Nails v. Riggs

195 F. App'x 303
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedAugust 3, 2006
Docket05-5142, 05-5143
StatusUnpublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 195 F. App'x 303 (Nails v. Riggs) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nails v. Riggs, 195 F. App'x 303 (6th Cir. 2006).

Opinions

ROGERS, Circuit Judge.

This case involves whether there was probable cause to arrest Ms. Nails for disorderly conduct after a forceful disagreement between Nails and Police Chief Riggs, and whether excessive force was used against her. The district court took every possible step within its discretion to permit Nails to seek redress, including permitting her to amend her complaint and submit additional evidence after initially losing on summary judgment. The district court granted summary judgment on various federal and state claims on the ground that there was probable cause for her arrest. Nails’ excessive force claim went to the jury, which found for the defendant. While a jury could conclude that there was no probable cause to arrest Nails, qualified immunity nonetheless protects defendant Riggs from a constitutional claim for arrest without probable cause, and insufficient evidence supports a constitutional claim against the city. The judgment on the jury verdict regarding excessive force was proper. We therefore affirm the judgment on all federal claims, but remand some of the state law claims for further consideration.

I. Background

Ms. Sylvia Nails was in a hurry to take her son to a pediatrician for a 10:00 a.m. appointment. It was 9:40 a.m. on June 8, 2001 and Nails’ son needed to be at the doctor in 20 minutes. Mr. Nails was not overly concerned about the pediatrician’s appointment; he wanted to find the garage door opener. Mr. and Ms. Nails fought over the location of the garage door opener. Mr. Nails thought that Ms. Nails might have it in her car. Mr. Nails took Ms. Nails’ keys to look in her car and Ms. Nails called the police. She wanted help retrieving the keys from her husband.

Chief Riggs arrived at the scene in response to Nails’ request. Riggs negotiated with Mr. Nails for return of the car keys. Ms. Nails approached Riggs and her husband as they talked in the front lawn of Mr. Nails’ home. Ms. Nails asked for her car keys. According to Ms. Nails’ deposition, she did not yell or gesticulate wildly. She merely “talked” to Riggs and put her hand up towards her own body six inches from her own face, making a talk-to-the-hand gesture. Ms. Nails was upset because Riggs “disrespected” her, but Nails claims she was not being violent or noisy at all.

According to Chief Riggs, he arrived at the Nails residence responding to a domestic disturbance and an assault call. Riggs stated that Nails was “screaming, shouting different things about some car keys.” [305]*305She would not go back inside the house despite three requests. Riggs wanted to talk to Mr. Nails without Ms. Nails’ presence. Ms. Nails did not go back in the house and Riggs claims she said, “I want my f[* * *]in’ car keys” to her husband as she reached towards him. Riggs testified that Ms. Nails also said, “Now hit me. The police [are] here, now hit me,” to her husband. Nails denies she said any of these things. Riggs then “advised her she was under arrest.”

According to Ms. Nails, Riggs displayed racial animus before and after the arrest. After Riggs forcefully arrested Nails, Riggs told her, “I’m teaching you how to shut up.” Nails also alleges that Riggs (who is white) displayed racial animus towards Ms. Nails and her family (who are black). Riggs allegedly told Nails to, “[s]hut [her] damn mouth and get [her] black ass back in the house.”

Riggs arrested Nails for disorderly conduct. He said that her “statements and demeanor at the scene” were “disorderly.” He also said she was in a public place— “her front yard.” Riggs did not know if there were other people at the scene. According to Nails’ deposition her husband was on the front lawn and her children were standing on the porch. Thus, there was only one other person at the scene.

Nails and Riggs’ stories diverge on the amount of force used in the arrest. Riggs claims that Nails was not in visible pain and faked a seizure when arrested. Nails claims she was knocked unconscious after being slammed into a car. In Nails’ version of the arrest she appeared to be unconscious almost immediately upon being arrested. Nails claims that she sustained various neck and back injuries for which she received medical treatment.

Nails was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Riggs was the charging officer. The charges were dismissed on November 28, 2001, and the statute of limitations expired on June 8, 2002.

Nails then instituted this action, pro se, on June 7, 2002. Nails listed “Jefferson Co. Corrections Official Chief Riggs” as the defendant. Riggs answered the complaint denying the allegations and asserted the defense of qualified immunity. After retaining counsel, Nails amended her complaint on March 18, 2003, to state claims against Chief Riggs in his individual capacity and the City of Vine Grove. Riggs and Vine Grove moved to dismiss the allegations in the amended complaint on the ground that they were barred by the statute of limitations because the amended complaint did not relate back to the filing of the initial complaint. The district court ruled that the amendments do relate back because Riggs was on notice that he was being sued in his individual capacity.

The amended complaint alleges various state law and constitutional torts. Nails alleged state law torts against Riggs in his individual capacity including false arrest, misuse of legal process and assault. Nails also alleged the Riggs violated her clearly established constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Lastly, Nails alleged that the City of Vine Grove was liable for the constitutional torts committed based on a failure to train theory.

In an order dated June 18, 2004 the district court dismissed all of Nails’ claims pursuant to a motion for summary judgment. The district court dismissed all claims under § 1983 on the ground that Nails did not provide evidence of damages. Lastly, the June 18 order dismissed all the state law tort claims because there was probable cause to arrest Nails for disorderly conduct as a matter of law. Nails then submitted additional evidence, medi[306]*306cal records, which tended to show she was injured. Nails then moved for reconsideration of the district court’s order granting summary judgment to the defendants pursuant to a motion under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 59(e). The district court granted the motion, in part, by reviving Nails’ claim that Riggs used excessive force when arresting her for disorderly conduct. The district court ruled that Riggs was not entitled to qualified immunity and the excessive force claim went to trial. Nails presented evidence that she did not resist Riggs at all. Riggs presented evidence that Nails was behaving erratically and that he used the minimum necessary amount of force to subdue Nails.

Nails objected to the jury instructions that stated the arrest was lawful.

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Bluebook (online)
195 F. App'x 303, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nails-v-riggs-ca6-2006.