Richard Percefull v. Chris Claybaker, etc

United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
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No. 05-4223
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Richard D. Percefull, *
*
Appellee, *
*
v. * Appeal from the United States
* District Court for the
Chris Claybaker, Mayor of Camden, * Western District of Arkansas.
AR; Board of Alderman of Camden, *
Arkansas, Marvin Moore, James * [UNPUBLISIHED]
Adcock, Tony Anthony, James *
Dishroom, Preston Woods, Irene *
Galbert, Charles Launius, Zin McRae; *
City of Camden Public Works *
Department; Sam Steelman, *
*
Appellants. *
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Submitted: November 3, 2006
Filed: November 9, 2006
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Before MURPHY, BYE, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.
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PER CURIAM.
Chris Claybaker, Mayor of Camden, Arkansas, appeals from the district court’s1
interlocutory summary judgment order denying him qualified and legislative
immunity in Richard D. Percefull’s 42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit alleging violations of the
Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments based on Claybaker’s role in the seizure of
Percefull’s bass boat. Reviewing de novo, see Walker v. City of Pine Bluff, 414 F.3d
989, 991 (8th Cir. 2005), we affirm.
Under our limited jurisdiction in this interlocutory appeal, we consider whether
Claybaker’s role in the seizure of Percefull’s bass boat violated Percefull’s clearly
established constitutional rights. “‘Beyond this narrow issue, we may exercise
jurisdiction only over issues that are “inextricably intertwined,” meaning the issues
would necessarily be resolved when we resolve the question of qualified immunity.’”
Powell v. Johnson, 405 F.3d 652, 654 (8th Cir. 2005) (quoting Schilcher v. Univ. of
Ark., 387 F.3d 959, 962 (8th Cir. 2004)). Thus, we will not consider at this time
Claybaker’s arguments that Percefull’s suit is barred by res judicata, and that Percefull
failed to avail himself of adequate post-deprivation remedies.
Claybaker also questions the sufficiency of Percefull’s evidence on causation
and damages. We have consistently held that sufficiency of the evidence is outside
the scope of our jurisdiction when reviewing an interlocutory appeal from a denial of
qualified immunity. See Nebraska Beef, Ltd. v. Greening, 398 F.3d 1080, 1082-83
(8th Cir. 2005); Kincade v. City of Blue Springs, Mo., 64 F.3d 389, 395 (8th Cir.
1995).
To the extent Claybaker has properly raised and argued issues relevant to
qualified immunity, we find no error in the district court’s denial of summary
judgment. See Zinermon v. Burch, 494 U.S. 113, 132 (1990) (procedural due process
1
The Honorable Harry F. Barnes, United States District Judge for the Western
District of Arkansas.
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requires state to provide predeprivation remedy where feasible before taking
property); Dixon v. Lowery, 302 F.3d 857, 862 (8th Cir. 2002) (Fourth Amendment
protects against seizures undertaken without legal authority). Claybaker himself
admitted that there was no legal or judicial authorization for seizing Percefull’s boat,
which undermines his argument that no reasonable person in his position would have
known that he was violating Percefull’s rights. Nor did Claybaker provide any type
of predeprivation hearing, although the evidence is disputed on whether the necessity
of quick action rendered such a hearing impractical. Although Claybaker argues that
Percefull had no protected property interest in his unregistered boat, he does not assert
that the failure to register the boat authorized its seizure. Accord Dixon, 302 F.3d at
862-64 (disputed possessory interest may still be constitutionally protected).
Finally, Claybaker submits that his actions are insulated by legislative
immunity. Legislative immunity is typically reserved for those officials acting in
some sort of legislative capacity, and it has no application where an executive official
orders the performance of executive tasks. Cf. Bogan v. Scott-Harris, 523 U.S. 44,
54-56 (1998) (granting executive official legislative immunity for enactment of
ordinance which “bore all the hallmarks of” traditional legislative action).
The order of the district court is affirmed.
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