Brutsche v. City of Kent

193 P.3d 110
Washington Supreme Court·Decided October 2, 2008·No. 79252-6·Published·Cited by 22 cases

Opinion

193 P.3d 110 (2008)

Leo C. BRUTSCHE, Petitioner,
v.
CITY OF KENT, a Washington municipal corporation; and King County, a political subdivision of the State of Washington, Respondents.

No. 79252-6.

Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc.

Argued January 17, 2008.
Decided October 2, 2008.

*112 John Rolfing Muenster, Muenster & Koenig, Jerald A. Klein, Attorney at Law, Seattle, WA, for Petitioner.

Chloethiel Woodard Deweese, Keller Rohrback LLP, Richard B. Jolley, Attorney at Law, Seattle, WA, for Respondents.

Sofia D'almeida Mabee, City of Yakima— Legal Dept., Yakima, WA, Daniel Brian Heid, City of Auburn, Auburn, WA, Amicus Curiae on behalf of Washington State Assoc. of Municipal Attorneys.

Jason C. Kinn, Danielson Harrigan Leyh & Tollefson, Nancy Lynn Talner, Attorney at Law, Sarah A. Dunne, ACLU, Seattle, WA, Amicus Curiae on behalf of American Civil Liberties.

William R. Maurer, Michael E. Bindas, Institute for Justice/WA State Chapter, Seattle, WA, Amicus Curiae on behalf of Institute for Justice Washington Chapter.

MADSEN, J.

¶ 1 In executing a search warrant for a suspected methamphetamine lab on premises *113 owned by petitioner Leo C. Brutsche, law enforcement officers using a battering ram to gain entry caused physical damage to doors and door jambs. Mr. Brutsche brought suit against the city of Kent (the City), among others, arguing that the officers had a duty to conduct the search so as to avoid unnecessary damage and do the least damage to the property consistent with a thorough investigation, that they breached this duty, and that the City is liable for the damage. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the City and the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision. We hold that although a trespass claim may be asserted against a city alleging that law enforcement officers exceed the scope of their lawful authority to enter property to execute a search warrant, summary judgment in this case was proper because as a matter of law the officers did not commit trespass as Mr. Brutsche contends. We also hold that summary judgment was properly granted with respect to Mr. Brutsche's claim that the damage to his property constituted a taking of private property for which the City must pay just compensation and decline to overrule Eggleston v. Pierce County, 148 Wash.2d 760, 64 P.3d 618 (2003).

FACTS

¶ 2 On July 8, 2003, a King County District Court judge signed a search warrant authorizing the search of an abandoned warehouse, several outbuildings, eight semitrailers, and a mobile home on property in Kent owned by Mr. Brutsche. The warrant also authorized police to search James F. Brutsche (Leo Brutsche's son), locked containers, and numerous abandoned or disabled vehicles within the fenced boundary of the property. It authorized the seizure of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, as well as paraphernalia and equipment used in connection with the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine and other specified items.

¶ 3 On July 10, 2003, the Valley Special Response Team (SRT), a multi-jurisdictional group of law enforcement officers from several South King County law enforcement jurisdictions, executed the search warrant. The SRT was called on to execute the warrant because of its training for special situations, including serving high risk warrants. The search warrant for Mr. Brutsche's property was considered to be high risk because "it involved a search for the manufacture of methamphetamines and the apprehension of subjects in the methamphetamine trade." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 44 (Decl. of Darren Majack, a Kent patrol officer who was a member of the SRT executing the search warrant); see CP at 47 (Decl. of Mike Villa, a lieutenant with the Tukwila Police Department, who was commander of the SRT) (the SRT is used for executing warrants at high risk sites such as methamphetamine lab sites, which "are known to be dangerous and volatile and pose a significant risk to officer safety").

¶ 4 When the SRT arrived at the property in marked vehicles and wearing police uniforms, James Brutsche ran from an outdoor area into the mobile home and attempted to barricade himself and another suspect in the home by placing a dowel in the sliding glass door. He ran from the SRT "despite an announcement, repeated three times over the loud speaker from one of the vehicles, that the police had arrived and had a search warrant." CP at 44 (Decl. of Majack).

¶ 5 The SRT "almost immediately" breached the glass door of the mobile home with a battering ram. Id. Officer Majack stated that this tactic was necessary because SRT did not know if James Brutsche was arming himself or rallying unaccounted-for individuals in the mobile home to engage police in a fight, and to minimize the likelihood that evidence was being destroyed. CP at 44-45; see CP at 47, 48 (Decl. of Villa) ("[m]ethamphetamine users are typically paranoid, will act in an irrational fashion, and are often armed to protect themselves from other criminals"). James Brutsche was combative and resistant, and officers used a "taser" to subdue him. CP at 45 (Decl. of Majack); CP at 49 (Decl. of Villa).

¶ 6 The SRT also decided it was necessary to enter other structures on the property immediately because they provided possible cover and concealment for unknown persons and to prevent possible destruction of evidence. *114 Lieutenant Villa said that while the doors of some structures were unlocked several were locked and thus it was necessary to breach these doors with the battering ram. CP at 49 (Decl. of Villa). He stated that although he did not see Leo Brutsche at the scene, as the SRT commander he would not have permitted Mr. Brutsche access to the property during the search because

[a]s a matter of standard operating procedure, the SRT does not allow access in or out of a potential crime scene until a search has been completed. This procedure not only maintains the integrity of the potential crime scene, but also ensures the safety of innocent bystanders in a potentially high risk environment.

Id. at 50.

¶ 7 Mr. Brutsche maintains the destruction of many of his doors and door jams was unnecessary. He stated, "At the time of the raid, I offered my keys to the officer in charge, Sergeant Jaime Sidell.[[1]] I offered to escort the officers around my property and open all doors for them. Sergeant Sidell rejected my offer saying `. . . we have our own way of getting in.'" CP at 89 (Certification of Leo C. Brutsche). Mr. Brutsche added that use of his keys would be quicker and quieter, making the entry safer for the officers, and would not damage the doors and door frames. Id. He said that he knew there were no illegal drugs or weapons on the property and offered to escort the officers at the time of the search because there were no genuine officer safety concerns or any illegal activities. Mr. Brutsche hired a carpenter to repair the doors and door jams damaged in the raid, at a cost of $4,921.51. The SRT did not seize any evidence.

¶ 8 Mr. Brutsche brought this action against King County and the City, asserting several claims, among them claims of trespass, negligence, and a taking of property without just compensation.[2] In November 2004, the matter was transferred to arbitration. The parties stipulated to dismissal of King County, which settled with Mr. Brutsche prior to the arbitration hearing. The arbitrator awarded $2,400 to Mr. Brutsche, plus costs.

¶ 9 Mr. Brutsche moved for a trial de novo in superior court.

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Brutsche v. City of Kent, 193 P.3d 110 (Wash. 2008).

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