Syarto v. Baker
Syarto v. Baker
Opinion of the Court
DECISION AND ORDER
This is a suit for damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 arising out of the incarceration of the plaintiff for eight hours for civil ordinance violations. This court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3) and (4).
The case was tried to a jury for three days beginning on July 29, 1980. On August 4, 1980, the jury returned a special verdict finding that (1) Thomas Baker was not liable to the plaintiff for (a) using excessive force against the plaintiff, or (b) failing to prevent others from using excessive force against the plaintiff, or (c) denying the plaintiff release from jail; (2) Thomas Wollach was not liable to the plaintiff for (a) using excessive force against the plaintiff, or (b) failing to prevent others from using excessive force against the plaintiff; and (3) Kenneth Liefler deprived the plaintiff of his constitutional rights by denying the plaintiff release from jail in accordance with an established procedure or policy of the City of West Allis Police Department. In addition, the jury calculated the compensatory damages of the plaintiff to be $50 and assessed punitive damages in the amount of $1,000 against the City of West Allis for denial of the plaintiff’s release from jail. Currently before the court is the defendants’ motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (“j.n.o.v.”).
The record of this action reveals the following. Shortly before 1:00 A.M. on July 8, 1976,
The plaintiff was incarcerated at the West Allis Police Station from approximately 2:00 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. Upon his arrival at the police station, the plaintiff was physically and verbally uncooperative with the police. This disruptive conduct led to Sergeant Liefler’s decision not to afford either the plaintiff or his friends the opportunity to post bail and to obtain release from incarceration. Moreover, Sergeant Liefler determined that neither the plaintiff nor his friends should be afforded the
The test for the propriety of j.n.o.v. is the same as that for a directed verdict:
“* * * Simply stated, it is whether the evidence is such that, without weighing the credibility of the witnesses or otherwise considering the weight of the evidence, there can be but one conclusion as to the verdict that reasonable men could have reached. * * * ” Simblest v. Maynard, 427 F.2d 1, 4 (2d Cir. 1970).
In determining whether the evidence is sufficient to support the verdict, the Court is not free to weigh the evidence, pass on the credibility of the witnesses, or to substitute its own judgment for that of the jury. 9 Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2524, at 543-544 (1971). The Court may direct entry of j.n.o.v. “* * * ‘ “only when the evidence gives rise to no dispute as to the material issues or only when the evidence is so clear and convincing as reasonably to permit unbiased and impartial minds to come to but one conclusion.” ’* * * ” DeSantis v. Parker Feeders, Inc., 547 F.2d 357, 360 (7th Cir. 1976), citing Anderson v. Joint School District, 24 Wis.2d 580, 583, 129 N.W.2d 545, 547 (1964).
In the instant case it was the testimony of defendants Baker and Wollach as well as Sergeant Liefler that a person accused of an ordinance violation will be incarcerated and will not be permitted to post bail if that person is not in a fit condition to care for his own safety or if he would constitute a danger to the safety of others. Nonetheless, the jury could have concluded that it was also West Allis Police Department policy that a person accused of an ordinance violation will be incarcerated and will not be permitted to post bail or to make a telephone call as long as that person is disruptive and has not quieted down. This Court cannot say that the jury’s actual conclusion that Sergeant Liefler knowingly denied the plaintiff release from jail in accordance with an established procedure or policy of the West Allis Police Department was unsupported by credible evidence.
The question then becomes whether the defendants’ acts and conduct deprived the plaintiff of his federal constitutional rights not to be denied or deprived of his liberty without due process of law. Under Wisconsin law, Sergeant Liefler was entitled to incarcerate the plaintiff until he could be brought before a magistrate if he believed that the plaintiff was not in a fit condition to care for his own safety or would constitute, because of his physical or mental condition, a danger to the safety of others. Section 969.07, Wis.Stats. (1977). Furthermore, no person arrested on any basis has any automatic constitutional right to' immediate bail. United States ex rel. Rainwater v. Morris, 411 F.Supp. 1252 (N.D.Ill. 1976); Mastrian v. Hedman, 326 F.2d 708 (8th Cir. 1964), cert. denied 360 U.S. 965, 84 S.Ct. 1128, 11 L.Ed.2d 982; United States ex rel. Hyde v. McMann, 263 F.2d 940 (2d Cir. 1959), cert. denied 360 U.S. 937, 79 S.Ct. 1462, 3 L.Ed.2d 1549 (1959); Quinn v. State, 50 Wis.2d 101, 183 N.W.2d 64 (1970). The sole basis on which a constitutional claim can arise out of being held in jail without bail is by the arbitrary denial of bail. United States ex rel. Keating v. Bensinger, 322 F.Supp. 784 (N.D.Ill. 1971); United States ex rel. Rainwater v. Morris, supra; Pilkinton v. Circuit Court of Howell County, Missouri, 324 F.2d 45 (8th Cir. 1963); Mastrian v. Hedman, supra.
The jury concluded that the defendants’ decision not. to afford the plaintiff
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the defendants’ motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict is DENIED.
. Unless otherwise specified, all times mentioned in this opinion refer to times on July 8, 1976.
. Rule 25 of the West Allis Police Department provides in part: “Prisoners shall upon request be given telephone facilities for notifying their friends, relatives or counsel, as soon as circumstances permit.”
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mark SYARTO v. Thomas BAKER
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published