Derosier v. Balltrip

149 F. Supp. 3d 1286, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29550, 2016 WL 879833
CourtDistrict Court, D. Colorado
DecidedMarch 8, 2016
DocketCivil Action No. 15-cv-01026-JLK
StatusPublished

This text of 149 F. Supp. 3d 1286 (Derosier v. Balltrip) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Derosier v. Balltrip, 149 F. Supp. 3d 1286, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29550, 2016 WL 879833 (D. Colo. 2016).

Opinion

Memorandum opinion and ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS

Kane, Senior United States District Judge

Introduction

Exasperated with the Greeley Tribune’s repeated littering of his yard despite his [1290]*1290numerous complaints, Plaintiff Lawrence Derosier called the paper and suggested that he would “take a shot at” the next delivery person to visit his property. The next day, the Johnstown police arrested Plaintiff at his home for the crimes of menacing and telephone harassment. The charges were subsequently dropped, and Plaintiff now brings five 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims for violation of the First and Fourth Amendment against the arresting officer, that officer’s supervisor, and the Town of Johnston. The Defendants have moved to dismiss all of Plaintiffs claims on the grounds that they are barred by the doctrine of qualified immunity. For the reasons that follow, Defendants’ motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.

Background

Plaintiff, a resident of Johnstown, alleges that the Greely Tribune repeatedly placed an advertising circular called “The TribExtra” onto his ¡yard. Doc. 121 at ¶ 15. Because the TribExtra would not always be secured by a rubber band, the pages littered Plaintiffs yard. Id. Over the course of two years, Plaintiff called the Greely Tribune multiple times and asked that they stop dumping the TribExtra on his property, but the deliveries continued. Id. at ¶¶ 16-17.

On July 16, 2013, Plaintiff called the Greely Tribune and spoke with employee Brooke Brown. He again asked that the deliveries of the TribExtra be stopped and stated in pertinent part that “I want this to stop and I want an explanation for why it hasn’t stopped ... I’ve had it. The next guy who comes and throws that TribExtra onto my property, I’m going to take a shot at.” Id. at ¶ 19. Brown asked if Plaintiff was “threatening her driver,” and Plaintiff responded “[n]o, but-1 am telling you that this needs to stop.” Id. at ¶20. Brown contacted the Johnstown Police Department and spoke with Defendant Kenneth Balltrip. Id. at ¶ 21. After speaking with Ms. Brown, Officer Balltrip had a conversation with Commander Sanchez and they agreed ..that there was probable cause to arrest Plaintiff for menacing and telephone harassment. Id. at ¶23. Officer Balltrip and another officer went to Plaintiffs home to arrest him, but he was not there. Id. at ¶ 24.

On July 17, 2013, Officer Balltrip called Plaintiff and asked him to come down to the station. Id, at ¶ 25. Plaintiff declined to do so, and when asked by Officer Balltrip if he had threatened to shoot a courier for the Greely Tribune, Plaintiff said “he had not threatened to shoot anyone and that he did not even own a firearm.” Id. After this phone call and another meeting with Commander Sanchez, Officer Balltrip and Officer Steven Bakovich2 each took a squad car to Plaintiffs home and entered his property. Id. at ¶¶ 26-28. The officers banged on Plaintiffs front door, and Plaintiff opened it “just a crack” but refused to come outside. Id. at ¶¶ 29-30. Officer Ball-trip then displayed his firearm and told Plaintiff “he had no choice,” at which point Plaintiff was placed under arrest. Id. at ¶ 30. Plaintiff was held in Weld County Jail for twelve hours and was released on bond the following day. Id. at ¶ 32. On July 7, 2014, the Weld, County District Attorney dropped the charges and closed the case. Id. at ¶ 34,

On May 14, 2015, Plaintiff filed suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging (1) a Fourth Amendment violation for false arrest (an arrest without probable cause) against Of[1291]*1291ficers Balltrip and Commander Sanchez; (2) a First Amendment violation against Officers Balltrip and Commander Sanchez; (3) a Fourth Amendment violation for false arrest (imprisonment) against Officers Balltrip and Commander Sanchez; (4) a First and Fourth Amendment violation for unconstitutional custom or practice against Commander Sanchez and the Town' of Johnstown; and (5) a First and Fourth Amendment violation for failure to train or supervise against Commander Sanchez and the Town of Johnstown. Doc. 12 at ¶¶ 36-87. Defendants have moved to dismiss all five claims on thé grounds that they are barred by the doctrine of qualified immunity. Doe. 10.

Legal Standards

42 U.S.C. § 1983 imposes civil liability upon

Every person who,,under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws...

Qualified immunity is an affirmative defense to a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action, providing immunity from suit from the outset. DeSpain v. Uphoff, 264 F.3d 965, 971 (10th Cir.2001). Because qualified immunity is “an immunity from suit rather than a mere defense to liability.. .it is effectively lost if a case is erroneously permitted to go - to trial.” Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231, 129 S.Ct. 808, 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009). Accordingly, if the defense of qualified immunity is asserted, it should be resolved “at the earliest possible stage in litigation.” Id.

To “survive á motion to dismiss based on qualified immunity, the plaintiff must allege sufficient facts that show— when.taken as true — the defendant plausibly violated his constitutional rights, which were clearly established at the time. Of violation.” Sanchez v. Hartley, 65 F.Supp.3d 1111, 1122 (D.Colo.2014) (quoting Schwartz v. Booker, 702 F.3d 573, 579 (10th Cir.2012)). “In order for a constitutional right to be clearly established, the contours of the right must’ be sufficiently clear that' a reasonable official would understand that what he is dóing' violates that right.” Quinn v. Young, 780 F.3d 998, 1005-06 (10th Cir.2015) (quoting Wilson v. Montano, 715 F.3d 847, 852 (10th Cir.2013) (internal alterations and quotations omitted)). In addition, for a right to be clearly established, “there must be a Supreme Court or Tenth Circuit decision on point, or the clearly established weight of authority from other courts must have found the law to be as the plaintiff maintains.” Weise v. Casper, 593 F.3d 1163, 1167 (10th Cir.2010) (quoting Cortez v. McCauley, 478 F.3d 1108, 1114-15 (10th Cir.2007)).

Discussion

A. Fourth Amendment violation for false arrest, (an arrest without probable cause) against Officers Balltrip, and Commander Sanchez,

'Plaintiffs first claim is that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated when he was arrested on his property without a warrant, and allegedly without probable cause, on July 17, 2013. See Doc. 12 at ¶¶ 37-38. ■

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Bluebook (online)
149 F. Supp. 3d 1286, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29550, 2016 WL 879833, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/derosier-v-balltrip-cod-2016.