Bocchino v. City of Atlantic City

179 F. Supp. 3d 387, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43328, 2016 WL 1260791
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Jersey
DecidedMarch 31, 2016
DocketCivil No. 14-233 (AMD)
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 179 F. Supp. 3d 387 (Bocchino v. City of 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
Bocchino v. City of Atlantic City, 179 F. Supp. 3d 387, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43328, 2016 WL 1260791 (D.N.J. 2016).

Opinion

OPINION

DONIO, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

In this action, Plaintiff Anthony Bocchi-no (hereinafter, “Plaintiff’) alleges Defendants City of Atlantic City and Atlantic City Police Officers James Miltenberger1 and Donnell Holland (hereinafter, “Defendants”) violated his federal civil rights in the course of arresting him following his removal from a nightclub in Atlantic City. (See Complaint [D.I.l].) Specifically, Plaintiff asserts that Defendant Officers used excessive force in arresting Plaintiff and that Defendants failed to provide medical treatment. (Id.) Presently before the Court is .Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. (See Motion for Summary Judgment (hereinafter, “Defs.’ Mot. [D.I. 28].)) Defendants claim the force used was reasonable and Plaintiff was provided medical care. (See generally Brief [D.I. 28-2].) The incident was captured on surveillance video.2 The Court has considered the parties’ submissions, held oral argument, and for the reasons that follow, grants in part and denies in part Defendants’ motion.3

It is undisputed that in, the early morning hours of August 12, 2012 Plaintiff was “intoxicated while at The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s Resort” (hereinafter, “The Pool”) in Atlantic City. (Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (hereinafter, “Defs.’ Facts”) [D.I. 28-1], ¶ 1; see also Plaintiffs Response to Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (hereinafter, “Pis.’ Response”) [D.I. 38], If 1.) The parties dispute nearly all other facts related to the incident. Defendants assert that on August 12, 2012 “Officers Miltenberger and Holland were summoned to the rear of [The Pool] in reference to a disorderly male[, Plaintiff,] who was argu[391]*391ing and pushing one of the bouncers.” (Defs.’ Facts [D.I. 28-1], ¶ 10(a).) Defendants describe Plaintiff as a “284 pound man” (Brief [D.I. 28-2], 1), while Plaintiff asserts he was “overweight, of below average height and completely unarmed.” (Response in Opposition (hereinafter, “Pl.’s Brief’) [D.I. 38], 17.) Defendants maintain that upon arriving at The Pool, “[Defendant] Officer Miltenberger witnessed the intoxicated male in a physical altercation with the bouncers and they were attempting to remove him from the rear door.” (Defs.’ Facts [D.I. 28-1], ¶ 10(b).) Defendants assert “[Defendant] Officers Milten-berger and Holland assisted the bouncers in removing [Plaintiff] and led him to the back of the house ... away from the hotel guests to minimize any danger to them.” (Id. at ¶ 10(c).)

Defendants further claim that Plaintiff was disruptive and yelled obscenities and racial epithets. (Id. at ¶¶ 10(g), ll(i), 13,14, 16, 21;) Defendants maintain Defendant Officer Holland “observed [P]laintiff raise his hands in a combative stance.” (Id. at ¶17.) Defendants assert Defendant “Officer Miltenberger placed his hand on top of [Plaintiffs clenched fists and told [Plaintiff to relax, that he was free to go to any other casino but could not stay at Har-rah’s.” (Id. at ¶28.) Defendants maintain Plaintiff then spit on Officer Miltenberger who in response, “struck [P]laintiff in the face several times to prevent him from spitting in his face again.” (Id. at ¶ 10(i).) According to Defendants “Plaintiff was then taken to the ground where he resisted and was finally placed into handcuffs and transported to the in-house holding cell” within the casino. (Id at ¶ 10(j).)

As it relates to the actions in the . in-house holding cell, Defendants maintain Plaintiff “was very disruptive,” spit blood on the wall, and cursed at the security guards and police officers. (Id. at 1M0(i).) Defendants assert that while Plaintiff was in the in-house holding cell he “refuse[d] repeated lawful orders to remain seated.” (Id. at ¶ 22.) Officer Holland certifies in his interrogatory answers that “[w]hen Plaintiff attempted to, leave the holding area and refused my instructions to sit down, fearing he would harm me, the security officers or himself[,] I used reasonable force to get him to comply.” (Hegarty Certification, Exhibit I. [D.I. 28-3], ¶ 10.) In their summary judgment brief, Defendants describe the contact between Officer Holland and Plaintiff in the following way:

It was not until [P]laintiff left his seat and walked out of the holding room—in direct contravention of the officers’ lawful orders—that Holland was constrained to use physical force to direct him back to his seat. And the force used was minimal; Holland placed his right hand on [P]laintiffs shoulder and-left hand on [P]laintiff s chest to guide him. Holland did not touch [P]laintiff after he was seated until [P]laintiff again, only twenty-two seconds later, stood up and walked toward the door. And Holland again acted reasonably in response: for just two seconds, Holland placed his right hand on the left side of [P]laintiff s neck to guide [P]laintiff back into the seat.”

(Defs.’ Brief [D.I. 28-2], 13-14.)

As it relates to the failure to provide medical care claim, Defendants' maintain that “[t]he in-house nurse was summoned to treat [P]laintiff for bleeding from his mouth.”4 (Defs.’ Facts [D.I. 28-1], ¶ 10(k).) Defendants contend “Plaintiff was treated, released and transported to the station for processing.” (Id. at ¶ 10(m).) Defendants [392]*392maintain that following the incident, “[a]n X-Ray of [Plaintiff’s mandible (his jaw) was normal[]” and “Plaintiff was diagnosed with-a lip contusion.” (Id. .at ¶¶ 35-36.)

In his submission opposing the motion, Plaintiff'relies exclusively on the surveillance video. (See, e.g.; Pl.’s Response [D.I. 38], ¶¶ 10(f)-(k), 13-22,-24-29 (stating, in part, “[v]ideo evidence contradicts”).) There is no dispute that “Plaintiff only has a ‘vague’ memory.- of the evening ‘with many gaps’ ” (Defs.’ Facts [D.I. 28-1], ¶ 3; see also PL’s Response [D.I. 38], ¶ 3), and that Plaintiffs only-information about the events from the night “is from the police report and the surveillance video.” (Defs.’ Facts [D.I. 28-1], ¶5; see also PL’s Response [D.I. 38], ¶ 5.) Plaintiff, citing only to the surveillance video, denies that Plaintiff was disruptive in the holding cell and states “Plaintiff was requesting medical attention.” (PL’s Response [D.I. 38], ¶10(l).) Plaintiff also denies Defendants’ assertion that “Plaintiff was treated, released and transported to the station for processing” (Defs.’ Facts [D.I. 28-1], ¶ 10(m)), and contends that “Plaintiff was treated in Northern New Jersey eight hours after injury.” (PL’s Response [D.I. 38], ¶ 10(m).) Plaintiff also denies, in part, Defendants’ facts related to Plaintiffs medical records and asserts “[t]he medical records indicate other contusions.” (W. at ¶¶ 35-36.)

The parties do not dispute that following the incident Plaintiff was charged with aggravated assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-lb(5)(a); resisting arrest in violation of N.J.S.A.. 2C:29-a(3)(a); and throwing bodily fluid at a law enforcement employee in violation of N.J.S.A, 20:12-13. (Defs.’ Facts [D.I. 28-1], ¶¶ 6-8; see also PL’s Response [D.I. 38], ¶¶ 6-8.) Also undisputed is the fact that following the .incident “Officer Miltenberger filed a Use of Force Report indicating that [P]laintiff resisted police officer control and that Officer Miltenber-ger used a compliance hold and his hands/ fists toward [P]laintiff.” (Defs.’ Facts [D.I. 28-1], ¶ 9; see also PL’s Response [D.I. 38], ¶ 9.)

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Bluebook (online)
179 F. Supp. 3d 387, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43328, 2016 WL 1260791, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bocchino-v-city-of-atlantic-city-njd-2016.