Wilson v. Baucom

Case: 22-50066 Document: 00516806107 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/30/2023
United States Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
____________
FILED
June 30, 2023
No. 22-50066
____________ Lyle W. Cayce
Clerk
Eddie Lee Wilson; Chester Jackson, Sr., as next friend
Chester Jackson, Jr.,
Plaintiffs—Appellants,
versus
Robert Riley Baucom; Deputy John K. Bennett; City of
Caldwell; Burleson County,
Defendants—Appellees.
______________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. 1:20-CV-311
______________________________
Before Dennis, Engelhardt, and Oldham, Circuit Judges.
Per Curiam: *
Appellants Eddie Lee Wilson (“Wilson) and Chester Jackson, Sr.
(“Jackson Sr.”), as next friends to Chester Jackson, Jr. (“Jackson Jr.”)
appeal the summary judgment granted to the City of Caldwell, Burleson
County, and Deputy John K. Bennett (“Bennett”), and the trial verdict in
favor of Officer Robert Riley Baucom (“Baucom”). For the reasons
_____________________
*
This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
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explained below, we AFFIRM the district court’s judgment and the trial
verdict.
I. Background
On Friday, April 19, Linda Jackson (“Linda”) called 911, requested
police assistance, and told the operator that her stepson, Chester Jackson Jr.,
had “kicked in the door” and was “saying he was going to kill us.” A few
minutes later, Linda called 911 a second time and said, “someone is going to
get killed,” and that Jackson Jr. had “jumped” on her husband multiple times
and punched him in the face. Linda also reported that she believed Jackson
Jr. was under the influence of drugs and that Jackson Jr.’s girlfriend admitted
that she had given him “a little weed” but that Linda believed “it’s
something else.”
Deputy Bennett, then with the Burleson County Sherriff’s Office, was
dispatched. At approximately 7:59 p.m., Bennett discovered Jackson Jr.
walking on the side of the road, wearing only boots and a pair of shorts.
Bennett searched Jackson Jr., placed him in the back of his vehicle, and
continued to Jackson Sr.’s home.
At Jackson Sr.’s residence, Bennett met with Jackson Sr., Linda,
Eddie Wilson (“Wilson”), who is Jackson Jr.’s mother, and Jackson Jr.’s
fiancé. The group confirmed that Jackson Jr. had assaulted Jackson Sr., but
they did not want to press any charges. Bennett explained that it was up to
the state to press charges and that the situation appeared serious enough to
warrant an arrest. Wilson then informed Bennett that she was attempting to
have Jackson Jr. hospitalized because he was “mentally sick.” Bennett asked
Wilson if she had contacted My Health My Resources Authority of Brazos
Valley (“MHMR”), and she responded that she had.
Wilson asked Bennett to take Jackson Jr. to the hospital in Houston.
Bennett clarified that if he were to take Jackson Jr. to the hospital, he would
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call the State, and Jackson Jr. would go to the hospital that has space for him.
Bennett informed Wilson that if Jackson Jr. was willing to go to the hospital
with her and if she was comfortable taking him, she may do so. Wilson
responded that she “wants him to be stabilized” and that “in the rage he’s
in now,” she was not sure she could take him. Bennett then attempted to
speak with Jackson Jr. before returning to the larger group and informing
them that no hospital would take Jackson Jr. in his condition and that Jackson
Jr. was on PCP. Bennett explained that Jackson Jr. was cold to the touch and
that when Bennett asked Jackson Jr. a question, it took a while for Jackson Jr.
to register the question and respond. Wilson asked if Bennett was sure, and
he responded “100%” and explained he has expertise in drug recognition.
Bennett told Jackson Jr.’s parents that he would take Jackson Jr. to jail to let
the drugs wear off, and then he could be evaluated for a hospital. Bennett
explained that he would not file the assault charge but would file a public
intoxication charge instead.
At approximately 8:15 PM, Jackson Jr. was booked into the Burleson
County Jail. In his cell in the county jail, Jackson Jr. allegedly broke a light
fixture and extracted a metal conduit. Matthew Higgins (“Higgins”), the
Burleson County Jailer, observed Jackson Jr. in possession of the conduit and
requested back-up to assist in taking it from Jackson Jr. as it could be used as
a weapon. Officer Hammons and Officer Baucom of the Caldwell Police
Department and Trooper Gilliam of the Department of Public Safety
responded to assist Higgins with retrieving the conduit. Jackson Jr. was
placed in handcuffs and shackles and removed from his cell to be transferred
to a new cell. As he entered the new cell, Jackson Jr. became uncooperative
and dropped to the ground. Baucom entered the cell, dragged Jackson Jr.
from behind into the cell, raised him up, and then forced Jackson Jr. in the
direction of the bed, resulting in Jackson Jr. falling to the ground, hitting his
back on a concrete wall, his arm and side on a metal bed, and his head on the
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side of the metal toilet. Baucom contends that Jackson Jr. grabbed Baucom’s
genitals which caused Baucom to drop Jackson Jr. After the fall, Jackson Jr.
did not report any pain or injury, did not request medical assistance,
conversed normally with officers, and had no apparent injuries.
Jail personnel conducted observations of Jackson Jr. every fifteen
minutes from 11:30 pm, Saturday, April 20, to 7:00 a.m., Sunday, April 21.
At approximately 3:45 a.m., Higgins attempted to remove Jackson Jr.’s
restraints, and Jackson Jr. assaulted him by biting his arm. At approximately
6:18 a.m., Jackson Jr. cooperated with the jailers, who were able to loosen his
restraints. At 8:45 a.m., an evaluator from MHMR arrived to evaluate
Jackson Jr. The evaluator noted that Jackson Jr. appeared to be in a state of
psychosis, possibly drug induced, and that he “appeared to be coming down
from intoxication.” Accordingly, the evaluator recommended in-patient
hospitalization and was able to find him a bed at Cross Creek Hospital in
Austin.
On Sunday, April 21, members of the Burleson County Sherriff’s
Office transported Jackson Jr. to Cross Creek Hospital. At Cross Creek,
Jackson Jr. became noncompliant and aggressive. The medical staff gave him
several medications, and Jackson Jr. then went into cardiac arrest. Jackson Jr.
was transported to St. David’s Medical Center, and no physical trauma was
noted in his extremities or his head. Jackson Jr.’s urine was negative for PCP
but was positive for THC. Following the cardiac arrest, Jackson Jr. sustained
a brain injury, but Appellants do not claim that the cardiac arrest caused the
brain injury.
II. Procedural History
Appellants Wilson and Jackson Sr., as next friends to Jackson Jr., filed
a lawsuit against Burleson County, the City of Caldwell, Bennett, and former
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officer Baucom. Appellants filed this suit in Texas state court, and Burleson
County removed the case to federal court on March 23, 2020.
On September 30, 2021, the District Court granted the City of
Caldwell’s Second Renewed Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim
or, alternatively, Motion for Summary Judgment, which dismissed all of
Appellants’ claims against the City of Caldwell.
On October 5, 2021, the District Court granted summary judgment
for Burleson County and Bennett on all of Appellants’ claims arising from
the arrest and incarceration of Chester Jackson, Jr. Appellants.
Baucom did not file a dispositive motion, and a jury trial was held to
determine if Baucom used excessive force when he moved Jackson Jr.
between jail cells. The jury returned a unanimous verdict that Appellants
failed to prove that Baucom used excessive force against Jackson Jr. This
appeal follows.
III. Legal Standard
We review the grant of summary judgment de novo. Lewis v. Sec’y of
Pub. Safety & Corr., 870 F.3d 365, 368 (5th Cir. 2017). Summary judgment is
proper if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute of material fact
and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Sanders v.
Christwood, 970 F.3d 558, 561 (5th Cir. 2020) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a)).
A fact is “material” if resolving it one way or another would change the
outcome of the lawsuit. Sossamon v. Lone Star State of Tex., 560 F.3d 316, 325
(5th Cir. 2009). A genuine dispute over that fact exists if “the evidence is
such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.”
McCarty v. Hillstone Rest. Grp., Inc., 864 F.3d 354, 357–58 (5th Cir. 2017)
(citing Boudreaux v. Swift Transp. Co., 402 F.3d 536, 540 (5th Cir. 2005)). We
view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant and resolve
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factual controversies in the nonmovant’s favor. Id. at 326 (citing Little v.
Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc)).
We review the denial of a motion for a new trial for an abuse of
discretion. Olibas v. Barclay, 838 F.3d 442, 448 (5th Cir. 2016). “The district
court abuses its discretion by denying a new trial only when there is an
absolute absence of evidence to support the jury’s verdict.” Wellogix, Inc. v.
Accenture, L.L.P., 716 F.3d 867, 881 (5th Cir. 2013) (quoting Seidman v. Am.
Airlines, Inc., 923 F.2d 1134, 1140 (5th Cir. 1991)). “If the evidence is legally
sufficient, we must find that the district court did not abuse its discretion in
denying a motion for new trial.” Williams v. Manitowoc Cranes, L.L.C., 898
F.3d 607, 614 (5th Cir. 2018) (quoting OneBeacon Ins. Co. v. T. Wade Welch
& Assocs., 841 F.3d 669, 676 (5th Cir. 2016).
This court applies a deferential abuse of discretion standard when
reviewing a district court’s evidentiary rulings. See Heinsohn v. Carabin &
Shaw, P.C., 832 F.3d 224, 233 (5th Cir. 2016). “A district court abuses its
discretion when its ruling is based on an erroneous view of the law or a clearly
erroneous assessment of the evidence.” Heinsohn, 832 F.3d at 233 (quoting
Nunez v. Allstate Ins. Co., 604 F.3d 840, 844 (5th Cir. 2010)). “The harmless
error doctrine applies to the review of evidentiary rulings, so even if a district
court has abused its discretion, [this court] will not reverse unless the error
affected ‘the substantial rights of the parties.’” Id. “The party asserting the
error has the burden of proving that the error was prejudicial.” Ball v.
LeBlanc, 792 F.3d 584, 591 (5th Cir. 2015).
IV. Discussion
A. City of Caldwell
Appellants appeal the district court’s decision to grant the City of
Caldwell’s motion to dismiss or for summary judgment. Appellants
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dedicated the following singular paragraph—which cites no case law—of
their 58-page brief to appeal Caldwell’s win at the district court:
The District Court granted summary judgment to the City of
Caldwell in error. The City of Caldwell’s response to the
Appellant’s Third Amended Complaint was ro [sic] file a
second renewed motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim
or, alternatively, motion for summary judgment. It attached
affidavits, and 96 pages of other document evidence, including
Baucom’s alleged training and personal records. The Motion
for Summary Judgment was granted without allowing the
Appellants to engage in discovery. The court denied the
Appellant’s request for an extension of discovery deadlines,
despite good cause meeting the FRCP 16 standards.
“[A]ny issue not raised in an appellant’s opening brief is forfeited.”
United States v. Bowen, 818 F.3d 179, 192 n.8 (5th Cir. 2016). “One way that
an appellant can forfeit an argument is ‘by failing to adequately brief the
argument on appeal.’” SEC v. Hallam, 42 F.4th 316, 327 (5th Cir. 2022)
(quoting Rollins v. Home Depot USA, 8 F.4th 393, 397 (5th Cir. 2021)). “To
be adequate, a brief must ‘address the district court’s analysis and explain
how it erred.’” Id. (quoting Rollins, 8 F.4th at 397 n.1). Appellants in no way
engaged with the district court’s analysis and did not explain how the district
court erred and have thus waived their appeal against the City of Caldwell.
Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s decision dismissing the claims
against the City of Caldwell.
B. Burleson County and Deputy Bennett
Appellants advance a number of issues concerning the district court’s
decision to grant summary judgment in favor of Burleson County and
Bennett.
Appellants appeal the district court’s decision to grant summary
judgment for Bennett with respect to Appellants’ false arrest claim because
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Bennett did not have probable cause for the arrest. “A warrantless arrest
must be based on ‘probable cause.’ Probable cause exists when the totality of
the facts and circumstances within a police officer’s knowledge at the
moment of arrest are sufficient for a reasonable person to conclude that the
suspect had committed or was committing an offense.” Deville v. Marcantel,
567 F.3d 156, 164 (5th Cir. 2009) (quoting Resendiz v. Miller, 203 F.3d 902,
903 (5th Cir. 2000)). “If there was probable cause for any of the charges
made . . . then the arrest was supported by probable cause, and the claim for
false arrest fails.” Deville, 567 F.3d at 164 (quoting Wells v. Bonner, 45 F.3d
90, 95 (5th Cir. 1995)) (emphasis removed). During Linda’s 911 call, she
reported that Jackson Jr. was under the influence of drugs and that his
girlfriend had given him marijuana. Bennett found Jackson Jr. walking in the
street with just a pair of shorts on and observed that Jr. appeared to be under
the influence. Based on his training, experience, observations, and the
statements of Jackson Sr., Linda, and Wilson—any of which is sufficient for
a reasonable person to conclude that Jackson Jr. had committed an offense—
Bennett arrested Jackson Jr. and charged him with public intoxication.
Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s decision granting summary
judgment for Bennett on the false arrest claim.
Appellants next appeal the district court’s decision to grant summary
judgment for Burleson County on Appellants’ claims under the Americans
with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act. Appellants’ briefing is not clear,
but it appears that they rest these claims on three allegations: that Jackson Jr.
was arrested instead of taken to a mental health facility; that Jackson Jr. was
denied access to medical care while in custody; and that restraints were used
while Jackson Jr. was in custody. To make out a prima facie case under Title
II, a plaintiff must show “(1) that he is a qualified individual within the
meaning of the ADA; (2) that he is being excluded from participation in, or
being denied benefits of, services, programs, or activities for which the public
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entity is responsible, or is otherwise being discriminated against by the public
entity; and (3) that such exclusion, denial of benefits, or discrimination is by
reason of his disability.” Melton v. Dallas Area Rapid Transit, 391 F.3d 669,
671–72 (5th Cir. 2004). “A critical component of a Title II claim for failure
to accommodate, however, is proof that ‘the disability and its consequential
limitations were known by the [entity providing public services].’” Windham
v. Harris Cnty., Texas, 875 F.3d 229, 236 (5th Cir. 2017) (citing Jin Choi v.
Univ. of Tex. Health Sci. Ctr. at San Antonio, 633 Fed. Appx. 214, 215 (5th
Cir. 2015)). “Mere knowledge of the disability is not enough; the service
provider must also have understood ‘the limitations [the plaintiff]
experienced . . . as a result of that disability.’” Windham 875 F.3d at 236(quoting Taylor v. Principal Fin. Grp., Inc., 93 F.3d 155, 164 (5th Cir. 1996).
Thus, the burden falls on the plaintiff “to specifically identify the disability
and resulting limitations.” Taylor, 93 F.3d at 165. When a plaintiff fails to
request an accommodation in this manner, he can prevail only by showing
that “the disability, resulting limitations, and necessary reasonable
accommodation” were “open, obvious, and apparent” to the entity’s
relevant agents. Id.Regarding Appellants’ first contention, the undisputed evidence
shows that Bennett believed that Jackson Jr. had a mental illness while he was
simultaneously intoxicated in public. Appellants cite no case law that would
prevent Bennett from arresting Jackson Jr. for an illegal act because he also
has a mental illness. Concerning Appellants’ second contention, that the
ADA/Rehabilitation Act was violated when Jackson Jr. was denied access to
medical care while in custody, this court has previously held that “[t]he ADA
is not violated by ‘a prison’s simply failing to attend to the medical needs of
its disabled prisoners.’” Nottingham v. Richardson, 499 F. App’x 368, 377
(5th Cir. 2012) (citing Bryant v. Madigan, 84 F.3d 246, 249 (7th Cir. 1996)).
Lastly, the Appellants provide no support for their contention that Jackson
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Jr. was left “in leg irons and handcuffs for hours overnight due to his
disability.” Therefore, we affirm the district court’s decision granting
Burleson County summary judgment on Appellants’ ADA and
Rehabilitation Act claims.
Appellants next advance a “conditions of confinement” claim under
the Due Process Clause and the Eighth Amendment of the United States
Constitution. Appellants contend that the use of leg irons combined with
Jackson Jr. being left handcuffed in his cell with the lights on was torture and
violated the Constitution since it “served no legitimate governmental
purpose other than punishing him.” The Supreme Court has held that “if a
particular condition or restriction of pretrial detention is reasonably related
to a legitimate governmental objective, it does not, without more, amount to
‘punishment.’” Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 539 (1979). The undisputed
evidence shows that the restraints were used because of Jackson Jr.’s
behavior, including his assault on his father, the destruction of the light
fixture in his first cell, the destruction of a wall phone in his second cell, the
use of the metal conduit as a potential weapon, the alleged grabbing of
Baucom’s genitals, and the biting of Higgins’ arm. Moreover, Jackson Jr. was
closely monitored, and as soon as he was cooperative, his restraints were
removed. As the conduct of the County appears to be reasonably related to a
legitimate governmental objective—keeping Jackson Jr. and jail personnel
safe—we affirm the district court’s decision to grant summary judgment to
the County on the conditions of confinement claim.
Appellants next appeal the district court’s decision to grant summary
judgment for Burleson County on Appellants’ claims for failure to provide
medical attention. Appellants argue that summary judgment was
inappropriate because the MHMR sent a Qualified Mental Health
Professional to evaluate Jackson Jr. instead of a doctor or some other more
qualified health professional. To state a claim under the Eighth Amendment
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based on failure to provide adequate medical treatment, a plaintiff “must
allege acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate
indifference to serious medical needs.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106
(1976). A “prisoner must prove that the officials, despite their actual
knowledge of the substantial risk, denied or delayed the prisoner’s medical
treatment.” Petzold v. Rostollan, 946 F.3d 242, 249 (5th Cir. 2019).
Appellants have satisfied none of the criteria to establish a credible failure to
provide medical attention claim. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s
decision in granting summary judgment to Burleson County on Appellants’
claim for failure to provide medical attention.
Appellants also appeal the district court’s decision to grant summary
judgment to Burleson County on their claim that the County failed to
supervise and train Bennett. 42 U.S.C. § 1983 creates a cause of action for
deprivations of constitutional and federal statutory rights by persons acting
under of color of state law. A county qualifies as a “person” under § 1983
and may be held liable for official policies or customs or the actions of its
employees taken pursuant to those policies and customs. Monell v. Dep’t of
Soc. Servs. of City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 691 (1978). This official policy
or custom must be the “moving force” of the plaintiff’s injury, and like all §
1983 claims, the injury must be a violation of a right secured by the
Constitution or federal law. City of Canton, Ohio v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 389
(1989). When the policy or custom alleged is a failure to train or supervise,
deliberate indifference must be shown. See City of Canton, 489 U.S. at 388,
Peterson v. City of Fort Worth, Tex., 588 F.3d 838, 850 (5th Cir. 2009). “For
liability to attach based on an ‘inadequate training’ claim, a plaintiff must
allege with specificity how a particular training program is defective.” Roberts
v. City of Shreveport, 397 F.3d 287, 293 (5th Cir. 2005) (citing Benavides v.
County of Wilson, 955 F.2d 968, 973 (5th Cir. 1992)). “Moreover, to prove
deliberate indifference, a plaintiff must demonstrate ‘at least a pattern of
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similar violations arising from training that is so clearly inadequate as to be
obviously likely to result in a constitutional violation.’” City of Shreveport,
397 F.3d at 292 (quoting Burge v. St. Tammany Par., 336 F.3d 363, 370 (5th
Cir. 2003)).
Appellants fail at nearly every turn in making their 1983 claim.
Appellants fail to show deliberate indifference on the part of Burleson County
in their alleged failure to train or supervise. Appellants further fail to allege
with specificity how Burleson County’s training program is defective.
Appellants also fail to allege a pattern of similar violations. Lastly, Appellants
fail to show any violation of a constitutionally protected right. Thus, we
affirm the district court’s decision to grant summary judgment for Burleson
County with respect to Appellants’ failure to supervise and train Claim.
C. Robert Riley Baucom
Appellants’ appeal the district court’s decision to not allow the
introduction of character evidence, specifically, Baucom’s plea of “no
contest” to a Class A misdemeanor of official oppression. Appellants
contend that “the district court erred in finding Federal Rule of Evidence
404(a)(2), exceptions to the general prohibition on character evidence that
apply only in criminal cases.” Fed. R. Evid. 404 (a)(2) is titled “Exceptions
for a Defendant or Victim in a Criminal Case” and provides that “The
following exceptions apply in a criminal case.” The district court correctly
held that the Federal Rules of Evidence disallow character evidence in civil
cases and that the exceptions listed in Federal Rule of Evidence 404(a)(2)
only apply in criminal cases, as the title and content of Rule 404(a)(2) make
clear. We affirm the district court’s decision not to allow character evidence
to be admitted under Rule 404(a)(2).
Appellants also contend that the district court erred when it granted
Baucom’s Motion to exclude (1) the Texas Rangers Report, which included
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information concerning the investigation into Baucom for official oppression,
and; (2) any attempt to elicit testimony that there was a criminal investigation
or; (3) that Baucom pled no contest to a charge of official oppression. “We
afford the district court broad discretion in its evidentiary rulings on
relevance.” Hicks-Fields v. Harris Cnty., Texas, 860 F.3d 803, 809 (5th Cir.
2017) (citing United States v. Young, 655 F.2d 624, 626 (5th Cir. 1981)). “A
district court abuses its discretion when its ruling is based on an erroneous
view of the law or a clearly erroneous assessment of the evidence.” Heinsohn,
832 F.3d at 233 (quoting, 604 F.3d at 844). “If the district court abused its
discretion, the harmless error doctrine applies, and the ruling will be reversed
only if it affected the substantial rights of the complaining party.” Nunez, 604
F.3d at 844 (quoting Knight v. Kirby Inland Marine, Inc., 482 F.3d 347, 351
(5th Cir. 2007)). Appellants provide no explanation or case law that would
support a finding that the district court abused its discretion. Moreover, even
if the district court had made an error in granting Baucom’s motion,
Appellants have made no showing as to how that ruling has affected their
substantial rights. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s decision
regarding the motion in limine.
Appellants also appeal the district court’s imposition of a five-hour
limitation per side for the trial. “FED. R. EVID. 403 and 611(a) give the
district court wide discretion in the management of its docket and the
presentation of evidence.” Deus v. Allstate Ins. Co., 15 F.3d 506, 520 (5th Cir.
1994). “A party is not entitled, as a matter of right, to put on every witness
he may have.” Id. (citing Manbeck v. Ostrowski, 384 F.2d 970 (D.C. Cir.
1967)). In the management of its docket, the court has an inherent right to
place reasonable limitations on the time allotted to any given trial. Deus, 15
F.3d at 520 (citing United States v. Reaves, 636 F. Supp. 1575 (E.D. Ky. 1986)).
The district court forewarned the parties that each would have five hours to
present its case. The record indicates that Appellants improvidently
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squandered much of their time and Appellants even concede in their brief
that they employed “stall tactics” when they encountered technical
difficulties. Appellants have not pointed to any evidence that they were
unable to present that would have aided their case in any significant way. We
find no error in the district court’s time limitation.
Appellants argue that the district court’s admonishment of
Appellants’ counsel for violating the “Golden Rule” of closing arguments
was in error. “This court has forbidden plaintiff’s counsel to explicitly
request a jury to place themselves in the plaintiff’s position and do unto him
as they would have him do unto them.” Stokes v. Delcambre, 710 F.2d 1120,
1128 (5th Cir. 1983). Such arguments encourage the jury to “decide the case
on the basis of personal interest and bias rather than on the evidence.” Loose
v. Offshore Navigation, Inc., 670 F.2d 493, 496 (5th Cir. 1982) (quoting Ivy v.
Security Barge Lines, Inc., 585 F.2d 732, 741 (5th Cir. 1978)). The invocation
of the Golden Rule does not create immutable error. The trial judge may, by
appropriate instruction, salve the suit. Loose, 670 F.2d at 497. Appellants’
argument that the jury should be “glad” their family member was not
subjected to a use of force assumes that Baucom’s use of force violated the
law—putting the jury’s focus on damages rather than liability—and
represents the kind of emotional appeal the golden rule is designed to
prevent. Thus, district court was compelled to salve the suit, and we find no
error.
Appellants also argue that they “were prejudiced by the lack of
presence of any African Americans on the jury venire or the final jury” and
that “the selection process did not allow for a fair-cross-section and was
unfair and unreasonable since there was 0% African Americans in the
venire.” In order to establish a prima facie violation of the fair cross-section
requirement, Appellants must show (1) that the group alleged to be excluded
is a “distinctive” group in the community; (2) the representation of this
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group in the venire panel is not reasonable in relation to the number of such
persons in the community; (3) that this under-representation is due to
systematic exclusion in the jury selection process. Duren v. Missouri, 439
U.S. 357, 364 (1979). Appellants make no showing that the absence of African
Americans is due to systemic exclusion in the jury selection process and have
therefore failed to establish a prima facie violation of the fair cross-section
requirement. Thus, we affirm the district court’s decision to deny
Appellants’ motion to strike the venire panel on the basis of race.
Lastly, Appellants argue that a new trial was required as a “rational
trier of fact could not have reached the same conclusion based on the
evidence in the record.” Appellants’ motion for a new trial is one paragraph
long and primarily consists of the standard for an excessive force claim. The
district court denied the motion and explained: “Plaintiffs present no facts or
evidence. Plaintiffs merely include a paragraph of information about
excessive force standards, without mounting a challenge to the jury
instructions. Without more, this Court will not ‘invade the fact-finding
province of the jury.’” Appellants make no contention that the district court
abused its discretion in denying the motion for a new trial and again only offer
information regarding excessive force. As Appellants make no contention nor
showing that there was an “absolute absence of evidence to support the
jury’s verdict,” we find that the district court did not abuse its discretion,
and we affirm the district court’s denial of Appellants’ motion for a new trial.
V. Conclusion
We AFFIRM the district court’s summary judgment as to
Burleson County and the City of Caldwell and AFFIRM the district court’s
judgment as to the verdict for Baucom.
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