Barney v. Gillespie

813 F. Supp. 1537, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17064, 1992 WL 442109
CourtDistrict Court, D. Utah
DecidedFebruary 11, 1993
DocketNo. 88-C-0007-S
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 813 F. Supp. 1537 (Barney v. Gillespie) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Barney v. Gillespie, 813 F. Supp. 1537, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17064, 1992 WL 442109 (D. Utah 1993).

Opinion

[1539]*1539ORDER

SAM, District Judge.

The above entitled matter was referred to the magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). The magistrate judge made a report and recommendation (“R & R”) that defendant Mark Whittaker’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim be granted. Regarding the liability of defendant Jay S. Averett on the § 1983 claim, the magistrate judge found genuine issues of material fact in dispute and recommended Averett’s motion for summary judgment on' this claim be denied.

In addition, the R & R found that plaintiffs have no claim for relief against defendants Whittaker and Averett under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3). Plaintiffs’ pendant state claims were also found deficient and the magistrate judge recommended defendants be granted summary judgment on the plaintiffs’ state claims.

No objection has been taken to the R & R. The court has reviewed the file and hereby adopts the R & R of the magistrate judge. Therefore,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion for summary judgment of Mark Whit-taker is granted in total. The motion for summary judgment of Jay S. Averett is denied except he is granted summary judgment on plaintiffs’ claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1985 and pendent state claims.

SO ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

BOYCE, United States Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiffs, Dennis Barney and Kim Hammonds, filed suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against various Utah State and federal officials. The action was originally brought as a class action but was not certified for class relief and a motion for class certification was denied (File Entry 51). The individual plaintiffs alleged that plaintiff Barney was transporting $4,000 cash belonging to plaintiff Hammonds from Salt Lake City to Denver, Colorado on October 31, 1987. The money was allegedly being transported for the purpose of buying a motorcycle for Hammond while Barney was in Denver. The motorcycle was not purchased and Barney returned to Salt Lake City, Utah on November 1, 1987 with the $4,000. The plaintiff Barney was approached by DEA agents at the Denver Internationa] Airport before returning to Salt Lake. City. Barney consented to a search of his luggage and the $4,000 cash was found but returned to him. It is alleged in the complaint that when Barney arrived at the Salt Lake City Airport, Barney was confronted by defendants Jay S. Averett and Mark Whittaker, Utah State Bureau of narcotics officers. Eventually the officers seized the $4,000 that Barney was transporting. The money was kept for forfeiture action which has been commenced by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Plaintiffs seek damages and injunctive relief in this action.

On May 25, 1989 some of the State and all federal defendants were dismissed from the suit on the basis of the adoption of a report and recommendation of the magistrate judge. The final order of dismissal was entered on October 10, 1989. The plaintiffs were allowed additional discovery during the time. Only the state defendants Mark Whittaker and Jay S. Averett remain as party defendants. On April 13, 1990 they made a renewed motion to dismiss or in the alternative for summary judgment. The plaintiffs requested additional time to file a response and an affidavit (File Entry 58) and a supplemental memorandum was filed in reference to the defendants Averett and Whittaker’s motion for summary judgment. Material other than that presented in the complaint is before the court. Therefore, under Rule 12(b) and Rule 56, F.R.C.P. the matter is properly before the court for summary judgment. The plaintiffs were permitted additional periods for discovery and have responded to the motion for summary judgment. The plaintiffs have not objected to summary. judgment under Rule 56(f) F.R.C.P. and have obviously had ample time to address the is[1540]*1540sues.1 Therefore, consideration of this dispute as a motion for summary judgment under Rule 56, F.R.C.P. is proper Nichols v. United States, 796 F.2d 361 (10th Cir. 1986); Wheeler v. Hurdman, 825 F.2d 257 (10th Cir.1987).

The case has been referred to the magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). This report and recommendation is submitted pursuant to the reference on the defendant Mark Whittaker and Jay S. Averett’s motion for summary judgment.

Standard for Summary Judgment

Defendants are entitled to summary judgment if taking the affidavits and other submissions there is no material issue of fact between the parties and the defendants are entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 159, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 1609, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970); Burnette v. Dresser Industries, 849 F.2d 1277, 1284 (10th Cir. 1988). The non-moving party having the burden of proof at trial must come forward with evidence to show a material issue of disputed fact between the parties. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Lake Hefner Open Space Alliance v. Dole, 871 F.2d 943 (10th Cir.1989); Devery Implement Co. v. J.I. Case Company, 944 F.2d 724 (10th Cir.1991). In order for the non-moving party to show a disputed issue of fact more than a mere scintilla of evidence must be presented. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, supra. Plaintiffs must come forward with sufficient evidence to show an issue for trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Ledoux v. Davies, 961 F.2d 1536, 1537 (10th Cir.1992).

Evidence

The plaintiffs’ complaint is not verified and therefore plaintiffs may not rely on their pleadings to create an issue of fact where the defendants have submitted affidavits or other admissible evidence. Nichols v. United States, supra. The evidence which is relevant to the liability of the remaining defendants is the evidence that must be evaluated on the motion for summary judgment.

An affidavit of Jeff Wright, a Utah Bureau of Narcotics and Liquor Law Enforcement agent, states he was a field agent in 1987 (File Entry 20, attached). At approximately 3:00 p.m. on November 2, 1987 he reported to the Salt Lake City Airport to assist agent Jay Averett, a defendant and Utah State narcotics agent. Averett said to Wright that two individuals travelling under the name of McDonald had been stopped at the Denver Airport by narcotics agents and the McDonalds were carrying a large amount of cash.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

The Wilderness Society v. Kane County, Utah
470 F. Supp. 2d 1300 (D. Utah, 2006)
Attorney General Opinion No.
Kansas Attorney General Reports, 1995

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
813 F. Supp. 1537, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17064, 1992 WL 442109, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/barney-v-gillespie-utd-1993.