Ballentine v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

District Court, D. Nevada·Decided August 8, 2022·No. 2:14-cv-01584·Unknown

Opinion

Marquis Aurbach Craig R. Anderson, Esq. Nevada Bar No. 6882 10001 Park Run Drive Las Vegas, Nevada 89145 Telephone: (702) 382-0711 Facsimile: (702) 382-5816 canderson@maclaw.com Attorneys for Defendants

BRIAN BALLENTINE, an individual; Case Number: CATALINO DAZO, an individual; KELLY 2:14-cv-01584-APG-EJY PATTERSON, an individual; and GAIL SACCO, an individual, Plaintiffs, vs. LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, in its official capacity; DETECTIVE CHRISTOPHER T. TUCKER, as an individual and in his official capacity as a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Detective; SERGEANT MIKE WALLACE, as an individual and in his official capacity as a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sergeant; and LIEUTENANT JOHN LIBERTY, as an individual and in his official capacity as a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lieutenant,

Defendants.

I. NATURE OF THE ACTION A. BACKGROUND This is a 42 U.S.C. §1983 First Amendment retaliatory arrest lawsuit. The only remaining claim for trial is whether LVMPD Detective Christopher Tucker (“Detective Tucker”) violated the Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights when he obtained arrest warrants for the Plaintiffs’ arrests for chalking anti-police messages on the sidewalk. An issue of fact remains as to whether Detective Tucker obtained the arrest warrants in retaliation for the Plaintiffs involvement in anti-police groups and for chalking anti-police messages. See Ballentine v. Tucker, 28 F. 4th 54 (9th Cir. 2022). Plaintiffs filed their original complaint on September 26, 2014. (ECF No. 1) On November 4, 2014, Defendants moved for dismissal of a number of plaintiffs’ claims and for qualified immunity. In its order on defendants’ motion to dismiss, this court found probable cause existed for the plaintiffs’ citations and arrests and/or qualified immunity protected the officers because a reasonable officer could believe using chalk on a public sidewalk constituted defacement under NRS 206.330. (ECF No. 36 at 9-11.) The first order dismissed a number of causes of action including plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment claim (fifth cause of action), false imprisonment claim (eleventh cause of action), unlawful detention claim (seventh cause of action), substantive and procedural due process claims (sixth and eighth causes of action) and negligence claims (tenth cause of action). (Id. at 16-17) Further, the court dismissed the official capacity claims against the defendants. (Id.) On December 9, 2016, after the close of discovery, the defendants moved for summary judgment on all remaining claims and again raised the affirmative defense of qualified immunity. On August 21, 2017, this court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 207) Specifically, this court entered summary judgment in favor of defendants Wallace, Liberty and LVMPD finding there was no evidence to support any of the alleged claims against those defendants. (Id. at 8-10.) However, this court denied summary judgment to defendant Detective Tucker on plaintiffs’ First Amendment retaliation/chilling claim finding that the case of Ford v. City of Yakima, 706 F.3d 1188 (9th Cir. 2013), clearly established that it is unconstitutional to arrest an individual for retaliatory motive, even if probable cause exists. Detective Tucker appealed to the Ninth Circuit. After the appeal was fully briefed, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Nieves v. Bartlett, 587 U.S. ___, 139 S.Ct. 1715 (2019). The Ninth Circuit vacated and remanded the appeal back to this Court in light of Nieves. After entitled to qualified immunity because the law governing First Amendment retaliation claims was not clearly established. (ECF No. 237.) Plaintiffs then appealed the Court’s second summary judgment order (ECF No. 237) to the Ninth Circuit. After briefing and oral argument, the Ninth Circuit, in a published opinion, affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. See Ballentine v. Tucker, 28 F. 4th 54 (9th Cir. 2022). The Ninth Circuit held that a reasonable factfinder could conclude that Detective Tucker violated the Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights and that it was “clearly established” that an arrest supported by probable cause, but made in retaliation for protected speech violates the First Amendment. 1. Remaining claims/issues for trial The only remaining claim/issue for trial is whether the Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights were violated when Detective Tucker arrested the Plaintiffs in retaliation for their chalked messages and/or their involvement in anti-police organizations. 2. Dismissed claims and parties 1. Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment claim has been dismissed. (ECF No. 36.) 2. Plaintiffs’ false imprisonment claim has been dismissed. (Id.) 3. Plaintiffs’ unlawful detention claim has been dismissed. (Id.) 4. Plaintiffs’ substantive and procedural due process claim has been dismissed. (Id.) 5. Defendant Wallace has been dismissed from the lawsuit. (ECF No. 207.) 6. Defendant Liberty has been dismissed from the lawsuit. (Id.) 7. Plaintiff’s Monell claim against LVMPD has been dismissed. (Id.) 8. Defendant LVMPD has been dismissed from the lawsuit. (Id.) 9. Plaintiffs’ negligent hiring, training and supervision claim has been dismissed (Id.) 10. Plaintiffs’ Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress claims have been dismissed. (Id.) 11. Plaintiff Gail Sacco is no longer a Plaintiff due to death. (ECF No. 228.) This Court has jurisdiction over this lawsuit because Plaintiffs’ remaining claim brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983. III. STATEMENT OF ADMITTED/UNCONTESTED FACTS 1. Detective Tucker was acting in the course and scope of his employment as an LVMPD detective at all times relevant to this lawsuit. 2. Plaintiffs were members of the Sunset Activist Collective, a local activist group, and are associated with CopBlock, an activist group critical of law enforcement. 3. Since 2011, Plaintiffs have conducted protests by using chalk to write anti- police messages on the sidewalks in Las Vegas, Nevada. 4. On June 8, 2013, Plaintiffs chalked anti-police messages in front of LVMPD headquarters. Sgt. Wallace issued citations to each Plaintiff for violation of Nevada’s graffiti statute - NRS § 206.330. Plaintiff Patterson asked to speak with Sgt. Wallace’s supervisor, Lieutenant Liberty. After arrival, Lt. Liberty told the Plaintiffs that chalking was illegal but they would not be cited if they cleaned the sidewalk. Plaintiffs disagreed that chalking was illegal, refused to clean the sidewalk, and were issued citations. 5. Detective Tucker was assigned to investigate the citations. 6. Detective Tucker researched Plaintiffs’ messages and monitored their social media. In doing so, he learned that Plaintiffs were affiliated with anti-police organizations. 7. On July 13, 2013, Plaintiffs Ballentine and Patterson chalked anti-police messages outside LVMPD’s headquarters. Although LVMPD officers witnessed the chalking, the Plaintiffs were not cited or talked to. 8. On July 18, 2013, Plaintiffs chalked anti-police messages at the Regional Justice Center. The chalking spanned approximately 1,000 square feet. Detective Tucker witnessed and photographed the messages. He discussed the messages with Plaintiff Ballentine, but he did not stop or cite the Plaintiffs. 9. On August 9, 2013, Detective Tucker drafted warrants for Plaintiffs’ arrests. Detective Tucker’s warrant outlined the Plaintiffs’ prior alleged chalking activities, described the messages being chalked, and the surfaces to whic

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Ballentine v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, (D. Nev. 2022).

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