Edmiston v. City Of Port Angeles

360 F. Supp. 3d 1147
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Washington
DecidedDecember 21, 2018
DocketCASE NO. C18-5009 BHS
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 360 F. Supp. 3d 1147 (Edmiston v. City Of Port Angeles) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Edmiston v. City Of Port Angeles, 360 F. Supp. 3d 1147 (W.D. Wash. 2018).

Opinion

BENJAMIN H. SETTLE, United States District Judge

This matter comes before the Court on Defendants City of Port Angeles ("City") and Officer Allen Brusseau's ("Officer Brusseau") (collectively "Defendants") motion for summary judgment (Dkt. 11). The Court has considered the pleadings filed in *1150support of and in opposition to the motion and the remainder of the file and hereby grants the motion for the reasons stated herein.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On January 1, 2018, Plaintiff Eric Edmiston, individually and on behalf of his minor son A. E., ("Edmiston") filed a complaint against Defendants. Dkt. 1. Edmiston's allegations arose after he was bit by K-9 "Bogey," a police dog owned by the City and partnered with Officer Brusseau, an employee of the Port Angeles Police Department ("PAPD"). Edmiston asserts claims for unlawful search, seizure, and excessive use of force under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ; violation of due process of law under the Washington Constitution; strict liability under Washington's dog bite statute, RCW Chapter 16.08; and negligence. Id.

On June 27, 2018, Defendants moved for summary judgment on all of Edmiston's claims except negligence. Dkt. 11. On July 16, 2018, Edmiston responded. Dkt. 15. On July 20, 2018, Defendants replied. Dkt. 21.

On September 28, 2018, the Court requested supplemental briefing on whether the entry of Officer Brusseau and Bogey onto Edmiston's property constituted a search, whether the search would have been reasonable, and whether Defendants would be entitled to qualified immunity. Dkts. 25, 29. On October 19, 2018, the parties filed supplemental briefs. Dkts. 31, 37. On October 26, 2018, the parties responded. Dkts. 41, 42.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Around 2:00 pm on February 27, 2016, PAPD Officer Bruce Fernie ("Officer Fernie") was dispatched to a report of a stolen vehicle being driven by an unknown suspect. Dkt. 20, Ex. 1. Officer Fernie responded and began pursuing the vehicle. Id. When the suspect vehicle made a sudden left turn, Officer Fernie briefly lost sight of the vehicle. When Officer Fernie saw it again, the vehicle was rolling slowly toward the shoulder of the roadway, and the suspect had fled. Id. Children nearby alerted Officer Fernie to the direction of the suspect's flight, which was toward the neighborhood where Plaintiff lives. Id. In order to track the fleeing suspect, Officer Fernie called for a K-9 unit to respond. Id.

Officer Brusseau arrived in response to Officer Fernie's call, along with his K-9 partner, a four-year-old German Shepard named Bogey. Dkt. 12, ¶ 5. Officer Brusseau and Bogey began tracking the suspect from the abandoned vehicle and headed northwest. Dkt. 12, Ex. 2.

A quarter mile away, Edmiston and his twelve-year-old son A. E. sat watching television inside Edmiston's house in a residential neighborhood. Dkt. 18. Edmiston's house has a long, narrow deck running along the north side of his home, which is accessible by outdoor stairs. Dkt. 20, Ex. 2. The deck is located immediately adjacent to the living room where Edmiston and A. E. sat. Dkt. 18, ¶ 7. Around 3:00 pm, Edmiston heard clicking noises on the deck outside. Id. Edmiston and A. E. went to the glass door separating the living room from the deck and looked outside. Dkt. 18, ¶¶ 9, 11. There Edmiston saw Bogey, who he alleges was unaccompanied by Officer Brusseau, snarling and trailing a leash lead. Id. ¶ 13.

While the length and location of the actions that came next are in dispute, it is undisputed that Bogey bit Edmiston, an innocent man accused of no wrongdoing, on his right thigh. Id. ¶ 14. Edmiston contends that Bogey charged into his house through the open door before biting him. Id. ¶ 13. With Bogey engaged, Edmiston's leg began to bleed copiously. Id. ¶ 21. Edmiston alleges that Officer Brusseau then appeared and ordered Bogey to release *1151Edmiston, but that Bogey ignored Officer Brusseau's commands and continued his attack on Edmiston. Id. ¶ 17-18. Edmiston contends that he had to pry Bogey's jaws open himself, in the process sustaining additional injuries to his hand and fingers. Id. ¶ 22. Edmiston estimated that Bogey's attack lasted 30-45 seconds. Dkt. 14, Ex. 1. Edmiston sustained thirty-two puncture wounds to his thigh. Dkt. 18, ¶ 28.

Officer Brusseau declares that he followed Bogey, who was nose down and actively tracking the suspect driver of the stolen vehicle, up the stairs and onto Edmiston's deck. Dkt. 12, Ex. 2, ¶ 8. Officer Brusseau states that Bogey was on a six-foot lead that he (Officer Brusseau) had control over at all times. Id. ¶¶ 5-6. As Officer Brusseau moved across Edmiston's deck, he observed Edmiston standing inside, and saw Edmiston begin to open the glass door leading onto the deck.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
360 F. Supp. 3d 1147, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/edmiston-v-city-of-port-angeles-wawd-2018.