Rice v. District of Columbia

Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Rice v. District of Columbia. Read the opinion of the Court — 774 F. Supp. 2d 25
District Court, District of Columbia·Decided February 24, 2011·No. Civil Action No. 2009-0310·Published

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

) LARRY D. RICE, JR., ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 09-310 (RMC) ) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, et al., ) ) Defendants. ) )

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Police officers John Stathers and Derek Starliper entered an abandoned house in

Northeast Washington, D.C. with their guns drawn and told everyone to “freeze.” When Plaintiff

Larry Rice heard “freeze,” he was in a back room and he attempted to flee out the window. Officer

Stathers entered the back room and stopped Mr. Rice from leaving. A struggle ensued, and Officer

Stathers shot Mr. Rice. Mr. Rice was arrested and charged, but later the charges were dismissed by

the prosecutor. As a result, Mr. Rice filed suit asserting constitutional violations, including the claim

of arrest without probable cause, and tort claims including claims of false arrest. On the eve of trial,

Defendants have filed a motion for summary judgment with regard to the false arrest claims. Mr.

Rice opposes. As explained below, the motion will be granted.

I. FACTS

Mr. Rice alleges that on April 23, 2008, he was in the back room of a house located

at 5827 Fields Place, NE, Washington, D.C. He heard a police officer say “freeze” to Joseph

Maxwell who was in the front room of the house. At that time, Mr. Rice opened the window in the back room and began climbing out. When he had managed to get his head and one leg out of the

window, Officer Stathers entered the back room with his gun drawn. With his gun in one hand,

Officer Stathers grabbed Mr. Rice’s leg with his other hand. Officer Stathers shot Mr. Rice in the

abdomen. Subsequently, the officers arrested Mr. Rice.

Detective Ali Roberts signed a criminal complaint against Mr. Rice on May 2, 2008,

charging Mr. Rice with a violation of D.C. Code § 22-851(b) (intimidating, impeding, interfering

with and retaliating against a government official engaged in the performance of his duties).1 See

Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss [Dkt. # 35], Ex. A. at 1. On January 21, 2009, the Superior Court dismissed

the felony charge at the request of the prosecutor. See id., Ex. B (Dismissal Praecipe).

As a result of the gunshot wound, Mr. Rice sustained severe injuries including a

lacerated liver and diaphragm. He underwent emergency surgery and remained in the hospital for

more than one month. He developed pneumonia while in the hospital.

As a result of the foregoing, Mr. Rice filed this suit against the District of Columbia,

1 The criminal complaint was based on an attached affidavit signed by Officer D. Randolph. Officer Randolph’s affidavit sets forth a different version of the facts:

Officer Stathers observed Defendant Rice attempting to hide behind a dresser. Officer Stathers identified himself and ordered Defendant Rice to show him his hands. Defendant Rice turned and began to assault Officer Stathers. Defendant Rice attempted to take Officer Stathers[’] service weapon. Officer Stathers and Defendant Rice struggled over the service weapon. The weapon discharged, striking Defendant Rice in the abdomen. Defendant Rice continued to resist. Officer Starliper joined in the struggle. The officers and Defendant Rice crashed partially through a rear window. Officer Stathers and Officer Starliper were able to gain control of Defendant Rice and place him in handcuffs.

See Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss, Ex. A. at 2.

-2- Officer Stathers, and Officer Starliper. The Amended Complaint includes three counts alleging false

arrest:

Count VI – False Arrest (against Officer Stathers);

Count VII – False Arrest (against Officer Starliper); and

Count VIII – False Arrest (against the District of Columbia).

Am. Compl. [Dkt. # 29]. The Amended Complaint also alleges that the Officers violated 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983 by arresting Mr. Rice without probable cause in violation of the Fourth Amendment. See id.,

Counts XIX & XX. Defendants seek summary judgment on these claims.2

II. LEGAL STANDARD

Under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment shall be

granted “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant

is entitled to judgement as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); accord Anderson v. Liberty

Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247 (1986). Moreover, summary judgment is properly granted against

a party who “after adequate time for discovery and upon motion . . . fails to make a showing

sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that

party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986).

In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must draw all justifiable

inferences in the nonmoving party’s favor and accept the nonmoving party’s evidence as true.

Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. A nonmoving party, however, must establish more than “the mere

existence of a scintilla of evidence” in support of its position. Id. at 252. In addition, the nonmoving

2 Counts XIX and XX also include the claim that the Officers used excessive force when they arrested Mr. Rice. Defendants do not seek summary judgment on the issue of excessive force.

-3- party may not rely solely on allegations or conclusory statements. Greene v. Dalton, 164 F.3d 671,

675 (D.C. Cir. 1999). Rather, the nonmoving party must present specific facts that would enable a

reasonable jury to find in its favor. Id. at 675. If the evidence “is merely colorable, or is not

significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50

(citations omitted).

III. ANALYSIS

The elements of a common law false arrest claim and a claim for an unreasonable

arrest in violation of the Fourth Amendment3 are “practically identical.” Barnhardt v. District of

Columbia, 723 F. Supp. 2d 197, 214 (D.D.C. 2010). The requisite elements in both claims are that

the plaintiff was arrested against his will and that the arrest was unlawful. McCarthy v. Kleindienst,

741 F.2d 1406, 1413 (D.C. Cir. 1984). While unlawfulness is “presumed” where the arrest was

without a warrant,4 the presumption is rebutted if the defendant can show that there was probable

cause for the arrest. Id.; see also Magwood v. Giddings, 672 A.2d 1083, 1086 (D.C. 1996) (probable

cause is a valid defense to a claim of false arrest).

Two key exceptions to the Fourth Amendment warrant requirement are at issue in this

case: (1) police may briefly detain a suspect upon reasonable suspicion and (2) police may make a

3 The Fourth Amendment protects the “right of the people to be secure in their persons . . . against unreasonable searches and seizures, . . . and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause.” U.S. Const. 4th Amend.

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