TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION.. .989
A Factual Background... 989
1. The parties... 989
2. The pertinent City ordinances.. .989
3. Baldwin’s pre-incident operation of ATVs in the City... 991
4. The incidents giving rise to Baldwin’s claims.. .992
B.Procedural Background.. .993
II. LEGAL ANALYSIS.. .994
A Standards For Summary Judgment . . .994
B. The Iowa Constitutional
Claims... 995
2. Arguments of the parties.. .995 2. Analysis,.. 996
C. The Federal Constitutional Claim... 996
1. Arguments of the parties.. .996
2. Analysis... 997
a. Mere negligence... 997
b. Existence of a constitutional violation... 998
c. Qualified immunity... 1001
D. The State Law False Arrest Claim... 1003
III. CONCLUSION.. .1004
Did the defendant city police officers violate the plaintiffs rights under the United States and Iowa constitutions and commit the common-law tort of false arrest when they arrested the plaintiff for riding his ATV on and in a ditch beside a city street, allegedly in violation of a state statute that the officers believed had been, but was not, incorporated into the city’s code of ordinances? The defendants—the city and the police officers—have moved for partial summary judgment on the plaintiffs claims of violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and false arrest. The plaintiff has cross-moved for partial summary judgment on liability on all of his claims, which would leave only damages issues for trial.
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Factual Background
This statement of the factual background does not necessarily include all of the parties’ factual allegations and disputes, nor is it necessarily cast in precisely the terms used by the parties. Rather, it focuses on the key facts to put the parties’ disputes in context, stated and rearranged as I deemed appropriate. Unless otherwise indicated, the following facts are undisputed.
2. The parties
Plaintiff Greg Baldwin has lived in defendant Estherville, Iowa, (the City) at the same address, for approximately 25 years. Defendant Matt Reineke has been employed by the City as a police officer since 1999. Defendant Matt Hellickson has been employed by the City as a police officer since 2007. This case arises from a citation of Baldwin by Officer Reineke for improper operation of his ATV in the City on November 10, 2013, for which Officer Hel-lickson arrested Baldwin on November 13, 2013.
2. The pertinent City ordinances
This case involves numerous provisions that were, or that were believed to be, part of the City’s Code of Ordinances. Specifically, on March 17, 1980, the City passed
E-321.1 OFFENSES. All sections of the state statutory law, rules of the road, Chapter 321 of the Code of Iowa the offense of which constitutes a simple misdemeanor, are hereby adopted and incorporated by this reference the same as if set forth in full herein into the Code of Ordinances of the City of Esth-erville, Iowa, and the violation of such applicable state statutory laws of the road shall be a violation of this chapter if the offense occurs within the territorial city limits of the City of Estherville.
Defendants’ Appendix at 8. Newly-adopted Ordinance E-321.2 provided, in pertinent part, as follows:
E-321.2 CITING OFFENSES. Citations issued under this chapter shall bear the prefix letter “E” and the applicable corresponding state statutory section of Chapter 321 of the Code of Iowa.
Defendants’ Appendix at 8.
Iowa Code § 321.234A(l)(f), which the parties agree was incorporated into the City’s Code of Ordinances by new Chapter 7, provides as follows:
All-terrain vehicles shall not be operated on a highway unless one or more of the following conditions apply:
⅜ $ ⅜
f. The all-terrain vehicle is operated on a county roadway in accordance with section 3211.10, subsection 2, or a city street in accordance with section 3211.10, subsection 3.
Defendants’ Appendix at 11. The subsections of § 3211.10 cross-referenced in § 321.234A(l)(f) provide as follows:
2. A registered all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle may be operated on the roadways of that portion of county highways designated by the county board of supervisors for such use during a specified period. The county board of supervisors shall evaluate the traffic conditions on all county highways and designate roadways on which all-terrain vehicles or off-road utility vehicles may be operated for the specified period without unduly interfering with or constituting an undue hazard to conventional motor vehicle traffic. In designating such roadways, the board may authorize all-terrain vehicles and off-road utility vehicles to stop at service stations or convenience stores along a designated roadway.
3. Cities may designate streets under the jurisdiction of cities within their respective corporate limits which may be used for the operation of registered all-terrain vehicles or registered off-road utility vehicles. In designating such streets, the city may authorize all-terrain vehicles and off-road utility vehicles to stop at service stations or convenience stores along a designated street.
Iowa Code § 321I.10(2)-(3).
Another chapter of the City’s Code of Ordinances, Title II, Division 1, is Chapter
219-2 PLACE OF OPERATION. ATV/ UTVs may be operated upon the streets of the City of Estherville, Iowa, except as prohibited in Subsection 1 of this section, by persons possessing a valid Iowa Driver’s License.
1. Prohibited Streets. ATV/UTVs shall not be operated upon any city street which is a primary road extension through the city, to wit: Iowa Highway No. 4 and Iowa Highway No. 9. However, ATV/UTVs may cross such primary road extensions.
2. Parks and Other Public Lands. ATV/ UTVs shall not be operated off-road in city parks, playgrounds, or upon any publicly-owned property.
3. Private Property. ATV/UTVs may only be operated upon private property with express consent.of the owner thereof or while engaged in snow removal, landscaping, or other maintenance activities.
4. Sidewalk or Parking, No ATV/UTV shall be operated upon sidewalks unless engaged in snow removal or maintenance activities (except along the south sidewalk from South First Street to West South First Street) nor shall they be operated upon that portion of the street located between the curb line and sidewalk or property line commonly referred to as the “parking” except for purposes Of snow removal, maintenance, or landscaping activities...
Plaintiffs Appendix at 2-3. Chapter 9 also includes Ordinance 219-3, which provides, as follows:
219-3 MANNER OF OPERATION. No person shall operate an ATV/UTV in the City of Estherville except as hereinafter provided....
Plaintiffs Appendix at 3-5. This ordinance then states, in 13 numbered subsections, requirements for licensing and safe operation, etc., of ATVs and UTVs.
3. Baldwin’s pre-incident operation of ATVs in the City
Since at least 2000, Greg Baldwin has, on occasion, legally operated his ATVs on the streets of the City. Prior to November 10, 2013, Baldwin had also been cited for what Baldwin described in his deposition as operating his ATV “in the wrong place.” Defendants’ Appendix at 16. Baldwin included in his appendix one alleged violation of City Ordinance 219-2 on October 19, 2006,
In approximately 2006, Baldwin, accompanied by his daughter, Kayleen Baldwin, his son, Trent Baldwin, and Jeff Jurgens, had a meeting at the City Police Station with City police officers, who are not identified in the parties’ statements of fact, and Steve Reighard, of the State Department of Natural Resources. Officer Reineke did not attend that meeting, and Officer Hel-lickson was not employed by the City at that time. Baldwin represents that the meeting was to sort out where ATVs could be legally operated in the City. It is not clear from the parties’ allegations or the record whether this meeting preceded or followed Baldwin’s various citations for illegally operating his ATV in October 2006. Baldwin alleges that the City officers and Reighard informed the citizens present that they could ride ATVs within the City limits on streets and designated trails with the exception of Highways 4 and 9. The defendants deny this assertion, but cite in support of their denial only the various citations that Baldwin had received in October 2006.
4. The incidents giving rise to Baldwin’s claims
The incidents giving rise to Baldwin’s claims began on Sunday, November 10, 2013. At approximately 2:30 p.m. that day, Officers Reineke and Hellickson were on patrol in the City when they received a dispatch to report to the Law Enforcement Center concerning a “4 wheeler complaint.” They drove to the Law Enforcement Center. Upon their arrival, they spoke with Tenner and Patti Lilland, who live in the Estherville area. Mr. Lilland showed the officers a video of a 4-wheeler riding in the ditch on the south side of North 4th Street. The officers were able to identify the driver of the ATV as Greg Baldwin. They watched the ATV proceed along North 4th Street and turn into a ditch, using the north Joe Hoye Park entrance, after which it continued in the ditch until it reached West 14th Avenue North, where it returned to the roadway. Baldwin acknowledges that he was operating his ATV/UTV on that date in the south ditch of North 4th Street and on North 4th Street, and the parties agree that the ditch and street are within the City’s limits. Baldwin does not recall using the north Joe Hoye Park entrance to enter the ditch.
Officers Reineke and Hellickson reviewed Iowa Code Ch. 3211, because the City did not reproduce Chapter 321 in printed form, only incorporated it by reference, when that chapter was adopted into the City Code of Ordinances. Officer Rei-neke then reviewed The Handbook ofloiva All-Terrain Vehicle and Off-Highway Motorcycle Regulations (Handbook), which the defendants contend is a handbook frequently relied upon by police officers when determining whether off road vehicles are operating in compliance with applicable laws. Baldwin denies, for lack of knowledge, the assertion that police officers rely on the Handbook, and denies that it addresses the applicable laws of the City. Based upon their reading of the State Code and the information contained in the video provided by the Lillands, Officers Reineke and Hellickson concluded that there had been a violation of what they believed was City Ordinance E-3211.10 (operating on highways). Before issuing a citation, however, Officer Rei-neke conferred with his supervisor, Captain (now Chief) Brent Shatto, and (then) Chief Eric Milburn. Captain Shatto and Chief Milburn agreed that they believed that the activity shown on the video amounted to a violation of the local ordinance. The parties now agree, however, that City Ordinance E-321I.10 was not a valid ordinance in effect at the time that Baldwin operated his ATV/UTV on November 10,2013, because it did not exist at
Officer Reineke prepared a citation (No. 131818 8) to Greg Baldwin, alleging that “on or about 11/10/2013 at 2:30 PM defendant did unlawfully Operate Motor Vehicle/Boat RED UTV ... upon a public highway at NORTH 4TH STREET located in the county and state aforesaid and did then and there commit the following offense: Violation ATV OR OFF ROAD UTIL VEH/OPERATION ON HIGHWAYS AND [sic] ... Local Ord E-321I.10 ICIS E-S/321I.10.” Defendants’ Appendix at 17. The citation issued on November 11, 2013. Officer Reineke went to the Baldwin residence to serve the citation on November 11, 2013, but no one was home. Because Reineke was scheduled to be off work in the days that followed, he e-filed the citation with the notation: “Request Warrant.” On November 12, 2013, David D. Forsyth, Magistrate, Third Judicial District of Iowa, entered an Order directing that a warrant issue. Defendants’ Appendix at 18. On November 13, 2013, Officer Hellickson served the warrant on Baldwin, while he was in the parking lot at his grandchild’s school, in front of his wife and a large number of people, arrested him, and took him to jail, where he was booked. Baldwin’s wife came to the jail and posted bond, and Baldwin was released. Subsequently, Baldwin entered a written plea of not guilty to the charge, and trial was set for May 15, 2014.
The defendants allege that, in the days that followed, City Attorney Christopher Fuhrman discovered that the City had not included Iowa Code Ch. 3211 when it incorporated Iowa Code Ch. 321 into the Code of Ordinances. They also allege that neither Shatto, Reineke, nor Hellickson knew this; rather, all were operating under the mistaken belief that the adoption and incorporation of Iowa Code Ch. 321 by the City Council included Iowa Code Chs. 321A through 321M. Baldwin disputes these contentions as inconsistent with the meeting that he had with City police officers in 2006 about operation of ATVs in the City; the express incorporation of “chapter 321,” not any other chapter of the Iowa Code, into the Code of Ordinances; and the existence of Chapter 9 of the Code of Ordinances. Mr. Fuhrman was granted leave to amend the charge to allege a violation of a different ordinance, City Ordinance 219-2(2). Defendants’ Appendix at 28-29. After Baldwin’s counsel filed a Motion For Adjudication Of Law Points And To Dismiss, and the City filed its response, the court found “that the cited act is not in violation of the city code as written and the case is DISMISSED, costs assessed to the City of Estherville.” Defendants’ Appendix at 30-37.
Baldwin alleges that, because of his arrest, he suffered mental and emotional harm and anguish, anxiety, fear, degradation, disgrace, uncertainty, apprehensiveness, restlessness, dismay, tension, and unease. He contends that his wife confirmed the effect on him in her deposition. The defendants deny that Baldwin has produced any evidence to support these claims of harm.
B. Procedural Background
On November 4, 2015, Baldwin filed his Petition, which became docket no. 3 in this action, in the Iowa District Court in and for Emmet County, against the City and Officers Reineke and Hellickson, in their
The defendants removed this case to this court on November 20, 2015, on the basis of federal question jurisdiction, with supplemental jurisdiction over the state-law claims, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1367(a), 1441(a), and 1446. Notice of Removal (docket no. 2). Thereafter, on November 23, 2015, the defendants filed a joint Answer (docket no. 5), denying Baldwin’s claims and asserting various affirmative defenses, including immunity from suit. On December 2, 2015, Baldwin filed his Motion For Remand To State Court (Counts I, III, And IV) And Stay (Count II) (docket no. 6). The defendants filed their Resistance (docket no. 7) to that motion on December 9, 2015, and I denied it in a Memorandum Opinion And Order (docket no. 8) filed December 15, 2015. Eventually, a jury trial was set in this matter to begin on April 17,2017.
On July 19, 2016, the defendants filed the first of the dispositive motions now before me, their Motion For Partial Summary Judgment (docket no. 21). In their Motion, the defendants seek summary judgment on Counts II and IV, Baldwin’s federal constitutional claim and his state common-law false arrest claim. They seek summary judgment on these claims on the grounds that there are no genuine issues of material fact as to the merits of the two claims at issue and no genuine issues of material fact that they acted in reckless disregard of Baldwin’s rights, so that he is not entitled to punitive damages. They also seek summary judgment on these claims, as a matter of law, because the individual defendants are entitled to qualified immunity on Count II; negligence does not state a claim for relief under § 1983; Baldwin’s arrest was based on probable cause; and the actions of the individual defendants were not reckless. Baldwin filed his Resistance (docket no. 26) to the defendants’ Motion on August 11, 2016, and the defendants filed a Reply (docket no. 30) in further support of them Motion on August 25, 2016. On August 11, 2016, Baldwin filed his Motion For Partial Summary Judgment (docket no. 27), seeking summary judgment as to liability on all four of his claims, which would leave only damages issues for trial. The defendants filed their Resistance (docket no. 32) to Baldwin’s Motion on August 31, 2016, and Baldwin filed a Reply (docket no. 33) in further support of his Motion on September 6, 2016.
Baldwin requested oral arguments on his Motion. I set oral arguments on both Motions for October 24, 2016, but later rescheduled them for November 8, 2016. After hearing those arguments, this case is fully submitted, and I enter this ruling.
II. LEGAL ANALYSIS
A. Standards For Summary Judgment
Before addressing the issues raised in the parties’ cross-motions, I will summa
When the parties have met their burden, the district judge’s task is as follows:
“On a motion for summary judgment, ‘facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party only if there is a genuine dispute as to those facts.’ ” Ricci v. DeStefano,557 U.S. 557 ,129 S.Ct. 2658 , 2677,174 L.Ed.2d 490 (2009) quoting Scott v. Harris,550 U.S. 372 , 380,127 S.Ct. 1769 ,167 L.Ed.2d 686 (2007) (internal quotations omitted). “Credibility determinations, the weighing of the evidence, and the drawing of legitimate inferences from the facts are jury functions, not those of a judge.” Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc.,530 U.S. 133 , 150,120 S.Ct. 2097 ,147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000), quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,477 U.S. 242 , 255,106 S.Ct. 2505 ,91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).... “Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no genuine issue for trial.’” Ricci,129 S.Ct. at 2677 , quoting Matsushita,475 U.S. at 587 ,106 S.Ct. 1348 .
Torgerson,
“Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,
With these standards in mind, I will address the cross-motions for summary judgment issue-by-issue, rather than consider the motions in turn.
B. The Iowa Constitutional Claims
1. Arguments of the parties
Baldwin argues that Iowa courts should, if they have not already done so, recognize a cause of action for alleged violations of the Iowa Constitution, like the ones he asserts in Counts I and III of his Petition. He also contends that there are no genuine issues of material fact that the defendants arrested and jailed him without probable cause in violation of his rights under Arti-
2. Analysis
In Peters v. Woodbury County, Iowa,
Because the Iowa Supreme Court is still deciding whether or not to take further review of Conklin, which will determine whether Iowa recognizes a private right of action for violation of the Iowa Constitution, I decline Baldwin’s invitation to rule on that issue or the further issue of whether or not state actors can raise any immunity defense to such a claim. A ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court could fundamentally alter any decision that I might make on this part of Baldwin’s Motion For Partial Summary Judgment. I also note that trial in this matter is not set to begin until April 17, 2017, so that trial will not necessarily be delayed by a stay on this part of Baldwin’s Motion. Therefore, disposition of the part of Baldwin’s Motion For Partial Summary Judgment seeking summary judgment on Counts I and III of his Petition is stayed pending determination by the Iowa Supreme Court of the question of further review in Conklin. Like Judge Gritzner, I will reconsider the stay upon action by the Iowa Supreme Court or an unreasonable delay of these proceedings.
C. The Federal Constitutional Claim
The defendants and Baldwin have moved for summary judgment on Baldwin’s claim pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, in Count II of his Petition, alleging a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, either in its entirety or as to liability. I will begin my analysis of the parties’ cross-motions on this claim with a summary of their arguments.
1. Arguments of the parties
The defendants’ primary argument is that negligence simply will not support a claim under § 1983, but all the record shows is that the defendants made a negligent mistake of law about whether or not the City had adopted Iowa Code Ch. 3211 when it adopted Iowa Code Ch. 321 as part of the City’s Code of Ordinances. In the alternative, the defendants argue that Officers Reineke and Hellickson are entitled to qualified immunity, because it was not
Baldwin argues that the defendants’ admission of negligence in failing to know or learn the law that they were entrusted to enforce demonstrates that their mistake of law was unreasonable, where objective reasonableness, not negligence, is the proper standard for determining liability. He argues that the good faith and subjective understanding of the officers involved are irrelevant.
Baldwin also argues that no seizure could be more unreasonable than an arrest for a -violation of an ordinance that does not exist. Indeed, he points out that the ordinances list in black and white what provisions of the Iowa Code were incorporated, and Iowa Code Ch. 3211 is conspicuous by its absence. He concedes that officers may not be responsible for knowing all of the contours and developing interpretations of the law. Nevertheless, he argues that they should be expected to know, at a bare minimum, the specific City ordinances that they were employed to enforce. He argues, further, that the defendants’ conduct is even more unreasonable, in the face of City Ordinance 219-2, which plainly authorizes operation of ATVs and UTVs on the streets of the City, except on Highways 4 and 9. Thus, he argues that any prudent officer would have known that the law of the City allowed ATV/UTV operation on the roads within the City’s limits, and there is no dispute that he was operating his ATV within the City’s limits at the time of his alleged violation. He also points to the meeting he had with law enforcement officers in 2006 as demonstrating the unreasonableness of a belief that operation of an ATV in the City’s limits was illegal. For essentially the same reasons, Baldwin argues that Reineke and Hellickson áre not entitled to qualified immunity. He argues that there is simply no dispute that the officers were acting under color of state law, arrested him without probable cause, and jailed him in violation of his Fourth Amendment rights, causing him harm.
Finally, Baldwin argues that there is no dispute that the officers acted with callous indifference to his federal constitutional rights in arresting and jailing him, such that punitive damages are available on this claim. Baldwin does clarify, however, that he is not making any claim for violation of federal law against the City in Count II.
2. Analysis
a. Mere negligence
The defendants assert that Baldwin’s claim of arrest without probable cause fails, because a § 1983 claim cannot be based on mere negligence, which is all that the record shows in this case. As Baldwin points out, none of the cases on which the defendants rely for this argument involves a claim of arrest without probable cause. See Corwin v. City of Independence, Mo.,
Discussion of “negligence” in the context of a claim of arrest without probable cause is ultimately an unhelpful and unproductive misdirection, however, because the standards for probable cause to support an arrest, satisfying the Fourth Amendment, are well-settled. Thus, a determination of whether or not probable cause existed is best made in terms of those standards, not in terms of “negligence.”
b. Existence of a constitutional violation
Proof of an arrest without probable cause is both the substance of Baldwin’s claim and the first issue for the defendants’ defense of qualified immunity. This is so, because “[a] plaintiff seeking damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 must show first that the defendant’s conduct violated a constitutional right and, second, that the right was clearly established.” Bowden v. Meinberg,
As to the constitutional right at issue, here, “[t]he Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures requires that arrests be based on probable cause.” Williams v. City of Alexander, Ark.,
“Probable cause exists if ‘the totality of facts based on reasonably trustworthy information would justify a prudent person in believing the individual arrested had committed ... an offense.’ ” Flynn v. Brown,395 F.3d 842 , 844 (8th Cir. 2005) (quoting Hannah v. City of Overland,795 F.2d 1385 , 1389 (8th Cir. 1986)).
Williams,
Baldwin contends that there was a constitutional violation, because there could bé no probable cause for his arrest, when the ordinance that he allegedly violated did not exist. The defendants contend that they merely made a “mistake of law.” In Heien v. North Carolina, — U.S. —,
Here, the officers’ mistake of law was that Ordinance “E321I.10” existed, i.e., that it had been incorporated by reference into the City’s Code of Ordinances when Iowa Code Ch. 321 was incorporated. This kind of mistake of law is entirely different from the mistake in Heien, which arose from an officer’s uncertainty about the meaning of statutory language that had not previously been construed - by the courts. Instead, the mistake at issue, here, is the result of “a sloppy study of the laws [the officers were] duty-bound to enforce,” see Heien,
Nevertheless, Baldwin’s argument that—the non-existence of Ordinance “E321I.10” means that probable cause was lacking—is incomplete. As the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has recognized,
[E]ven if [the arresting officer] cited a different offense when he arrested [the plaintiff], “probable cause for the arrest still exist[ed] as long as the facts known to the officer would provide probable cause to arrest for the violation of some other law.” United States v. Demilia,771 F.3d 1051 , 1054 (8th Cir. 2014). “In other words, an ‘arresting officer’s state of mind (except for the facts that he knows) is irrelevant to the existence of probable cause.’ ” Id. (quoting Devenpeck v. Alford,543 U.S. 146 , 153,125 S.Ct. 588 ,160 L.Ed.2d 537 (2004)). “[His] subjective reason for making the arrest need not be the criminal offense as to which the known facts provide probable cause.” Id. (quotation omitted).
Greenman v. Jessen,
Baldwin argues that Ordinance 219-2, which was actually part of the City’s Code of Ordinances, plainly establishes the lack of probable cause for his arrest. I believe that the opposite is true. While Ordinance 219-2 does provide that “ATV/UTVs may be operated upon the streets of the City,” it also provides “ATV/ UTVs shall not be operated off-road in city parks, playgrounds, or upon any publicly-
The Iowa District Court ultimately dismissed the amended charge against Baldwin, but only after making two key constructions of pertinent Ordinances. First, the Iowa District Court construed the plain meaning of “street” in City Ordinances to include the “ditch.” This conclusion was based on the definition of “street” in City Ordinance 110-102(23) as “mean[ing] and includ[ing] any public way, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, or other public thoroughfare ... and unless otherwise indicated in the text, shall include the entire width between the property lines.” Defendants’ Appendix at 35. The Iowa District Court also construed “publicly-owned property” in Ordinance 219-2(2), to the extent that it conflicted with Ordinance 110-102(23), as not including the “ditch” of a City street. Defendants’ Appendix at 35-36. The Iowa District Court’s constructions would establish no more than a mistake of law as to the applicability of the prohibition in Ordinance 219-2(2) to Baldwin’s driving his ATV in the ditch. That mistake was of the same kind as the mistake of law at issue in Heien, involving an arguable reading of uncertain language in the law. See Heien,
Therefore, the defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Baldwin’s § 1983 claim in Count II alleging a violation of the Fourth Amendment, because probable cause was not lacking for Baldwin’s arrest, and Baldwin’s motion for summary judgment in his favor on this claim is denied,
c. Qualified immunity
In addition, or in the alternative, I will consider the individual defendants’ contention that they are entitled to qualified immunity, even assuming that there was no probable cause for Baldwin’s arrest. “ ‘Qualified immunity shields government officials from liability and the burdens of litigation in a § 1983 action unless the official’s conduct violates a clearly established constitutional or statutory right of which a reasonable person would have known.’ ” Gilmore v. City of Minneapolis,
[Qualified immunity applies when “a reasonable officer could have believed [the] arrest to be lawful, in light of clearly established law and the information the arresting officer[] possessed.” [Hunter, 502 U.S.] at 227,112 S.Ct. 534 (emphasis added). “[T]he issue for immunity purposes is not probable cause in fact but arguable probable cause, that is, whether the officer should have known that the arrest violated plaintiffs clearly established right.” Habiger v. City of Fargo,80 F.3d 289 , 295 (8th Cir.) (quotation omitted), cert. denied,519 U.S. 1011 ,117 S.Ct. 518 ,136 L.Ed.2d 407 (1996).
New,
As pointed out, above, the inquiry for qualified immunity is more “forgiving” than the one employed for a determination of actual probable cause. Heien, — U.S. at —,
The defendants’ argument that they have qualified immunity because Baldwin was arrested pursuant to a warrant from a neutral magistrate requires careful consideration. The Eighth Court of Appeals has explained, in the context of qualified immunity,
“whe[n] the alleged constitutional violation involves an arrest pursuant to a warrant, ‘the fact that a neutral magistrate has issued a warrant is the clearest indication that the officers acted in an objectively reasonable manner[.]’” Saterdalen v. Spencer,725 F.3d 838 , 841 (8th Cir. 2013) (second alteration in original) (quoting Messerschmidt v. Millender,565 U.S. 535 ,132 S.Ct. 1235 , 1245,182 L.Ed.2d 47 (2012)).
Williams,
The rub, here, is “[t]hat a warrant has issued ... is not dispositive because ‘it is possible that a magistrate, working under docket pressures, will fail to perform as a magistrate should.’” Saterdalen v. Spencer,
Accordingly, a civil rights suit against an officer who applied for a warrant may bemaintained if “on an objective basis, it is obvious that no reasonably competent officer would have concluded that a warrant should issue[.]” [Malley, 475 U.S.] at 341, 106 S.Ct. 1092 .
Saterdalen,
Baldwin argues that it is obvious that no reasonably competent officer would have concluded that a warrant should issue based on an alleged violation of Ordinance “E321I.10,” which did not exist. I agree. The magistrate, working under docket pressures, failed to perform as he should have when he missed the fact that the warrant was based on a statute that was not part of the Code of Ordinances. What is critical, here, however, is that the mistake of the officers was the result of “a sloppy study of the laws [the officers were] duty-bound to enforce.” See Heien,
This is not to say that, “ ‘on an objective basis, it is obvious that no reasonably competent officer would have concluded that a warrant should issue’ ” based on Baldwin’s conduct knoum to the officers. Id. (quoting Malley,
Therefore, in addition or in the alternative, the defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Baldwin’s federal constitutional claim pursuant to § 1983 on the basis of qualified immunity. The part of Baldwin’s Motion For Partial Summary Judgment on liability on that claim must be denied.
D. The State Law False Arrest Claim
The analysis of the cross-motions for summary judgment on Baldwin’s state law claim of false arrest can be comparatively brief. The claim of false arrest under Iowa law “has two elements: ‘(1) detention or restraint against one’s will, and (2) unlawfulness of the detention or restraint.’ ” Thomas v. Marion Cty.,
III. CONCLUSION
Upon the foregoing,
1. The defendants’ July 19, 2016, Motion For Partial Summary Judgment (docket no. 21) is granted as to Baldwin’s claims of a federal constitutional violation in Count II and state law false arrest in Count IV;
2. Baldwin’s August 11, 2016, Motion For Partial Summary Judgment (docket no. 27) is denied in part and stayed in part:
a. Those parts of Baldwin’s Motion seeking summary judgment on his claims of a federal constitutional violation in Count II and state law false arrest in Count IV are denied;
b. Those parts of Baldwin’s Motion seeking summary judgment on his claims of Iowa constitutional violations in Counts I and III are stayed pending determination by the Iowa Supreme Court of the question of further review in Conklin. I will reconsider the stay upon action by the Iowa Supreme Court or an unreasonable delay of these proceedings.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Notes
. The first subsection of § 3211.10 provides, as follows:
1. A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle upon roadways or highways except as provided in section 321.234A and this section.
. This citation alleged that, on October 19, 2006, Baldwin "operate[d] [an] ATV on public-owned land” in violation of "Local- Ord. 219.2(2),” to which he pleaded guilty. See Plaintiff’s Appendix at 32-33.
. These two citations are the following: (1) a citation alleging that, on October 19, 2006, Baldwin "operate[d] [an] ATV on [a] highway right-of-way” in violation of "#3211.10 2006 IA Code,” Plaintiff's Appendix at 28, but it appears that this citation was dismissed, see id. at 31; and (2) a citation alleging that, on October 19, 2006, he "operate[d] [an] ATV on [a] railroad right-of-way” in violation of "# 321I,14(lh) [i.e„ (l)(h)] 2006 IA Code,” to which he pleaded guilty, see id. at 34-35.
. Baldwin alleges, and the defendants admit, that Mr. Fuhrman wrote Baldwin’s counsel an email about the citation for violation of "E321I.10,” prior to dismissal of that citation, in which he said, “I don’t know what to think of the charge, but, the officers have been having problems with the Baldwin’s [sic] and complaints over ATV's [sic], so here we are.” Plaintiff’s Appendix at 47.
. Courts have held that a "negligent” investigation is insufficient to support a § 1983 claim. See, e.g., Montoya v. Taylor,
. Baldwin's arguments for summary judgment on the probable cause issue did not address this question, but, to be fair, neither did the defendants’ arguments.
. In light of Baldwin’s clarification that he not is asserting a federal constitutional claim against the City in Count II, the part of the defendants’ Motion For Partial Summary Judgment seeking summary judgment for the City on that claim is denied as moot.