Estate of Adkins , by and through Adkins v. County of San Diego

384 F. Supp. 3d 1195
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. California
DecidedJune 7, 2019
DocketCase No.: 18-cv-00371-H-MDD
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 384 F. Supp. 3d 1195 (Estate of Adkins , by and through Adkins v. County of San Diego) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Estate of Adkins , by and through Adkins v. County of San Diego, 384 F. Supp. 3d 1195 (S.D. Cal. 2019).

Opinion

(1) GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

(2) DENYING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

[Doc. Nos. 49, 52]

MARILYN L. HUFF, District Judge

On May 6, 2019, Plaintiff Collette Adkins ("Plaintiff") filed a motion for partial summary judgment, (Doc. No. 49) and Defendants County of San Diego, William Gore, Armin Vianson, and Jeffrey Perine (collectively, "Defendants") filed a motion for summary judgment or in the alternative partial summary judgment, (Doc. No. 52). On May 20, 2019, the parties filed their respective oppositions. (Doc. Nos. 59, 61.) On May 24, 2019, the parties filed their respective replies. (Doc. Nos. 69, 71.) On June 3, 2019, the Court held a hearing on the motions. (Doc. No. 73.) Timothy A. Scott appeared on behalf of Plaintiff and Melissa Maria Holmes appeared on behalf of Defendants. (Id. ) For the reasons below, the Court grants in part and denies in part Defendants' motion for summary judgment and denies Plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment.

Background

I. Factual Background

This suit arises out of Mark Roshawn Adkins's ("Adkins") death in Lemon Grove, California on May 20, 2017. That morning, at approximately 8:16 a.m., Corporal Armin Vianzon and Deputy Jeffrey Perine of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department responded to a trespassing call. (Doc. Nos. 52-2, Ex. A Perine Depo. at 138:3-18, 145:3-6.; 52-8 ¶ 2, 3; 52-9 ¶ 2, 4; 49-2 at 9.) En route, the officers received updates that the trespassing individual was scaling walls, sweating profusely, possibly under the influence of PCP, and was pulling on door handles. (Doc. No. 52-2, Ex. A Perine Depo. at 138:9-25, 139:20-140:8.) At the scene, the officers encountered Adkins by the door of a townhome, near his mother's residence. (Doc. Nos. 52-2, Ex. A Perine Depo. at 148:2-7; 49-2 at 8-9.) The door was on the second level of the complex, on an elevated patio, and Deputy Perine was concerned that Adkins might try to take one of the officers over the balcony. (Doc. Nos. 52-2, Ex. A Perine Depo. at 168:16-169:17; 170:1-171:9; 52-9 ¶ 4.) Adkins was sweating profusely, breathing heavily, and flexing his arms and muscles. (Doc. No. 52-9 ¶ 6.) The officers drew their tasers and ordered Adkins to get on the ground multiple times. (Doc. No. 52-9 ¶ 11, 13.) Adkins ignored their commands, growled intensely at them, intermittently clenched his fists, and knelt down and assumed a charging position against Deputy Perine. (Doc. Nos. 52-2 at 168:16-169:19; 52-9 ¶ 12.) Adkins stood up and took a step toward Deputy Perine. (Doc. Nos. 52-2 at 169:10-17; 52-9 ¶ 13.) At this point, Deputy Perine deployed his electronic control device ("taser"). (Doc. Nos. 52-2 at 169:10-19; 52-9 ¶ 13.)

*1200During the encounter that followed, each officer deployed his taser twice against Adkins. (Doc. Nos. 52-8 at 2; 52-9 at 4; 49-2 at 14-15.) Although the parties dispute the effect of Deputy Perine's two deployments and Corporal Vianzon's first deployment, Corporal Vianzon's second deployment was effective enough to cause Adkins to lower to the ground. (Doc. No. 52-9 at 4.) The officers repeatedly ordered him to roll over onto his stomach and put both hands behind his back, but Adkins did not comply. (Doc. No. 52-9 ¶ 18; see Doc. No. 49-3 Exhibit N.) Deputy Perine attempted to handcuff Adkins, who struggled. (Doc. Nos. 52-2 at 52:10-53:23; 52-9 at 4-5; see 49-3 Exhibit N.) Two additional officers arrived on scene before Adkins was handcuffed, one of whom assisted in restraining Adkins's legs and attempting to secure Adkins's right arm from under Adkins's body. (Doc. Nos. 52-9 ¶¶ 20, 24; see 49-3 Exhibit N.) Corporal Vianzon cycled his taser multiple times before the officers were able to handcuff Adkins. (Doc. Nos. 52-9 at 4-5; 52-9 ¶ 22; see 49-3 Exhibit N.)

Once Adkins was handcuffed, Corporal Vinazon immediately requested paramedics. (Doc. No. 52-9 ¶ 23.) At approximately 8:48 a.m., Adkins became pulseless and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated. (Doc. No. 52-2 at 130, Exhibit G.) He was transported by ambulance to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:00 p.m. (Id. ) Plaintiff does not contend that Adkins's death was caused by the tasings. (See Doc. No. 51-1 at 9.)

Discussion

I. Legal Standards for Summary Judgment

Summary judgment is appropriate under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 if the moving party demonstrates that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) ; Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). A fact is material when, under the governing substantive law, it could affect the outcome of the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986) ; Fortune Dynamic, Inc. v. Victoria's Secret Stores Brand Mgmt., Inc., 618 F.3d 1025, 1031 (9th Cir. 2010). "A genuine issue of material fact exists when the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Fortune Dynamic, 618 F.3d at 1031 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); accord Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. "Disputes over irrelevant or unnecessary facts will not preclude a grant of summary judgment." T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass'n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987).

A party seeking summary judgment always bears the initial burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex, 477 U.S.

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Bluebook (online)
384 F. Supp. 3d 1195, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/estate-of-adkins-by-and-through-adkins-v-county-of-san-diego-casd-2019.