U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2006

Tyus v. City of New Kensington

Tyus v. City of New Kensington
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · Decided May 19, 2006 · Weis, Rendell, Van Antwerpen Weis
180 F. App'x 403

Tyus v. City of New Kensington

Opinion

OPINION

WEIS, Circuit Judge.

As a retrial on first degree murder charges was about to begin, plaintiff Tyus pleaded nolo contendré to a charge of aggravated assault in connection with the death of Kevin Golden. Tyus was sentenced to time served and an additional term of probation. He then filed suit against state law enforcement officials alleging violation of his constitutional rights.

Because this opinion is not precedential, we will not review the factual background which is set out in the comprehensive memoranda of the District Court.

The District Court entered judgments in favor of all of the defendants in two Memorandum Opinions and Orders. Plaintiff has appealed the District Court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of District Attorney John Peck, Assistant District Attorney Larry Koenig, the Office of the District Attorney, City of New Kensington, and Detective Ron Zellers.

Plaintiff raised three issues on appeal. First, he argued that the District Court erred when it concluded that Peck and Koenig were entitled to absolute prosecutorial immunity. Second, plaintiff contends that the District Court erred when it concluded that the underlying criminal proceedings did not terminate in his favor. Finally, he contends that the District Court erred when it concluded that he did *404 not satisfy the prerequisites for municipal and official liability.

Plaintiff contended that detective Zellers secured an arrest warrant based in part on a false statement in the affidavit. The District Court correctly found that the false arrest claim was not viable because the criminal proceeding did not terminate in favor of plaintiff; instead, plaintiff pleaded nob contendré to the aggravated assault charge that arose out of the conduct set out in the arrest warrant initiated by detective Zellers.

Assistant District Attorney Koenig was entitled to absolute immunity because his conduct in preparation for the trials and during the trials themselves were within the scope of a prosecutor’s legitimate duties. See Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 96 S.Ct. 984, 47 L.Ed.2d 128 (1976). The District Court properly analyzed the evidence supporting summary judgment in Koenig’s favor.

Plaintiff failed to present evidence sufficient to defeat the motions for summary judgment filed on behalf of District Attorney Peck, his office and the City of New Kensington based on failure to train and supervise the conduct of the other defendants. Accordingly, judgment was entered in their favor as well.

Essentially for the reasons stated in the District Court’s Memorandum Opinions, the Judgments of the District Court as to defendants Peck, Koenig, Zellers, the Office of the District Attorney and the City of New Kensington will be affirmed.

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