed.2d 537 (2004). The standard for the existence of probable cause is an objective one requiring that the officer draw a reasonable conclusion from the facts available to him at the time of the arrest. Id.; see also
A temporary traffic stop also constitutes a seizure within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment and must meet the constitutional imperative that it be reasonable. Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 809-10, 116 S.Ct. 1769, 135 L.Ed.2d 89 (1996). However, for investigative stops, the Fourth Amendment only requires that a police officer have reasonable suspicion, a standard “obviously less” than probable cause. Prado Navarette v. Cal., — U.S. -, 134 S.Ct. 1683, 1687, 188 L.Ed.2d 680 (2014) (quoting United States v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1, 7, 109 S.Ct. 1581, 104 L.Ed.2d 1 (1989)). “Reasonable suspicion exists when the detaining officer can point to specific and articulable facts that, when taken together with rational inferences from those facts, reasonably warrant the search and seizure.” U.S. v. Estrada, 459 F.3d 627, 631 (5th Cir. 2006). In other words, investigative stops are constitutional when based on “a particularized and objective basis for suspecting the particular person stopped of criminal activity.” Prado Navarette, 134 S.Ct. at 1687 (quoting United States v. Cortez, 449 U.S. 411, 417-18, 101 S.Ct. 690, 66 L.Ed.2d 621 (1981)). The analysis of whether an officer had reasonable suspicion considers “both the content of information possessed by police and its degree of reliability.” Id. (quoting Alabama v. White, 496 U.S. 325, 330, 110 S.Ct. 2412, 110 L.Ed.2d 301 (1990)). The court should consider “the totality of the circumstances confronting [the] police officer, including all information available to the officer at the time of the decision to stop a person.” Goodson v. City of Corpus Christi, 202 F.3d 730, 736 (5th Cir. 2000) (quoting United States v. Silva, 957 F.2d 157, 160 (5th Cir. 1992)); see also Prado Navarette, 134 S.Ct. at 1687.
B. Fourteenth Amendment Standards
In addition to making other constitutional protections applicable to state actors, the Fourteenth Amendment
Arrestees and pretrial detainees have a Fourteenth Amendment due process right to “be secure in [their] basic human needs, such as medical care and safety.” Hare v. City of Corinth, Miss., 74 F.3d 633, 647-48 (5th Cir. 1996); see also United States v. Gonzales, 436 F.3d 560, 573 (5th Cir. 2006). This includes the right to be free of excessive force and to be provided medical care. Kitchen v. Dallas Cnty., Tex., 759 F.3d 468, 477 (5th Cir. 2014) (discussing a Fourteenth Amendment claim of excessive force); Jacobs v. W. Feliciana Sheriff's Dep’t, 228 F.3d 388, 393 (5th Cir. 2000) (discussing a Fourteenth Amendment claim of failure to provide medical care).
Regarding the use of force, a violation occurs when the force is used
The constitutional guarantee of due process encompasses both procedural and substantive rights. Cnty. of Sacramento v. Lewis, 523 U.S. 833, 840, 118 S.Ct. 1708, 140 L.Ed.2d 1043 (1998). The procedural protections include, at a minimum, notice and an opportunity to be heard in a meaningful time and manner. Gibson v. Tex. Dep’t of Ins.-Div. of Workers’ Compensation, 700 F.3d 227, 239 (5th Cir. 2012) (quoting Fuentes v. Shevin, 407 U.S. 67, 80, 92 SiCt. 1983, 32 L.Ed.2d 556 (1972)). The analysis of a procedural due process claim has two steps: 1) whether a liberty or property interest exists with which the State has interfered; and 2) whether the procedures attendant upon the deprivation were constitutionally sufficient. Meza v. Livingston, 607 F.3d 392, 399 (5th Cir. 2010) (quoting Ky. Dep’t of Corr. v. Thompson, 490 U.S. 454, 460, 109 S.Ct. 1904, 104 L.Ed.2d 506 (1989), overruled in part on other grounds, Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 115 S.Ct. 2293, 132 L.Ed.2d 418 (1995)), clarified on denial of reh’g, 2010 WL 6511727 (5th Cir. 2010).
The substantive due process right protects individuals from arbitrary or conscience-shocking executive action. See Doe ex rel. Magee v. Covington Cnty. Sch. Dist. ex rel. Keys, 675 F.3d 849, 867 (5th Cir. 2012) (quoting Cnty. of Sacramento, 523 U.S. at 847, 118 S.Ct. 1708). The protection is limited, however. If another provision of the U.S. Constitution provides “an explicit textual source of constitutional protection,” the plaintiffs claims must be analyzed under that provision, rather than the “more generalized notion of substantive due process.” Wilson v. Birnberg, 667 F.3d 591, 599 (5th Cir. 2012) (quoting Conn v. Gabbert, 526 U.S. 286, 293, 119 S.Ct. 1292, 143 L.Ed.2d 399 (1999)).
III. Analysis
Defendant Montgomery County seeks dismissal of Plaintiffs remaining constitutional claims of false arrest/false imprisonment, excessive force, failure to provide medical care and treatment, failure to provide her with due process, and negligence in the condition or use of tangible property.
A. Defendant Montgomery County’s Motion to Dismiss
Rule 12(b)(6) allows dismissal of an action whenever the complaint, on its face, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. When considering a motion to dismiss, the court should construe the allegations in the complaint favorably to the pleader and accept as true all well-pleaded facts. Harold H. Huggins Realty, Inc. v. FNC, Inc., 634 F.3d 787, 803 n. 44 (5th Cir. 2011) (quoting True v. Robles, 571 F.3d 412, 417 (5th Cir. 2009)).
A complaint need not contain “detailed factual allegations” but must include sufficient facts to indicate the plausibility of the claims asserted, raising the “right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007); see also Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). Plausibility means that the factual content “allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. A plaintiff must provide “more than labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555,127 S.Ct. 1955. In other words, the factual allegations must allow for an inference of “more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
A. Constitutional Claims
The constitutional claims alleged against Defendant Montgomery County are false arrest/false imprisonment under the Fourth Amendment and excessive force, failure to provide medical care and treatment, and failure to provide due process pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment.
Defendant Montgomery County argues that Plaintiff failed to identify an unconstitutional official county policy or to plead sufficient facts to suggest an unconstitutional pervasive custom, either of which led to the alleged violations of her constitutional rights. Defendant Montgomery County further contends that none of the conditions of confinement about which Plaintiff complains rises to the level of a constitutional violation. Plaintiff counters that she successfully pled constitutional violations and that she sufficiently alleged a county policy by stating that all of the misconduct referred to in her pleading “was the result of a policy, practice, and/or pattern of Defendant Montgomery County that was in violation of Plaintiffs constitutional rights.”
A county may be held liable under Section 1983 only for its own illegal acts, not pursuant to a theory of vicarious liability. Connick v. Thompson, 563 U.S. 51, 131 S.Ct. 1350, 1359, 179 L.Ed.2d 417 (2011) (quoting Pembaur v. City of Cincinnati, 475 U.S. 469, 479, 106 S.Ct. 1292, 89 L.Ed.2d.452 (1986)). To succeed on a claim under Section 1983, the plaintiff must establish, not only that an individual state actor violated her constitutional rights, but that “(1) an official policy (2) promulgated by the municipal policymaker (3) was the moving force behind the viola
The first element Plaintiff must satisfy in alleging a constitutional violation against Defendant Montgomery County is the factual assertion that a state actor violated her constitutional rights. Plaintiffs allegations that the jail staff tied her down, refused to provide her basic necessities, discontinued her prescription medications, and prevented her from securing bail, among other allegations, sound egregious. The court does not decide whether any or all rise to the level of the constitutional violations alleged. Instead, the court assumes, without deciding, that Plaintiffs factual allegations are sufficient to assert violations of the constitutional rights protecting against false arrest/false imprisonment,
As Plaintiff points out in her response, her complaint stated:
In addition to the foregoing, Defendant Montgomery County negligently destroyed and/or discarded videotape evidence of the wrongful conduct and mistreatment of Plaintiff while she was incarcerated in violation of her due process rights. This action, along with the misconduct referred to above in the causes of action brought by Plaintiff against Defendant Montgomery County, was the result of an official policy, practice, pattern and/or custom of Defendant Montgomery County that was in violation of Plaintiffs constitutional rights.244
Although Plaintiff pointed to no other part of her complaint that filled the policy requirement, the court found the following statement in her complaint:
The supervisory employees at Montgomery County were responsible for the creation of the policies and customs that caused [Plaintiff] to not receive her prescription medications, brought on extreme depression, kept a [sixty-two-]year-old lady in prison for five days without any probable cause, placed her in solitary confinement, and unlawfully restrained a frightened woman.245
The first of the above statements is nothing more than a formulaic recitation of a required element for a successful constitutional claim against a local government. Neither of the statements identified any particular policy, but, more fundamentally, neither states whether the infringing policy or policies were formal written policies, decisions by policy-makers, or persistent and widespread practices. The second statement attributes the formulation of policies and customs to supervisory employees, which are not necessarily policy-makers for Defendant
The court also notes that Plaintiff alleged, based solely on the facts of her detention, that the supervisory employees at the jail failed “to adequately train and supervise correctional officers, medical staff, and mental health staff” in the areas of “safety and well-being of prisoners” and sensitivity to Jewish inmates.
Although courts have recognized that the failure to train or to supervise employees may give rise to local-government liability under Section 1983, they have done so in very limited circumstances. See Connick, 131 S.Ct. at 1359; Zarnow v. City of Wichita Falls, Tex., 614 F.3d 161, 169, 170 (5th Cir. 2010). In fact, the Supreme Court has cautioned, “A [local government’s] culpability for a deprivation of rights is at its most tenuous where a claim turns on a failure to train.” Connick, 131 S.Ct. at 1359.
A plaintiff must show that: “(1) the training procedures were inadequate; (2) the city’s policymaker was deliberately indifferent in adopting the training policy; and (3) the inadequate training policy directly caused [the plaintiffs] injury.” Carnaby, 636 F.3d at 189; see also Zamow, 614 F.3d at 170. In order to show deliberate indifference by a local government, a plaintiff must generally show a pattern of similar constitutional violations by untrained employees. Connick, 131 S.Ct. at 1360. An inference of a policy of authorizing police misconduct is not warranted based on a single incident. Fraire v. City of Arlington, 957 F.2d 1268, 1278 (5th Cir. 1992); see also Piotrowski, 237 F.3d at 582.
Plaintiffs allegations that the jail staff was inadequately trained in the area of “safety and well-being of prisoners” is far too general to infer a policy that could have caused Plaintiffs alleged constitutional harm. Plaintiff failed to provide specific factual support as to how the training and supervision was deficient in any way that would have impacted her encounter with the jail staff or caused the alleged constitutional violations. See Zarnow, 614 F.3d at 170 (stating that “a plaintiff must allege with specificity how a particular training program is defective”).
Her allegation that the jail staff was inadequately trained with regard to sensitivity to Jewish inmates could not be, as a matter of law, the moving force directly causing false arrest/false imprisonment, excessive force, failure to provide medical care and treatment, or failure to provide due process. Plaintiff did not plead an equal protection claim, but, even if she had, insensitivity alone would not cause an equal protection violation.
Plaintiff failed to state sufficient facts to indicate the plausibility of her constitutional claims against Defendant Montgomery County. See Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. The allegations are too vague to raise more than the sheer possibility that an official policy was the moving force behind the violation of her constitutional rights, which is not enough to state a claim under Twombly and Iqbal.
A Texas county is a “governmental unit” covered by the TTCA. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 101.001(3)(B). Generally, the TTCA waives immunity for property damage, personal injury and death caused by wrongful acts of employees if arising “from the operation or use of a motor-driven vehicle or motor-driven equipment” or caused by “a condition or use of tangible personal or real property.” See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 101.021. No waiver of immunity is available for claims “arising out of assault, battery, false imprisonment, or any other intentional tort.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 101.057.
Defendant Montgomery County argues that Plaintiffs negligence claims either do not fit within the waiver for negligence claims or arise out of an intentional act for which sovereign immunity is not waived.
None of Plaintiffs allegations involve a vehicle or equipment. Plaintiffs claims can be categorized as conditions of jail premises, which she voluntarily dismissed, and as use of tangible personal property. The only allegation pled in Plaintiffs amended complaint that fits within the latter category is that the jail staff “negligently used restraints to improperly tie Plaintiff down.”
Defendant Montgomery County’s motion to dismiss should be granted as to all remaining claims.
C. Defendants Skero and Williams’ Motions for Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is warranted when the evidence reveals that no genuine dispute exists regarding any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Stauffer v. Gearhart, 741 F.3d 574, 581 (5th Cir. 2014). A material fact is a fact that is identified by applicable substantive law as critical to the outcome of the suit. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Ameristar Jet Charter, Inc. v. Signal Composites, Inc., 271 F.3d 624, 626 (5th Cir. 2001). To be genuine, the dispute regarding a material fact must be supported by evidence such that a reasonable jury could resolve the issue in favor of either party. See Royal v. CCC & R Tres Arboles, L.L.C., 736 F.3d 396, 400 (5th Cir. 2013) (quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505).
The movant must inform the court of the basis for the summary judgment motion and must point to relevant excerpts from
If the moving party carries its burden, the nonmovant may not rest on the allegations or denials in his pleading but must respond with evidence showing a genuine factual dispute. Stauffer, 741 F.3d at 581 (citing Hathaway v. Bazany, 507 F.3d 312, 319 (5th Cir. 2007)). Conclusory allegations, unsubstantiated assertions, improbable inferences, unsupported speculation, or only a scintilla of evidence will not carry this burden. Brown v. City of Houston, Tex., 337 F.3d 539, 540-41 (5th Cir. 2003).
If the evidence would not allow a reasonable jury to decide the dispute in favor of the nonmovant, the dispute is not genuine. See Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380, 127 S.Ct. 1769, 167 L.Ed.2d 686 (2007) (citing Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)). “When opposing parties tell two different stories, one of which is blatantly contradicted by the record, so that no reasonable jury could believe it, a court should not adopt that version of the facts for purposes of ruling on a motion for summary judgment.” Id.
Government officials have qualified immunity from Section 1983 “liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231, 129 S.Ct. 808, 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009) (quoting Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982)). Qualified immunity protects an officer regardless of whether the error was “a mistake of law, a mistake of fact, or a mistake based on mixed questions of law and fact.” Pearson, 555 U.S. at 231, 129 S.Ct. 808 (quoting Groh v. Ramirez, 540 U.S. 551, 567, 124 S.Ct. 1284, 157 L.Ed.2d 1068 (2004)).
By pleading qualified immunity in good faith, a summary judgment movant shifts the burden to the nonmovant to rebut the movant’s assertion. Brumfield v. Hollins, 551 F.3d 322, 326 (5th Cir. 2008); Hathaway, 507 F.3d at 319. Although no longer mandatory, the two-step process set out by the court in Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001), still provides guidance in analyzing qualified immunity. See Pearson, 555 U.S. at 236, 242, 129 S.Ct. 808 (stating that the Saucier analytic method “should no longer be regarded as mandatory” but allowing that it may be “worthwhile in particular cases”). The first step is determining whether the officer’s conduct violated a constitutional right. Hope v. Pelzer, 536 U.S. 730, 736, 122 S.Ct. 2508, 153 L.Ed.2d 666 (2002). The second step is to determine whether the officer’s actions were objectively reasonable in light of clearly established law at the time of the violation. Id. at 739, 122 S.Ct. 2508.
1. Defendant Skero’s Motion
Defendant Skero asserts qualified immunity against the alleged Fourth Amendment violations because he stopped Plaintiff based on reasonable suspicion, he did not arrest Plaintiff, and, assuming he participated in the arrest, it was supported by probable cause. Plaintiff disagrees on all
The Supreme Court has “firmly rejected the argument that reasonable cause for an investigative stop can only be based on the officer’s personal observation, rather than on information supplied by another person.” Prado Navarette, 134 S.Ct. at 1688 (alterations omitted) (quoting Adams v. Williams, 407 U.S. 143, 147, 92 S.Ct. 1921, 32 L.Ed.2d 612 (1972)). The court determines on a case-by-case basis whether a 911 call provides sufficient basis to justify a traffic stop based on the following factors: (1) “the credibility and reliability of the informant;” (2) “the specificity of the information contained in the tip or report;” (3) “the extent to which the information in the tip or report can be verified by officers in the field;” and (4) “whether the tip or report concerns active or recent activity, or has instead gone stale.” United States v. Martinez, 486 F.3d 855, 861 (5th Cir. 2007) (quoting United States v. Gonzalez, 190 F.3d 668, 672 (5th Cir. 1999)); see also Prado Navarette, 134 S.Ct. at 1688-89.
In Prado Navarette, the Supreme Court provided on-point guidance for the court’s analysis here. There, a 911 caller reported that a truck had run her off the highway. Prado Navarette, 134 S.Ct. at 1686-87. The 911 caller provided a description and an license plate number for the offender. See id. at 1686. Shortly thereafter, a highway patrol officer stopped a truck meeting the description and license plate number. See id. at 1687. The stop led to the discovery of thirty pounds of marijuana and the arrest of both the driver and the passenger. Id. The issue in the case was whether the evidence discovered during the stop should be suppressed in the criminal proceeding because the traffic stop lacked reasonable suspicion. See id.
Assuming the 911 caller was anonymous, the Court engaged in a thorough discussion of the tip’s reliability and found multiple factors supported relying on it. See id. at 1688-90. Included in those factors were the identification of a specific vehicle, a report based on claimed eyewitness knowledge, a detailed description of alleged wrongdoing, a contemporaneous report, the confirmation by an officer of the described vehicle in the vicinity of the alleged dangerous driving, and the use of the 911 emergency system to make the report. Id.
The Court concluded that “the behavior alleged by the 911 caller, viewed from the standpoint of an objectively reasonable police officer, amounted] to reasonable suspicion of drunk driving.” Id. at 1690 (internal alterations and quotation marks omitted) (quoting Ornelas v. United States, 517 U.S. 690, 696, 116 S.Ct. 1657, 134 L.Ed.2d 911 (1996)). The court stated:
The 911 caller in this case reported more than a minor traffic infraction and more than a conclusory allegation of drunk or reckless driving. Instead, she alleged a specific and dangerous result of the driver’s conduct: running another car off the highway. That conduct bears too great a resemblance to paradigmatic manifestations of drunk driving to be dismissed as an isolated example of recklessness. Running another vehicle off the road suggests lane-positioning problems, decreased vigilance, impaired judgment, or some combination of those recognized drunk driving cues.... And the experience of many officers suggests that a driver who almost strikes a vehicle or another object ... is likely intoxicated .... As a result, we cannot say that the officer acted unreasonably under these circumstances in stopping a*657 driver whose alleged conduct was a significant indicator of drunk driving.
Id. at 1691. The court also held that an officer need not rule out the possibility of innocent conduct or personally observe additional suspicious conduct in order to establish reasonable suspicion. Id.
Here, Gammons’ 911 call had all the indicia of reliability found in Prado Navarette and more. Gammons: (1) supplied the make, model, and license of the car which allegedly was being driven dangerously; (2) provided his name and telephone number; (3) reported having witnessed the vehicle traveling down the shoulder for more than a mile at a high rate of speed and forcing cars into different lanes; (4) contemporaneously reported that the driver was unable to maintain lanes; (5) contemporaneously reported that she hit a construction barrier but continued; (6) contemporaneously reported that she was swerving all over the road; and (7) contemporaneously reported that she nearly bumped a car. This court' finds, as a matter of law, that Defendant Skero had reasonable suspicion to conduct an investigatory stop based solely on the information provided by Gammons in the 911 call. Defendant Skero did not violate Plaintiffs right to be free from unreasonable seizures by stopping her.
Regarding the arrest, the video recordings provide unequivocal evidence that Defendant Williams arrested Plaintiff based only on his assessment of probable cause. See Carnaby, 636 F.3d at 187 (citing Scott, 550 U.S. at 372, 127 S.Ct. 1769) (“Although we review evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, we assign greater weight, even at the summary judgment stage, to the facts evident from video recordings taken at the scene.”) As is evident from the video recordings, Defendant Williams neither requested nor received any input from Defendant Skero on the matter before deciding to arrest Plaintiff. Defendant Skero’s only involvement in Plaintiffs arrest was to assist Defendant Williams in handcuffing Plaintiff and in escorting her to Defendant Williams’ patrol unit. Plaintiff provided no evidence contradicting this finding. In fact, she indicated at her deposition that she was not able to identify which officer arrested her.
Plaintiffs claim against Defendant Ske-ro for false arrest/false imprisonment should be dismissed.
2. Defendant Williams’ Motion
Defendant Williams asserts qualified immunity against the alleged Fourth Amendment violations because there was reasonable suspicion for the stop, there was probable cause for the arrest, the Eighth Amendment protection against excessive force does not apply to pretrial detentions, and the search and seizure of her vehicle, purse, medication, and dog were permissible under the circumstances. He also moves for summary judgment on the negligence claim as barred by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 101.106(f) and by official immunity. Plaintiff argues in response that Defendant Williams is not entitled to qualified immunity and that Texas Civil' Practice and Remedies Code § 101.106(f) does not bar her negligence claim because the claim is based on the alleged ultra vires acts of Defendant Williams.
Having decided that the traffic stop was constitutional, the court moves to the claim that the arrest was without probable cause. The critical question when deciding whether qualified immunity protects an officer from false arresVfalse im
When Defendant Williams arrested Plaintiff, he had within his knowledge that a 911 caller had reported that Plaintiff was driving dangerously, including hitting a construction barrier, driving fast on the shoulder, and forcing other cars to change lanes. He also had been informed by Defendant Skero that Defendant Skero had observed Plaintiff swerving immediately before he made the stop, being unsteady walking and nearly falling, slurring her speech; that Plaintiff would not follow directions when he attempted the HGN test; and that Plaintiff had given inconsistent reports regarding when she last took a pain pill and whether she had hit a construction barrier. In addition to those second-hand reports from rehable sources, Defendant Williams had observed Plaintiff swaying and slurring her speech. Defendant Williams attempted the HGN test with Plaintiff six times, but Plaintiff never successfully complied with his instructions.
Plaintiff contends that Defendants Skero and Williams were wrong about several of their observations. . Unfortunately for Plaintiff, the video recordings tend to support many of the cited facts that Defendant Williams factored into the probable cause calculus. For example, the video recording shows that: (1) Plaintiff did swerve at least once after Defendant Ske-ro pulled in behind her; (2) she was unsteady on her feet, leaning on her car for a significant amount of the time' and awkwardly stepping off the pavement into the grass; (3) she initially denied hitting the wall and taking pain medication and later conceded that she had done both; and (4) she did rock slightly as Defendant Williams administered the HGN test. Although the court cannot tell from the video whether Plaintiff was successfully completing the HGN test, the court can tell that Defendants Skero and Williams both assessed that she had not. Based on the video, reasonable people could disagree as to whether Plaintiff was swaying or slurring her speech.
The court need not weigh the evidence or credibility to determine from the video recording that a reasonable officer could have believed the arrest was lawful based on all of the information he possessed. The 911 call and Defendant Skero’s report were from reliable sources, and Defendant Williams was reasonable in factoring that information into his determination.
Plaintiff also argues that much of her behavior was caused by innocent conduct. That is not relevant to Defendant Williams’ probable cause finding. He was not required to rule out innocent conduct. See Prado Navarette, 134 S.Ct. at 1691. Plaintiff cites to other immaterial facts, such ás Defendant Skero’s speeding, her insistence that she had not been drinking, and the 911 caller’s details about body parts flying off of her car when she hit the
The court finds that Defendant Williams is entitled to qualified immunity on Plaintiffs false arrest/false imprisonment claim because the evidence would give a reasonable officer at least arguable probable cause.
The only basis on which Defendant Williams moves for summary judgment on Plaintiffs excessive force claim is Plaintiff’s failure to plead the claim pursuant to the proper constitutional amendment. The court will not grant summary judgment on that basis.
Moreover, Plaintiff testified at her deposition that she suffered injuries as a result of Defendant Williams’ handcuffing her, escorting her to his patrol unit, and placing her in the patrol unit.
The court cannot determine from the summary judgment evidence whether Plaintiff’s injuries were more than de min-imis or whether they directly resulted from Defendant Williams’ use of excessive force that was unreasonable. Ultimately, if the evidence shows only that Plaintiff suffered minor wrist injuries from Defendant Williams’ handcuffing too tightly, she cannot prevail. See Glenn, 242 F.3d at 314 (finding “that handcuffing too tightly, without more, does not amount to excessive force”). For now, though, the court finds that Plaintiff has raised a fact issue on her excessive force claim against Defendant Williams.
The final constitutional issue is the search and seizure of Plaintiffs purse, medication, vehicle, and dog. The evidence shows that Defendant Williams searched Plaintiff’s purse after arresting her for driving while intoxicated. The search was justified, at the very least, because he saw medication bottles in her purse when he complied with Plaintiff’s request to retrieve a tissue from her purse. Without a doubt, Plaintiffs request provided Defendant Williams with voluntary consent to look in her purse for a tissue. See United States v. Freeman, 482 F.3d 829, 831-32 (5th Cir. 2007) (stating that the totality of circumstances determines whether consent was voluntarily given). When Defendant Williams looked in her purse, the medication bottles were visible and were incriminating in light of Plaintiff’s arrest for driving while intoxicated. Therefore, Defendant Williams was allowed to seize the medications pursuant to the plain view doctrine. See Trent v. Wade, 776 F.3d 368, 386 (5th Cir. 2015) (quoting Horton v. California, 496 U.S. 128, 136-37, 110 S.Ct. 2301, 110 L.Ed.2d 112 (1990)) (“Supreme Court precedent permits officers to seize contraband in plain view so long as its incriminating-character is ‘immediately apparent’ and the officers are ‘lawfully located in a place
The impoundment of Plaintiffs car was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. See United States v. McKinnon, 681 F.3d 203, 207-08 (5th Cir. 2012) (stating that the community caretaking exception to the prohibition against warrantless searches and seizures is well established and allows police to remove from the streets vehicles that impede traffic or threaten public safety); United States v. Castro, 166 F.3d 728, 734 (5th Cir. 1999) (stating that the im-poundment of a vehicle after the lawful arrest of its occupants is permissible as long as it was in furtherance of a community caretaking purpose).
Likewise, an accompanying inventory search is consistent with constitutional principles “if it is conducted pursuant to standardized regulations and procedures that are consistent with (1) protecting the property of the vehicle’s owner, (2) protecting the police against claims or disputes over lost or stolen property, and (3) protecting the police from danger.” McKinnon, 681 F.3d at 209 (quoting United States v. Lage, 183 F.3d 374, 380 (5th Cir. 1999)); see also Castro, 166 F.3d at 734 (stating that an inventory search was authorized after impoundment). Defendant Williams inventoried the contents of Plaintiffs vehicle for the stated purpose of protecting Plaintiffs property. Plaintiff has presented no evidence that the inventory search was not conducted properly or was based on an improper motive.
Defendant Williams’ decision to have animal control pick up Plaintiffs dog and keep it in the pound while Plaintiff was detained in jail was both an act of caretaking and of protecting Plaintiffs property. The dog needed to be cared for during Plaintiffs incarceration. Defendant Williams offered to let Plaintiff have someone she knew take care of the dog, but Plaintiff did not know of anyone who could. Obviously, the dog could not stay in the car, be left on the side of the road, or accompany Plaintiff to the jail. Defendant Williams only choice was to send the dog to animal control where people would feed and care for it.
The last claim asserted against Defendant Williams that the court must consider is the allegation that he “negligently restrained [Plaintiff], a cooperative [sixty-two-]year:old woman with extreme health issues, in handcuffs that were too tight, from which [Plaintiff] developed bruises and open wounds.”
The election of remedies provision of the Texas Tort Claims Act, states, in part:
If a suit is filed against an employee of a governmental unit based on conduct within the general scope of that employee’s employment and if it could have been brought under this chapter against the governmental unit, the suit is considered to be against the employee in the employee’s official capacity only. On the employee’s motion, the suit against the employee shall be dismissed unless the plaintiff files amended pleadings dismissing the employee and naming the governmental unit as defendant on or*661 before the 30th day after the date the motion is filed.
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 101.106. As explained by the Supreme Court of Texas in Franka v. Velasquez, 332 S.W.3d 367, 381 (Tex. 2011) (quoting Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 101.106):
Properly construed, section 101.106(f)’s two conditions are met in almost every negligence suit against a government employee: he acted within the general scope of his employment and suit could have been brought under the Act — that is, his claim is in tort and not under another statute that independently waives immunity. In such cases, the suit “is considered to be against the employee in the employee’s official capacity only,” and the plaintiff must promptly dismiss the employee and sue the government instead.
Arresting and handcuffing Plaintiff after an investigation based on a 911 call are actions within the general scope of his employment as a state trooper. For the reasons explained in Franka, Plaintiff’s negligence claim could have been brought against the governmental unit.
Plaintiffs reliance on The City of El Paso v. Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d 366 (Tex. 2009), is misplaced. That case dealt with an action brought against a city and others by a police officer’s widow, alleging the breach of fiduciary duty in the reduction of her pension benefits. The case does not equate official acts .authorized by the state of acts in the general scope of an official’s employment. See id. Section 101.106(f) is not even mentioned in the case. See id.
As Plaintiff did not promptly dismiss Defendant Williams upon his motion, the negligence claims must be dismissed.
IV. Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, the court RECOMMENDS that Defendant Montgomery County’s motion to dismiss be GRANTED, Defendant Skero’s motion for summary judgment and supplement be GRANTED, Defendant Williams’ motion for summary judgment and supplemental motion for summary judgment be GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. If this Memorandum and Recommendation is adopted, the only remaining claim in this action is Plaintiffs excessive force claim against Defendant Williams.
The Clerk shall send copies of this Memorandum and Recommendation to the respective parties who have fourteen days from the receipt thereof to file written objections thereto pursuant to Rule 72(b) and General Order 2002-13. Failure to file written objections within the time period mentioned shall bar an aggrieved party from attacking the factual findings and legal conclusions on appeal.
The original of any written objections shall be filed with the United States District Clerk electronically. Copies of such objections shall be mailed to opposing parties and to the chambers of the undersigned, 515 Rusk, Suite 7019, Houston, Texas 77002.
SIGNED in Houston, Texas, this 27th day of February, 2015.
. This case was referred to the undersigned magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B), the Cost and Delay Reduction Plan under the Civil Justice Reform Act, and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72. Doc.22.
. The facts recounted in this section are relevant only to the pending motions for sum-
. See Doc. 49-2, Ex. 2 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Montgomery Cnty. 911 Call Recording p. 1.
. See id.
. Id. pp. 1-2; Doc. 49-11, Ex. 6 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Walker Cnty. 911 Call Recording p. 1; see also Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Voluntary Statement of Gammons p. 18 (stating that parts flew off the car when it contacted the concrete barrier in a construction zone).
. Doc. 49-2, Ex. 2 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Montgomery Cnty. 911 Call Recording p. 2.
. See id. pp. 2-3; Doc. 49-11, Ex. 6 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Walker Cnty. 911 Call Recording p. 1.
. See Doc. 49-2, Ex. 2 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Montgomery Cnty. 911 Call Recording p. 3; Doc. 49-11, Ex. 6 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Walker Cnty. 911 Call Recording p. 1. In a statement given at the scene after Plaintiff had been arrested, Gammons said that the Prius also had crossed the yellow stripe on the left lane and drove on the shoulder for approximately one and a half miles at a speed in excess of eighty-five miles an hour. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Voluntary Statement of Gammons p. 18.
. Doc. 49-11, Ex. 6 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Walker Cnty. 911 Call Recording pp. 1-2.
. Id. p. 2.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. p. 3.
. See Doc. 49-12, Ex. 7 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Decl. of Skero ¶ 2; Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Voluntary Statement of Skero p. 15.
. Doc. 49-12, Ex. 7 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Decl. of Skero ¶ 3; see also Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero's Brief
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See id.
. See id.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; but see Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording p. 1.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 1.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See id.; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 2.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 2.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 2.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 3.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See id.; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 2.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See id.
. See id.; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 2-3.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 3.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 3.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See id.; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 4.
. Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 4.
. See id.; Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See id.
. See id.; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p.-4.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 4.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording p. 4.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording p. 6.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 5-6.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 7.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 7.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 7.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 7.
. Doc. 57-1, Aff. of Pl. Dated Sept. 11, 2014 ¶ 11; Doc. 74-1, Revised Aff. of Pl. Dated Oct. 7, 2014 ¶ 11.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement & Supplement pp. 4, 13.
. See id. p. 4.
. See id.
. See id.; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 1.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 1; Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording p. 7.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 1; Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 7-8.
. Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; see also Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 1.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, .Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 1.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 1.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 1-2.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 2.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 2.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex: 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 2.
. . Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 2..
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p.3.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p.3.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 3.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 3.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 3.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 3.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 3-4.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 4.
. See Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 4.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 4.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 5.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J„ Def. Williams'
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 6.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 6.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 6.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 6.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 6.
.See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording;. Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 6.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording;' Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 6.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 6.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 10; see also Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 7.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 7.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 7.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc: 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 5, 7; see also Doc. 57-1, Aff. of PL Dated Sept. 11, 2014 ¶ 2; Doc. 74-1, Revised Aff. of PL Dated Oct. 7, 2014 ¶ 2.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 8.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def: Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 8.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 8.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 8.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 8-9.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 9.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 9.
. See Doc. 49-5, Ex. 3-B to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Photographs.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording p. 11.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 9; Doc. 57-1, Aff. of Pl. Dated Sept. 11, 2014 ¶ 4; Doc. 74-1, Revised Aff. of Pl. Dated Oct. 7, 2014 ¶ 4.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 9; see also Doc. 57-1, Aff. of Pl. Dated Sept. 11, 2014 ¶ 4; Doc. 74-1, Revised Aff. of Pl. Dated Oct. 7, 2014 ¶ 4.
. Doc. 57-1, Aff. of Pl. Dated Sept. 11, 2014 ¶ 4; Doc. 74-1, Revised Aff. of Pl. Dated Oct. 7, 2014 ¶ 4.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 10.
. Doc. 57-1, Aff. of Pl. Dated Sept. 11, 2014 ¶ 4; Doc. 74-1, Revised Aff. of Pl. Dated Oct. 7, 2014 ¶ 4.
. See Doc. 49-6, Ex. 3-B to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Photographs of Medication; Doc. 49-7, Ex. 3-B to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Photographs of Medication; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 9-12.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 10.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 10.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 10.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 14.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 12-13.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 12-14.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 14.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 14.
. Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-18, Ex. 12 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording p. 18.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex.. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording. p. 16.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 16.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 16.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 16-19.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 17-18.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 17-18; 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero’s Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 17-18; Doc. 49-17, Ex. 11-A to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Skero's Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 17-18.
. Doc. 57-1, Aff. of PL Dated Sept. 11, 2014 ¶ 13; Doc. 74-1, Revised Aff. of Pl. Dated Oct. 7,20141113.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 20.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording.
. See id.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc; 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 20-21.
. Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 21.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 21.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 22, 25.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 24-25, 27.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 26
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 26.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 27-35.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 27-35.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Statement p. 4; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 26, 31.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 27-35.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording p. 34.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report, Probable Cause Supplement p. 13; Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording p. 36.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams’ Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording pp. 36-40.
. See Doc. 49-8, Ex. 3-C to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Def. Williams' Dash Cam Video Recording; Doc. 49-9, Ex. 4 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Tr. of Def. Williams' Dash-Cam Video Recording p. 40.
. See Doc. 49-20, Ex. 14 to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., Excerpts from Jail Med. Rees.
. See id.
. Doc. 57-1, Aff. of PL Dated Sept. 11, 2014 ¶ 6; Doc. 74-1, Revised Aff. of Pl. Dated Oct. 7, 2014 ¶ 6.
. Id. ¶¶ 5, 10.
. Id. ¶¶ 7-8.
. Id. ¶ 14.
. Doc. 93-1, Ex. A to Pl.'s App. in Support of Pl.'s Resp. to Def. Skero's Supplement to Mot. for Summ. J., Dep. of Pl. p. 22.
. See id.
. Doc. 49-12, Ex. 7 to Def. Skero's Brief in Support of Summ. J., Decl. of Def. Skero ¶¶ 3, 4.
. Id. a 7.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report p. 15.
. See Doc. 49-4, Ex. 3-A to Def. Skero’s Brief in Support of Summ. J., DWI Case Report p. 1.
. See id.
. See id. p. 2.
. See id. p. 4.
. See id.
. See id.
. Id. pp. 4, 13.
. The facts recounted in this section are relevant only to the pending motion to dismiss; therefore, the court drew the informa
. Doc. 39, Pl.’s 2nd Am. Compl. p. 7.
. Id.
. Id. pp. 7-8.
. Id. p. 8.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. p. 8.
. Id. p. 9.
. Id. pp. 7, 8.
. Id. p. 9.
. Id. p. 8.
. See id. p. 9.
. See id. Plaintiff stated in her deposition that her mother paid the bail for her. See Doc. 93-1, Ex. A to Pl.'s App. in Support of Pl.'s Resp. to Def. Skero’s Supplement to Mot. for Summ. J., Dep. of Pl. p. 113.
. See Doc. 39, Pl.’s 2nd Am. Compl. p. 10.
. Id. (alterations omitted).
. See Doc. 1, Pl.’s Original Compl.
. See Doc. 10, Pl.’s 1st Am. Compl.
. See id. p. 11.
. See Doc. 12, Def. William's Answer.
. See Doc. 14, Def Skero’s Mot. to Dismiss; Doc. 16, Mot. for J. on the Pleadings.
. See Doc. 17, Def Montgomery County's Mot. to Dismiss.
. See Doc. 33, Order Dated May 15, 2014.
. See Doc. 35, Pl.'s Opposed Mot. for Leave to File a 2nd Am. Compl.; Doc. 38, Order Dated July 10, 2014.
. See Doc. 38, Order Dated July 10, 2014.
. Excessive force claims based on the force used during an arrest fall under the Fourth Amendment. See, e.g., Valencia v. Wiggins, 981 F.2d 1440, 1444 (5th Cir. 1993). Post arrest, pretrial detainees are protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. See Kitchen v. Dallas Cnty., Tex., 759 F.3d 468, 477 (5th Cir. 2014) (ultimately applying the same analysis as a convicted prisoner's excessive force claim pursuant to the Eighth Amendment). The court, therefore, evaluates Plaintiff’s excessive force allegations under the applicable constitutional amendment.
. Plaintiff pled false arrest and false imprisonment as two separate claims. The United States Supreme Court once noted that false arrest and false imprisonment overlap, the former being a species of the latter, and, for purposes of that case, considered the two constitutional torts together. See Wallace v. Kato, 549 U.S. 384, 388-89, 127. S.Ct. 1091, 166 L.Ed.2d 973 (2007). The Fifth Circuit has determined that both false arrest and false imprisonment "require a showing of no probable cause.” Brown v. Lyford, 243 F.3d 185, 189 (5th Cir. 2001); see also Haggerty v. Tex. S. Univ., 391 F.3d 653, 655-56 (5th Cir. 2004). Because both claims rely on the absence of the same pre-arrest probable cause finding, the court analyzes these claims together.
. Pretrial detainees enjoy the same rights as convicted prisoners to "constitutional essentials like medical care and safety,” but that right emanates from the Fourteenth Amendment's due process guarantees, rather than the Eighth Amendment’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Jacobs v. W. Feliciana Sheriff’s Dep’t, 228 F.3d 388, 393
. In the section headed "Governmental Entity Liability,” Plaintiff's live pleading stated, "Defendant Montgomery County negligently destroyed and/or discarded videotape evidence of wrongful conduct and mistreatment of Plaintiff while she was incarcerated in violation of her due process rights.” Doc. 39, Pl.'s 2nd Am. Comp. p. 21. Reading the complaint broadly, the court considers this to allege a due process violation.
. See Doc. 39, Pl.'s 2nd Am. Compl. pp. 11-16. In later briefing, Plaintiff claims that all three defendants violated her right to equal protection of the laws. See Doc. 57, Pl.’s Resp. to Def. Skero's Mot. for Summ. J. p. 12; Pl.'s Resp. to Def. Williams’ Mot. for Summ. J. p. 10. In order to state a claim under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, a plaintiff first must allege "that two or more classifications of similarly situated persons were treated differently” by a state actor. Gallegos-Hernandez v. United States, 688 F.3d 190, 195 (5th Cir. 2012). The words "equal protection” are not in her second amended complaint at all, and nothing therein suggests that she was treated differently from similarly situated persons of another classification. Although she identified herself as Jewish in her complaint and stated that she had felt persecuted while detained in the jail, Plaintiff stopped short of claiming that characteristic as a classification subject to a heightened standard of review or claiming that the jail staff distinguished between Jews and non-Jews in their treatment of prisoners. See Doc. 39, Pl.'s 2nd Am. Compl. Therefore, the claim is not properly before the court, and the court does not address it in this memorandum.
. See Doc. 39, Pl.'s 2nd Am. Compl. p. 21. In later briefing, Plaintiff claims that Defendants Skero and Williams violated her due process rights. See Doc. 57, Pl.’s Resp. to Def. Skero’s Mot. for Summ. J. p. 12; Pl.'s Resp. to Def. Williams' Mot. for Summ. J. p. 10. Other than in her general assertion of a due process violation in the "Nature of the Action” section, the only defendant other than Defendant Montgomery County whom Plaintiff accused of violating her due process rights was Defendant Williams in the context of an allegation of an illegal search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment. See Doc. 39, Pl.’s 2nd Am. Compl. p. 12. There, Plaintiff did not state any facts to support a due process violation separate from the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. See id.
Reading Plaintiff's second amended complaint as broadly as possible, the only due process violation alleged in her complaint was against Defendant Montgomery County related to the destruction of the jail video recordings. See id. Therefore, the court does not address any other due process claim raised by Plaintiff in later briefing.
. See Doc. 39, Pl.'s 2nd Am. Compl. pp. 16-21.
. Id. p. 22.
. Id. p. 24.
. See Doc. 40, Def. Skero's Answer to Pl.'s 2nd Am. Compl. pp. 1, 10-13.
. See id. p. 13.
. See Doc. 41, Def. Montgomery County's Mot. to Dismiss Pl.’s 2nd Am. Compl.
. See Doc. 43, Def. Williams' Answer to Pl.'s 2nd Am. Compl.
. See Doc. 48, Def. Skero's Mot. for Summ. J.
. See Doc. 50, Def. Skero’s Mot. to Stay Disc, or, Alternatively, for Limited Disc. Pending Ruling on Immunity.
. See Doc. 54, Order Dated Sept. 8, 2014.
. See Doc. 57, PL's Resp. to Def. Skero’s Mot. for Summ. J.
. See Doc. 59, Def. Williams' Mot. for Summ. J.
. See Doc. 60, Def. Williams’ Opposed Motion for Protective Order.
. See Doc. 62, Def. Skero’s Mot. for Sanctions.
. Id. p. 2.
. See Doc. 73, Notice of Withdrawal of Mot. for Sanctions Without Prejudice.
. Plaintiff listed a "premises liability” claim as one being dismissed. See Doc. 63, Notice of Partial Dismissal of State Law Cls. Dated Sept. 26, 2014. Plaintiff did not plead a premises liability claim; however, she did assert a negligence claim for premises defects against Defendant Montgomery County. See Doc. 39, Pl.'s 2nd Am. Compl. The court understands Plaintiff's notice to indicate that
. See Doc. 63, Pl.’s Notice of Partial Dismissal of State Law Cls. Dated Sept. 26, 2014.
. See Doc. 64, Order Dated Sept. 29, 2014.
. See Doc. 76, Min. Entry Dated Oct. 17, 2014.
. See id.
. See id.
. See Doc. 77, Def. Skero's Renewed Mot. for Sanctions.
. See Doc. 89, Def. Skero’s Withdrawal of Renewed Mot. for Sanctions.
. See Doc. 85, Def. Williams’ Supplemental Mot. for Summ. J.; Doc. 86, Def. Skero's Supplemental Mot. for Summ. J.
. See Doc. 91, Pl.’s Notice of Partial Dismissal of State Law Cls. Dated Dec. 30, 2014.
. See Doc. 98, Order Dated Jan. 8, 2015.
. See Doc. 99, Def. Skero & Williams’ Mot. for Sanctions.
. See id. p. 1
. See Doc. 102, Order Dated Feb. 27, 2015.
. The provision reads, in relevant part:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State ..., subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress ....
42 U.S.C. § 1983.
. The full text of the Fourth Amendment is: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,' shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
. The full text of the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment is:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
. A different standard for evaluation is used in conditions of confinement cases. See Hare, 74 F.3d at 644-45.
. Defendant Montgomery County’s motion also sought dismissal of the state law claims and the request for declaratory judgment. See Doc. 41, Def. Montgomery County's Mot. to Dismiss Pl.’s 2nd Am. Compl. pp. 5-13. As noted in the procedural background, Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed all of the state law claims except the negligent condition or use of tangible property and dismissed the request for declaratory judgment against Defendant Montgomery County.
.Defendant Skero's motion also sought summary judgment in his favor on all of the state law claims and the request for declaratory judgment. See Doc. 48, Def. Skero's Mot.
. Doc. 45, Pl.’s Resp. to Def. Montgomery Cnty.’s Mot. to Dismiss p. 13.
.Although the court had determined that probable cause supported Plaintiff’s arrest, that finding is based on the summary judgment evidence. The court must rely only on the facts pled in deciding Defendant Montgomery County's motion to dismiss.
. Doc. 45, Pl.’s Resp. to Def. Montgomery Cnty.'s Mot. to Dismiss p. 13 (emphasis added) (quoting Doc. 39, Pl.'s 2nd Am. Compl. p. 21).
. Id.
. Doc. 39, Pl.’s 2nd Am. Compl. p. 15.
. See Doc. 39, Pl.’s 2nd Am. Compl. pp. 20-21. In her live pleading, Plaintiff also alleged that Defendant Montgomery County failed to provide a toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, and blanket and required her to lie down from 6:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. each day, seized her medical braces, took cash from her purse, and withheld her prescription medications. See id. None of these actions or omissions involved the condition or use of tangible property. Plaintiff attempts to avoid that requirement in her response to Defendant Montgomery County’s motion by adding that all of those actions or omissions were pursuant to a "presumed ... written policy.” See Doc. 45, Pl.'s Resp. to Def. Montgomery Cnty.'s Mot. to Dismiss. That clever rewriting, however, is unavailing. The Supreme Court of Texas has dispensed with the argument that a policy manual constitutes tangible personal property as used in the statute. See Tex. Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Petta, 44 S.W.3d 575, 580-81 (Tex. 2001).
. See Doc. 93-1, Ex. A to Pl.’s App. in Support of Pl.’s Resp. to Def. Skero’s Supplement to Mot. for Summ. J., Dep. of Pl. pp. 116-17.
. See Doc. 93-1, Ex. A to PL's App. in Support of PL’s Resp. to Def. Skero’s Supplement to Mot. for Summ. J., Dep. of Pl. pp. 102-03.
. See id. pp. 85-88; 133-38.
. See id. p. 16. Plaintiff could not recall whether she received treatment for her hand injury at the emergency room. See id. pp. 88-89. At some point, she saw a hand specialist for a nerve induction test but the specialist did not prescribe any treatment. See id. p. 18.
. Doc. 39, Pl.'s 2nd Am. Compl. p. 19.
. Doc. 69, Pl.’s Resp. to Def. Williams' Mot. for Summ. J.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jean GOLDMAN v. Charles WILLIAMS, Brian Skero, and Montgomery County, Texas
- Status
- Published