Hunt v. Massi

5 F. Supp. 3d 160, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39287, 2014 WL 1200618
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedMarch 25, 2014
DocketCivil Action No. 13-10656-WGY
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 5 F. Supp. 3d 160 (Hunt v. Massi) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hunt v. Massi, 5 F. Supp. 3d 160, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39287, 2014 WL 1200618 (D. Mass. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

YOUNG, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

This case arises out of the arrest of Brian Hunt (“Mr. Hunt”) pursuant to the service of an arrest warrant on June 6, 2011. Mr. Hunt and Kim Hunt (“Mrs. Hunt”) (collectively, “the Hunts”) bring this action against two police officers, David Massi (“Massi”) and James Porter (“Porter”), and the Town of Falmouth, alleging ten counts, including civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. section 1983 for: (i) retaliation and excessive force against [162]*162the police officers; (ii) malicious prosecution against the police officers; (iii) a Mo-nell claim against Town of Falmouth; (iv) negligence and vicarious liability against the Town of Falmouth; (v) conspiracy; (vi) violation of the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, Mass. Gen. Laws c. 12 § 111; (vii) battery by police officers; (viii) false imprisonment; (ix) malicious prosecution; and (x) intentional infliction of emotional distress. Compl. 5-11.

On January 22, 2014, this Court heard oral arguments and granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on count III (Monell claim), count IV (negligence/vicarious liability), count V (conspiracy), count VI (Massachusetts Civil Rights Act violation by the Town of Falmouth), count VIII (false imprisonment), count X (intentional infliction of emotional distress), and the loss of consortium claim; and took under advisement the defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to count I (use of excessive force), count II and IX (malicious prosecution), count VII (battery) and count VI (Massachusetts Civil Rights Act violation by the police officers). Mot. Hr’g Tr., ECF No. 32. Upon review of the parties’ submissions, the relevant portions of the record including a compact disc depicting the arrest on video, and the applicable law, the Court rules as follows:

A. Procedural Posture

On March 21, 2013, the Hunts filed this complaint against the police officers and the Town of Falmouth. Compl., ECF No. 1. On November 27, 2013, the police officers and the Town of Falmouth filed a motion for summary judgment, together with a memorandum of law supporting the motion. Defs.’ Mot. Summ. J., ECF No. 18; Defs.’ Mem. Supp. Mot. Summ. J., ECF. No. 19. The Hunts opposed the motion on January 2, 2014. Pis.’ Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Summ. J., ECF No. 27. On January 9, 2013, the police officers and the Town of Falmouth filed a reply to the Hunts’ opposition to the motion for summary judgment. Defs.’ Reply Pis.’ Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Summ. J., ECF No. 30. On January 22, 2014 the Court heard oral arguments. Mot. Hr’g Tr., ECF No. 32.

B. Undisputed Facts

On June 2, 2011, the New Bedford District Court issued an arrest warrant and commanded officers Massi and Porter to arrest Mr. Hunt. Defs.’ Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J., Ex. 2, True Warrant— Commonwealth of Massachusetts — Warrant Management System (“True Warrant”), ECF No. 19. The arrest was ordered due to an unpaid traffic violation fine. Defs.’ Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J., Ex. 6, Brian Hunt’s Examination, (“Mr. Hunt’s Examination”), ECF. No. 19-10. It was later discovered, however, that Mr. Hunt had paid the fine but the Town of New Bedford mistakenly failed to record the payment.1 Id. The complaint states that the arrest warrant was a pretext for arresting Mr. Hunt and that the real reason was Mr. Hunt publishing a book about his son’s “sexting” issues in which he criticized the Falmouth Police Department. Compl. 3, 5. In his deposition, however, Mr. Hunt stated that he knew he was arrested for the traffic violation, and denied ever criticizing the Falmouth Police Department. Defs.’ Mem. Law Supp. Mot. [163]*163Summ. J., Ex. 7, Brian Hunt’s Deposition, (“Mr. Hunt’s Deposition”), ECF. No. 19, 91-92.

The arrest occurred during the early-morning of June 6, 2011. Pis.’ Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Summ. J. 2. Porter, Massi, and other Falmouth police officers went to the Hunts’ house to serve the warrant and arrest Mr. Hunt. Defs.’ Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J., Ex. 3, Falmouth Police Reports (“Police Reports”), ECF No. 19. Porter and Massi rang the bell and told Mrs. Hunt that they needed to speak to Mr. Hunt. Pis’ Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Summ. J. 1. Mrs. Hunt turned around and, followed by the police officers, walked to the bedroom where they found Mr. Hunt. Id. 2. Prior to this day, the Hunts had never seen officers Massi or Porter. Id. Massi told Mr. Hunt that he was under arrest and that he had to go with them. Mr. Hunt’s Deposition 49.

The Hunts informed the police officers that Mr. Hunt had been released from the hospital a week before after having had stomach surgery, and that he needed to be handcuffed in the front because he was still recovering from the surgery. Defs.’ Mot. Summ. J. 3; Defs.’ Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J., Ex. 4, Kim Hunt’s Examination, (“Mrs. Hunt’s Examination”), ECF. No. 19-39; Mr. Hunt’s Deposition 51-53. The officers saw Mr. Hunt’s stitches but refused to handcuff Mr. Hunt in the front because they considered that no injury could result from handcuffing him in the back. Id.

Massi thereafter grabbed Mr. Hunt’s arm and pushed him back down on the bed and to the floor. Id. 54. According to Mr. Hunt’s testimony, he did not try to defend or protect himself because he was too weak due to the surgery. Id. 55. After being pushed on the floor, Porter jumped over Mr. Hunt and sat on his legs while Massi grabbed his arm and handcuffed him in the back. Id. 57. The officers then lifted up Mr. Hunt and pushed him down to the floor again, where he was kneed in the leg and the back. Id. 58. Part of the altercation was captured on a video tapped by Mr. Hunt’s son. Defs.’ Mot. Summ. J. 3; Defs.’ Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J., Ex. 9, Mr. Hunt Son’s Video, (“The Video”), ECF. No. 19. Mr. Hunt also asked the officers to loosen up the handcuffs but again they refused and took him to the police station. Mr. Hunt’s Deposition 61. As a result of Mr. Hunt’s complaints about pain, he was taken by ambulance from the police station to the Falmouth Hospital, where he remained for approximately 10 hours. Id. 79. The emergency room report states that nothing could have been damaged during the altercation because the surgery was a laparoscopic lysis of adhesions. Defs.’ Mot. Summ. J. 3; Defs.’ Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J., Ex. 11, Falmouth Hospital Emergency Record, (“Emergency Room Report”), ECF. No. 19. While Mr. Hunt was at the hospital, the Clerk Magistrate of the Falmouth District Court arrived and released Mr. Hunt on his own personal recognizance. Pis.’ Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Summ. J. 2.

After the altercation, the Police Officers charged Mr. Hunt with resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer but, after a two-day trial, Mr. Hunt was found not guilty. Id.

Mr. Hunt claims that he suffered from knee and back pain after the incident. Mr. Hunt’s Deposition 27-33. He alleges that he finds it emotionally distressing to see officers Massi and Porter, and that local newspaper coverage of the incident caused him embarrassment. Id. at 138. He has suffered neither from depression nor anxiety, nor has he visited any therapist or mental health counselor. Id. at 139.

[164]*164C. Federal Jurisdiction

This court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

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Related

Hunt v. Massi
773 F.3d 361 (First Circuit, 2014)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
5 F. Supp. 3d 160, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39287, 2014 WL 1200618, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hunt-v-massi-mad-2014.