Hines v. Jefferson

338 F. Supp. 3d 1288
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedSeptember 5, 2018
DocketCIVIL ACTION FILE NO. 1:17-CV-3263-TWT
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 338 F. Supp. 3d 1288 (Hines v. Jefferson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hines v. Jefferson, 338 F. Supp. 3d 1288 (N.D. Ga. 2018).

Opinion

THOMAS W. THRASH, JR., United States District Judge

This is a civil rights action. It is before the Court on the Defendant Felicia Jefferson's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 48] and the Defendant Newton County School District's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 56]. For the reasons set forth below, the Defendant Felicia Jefferson's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 48] is GRANTED and the Defendant Newton County School District's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 56] is GRANTED.

I. Background

This case arises out of a fight between two female students at Newton High School. The Plaintiff Sandra Hines is the mother and legal guardian of K.S. On August 29, 2016, K.S. arrived at school and waited in the common area, a large open space outside of the administrative offices where students gather in the morning before school starts.1 While K.S. was standing in the common area, D.B., another student, asked K.S. if she wanted to fight.2 K.S. said no, but D.B. punched K.S. in the face anyway.3 K.S. then hit D.B. in the face.4 A crowd of students began to form around K.S. and D.B.5 A circle of students such as this normally indicates to school officials that a fight is occurring.6 The two girls continued to fight, and they fell to the floor after K.S. grabbed D.B.7 Amanda *1295Tolbert, a teacher at the school, and Edgar Gousse, a coach at the school, attempted to separate the students and end the fight.8 Someone eventually pulled D.B. off of K.S., as another person held K.S. on the floor by her legs.9 At the time, K.S. was unaware of who had intervened in the fight.

Deputy Felicia Jefferson is a Sheriff's Deputy for the Newton Sheriff's Office.10 She works as a School Resource Officer at Newton High School. On the morning of the fight, Jefferson noticed that a large crowd had formed, indicating that a fight was most likely taking place.11 Jefferson moved through the crowd, and saw that Deputy Lee Smith had already reached the fighting students.12 As Jefferson approached, Deputy Smith was already on the floor holding D.B., and Coach Gousse was attempting to hold K.S. on the floor.13 Jefferson approached K.S. after Deputy Smith grabbed D.B.14 According to Jefferson, K.S. was struggling with Coach Gousse, and Jefferson told Gousse that he could let go of K.S. and let her handle the situation from there.15 Gousse let go of K.S., but K.S. continued to struggle with Jefferson.16 K.S. contends that she was initially not aware that the person holding her was Jefferson.17 The parties dispute what happened next. According to K.S., Jefferson "scooped" her up and held her by the neck.18 K.S. claims that Jefferson picked her up off the floor by her neck and held her in a choke hold, in a manner such that her feet were in the air.19 Then, according to K.S., Jefferson carried her to the school office by her neck, with her feet still off the floor the entire way.20 K.S. testified that she could not breathe because of this. Jefferson disputes this account of the facts, and contends that she stood behind K.S., put her arms around K.S.'s upper arms and chest area, embraced her body, and walked her down the hall.21 Jefferson contends that this was necessary because K.S. refused to walk on her own and continued to fight back.22 According to Jefferson, she walked behind K.S. and escorted her to the school office.23 In her deposition, K.S. admits that she was resisting and trying to get "loose" during *1296this walk.24 In total, it took Jefferson and K.S. approximately two minutes to walk from the common area to the office.25 K.S. struggled the entire time.26 Once they made it to the office, Jefferson let go of K.S., who then sat in a chair.27 Jefferson never handcuffed K.S.28 Later that day, Hines took K.S. to see a doctor because K.S. complained of pain in her neck.29 K.S. told the doctor that she had a decreased range of motion in her neck, and the doctor instructed K.S. to wear a neck brace for a couple of weeks.30 The doctor's examination showed that K.S. had no cough or dyspnea, and that her lungs were functioning normally.31 K.S. stopped wearing the neck brace in September 2016.32

Jefferson charged K.S. with Obstruction of an Officer and Disorderly Conduct.33 The District Attorney later dismissed these charges, acknowledging that, although there was sufficient probable cause for these charges, the State would be unlikely to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.34 On June 7, 2017, Hines filed this action in the Magistrate Court of Newton County. The Defendants then removed to this Court. On behalf of her minor child K.S., Hines asserts claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for excessive force and malicious prosecution against Jefferson. Hines also asserts a civil rights claim against the Newton County School District (the "School District"). The Defendants now move for summary judgment.

II. Legal Standard

Summary judgment is appropriate only when the pleadings, depositions, and affidavits submitted by the parties show no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.35 The court should view the evidence and any inferences that may be drawn in the light most favorable to the nonmovant.36 The party seeking summary judgment must first identify grounds to show the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.37 The burden then shifts to the non-movant, who must go beyond the pleadings and present affirmative evidence to show that a genuine issue of material fact exists.38 "A mere 'scintilla' of evidence supporting the opposing party's position will not suffice; there must be a sufficient showing that the jury could reasonably *1297find for that party."39

III. Discussion

A. Defendant Felicia Jefferson

First, Jefferson moves for summary judgment. She argues that Hines's excessive force claim fails on the merits, that Hines's malicious prosecution claim fails on the merits, and finally that she is entitled to qualified immunity on both of these claims. The Court agrees that Jefferson is entitled to summary judgment as to each of these arguments.

1.

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Bluebook (online)
338 F. Supp. 3d 1288, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hines-v-jefferson-gand-2018.