Alan Miller v. Sanilac County ( 2010 )

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
Pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 206
File Name: 10a0165p.06
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
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ALAN MILLER,
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Plaintiff-Appellant,
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No. 09-1340
v.
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SANILAC COUNTY and JIM WAGESTER, in his
Defendants-Appellees. -
individual and official capacity,
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Michigan at Detroit.
No. 07-14965—Patrick J. Duggan, District Judge.
Argued: March 10, 2010
Decided and Filed: June 4, 2010
Before: MERRITT, COLE, and COOK, Circuit Judges.
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COUNSEL
ARGUED: Shawn C. Cabot, CHRISTOPHER TRAINOR AND ASSOCIATES, White
Lake, Michigan, for Appellant. Megan K. Cavanagh, GARAN LUCOW MILLER, P.C.,
Detroit, Michigan, for Appellees. ON BRIEF: Christopher J. Trainor, CHRISTOPHER
TRAINOR AND ASSOCIATES, White Lake, Michigan, for Appellant. Rosalind Rochkind,
John J. Gillooly, GARAN LUCOW MILLER, P.C., Detroit, Michigan, for Appellees.
MERRITT, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which COLE, J., joined. COOK,
J. (pp. 18-21), delivered a separate opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part.
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OPINION
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MERRITT, Circuit Judge. In this lawsuit brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, plaintiff,
Paul Miller, is claiming multiple constitutional violations against him during a traffic stop
and arrest by Deputy Sheriff Jim Wagester and Sanilac County, Michigan. Miller received
several traffic code violations and civil infractions, including drunk driving, all of which
1
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 2
were later dismissed when Miller’s blood-alcohol level was determined to be 0.00%. The
District Court issued an order granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment, which
Miller now appeals. Miller v. Sanilac County, No. 07-14965, 2009 WL 416438 (E.D. Mich.
Feb. 18, 2009). The key issues before this Court are whether Wagester had probable cause
to arrest Miller for drunk driving or for reckless driving after he drove through a stop sign
on an icy road. For the reasons stated below, we affirm in part and reverse in part the grant
of summary judgment.
I. Factual Background and Procedural History
Miller began the night of February 19, 2006, with some friends at a demolition derby
from 8:00 p.m. to about 11:00 p.m.. The temperature was approximately zero degrees with
a significant wind-chill, and there is no dispute that there was ice on the roads. After
dropping off his friends on the way home, he assisted another friend he learned had driven
into a ditch. Around midnight, Miller approached a stop sign at an intersection. Miller states
that he was driving at approximately 30 m.p.h. but was unable to stop because of the ice.
Wagester, who was observing the area after hearing reports of an underage drinking party
nearby, estimated that Miller was traveling over 60 m.p.h. before slowing down to about 30
1
m.p.h. as he went through the stop sign. After Wagester activated his lights, Miller
claims to have stopped immediately, whereas Wagester stated that Miller continued for
a quarter mile.
Upon walking up to Miller’s car, Wagester asked for Miller’s license,
registration, and proof of insurance. Miller claims he had his seatbelt on at this time
whereas Wagester said Miller never had his seatbelt on. Because Miller’s license had
been confiscated for a previous arrest for Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated
(hereinafter “drunk driving”), Miller gave him the documentation he was provided to use
as a license. Miller alleges he had proper registration and proof of insurance but could
not produce them immediately. Both agree that Wagester walked away as Miller was
searching his glove box and Wagester did not ask for them again.
1
Miller and Deputy Wagester gave conflicting accounts of many aspects of their encounter.
Because Miller is the non-movant in the summary judgment motion and we must accept as true his
evidence and draw “all justifiable inferences” in his favor, Miller’s account will be provided (with notes
where significant disparities arise). Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986).
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 3
Wagester claims to have “detect[ed] a slight odor of alcohol coming from
[Miller’s] breath.” After running a check on Miller, he learned of the drunk driving
arrest and asked him to step out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests. According
to Wagester, Miller did not stagger or stumble as he got out of the vehicle and walked
around, but his eyes appeared “glazed or glassy.” Miller was asked to recite the ABCs,
walk a straight line, touch his fingertips to his thumb, touch his nose, and count
backwards from 54 to 43. Wagester determined he failed all but one,2 although Miller
said he was not informed whether or not he passed any of the tests. Miller declined to
take a preliminary breath test because he did not trust Wagester and thought it was less
reliable than a blood test, which he later agreed to take.
Thereafter, Wagester placed Miller under arrest for reckless driving. Miller
claims that Wagester effected the arrest by spinning him around, kicking his feet apart,
and slamming him against his vehicle. Miller concedes, however, that he was not hurt
by any of these actions. Miller was put in handcuffs and placed in a patrol car.
Wagester estimates that Miller was out of the vehicle for six to eight minutes, but Miler
claims it was 45 minutes. At some point, Miller complained that his handcuffs were too
tight. They were removed during the booking process, although Miller is unsure how
long they remained on.
After processing, Wagester secured a search warrant from a magistrate judge
authorizing him to draw Miller's blood for further investigation of suspected drunk
driving. Miller also gave consent. Miller was transported to a nearby hospital for the
blood draw. The individual who drew Miller's blood observed that Miller was shaking
and was cold to the touch, which Miller claims to be the result of being subjected to the
cold during the arrest. Miller alleges that he passed out from the cold at some point
2
According to the Alcohol Influence Report, Miller “did not turn around” in the Heel to Toe test,
“missed tip of nose” in the Finger to Nose test, and “missed R&M” in the ABC test (but passed a second
attempt). In the Count Backward test, in which Miller was asked to count backwards from 54 to 43, it
appears Miller reached 47 before counting: 48, 47, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41. Although the Finger to Thumb test
is marked “passed,” “very careful” is listed in the comments section. It is also worth noting that Wagester
circled neither “Faint” nor “None” under “Odor of alcohol on breath,” and neither “Watery” nor “Normal”
under “Eyes.” However, Wagester did circle “Swaying” under “Balance.”
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 4
while he was at the jail although he indicated on a medical questionnaire at the time that
he was in good physical condition and was not having any medical problems.
Deputy Wagester wrote seven tickets for Miller: failure to use a seatbelt, no proof
of registration, no proof of insurance, reckless driving, refusal to submit to a breath test,
minor in possession, and 0.02% blood-alcohol-no-tolerance-law violation.3 Miller left
the jail on February 19, 2006, on a personal recognizance bond. The next week, Miller’s
blood test results came back indicating that Miller's blood-alcohol level was 0.00%. In
early April, all charges against Miller related to this case were dismissed. A few days
later, Deputy Wagester requested that the lab test Miller’s blood for controlled
substances. That test also came back negative.
Miller filed the present suit against Deputy Wagester and Sanilac County on
November 20, 2007. Against Deputy Wagester, Miller alleged three constitutional
violations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (use of excessive force, Fourth Amendment
search and seizure violations, and malicious prosecution) and four state tort claims
(assault and battery, false arrest/false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and gross
negligence). Miller also alleged that Sanilac County is liable for Deputy Wagester’s
constitutional violations because it inadequately trains and supervises its officers. In a
motion for summary judgment, Deputy Wagester argued that he is entitled to qualified
immunity on all counts and Sanilac County asserted that Miller failed to state a claim
against it. The District Court issued an order granting the motion, which Miller now
appeals. This Court reviews the district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo.
Spears v Ruth, 589 F.3d 249, 253 (6th Cir. 2009). Summary judgment is proper when
there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. Id. (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)). We must view all the
facts and the inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and uphold
a grant of summary judgment only where the record as a whole could not lead a rational
trier of fact to find for the non-moving party. Id.3
The reduced 0.02% limit was the result of Miller’s previous OWI arrest. Had there been no
previous such arrest, the limit would have been higher.
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 5
II. Liability of Deputy Wagester
“To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must set forth facts that,
when construed favorably, establish (1) the deprivation of a right secured by the
Constitution or laws of the United States (2) caused by a person acting under the color
of state law.” Sigley v. City of Parma Heights, 437 F.3d 527, 533 (6th Cir. 2006) (citing
West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988)). As the District Court recognized, only the first
prong is at issue here.
“Under the doctrine of qualified immunity, ‘government officials performing
discretionary functions generally are shielded from liability for civil damages insofar as
their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of
which a reasonable person would have known.’” Phillips v. Roane County, 534 F.3d
531, 538 (6th Cir. 2008) (quoting Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982)).
Determining whether government officials are entitled to qualified immunity generally
requires two inquiries: “First, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to the
plaintiff, has the plaintiff shown that a constitutional violation has occurred? Second,
was the right clearly established at the time of the violation?” Id. at 538-39.4 These
prongs need not be considered sequentially. Jones v. Byrnes, 585 F.3d 971, 975 (6th Cir.
2009) (citing Pearson v. Callahan, 129 S. Ct. 808 (2009)).
The issue of qualified immunity may be submitted to a jury only if “the legal
question of immunity is completely dependent upon which view of the [disputed] facts
is accepted by the jury.” Humphrey v. Mabry, 482 F.3d 840, 846 (6th Cir. 2007)
(quoting Brandenburg v. Cureton, 882 F.2d 211, 216 (6th Cir. 1989)).
4
The District Court, following Feathers v. Aey, 319 F.3d 843, 848 (6th Cir. 2003), applied a
three-step test which further considers whether a reasonable person would have known about the right and
whether the official’s actions were “objectively unreasonable.” However, more recent decisions apply the
two-step test provided above. See, e.g., Dominguez v. Corr. Med. Servs., 555 F.3d 543, 549 (6th Cir.
2009); Phillips v. Roane County, 534 F.3d 531, 538 (6th Cir. 2008); Silberstein v. City of Dayton, 440 F.3d
306, 311 (6th Cir. 2006).
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 6
A. Section 1983 Federal Constitutional Claims
1. Malicious Prosecution
The parties on appeal have not challenged the District Court’s holding that
Miller’s federal Fourth Amendment claim for malicious prosecution under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 may be considered under the same criteria as under Michigan state law. Miller,
2009 WL 416438, *4. This court and other courts have debated the question of whether
the Fourth Amendment, when it becomes a matter of substantive due process under the
Fourteenth Amendment, incorporates the varying elements of the state tort of malicious
prosecution. Compare Frantz v. Village of Bradford, 245 F.3d 869, 873-75 (6th Cir.
2001) (rejecting incorporation of state law elements) with Darrah v. City of Oak Park,
255 F.3d 301, 309-10 (6th Cir. 2001) (reaching opposite conclusion). Assuming without
deciding, because the parties have not challenged the District Court’s holding that the
state law is the proper standard, we will apply the Michigan standard. To succeed on a
malicious prosecution claim under Michigan law, a plaintiff must prove that:
(1) the defendant has initiated a criminal prosecution against him, (2) the
criminal proceedings terminated in his favor, (3) the private person who
instituted or maintained the prosecution lacked probable cause for his
actions, and (4) the action was undertaken with malice or a purpose in
instituting the criminal claim other than bringing the offender to justice.
Walsh v. Taylor, 689 N.W.2d 506, 516-17 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004).
The District Court properly granted summary judgment on the malicious
prosecution claim with respect to four of the seven tickets because they constituted civil
infractions, not criminal prosecutions. See Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 257.328, 257.223,
257.625a(2)(d), 257.710e (designating failure to provide proof of insurance, failure to
provide proof of registration, refusal to submit to a breath test, and failure to wear a
seatbelt as civil infractions); see also Huron Twp. v. City Disp. Sys., Inc., 531 N.W.2d
153, 158 (Mich. 1995) (stating that “[c]ivil infractions are not crimes”).
As to the three criminal charges — reckless driving, minor in possession, and
violation of the 0.02% no-tolerance law — the District Court found that Deputy
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 7
Wagester had probable cause to arrest. An officer has probable cause when “the facts
and circumstances known to the officer warrant a prudent man in believing that an
offense has been committed.” Henry v. United States, 361 U.S. 98, 102 (1959).
In general, the existence of probable cause in a § 1983 action
presents a jury question, unless there is only one reasonable
determination possible. But under § 1983, an arresting agent is entitled
to qualified immunity if he or she could reasonably (even if erroneously)
have believed that the arrest was lawful, in light of clearly established
law and the information possessed at the time by the arresting agent.
Parsons v. City of Pontiac, 533 F.3d 492, 501 (6th Cir. 2008) (citations and internal
quotation marks omitted). An arrest is valid so long as there is probable cause for a
single charge of an arrestable offense. Lyons v. City of Xenia, 417 F.3d 565, 573 (6th
Cir. 2005). Under Michigan law, arrestable offenses include felonies, misdemeanors,
and ordinance violations, but not civil infractions. People v. Chapman, 387 N.W.2d 835,
839 n.11 (Mich. 1986); Mich. Comp. Laws § 764.15. We conclude that whether or not
Wagester reasonably believed the arrest was lawful is a genuine issue of material fact
that should be submitted to a jury.
(i) Arrest for Drinking while Driving. — Wagester is correct that “subsequent
evidence that plaintiff had not been drinking does not vitiate the probable cause
established by what the officer observed and the results of the field sobriety tests.”
(Resp. Br. at 24-25.) However, the fact that Miller’s blood alcohol was found to be
0.00% casts doubt on Deputy Wagester’s claims that Miller smelled of alcohol and failed
the field sobriety tests. Although the District Court notes that “Miller has not argued
that he actually passed the field sobriety tests or that Deputy Wagester lied about his
other perceptions,” Miller stated in his briefs here and in the District Court, “even though
[Miller] had not been drinking that night nor did he exhibit any physical manifestations
that he had been drinking, [Wagester] ordered him to exit his vehicle and performed a
series of field sobriety tests on him for no other reason than to harass him.” (Pet. Br. at
27; Plaintiff’s Response to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, R.30, p. 8). It
is unclear how Miller could more specifically challenge Wagester’s perceptions of
Miller’s odor, appearance, and performance on field sobriety tests, especially because
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 8
he would have no way of knowing how the test is evaluated and claims he was not told
whether he had failed and why.
Although Wagester’s claims, if believed, would constitute probable cause to
arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol, a jury could reasonably conclude, in
light of the 0.00% blood alcohol result and Miller’s testimony, that Wagester was being
untruthful generally about his observations and did not have probable cause to believe
Miller was drinking. In light of the conflict in the evidence, the jury could conclude that
Wagester was lying.
(ii) Arrest for Reckless Driving. — The District Court concluded that Wagester
had probable cause to arrest for reckless driving because “Miller admits that he ran a
stop sign going approximately 30 miles per hour.” This exaggerates Miller’s deposition
testimony. Although he acknowledged driving 30 miles per hour past a stop sign, he
also stated that the road was icy and he was unable to brake at the intersection. An
“officer must consider the totality of the circumstances, recognizing both the inculpatory
and exculpatory evidence, before determining if he has probable cause to make an
arrest. . . . [A] suspect’s satisfactory explanation of suspicious behavior is certainly a
factor” in determining whether probable cause exists. Gardenhire v. Schubert, 205 F.3d
303, 318 (6th Cir. 2000). For example, this Court upheld denial of summary judgment
in a similar § 1983 suit against a police officer when the plaintiff ran a red light but
claimed his car stalled as he tried to go through the light when it was yellow. Ciak v.
City of Louisville, No. 93-6119, 1995 WL 7959, *1 (6th Cir. Jan. 9, 1995).5
Under Michigan law, reckless driving is driving a vehicle “in willful or wanton
disregard for the safety of persons or property.” Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.626. Because
Deputy Wagester was aware of the icy road conditions—which could certainly have
5
Ciak, a case not cited by either party or the District Court, has many other parallels, including
an officer’s claim that the plaintiff failed an alphabet and heel-to-toe test, alleged physical signs of
intoxication, and a 0.00% blood-alcohol test result. After the plaintiff won at trial following the denial of
summary judgment, this Court upheld the verdict and refused to grant the officer qualified immunity. Ciak
v. Lasch, No. 96-5400, 1997 WL 535781 (6th Cir. Aug. 28, 1997). However, there are a few additional
factors which distinguish that case, especially the fact that the plaintiff was arrested despite two prior
breathalyzer tests at the scene that returned results of 0.00% blood alcohol. Id. at *4.
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 9
caused Miller to inadvertently drive through the stop sign—there is a genuine issue of
fact as to whether Wagester had probable cause to arrest Miller for reckless driving.
(iii) Arrest for Minor in Possession. — Finally, Wagester wrote Miller a
criminal ticket for minor in possession of alcohol. We are unable to find any discussion
or explanation in the record from the briefs, depositions, the police report, or the District
Court opinion as to the basis for this charge. Thus, we cannot conclude that Deputy
Wagester had probable cause to arrest Miller on that basis.
(iv) Showing Malice. — Having concluded that there is a genuine issue of
material fact as to whether Wagester had probable cause to arrest Miller for all three
criminal charges, the final element of malicious prosecution is that “the action was
undertaken with malice or a purpose in instituting the criminal claim other than bringing
the offender to justice.” Walsh, 689 N.W.2d at 516-17. In Michigan, “[w]hen a party
is sued for malicious prosecution, a jury may infer malice from an absence of probable
cause.” Friedman v. Dozorc, 312 N.W.2d 585, 617 (Mich. 1981); see also Dupuis v.
Kemp, No. 263880, 2006 WL 401125, *1 (Mich. Ct. App. Feb. 21, 2006) (stating
“malice may be inferred from a lack of probable cause”). Thus, the questions of fact
regarding probable cause extend to malice, at least for the purposes of summary
judgment.
Moreover, as Miller notes in his brief, the fact that Wagester ordered Miller’s
blood to be retested for drugs after it came back negative for alcohol and all charges
were dropped could also, along with other evidence, lead a jury to infer malice under
a theory that Wagester was indeed trying to harass Miller.6 (Pet. Br. at 41). See Ciak
v. Lasch, No. 96-5400, 1997 WL 535781, *4 (6th Cir. Aug. 28, 1997) (Suggesting
finding of malice because “a review of the record suggests that [the officer’s] claim at
trial that he suspected that [plaintiff] was impaired by drugs, rather than alcohol, was a
6
The District Court rejected the argument that the request for additional testing could be used to
support a claim for malicious prosecution “[b]ecause the additional retesting did not initiate criminal
proceedings.” Although the act of the request itself may not have been malicious prosecution for that
reason, it could nonetheless constitute circumstantial evidence of malice for a malicious prosecution claim
on other grounds.
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 10
disingenuous post-hoc attempt to justify the arrest. The evidence at the scene of the
arrest and [the officer’s] own statements and actions at the time of the arrest show that
[the officer] had no such suspicion.”).
2. Unlawful Seizure: Arrest
Miller alleges that Deputy Wagester arrested him in violation of his Fourth
Amendment rights. Similarly to malicious prosecution, “in order for a wrongful arrest
claim to succeed under § 1983, a plaintiff must prove that the police lacked probable
cause. Probable cause exists if the facts and circumstances known to the officer warrant
a prudent man in believing that the offense has been committed.” Brooks v. Rothe, 577
F.3d 701, 706 (6th Cir. 2009) (quoting Logsdon v. Hains, 492 F.3d 334, 341 (6th Cir.
2007) (internal citations omitted)). The District Court granted summary judgment to
Deputy Wagester for this claim because it found that, under the facts and circumstances
known to him, Wagester had probable cause to arrest Miller. For the reasons stated
above, there is a genuine issue of material fact on this matter.
3. Unlawful Search and Seizure: Blood Test
Miller alleges that Deputy Wagester violated his Fourth Amendment rights by
requesting that the lab test his blood sample for controlled substances after the first
analysis came back negative for alcohol. Miller argues that Deputy Wagester obtained
the search warrant in order to test for alcohol and that testing for anything other than
alcohol exceeded the scope of the warrant. The District Court granted Wagester
summary judgment because it concluded that the additional test did not exceed the scope
of the warrant: in Michigan, drivers are guilty of Operating a Vehicle while
Intoxicated—the charge listed on the search warrant—if they are intoxicated with
alcohol, a controlled substance, or both. Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.625(1). Although
Miller asks us to consider the “limiting and strict language contained within the four
corners of the search warrant,” (Pet. Br. at 31), he provides no argument challenging the
District Court’s conclusion. Although it seems troubling that Deputy Wagester stated
in his deposition that he believed the search warrant only permitted testing for alcohol,
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 11
and that Wagester ordered the blood retested for controlled substances despite never
previously indicating he believed Miller was under the influence of controlled
substances, the search warrant on its face clearly authorizes samples to be tested for
alcohol, or controlled substances, or both. Thus, we affirm the grant of summary
judgment for this claim.
4. Excessive Force
Miller alleges that Deputy Wagester violated his constitutional rights by using
excessive force. Miller specifically complains about his exposure to cold weather during
the stop, Deputy Wagester’s conduct in effecting the arrest, and the tightness of the
handcuffs. Claims of excessive force are analyzed under an objective-reasonableness
standard, which depends on the facts and circumstance of each case viewed from the
perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395-
96 (1989). An officer making an investigative stop or arrest has “the right to use some
degree of physical coercion or threat thereof to effect it.” Id. at 396. “The question we
must ask is whether, under the totality of the circumstances, the officer’s actions were
objectively reasonable.” Fox v. DeSoto, 489 F.3d 227, 236-37 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing
Kostrzewa v. City of Troy, 247 F.3d 633, 639 (6th Cir. 2001)).
The District Court granted summary judgment to Wagester on this claim because
“Miller has failed to allege conduct on behalf of Deputy Wagester that amounts to
excessive force.” We agree with respect to the allegations of unnecessary detention in
freezing weather and the tightness of the handcuffs, but disagree with respect to Miller’s
allegation that he was kicked and thrown against Wagester’s vehicle.
(i) Unnecessary Detention in Freezing Weather. — “[U]nnecessary detention
in extreme temperatures . . . violates the Fourth Amendment’s prohibitions on
unreasonable searches and seizures.” Burchett v. Kiefer, 310 F.3d 937, 945 (6th Cir.
2002). Although there is disagreement as to exactly how long Miller was subjected to
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 12
the extremely cold weather,7 as the District Court noted: “There are no allegations that
Deputy Wagester left Miller in the cold longer than was necessary to conduct the field
sobriety tests or that Deputy Wagester was not likewise exposed to the cold for the same
amount of time.” Miller claims that he was so cold that he was visually shaking and
passed out. Indeed, the medical technician who drew Miller’s blood observed him
shaking. However, several factors weigh heavily against Miller’s allegation of excessive
force from exposure to cold weather: he had recently been at an outdoor event and
helped a friend who had driven into a ditch, admits he never told Deputy Wagester he
was cold while on the side of the road or elsewhere, indicated during the booking
process that he did not need medical attention and described his present physical
condition as good, and does not appear to have presented any notable symptoms during
a medical evaluation a week later for hypothermia. Accordingly, we agree with the
District Court that a jury could not reasonably find that Miller was subjected to
“unnecessary detention in extreme temperatures.” Burchett, 310 F.3d at 945.
(ii) Failure to Loosen Handcuffs. — The Fourth Amendment prohibits unduly
tight or excessively forceful handcuffing during the course of a seizure. Morrison v. Bd.
of Tr. of Green Twp., 583 F.3d 394, 400 (6th Cir. 2009). This right was “clearly
established” for qualified immunity purposes at the time of Miller’s arrest. Id. at 401.
In order for a handcuffing claim to survive summary judgment, a plaintiff must offer
sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact that: (1) he or she
complained that the handcuffs were too tight; (2) the officer ignored those complaints;
and (3) the plaintiff experienced “some physical injury” resulting from the handcuffing.
Id. (citing Lyons v. City of Xenia, 417 F.3d 565, 575-76 (6th Cir. 2005)).
The District Court properly concluded that Deputy Wagester did not use
excessive force in handcuffing Miller because Miller did not complain about the
handcuffs until they arrived at the jail, at which point they were removed. Moreover,
Miller cannot provide a specific amount of time that it took Wagester to remove the
7
Although Miller claimed in his deposition that he was outside of his vehicle for “At least 45
minutes,” he told a health care provider about a week after the arrest that he estimated the time to be 20
minutes. Deputy Wagester stated in his deposition that Miller was outside for “six to eight minutes.”
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 13
handcuffs after he first complained. Thus, although Miller meets the first prong, it
cannot be said that Wagester “ignored” his complaints.8 Cf. Morrison, 583 F.3d at 402(holding the second prong satisfied when officer denied request to loosen and stated he
could place handcuffs on “as tight as he wanted to and that’s how they were staying”).
He also fails to satisfy the third prong: although Miller stated in his deposition that he
lost color in his hands for more than a day after the arrest and has a continuing inability
to use his hands, these assertions are not supported by his medical records or the intake
form he completed during his arrest.
(iii) Slamming Miller against Vehicle. — In his claim for excessive force,
Miller alleges that Deputy Wagester spun him around, slammed him against his vehicle,
and kicked his feet apart. Miller admits that he was not “hurt” by this conduct. The
District Court granted summary judgment for Wagester by concluding, without citation
to authority, that “[i]t is not objectively unreasonable for an officer to place an individual
under arrest using force that does not cause harm.”
This Court has made clear that a plaintiff may “allege use of excessive force even
where the physical contact between the parties did not leave excessive marks or cause
extensive physical damage.” Morrison, 583 F.3d at 407 (quoting Ingram v. City of
Columbus, 185 F.3d 579, 597 (6th Cir. 1999)); see also Holmes v. City of Massillon,
78 F.3d 1041, 1048 (6th Cir. 1996). In determining whether there has been a violation
of the Fourth Amendment, we consider not the “extent of the injury inflicted” but
whether an officer subjects a detainee to “gratuitous violence.” Morrison, 583 F.3d at407 (citing Pigram ex rel. Pigram v. Chaudoin, 199 F. App’x. 509, 513 (6th Cir. 2006)
(denying qualified immunity to an officer who slapped a suspect in the face because he
was being unruly and had a “smart-ass mouth,” despite the minimal use of force applied
and the absence of any resulting injury)).
8
In his brief and in the District Court below, Miller apparently maintains that an officer must
“immediately” loosen handcuffs in response to a complaint that they are too tight, citing our decision in
Burchett v. Kiefer, 310 F.3d 937 (6th Cir. 2002). But although Burchett concluded that there had not been
a constitutional violation because the response was immediate, it can hardly be construed to mean that a
longer response is automatically a violation. In any event, because he has provided no indication as to the
length of Wagester’s response time, we have no way of knowing that it was anything other than immediate.
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 14
“Not every push or shove, even if it may later seem unnecessary in the peace of
a judge’s chambers, violates the Fourth Amendment.” Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386,
396 (1989) (internal citation omitted). The question whether force is excessive turns on
the objective reasonableness of the officer's conduct under the circumstances. Id. at 397.
The Supreme Court has provided three factors for courts to consider in evaluating an
excessive force claim: the severity of the crime, whether the suspect posed an immediate
threat to the safety of officers or others, and whether the suspect actively resisted arrest
or attempted to evade arrest by flight. Id. at 396. Here, at least under Miller’s account
of the arrest, all three factors strongly weigh in favor of a valid claim for excessive force.
The facts of this case are analogous to Minchella v. Bauman, in which this Court
reversed summary judgment for a police officer accused of using excessive force after
a traffic stop. 72 F. App’x. 405 (6th Cir. 2003). The plaintiff was also grabbed, thrown
into a police car, and was kicked in the leg, and the parties disputed the facts preceding
the arrest: the plaintiff claimed she had done nothing wrong while the officer claimed
she was speeding, did not stop immediately, was agitated, and threw her license and
registration at him. Id. at 406. This Court held that there was a genuine issue of material
fact as to whether the officer’s actions were excessive. Id. at 409-10.
This Court has also found genuine issues of material fact to exist in other cases
of alleged excessive force during arrest. See Carpenter v. Bowling, 276 F. App’x 423,
426-28 (6th Cir. 2008) (suspect thrown against van despite not resisting arrest); Zantello
v. Shelby Twp., 277 F. App’x. 570, 574 (6th Cir. 2008) (officers continued to use force
against suspect involved in violent assault “even after they had full control of the scene
and even after he cooperated with them”); Lustig v. Mondeau, 211 F. App’x 364, 369-71
(6th Cir. 2006) (officer twisting arm of woman accused of driving a watercraft while
intoxicated despite not resisting); Solomon v. Auburn Hills Police Dep’t., 389 F.3d 167,
174 (6th Cir. 2004) (woman arrested for trespassing in movie theater kicked in legs and
thrown against display case despite minor offense, posing no immediate threat, and not
attempting to flee); Burden v. Carroll, 108 F. App’x. 291, 293-94 (6th Cir. 2004) (officer
pushed belligerent suspect against brick wall after suspect had reportedly threatened
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 15
someone); Bass v. Robinson, 167 F.3d 1041 (6th Cir. 1999) (officer allegedly slammed
suspect’s head against tree after drug sale). Cf. Dunn v. Matatall, 549 F.3d 348, 354-55
(6th Cir. 2008) (not excessive force when suspect thrown out of car after attempting to
drive away from police and apparently refused to exit vehicle); Lockett v. Donnellon, 38
F. App’x 289, 291-92 (6th Cir. 2002) (not excessive force when suspect pushed and
pulled into car in rough matter where suspect was uncooperative and verbally abusive).
Miller’s claim of excessive force admittedly comes close to the “scintilla of
evidence” of excessive force this Court has previously found to be insufficient to survive
summary judgment. See, e.g., Goodrich v. Everett, 193 F. App’x. 551, 557 (6th Cir.
2006); Gaddis ex rel Gaddis v. Redford Twp., 364 F.3d 763, 773-74 (6th Cir. 2004).
However, we believe that a jury could reasonably find that slamming an arrestee into a
vehicle constitutes excessive force when the offense is non-violent, the arrestee posed
no immediate safety threat, and the arrestee had not attempted to escape and was not
actively resisting. Graham, 490 U.S. at 396.
“Qualified immunity will often operate to protect officers from the sometimes
hazy border between excessive and acceptable force.” Solomon, 389 F.3d at 174(internal quotations and citations omitted). An officer should be entitled to qualified
immunity if he made an objectively reasonable mistake as to the amount of force that
was necessary under the circumstances with which he was faced. Greene v. Barber, 310
F.3d 889, 894 (6th Cir. 2002). The facts here, however, do not present one of those hazy
cases. In the light of the precedent in this Circuit, a jury could reasonably find that the
officer’s alleged conduct violated Miller’s rights.
B. State Claims
Plaintiff’s state law claims include false arrest/false imprisonment, malicious
prosecution, assault and battery, and gross negligence. Deputy Wagester claims that he
is entitled to governmental immunity on these claims. With the exception of gross
negligence, each one constitutes an intentional tort because they contain intent as an
element. Odom v. Wayne County, 760 N.W.2d 217, 228 (Mich. 2008). To be entitled
to governmental immunity for an intentional tort, Wagester must establish that he was
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 16
acting in the course of his employment and at least reasonably believed that he was
acting within the scope of his authority, that his actions were discretionary in nature, and
that he acted in good faith. Id. The only factor at issue here is “good faith,” which is
defined as “without malice.” Id. at 225.
The District Court awarded summary judgment to Wagester on the state tort
claims of false arrest/false imprisonment and malicious prosecution because it found that
he had probable cause to arrest Miller, Walsh, 689 N.W.2d at 513-14, 517, and on the
assault and battery claim because it is analogous to the excessive force claim in that
Miller can only recover if Deputy Wagester’s conduct was objectively unreasonable,
which the District Court found not to be the case. VanVorous v. Burmeister, 687
N.W.2d 132, 142 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004). Because malice may be inferred from absence
of probable cause, Friedman v. Dozorc, 312 N.W.2d 585, 617 (Mich. 1981), there are
genuine questions of material fact with regard to both of these issues.
The District Court granted summary judgment on Miller’s claim of gross
negligence, which is based on Deputy Wagester’s use of handcuffs and conduct while
effecting the arrest. However, Michigan “has rejected attempts to transform claims
involving elements of intentional torts into claims of gross negligence.” VanVorous, 687
N.W.2d at 143 (listing cases). Thus, Miller did not state a claim on which relief could
be granted. The remaining basis for Miller’s gross negligence claim is his exposure to
cold weather during the field sobriety tests, but Miller has failed to demonstrate that
Wagester was negligent in this respect for the reasons stated above. Thus, we affirm the
District Court as to this claim.
III. Municipal Liability
Finally, Miller asserts a § 1983 claim of municipal liability based on alleged
Sanilac County policies and practices of failing to adequately train and supervise its
officers. To succeed on a municipal liability claim, a plaintiff must establish that his or
her constitutional rights were violated and that a policy or custom of the municipality
was the “moving force” behind the deprivation of the plaintiff’s rights. Powers v.
Hamilton County Pub. Defender Comm'n, 501 F.3d 592, 606-07 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 17
Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978)). A systematic failure to train
police officers adequately is a custom or policy which can lead to municipal liability.
Gregory v. City of Louisville, 444 F.3d 725, 753 (6th Cir. 2006) (citing City of Canton
v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 388 (1989)). “The inadequacy of police training only serves as
a basis for § 1983 liability ‘where the failure to train amounts to deliberate indifference
to the rights of persons with whom the police come into contact.’ ” Slusher v. Carson,
540 F.3d 449, 457 (6th Cir. 2008) (quoting Harris, 489 U.S. at 388). To establish
deliberate indifference, the plaintiff “must show prior instances of unconstitutional
conduct demonstrating that the County has ignored a history of abuse and was clearly
on notice that the training in this particular area was deficient and likely to cause injury.”
Fisher v. Harden, 398 F.3d 837, 849 (6th Cir. 2005).
The District Court granted summary judgment to Sanilac County after finding
that Miller failed to establish a violation of his federal rights. Although we disagree with
this conclusion for the reasons stated above, we affirm the District Court as to the claim
asserted against Sanilac County because Miller has not shown that a policy or custom
was the moving force behind the alleged violations or that there was deliberate
indifference based on prior instances of unconstitutional conduct.
IV. Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, we REVERSE the grant of summary judgment
with respect to the federal claims of malicious prosecution for the criminal charges,
unlawful arrest, and excessive force (for allegedly slamming Miller against the vehicle
and kicking his legs, but not for exposure to cold temperatures or use of handcuffs), and
the state claims of false arrest/false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and assault and
battery. We AFFIRM the grant of summary judgment for all other claims, including
malicious prosecution for the civil infractions, unlawful search and seizure for the
second blood test, the state claim of gross negligence, and municipal liability against
Sanilac County.
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 18
__________________________________________________
CONCURRING IN PART AND DISSENTING IN PART
__________________________________________________
COOK, Circuit Judge, concurring in part and dissenting in part. I would affirm
the district court’s decision and, therefore, respectfully dissent from those portions of the
majority opinion reversing the grant of summary judgment to Deputy Wagester.
I.
A. § 1983 Claims
1. Unlawful Seizure: Arrest1
Reckless Driving
Despite Miller’s admission “that he ran a stop sign going approximately 30 miles
per hour,” the majority concludes that “icy road conditions—which could certainly have
caused Miller to inadvertently drive through the stop sign”—created a genuine issue of
fact as to whether probable cause existed for the arrest. Adherence to the proper
probable cause inquiry leads me to disagree.
“In order for a wrongful arrest claim to succeed under § 1983, a plaintiff must
prove that the police lacked probable cause.” Fridley v. Horrighs, 291 F.3d 867, 872
(6th Cir. 2002). “Probable cause exists if the facts and circumstances known to the
officer warrant a prudent man in believing that the offense has been committed.”
Logsdon v. Hains, 492 F.3d 334, 341 (6th Cir. 2007) (quotation marks and citation
omitted). Michigan law provides that “[a] person who drives a vehicle upon a highway
. . . in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of
reckless driving,” Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.626(1), and classifies reckless driving as an
arrestable offense, § 764.15.
1
My differing analysis calls for examining Miller’s wrongful arrest claims before turning to
malicious prosecution.
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 19
Miller’s driving through a stop sign at 30 miles per hour supplied probable cause
for his arrest. See, e.g., United States v. Miller, 326 F. App’x 513, 516 (11th Cir. 2009)
(police had probable cause to stop vehicle for reckless driving after observing plaintiff
“drive recklessly and ignore a stop sign”); United States v. Jackson, 167 F. App’x 812,
813 (D.C. Cir. 2005) (police had probable cause to stop vehicle for reckless driving after
observing plaintiff fail to stop at a stop sign, fail to signal when turning, and swerve to
avoid oncoming traffic in an alley). The vehicle’s speed is critical to this finding. If
Miller skidded through the stop sign or traveled through the intersection at a greatly
reduced speed, for example, the majority might justifiably find a genuine issue of
material fact. But driving through an intersection at 30 miles per hour evinces wanton
disregard for the safety of others. Indeed, rather than call into question the issue of
probable cause, the icy road conditions favor the officer’s judgment that Miller was
driving too fast for the conditions.
Driving Under the Influence2
Probable cause to arrest Miller for reckless driving precludes a wrongful arrest
claim, even if Wagester lacked probable cause for the additional charges. Lyons v. City
of Xenia, 417 F.3d 565, 573 (6th Cir. 2005); Pourghoraishi v. Flying J, Inc., 449 F.3d
751, 761 (7th Cir. 2006). But because probable cause is a necessary element of
malicious prosecution, I address the issue here.
The probable cause inquiry entails an examination of the totality of the
circumstances “from a law enforcement officer’s perspective.” United States v.
Ferguson, 8 F.3d 385, 392 (6th Cir. 1993) (en banc) (citations omitted). The
determination hinges not on hindsight, but on the facts as perceived by a reasonable
officer in Wagester’s position when the stop and arrest occurred. Other circuits
recognize that “[a plaintiff’s] refusal to take a breathalyzer test, coupled with the smell
of alcohol from the vehicle, g[i]ve[s] [officers] probable cause to arrest.” Miller v.
2
Michigan’s minor in possession statute criminalizes the underage consumption or possession
of alcoholic liquor. Mich. Comp. Laws § 436.1703(1). Thus, the same facts establishing probable cause
for driving under the influence (which necessarily encompasses consumption) also suffice to show
probable cause for minor in possession.
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 20
Harget, 458 F.3d 1251, 1260 (11th Cir. 2006); see also Summers v. Utah, 927 F.2d 1165,
1166 (10th Cir. 1991). Here, Miller drove recklessly, gave varying accounts of his
whereabouts, failed all but one of the field sobriety tests,3 and refused a breathalyzer.
Evaluating the facts from Wagester’s perspective, but in the light most favorable to
Miller, sufficient facts supported the decision to arrest. See Jolley v. Harvell, 254 F.
App’x 483, 488–89 (6th Cir. 2007).
2. Malicious Prosecution
While the elements of a federal malicious prosecution claim remain undefined
in this circuit, our cases clearly establish a plaintiff’s obligation to show, “at a
minimum, the absence of probable cause to justify his arrest and prosecution.” Barnes
v. Wright, 449 F.3d 709, 716 (6th Cir. 2006) (citations, quotation marks, and editorial
marks omitted). And, here, the circumstances offered the requisite probable cause to
justify Miller’s arrest and prosecution.
3. Excessive Force
I agree with my colleagues’ conclusion that Miller failed to come forward with
evidentiary support for his first two excessive force claims—unnecessary detention in
freezing weather and failure to loosen handcuffs. I cannot agree, however, with the view
they take on the third claim—slamming against the vehicle.
Drawing all inferences in Miller’s favor, Wagester spun him around, “slammed”
him against his vehicle, and kicked his feet apart—but caused no injury. Arrests effected
by law enforcement officials on a daily basis could be described that same way. Indeed,
this is why the Supreme Court counsels that “the right to make an arrest . . . necessarily
carries with it the right to use some degree of physical coercion or threat thereof to effect
3
The majority questions how “Miller could more specifically challenge . . . [his] . . . performance
on [the] field sobriety tests,” Maj. Op. at 7-8, and refuses to consider the tests for purposes of summary
judgment. But, as the district court correctly noted, Miller never argued that he passed the field sobriety
tests. Moreover, a variety of factors—including inclement weather—might cause a sober person to fail
a sobriety test and prompt an officer to reasonably (but mistakenly) suspect intoxication. Although we
must view the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, Miller does not adequately put his failure
of the sobriety tests in dispute.
No. 09-1340 Miller v. Sanilac County, et al. Page 21
it” and that “not every push or shove . . . violates the Fourth Amendment.” Graham v.
Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 (1989) (citation and quotation marks omitted).
Although a slam might constitute excessive force in some circumstances, it fails
to rise to that level here. Miller’s deposition testimony confirms this conclusion.
According to Miller, as Wagester informed him that he was under arrest, the officer
“turned [him] around and shoved [him] against [the car].” Miller does not claim that
Wagester shoved him violently, maliciously, or gratuitously. Cf. Burden v. Carroll, 108
F. App’x 291, 293 (6th Cir. 2004) (officer violently shoved plaintiff into a brick wall
with protrusions, causing significant injury). And when asked if Wagester’s actions hurt
him, Miller responded: “I mean, not really.” Miller’s “ambiguous description of the . . .
shov[e] . . . he endured constitutes at best a scintilla of evidence, insufficient for a
rational trier of fact to conclude that a reasonable officer would consider the force
excessive.” Goodrich v. Everett, 193 F. App’x 551, 557 (6th Cir. 2006). Because Miller
fails to “allege a level of force or brutality that a reasonable officer would consider
excessive,” id., the district court correctly granted Wagester qualified immunity.
B. State Claims
As with Miller’s federal claims, the existence of probable cause proves fatal to
his state tort claims of false arrest/false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.
Similarly, Miller’s assault and battery claim mirrors his federal excessive force claim
insofar as Miller can only recover if Wagester acted unreasonably—which he did not.
The district court properly resolved Miller’s state law claims.
II.
Wagester discharged his duties constitutionally and reasonably. Thus, I would
affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment.