Marglon v. City of Sioux Falls Police Department

CourtDistrict Court, D. South Dakota
DecidedFebruary 24, 2020
Docket4:19-cv-04115
StatusUnknown

This text of Marglon v. City of Sioux Falls Police Department (Marglon v. City of Sioux Falls Police Department) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. South Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Marglon v. City of Sioux Falls Police Department, (D.S.D. 2020).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA SOUTHERN DIVISION .

ADAM GARY MARGLON, SR. CIV. 19-4115 Plaintiff, Vs. MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO PROCEED IN CITY OF SIOUX FALLS POLICE FORMA PAUPERIS, DIRECTING DEPARTMENT, SERVICE, AND DENYING MOTION TO . APPOINT COUNSEL ERIC OLSON, in his personal and official capacity, JEFFREY RECH, in his personal and official capacity, AARON JENSEN, in his personal and official capacity, and SHELLIE SLATTERY, in her official and personal capacity, Defendants.

Pending before the Court is a Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis, Doc. 2, Motion to Appoint Counsel, Doc. 4, and Motion to Electronically File Documents, Doc. 6, filed by pro se plaintiff, Adam Gary Marglon, Sr. (“Marglon’”). For the following reasons, Marglon’s Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis is granted and his Motion to Appoint Counsel and Motion to Electronically file documents are both denied. In the Court’s screening of Marglon’s Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court dismisses Marglon’s claims against Aaron Jensen and Shellie Slattery in their personal and official capacities and dismisses his claims against the Sioux Falls Police Department and Eric Olson and J effrey Rech in their official capacities. The Court directs service on Marglon’s claims against Eric Olson and Jeffrey Rech in their individual □ capacities. □

BACKGROUND

Marglon alleges in his pro se Complaint that he was awakened to the sounds of police officers, Eric Olson and Jeffry Rech, pounding on his door. Doc. 1 at 3. When Marglon inquired what the officers wanted, the officers said that they “just wanted to talk.” Doc. 1 at 3. Upon entering his apartment, the officers searched the premises, detained, and arrested him. Doc. 1 at 3. Marglon alleges that “[t]he search of Plaintiff, Adam Marglon, was unreasonable and not authorized by a judge,” that Miranda warnings were not read to him, and that the officers had no probable cause to enter his residence and arrest him. Doc. | at 2,4. Specifically, Marglon alleges the following facts in his complaint: Plaintiff Adam Gary Marglon was arrested after Sioux Falls Police followed up on false statements from Linda (Marglon) Stapleton and Gary Dodd. (See: Marglon v. Stapleton CIV 19-739 (2019)). Officers knew that the plaintiff no longer owned the vehicle (Dodge Durango) in question, yet still proceeded to arrest the plaintiff against his will. Plaintiff, Adam Marglon pleaded to Officer Olson and Officer Rech, stating he was innocent after he was awakened by the officers pounding on his door. After searching the premises, plaintiff was handcuffed, lightly dressed and brought out into the snow, freezing, where he was placed in the back of the police car (SUV). The handcuffs were tight and constricted the plaintiff as he was very uncomfortable and afraid of what awaited him en route to the Minnehaha county jail. It was extreme and outrageous conduct on behalf of law enforcement and a reckless disregard of plaintiff’s human rights. The officers had no probable cause and acted negligently under color of the law, (acting without further investigation.) The officers did not take the facts into consideration even after they were informed that the plaintiff was not ‘clearly’ identified in the incident. Eventually, all charges against the plaintiff were dismissed by the Prosecutor. Their negligent actions inflicted mental and emotional distress as well as humiliation, fright, shock, trauma and grief. Doc. | at 2. Marglon also alleges that he was incarcerated over the weekend and subjected to harsh conditions. Doc. 1 at 3. Marglon alleges that while incarcerated, he was “denied medical attention for his PTSD depression and anxiety after crying out to the guards for treatment,” and that “[t]hey responded back on the intercom, but never provided [him] with proper medical treatment.” Doc. 1 at 4.

On July 8, 2019, Marglon filed a pro se complaint against City of Sioux Falls Police Department; Eric Olson in his personal and official capacity; Jeffrey Rech in his personal and official capacity; Aaron Jensen in his personal and official capacity, and Shellie Slattery in her personal and official capacity. Therein, he alleges, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claims for unlawful entry and false arrest in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments; and a claim for malicious prosecution. Marglon seeks an order from the Court declaring that the actions and inactions of defendants violated his Fourth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution, as well as compensatory and general damages. Filed by Marglon and pending before the Court is a Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis, Doc. 2; Motion to Appoint Counsel, Doc. 4; and a Motion to Electronically File Documents, Doc. 6. DISCUSSION I. Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis This Court may authorize the commencement of suit without prepayment of fees when an applicant files an affidavit stating he is unable to pay the costs of the lawsuit. 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Determining whether an applicant is sufficiently impoverished to qualify to proceed in forma pauperis under § 1915 is committed to the court’s discretion. Cross v. Gen. Motors Corp., 721 F.2d 1152, 1157 (8th Cir. 1983). "[I]n forma pauperis status does not require a litigant to demonstrate absolute destitution.” Lee v. McDonald’s Corp., 231 F.3d 456, 459 (8th Cir. 2000) (citation omitted).

Based upon Marglon’s affidavit, Marglon indicates that he is receiving public assistance, that he has several past-due debts, and that his expenses exceed his monthly income. Doc. 2. Considering the information in the financial affidavit, the Court finds that Marglon has made the requisite financial showing to proceed in forma pauperis. II. Screening of Complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) But the inquiry does not end there. Congress has directed this Court under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) to review and screen claims in a complaint being filed in forma pauperis to determine if they are: (1) frivolous or malicious; (2) fail to state a claim on which relief may be

granted; or (3) seek monetary relief against a defendant who has immunity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). An action is frivolous if “it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.” Aziz v. Burrows, 976 F.2d 1158, 1158 (8th Cir. 1992) (quoting Neitzke v. Williams, 480 U.S. 319, 324 (1989)). A complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted if it contains sufficient factual matter, accepted at true to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). To state a claim for relief, a complaint must plead more than “legal conclusions” and “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action’s elements, supported by mere conclusory statements.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555).

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Bluebook (online)
Marglon v. City of Sioux Falls Police Department, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/marglon-v-city-of-sioux-falls-police-department-sdd-2020.