# Dow v. County of Snohomish

> District Court, W.D. Washington · June 2, 2021

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10703844

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, W.D. Washington
- **Decided:** June 2, 2021
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

THE HONORABLE JOHN C. COUGHENOUR
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
8 AT SEATTLE
9 ESTATE OF ADAM CHRISTOPHER CASE NO. C20-1320-JCC
JENSEN, by the Personal Representative
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PAULA DOW, et al., ORDER
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Plaintiffs,
12 v.
13 COUNTY OF SNOHOMISH, et al.,
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Defendants.
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16 This matter comes before the Court on the Snohomish County Defendants’ motion for
17 partial summary judgment (Dkt. No. 37) and motion to strike (Dkt. No. 57). Having
18 thoroughly considered the parties’ briefing and the relevant record, the Court finds oral
19 argument unnecessary and hereby GRANTS in part and DENIES in part the motion for partial
20 summary judgment and GRANTS the motion to strike for the reasons explained herein.
21 I. BACKGROUND
22 This case involves the fatal shooting of Adam Jensen by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s
23 Department in the early morning hours of September 9, 2018. (See generally Dkt. No. 27-1.)
24 Isabel Craig, Mr. Jensen’s live-in girlfriend, had called 9-1-1 earlier that evening following what
25 she now describes as a “disagreement” with Mr. Jensen. (Id. at 5–6.) At the time, they were at
26 her home, along with Ms. Craig’s three children. (Dkt. No. 37 at 3.) According to the Snohomish
1 County Sheriff’s dispatcher, Ms. Craig called 9-1-1 seeking law enforcement assistance after Mr.
2 Jensen pushed Ms. Craig off her bed, brandished a knife, and expressed suicidal thoughts. (Dkt.
3 No. 40 at 13–14.) The dispatcher further indicated to responding deputies that a male voice could
4 be heard in the background during Ms. Craig’s 9-1-1 call asking “[d]o you want me to die? Do
5 you want me to die by police?” (Id. at 14.)
6 Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputies Kevin Pelleboer and William Westsik were the
7 first to arrive. (Dkt. No. 27-1 at 6.) It is undisputed that Deputy Pelleboer had responded to a 9-1-
8 1 call from Ms. Craig the week prior. (See Dkt. Nos. 37 at 4–5, 45 at 2.) On that occasion, Ms.
9 Craig sought assistance to remove Mr. Jensen from the home following a separate disagreement.
10 (Id.) Based on this prior incident, Deputy Pelleboer was familiar with the residence and Mr.
11 Jensen, and concluded that Mr. Jensen was “not very friendly.” (Dkt. No. 40 at 3.) He shared this
12 observation with Deputy Westsik before they entered the residence. (Id.)
13 According to the Snohomish County Defendants, on January 9, 2018, Ms. Craig greeted
14 the two deputies at her door but declined to speak with them outside because she had children
15 inside who would otherwise be left alone with Mr. Jensen. (Dkt. No. 37 at 6.) Ms. Craig then led
16 the deputies into the house and upstairs, where all of the bedrooms are located. (See Dkt. Nos. 37
17 at 6–7, 45 at 3–4.) The upstairs area is comprised of a central hall, with three bedrooms leading
18 off the hall—one for each child—and a master bedroom at the end of the hall. (Id.) As the
19 deputies and Ms. Craig arrived upstairs and into the dimly lit hall, the children were in their
20 respective rooms and Mr. Jensen was in the master bedroom with the door closed. (Id.) Sergeant
21 Chad Gwordske reached the home around this same time. (Dkt. Nos. 37 at 9, 45 at 5.) He entered
22 but remained downstairs throughout the incident. (Id.)
23 Before entering the home, Deputy Pelleboer decided to serve as “less lethal” cover and
24 Deputy Westsik decided to serve as “lethal” cover. (Dkt. Nos. 40 at 3–4, 42 at 3–4.)
25 Correspondingly, Deputy Pelleboer can be seen holding a taser device and Deputy Westsik can
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1 be seen with his hand on his holstered firearm in a nanny cam1 video as Ms. Craig leads them
2 toward the stairs. (Dkt. No. 41 at 8, see Nanny Video at :55–1:05.) The video does not depict
3 what transpired upstairs and this is where the parties’ stories diverge. (See Dkt. Nos. 37 at 6, 45
4 at 5.)
5 Defendants allege that once the deputies and Ms. Craig arrived upstairs, Ms. Craig
6 entered her son’s bedroom. (Dkt. No. 37 at 7.) The deputies then called out to Mr. Jensen
7 through the closed master bedroom door, notifying him that the police were there and wanted to
8 speak with him. (Id.) Mr. Jensen responded that he was “not gonna do this again. I’m over this.
9 I’m done . . . I’m not fucking around this time!” (Dkt. Nos. 40 at 5, 42 at 5.) He came out of the
10 bedroom at a “fast walk” wearing only underwear and holding a knife by his side. (See Dkt. No.
11 37 at 7–8 (citing Dkt. Nos. 40 at 5, 42 at 5–6).) The deputies backed up as Mr. Jensen raised the
12 knife in the dimly lit hall. (Id.) Deputy Pelleboer unsuccessfully attempted to tase Mr. Jensen.
13 (See id. (citing Dkt. Nos. 40 at 5–6, 42 at 6).) Deputy Westsik implored Mr. Jensen to drop the
14 knife and fired four shots with his service weapon, three of which struck Mr. Jensen’s chest and
15 one struck his foot. (See id. at 8 (citing Dkt. Nos. 40 at 6, 42 at 7.) Mr. Jensen collapsed towards
16 the stairs. (Id.) A crime scene photograph shows an approximate 7-inch serrated metallic knife
17 located a few feet from the top of the stairs. (Dkt. No. 38 at 5–9.)
18 As the incident played out, the nanny cam captured some of the muffled audio. (See
19 Nanny Cam at 1:30–1:40.) The deployment of what sounds like a taser can be heard, followed in
20 rapid succession by calls to “drop it, drop it,” and then four gun shots. (Id.) Shortly thereafter,
21 Mr. Jensen comes into view. He is sliding or falling down the stairs as Deputy Pelleboer backs
22 out of the way. (Dkt. No. 40 at 6, see Nanny Cam at 1:40–1:50.) Sergeant Gwordske approaches

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1 The camera was located in the downstairs living room and was on throughout the
24 incident. (See Dkt. No. 36 - Bates Dow 0027 (hereafter referenced as “Nanny Video at ____”).)
The entire downstairs living room, including the bottom of the stairs, is visible. The Snohomish
25 County Defendants submitted the recording in support of their motion for partial summary
judgment. (Dkt. No. 36, see Dkt. No. 41 at 8.) Neither party has disputed the authenticity of the
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recording for purposes of Defendants’ motion. (See generally Dkt. Nos. 37, 45, 52.)
1 Mr. Jensen after he comes to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. (Id.) A few seconds later, the
2 sergeant can be heard indicating to the deputies, who had come downstairs by this time, that Mr.
3 Jensen was “gone.” (See Nanny Cam at 2:30–3:00.) Sergeant Gwordske then called for
4 emergency services. (Id.)
5 Plaintiffs’ version of events differs in a number of ways. The only relevant differences,
6 for purpose of the instant motion, are contained within Ms. Craig’s declaration2 supporting
7 Plaintiffs’ opposition brief. (See Dkt. No. 47.) In the declaration she indicates that, rather than
8 immediately enter her son’s room upon reaching the top of the stairs, she remained in the hall
9 and could see Mr. Jensen open the door and proceed toward the deputies. (Id. at 6.) She saw “no
10 weapon or object in [Mr. Jensen’s] hands when he came out of our bedroom.” (Id. at 7.) Mr.
11 Jensen “then started walking towards us at a slow pace . . . he did not accelerate . . . and he was
12 not moving in an aggressive manner. For as long as I saw [Mr. Jensen] walking, I could see his
13 upper body, and he was not holding any object up or outward and he was not lunging forward.”
14 (Id. at 7.) Ms. Craig then went towards her son’s room so “could not see the shots fired.” (Id.)
15 Mr. Jensen came back into Ms. Craig’s field of vision after he was shot. (Id. at 8.) She
16 saw him “stumble[] to the ground” towards the stairs and “did not see him holding anything.”
17 (Id. at 8.) She could see “what appeared to be part of a taser on the floor in front of the master
18 bedroom” but “did not see a [] knife in the common area, in the hallway, or at the top of the
19 stairs.” (Id.) Finally, Ms. Craig indicates that, before leaving the residence with her children
20 through an upstairs window, she “was sitting on the landing nearby for several minutes . . . and
21 did not see the object depicted in [the crime-scene photograph] there.” (Id. at 8–9.)
22 Plaintiffs filed a complaint naming as defendants Snohomish County, the responding
23 deputies and sergeant, the Everett City Police Department, and a variety of unidentified persons
24 and corporations. (Dkt. No. 27-1.) The complaint asserts § 1983 claims for Fourth and
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2 Ms. Craig also filed a pendent declaration (Dkt. No. 56) in response to Defendant’s
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reply brief, which Defendants move to strike (Dkt. No. 57).
1 Fourteenth Amendment violations based on unreasonable seizure, unreasonable use of force, and
2 a failure to intervene; state law tort claims; and a claim for an alleged violation of Washington’s
3 Public Records Act. (Id. at 16–24.)
4 The Snohomish County Defendants move for partial summary judgment, seeking
5 dismissal with prejudice of Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims and dismissal without prejudice of
6 Plaintiffs’ state law claims.3 (Dkt. No. 37.) The Snohomish County Defendants assert that the
7 individual defendants’ qualified immunity precludes the § 1983 relief Plaintiffs seek, Plaintiffs
8 cannot establish Monell liability against Defendant Snohomish County, and Plaintiffs have failed
9 to state a claim based upon a failure to intervene. (Id. at 12–24.) Plaintiffs, in opposition, argue
10 that disputed material facts preclude summary judgment and even if the Court were to find a lack
11 of such facts, it should stay Defendants’ motion pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
12 56(d) until discovery is complete. (Dkt. No. 45.) Plaintiffs point out that no depositions have yet
13 been taken. (Id. at 2.)
14 II. DISCUSSION
15 A. Summary Judgment Standard
16 “The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine
17 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R.
18 Civ. P. 56(a). In making such a determination, the Court must view the facts and justifiable
19 inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,
20 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986). Once a motion for summary judgment is properly made and
21 supported, the opposing party “must come forward with ‘specific facts showing that there is a
22 genuine issue for trial.’” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587
23 (1986) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)). Material facts are those that may affect the outcome of the
24 case, and a dispute about a material fact is genuine if there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable
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3 Defendants argue that the Court should decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction if
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the federal claims are dismissed. (Dkt. No. 37 at 24–25.)
1 jury to return a verdict for the non-moving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248–49. Ultimately,
2 summary judgment is appropriate against a party who “fails to make a showing sufficient to
3 establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will
4 bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catlett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986).
5 B. § 1983 Claims Against Deputies Pelleboer and Westsik
6 To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege “(1) a violation of rights
7 protected by the Constitution or created by federal statute, (2) proximately caused (3) by conduct
8 of a ‘person’ (4) acting under color of state law.” Crumpton v. Gates, 947 F.2d 1418, 1420 (9th
9 Cir. 1991). Plaintiffs allege that Deputies Pelleboer and Westsik violated Mr. Jensen’s Fourth
10 Amendment rights when they unreasonably seized Mr. Jensen and/or applied an unreasonable
11 amount of force in attempting to tase and then shooting him. (Dkt. No. 27-1 at 16–17.)
12 Accordingly, Plaintiffs must overcome Defendants’ qualified immunity defense. See Jeffers v.
13 Gomez, 267 F.3d 895, 907 (9th Cir. 2001).
14 “The doctrine of qualified immunity protects government officials ‘from liability for civil
15 damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional
16 rights of which a reasonable person would have known.’” Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223,
17 231 (2009) (quoting Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982)). The government official
18 carries the burden of proving that “his conduct was reasonable under the applicable standards
19 even though it might have violated [a plaintiff’s] constitutional rights.” Houghton v. South, 965
20 F.2d 1532, 1535 (9th Cir. 1992). To decide whether an officer has qualified immunity, a court
21 engages in a two-pronged inquiry. Under the first prong, the court must decide “whether the
22 facts, ‘[t]aken in the light most favorable to the party asserting the injury, . . . show the officer’s
23 conduct violated a [federal] right.” Tolan v. Cotton, 572 U.S. 650, 655–67 (2014) (quoting
24 Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201 (2001)) (alterations in original). Under the second prong, a
25 court must determine “whether the right in question was ‘clearly established’ at the time of the
26 violation.” Id. at 656. Since both prongs must be satisfied, they can be considered in either order.
1 Hamby v. Hammond, 821 F.3d 1085, 1090 (9th Cir. 2016).
2 1. Fourth Amendment Violations
3 Whether Mr. Jensen had a knife and how he brandished it as he advanced towards the
4 deputies dictates whether their use of force violated his clearly established rights. See Ventura v.
5 Rutledge, 978 F.3d 1088, 1090–91 (9th Cir. 2020); Kisela v. Hughes, 138 S. Ct. 1148, 1153–54
6 (2018). Plaintiffs assert that both present a genuine issue of material fact. (Dkt. No. 45 at 16.) In
7 support, they point to Ms. Craig’s declaration, which indicates that she had a view of Mr. Jensen
8 as he emerged from the bedroom, that he walked towards them at a “slow pace . . . he was not
9 moving in an aggressive manner . . . he was not holding any object up or outward and he was not
10 lunging forward.” (Dkt. No. 45 at 9 (citing Dkt. No. 47 at 6–7).) Nor, according to Ms. Craig’s
11 declaration, did she see a knife on the landing after the incident. (See Dkt. No. 47 at 8–9.)
12 Defendants, citing the “sham affidavit rule,” say this declaration, (Dkt. No. 47), cannot be
13 used to establish a genuine issue of material fact because it contradicts an earlier statement made
14 under penalty of perjury to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department investigators just a few
15 hours after the incident. (Dkt. Nos. 52 at 7, 62 at 2.) In that statement, in response to the question
16 of whether Mr. Jensen was holding anything as he emerged from the bedroom, Ms. Craig said “I
17 think so.” (Dkt. No. 55 at 12–13.) When later asked to describe where she last saw the knife that
18 triggered the 9-1-1 call, she said “[p]robably in the bedroom and I saw something in his hand,
19 but it was so quick in the hall, I didn’t . . . look.” (Id. at 23.)
20 Under Ninth Circuit case law, “a party cannot create an issue of fact by an affidavit
21 contradicting [] prior deposition testimony.” Yeager v. Bowlin, 693 F.3d 1076, 1080 (9th Cir.
22 2012) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). But the sham affidavit rule “should be
23 applied with caution” because the Court must not make credibility determinations when
24 resolving a summary judgment motion. Van Asdale v. Int’l Game Tech., 577 F.3d 989, 998 (9th
25 Cir. 2009). Plaintiffs suggest that, regardless of its contents, Ms. Craig’s initial statement cannot
26 trigger the rule because (a) Ms. Craig is not a party to this action and (b) she did not make it
1 through a declaration. (Dkt. No. 62.) The Court need not address these issues. Even if the sham
2 affidavit rule could apply to a statement made under penalty of perjury by a nonparty outside of a
3 deposition, it would not apply here.
4 The differences between Ms. Craig’s earlier statement and her later declaration must be
5 considered within the context of the moment. See Yeager, 693 F.3d at 1081 (The parties may
6 “explain or attempt to resolve contradictions with an explanation that is sufficiently reasonable.”)
7 (citing Cleveland v. Policy Mgmt. Sys. Corp., 526 U.S. 795, 806–07 (1999)). Ms. Craig’s initial
8 statement was taken only hours after Deputy Westsik killed Mr. Jensen, which was precipitated
9 by Ms. Craig’s 9-1-1 call. As Plaintiffs explain, Ms. Craig was distressed, exhausted, and could
10 not concentrate. (Dkt. No. 61 at 4.) In addition, Ms. Craig made two statements under penalty of
11 perjury to investigators contemporaneous to the incident. (Dkt. Nos. 48-1 at 2, 55 at 2.) She
12 made the second statement to Snohomish County use of force investigators three days after the
13 shooting. (See Dkt. No. 48-1). In that statement Ms. Craig indicated that “I did not see a weapon
14 or object in [Mr. Jensen’s] hand when he came out of our bedroom. I do not believe Adam was
15 trying to hurt anyone.” (Id. at 2.)
16 In order for the sham affidavit rule to apply, the “inconsistency between [previous] . . .
17 testimony and [a] subsequent affidavit must be clear and unambiguous.” Yeager, 693 F.3d at
18 1080 (emphasis added). Said another way, the later declaration must “flatly contradict[]” the
19 earlier testimony. Kennedy v. Allied Mut. Ins. Co., 952 F.2d 262, 267 (9th Cir. 1991). That is not
20 the case here. In the first statement, Ms. Craig said she thought Mr. Jensen had something in his
21 hand. (Dkt. No. 55 at 13.) In the second statement, she affirmatively indicated that she did not
22 see a weapon or object in his hand. (Dkt. No. 48-1 at 2.) Moreover, in neither of her
23 contemporaneous statements did she say whether she saw a knife on the floor of the landing
24 before exiting her home. (See generally Dkt. Nos. 48-1, 55.) She only mentioned this in her
25 declaration. (See Dkt. No. 47.)
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1 The Court FINDS that Ms. Craig’s declaration (Dkt. No. 47) establishes a genuine issue
2 of fact regarding whether Mr. Jensen posed a sufficient threat to demonstrate that the deputies’
3 use of force was justified. This applies to Deputy Westsik’s use of deadly force and Deputy
4 Pelleboer’s attempted us of his taser, which constitutes the use of “intermediate or medium”
5 force. Bryan v. MacPherson, 630 F.3d 805, 826 (9th Cir. 2010).4 Therefore, summary judgment
6 is not warranted on Plaintiff’s § 1983 claims against Deputies Pelleboer and Westsik based on
7 alleged Fourth Amendment violations.
8 2. Failure to Intervene
9 Plaintiffs also assert a § 1983 claim against Deputies Pelleboer and Westsik based on a
10 failure to intervene. (See Dkt. No. 27-1 at 17–18.) Defendants move for summary judgment,
11 arguing that Plaintiffs provide no facts supporting the claim. (See Dkt. No. 37 at 24.) Plaintiffs
12 do not respond to this argument. (See generally Dkt. No. 45.) Accordingly, the Court FINDS that
13 summary judgment is warranted on Plaintiff’s § 1983 claims against Deputies Pelleboer and
14 Westsik based on an alleged failure to intervene.
15 3. Fourteenth Amendment Violations
16 Defendants also suggest in their reply brief that summary judgment is warranted on
17 Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claim against Deputies Pelleboer and Westsik for an alleged Fourteenth
18 Amendment violation because that violation would be predicated on a Fourth Amendment
19 violation. (See Dkt. No. 52 at 17; see generally Dkt. No. 37.) But a reply brief is not the place to
20 first raise such an argument. See Zamani v. Carnes, 491 F.3d 990, 997 (9th Cir. 2007). Even if it
21 were, Defendants’ argument is precluded by the Court’s finding that genuine material issues of
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24 4 Defendants did not provide any legal argument supporting the notion that an attempted
taser deployment would be objectively reasonable in response to a knife-wielding assailant. (See
25 generally Dkt. No. 37, 52.) Absent such argument, they cannot establish that summary judgment
is warranted on Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment claims against Deputy Pelleboer for unreasonable
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seizure and/or use of force.
1 fact exist regarding an alleged Fourth Amendment violation. Defendants provide no separate
2 basis to support summary judgment regarding a Fourteenth Amendment violation.
3 Accordingly, summary judgment on Plaintiff’s § 1983 claims against Deputies Pelleboer
4 and Westsik is GRANTED with respect to claims based on an alleged failure to intervene and
5 DENIED with respect to the deputies’ other alleged violations.
6 C. § 1983 Claims Against Sergeant Gwordske
7 The Snohomish County Defendants move for summary judgment on the § 1983 claims
8 against Sergeant Gwordske, arguing that Plaintiffs do not assert that he applied any force to Mr.
9 Jensen or provide facts suggesting that he had a realistic opportunity to intervene prior to Mr.
10 Jensen’s death. (Dkt. No. 37 at 20, 22–24.) Plaintiffs concede the use of force argument, but they
11 argue that summary judgment on the failure to intervene violation is not warranted because
12 Sergeant Gwordske “was the supervising sergeant . . . called to the scene and allowed deputies to
13 rush into Jensen’s home.” (Dkt. No. 45 at 23.) Plaintiffs suggest discovery is needed to establish
14 genuine factual issues on this argument. (Id.)
15 According to Rule 56(d), “[i]f a nonmovant shows by affidavit or declaration that, for
16 specified reasons, it cannot present facts essential to justify its opposition [to a motion for
17 summary judgment], the court may: (1) defer considering the motion or deny it; (2) allow time to
18 obtain affidavits or declarations or to take discovery; or (3) issue any other appropriate order.”
19 Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d). To seek Rule 56(d) relief, “[t]he requesting party must show: (1) it has set
20 forth in affidavit form the specific facts it hopes to elicit from further discovery; (2) the facts
21 sought exist; and (3) the sought-after facts are essential to oppose summary judgment.” Family
22 Home & Fin. Ctr., Inc. v. Fed. Home Loan Mortg. Corp., 525 F.3d 822, 827 (9th Cir. 2008). In
23 Plaintiffs’ counsel’s declaration, she describes the need for depositions from the deputies and
24 Sergeant Gwordske to “provide more information about the incident.” (Dkt. No. 46 at 3.) This
25 cursory statement is insufficient to establish the specific facts Plaintiffs hope to elicit to support
26 their opposition to summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claim against Sergeant Gwordske
1 based on an alleged failure to intervene.
2 Accordingly, summary judgment is GRANTED on Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims against
3 Sergeant Gwordski.
4 D. Municipal Liability
5 Plaintiffs allege that Snohomish County violated Mr. Jensen’s Fourth and Fourteenth
6 Amendment rights through Deputy Pelleboer and Westsik’s actions, which were allegedly based
7 on Snohomish County’s customs, policies, practices, and the decisions of its policy makers. (Dkt.
8 No. 27-1 at 16–17.) To state a claim against a municipal entity for a constitutional violation, “[a]
9 plaintiff . . . must go beyond the respondeat superior theory of liability and demonstrate that the
10 alleged constitutional deprivation was the product of a policy or custom of the local
11 governmental unit.” Kirkpatrick v. Cnty. of Washoe, 843 F.3d 784, 793 (9th Cir. 2016). “The
12 [Supreme] Court has further required that the plaintiff demonstrate that the policy or custom of a
13 municipality ‘reflects deliberate indifference to the constitutional rights of its inhabitants.’”
14 Castro v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 833 F.3d 1060, 1060 (9th Cir. 2016) (quoting City of Canton v.
15 Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 392 (1989)).
16 In moving for summary judgment, Snohomish County argues that Plaintiffs fail to
17 identify the County’s relevant policies, practices, and procedures, or explain the connection
18 between those policies and Deputies Pelleboer and Westsik’s actions. (Dkt. No. 37 at 22.) But
19 given the fact that discovery is far from complete, this would be expected. Plaintiffs’ counsel’s
20 declaration indicates that a Rule 30(b)(6) deposition is necessary to determine the County’s
21 “policies on use of force, pattern and practice on use of force, training, and the ratification of the
22 deputies’ actions in this case.” (Dkt. No. 46 at 3.) This is sufficient to meet the requirements for a
23 Rule 56(d) motion.
24 Accordingly, summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims against Snohomish County
25 based on alleged Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment violations is DENIED. For the reasons
26 described above, see supra Parts II.B.2, II.C., summary judgment is GRANTED on Plaintiffs’
1 claims against Snohomish County based on an alleged failure to intervene.
2 E. State Law Claims
3 The Snohomish County Defendants also move for summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ state
4 law claims, seeking dismissal without prejudice based upon the dismissal sought on Plaintiffs’
5 federal claims. (See Dkt. No. 37 at 24–25.) But the Court has declined to dismiss some of
6 Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims. See supra Parts II.B., II.C., II.D. For that reason, it declines to dismiss
7 Plaintiffs’ state-based claims. Accordingly, summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ state claims is
8 DENIED.
9 F. Motion to Strike
10 The Snohomish County Defendants also move to strike (Dkt. No. 57) Ms. Craig’s
11 supplemental declaration (Dkt. No. 56).5 Plaintiffs filed the declaration after Defendants filed
12 their reply brief. Defendants point out that Plaintiffs failed to seek the Court’s leave pursuant to
13 Local Civil Rule 7(g) and, even if they did, the declaration contains material not appropriate for a
14 surreply. (Dkt. No. 57 at 2–3.) The Court agrees. Accordingly, Defendants’ motion to strike Ms.
15 Craig’s supplemental declaration is GRANTED.
16 III. CONCLUSION
17 For the foregoing reasons, the County Defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Dkt.
18 No. 37) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part and the County Defendants’ motion to strike
19 (Dkt. No. 57) is GRANTED. Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims against all County Defendants based upon
20 a failure to intervene are DISMISSED with prejudice as are all § 1983 claims alleged against
21 Sergeant Gwordski. Should the County Defendants renew their motion for summary judgment,
22 they must wait until the discovery period has lapsed, at least for the claims directed at
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24 5 In their reply brief, the County Defendants also moved to strike portions of Plaintiffs’
response brief regarding bullet trajectory information. (See Dkt. No. 52 at 13.) The Court need
25 not consider this request, since it already concluded that there exists a genuine material issue
regarding whether Mr. Jensen had a knife at the time of the incident and that this, and his use of
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the knife, would dictate whether the deputies’ use of force violated his clearly established rights.
1 Snohomish County.
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3 DATED this 2nd day of June 2021.
A
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John C. Coughenour
7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10703844. Public record. Not legal advice.