Bates v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept.

CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedMarch 13, 2023
Docket2:22-cv-00957
StatusUnknown

This text of Bates v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept. (Bates v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bates v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept., (D. Nev. 2023).

Opinion

1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA

3 * * *

4 JAMES E. BATES, Case No. 2:22-cv-00957-CDS-EJY

5 Plaintiff, ORDER and 6 v. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

7 LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE Re: ECF No. 16 DEPARTMENT, et al., Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint 8 Defendants. 9 10 This matter is before the Court for screening of Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint (the 11 “FAC”). ECF No. 16. Plaintiff was granted in forma pauperis status on September 21, 2022. ECF 12 No. 10. 13 I. SCREENING THE COMPLAINT 14 In screening the complaint, a court must identify cognizable claims and dismiss claims that 15 are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim on which relief may be granted or seek monetary relief 16 from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Dismissal for failure to 17 state a claim under § 1915(e)(2) incorporates the standard for failure to state a claim under Federal 18 Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012). To 19 survive § 1915 review, a complaint must “contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state 20 a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). The court 21 liberally construes pro se complaints and may only dismiss them “if it appears beyond doubt that the 22 plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” 23 Nordstrom v. Ryan, 762 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting id.) 24 II. DISCUSSION 25 A. Background Facts. 26 Plaintiff contends on August 21, 2020, he was shopping with his girlfriend at a Family Dollar 27 store. ECF No. 16 at 7. Plaintiff was unarmed and in the process of carrying several items to the 1 Metropolitan Police Department (the “LVMPD” or the “Department”) including Detective Mack 2 O’Halloran, Detective J. Alessio, and Sergeant S. Perry. Id.1 Plaintiff further avers that thirteen 3 other members of the LVMPD—B. Moore, A. Hawkins, E. Stafford, S. McGrill, J. Pappab, J. Marin, 4 J. Beckerle, T. Faller, M. Magsaysay, J. Cortez, A. Salgado, T. Ivie, and J. Strumillo—were 5 instructed to enter the store to ensure Plaintiff’s arrest was executed by any means. Id. Plaintiff says 6 these thirteen LVMPD Officers looked on as the assault occurred, but failed to intercede. Id. 7 Plaintiff alleges that Sergeant Perry instructed Detective O’Halloran, his subordinate, “to 8 double up the taser so they would be able to inflict the maximum amount of pain on [Plaintiff],” 9 after which O’Halloran tased Plaintiff in the back. Id. O’Halloran allegedly taunted Plaintiff as he 10 tased Plaintiff a second time. Id. As a result of the second tasing, Plaintiff contends he soiled 11 himself, bit through his tongue, and banged his head. Id. at 8. Plaintiff accuses O’Halloran, Alessio, 12 and Nahum of laughing while Plaintiff was subjected to this treatment. Id. at 8. Plaintiff states that 13 while shackled, the law enforcement officers dragged him across the floor and placed him on his 14 feet with two taser prongs still in his back. Id. Plaintiff asserts that throughout the entire episode, 15 the remaining LVMPD officers stood by and failed to intercede as they were required to do under 16 the LVMPD’s Use of Force Policy 3.110 (the “Policy”). Id. at 7. 17 After Plaintiff was walked out of the store, Plaintiff contends O’Halloran, under the 18 supervision of Perry, pulled the taser prongs from Plaintiff’s back, but refused Plaintiff the 19 opportunity to receive medical attention from paramedics on scene. Id. at 8. Sometime later, 20 LVMPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau interviewed Plaintiff and asked whether the officers had 21 identified themselves prior to engaging him. Id. Plaintiff said no. Id. Plaintiff avers he was 22 subsequently transported to the Clark County Detention Center (“CCDC”) where he was again 23 denied medical care after requesting attention from the on duty nurse. Id. As a result of these events, 24 Plaintiff alleges he suffers from lifelong injuries that impair his ability to perform his work duties as 25 a construction worker and to enjoy his hobbies and other daily activities. Id. at 10. 26 27 1 Plaintiff asserts four claims against Defendants. Although it is not entirely clear against 2 which Defendant(s) each claim is brought, the Court analyzes all claim against every named 3 Defendant. First, Plaintiff accuses Defendants of violating his Fourth Amendment rights against 4 unreasonable seizure, excessive force, and cruel and unusual punishment. Id. at 9. Second, Plaintiff 5 alleges Defendants violated his rights under the Nevada Constitution guaranteeing a right to privacy. 6 Id. at 8. Third, Plaintiff alleges Defendants violated his rights to equal protection and due process 7 under the Fourteenth Amendment. Id. at 10. Finally, Plaintiff argues Defendants deprived him of 8 his rights to receive medical care. Id. Plaintiff requests: (1) a trial by jury, (2) $2,000,000 in 9 compensatory damages, (3) $4,000,000 in punitive damages, (4) $2,000,000 in damages for mental 10 and emotional distress, (5) $2,000,000 for pain and suffering, and (6) injunctive relief via a change 11 in the LVMPD’s taser policy. Id. at 11.

12 B. The Court Recommends Plaintiff’s Section 1983 Claims Against The LVMPD Be Dismissed With Prejudice. 13 To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the LVMPD, Plaintiff must allege a 14 constitutional violation arising out of an official department policy, practice, or custom. Monell v. 15 Department of Social Services of N.Y., 436 U.S. 658, 690 (1978); Tsao v. Desert Palace, Inc., 698 16 F.3d 1128, 1138-39 (9th Cir. 2012); Clouthier v. County. of Contra Costa, 591 F.3d 1232, 1249 (9th 17 Cir. 2010). “First, a local government may be held liable ‘when implementation of its official 18 policies or established customs inflicts the constitutional injury.’” Clouthier, 591 F.3d at 1249 19 (quoting Monell, 436 U.S. at 708 (Powell, J. concurring)). “Second, under certain circumstances, a 20 local government may be held liable under § 1983 for acts of omission, when such omissions amount 21 to the local government’s own official policy.” Id. “Third, a local government may be held liable 22 under § 1983 when ‘the individual who committed the constitutional tort was an official with final 23 policy-making authority’ or such an official ‘ratified a subordinate’s unconstitutional decision or 24 action and the basis for it.’” Id. at 1250 (quoting Gillette v. Delmore, 979 F.2d 1342, 1346-47 (9th 25 Cir. 1992)). 26 A single act by a non-policymaking official does not show the existence of a policy, custom, 27 or practice. Rivera v. County of Los Angeles, 745 F.3d 384, 389 (9th Cir. 2014). A municipal 1 defendant may not be sued solely because an injury was inflicted by one of its employees or agents. 2 Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006). “Only if a plaintiff shows that 3 his injury resulted from a ‘permanent and well settled’ practice may liability attach for injury 4 resulting from a local government custom.” McDade v. West, 223 F.3d 1135, 1141 (9th Cir. 2000) 5 (citation omitted).

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