Amado v. City of Tucson Police Department

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Amado v. City of Tucson Police Department, 83 F. App'x 205 (9th Cir. 2003)

Amado v. City of Tucson Police Department

Opinion of the Court

MEMORANDUM **

Pete Amado appeals the district court’s summary judgment in favor of Officers David Graze and James Hart on the basis of qualified immunity.1 We review de novo, see Bingham v. City of Manhattan Beach, 341 F.3d 939, 945 (9th Cir. 2003), and affirm as to Officer Hart, but reverse as to Officer Craze.

Amado states a claim for violation of his Fourth Amendment rights because no reasonable officer could have believed the level of force allegedly employed by Craze was necessary under the circumstances alleged. See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865, 1871, 104 L.Ed.2d 443 (1989). Furthermore, under the circumstances alleged, no reasonable officer could have mistakenly believed that the level of force allegedly employed was constitutionally permissible, and, thus, Craze is not entitled to summary judgment based on qualified immunity. See Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201-2, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 2156,150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001).

It is undisputed that Officer Hart did not apply excessive force, and was unaware of the excessive nature of the force applied by Craze. Thus, Hart’s failure to intervene did not violate Amado’s constitutional rights, and summary judgment in favor of Hart was appropriate. See Jackson v. City of Bremerton, 268 F.3d 646, 653 (9th Cir. 2001).

AFFIRMED in part and REVERSED in part and REMANDED. Costs shall be awarded to the appellant.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

. Officers Hart and Cruze were the only remaining defendants, the district court having previously dismissed the claims against all other defendants. See District Court Order, CV-01-00243-FRZ, at 1-2 (May 16, 2002).

Reference

Full Case Name
Pete AMADO, Plaintiff—Appellant v. CITY OF TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENT, and Hart, Officer, Defendants—Appellees
Status
Published