# MAZUR v. TOWNSHIP OF MARLBORO

> District Court, D. New Jersey · January 23, 2020

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10654770

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, D. New Jersey
- **Decided:** January 23, 2020
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10654770

## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction)

- noting that “a decision on qualified immunity will be premature when there are unresolved disputes of historical fact relevant to the immunity analysis.”
- reversing district court for finding qualified immunity in excessive force case where “such a legal conclusion . . . rests on a factual presumption that is inappropriate on summer judgment”

## Opinion text

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
____________________________________
:
MARLENE MAZUR, :
: Case No. 3:16-cv-05527-BRM-DEA
Plaintiff, :
:
v. :
: OPINION
TOWNSHIP OF MARLBORO, et al., :
:
Defendants. :
____________________________________:
MARTINOTTI, DISTRICT JUDGE
Before this Court is Defendants Township of Marlboro (the “Township”) and Chief of
Police Bruce E. Hill’s (“Chief Hill”) Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 33-2.)
Additionally, Donna Gonzalez (“Officer Gonzalez”) moves for Summary Judgment. (ECF No.
32.) Plaintiff Marlene Mazur (“Mazur”) opposes the motions. (ECF Nos. 37, 38.) Having reviewed
the submissions filed in connection with the Motions and having declined to hold oral argument
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 78(b), for the reasons set forth below and for good
cause shown, the Township and Chief Hill’s Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED, and
Officer Gonzalez’s Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
I. BACKGROUND
The parties agree on the following timeline but contest several details which will be
discussed infra. This action arises out of an incident on January 24, 2016, where Officer Gonzalez
of the Marlboro Township Police Department was dispatched to Boundary Road for an argument
between a male and female in the street. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 1 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 1.) It was later
determined that the female and male were Plaintiff Marlene Mazur (“Mazur”) and her husband
Randy Mazur. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 2 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 2.) Mazur was yelling at her husband in front
of a Good Samaritan who was trying to help Mazur’s husband free Mazur’s car from a snowbank.
(ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 2-4 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 4.) Ultimately, Mazur left the car where it was and walked
up to the house with her husband. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 6 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 6.) Meantime, Mazur’s

son, Robert, went down the driveway and was able to free the stuck vehicle and drive it into the
garage. (Id.) Following this, Officer Gonzalez pulled into the driveway at 225 Boundary Rd. where
she observed the vehicle in the garage with the garage door open. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶¶ 11-12 and
ECF No. 37 ¶¶ 11-12). Officers Meglio and Schuster were also present. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 13 and
ECF No. 37 ¶ 13.) At that point, at least one of the officers spoke to Robert by the entrance to the
garage door. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 17 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 17.) Eventually, Mazur told her son to get into
the house and stated, “We’re done with this.” (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 20 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 20.) Mazur
requested a search warrant and asked the officers what she had done wrong. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 24
and ECF No. 37 ¶ 24.) When Officer Gonzalez told Mazur that the officers needed to check on her
husband, Mazur stated that her husband was fine and was sleeping. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 25 and ECF

No. 37 ¶ 25.) Mazur told the officers she was going to call the Colts Neck police and went to the
kitchen to do so. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 29 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 29.) At some point, Officer Gonzalez hit
Mazur with a closed fist strike. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 35 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 35.) Mazur was transferred
to the Marlboro police headquarters, where she received an ice pack for her swollen eye and was
eventually released with charges of obstruction and assault on a police officer. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶¶
45-46 and ECF No. 37 ¶¶ 45-46.)
The parties dispute the details of the events leading up to and including Officer Gonzalez’s
punch. The following is Officer Gonzalez’s version of the events. Officer Gonzalez claims Mazur
was uncooperative and combative towards the officers when they arrived. (ECF No. 37 ¶ 19.)
Additionally, as Officer Gonzalez attempted to speak to Mazur, Mazur began yelling “you have
no right to be here.” (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 22.) After Officer Gonzalez told Mazur her investigation
would be complete once they verified Mazur’s husband’s well-being, Mazur refused and put her
hands on Officer Gonzalez. (Id. ¶¶ 25-26.) Following this contact, Officer Gonzalez warned Mazur

she would be arrested if she touched Officer Gonzalez again. (Id. ¶ 28.) Next, Mazur turned away
and ran toward her kitchen as Officer Gonzalez told Mazur to return. (Id. ¶¶ 29-30.) At this point,
Mazur turned around and began walking quickly toward Officer Gonzalez. Officer Gonzalez then
claims Mazur “reared back with all her might and two-hand shoved [her] into the wall.” (Id. ¶ 33.)
Once Officer Gonzalez recovered from the contact, she immediately defended herself with a closed
fist strike that brought Mazur to the ground. (Id. ¶ 35.)
Mazur’s version of the facts is decidedly different. First, Mazur claims she was not yelling
at the officers at any point during the confrontation. (ECF No. 37 ¶ 19.) While she did request a
warrant from the officers, Mazur did not yell her request. (Id. ¶ 23.) Further, Mazur maintains the
contact she made with Officer Gonzalez was a result of Officer Gonzalez walking into her. (Id.

¶ 26.) Mazur had her hands up to protect her face, fearing Officer Gonzalez was going to hit her.
(Id.) While Mazur admits Officer Gonzalez told her she would be arrested if she touched Officer
Gonzalez again, she continued to maintain that she never touched Officer Gonzalez. (Id. ¶ 28.)
Additionally, Mazur claims she walked toward the kitchen to call the Colts Neck Police because
she was extremely frightened by the actions of the officers. (Id. ¶ 29.) Further, Mazur complied
with Officer Gonzalez’s request that she return from the kitchen and noted Officer Gonzalez had
her hand on her service weapon on her hip. (Id. ¶ 30.) Finally, Mazur flatly denies pushing Officer
Gonzalez. (Id. ¶¶ 32-33.) Instead, Mazur put her hands up when Officer Gonzalez approached her,
and Officer Gonzalez walked into Mazur’s hands. (Id. ¶ 32.) Mazur describes the contact as her
hands “barely grazing” Officer Gonzalez. (Id. ¶ 35.) Ultimately, Gonzalez’s punch shattered
Mazur’s left orbit, requiring surgery and “causing permanent orthopedic and neurological
injuries.” (Id.)
On February 14, 2017, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office sent a letter to

Lieutenant Christie McKenna of the Marlboro Police Department stating the Prosecutor’s Office
declined to file criminal charges for excessive force against Officer Gonzalez. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 48
and ECF No. 37 ¶ 48.) Additionally, the Marlboro Police Department conducted an internal affairs
investigation in which Lieutenant McKenna determined there had been no violations of Marlboro
Township rules and regulations. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 49 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 49.) However, Mazur’s
expert, Richard Rivera, issued a report on December 5, 2018, concluding Officer Gonzalez used
excessive force when she punched Mazur. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 50 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 50.) In response,
Defendants submitted the expert report of Dr. Richard Celeste which disagreed with Rivera’s
findings. (ECF No. 32-1 ¶ 51 and ECF No. 37 ¶ 51.)
Mazur initiated this action on September 19, 2016. (ECF No. 1) On September 27, 2016,

Mazur filed her Amended Complaint alleging: (1) § 1983 violation for use of excessive force; (2)
§ 1983 violation of the Fourth Amendment to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures; (3)
§ 1983 violation for false arrest; (4) § 1983 violation for failure to intervene; (5) § 1983 violation
for malicious prosecution; (6) § 1983 violation for failure to supervise; (7) § 1983 violation for
inadequate training and failure to implement lawful customs, practices, and policies; and (8)
violation of the New Jersey Civil Rights Act (“NJCRA”). (ECF No. 3.) On October 6, 2016,
Meglio filed an Answer to the Amended Complaint. (ECF No. 6.) On October 12, Chief Hill and
the Township filed an Answer to the Amended Complaint. (ECF No. 7.) On October 13, Officer
Gonzalez filed an Answer to the Amended Complaint. (ECF No. 8.)
On May 9, 2019, Officer Gonzalez filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 32.)
Additionally, on May 10, 2019, Chief Hill and the Township filed a Motion for Summary
Judgment. (ECF No. 33.)
II. LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter
of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). A factual dispute is material “if it bears on an essential element of
the plaintiff’s claim,” and is genuine if “a reasonable jury could find in favor the non-moving
party.” Blunt v. Lower Merion Sch. Dist., 767 F.3d 247, 265 (3d Cir. 2014).
“In considering a motion for summary judgment, a district court may not make credibility
determinations or engage in any weighing of the evidence; instead, the non-moving party’s
evidence ‘is to be believed and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor.’” Anderson
v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986). “Where the record taken as a whole could not

lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, [however,] there is no genuine issue
for trial.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986).
The party moving for summary judgment has the initial burden of showing the basis for its
motion. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). Once the movant has met this initial
burden, the burden shifts to the non-moving party who must provide evidence sufficient to
establish that a reasonable jury could find in the non-movant’s favor to warrant the denial of
summary judgment. Lawrence v. Nat’l Westminster Bank N.J., 98 F.3d 61, 65 (3d Cir. 1996);
Serodio v. Rutgers, 27 F. Supp. 3d 546, 550 (D.N.J. 2014) “A nonmoving party has created a
genuine issue of material fact if it has provided sufficient evidence to allow a jury to find in its
favor at trial. However, the party opposing the motion for summary judgment cannot rest on mere
allegations, instead it must present actual evidence that creates a genuine issue of material fact for
trial.” Serodio, 27 F. Supp. 3d at 550. There can be “no genuine issue as to any material fact” if a
party fails “to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that

party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at
322-23. “[A] complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party’s
case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” Id. at 323; Katz v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 972
F.2d 53, 55 (3d Cir. 1992).
III. DECISION
A. Claims Against Officer Gonzalez
1. Qualified Immunity
Officer Gonzalez argues she is entitled to qualified immunity because she did not violate
any of Mazur’s constitutional rights. (ECF No. 32-1 at 12.) Qualified immunity “shields
government officials from civil damages liability unless the official violated a statutory or

constitutional right that was clearly established at the time of the challenged conduct.” Taylor v.
Barkes, 135 S. Ct. 2042, 2044 (2015) (quoting Reichle v. Howards, 566 U.S. 658 (2012)).
Government officials are therefore immune from suit in their individual capacities unless the facts
alleged show: (1) a violation of a constitutional right; and (2) that the constitutional right was
“clearly established” at the time of a defendant’s alleged misconduct. Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S.
194, 201 (2001). While the question of qualified immunity is generally a question of law, “a
genuine issue of material fact will preclude summary judgment on qualified immunity.” Giles v.
Kearney, 571 F.3d 318, 326 (3d Cir. 2009); see also Curley v. Klem, 298 F.3d 271, 278 (3d Cir.
2002) (noting that “a decision on qualified immunity will be premature when there are unresolved
disputes of historical fact relevant to the immunity analysis.”) Therefore, the Court must deny
summary judgment if the plaintiff’s version of the facts demonstration of violation of the plaintiff’s
clearly established constitutional rights.
i. Illegal Search and Seizure

Officer Gonzalez contends she is entitled to qualified immunity on the illegal search and
seizure claim because she lawfully entered Mazur’s home under the emergency aid exception to
the warrant requirement. (ECF No. 32-1 at 20.) Mazur does not oppose this in her reply brief. (See
generally ECF No. 37.)
To justify a warrantless search under the emergency aid exception: (1) the officer must
have had an objectively reasonable basis to believe an emergency existed where he needed to
provide assistance to protect life or prevent injury; and (2) there must be a reasonable nexus
between the emergency and the area searched. State v. Edmonds, 47 A.3d 737, 746 (N.J. 2012).
Here, Officer Gonzalez responded to a report of an argument between an intoxicated male driver
and a female who was yelling. (See ECF No. 32-4, Ex. C; ECF No. 32-5 Ex. D at 47:7-51:9.)

Based on the report, Officer Gonzalez believed she was responding to a domestic violence incident.
(ECF No. 32-4, Ex. C.)
Under New Jersey law, the prevention of domestic violence is “high on the list of exigent
circumstances” that justify the use of the emergency aid doctrine. State v. Fede, 202 A.3d 1281,
1286 (N.J. 2019). Additionally, “[a]llegations of domestic violence, even if coming from a
seemingly anonymous source, cannot be breezily dismissed and must be investigated.” Edmonds,
47 A.3d at 750. Therefore, when there is a reasonable allegation of domestic violence, the
emergency aid doctrine allows police to enter a home without a warrant to conduct a welfare check.
Id. at 737.
Here, in response to an allegation of domestic violence, Officer Gonzalez told Mazur that
the police needed to enter Mazur’s home to check on her husband. (ECF No. 32-4, Ex. C.) Despite
Mazur’s refusal, Officer Gonzalez was justified in making a warrantless entry to perform a welfare
check on Mazur’s husband. Because this situation falls firmly within the emergency aid exception

to the warrant requirement, there is no Fourth Amendment violation here. Therefore, Officer
Gonzalez is entitled to qualified immunity on the illegal search and seizure claim. Accordingly,
Officer Gonzalez’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Count Two of the Amended Complaint is
GRANTED.
ii. Excessive Force
Officer Gonzalez contends she did not violate Mazur’s rights because she did not use
excessive force. (ECF No. 32-1 at 23.) To prove an excessive force claim under the Fourth
Amendment, a plaintiff must demonstrate that an officer’s actions were not objectively reasonable
considering the totality of the circumstances. Abraham v. Raso, 183 F.3d 279, 288 (3d Cir. 1999)
(citing Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395 (1989). Although reasonableness is a factual

question, summary judgment is appropriate “if the district court concludes, after resolving all
factual disputes in favor the plaintiff, that the officer’s use of force was objectively reasonable
under the circumstances.” Kopec v. Tate, 361 F.3d 772, 777 (3d Cir. 2004). Among factors to be
considered in determining objective reasonableness are (1) the severity of the crime, (2) whether
the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, (3) whether he is
actively resisting arrest, (4) the possibility that the person is violent or dangerous, (5) the duration
of the action, (6) whether the action takes place in the context of effectuating an arrest, (7) the
possibility that the suspect may be armed, and (8) the number of persons with whom the police
officers must contend at one time. Sharrar v. Felsing, 128 F.3d 810, 820 (3d Cir. 1997).
The parties dispute facts related to the reasonableness of Officer Gonzalez’s conduct,
including: (1) whether Mazur was yelling and acting uncooperative; (2) whether Mazur touched
Officer Gonzalez in the first instance; (3) whether Mazur walked or ran back to Officer Gonzalez;
and (4) whether Mazur shoved Officer Gonzalez into a wall. In viewing the facts in the light most

favorable to Mazur, the Court cannot conclude that Officer Gonzalez’s “use of force was
objectively reasonable as a matter of law” at this juncture. Abraham v. Raso, 183 F.3d 279, 296
(3d Cir. 1999); see also Murdock v. Borough of Edgewater, No. 08-2268, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS
126428 at *15 (D.N.J. Nov. 2, 2011); Landa v. Twp. of Plainsboro, No. 13-3082, 2016 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 114444 at *36 (D.N.J. Aug. 24, 2016). Therefore, the Court finds a dispute of material
facts exists as to whether Officer Gonzalez used excessive force and therefore violated Mazur’s
Fourth Amendment rights.
Additionally, Mazur must demonstrate a genuine dispute of material fact exists as to
whether the constitutional right violated was clearly established. “To be clearly established, a
right must be sufficiently clear that every reasonable official would have understood that what he

is doing violates that right.” Taylor v. Barkes, 135 S. Ct. 2042, 2044 (2015) (quoting Reichle v.
Howard, 566 U.S. 658, 664 (2012). “When properly applied, [qualified immunity] protects all but
the plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law.” Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, 563 U.S.
731, 743 (2011). A district court “may not deny a summary judgment motion premised on qualified
immunity without deciding that the right in question was clearly established at the time of the
alleged wrongdoing.” Spady v. Bethlehem Area Sch. Dist., 800 F.3d 633, 637 n. 4 (3d Cir. 2015).
Mazur has adequately raised a genuine dispute of material fact. “The right to be free from
an unprovoked beating is clearly established.” Hill v. Algore, 85 F. Supp. 2d 391, 409 (D.N.J.
2000); see also Thompson v. Montemuro, 383 F. Supp. 1200, 1203 (E.D. Pa. 1974). Applying the
evidence most favorable to Mazur, a reasonable officer could not have believed that punching an
unarmed woman who was not resisting arrest or physically assaulting an officer was lawful. Where
material issues of fact remain unsettled, denying a finding of qualified immunity is appropriate.
See Giles v. Kearney, 571 F.3d 318, 328 (3d Cir. 2009) (reversing district court for finding

qualified immunity in excessive force case where “such a legal conclusion . . . rests on a factual
presumption that is inappropriate on summer judgment”); Curley v. Klem, 298 F.3d 271, 278 (3d
Cir. 2002) (“[A] decision on qualified immunity will be premature when there are unresolved
disputes of historical fact relevant to the immunity analysis.”) Therefore, Officer Gonzalez is not
entitled to qualified immunity at this stage. Accordingly, Officer Gonzalez’s Motion for Summary
Judgment on Count One of the Amended Complaint is DENIED.
iii. Failure to Intervene
An officer is directly liable under § 1983 if that officer, whether supervisory or not, fails
or refuses to intervene when a constitutional violation takes place in his presence. However,
because Officer Gonzalez is alleged to have participated in the constitutional violation, Mazur may

not assert a failure to intervene claim against Officer Gonzalez. See Degorat v. Felsman, No. 16-
01186, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24838 at *12-13 (M.D. Pa. Feb. 15, 2019); see also Flint v. Cty. of
Milwaukee, 91 F. Supp. 3d 1032, 1064 (E.D. Wis. 2015) (“An officer cannot intervene in his own
constitutional violation.”) Because it is undisputed that Officer Gonzalez punched Mazur, and that
punch is the basis of the failure to intervene claim, Mazur cannot assert such claim against officer
Gonzalez. Accordingly, Officer Gonzalez’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Count Four of the
Amended Complaint is GRANTED.
iv. False Arrest and Imprisonment
Officer Gonzalez contends Mazur cannot maintain a false arrest claim against her because
Officer Gonzalez reasonably believed she had probable cause to arrest Mazur. (ECF No. 32-1 at
24.)
To successfully state a Fourth Amendment claim for false arrest, a plaintiff must prove: (1)
there was an arrest; and (2) the arrest was made without probable cause. See Pollock v. Cty. of

Philadelphia, 403 F. App’x 664, 669 (3d Cir. 2010). Additionally, an arrestee may also maintain
a § 1983 claim for false imprisonment based on a detention pursuant to that arrest. Adams v.
Selhorst, 449 F. App’x 198, 201 (3d Cir. 2011).
Here, Mazur’s false arrest and imprisonment claims fail because she cannot demonstrate
that the arrest was made without probable cause. The Third Circuit has stated “a guilty plea—even
one for a lesser offense—does not permit a later assertion of no probable cause.” Walker v.
Clearfield Cnty. Dist. Attorney, 413 F. App’x 481, 483-84 (3d Cir. 2011). Mazur’s guilty plea to
the amended charge under Colts Neck ordinance 2C:1-4—which arose out of the same events as
her false arrest claim—directly contradicts her assertion that no probable caused existed for the
alleged arrest. Because Mazur cannot demonstrate the absence of probable cause, summary

judgment must be entered in favor of Officer Gonzalez on her false arrest claim. See McGann v.
Collingswood Police Dep’t, No. 10-3458, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 178019 at *31 (D.N.J. Dec. 17,
2012) (finding plaintiff did not have a viable claim for false arrest as a matter of law in light of his
guilty plea to a municipal ordinance violation which was a reduction from an original criminal
charge); Martinez v. New Jersey, No. 11-02223, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80298 at *4 (D.N.J. June
11, 2012). Accordingly, Officer Gonzalez’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Count Three of the
Amended Complaint is GRANTED.
v. Malicious Prosecution
Officer Gonzalez contends Mazur cannot assert a claim for malicious prosecution because
the action did not terminate in Mazur’s favor. (ECF No. 32-1 at 25.)
A § 1983 claim for malicious prosecution requires the defendant “(1) instituted proceedings
(2) without probable cause . . . (3) with legal malice; and (4) the proceedings terminated in favor
of the plaintiff.” Trabal v. Wells Fargo Armored Serv. Corp., 269 F.3d 243, 248 (3d Cir. 2001).

To satisfy the favorable termination element, the Third Circuit requires a prior criminal case to
have been disposed on in a way that indicates the innocence of the accused. Donahue v. Gavin,
280 F.3d 371, 383 (3d Cir. 2002). Here, however, Mazur was found guilty on the obstruction
charge and agreed to a conditional dismissal. (ECF No. 37-5, Ex. N.) A guilty finding precludes a
claim for malicious prosecution because a plaintiff cannot satisfy the fourth prong of the claim.
See Lopez v. Cty. of Plainfield, No. 12-4976, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10220 at *44 (Jan. 25, 2017).
Therefore, Mazur cannot state a claim for malicious prosecution. Accordingly, Officer Gonzalez’s
Motion for Summary Judgment on Count Five of the Amended Complaint is GRANTED.
vi. NJCRA
In Count Eight of the Amended Complaint, Plaintiff asserts claims against Officer

Gonzalez under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act that mirror her constitutional claims, i.e.:
excessive force, false arrest, illegal search and seizure, malicious prosecution, and failure to
intervene. (ECF No. 3 at 12.)
The NJCRA was modeled after § 1983 and therefore claims under the NJCRA are viewed
“through the lens of § 1983.” Monticciolo v. Robertson, No. 15-8134, 2017 U.S Dist. LEXIS
167895 at *61 (Oct. 11, 2017) (citing Trafton v. Cty. of Woodbury, 799 F. Supp. 2d 417, 443-44
(D.N.J. 2011)). Accordingly, Mazur’s NJCRA claims are viewed analogously to her § 1983 claims.
Therefore, Officer Gonzalez’s Motion for Summary Judgment on the NJCRA claim of excessive
force is denied. However, Officer Gonzalez’s Motion for Summary Judgment on the NJCRA
claims for false arrest, illegal search and seizure, failure to intervene, and malicious prosecution is
GRANTED.
B. Claims Against Chief Hill and the Township
Mazur asserts § 1983 claims against both the Township and Chief Hill for supervisory

liability and failure to train. (ECF No. 3 at 8-10.) To bring a claim against a municipality under §
1983, a plaintiff must assert a cause of action under Monell v. Dep’t of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658
(1978). Specifically, a municipal entity may only be held liable under § 1983 if “the action that is
alleged to be unconstitutional implement[ed] or execute[d] a policy statement, ordinance,
regulation, or decision officially adopted and promulgated by that body’s officers” or came about
“pursuant to governmental ‘custom.’” Marran v. Marran, 376 F.3d 143, 156 (3d Cir. 2004)
(quoting Monell, 436 U.S. at 690-91). Nevertheless, to properly maintain a Monell claim, a court
must determine: (1) whether plaintiff’s harm was caused by a constitutional violation, and (2) if
so, whether the municipality is responsible for that violation. Mark v. Borough of Hatboro, 51 F.3d
1137, 1149-50 (3d Cir. 1995). Similar to a § 1983 claim against an individual, a plaintiff may not

maintain a derivative municipal claim if there is no constitutional violation in the first place.
Mulholland v. Gov’t Cty. of Berks, 706, F3d 227, 239 n.15 (3d Cir. 2013).
Once a plaintiff identifies a municipal policy or custom, she must “demonstrate that,
through its deliberate conduct, the municipality was the ‘moving force’ behind the injury alleged.”
Bd. of the Cnty. Comm’rs. v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 404 (1997). If the policy or custom does not
facially violate federal law, causation may only be established by “demonstrat[ing] that the
municipal action was taken with ‘deliberate indifference’ as to its known or obvious consequences.
Id. at 407. A showing of simple negligence will not suffice.” Id. For a § 1983 claim of failure to
train or supervise municipal employees, a plaintiff must show that failure to provide training or
supervision amounted to “‘deliberate indifference’ to the rights of persons with whom the
employee will come into contact.” Thomas v. Cumberland Cnty., 749 F.3d 217, 222 (3d Cir. 2014).
Deliberate indifference may be demonstrated either by showing a pattern of violations which puts
the municipal employee on notice that a new program is necessary or a single incident violation

where the need for training was patently obvious. Id. at 223.
Using Mr. Rivera’s report, Mazur contends Officer Gonzalez’s continued employment
despite eleven previous complaints—and a subsequent excessive force complaint—along with the
police department’s insufficient internal investigations, demonstrates Chief Hill and the Township
were deliberately indifferent to a pattern of misconduct. (ECF No. 38-1 at 11-12.) Chief Hill and
the Township contend Mr. Rivera’s report is inadmissible because his methodology is not
consistent with the Daubert standard. (ECF No. 33-2 at 12.)
Mr. Rivera reviewed answers to interrogatories and deposition transcripts of Mazur and
Defendants, witness deposition transcripts, internal affairs files of Officer Gonzalez and other
officers, and the police department’s policies and procedures. (ECF No. 38-1 at 23.) After

reviewing those materials, Mr. Rivera concluded the Township and Chief Hill “are aware of,
acquiesce in and tacitly approve of a custom tolerating the use of excessive force by officers . . .
and that [Township] of Marlboro’s police officers are inadequately trained.” (ECF No. 38-1 at 22.)
Specifically, Mr. Rivera noted there had been 11 Internal Affairs complaints filed against Officer
Gonzalez in a five-year period between 2010 and 2015. (Id. At 12.) In response to these reports,
the Marlboro Police Department failed to conduct any interviews, prepare any investigation
reports, or issue final dispositions. (Id.)
This Court has found similar expert reports—including ones filed by Mr. Rivera himself—
to be admissible. See Noble v. Cty. Of Camden, 112 F. Supp. 3d 208 (D.N.J. 2015) (using Mr.
Rivera’s report on police internal investigation procedures as a basis for denying summary
judgment for Defendant on Monell claims); see also Malik v. Hannah, 799 F. Supp. 2d 355, 363
(D.N.J. 2011) (using evidence of a lack of investigations as a basis for denying summary judgment
for Defendant on Monell claims); D’Arrigo v. Gloucester Cty., No. 04-5967, 2007 U.S. Dist.

LEXIS 44316 at *13 (D.N.J. June 19, 2007) (same); Merman v. Cty. Of Camden, 824 F. Supp. 2d
581 (D.N.J. 2010) (same).
Based on Mr. Rivera’s report, this Court finds Mazur has provided sufficient evidence from
which a reasonable jury could conclude the Township and Chief Hill were deliberately indifferent
in investigating claims of excessive force. In viewing the evidence in light most favorable to
Mazur, a reasonable jury could find Mr. Rivera’s report demonstrates the Township and Police
Department had a custom of failing to properly investigate internal affairs complaints preceding
the incident. Based on their inaction, the Township and Chief Hill were deliberately indifferent to
the need to properly investigate Internal Affairs complaints and thus partially complicit in the
misconduct that ensued. See Beck v. Cty. of Pittsburgh, 89 F.3d 966, 971 (3d Cir. 1996) (noting

that custom may “be established by evidence of knowledge and acquiescence”); Monaco v. Cty.
of Camden, No. 04-2406, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20825 at *8 (Apr. 14, 2008) (failure to investigate
plaintiff’s excessive force allegation until far after incident took place was evidence of existence
of a custom of failing to investigate claims of police misconduct). Therefore, because a jury could
reasonably infer the Township and Chief Hill had a custom of performing inadequate Internal
Affairs investigations, the Court will permit Mazur’s Monell claim in Count Six to proceed under
a theory that Mazur’s injuries resulted from the Township and Chief Hill’s failure to conduct
meaningful investigations. See Noble, 112 F. Supp. 3d at 224.
Additionally, Mazur has presented enough evidence to survive summary judgment on her
failure to train claim in Count Seven. To survive summary judgment on a failure to train claim, a
plaintiff must “identify a failure to provide specific training that has a causal nexus with his or her
injury” and additionally must demonstrate the failure to provide that training “can reasonably be
said to reflect a deliberate indifference to whether constitutional deprivations of the kind alleged

occur.” Colburn v. Upper Darby Twp., 946 F.2d 1017, 1030 (3d Cir. 1991). Here, Mr. Rivera
identifies specific deficiencies in training, such as the failure to implement de-escalation training,
failure to review Use of Force incident reviews and MVR footage, and the failure to train officers
to avoid head strikes. (ECF No. 38-1 at 23-25.) Based on these precise deficiencies, a jury could
reasonably infer the lack of training could have resulted in Mazur’s injury from Officer Gonzalez’s
punch.
Accordingly, the Township and Chief Hill’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Counts Six
and Seven of the Amended Complaint are DENIED.
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Township and Chief Hall’s Motion for Summary Judgment

is DENIED, and Officer Gonzalez’s Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED in part and
GRANTED in part. An appropriate Order will follow.

Date: January 23, 2020 /s/ Brian R. Martinotti
HON. BRIAN R. MARTINOTTI
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10654770. Public record. Not legal advice.