Jones v. Ritter

(2008)

Steven JONES, Plaintiff,
v.
James RITTER, et al., Defendants.

Civil Action No. 07-1674 (JR).

United States District Court, District of Columbia.

November 19, 2008.

AMENDED MEMORANDUM OPINION

JAMES ROBERTSON, District Judge.

For the reasons discussed below, the Motion of Defendants District of Columbia, Michael Boland and Charles Ramsey to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint will be granted in part and denied in part without prejudice.^[1] The District of Columbia's Second Motion to Dismiss will be denied, and the Motion to Dismiss Filed on Behalf of James Ritter will be granted as conceded.^[2] Officer Steven Prade's Motion to Dismiss will be denied without prejudice. In addition, the Court grants plaintiffs motion to appoint counsel.^[3]

I. BACKGROUND

The incident giving rise to plaintiffs causes of action occurred on November 8, 2005 in and near the 800 block of Taylor Street in Northwest Washington. See Compl. ¶¶ 14, 17. According to plaintiff, Metropolitan Police Department officers James Ritter, Steven Prade, and Michael Boland, wearing plain clothes, got out of an unmarked vehicle "and pursued in the plaintiff['s] direction without any verbal warnings that they were police personnel." Id. ¶ 14. "Fearing that the officer[s] were regular street bandits," plaintiff "retrieved a small .38 caliber handgun ... and pointed it at the plain clothed officers." Id. ¶ 15. When the officers identified themselves as police, "knowing that he was in possession of an unlicensed firearm," plaintiff fled. Id. ¶ 16. The officers "brought [plaintiff] down to the ground," retrieved the handgun, "and then beat him ungodly in the street." Id. ¶ 17. The officers allegedly dragged plaintiff on the concrete "causing severe burn patterns and scaring [sic] to his skin, face, thighs, and he was soaked with mace which flamed the torn skin on his face, causing great pain within the blisters of open flesh." Id. ¶ 18. They proceeded to punch and kick plaintiff repeatedly "while he was subdued on the ground in a nonthreatening manner." Id. ¶ 19. After he was handcuffed and transported to the Fifth District station for processing, plaintiff was taken to a local hospital "where he was treated for [] injuries and lacerations to his face, arms [and] legs" and "received water for his eyes caused by the mace sprayed on him." Id. ¶ 20.

Plaintiff brings this action against the District of Columbia and against officers Ritter, Prade, and Boland in their individual and official capacities under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for alleged violations of rights protected by the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.^[4] Compl. ¶¶ 3, 32. In addition, plaintiff brings tort claims of negligence, gross negligence, assault, battery, and abuse of process. Id. ¶ 33. He demands compensatory and punitive damages. See id. at 8.

II. DISCUSSION

Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, defendants move to dismiss on the ground that the complaint fails to state claims on which relief can be granted. See Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of the Motion of Defendants District of Columbia, Michael Boland and Charles Ramsey to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint ("Defs.' Mot.") at 3-4, 5-12; Officer Steven Prade's Motion to Dismiss ("Prade Mot.") at 4-6.

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that a complaint contain "``a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,' in order to ``give the defendant fair notice of what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.'" Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1964, 167 L. Ed. 2d 929 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47, 78 S. Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80(1957)). A motion under Rule 12(b)(6) does not test a plaintiff's likelihood of success on the merits; rather, it tests whether a plaintiff properly has stated a claim. See Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236, 94 S. Ct. 1683, 40 L. Ed. 2d 90 (1974). The factual allegations of the complaint are presumed to be true and are construed liberally in plaintiff's favor. See, e.g., United States v. Philip Morris, Inc., 116 F. Supp. 2d 131, 135 (D.D.C.2000). Although "detailed factual allegations" are not required to withstand a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a plaintiff must offer "more than labels and conclusions" or "formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action" to provide "grounds" of "entitle[ment] to relief." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S.Ct. at 1964-65.

The Court liberally construes a pro se complaint. "[H]owever inartfully pleaded," it is held to "less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers." Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520, 92 S. Ct. 594, 30 L. Ed. 2d 652 (1972). Accordingly, a pro se plaintiff is not required to use specific legal terms or phrases, and the Court "will grant [] plaintiff[] the benefit of all inferences that can be derived from the facts alleged." Kowal v. MCI Communications Corp. 16 F.3d 1271, 1276 (D.C.Cir.1994) (citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. at 45-46, 78 S. Ct. 99). "Nonetheless, a pro se complaint, like any other, must present a claim upon which relief can be granted by the court." Henthorn v. Dep't of Navy, 29 F.3d 682, 684 (D.C.Cir. 1994) (quoting Crisafi v. Holland, 655 F.2d 1305, 1308 (D.C.Cir.1981)).

A. Plaintiffs Constitutional Claims^[5]

1. Excessive Force

"[A]ll claims that law enforcement officers have used excessive force— deadly or not—in the course of an arrest, investigatory stop, or other ``seizure' of a free citizen should be analyzed under the Fourth Amendment and its ``reasonableness' standard." Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395, 109 S. Ct. 1865, 104 L. Ed. 2d 443 (1989) (emphasis in original); see Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 7-22, 105 S. Ct. 1694, 85 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1985) (analyzing constitutionality of use of force under Fourth Amendment although complaint alleged violations of both Fourth Amendment and Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause). Accordingly, to the extent that plaintiff brings this action because defendants Ritter, Prade and Boland "unlawfully beat, maced, and harassed the plaintiff while subdued on the ground," Compl. ¶ 1, the Court construes the complaint as if plaintiff had articulated an excessive force claim under the Fourth Amendment.

Defendants argue that "the officers' actions in apprehending and arresting [plaintiff] do not state a claim that rises to the level of a constitutional violation." Defs.' Mot. at 12. Even if plaintiff had alleged a Fourth Amendment violation, defendants argue that the officers are entitled to qualified immunity. Id. Defendants rely on what they deem plaintiff's admissions that he pointed an illegal, unlicensed handgun at the police officers, ignored commands to drop the gun, and fled. See id. at 13. In their view, the officers' response to the threat plaintiff presented warranted the use of "some degree of force ... to subdue" plaintiff. Id.

Plaintiff alleges that three MPD officers "beat him ungodly in the street," Compl. ¶ 17, after apprehending, disarming and subduing him. Assuming for purposes of this motion that the allegations of the complaint are true, the Court concludes that plaintiff articulates a violation of rights protected by the Fourth Amendment. At this stage of the proceedings and prior to discovery, it is impossible to determine whether the officers' use of force was reasonable under the circumstances or whether they are protected by qualified immunity.

2. Failure to Train

"[T]he inadequacy of police training may serve as the basis for [Section] 1983 liability only where the failure to train amounts to deliberate indifference to the rights of persons with whom the police come into contact." City of Canton, Ohio v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 388, 109 S. Ct. 1197, 103 L. Ed. 2d 412 (1989); see Daskalea v. District of Columbia, 227 F.3d 433, 441 (D.C.Cir.2000); Carter v. District of Columbia, 795 F.2d 116, 122 (D.C.Cir. 1986). Plaintiff alleges defendant District of Columbia's responsibility for training and supervising personnel under its command, for taking "corrective action with respect to police personnel whose vicious propensities were notorious," and for "implement[ing] meaningful procedures to discourage lawless official conduct." Compl. ¶ 2. Insofar as he alleges the District's failure to "train the officers, correct their abuse of authority, or to discourage their unlawful use of authority," the Court concludes that plaintiff alleges a constitutional claim adequate to survive defendants' motion to dismiss.

C. Plaintiffs Tort Claims

1. Assault and Battery Claims Against the District of Columbia^[6]

D.C.Code § 12-309 provides:

An action may not be maintained against the District of Columbia for unliquidated damages to person or property unless, within six months after the injury or damage was sustained, the claimant, his agent, or attorney has given notice in writing to the Mayor of the District of Columbia of the approximate time, place, cause, and circumstances of the injury or damage. A report in writing by the Metropolitan Police Department, in regular course of duty, is a sufficient notice under this section.

Id. (emphasis added). Its purpose is "to give the District officials reasonable notice of the [incident] so that the facts may be ascertained and, if possible, deserving claims adjusted and meritless claims resisted." Pitts v. District of Columbia, 391 A.2d 803, 807 (D.C.1978). Compliance with its terms is a mandatory prerequisite to filing a tort claim against the District of Columbia. See, e.g., District of Columbia v. Dunmore, 662 A.2d 1356, 1359 (D.C.1995); Gwinn v. District of Columbia, 434 A.2d 1376, 1378 (D.C.1981); Hill v. District of Columbia, 345 A.2d 867, 869 (D.C.1975). Because D.C.Code § 12-309 "constitutes a departure from the common law concept of sovereign immunity," it is "strictly construed." Gwinn, 434 A.2d at 1378. A potential litigant, then, must "provide an early warning to District of Columbia officials regarding litigation likely to occur in the future." Pitts, 391 A.2d at 807.

The District of Columbia moves to dismiss plaintiffs assault and battery claims on the ground that plaintiff failed to satisfy the notice requirements of D.C.Code § 12-309. See Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of the District of Columbia's Second Motion to Dismiss at 4-6. A search of records maintained by the District of Columbia's Office of Risk Management "reveal[] that the [office's] Tort Liability Division ... has received no claim notice that refers to the claims described in the complaint in Civil Action No. 07-01674, namely, that on November 8, 2005 the Plaintiff[] was assaulted by a group of individuals at or near the 800 block of Taylor Street NW, after he pulled out a. 38 caliber handgun on the individuals, who Plaintiff later realized were actually plain-clothes police officers." Id., Liley Aff. ¶ 4.

Plaintiff counters that the police report prepared by Officer Boland satisfies the requirements of D.C.Code § 12-309. See Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Plaintiffs Opposition to Defendant District of Columbia's Second Motion to Dismiss at 5-7 & Ex. 1 (Arrest/Prosecution Report (PD-163)). D.C.Code § 12-309 expressly provides that a written police report taken in the regular course of duty satisfies the mandatory notice requirement. See Shaw v. District of Columbia, No. 05-1284, 2006 WL 1274765, at * 12 (D.D.C. May 8, 2006) (holding that MPD Office of Internal Affairs Complaint Summary Sheet and attached five-page "Citizen Complaint Report" charging "Police Brutality" together were police report meeting notice requirements of § 12-309). "[T]he inquiry with respect to a police report's capacity to satisfy Section 12-309's notice obligation is whether ``the District should have anticipated, as a consequence of receiving the police reports, that a complaint by [plaintiff] would be forthcoming.'" Mazloum v. District of Columbia Metro. Police Dep't, 522 F. Supp. 2d 24, 49 (D.D.C.2007) (quoting Allen v. District of Columbia, 533 A.2d 1259, 1262 (D.C.1987)). It is abundantly clear from review of the PD-163 that it provides the approximate time, place, cause, and circumstances of the injuries plaintiff suffered, and reasonably would have put the District would be on notice of potential tort claims against it. See, e.g., Plater v. District of Columbia Dep't of Transp., 530 F. Supp. 2d 101, 106 (D.D.C. 2008) (police report, "while sparse, indicated that [a minor child] was injured by a hazard on a public street," and satisfied requirements of Section 12-309 because the District has a duty to exercise reasonable care to keep its streets in a safe condition).

2. Assault and Battery Claims Against MPD Officers Boland and Prade

Under District of Columbia law, an action for assault or battery may not be brought after the expiration of the one-year period "from the time the right to maintain the action accrues." D.C.Code § 12-301(4). The limitations period is tolled, however, if "a person entitled to maintain an action is, at the time the right of action accrues[,] imprisoned," and that person may "may bring action within the time limited after the disability is removed." D.C.Code § 12-302(a). A prisoner's disability is removed at the instant he is released from custody, at which time the statute of limitations begins to run and continues to run even if the prisoner subsequently is arrested or imprisoned. See Arnold v. District of Columbia, 211 F. Supp. 2d 144, 147-49 (D.D.C.2002); District of Columbia v. Tinker, 691 A.2d 57, 64 (D.C.1997).

Defendants argue that plaintiffs assault and battery claims are barred by the statute of limitations. See Defs.' Mot. at 4-5. Because plaintiff did not file the instant complaint within one year of the November 8, 2005 incident, defendants argue that the claims are untimely.^[7]Id. at 4. According to defendants, the "Complaint is devoid of any indication that [plaintiff] was imprisoned immediately following the November 8, 2005 incident[] and remained continuously incarcerated since that time." Memorandum in Reply to Plaintiffs Opposition to the Motion of District of Columbia, Michael Boland and Charles Ramsey's to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint at 3. Plaintiff counters that the statute of limitations was tolled because he has been incarcerated since the November 8, 2005 incident. See Pl.'s Opp'n at 4.

Because defendants are asserting the statute of limitations as an affirmative defense, they bear "the burden of proof unless the claim is barred on its face." Oparaugo v. Watts, 884 A.2d 63, 73 (D.C. 2005) (citations omitted). It is not clear on the face of the complaint that plaintiff's assault and battery claims are time barred, and defendants do not show otherwise. Keeping in mind that pro se filings are construed liberally, see Richardson v. United States, 193 F.3d 545, 548 (D.C.Cir. 1999), the Court concludes that plaintiffs assertion is adequate to survive defendants' motion to dismiss at this early stage of the proceedings.^[8]

3. Abuse of Process

"The essence of the tort of abuse of process is the use of the legal system ``to accomplish some end which is without the regular purview of the process, or which compels the party against whom it is used to do some collateral thing which he could not legally and regularly be required to do.'" Scott v. District of Columbia, 101 F.3d 748, 755 (D.C.Cir.) (quoting Bown v. Hamilton, 601 A.2d 1074, 1079 (D.C.1992)), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1231, 117 S. Ct. 1824, 137 L. Ed. 2d 1031 (1997). There is no abuse of process when, although a person "acts spitefully, maliciously, or with an ulterior motive in instituting a legal proceeding," the proceeding in question is also used for its intended purpose. Id. (citation omitted).

Defendants argue that plaintiff's complaint alleges only physical abuse and "is devoid of any allegation that the Defendants in any way misused the legal process." Defs.' Mot. at 6. Plaintiff counters that "he was extorted to commit a crime he otherwise wouldn't have committed," Pl.'s Opp'n at 5, because the officers "placed him in a passion of fear." Id. at 6. He appears to argue that defendants induced him to commit a crime or crimes and in this way "defendants abused the process." Id. Plaintiff's argument misapprehends the nature of the abuse of process claim.

Nothing in the complaint or in plaintiff's opposition alleges or suggests that defendants used the legal process "to accomplish an end unintended by law" or "to achieve a result not regularly or legally obtainable." Morowitz v. Marvel, 423 A.2d 196, 198 (D.C.1980). In other words, plaintiff fails to allege "that there has been a perversion of the judicial process and achievement of some end not contemplated in the regular prosecution of the charge." Id. (citations omitted).

The Court will grant defendants' motion on this matter and will dismiss plaintiffs abuse of process claim as against defendants Boland, Prade, and the District of Columbia.

4. Negligence and Gross Negligence

Plaintiffs theories, of negligence and gross negligence are not clear from the complaint. In his opposition to defendants' motion to dismiss, he appears to assert that the physical force (punching, kicking, and spraying mace) employed by the defendant MPD officers itself amounts to negligence. See Pl.'s Opp'n at 7. In further support of this argument, plaintiff cites D.C.Code § 5-123.02, which provides that "[a]ny officer who uses unnecessary and wanton severity in arresting or imprisoning any person shall be deemed guilty of assault and battery, and, upon conviction, punished therefor." Id.

Generally, to state a negligence claim, a plaintiff must allege "the applicable standard of care, a deviation from that standard of care by the defendant, and a causal relationship between that deviation and the plaintiffs injury." Holder v. District of Columbia, 700 A.2d 738, 741 (D.C.1997) (quoting Etheredge v. District of Columbia, 635 A.2d 908, 917 (D.C.1993)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Where, as here, "a negligence claim involves use of excessive force by a police officer, the negligence must be distinctly pled and based upon at least one factual scenario that presents an aspect of negligence apart from the use of excessive force itself and violative of a distinct standard of care." Tafler v. District of Columbia, No. 05-1563, 2006 WL 3254491, at *9 (D.D.C. Nov.8, 2006) (quoting District of Columbia v. Chinn, 839 A.2d 701, 705, 711 (D.C.2003)). The District of Columbia Court of Appeals instructs that "the proof requirements for assault and battery in cases involving allegations of excessive force by police officers are not the same as those for negligence cases concerning allegations of excessive police force." Smith v. District of Columbia, 882 A.2d 778, 787-88 (D.C.2005). This is so because, "[f]or assault and battery the inquiry is whether the officer's conduct was reasonably necessary and thereby privileged; and for negligence the inquiry is whether the officer's conduct violated the standard of care of a reasonably prudent police officer." Id. at 788 (quoting Holder, 700 A.2d at 742) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Moreover, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals notes that a negligence claim cannot be based on D.C.Code § 5-123.02 alone. See Chinn, 839 A.2d at 712. "Using the statute, standing alone, as a basis for an alternative negligence count in a setting of a plain battery situation can only lead to obfuscation and confusion. No rational jury could find no battery by a police officer (that is, no use of excessive force) and yet find ``negligence' on the basis of the statute alone." Id.; see also Austin v. District of Columbia, No. 05-2219, 2007 WL 1404444, at *6 n. 3 (D.D.C. May 11, 2007) (applying Chinn's reasoning to MPD General Orders invoked by plaintiff because "those Orders, like § 5-123.02, fail to articulate a standard of care ``distinct' from the definition of excessive force itself").

Nowhere does plaintiff allege a negligence or gross negligence claim distinct from the officers' actions giving rise to his assault and battery claims. Accordingly, the Court dismisses the negligence claims. See, e.g., Cotton v. District of Columbia, 541 F. Supp. 2d 195, 209 (D.D.C.2008) (dismissing negligence claims where facts supporting negligence claim are identical to those supporting intentional tort claims).

III. CONCLUSION

Surviving defendants' motions to dismiss are plaintiff's excessive force, failure to train, assault and battery claims against the District of Columbia, and his assault and battery claims against Boland and Prade.

The Motion of Defendants District of Columbia, Michael Boland and Charles Ramsey to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint will be granted in part and denied in part without prejudice. Plaintiff's Fourteenth Amendment claims will be dismissed, as will all claims against defendant Ramsey in his official and individual capacities and all claims against defendants Boland and Prade in their official capacities. Plaintiff's abuse of process, negligence and gross negligence claims will be dismissed. Officer Steven Prade's Motion to Dismiss will be denied without prejudice. The District of Columbia's Second Motion to Dismiss plaintiff's assault and battery claims will be denied, and the motion will be granted with respect to the abuse of process claim. The Motion to Dismiss Filed on Behalf of James Ritter will be granted as conceded, and defendant Ritter will be dismissed without prejudice as a party defendant in both his official and individual capacities. Lastly, the Court grants plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel.

An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion will be issued separately.

NOTES

[1] Defendant Prade joins in the arguments set forth in the Motion of Defendants District of Columbia, Michael Boland and Charles Ramsey to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint. See Officer Steven Prade's Motion to Dismiss at 1.

[2] Defendant Ritter moves to dismiss under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(5) on the ground that he has not been served properly. See Motion to Dismiss Filed on Behalf of James Ritter at 1. In the supporting Memorandum, counsel represents that defendant Ritter has not been employed by the Metropolitan Police Department since July 2006, and therefore could not have been served at the Fifth District station in 2008. See Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of the Motion to Dismiss Filed on Behalf of James Ritter at 2. Because plaintiff filed no opposition to this motion, the Court will grant it as conceded and will dismiss this defendant without prejudice as a party to this action.

[3] The Order [# 27] accompanying the July 16. 2008 Memorandum Opinion [# 26], the Court granted plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel and, pursuant to this Order, counsel entered his appearance [# 30] on plaintiff's behalf on August 29, 2008. In the interim, however, the Court issued an Order [# 29] vacating the July 16, 2008 Order in its entirety. To prevent any confusion as to the circumstances under which counsel entered his appearance, the Court grants plaintiff's motion nunc pro tunc to July 16, 2008. The July 16, 2008 Memorandum Opinion will be stricken.

[4] Although plaintiff names "Police Commissioner Patrick Ramsey" as a defendant, the Court presumes that plaintiff intends to name Charles Ramsey, former Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Because plaintiff only alleges former Chief Ramsey's responsibility for the training and supervision of officers Ritter, Prade and Boland, the Court concludes that Ramsey is sued in his official capacity only. The Court treats all claims against Ramsey, as well as all claims against defendants Ritter, Prade and Boland in their official capacities, as if they were brought against the District of Columbia itself. See Atchinson v. District of Columbia, 73 F.3d 418, 424 (D.C.Cir.1996) (citing Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165, 105 S. Ct. 3099, 87 L. Ed. 2d 114 (1985)).

[5] Plaintiff's claims under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution will be dismissed. The Fourteenth Amendment does not apply to the District of Columbia. See Bolling v. Sharpe, 347 U.S. 497, 499, 74 S. Ct. 693, 98 L. Ed. 884 (1954).

[6] Because plaintiff initially filed no opposition to the District's Second Motion to Dismiss, the Court granted the motion as conceded. The Court since has vacated that Order, and now considers the opposition filed on plaintiff's behalf by appointed counsel.

[7] The Clerk of Court received plaintiff's complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis on August 30, 2007. The Court granted plaintiff's in forma pauperis application on September 14, 2007, and officially filed these documents on the Court's electronic docket on September 21, 2007.

[8] Additionally, at this early stage of the proceedings, the Court cannot conclude as a matter of law that the police officers' use of force was privileged under the circumstances plaintiff describes in his complaint. Accordingly, the Court will deny without prejudice Officer Steven Prade's Motion to Dismiss.