Bryson v. MacY

611 F. Supp. 2d 1234, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40744, 2009 WL 1177004
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Oklahoma
DecidedApril 30, 2009
DocketCIV-05-1150-F
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 611 F. Supp. 2d 1234 (Bryson v. MacY) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bryson v. MacY, 611 F. Supp. 2d 1234, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40744, 2009 WL 1177004 (W.D. Okla. 2009).

Opinion

*1238 AMENDED ORDER

STEPHEN P. FRIOT, District Judge.

Before the court are Defendant City of Oklahoma City’s Motion for Summary Judgment, filed January 8, 2009 (doc. no. 105), Defendant Robert H. Macy’s Motion for Summary Judgment, filed January 9, 2009 (doc. no. 107), and the Motion for Summary Judgment by Defendant, Joyce Gilchrist, filed January 9, 2009 (doc. no. 110). Upon due consideration of the parties’ submissions, the court makes its determination.

I. Background

Plaintiff, David Bryson, spent over 17 years in prison for crimes — kidnaping, rape and sodomy — that he did not commit. Plaintiff seeks damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against defendants, City of Oklahoma City, Joyce Gilchrist, and Robert Macy, for malicious prosecution and for bad faith denial of post-conviction access to potentially exculpatory evidence. Both of these claims arise under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Plaintiff also seeks damages under Oklahoma state tort law against defendants Joyce Gilchrist and Robert Macy. All defendants seek summary judgment as to plaintiffs § 1983 claims. Defendant, Joyce Gilchrist, seeks summary judgment as to plaintiffs state law claim.

II. Standard of Review

Under Rule 56(c), Fed.R.Civ.P., summary judgment shall be granted if the record shows that “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” The moving party has the burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). A genuine issue of material fact exists when “there is sufficient evidence favoring the non-moving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). In determining whether a genuine issue of a material fact exists, the evidence is to be taken in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 157, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970). All reasonable inferences to be drawn from the undisputed facts are to be determined in a light most favorable to the non-movant. United States v. Agri Services, Inc., 81 F.3d 1002, 1005 (10th Cir. 1996). Once the moving party has met its burden, the opposing party must come forward with specific evidence, not mere allegations or denials, demonstrating that there is a genuine issue for trial. Posey v. Skyline Corp., 702 F.2d 102, 105 (7th Cir. 1983).

III.Relevant Facts

The facts, undisputed or viewed in a light most favorable to plaintiff, are as follows.

A. Plaintiffs Conviction

On September 23, 1982, Theresa Taylor, a 23 year-old, was kidnapped in downtown Oklahoma City and driven to a remote location in the southeast part of town. During the drive, she was forced to perform an act of fellatio. Upon arrival at the remote location, Ms. Taylor was dragged out of the car into a muddy ravine. The assailant, who carried a knife, then raped and orally and anally sodomized Ms. Taylor. City’s Ex. 17, pp. 3-23; City’s Ex. 18, pp. 36-66.

Thereafter, the assailant ordered Ms. Taylor to perform another act of fellatio. When she felt the assailant becoming erect, Ms. Taylor “bit down very hard, and as hard [she] could” on his penis. She “felt blood come into [her] mouth.” City’s *1239 Ex. 18, p. 61, ll. 7-9. The assailant screamed and dropped the knife he was holding. Through clinched teeth, she ordered the assailant to his side and ordered him to put his hands underneath his side so they could not reach the knife. Id. at p. 61, ll. 10-19. She bit the assailant’s penis one more time and took off running. Id. at p. 62,ll. 2-5.

Ms. Taylor ran nude to the home of Air Force Major and Mrs. Kuritz. Mrs. Kuritz gave her a robe and Major Kuritz called the police. City’s Ex. 17, p. 27,ll.1-3; City’s Ex. 18, p. 64, ll. 2-10. Ms. Taylor was interviewed briefly by the police and taken by ambulance to Oklahoma Memorial Hospital, where she was examined by Dr. Suzanne Bergen. City’s Ex. 18, p. 64,ll. 11-24.

Detective Julie Smith was assigned to Ms. Taylor’s case. Detective Smith had Ms. Taylor assist a sketch artist in providing a drawing of the assailant. A radiogram was issued giving a description of the suspect, the clothing worn and information that the suspect had been bitten on the penis. City’s Ex. 18, p. 226, ll. 22-25; City’s Ex. 87; City’s Ex. 22.

On September 24, 1982, evidence collected from Ms. Taylor and the crime scene was submitted to the OCPD forensic laboratory. The evidence collected from Ms. Taylor included a vial of blood, oral washing, vaginal aspirate, saliva sample, two vaginal swabs (posterior fornix), two vaginal swabs (cervix), vaginal slide, two rectal canal swabs, rectal canal slide, scalp hairs, pubic hair combing, pulled pubic hairs, two swabs from bite area — right arm, fingernail scraping, leaves and grass taken from victim’s hair, one torn fingernail and one robe. The evidence from the crime scene included one torn brown skirt, one brown belt, one beige blouse, one white bra and a paper “bindle” containing hairs. City’s Ex. 29.

On September 27, 1982, Detective Smith requested the Oklahoma City Police Department (“OCPD”) forensic laboratory to analyze the evidence. Defendant, Joyce Gilchrist (“Gilchrist”), a forensic chemist for the OCPD, was assigned the case. The case number was “ST-82-336.” City’s Ex. 20; City’s Ex. 17, p. 103, ll. 9-10; City’s Ex. 29.

On the same day, Detective Smith requested a group of rape crisis volunteers to contact every medical facility in the metropolitan area and give a description of the suspect and a brief synopsis of the injuries that the suspect had sustained. City’s Ex. 22; City’s Ex. 18, p. 231, ll. 8-15.

On October 2, 1982, plaintiff, David Bryson (“Bryson”), called Dr. Patskowsky’s office to obtain a prescription for an infected penis. Because Dr. Patskowsky was not working that day, he was referred to Dr. Patskowsky’s partner, Dr. Tillinghast. Dr. Tillinghast spoke to Bryson and wrote him two prescriptions — one for a painkiller and one for an antibiotic. City’s Ex. 18, p. 353, 376-77; City’s Ex. 21.

Shortly thereafter, Dr. Tillinghast advised the rape crisis group of Bryson’s injury. The group then called Detective Smith and advised her of Bryson’s injury. City’s Ex. 22.

On October 5, 1982, Bryson, who was twenty-eight years old, was arrested for outstanding warrants for various traffic offenses and was held as a suspect in the rape of Ms. Taylor. City’s Ex. 24, pp. 9-11, 80-81; City’s Ex. 25; City’s Ex. 17, p. 54, ll. 7-11.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
611 F. Supp. 2d 1234, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40744, 2009 WL 1177004, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bryson-v-macy-okwd-2009.