Hart v. Gaione
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Plaintiff-Appellant Anthony Hart appeals the district court order granting Defendant-Appellee Gregory Gaioni’s
Hart was indicted for violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6), which makes it unlawful to knowingly making a false statement when attempting to purchase a firearm. After he was acquitted, Hart brought this Bivens
Gaioni is entitled to qualified immunity if a reasonable officer in the same circumstances would have thought probable cause existed. See Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 202, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001). Probable cause exists when “the facts and circumstances within [the officer’s] knowledge and of which [he] had reasonably trustworthy information were sufficient to warrant a prudent man in believing that the [appellant] had committed ... an offense.” Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 91, 85 S.Ct. 223, 13 L.Ed.2d 142 (1964); see also Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 235, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983) (reaffirming that the evidence need support only a probability of criminal activity). “The mere fact a prosecution was unsuccessful does not mean it was not supported by probable cause.” Freeman v. City of Santa Ana, 68 F.3d 1180, 1189 (9th Cir. 1995).
The undisputed facts establish that it was reasonable for Gaioni to think that there was some probability that Hart knew that he had made a false statement. Before filing his recommendation for prosecution, Gaioni obtained Hart’s record of conviction, which was clearly for domestic violence as defined on the ATF form and
Hart’s other arguments are without merit. The law of the case doctrine does not apply when a district court denies an earlier motion for summary judgment based on an undeveloped record. See Federal Ins. Co. v. Scarsella Bros., Inc., 931 F.2d 599, 601 n. 4 (9th Cir. 1991). Similarly, Local Rule 7-18 is wholly inapplicable because it regulates litigants’ activities, not the district court’s.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
.Defendant-appellee's name is spelled incorrectly in the caption. The correct spelling is Gaioni.
. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
. Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S.Ct. 1999, 29 L.Ed.2d 619 (1971).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Anthony K. HART v. Gregory GAIONE
- Status
- Published