Laura Eaton v. Richard Figaski

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Decided: December 21, 2022
• Docket: 21-3094
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT _______________

No. 21-3094 _______________

LAURA EATON, Appellant

v.

RICHARD P. FIGASKI; JOHN GROH; MICHAEL TESORE; ROBERT J. BUCKO; LESLEY MITCHELL; and MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP _______________

On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (D.C. No. 1:16-cv-279) District Judge: Honorable Susan Paradise Baxter _______________

Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a): November 18, 2022 _______________

Before: HARDIMAN, PORTER, and FISHER Circuit Judges.

(Filed: December 21, 2022)

______________

OPINION ∗ ______________

∗ This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and, under I.O.P. 5.7, is not binding precedent. PORTER, Circuit Judge.

Laura Eaton sued Millcreek Township, two township supervisors, and members of

its police force for retaliatory prosecution, malicious prosecution, and general conspiracy.

She claimed that police charged her with theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal

trespass in retaliation for her criticism of the township’s actions. The District Court

granted summary judgment for the township and its personnel because police had

probable cause to charge Eaton with receiving stolen property. We will affirm.

I

A

Laura Eaton was the executive director of MECA, Inc., a Pennsylvania nonprofit

corporation. In 2013, MECA and Millcreek Township entered into a written agreement

for MECA to operate the Just Older Youth (JOY) Center for seniors. Eaton was MECA’s

signatory.

Per the agreement, Millcreek Township provided part of a United States Postal

Service building, which it had leased, to be used for the JOY Center and subleased six

onsite offices to MECA for its own operations. Both the township and MECA contributed

property for use by the JOY Center. Millcreek Township retained the right to terminate

the agreement without cause on ninety days’ notice.

Millcreek Township exercised the termination clause on May 28, 2014, and the

JOY Center closed on August 27. MECA invoked its right under the agreement to remain

in the six onsite offices for an additional year.

2 Following the closure, some of Millcreek Township’s personal property—170

folding chairs, twelve tables, two end tables, a sofa, a loveseat, a projector, an amplifier,

and a microphone—went missing from the JOY Center. The affidavit of probable cause

assessed their value at $6,037.80. Millcreek Township and Township Supervisor Richard

Figaski sought to secure the property’s return by speaking directly with Eaton and

MECA’s attorney but failed. So Millcreek Township reported the missing items to the

police.

Police Officer Robert Bucko and a second officer investigated. They interviewed

Eaton, who denied knowing of the missing property’s whereabouts, and spoke with

MECA’s attorney. Millcreek Township’s property reappeared at the JOY Center

premises a month later. Police nonetheless filed criminal charges against Eaton for

criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property. When the Erie

County District Attorney learned of the charges, he ordered them withdrawn believing it

would be too difficult to get a conviction in what “would appear to be an argument

between senior citizens and Millcreek Township about who owned tables and chairs and

television sets.” Suppl. App. 341.

B

In 2016, Eaton sued Millcreek Township, Figaski, Bucko, Township Supervisor

John Groh, and Police Chief Michael Tesore in federal court for malicious prosecution,

retaliatory prosecution, and abuse of power under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and malicious

prosecution and abuse of process under state law. She also asserted a § 1983 claim

against the township. Eaton alleged she was criminally charged without probable cause in

3 retaliation for publicly criticizing Figaski and Groh and their decision to close the JOY

Center.

After nearly four years of litigation, the District Court granted summary judgment

for the Defendants on the following claims: malicious prosecution, retaliatory

prosecution, and general conspiracy under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and malicious prosecution

under state law against the individual defendants. The District Court held that Eaton did

not prove either malicious or retaliatory prosecution because police had probable cause to

charge her with receiving stolen property. Without an underlying deprivation of rights,

her § 1983 claim against the township and her conspiracy claims failed as well.

Eaton timely appealed.

II

The District Court had federal question subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.

§ 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and supplemental jurisdiction over the state-law claims

under 28 U.S.C. § 1367. This Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

“We review [a] grant of summary judgment de novo and draw all reasonable

inferences in favor of the nonmoving party.” Downey v. Dep’t of Corr., 968 F.3d 299, 304

(3d Cir. 2020) (internal quotations omitted). To succeed, the movants must show “that there

is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and [they are] entitled to judgment as a matter

of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). “[W]e may affirm the judgment on any grounds supported

by the record.” Downey, 968 F.3d at 309.

4 III

Eaton argues that the District Court misapplied the elements of receiving stolen

property when it found that “intent to deprive” is not an element of the offense under 18

Pa. Const. Stat. § 3925. Eaton is correct. But the police nonetheless had probable cause to

charge her with theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass, so we will affirm.

To sustain her claims of malicious prosecution and retaliatory prosecution, Eaton

must prove that criminal proceedings were initiated without probable cause. Zimmerman

v. Corbett, 873 F.3d 414, 418 (3d Cir. 2017); Miller v. Mitchell, 598 F.3d 139, 154 (3d

Cir. 2010). Police have probable cause when “the facts and circumstances within their

knowledge and of which they had reasonably trustworthy information were sufficient to

warrant a prudent man in believing that” a crime had been committed. Beck v. Ohio, 379

U.S. 89, 91 (1964). It “requires more than mere suspicion; however, it does not require

that the officer have evidence sufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Zimmerman, 873 F.3d at 418 (internal quotations omitted).

For Defendants to succeed on summary judgment, the District Court explained

that “[p]robable cause need only exist as to any offense that could be charged under the

factual circumstances.” App. 12 (citing Barna v. City of Perth Amboy, 42 F.3d 809, 819

(3d Cir. 1994). Eaton does not challenge this holding on appeal.

We recognize that Barna does not apply to claims of malicious or retaliatory

prosecution. In Wright v. City of Philadelphia, we found that probable cause supported

one of several criminal charges against the plaintiff. That determination was sufficient to

5 dispose of both her § 1983 claims for false arrest and “her malicious prosecution claims

with respect to all of the charges brought against her.” 409 F.3d 595, 604 (3d Cir. 2005)

(involving criminal charges of criminal trespass, burglary, theft, and criminal mischief).

Later, in Johnson v. Knorr, we explained that defendants suing under § 1983 were “not

necessarily insulated in a malicious prosecution case merely because the prosecution of

one of the charges was justified.” 477 F.3d 75, 85 (3d Cir. 2007). We clarified that

Wright applies to false arrest and related malicious prosecution claims “where the

circumstances leading to the arrest and prosecution were totally intertwined.” Id. at 82

n.9. Here, the arrest and institution of criminal proceedings appear intertwined. So we

need not resolve whether this case falls within the narrow confines to which Johnson

relegated Wright because the undisputed facts show probable cause supports each charge:

theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and criminal trespass.

The District Court found that police did not have probable cause to charge Eaton

with theft by unlawful taking. It incorrectly concluded that Eaton could not have had the

intent to deprive Millcreek of possession because the property was returned. But the

relevant intent is the intent at the time of taking. See 2 Wharton’s Criminal Law § 26:9

(16th ed. 2022) (“To constitute larceny, the intent to steal must exist at the time of the

initial taking.”). So the police had probable cause to charge Eaton with theft by unlawful

taking because it was reasonable for them to believe that Eaton took control of Millcreek’s

property with the concurrent intent to permanently deprive the township of possession.

6 Under Pennsylvania law, “[a] person is guilty of theft if he unlawfully takes, or

exercises unlawful control over, movable property of another with intent to deprive him

thereof.” 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3921(a). “To deprive” means “[t]o withhold property of

another permanently or for so extended a period as to appropriate a major portion of its

economic value.” Id. § 3901. The offense consists of three elements: “(1) unlawful taking

or unlawful control over movable property; (2) movable property belongs to another; and

(3) intent to deprive (permanently).” Commonwealth v. Young, 35 A.3d 54, 62 (Pa. Super.

Ct. 2011) (internal quotations omitted). Once property has been stolen, a person cannot

relieve herself of criminal liability by returning the stolen property. See Commonwealth v.

Diamond, 79 Pa. Super. 54, 59 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1922) (“When a thief is caught with the

goods which he has carried away and surrenders the possession to the owner, he does not

thereupon become not guilty of the larceny.”); Commonwealth ex rel. Lagana v. Office of

Att’y Gen., 662 A.2d 1127, 1129–30 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995) (finding that the return of

stolen funds did not nullify criminal intent when the defendant only returned them

because he was ordered to do so by the state ethics committee).

Based on the undisputed facts, police had probable cause to charge Eaton with

theft by unlawful taking because it was reasonable for them to believe that Eaton took

control of the missing property with the concurrent intent to permanently deprive

Millcreek of possession. The property went missing, Eaton had access to the building

where the property was before it went missing, and a witness identified Eaton as the one

directing the removal of the property. It was reasonable for police to believe that Eaton

intended to permanently deprive Millcreek of possession at the moment of taking.

7 Because police had probable cause to charge Eaton with theft by unlawful taking,

she cannot demonstrate a claim of malicious or retaliatory prosecution for this offense.

The District Court held that police had probable cause to charge Eaton with

receiving stolen property. We agree, but we clarify that intent to deprive is also an

element of this offense under Pennsylvania law. And the police had probable cause to

charge Eaton with receiving stolen property because it was reasonable for them to believe

that Eaton accepted stolen property, knowing it was stolen, with the intent to permanently

deprive Millcreek of possession.

Under Pennsylvania law, “A person is guilty of theft if he intentionally receives,

retains, or disposes of movable property of another knowing that it has been stolen, or

believing that it has probably been stolen, unless the property is received, retained, or

disposed with intent to restore it to the owner.” 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3925(a). The offense

consists of three elements: “(1) intentionally acquiring possession of the movable

property of another; (2) with knowledge or belief that it was probably stolen; and (3) the

intent to deprive permanently.” Commonwealth v. Robinson, 128 A.3d 261, 265 (Pa.

Super. Ct. 2015) (citing Commonwealth v. Nero, 58 A.3d 802, 807 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2012)).

As at common law, the requisite mens rea is the “intent to deprive.” See 3 Wayne R.

LaFave, Substantive Criminal Law § 20.2(e)(3d ed. 2022) (“The necessary intent [for

receiving stolen property], as in the related crime of larceny, is an intent to deprive the

owner of his property.”).

8 Based on the undisputed facts, the police had probable cause to charge Eaton with

receiving stolen property because it was reasonable for them to believe that all three

elements of the crime were satisfied. Witnesses identified Eaton as the person arranging

for transportation of Millcreek’s property to a flower shop on State Street. Eaton owned a

flower shop on State Street. And as the MECA signatory to the JOY Center agreement,

Eaton knew that Millcreek owned the property. Similar to the theft charge, it was

reasonable for police to believe that Eaton had the intent to permanently deprive

Millcreek of possession at the moment she received the stolen property.

Because police had probable cause to charge Eaton with receiving stolen property,

she cannot demonstrate a claim of malicious or retaliatory prosecution with this offense.

The District Court did not consider whether police had probable cause to charge

Eaton with criminal trespass. We hold that they did because it was reasonable for them

to believe that she was on Millcreek’s property and knew that she was not permitted to be

there.

Under Pennsylvania law, a person commits criminal trespass if he enters or breaks

into “any building or occupied structure or separately secured or occupied portion

thereof” while “knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so.” 18 Pa. Cons. Stat.

§ 3503(a)(1). “[C]riminal trespass merely requires proof of scienter, in other words, that

the defendant had knowledge of a lack of license or privilege to enter.” Wright v. City of

Phila., 409 F.3d 595, 603 (3d Cir. 2005).

9 Based on the undisputed facts, the police had probable cause to charge Eaton with

criminal trespass. By her own admission, Eaton accessed the JOY Center premises after

the program ended on at least one occasion when she encountered Figaski. And as

MECA’s signatory to the JOY Center agreement, it was reasonable for police to believe

that Eaton knew that these premises belonged to Millcreek and that she was not

privileged to be there.

Police had probable cause to charge Eaton with theft by unlawful taking, receiving

stolen property, and criminal trespass. So she cannot establish any claims of malicious or

retaliatory prosecution.

Millcreek Township cannot be held liable under § 1983 because Eaton failed to

prove any constitutional injury.

A municipality “can be sued directly under § 1983 . . . where . . . the action that is

alleged to be unconstitutional implements or executes a policy statement, ordinance,

regulation, or decision officially adopted and promulgated by that body’s officers.”

Monell v. Dept. of Soc. Serv., 436 U.S. 658, 690 (1978). But a municipality cannot be

held liable under § 1983 when “a person has suffered no constitutional injury at the hands

of the individual police officer[s].” City of L.A. v. Heller, 475 U.S. 796, 799 (1986); see

also Grazier ex rel. White v. City of Phila., 328 F.3d 120, 124 (3d Cir. 2003) (“There

cannot be an award of damages against a municipal corporation based on the actions of

one of its officers when in fact . . . the officer inflicted no constitutional harm.”) (internal

quotations omitted).

10 Because Eaton failed to prove that she was injured by retaliatory or malicious

prosecution, Millcreek is not liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

C

For a similar reason, Eaton’s general conspiracy claim under § 1983 also fails. “To

prevail on a conspiracy claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must prove that persons acting

under color of state law ‘reached an understanding’ to deprive him of his constitutional

rights.” Jutrowski v. Twp. of Riverdale, 904 F.3d 280, 293–94 (3d Cir. 2018) (quoting

Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 150–52 (1970). Because Eaton did not suffer

a deprivation of constitutional rights, she cannot sustain her claim of general conspiracy.

IV

For the reasons stated above, we will affirm the District Court.