Goldsmith v. Snohomish County

ORDER ON DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

MARSHA J. PECHMAN, District Judge.

This mаtter comes before the Court on Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. (Dkt. No. 27) Having considered Defendants’ motion and reply (Dkt. No. 38), the declarations attached to Defendants’ motion and reply (Dkt.Nos.28-33, 39-40), Plaintiffs response and declarations (Dkt. No. 37), the complaint (Dkt. No. 6-2), and the balance of the record, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment.

Background

On April 7, 2006, Richard Scott Goldsmith (“Plaintiff’) was entertaining a friend, Michael Wilson, at his apartment, when Plaintiff began to feel anxious and upset. Plaintiff told Wilson that he thought he was going to have a panic attack. (Goldsmith Deck, Dkt. No. 37-7, at 2) He feared the prescription medication he had taken earlier for his anxiety disorder was not working. Plaintiff told Wilson that he thought his medication was causing him to have a heart attack or stroke. (Kahler Deck, Dkt. No. 29, at ¶ 14). Plaintiff went to the bathroom. Wilson heard a loud “bang from inside the bathroom” and found Plaintiff on his back lying against the tub. (Wilson Deck, Dkt. No. 37-9, at 2). Wilson unsuccessfully tried to raise Plaintiff up, and noted that he had “blood coming out of his nose” and that “a lot of blood was coming out of his mouth.” Id. Plaintiff became combative with Wilson and attempted to fight him. Id. Wilson called 911 for emergency medical assistance.

A Snohomish County Firefighter Paramedic and Emergency Medical arrived at Plaintiffs residence. Paramedic, Jason Isotalo, located Plaintiff in the small bathroom and noted that he was “moaning and groaning on the floor with his eyes closed and blood coming from his mouth.” (Iso-talo Deck, Dkt. No. 32, at ¶ 8) Isotalo asked Plaintiff to consent to treatment, but Plaintiff did not respond, became “very agitated,” and would not allow the medical team to touch him. (Id.) He “exhibited bizarre behavior.” (Id.) Isotalo could not identify a specific medical problem. (Id. at ¶ 9) 1

Isotalo became fearful for his “safety and the safety of [his] partner” when Plaintiff, a large man with blood around his nose and mouth, jumped to his feet in the small bathroom. (Isotalo Deck at ¶ ¶ 6, 8) Plaintiff lunged at Isotalo with his shoulder. (Id. at ¶ 10) Isotalo then radioed a “Code” request for assistance from the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office, the first time he has had to do so in his 15-year career. (Id.) It is the policy of the Snohomish County Fire District to request “Code” backup from the Sheriff to subdue a violent patient. (Id. at 12) Plaintiff then “fell backwards into the [bath]tub and quickly jumped back onto his feet a second time.” (Id. at ¶ 11) Isotalo was unable to provide medical assistance.

Snohomish County Sheriffs Deputy William Dawson was the first to respond to the Code call. (Dawson Deck, Dkt. No. 31, at ¶¶ 1, 5-7) Dawson heard loud yelling from the apartment and followed the medical personnel to the bathroom. (Id. at ¶¶ 7-8) Dawson noted that Plaintiff was “wide-eyed, screaming incoherently, profusely sweating, with blood on his face.” (Id. at If 9) Plaintiff would not respond to questions. (Id.) Dawson’s attempts to calm Plaintiff down were useless. (Id. at ¶ 10) In response to Dawson’s presence, Plaintiff “assumed a fighting stance” and “reached out to grab the metal towel bar mounted on the wall of the bathroom” in an apparent attempt to “arm himself with the metal bar.” (Id. at ¶ 11) Dawson tried to stop Plaintiff from grabbing the bar. Deputy Andrew Kahler arrived on scene and observed Dawson’s attempt to calm Plaintiff and to stop Plaintiff from using the towel bar. (Kahler Decl. at ¶¶ 6-7) 2 Kahler also attempted to grab Plaintiffs arm. (Id.) Dawson radioed for assistance. (Id. at ¶ 12)

Dawson next tried to take hold of Plaintiffs left forearm and remove him from the small bathroom. (Dawson Decl. at ¶ 13) Plaintiff struggled against Dawson. Dawson believed he and Plaintiff could get hurt. (Id.) Dawson, who is trained to use a Taser, shot two barbs from his Taser into Plaintiffs abdomen. (Id.) The Taser had “little to no effect” on Plaintiff, who “immediately pulled the barbs out of his abdomen.” (Id.)

Together, Dawson and Kahler attempted to move Plaintiff out of the bathroom and into the hallway where there was more room. (Dawson Decl. at ¶ 15) Dawson again deployed two barbs from his Taser into Plaintiff, this time striking Plaintiffs back. (Id.) This was “momentarily effective” and Kahler used a “two-hand hair hold” to move Plaintiff into the hallway. (Id.; Kahler Decl. at ¶ 10) Kahler placed Plaintiff on his stomach. (Kahler Decl. at ¶ 11) However, Plaintiff quickly resumed fighting the deputies.

Dawson applied the Taser a third time to Plaintiff, this time using the “Drive Stun” mode, which “directs the immobilization operation of the Taser directly onto the muscle group on which it is applied.” (Dawson Decl. at ¶ 16) This had no effect on Plaintiff and Dawson threw the Taser out of reach.

The two deputies struggled to subdue Plaintiff who was lying face down on top of his arms. (Dawson Decl. at ¶ 16) Kahler and Dawson were unable to handcuff him. Kahler then punched Plaintiffs arm several times “in an attempt to get him to relent” and to handcuff him. (Kahler Decl. at ¶ 11) This had no effect. (Id.) Deputy Michael Vafeados arrived during this struggle and helped restrain Plaintiff by using his left knee and body to force Plaintiff onto the ground. (Vafeados Decl., Dkt. No. 28, at ¶ 7) Vafeados emрloyed a “pain compliance technique to [Plaintiffs] wrist” and helped Dawson place Plaintiff in handcuffs. (Id.; Kahler Decl. at ¶ 11) All three deputies state that they never placed Plaintiff under arrest.

Kahler placed his knee between Plaintiffs shoulder blades in order to keep him face down and to permit Dawson to place a hobble restraint on Plaintiffs legs. (Kah-ler Deck at ¶ 12) It appears both Kahler and Vafeados used their bodies to keep Plaintiff down on the ground. Kahler noticed that Plaintiff ceased struggling as Dawson worked to place the leg hobbles on Plaintiff. Kahler states that Plaintiff “was pale, his eyes were closed and it appeared he was no longer breathing.” (Id.) Plaintiff suffered a heart аttack. The medical crew at the apartment took over care immediately. When Plaintiff stopped breathing there were six members of the Fire District present. (Isotalo Deck at ¶ 17) The medical team intubated the Plaintiff and noted that his heart returned to beating spontaneously. He was then taken to the emergency room. (Id. at ¶ 18)

Plaintiff filed suit against the three Snohomish County Sheriffs Deputies and Snohomish County (collectively, “Defendants”) for harm he allegedly suffered related to the emergency medical request on April 7, 2006. Plaintiff originally filed suit in Snohomish County Superior Court, alleging fourteen causes of action under state tort law and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Comph, Dkt. No. 6-2) He alleged several violations of the Fourth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment аctionable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He also alleged several state tort law claims: negligence, assault and battery, outrage, negligent infliction of emotional distress, failure to train, supervise, or instruct, false arrest, and false imprisonment. (Comph) On February 7, 2007, Defendants filed a notice of removal in light of Plaintiffs constitutional and civil rights claims. (Defs. Not. of Removal, Dkt. No. 1). This Court has removal jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441, with original jurisdiction over Plaintiffs § 1983 claims and supplemental jurisdiction over his state law tort claims. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331,1343,1367(a).

Defendants moved for summary judgment on all of Plaintiffs claims on November 16, 2007.

Discussion

A. Standard of Review

At summary judgment, the moving party bears the burden to “show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that [it] is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.CivJP. 56(c). This Court must construe the fаcts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id. A material fact is “genuine” if “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

B. Qualified Immunity

Plaintiff contends that Defendants violated 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by violating: (1) the Fourth Amendment’s protection against excessive force, (2) the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unlawful arrest, and (3) the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of due process. Defendants respond that the deputies and County are entitled to qualified immunity from all of Plaintiffs § 1983 claims. In the absence of any genuine issues of material fact, Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity.

Qualified immunity exempts government officers from liability when their actions do not violate “clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982); see Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 200-01, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001) (qualified immunity is an immunity from suit). Saucier established a two-step analysis of qualified immunity. First, ‍‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‍the Court must determine whether “the officer’s conduct violate[d] a constitutional right.” Jackson v. City of Bremerton, 268 F.3d 646, 651 (9th Cir.2001) (citing Saucier, 533 U.S. at 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151). Second, if a constitutional right is violated, then the Court must determine “whether the officer could nevertheless have reasonably but mistakenly believed that his or her conduct did not violate a clearly established constitutional right.” Id.; Saucier, 533 U.S. at 201-05, 121 S.Ct. 2151. At step two, immunity attaches if the officer was reasonably mistaken and/or if the constitutional right was not clearly established.

1. Excessive Force

Plaintiff argues that the use of the Taser, punches, pain-compliance techniques, handcuffs, hobbles, and pressure on his back was unconstitutional and an excessive use of force. Defendants respond thаt the deputies did not violate Plaintiffs Fourth Amendment rights and are therefore entitled to qualified immunity. The Court finds that the Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity, having not violated Plaintiffs constitutional rights. See Saucier, 533 U.S. at 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151.

The Fourth Amendment protects individuals against excessive use of force from government officials. See U.S. Const, amend. IV; Jackson, 268 F.3d at 651. Yet, if an officer’s use of force is “objectively reasonable” under the circumstances, there is no constitutional violation. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 397, 109 S.Ct. 1865, 104 L.Ed.2d 443. The reasonableness of an arrest or seizure must “be assessed by carefully considering the objective facts and circumstances that confronted the arresting officer or officers.” Chew v. Gates, 27 F.3d 1432, 1440 (9th Cir.1994) (citing Graham, 490 U.S. at 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865). This Court must judge the reasonableness “from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scеne, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.” Graham, 490 U.S. at 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865 (citation omitted). This Court may decide as a matter of law whether the quantum of force used was reasonable. Jackson, 268 F.3d at 651 n. 1.

In determining the objective reasonableness of the force used, the Court must balance “the nature and quality of the intrusion on the individual’s Fourth Amendment interests” against the “countervailing government interests at stake.” Graham, 490 U.S. at 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865 (internal quotations omitted). First, the Court must “evaluate the type and amount of force inflicted” in order to “assess the gravity of a particular intrusion on Fourth Amendment rights.” Chew, 27 F.3d at 1440. Second, the Court must consider the governmental interest in a three-step analysis of: (1) the severity of the crime at issue, (2) whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers оr others, and (3) whether the suspect is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight. Graham, 490 U.S. at 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865. The second factor is the most important. Chew, 27 F.3d at 1441. The Ninth Circuit has also suggested that “the availability of alternative methods of capturing or subduing a suspect may be a factor to consider” in this balancing test. Id. at 1441 n. 5. However, these factors “are not to be considered in a vacuum ----” Id. at 1441.

In Tatum v. City and County of San Francisco, the Ninth Circuit held that a police officer’s use of force prior to an arrest was objectively reasonable, even though the plaintiff died during the arrest. 441 F.3d 1090, 1095-1100 (9th Cir.2006). The facts of Tatum are relevant here. In Tatum, the officer asked the plaintiff, who was high on cocaine, to present identification and to cease kicking a police station door. The plaintiff did not respond and evaded arrest when the officer tried to place him in handcuffs. Several officers arrived to help arrest the plaintiff. The officers kept the plaintiff on his stomach with his face on the ground. The officers had him face down for only a minute or so before positioning him on his side. The plaintiffs heart stopped and he died of cocaine toxicity. Id. at 1093. The Ninth Circuit held that the officers’ use of force to arrest the plaintiff was objectively reasonable, despite the minimal severity of the crime and the plaintiffs death. Id. at 1096. The court emphasized that the officers’ use of force was necessary to stop the plaintiff from fleeing and from harming himself and others. Id.

The Ninth Circuit has found more aggressive police conduct than that in Tatum to be objectively reasonable. In Jackson, the court held that spraying thе plaintiff with a chemical irritant prior to her arrest for failure to disburse, pushing her to the ground to handcuff her, roughly pulling her to her feet to arrest her, and placing her in a hot police car was not excessive force. 268 F.3d 646, 652-53. In Johnson v. County of Los Angeles, the court held that hard pulling and twisting to remove a suspect from a crashed getaway car was objectively reasonable even though the plaintiff asserted that the officer’s conduct rendered him paraplegic. 340 F.3d 787, 793 (9th Cir.2003). However, in Chew the court found a genuine issue of material fact remained as to whether it was an excessive use of force to use a canine unit to apprehend and repeatedly bite a suspect who had fled from police and remained trapped in a scrapyard for several hours where he posed little threat to police or himself. Chew, 27 F.3d at 1442.

The use of force by the three deputies against Plaintiff was objectively reasonable and therefore constitutional. The deputies did intrude upon Plaintiffs Fourth Amendment rights. See Graham, 490 U.S. at 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865. However, the government’s interest outweighs the gravity of the intrusion of Plaintiffs Fourth Amendment rights. See id. The first Graham factor, the severity of the crime, favors the government. See id. Plaintiff had attempted to assault his friend Wilson, the paramedics, and the deputies, and he refused to comply with the deputies’ orders. The second and most important Graham factor, weighs strongly in favor of the reasonableness of the government’s intrusion on Plaintiffs rights. The deputies reasonably and objectively feared for their safety and Plaintiffs safety. See id. The third Graham factor also weighs in the government’s favor, as Plaintiff actively and physically resisted arrest. See id.

The escalating use of force was proportional to and required by the situation facing the deputies. The deputies were called to help subdue a man who attempted to assault his friend and paramedics. He was a large man covered in blood in a small bathroom, who was incoherent, sweaty, and violent. When deputy Dawson arrived, he attempted to communicate with Plaintiff, but was met with threatening gestures from Plaintiff. Dawson’s attempt to grab Plaintiffs hand was only after Plaintiff had lunged at Dawson and made an attempt to grab the towel bar — a likely weapon. Even construing this fact in favor of Plaintiff (that he was merely trying to stabilize himself), the Court, considering the tоtality of the circumstances, cannot second-guess the deputy’s objectively reasonable fear that Plaintiff would harm him. See Chew, 27 F.3d at 1441. Dawson’s use of the Taser was warranted by the circumstances to subdue the increasingly violent Plaintiff. See, e.g., Jackson, 268 F.3d at 652-53 (use of non-lethal chemical irritant to subdue plaintiff was reasonable). Vafeados’ punches were reasonably necessary to control Plaintiff and avoid harm to the deputies. See Eberle v. City of Anaheim, 901 F.2d 814, 819-20 (9th Cir.1990) (holding that use of a finger hold was reasonable to control of a crowd); Blankenhom v. City of Orange, 485 F.3d 463, 469 (9th Cir.2007) (neither tackling nor punching a suspect is necessarily excessive). The ‍‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‍use of hobbles was also reasonably necessary to control Plaintiffs violent kicking. See Blankenhom, 485 F.3d at 469 (suggesting in some situations use of hobbles is necessary to take a persоn into custody). Placing a weight on Plaintiffs back was necessary to subdue him and was not objectively unreasonable in light of the dangerous situation facing the deputies. See id.

Plaintiffs contention that Dawson should not have used the Taser and that the officers should have used a different method to subdue Plaintiff is misguided. Plaintiffs expert suggests that the deputies should have waited “until there were at least four and preferably five deputies on-scene to engage and rapidly overpower [Plaintiff].” (Van Blaricom Deck, Dkt. No. 37-8, at 9) However, this Court may not use perfect hindsight to second-guess what the deputies could have done differently, even when considering alternative methods. 3 Chew, 27 F.3d at 1440 (citing Graham, 490 U.S. at 396, 109 S.Ct. 1865). The deputies’ use of force was objectively reasonable and constitutional. The deputies are entitled to qualified immunity at Saucier ’s first step. See Jackson, 268 F.3d at 653.

2. Unlawful Arrest

Plaintiff alleges that the Defendant deputies arrested him without probable cause or a warrant in violation of his Fourth Amendment rights. Defendants responds that Plaintiff was never arrested and that they detained Plaintiff only as part of the deputies’ “community caretaking” function. Alternatively, Defendants suggest that there was probable cause to arrest Plaintiff. While Defendants are correct that the arrest was not illegal, they are incorrect in asserting that Plaintiff was not arrested. Although Plaintiff was arrested, the deputies legally seized Plaintiff as part of their “community caretaking” function and had probable cause to arrest.

An arrest occurs when, considering all the circumstances, a reasonable person would not feel free to leave. See Michigan v. Chesternut, 486 U.S. 567, 573-5, 108 S.Ct. 1975, 100 L.Ed.2d 565 (1988). Under this definition the Plaintiff was arrested. He was restrained by three officers, who placed handcuffs and hobbles on him. A reasonable person in Plaintiffs position would not feel free to leave. See id.; Kaupp v. Texas, 538 U.S. 626, 629,123 S.Ct. 1843, 155 L.Ed.2d 814 (2003). 4

The Supreme Court has recently reconfirmed that a warrantless entry into a home to assist persons who “are seriously injured or threatened with such injury” does not run afoul of the Fourth Amendment. Brigham City, Utah v. Stuart, 547 U.S. 398, 126 S.Ct. 1943, 1947, 164 L.Ed.2d 650 (2006) (entry into home to stop a fight not an illegal search); Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 392, 98 S.Ct. 2408, 57 L.Ed.2d 290 (1978). Officers performing a “community caretaking” function, providing protection in emergencies, may enter a home without violating the Fourth Amendment. See Brigham City, 126 S.C.t at 1947; Cady v. Dombrowski 413 U.S. 433, 441, 93 S.Ct. 2523, 37 L.Ed.2d 706 (1973). The Ninth Circuit has cast the “community caretaking” function as the “emergency doctrine.” See United States v. Stafford, 416 F.3d 1068, 1073 (9th Cir.2005) (“The emergency doctrine is based on and justified by the fact that, in addition to their role as criminal investigators and law enforcers, the police also function as community caretakers.”). 5 Here, it is clear that the deputies’ entry into Goldsmith’s home was justified to prevent injury to and to assist the injured Plaintiff. The entry was not illegal. See Brigham City, 126 S.Ct. at 1947.

Brigham City did not make clear whether the “community caretaking” exception for entry and search applies to warrantless arrests under the Fourth Amendment. Nor has the Ninth Circuit extended the “emergency doctrine,” or “community caretaking,” exception to warrantless arrests. Other circuits, however, have held that the “community caretaking” function applies to аrrests as well as searches. See United States v. Rideau, 949 F.2d 718, 720 (5th Cir.1991) vacated on other grounds, 969 F.2d 1572 (5th Cir.1992); Winters v. Adams, 254 F.3d 758 (8th Cir.2001); United States v. King, 990 F.2d 1552, 1560-61 (10th Cir.1993).

The Court finds reason to extend the “community caretaking” exception to the Fourth Amendment to this situation. The deputies, responding to the paramedics’ request for help with a violent, injured patient, briefly arrested Plaintiff for the sole purpose of enabling paramedics to render necessary medical aid. This fits squarely with the logic of Brigham City, where officers entered a home to prevent injuries to party-goers during a melee. 126 S.Ct. at 1947. The Court is also persuaded by the reasoning and logic of the Fifth, Eighth, and Tenth Circuits, who have held that arrests as part of an officer’s “community caretaking” function are exceptions to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement. See supra.

Alternatively, the deputies had рrobable cause to arrest of Plaintiff without a warrant. A warrantless arrest is reasonable when officers have probable cause to believe the suspect is committing a crime. The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that reasonable suspicion must be based on specific, articulable facts individualized to the particular suspect detained. City of Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32, 37, 121 S.Ct. 447, 148 L.Ed.2d 333 (2000) (“A search or seizure is ordinarily unreasonable in the absence of individualized suspicion of wrongdoing.”). Probable cause exists where the totality of the circumstances suggest a “fair probability” that the suspect has committed a crime. See United States v. Stanton, 501 F.3d 1093, 1100 (9th Cir.2007). Armed with probable cause, an officer may arrest a citizen without a warrant even if the offense is minor. Atwater v. City of Lago Vista, 532 U.S. 318, 354, 121 S.Ct. 1536, 149 L.Ed.2d 549 (2001).

The deputies had probable cause to arrest Plaintiff. See Tatum, 441 F.3d at 1094-95 (hоlding that plaintiffs kicking of a door, refusal to comply with commands, and likely use of drugs was enough to establish probable cause). Deputy Dawson had probable cause to arrest Plaintiff given the circumstances. Dawson believed Plaintiff was “having a bad reaction to a substance” and knew he had threatened the paramedics. Plaintiff disobeyed Dawson’s commands to relax and submit to medical care. Plaintiff “assumed a fighting stance,” and, according to Dawson, attempted to arm himself with a metal bar. It was at this point that Dawson attempted to restrain Plaintiff. Dawson had probable cause to believe that Plaintiff was resisting arrest, which is a misdemeanor. RCW 9A.76.040. The circumstances also show a fair probability that Plaintiff аttempted to assault a police officer, the execution of which is a Class C felony. RCW 9A.36.031(l)(g). Moreover, Plaintiff was obstructing Dawson’s attempt to discharge his duties prior to arrest, which is a gross misdemeanor. RCW 9A.76.020.

The Court finds that the arrest was constitutional either under the “community caretaMng” exception or, alternatively, under the probable cause exception to the Fourth Amendment.

3. Due Process

Plaintiff alleges violations of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Defendants respond that the deputies’ actions did not violate Plaintiffs procedural due process rights and in their reply brief contend that Plaintiff waived this claim. Although Plaintiffs argument is spartan, it is not an outright waiver. Regardless, Defendants did not violate Plaintiffs due process rights.

Plaintiff cannot claim a violation of substantive due process. Substantive due process analysis is inappropriate when the claim is already “ ‘covered by a specific constitutional provision, such as the Fourth or Eighth Amendment ....’ ” County of Sacramento v. Lewis, 523 U.S. 833, 843, 118 S.Ct. 1708, 140 L.Ed.2d 1043 (1998) (quoting United States v. Lanier, 520 U.S. 259, 272 n. 7, 117 S.Ct. 1219, 137 L.Ed.2d 432 (1997)). Plaintiffs claim is covered by the Fourth Amendment; he was seized by officers. The Court may only examine Plaintiffs claim in light of the procedural due process guarantees under the Fourteenth Amendment. See id.

A § 1983 claim based upon procedural due process has three elements: “(1) a liberty or property interest protected by the Constitution; (2) a deprivation of the interest by the government; and (3) lack of process.” Portman v. County of Santa Clara, 995 F.2d 898, 904 (9th Cir.1993). The “the core of the concept” of procedural due process is the “protection against arbitrary action.” Lewis, 523 U.S. at 845, 118 S.Ct. 1708. “[0]nly the most egregious official conduct can be said to be ‘arbitrary in the constitutional sense.’ ” Id. at 846, 118 S.Ct. 1708 (quoting Collins v. City of Harker Heights, Tex., 503 U.S. 115, 129, 112 S.Ct. 1061, 117 L.Ed.2d 261 (1992)).

Plaintiff has satisfied all three requisite elements to establish a procedural due process claim. See Portman, 995 F.2d at 904. Plaintiff was deprived his liberty interest by the government with little or no process. However, Defendants’ conduct cannot be reasonably described as egregious or shocking. See Lewis, 523 U.S. at 845, 118 S.Ct. 1708. The deputies confronted Plaintiff only after being summoned by paramedics who desired to assist Plaintiff, but could not because of his violent behavior. The use of force, as described above, was proportional to the need to subdue Plaintiff and permit paramеdics to treat him. It was not shocking to the conscious or arbitrary. But see Rochin v. California, 342 U.S. 165, 72 S.Ct. 205, 210, 96 L.Ed. 183 (1952) (holding that forcible stomach pumping to ‍‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‍recover evidence was egregious and arbitrary).

C. Municipal Liability

Plaintiff contends that the County has a policy or custom of not training its officers in how to deal with both positional asphyxia and excited delirium. Plaintiff argues two points. First, he contends that the deputies who dealt with Plaintiff were inadequately trained because the County does not train deputies in excited delirium or positional asphyxiation. Second, Plaintiff contends that the County was deliberately indifferent to his rights because a pattern of unconstitutional conduct towards persons suffering from excited delirium and positional asphyxia exists.

Defendants respond that Plaintiff has not shown that the County’s deputies were improperly trained such that the County demonstrated “deliberate indifference” to Plaintiffs rights. In their reply brief, Defendants assert that the County does train its officers regarding positional asphyxia and excited delirium, and that the deputies at the scene had knowledge of that information. Defendants rely in part on a declaration submitted for the first time with their reply brief. 6 The declaration includes exhibits of power-point type slides that the County uses to train its deputies on positional asphyxia and excited delirium. (Dkt. Nos. 40-2 & 40-3). Plaintiff did not object to the declaration and has waived a challenge to its admissibility. See Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. New Hampshire Ins. Co., 953 F.2d 478, 485 (9th Cir.1991); Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(f)(2) (a motion to strike must be made within 20 days of being served with the pleading). The Court finds no reason to strike these materials. Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity.

The Supreme Court has held that “the inadequacy of police training may serve as the basis for § 1983 liability only where the failure to train amounts to deliberate indifference to the rights of persons with whom the police come into contact.” City of Canton, Ohio v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 388, 109 S.Ct. 1197, 103 L.Ed.2d 412 (1989). Plaintiff must demonstrate that a particular municipal policy or custom was the “moving force of [the] constitutional violation” and harm suffered. Monell v. Dept. of Soc. Servs. of City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978); see City of Canton, 489 U.S. at 390, 109 S.Ct. 1197. A policy is “ ‘a deliberate choice to follow a course of action ... made from among various alternatives by the official or officials responsible for establishing final policy with respect to the subject matter in question.’ ” Fairley v. Luman, 281 F.3d 913, 918 (9th Cir.2002) (per curiam) (citation omitted). However, “[o]nly where a municipality’s failure to train its employees in a relevant respect evidences a ‘deliberate indifference’ to the rights of its inhabitants can such a shortcoming be properly thought of as a city ‘policy or custom’ that is actionable under § 1983.” City of Canton, 489 U.S. at 389, 109 S.Ct. 1197. A municipality “cannot be held liable solely because it employs a tortfeasor” or “on a respondeat superior theory.” Monell, 436 U.S. at 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018.

In Board of County Comm’rs of Bryan County, Okl. v. Brown, the Supreme Court discussed three ways in which a county may be liable for inadequate training. 520 U.S. 397, 117 S.Ct. 1382, 137 L.Ed.2d 626 (1997). The first is a deficient training program “intended to apply over time to multiple employees.” Id. at 407, 117 S.Ct. 1382 (citation omitted). The continued adherence by policymakers “to an approach that they know or should know has failed to prevent tortious conduct by employees may establish the conscious disregard for the consequences of their action — the ‘deliberate indifference’ — necessary to trigger municipal liability.” Id. (citation omitted). Second, a municipality may be liable if there is “the existence of a pattern of tortious conduct by inadequately trained employees” that is the “ ‘moving force’ behind plaintiffs injury.” Id. at 407-08, 117 S.Ct. 1382 (citation omitted). However, plaintiff must show more than simply “a one-time negligent administration of the program or factors peculiar to the officer involved in a particular incident.” Id. at 408, 117 S.Ct. 1382. Third, a plaintiff may prove a failure-to-train claim without showing a pattern of constitutional violations where “a violation of federal rights may be a highly рredictable consequence of a failure to equip law enforcement officers with specific tools to handle recurring situations.” Id. at 409, 117 S.Ct. 1382.

Plaintiff has not demonstrated a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the County acted with deliberate indifference. See Monell, 436 U.S. at 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018. First, the County trains all of its deputies to use a “force continuum,” to ensure that only reasonable and proportional force is used. The County also trains its deputies of the risk of positional asphyxia and excited delirium. 7 These policies do not demonstrate inadequacy rising to the level of deliberate indifference. Second, Plaintiff has not produced facts suggesting that a pattern of tortious conduct by County deputies exists. See Brown, 520 U.S. at 407-08, 117 S.Ct. 1382. Plaintiffs exрert states, without supporting information, that the County “was directly involved in one of the first recorded excited delirium and restraint asphyxia deaths nationwide — Scarsella in 1986.” (Dkt. 37-8, Van Blaricom Decl. at 8) This is insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact that a pattern of tortious conduct by County deputies exists that can amount to deliberate indifference. Moreover, the County cannot be held liable “solely because it employs a tortfeasor.” Monell, 436 U.S. at 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018. Lastly, there is no evidence that officers encountered a highly predictable situation without proper training. See Brown, 520 U.S. at 407-09, 117 S.Ct. 1382. Although the officers had varying levels of information regarding excited delirium and positional asphyxia, there are no facts in the record showing that this was “a highly predictable” or “recurring situation[ ].” See id. at 409, 117 S.Ct. 1382 (suggesting that the need for more training must be “obvious”).

The Court grants Defendants’ motion as to Plaintiffs claims against the County.

D. State Qualified Immunity

Plaintiff alleges that Defendants’ actions constitute assault and battery, false imprisonment, and false arrest. Defendants respond that they are entitled to state law qualified immunity and that all actions of which Plaintiff complains were lawful. Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity-

State law qualified immunity rests on a different analysis than does qualified immunity under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Staats v. Brown, 139 Wash.2d 757, 779, 991 P.2d 615 (2000). State law qualified immunity bars suits against officers for false arrest, false imprisonment, and assault and battery when the officer “(1) carries out a statutory duty, (2) according to procedures dictated to him by statute and superiors, and (3) acts reason ably.” Guffey v. State, 103 Wash.2d 144, 152-53, 690 P.2d 1163 (1984), impliedly overruled on other grounds, Babcock v. State, 116 Wash.2d 596, 620, 809 P.2d 143 (1991). Washington does not permit qualified immunity from claims of assault and battery where police used excessive force. See Stoats, 139 Wash.2d at 780, 991 P.2d 615.

The deputies are entitled to qualified immunity from Plaintiffs false arrest and imprisonment and assault and battery claims. 8 First, the officers were acting pursuant to their general role of enforcing the state criminal code. See ROW 10.93.070; Staats, 139 Wash.2d at 778, 991 P.2d 615. Second, the deputies were acting pursuant to guidelines regarding the reasonable ‍‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‍use of force to subdue a suspect who violates the criminal code. Staats, 139 Wash.2d at 778, 991 P.2d 615. The deputies had probable cause to arrest Plaintiff. See supra, Section B.2. Third, the officers acted reasonably to subdue Plaintiff in order to permit paramedics to administer medical care. Staats, 139 Wash.2d at 778, 991 P.2d 615. The Court finds that the deputies are entitled to state law qualifiеd immunity in regards to Plaintiffs false arrest, false imprisonment, and assault and battery claims.

Even if qualified immunity did not attach, Defendants are still not liable. Under Washington law, false arrest or false imprisonment is “the unlawful violation of a person’s right of personal liberty or the restraint of that person without legal authority.” Bender v. City of Seattle, 99 Wash.2d 582, 591, 664 P.2d 492 (1983). As detailed above, see supra, Section B.2, the deputies had legal authority to restrain Plaintiff. Because the restraint was lawful, Plaintiffs claims for false arrest and imprisonment fail. Similarly, because the touching was lawful and therefore privileged, Plaintiffs claim for assault and battery is without merit. See McKinney, 103 Wash.App. at 409, 13 P.3d 631.

E. Negligence

Plaintiff contends that the deputies acted negligently. Defendants respond that Plaintiff has not produced any facts supporting two essential elements his claim: duty and breaсh.

Negligence under Washington law requires proof of “(1) the existence of a duty to plaintiff; (2) breach of that duty; (3) resulting injury; and (4) proximate cause between the breach and the injury.” Hutchins v. 1001 Fourth Ave. Assocs., 116 Wash.2d 217, 220, 802 P.2d 1360 (1991). An individual officer owes only a general duty of care to perform her duties as reasonable peace officer of ordinary prudence under the circumstances.

Plaintiff has failed to show any disputed, genuine material facts establishing that the deputies breached their general duty of care owed to Plaintiff. The deputies arrived to provide assistance to Plaintiff so that he could received medical care. The deputies did so and Plaintiff received medical care. The deputies merely performed their jobs as a reasonable deputy would have done in similar circumstances. The deputies performed their general duties and breached no duty to Plaintiff.

F. Negligent Supervision And Retention

Plaintiffs complaint alleges that the County negligently supervised and retained its deputies. Defendants respond that Plaintiff presents no evidence to support this claim.

An employer has “a limited duty to control an employee for the protection of third parties, even where the employee is acting outside the scope of employment.” Niece v. Elmview Group Home, 131 Wash.2d 39, 51, 929 P.2d 420 (1997). To prove negligent supervision, Plaintiff must show that: (1) the employee acted outside the scope of his employment; (2) the employee presented a risk of harm to other employees; (3) the employer know or should have known that the employee posed a risk to others; and (4) the employer’s failure to supervise was the proximate cause of the injuries. Id. A claim for negligent retention requires Plaintiff to prove that the County retained the deputies and knew or should have known that they were incompetent or unfit. Peck v. Siau, 65 Wash.App. 285, 288, 827 P.2d 1108 (1992).

Plaintiffs claims for negligent supervision and retention are without factual support. Plaintiff points to no facts that suggest that the deputies acted outside of the scope of their employment or that the County failed to properly train its employees, see supra Section C. Defendants followed County policy in their interaction with Plaintiff. (See Dawson Decl. at ¶¶ 3, 4, 20, 26; Kahler Decl. at ¶¶ 2, 15; Vafaedos Dеcl. at ¶¶ 3, 11, 16) Plaintiff has also failed to offer any facts suggesting the deputies were incompetent or unfit for their jobs. The County cannot be liable for negligent retention. See Peck, 65 Wash.App. at 288, 827 P.2d 1108.

G. Outrage and Negligent Infliction of Emotion Distress

Plaintiff contends that the deputies committed the tort of outrage and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Defendants respond that Plaintiff cannot show that the deputies’ conduct was outrageous and therefore sufficient to prove outrage. Further, Defendants assert that Plaintiff has not presented sufficient facts that he suffered objective symptoms of emotional distress required to prove negligent infliction of emotion distress. Defendants are not liable on either claim.

Outrage requires Plaintiff to demonstrate: (1) extreme and outrageous conduct; (2) intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress; and (3) actual result to the plaintiff of severe emotional distress. Rice v. Janovich, 109 Wash.2d 48, 61, 742 P.2d 1230 (1987). Liability for outrage exists only where the defendant’s conduct is “so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.” Grimsby v. Samson, 85 Wash.2d 52, 59, 530 P.2d 291 (1975). The deputies’ conduct was not outrageous or extreme. Rather, the deputies arrived on scene to help Plaintiff receive medical attention. Their use of force was proportional to the need to subdue Plaintiff, who was violent and physically threatening to both the paramedics and officers. The deputies’ attempts to help Plaintiff cannot be said to be “intolerable in a civilized community.” Id.

Negligent infliction of emotional distress requires a demonstration of duty, breach, proximate cause, and damages. Hunsley v. Giard, 87 Wash.2d 424, 434, 553 P.2d 1096 (1976). A claim for the negligent infliction of emotional distress also requires that the emotional distress “is manifested by objective symptoms.” Haubry v. Snow, 106 Wash.App. 666, 678-79, 31 P.3d 1186 (2001). To prove the objective symptomatology requirement, the emotional distress “must be susceptible to medical diagnosis and proved through medical evidence.” Id. (citing Hunsley, 87 Wash.2d at 436, 553 P.2d 1096).

Plaintiff has not demonstrated that the emotional distress is manifest by objective symptoms. Rather, Plaintiff points only to the fact that he has sought counseling from a psychiatrist and that his pre-existing anxiety disorder has been aggravated by thе incident. Plaintiff has not offered any facts that this Court can construe in his favor to satisfy the requirement that he show objective symptoms and an actual medical diagnosis. See Kloepfel v. Bokor, 149 Wash.2d 192, 196-97, 66 P.3d 630 (2003) (medical evidence is required to prove emotional distress).

Conclusion

Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate the existence of any genuine issues of material fact precluding this Court from granting Defendants’ summary judgment motion. Defendants’ motion is GRANTED and all of Plaintiffs claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

The Clerk is directed to send copies of this order to all counsel of record.

Notes

1

. Plaintiff has no memory of the events that took place after he left Wilson to go to the bathroom. There is no other testimony as to what went on except for the declarations and depositions оf County personnel (Mr. Wilson's declaration does not describe any details of events after the paramedics arrived).

2

. Dawson states that he was not aware when the other deputies arrived. (Dawson Decl. at ¶ 14)

3

. There was also a need to administer immediate medical aid to Plaintiff, with paramedics standing by. Waiting for four or five deputies to arrive was not a reasonable alternative.

4

. The Court rejects Defendants’ misguided and specious assertion that because Plaintiff has no memory of the events he was not arrested. This fails both logic and the well-established law requiring a court to examine the circumstances objectively, not merely subjectively. See Kaupp, 538 U.S. at 629, 123 S.Ct. 1843.

5

. While Brigham City altered the Ninth Circuit's construction of the "emergency doctrine,” it did ‍‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‍not overrule it as an exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement. 126 S.Ct. at 1947.

6

. Plaintiff did not make specific reference to excited delirium or positional asphyxia in his complaint. Plaintiff made this argument for the first time in his response to Defendants’ motion for summary judgment.

7

. Deputy Timothy Durand, a trainer in the County's Organizational Development Division, teaches deputies about excited delirium and other “sudden unexpected death' syndromes. (Durand Deck, Dkt. No. 40, at 2) Durand also teaches deputies about the risks associated with Tasers and excited delirium. (Id.) The County has a specific policy regarding positional asphyxia that informs deputies never to hog-tie suspects (i.e., attaching a hobble cord to handcuffs behind a suspect’s back). (Id.)

8

. The absence of excessive use of force permits Defendants to claim qualified immunity from Plaintiff's assault and battery claim. See McKinney v. City of Tukwila, 103 Wash.App. 391, 408-09, 13 P.3d 631 (2000).

Case Details

Case Name: Goldsmith v. Snohomish County

Court Name: District Court, W.D. Washington

Date Published: Feb 15, 2008

Citation: 558 F. Supp. 2d 1140

Docket Number: C07-0203-MJP

Court Abbreviation: W.D. Wash.