Aksanov v. Harrah's Casino Hotel Atlantic City

109 F. Supp. 3d 709, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69362, 2015 WL 3447983
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Jersey
DecidedMay 29, 2015
DocketCivil Action No. 10-5883 (JEI/AMD)
StatusPublished

This text of 109 F. Supp. 3d 709 (Aksanov v. Harrah's Casino Hotel Atlantic City) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Jersey primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aksanov v. Harrah's Casino Hotel Atlantic City, 109 F. Supp. 3d 709, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69362, 2015 WL 3447983 (D.N.J. 2015).

Opinion

OPINION

IRENAS, Senior District Judge:

In the early morning of November 16, 2008, Plaintiff Alexander Aksanov (“Alex”1) sustained serious injuries, including a several inches-long gash across his forehead. For the purposes of this motion only, the Court accepts as true Alex’s deposition testimony that settling Defendants Harrah’s Casino and Hotel security guards severely beat Alex while he was patronizing the nightclub within the hotel.2

It is undisputed, however, that non-settling Defendants, Atlantic City Police Officers Logan and Palamaro, did not participate in the beating. The principal issue raised by the non-settling Defendants’3 instant summary judgment motion is whether the police officers violated Alex’s constitutional rights when they failed to intervene in the beating inflicted by non-state actor, private, security guards. Applying the principles set forth in DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services, 489 U.S. 189, 109 S.Ct. 998, 103 L.Ed.2d 249 (1989) and its progeny, the Court holds that the police officers did not violate Alex’s Fourteenth Amendment Due Process rights.

The Court also holds that Alex’s other excessive force and state law tort claims have no merit. Accordingly, Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment will be granted.

I.

To celebrate Plaintiff Alex Aksanov’s 30th birthday, Alex, his girlfriend at the time (apparently now his wife), his younger brother Andrew, and some friends, reserved rooms at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino for the night of November 15, 2008. They went out to dinner at a high-end restaurant, and then went to the nightclub in Harrah’s known as “The Pool.”

It was undisputedly dark, crowded and loud at the nightclub when the group entered around 10:30 p.m. (Alex Aksanov [712]*712Dep. p. 62) A D.J. was playing music and a reality television star was in attendance. Alex and his party reserved a cabana, which required a minimum purchase of five bottles of alcohol. {Id. at p. 55) The group drank Grey Goose vodka, which they mixed with juice themselves. Alex testified that he drank “two, maybe three” drinks during the course of the night {Id. at p. 67), but there is no evidence in the record concerning the size of his servings.

Around 2:30 a.m., an “altercation” or “scuffle” occurred in the pool area of the nightclub. (R. Driggs Dep. p. 14)4 The details of the encounter differ.

According to Alex and his brother Andrew, Alex stepped between Beatriz Driggs and Andrew after Mrs. Driggs began to hit Andrew on his face and head. (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 74-79; Andrew Aksanov Dep. p. 31-33) Alex testified that he held his brother back with his left arm. (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 78) Andrew testified that Alex “kind of put his arm on me and pushed me over and like got in between.” (Andrew Aksanov Dep. p. 36)

According to Mrs. Driggs and her husband, Alex “pushed” over a table occupied by the Driggs, breaking the bottle of vodka and Mrs. Driggs’ camera which were on the table. (R. Driggs Dep. p. 40-41; B. Driggs Dep. p. 57-58)

Either way,. there is no dispute that Harrah’s security immediately descended upon Alex to restrain him. At least five (B. Driggs Dep. p. 58), and perhaps as many as “a dozen” (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 96, 106), security personnel tackled Alex, grabbing him by both arms, his legs, and around his waist. They “dragged” him toward a double-doored service entrance (i.e., non-public entrance) as they “took shots on [Alex’s] torso.” (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 91-92)

By all accounts, Alex was screaming. Alex states that he was screaming, “I’m not resisting. You’re using excessive force.” (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 101) Mrs. Driggs testified that she observed Alex “screaming” and “fighting back” against security. (B. Driggs Dep. p. 62) Officer Logan, who had just arrived at the scene, observed security “holding back” Alex while Alex yelled “foul obscenities.” (Logan Dep. p. 13)

Once Alex was removed through the service entrance into a hallway, he was surrounded by approximately ten black-shirted security guards, while Officers Logan and Palamaro-undisputedly in full police uniform, and on duty as police officers-stood back watching. (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 107-09) Alex testified that at this time, he was standing, his hands up in the air, saying “ ‘whatever you’re looking for it’s not me ... and I’m not resisting guys.’ ” (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 110)

Officer Logan then asked Alex for his wallet and identification, and Alex undisputedly complied. (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 112; Logan Dep. p. 70-71) Officer Logan testified that, at this time, he saw the bleeding gash on Alex’s head. (Logan Dep. p. 72)

According to Alex, after he handed over his wallet, a security guard punched him in the jaw, which led to other security personnel grabbing the back of his head, kneeing him in the face, stomping on his hands, and slamming his head into the concrete floor, all while making anti-Semitic comments about Alex. (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 113-121)

[713]*713The entire time, Officers Logan and Palamaro “were there watching.” (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 120)

When a security officer pushed Alex up against the wall, Alex managed to choke out the words “stop this” to Officer Logan, but Officer Logan said, “‘[fit’s not my call.’ ” (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 123)5 Officer Palamaro allegedly laughed, “look[ed] at Logan [and] sa[id] [an anti-Semitic comment] to Logan.” (Id. at p. 125)

Then security threw Alex to the ground and pinned him down to place handcuffs on him. Alex testified that he saw Officer Palamaro give his handcuffs to Security Officer Rivera who then placed the cuffs on Alex’s wrists. (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 128)

When Rivera lifted Alex up by the handcuffs, Alex “screamed” in pain that his rotator cuffs were torn. (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 129) Alex further testified:

A: ... Rivera put me into the wall, put my torso and my face into the wall, pressed up against the wall and then Palamaro grabbed me by the cuffs from behind and started pulling, pushing down on the cuffs and with his shoulder slamming my torso into the wall.
Q: Was [Palamaro] saying anything to you as he was doing this?
A: Shut-up.
Q: What were you saying when Palamaro was saying shut up?
A: I was in pain.
Q: So did you say anything?
A: Same, I tore my rotators, my rotators, please take the cuffs off, my rotators.
Q: What proceeded to happen next?
A: ... Rivera ... grab[bed] me again and then took me to the holding cell area.

(Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 130-31)

After staying in the holding cell for a time, Alex was taken by security to the nurse’s station where they removed his handcuffs. (Alex Aksanov Dep. p. 138) After the nurse treated and released Alex, Officer Logan issued him a ticket for disorderly conduct. (Id. at p. 141; Logan Dep. Ex. 1) That charge was ultimately resolved in Alex’s favor.

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Bluebook (online)
109 F. Supp. 3d 709, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69362, 2015 WL 3447983, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aksanov-v-harrahs-casino-hotel-atlantic-city-njd-2015.