Sheffield v. Pieroway

361 F. Supp. 3d 160
CourtDistrict Court, District of Columbia
DecidedFebruary 22, 2019
DocketCivil Action No. 15-14174-NMG
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 361 F. Supp. 3d 160 (Sheffield v. Pieroway) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sheffield v. Pieroway, 361 F. Supp. 3d 160 (D.D.C. 2019).

Opinion

GORTON, J.

*163This suit arises out of the plaintiff's claims that two police officers violated Burrell Ramsey-White's constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act. Specifically, plaintiff, on behalf of the deceased Ramsey-White, alleges that the officers unreasonably seized him and used excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment, among other claims. The two officers have since moved for summary judgment.

I. Background

A. Factual Background

In August, 2012, defendants Mathew Pieroway ("Pieroway") and Joel Resil ("Resil") were on duty and in plain clothes with the Boston Police Department's Anti-Crime Unit when they responded to a call concerning an African American male with a red t-shirt peering into parked vehicles in Greenwich Park. Burrell Ramsey-White ("Ramsey-White"), an African American male, was driving a Cadillac with tinted windows in the same area. Although Ramsey-White had not committed any traffic infractions and did not match the description of the suspect peering into parked vehicles, Resil ran the Cadillac's license plate against a law enforcement database and the officers followed Ramsey-White. Shortly thereafter, the officers discovered that the owner of the Cadillac, Jurrell Laronal, had an outstanding default warrant and pulled over the Cadillac.

The officers approached the vehicle from both sides and Pieroway asked Ramsey-White for his license and registration. Ramsey-White asked Pieroway why he had been stopped but Pieroway ignored the question and again asked Ramsey-White for his license and registration. Ramsey-White provided his license to Pieroway and again asked why he had been stopped. Pieroway did not respond or examine Ramsey-White's license. Eventually, Resil looked at the license and realized that it did not match the identification of the vehicle owner but failed to convey that information to Pieroway or Ramsey-White.

Without making any effort to determine whether Ramsey-White was the individual whose name appeared on the warrant, Pieroway decided to arrest Ramsey-White for "questioning the officers' orders" and ordered him to get out of the car. Ramsey-White turned off the engine but did not get out, again asked what he had done wrong and, at some point, reached behind the center console towards the floorboards of the backseat. Without responding to Ramsey-White's questions, Pieroway pulled on the locked door and then reached into the car through the open driver's side window while Resil, who was on the passenger side of the car, put his hand on his holstered firearm. As Pieroway began to reach into the car, Ramsey-White started the car, closed the window and drove away. The officers returned to their car and pursued Ramsey-White's vehicle.

Although the Boston Police Department Operations Supervisor instructed Pieroway and Resil to terminate the pursuit, the officers ignored the order. Ramsey-White eventually abandoned the car and fled on foot but he had left his license behind so that the officers could identify him. Pieroway got out of his car and gave chase while Resil checked the Cadillac to ensure that it was parked before joining Pieroway's pursuit of Ramsey-White. As Pieroway chased Ramsey-White, he yelled repeatedly for Ramsey-White to stop running, *164to put his hands where Pieroway could see them and threatened to shoot Ramsey-White if he failed to do so. Ramsey-White did not respond to Pieroway's commands and continued to flee. Eventually, Pieroway caught up to Ramsey-White with his weapon drawn. When Ramsey-White turned toward Pieroway, he shot Ramsey-White in the chest.

As Resil approached the scene, he heard the gunshot and Pieroway shout "don't make me shoot you again". Pieroway informed Resil that Ramsey-White had been shot in the chest and that Ramsey-White's weapon was in a dumpster nearby. Resil used his radio to report the officer-involved shooting but did not report Ramsey-White's injury or request Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Ramsey-White was handcuffed and patted down for weapons. After the pat down, Resil told Ramsey-White to turn over but he was unresponsive.

Shortly thereafter, three other Boston police officers arrived on the scene, called for EMS and began to administer first aid to Ramsey-White. Ramsey-White was transported to Boston Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

B. Procedural Background

In 2015, Carla Sheffield ("Sheffield" or "the plaintiff"), as the personal representative of the estate of Ramsey-White, filed a complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act ("the MCRA") against the City of Boston, Mathew Pieroway, Joel Resil and several unidentified defendants in Suffolk Superior Court. The City of Boston removed the action to this Court and filed a motion to dismiss. Shortly thereafter, plaintiff filed an amended complaint which alleges 1) battery against Officer Pieroway (Count I), 2) assault against Officers Pieroway and Resil (Count II), 3) MCRA violations by Officer Pieroway (Count III), 4) MCRA violations by Officer Resil (Count IV), 5) federal civil rights violations by Officer Pieroway (Count V), 6) federal civil rights violations by Officer Resil (Count VI) and 7) intentional infliction of emotional distress ("IIED") by all defendants (Count IX).

In 2017, this Court adopted Magistrate Judge Kelley's Report and Recommendation, which dismissed the claim against the City of Boston (Count VIII). One year later, defendants Pieroway and Resil filed separate motions for summary judgment that are now pending before this Court.

II. Legal Analysis

A. Legal Standard

The role of summary judgment is to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a genuine need for trial. Mesnick v. Gen. Elec. Co., 950 F.2d 816, 822 (1st Cir. 1991). The burden is on the moving party to show, through the pleadings, discovery and affidavits, that there is "no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law". FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). A fact is material if it "might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law". Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Degree v. City of Lowell
D. Massachusetts, 2025

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
361 F. Supp. 3d 160, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sheffield-v-pieroway-dcd-2019.