GOODLIN v. ROSE

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedAugust 21, 2025
Docket2:23-cv-02304
StatusUnknown

This text of GOODLIN v. ROSE (GOODLIN v. ROSE) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
GOODLIN v. ROSE, (E.D. Pa. 2025).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

HERBERT SETH GOODLIN, Plaintiff,

v. Civil No. 23-2304

ALEX ROSE et al, Defendants.

MEMORANDUM COSTELLO, J. August 21, 2025 Plaintiff Herbert Seth Goodlin sued the Borough of Folcroft (“Folcroft”) and Detective Daniel White under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and various state laws, claiming that he was falsely arrested by Detective White. The arrest arose from a home improvement dispute. A pair of Folcroft residents hired Goodlin for a home improvement project that Goodlin failed to complete. The residents paid Goodlin for the project, but after doing some demolition, Goodlin absconded with their money and left them with a mess. The residents contacted Folcroft police, which assigned Detective White to investigate. After his investigation, Detective White obtained a warrant for Goodlin’s arrest for theft and fraud. The charges against Goodlin were ultimately dismissed at the preliminary hearing phase. Goodlin then brought this suit alleging, among other things, that he was maliciously prosecuted and falsely imprisoned. Detective White and Folcroft have moved for summary judgment. For the reasons that follow, the Court will grant the Defendants’ motion. I. BACKGROUND A. Facts Dianetta Jones and Forkpa Subah, Folcroft residents, hired Goodlin to work on their home. ECF No. 62 ¶ 1. On February 29, 2022, they paid Goodlin $2,000. Id. ¶ 2. On March 9,

2022, they paid him an additional $3,000. Id. While Goodlin performed some demolition at the home, Goodlin stopped coming to the property and stopped answering and returning phone calls after the March 9, 2022, payment. Id.; ECF 62-1 at 10 (Transcript of Detective White’s December 12, 2024 Deposition). Not only did Goodlin fail to complete the project, but he left trash and debris at the property, causing Jones and Subah to receive a citation from Folcroft for a code violation. ECF No. 62 ¶ 9. Jones and Subah contacted the Folcroft Police Department. Detective White, who had previously investigated about a dozen contractor fraud cases, was assigned to the case. Id. ¶ 7. Among other things, Detective White gathered receipts from Subah, took written statements, and reviewed photographs. Id. ¶¶ 8-9. In addition, Detective White tried contacting Goodlin

multiple times but received no response. Id. ¶ 3. During the investigation, Detective White learned that Goodlin was working in Folcroft without a permit. Id. ¶ 10. Based on his investigation, Detective White attested to an affidavit of probable cause and sought a warrant for Goodlin’s arrest for theft by deception and home improvement fraud. Id. ¶¶ 4-5. An Assistant District Attorney for Delaware County reviewed and approved Detective White’s affidavit and warrant application. Id. ¶ 6. Detective White then submitted the affidavit and application to a magistrate judge. Id. The magistrate judge approved the charges and authorized Goodlin’s arrest. Id. ¶ 4. B. Procedural History The warrant was not executed for nearly a year—until March 8, 2023—when Goodlin was arrested in another township on unrelated charges. Id. ¶ 11. Goodlin gave a fake name to the arresting officers because he knew about the outstanding warrant in Folcroft. Id. Goodlin

was arraigned on the Folcroft warrant and released on an unsecured bond the next day. Id. ¶ 13. A preliminary hearing was held on May 9, 2023. Id. After the preliminary hearing, the magistrate judge dismissed the case stating that the dispute appeared to be more of a civil matter. Id. ¶ 14. At the direction of the District Attorney’s Office, Goodlin was re-arrested. Id. ¶ 15. At the second preliminary hearing, Goodlin testified that the home improvement contract was for $15,000, and he spent the $5,000 he received on demolition and materials that he claimed were delivered to the residence.1 Id. ¶ 17. The magistrate again dismissed the case. Id. ¶ 16. Detective White did not testify at either hearing. Id. ¶ 18. On June 16, 2023, Goodlin brought this suit against Alex Rose, a Delaware County Daily Times journalist who had reported on the case, Jones and Subah, Detective White in his official

and individual capacities, and Folcroft. With leave of Court, Goodlin filed an amended complaint on May 29, 2024. Eventually, Defendants Delaware County Daily Times and Alex Rose were dismissed from the case with prejudice. In addition, the parties stipulated to the dismissal of all claims against Jones and Subah. The parties further stipulated to the dismissal of Goodlin’s claims for economic and earnings capacity damages. Detective White and Folcroft are the only remaining defendants.

1 There is no evidence in the record that Goodlin purchased materials for the project or left any materials at the residence. Goodlin’s § 1983 claims are as follows: (1) malicious prosecution against Detective White, (2) false imprisonment against Detective White and Folcroft, (3) conspiracy for malicious prosecution and false imprisonment against Detective White and Folcroft, and (4) failure to train and supervise against Folcroft. Goodlin also presents state law claims for intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress against both Detective White and Folcroft.2

Detective White and Folcroft have moved for summary judgment, arguing there is no evidence to support Goodlin’s claims, and he cannot establish a genuine issue for trial. Additionally, they suggest Detective White is entitled to qualified immunity. The Court held oral argument on June 5, 2025. Goodlin has responded to the motion for summary judgment mainly by repeating allegations from his amended complaint and relying on sweeping conclusions, unsupported by any record evidence. II. LEGAL STANDARD Summary judgment is proper “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P.

56(a). A dispute is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A fact is material if it “might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law[.]” Id. The movant bears the initial responsibility of informing the Court of the basis for its motion and identifying

2 The amended complaint suggests that the Folcroft Police Department is separately liable. ECF No. 45 ¶¶ 16, 20, 24, 26-27. However, the Police Department is not a proper defendant in this case. To start, the Police Department does not appear as a defendant on the docket. Moreover, a police department is not a proper defendant in an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, because it is a sub-division of its municipality. Johnson v. City of Erie, Pa., 834 F. Supp. 873, 878-79 (W.D. Pa. 1993) (finding “police department an improper and unnecessary party” in Section 1983 action). A police department is merely the “vehicle through which the municipality fulfills its policing functions.” Phillips v. Weinman, No. 25-0171, 2025 WL 1436012, at *2 (E.D. Pa. May 19, 2025). the portions of the record that demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986)). Then, the nonmovant must “set forth specific facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256. In ruling on a summary judgment motion, a court “must view the facts in the light most favorable to the

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