Goins

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO

EASTERN DIVISION

JUSTIN GOINS, ) Case No. 1:24-cv-00653

) Case No. 1:25-cv-1448

Plaintiff, )

) Judge J. Philip Calabrese

v. )

)

CORPORAL WINKEL, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

)

OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff Justin Goins filed suit against Defendants Sheriff Harold Pretel and

Corporal William Winkel of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, alleging that they

violated his constitutional rights during his pretrial detention. The Court appointed

counsel, and after discovery Defendants move for summary judgment. For the

reasons that follow, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

On August 8, 2023, Plaintiff Justin Goins was a pre-trial detainee at the

Cuyahoga County jail. (ECF No. 37, ¶ 9, PageID #174;ECF No. 38, ¶ 9, PageID #185.)

That morning, Corrections Officer Ketenich Vazquez escorted Mr. Goins back to his

cell as part of a routine transport. (ECF No. 46-1, PageID #427–28.) In accordance

with the standard practice for transporting inmates, Mr. Goins wore handcuffs in

front of his body. (Id., PageID #424; ECF No. 48-1, PageID #767.) On this occasion,

as Officer Vazquez and Mr. Goins entered the area containing Mr. Goins’ cell, another

inmate came up from behind and struck Mr. Goins on his head. (ECF No. 46-1,

PageID #424.)

Surprised, angered, and dizzy after this attack, Mr. Goins attempted to

respond, but Officer Vazquez stepped between Mr. Goins and his attacker to prevent

escalation. (Id., PageID #428–32.) Then, the attacker retreated to the safety of his

cell while traded insults with Mr. Goins. (Id., PageID #429; ECF No. 48-1, PageID

#774–76; ECF No. 47-1, PageID #702–03.)

Corrections Officer Robert Baker overheard the commotion from a neighboring

area within the jail. (ECF No. 47-1, PageID #705–06.) When he appeared at the

scene, he saw Officer Vazquez urging Mr. Goins into his cell while Mr. Goins argued

with the other inmate and disregarded Officer Vazquez. (Id., PageID #697–98.)

Officer Baker was not aware of the attack that triggered Mr. Goins’ agitation. (Id.)

To assist Officer Vazquez, Officer Baker attempted to calm Mr. Goins and directed

him to enter his cell. (Id.) However, Mr. Goins was so upset that he paced and then

struck his head against the wall in anger. (ECF No. 46-1, PageID #431–32;

Surveillance Video at 16:58–17:11.) Because of his persistent noncompliance, Officer

Baker sent a radio distress call for assistance. (ECF No. 47-1, PageID #714.)

A. Corporal Winkel

Corporal William Winkel responded to the distress call. (ECF No. 37, ¶ 12,

PageID #174.) While corrections officers carried radios and handcuffs, supervisory

officers such as Corporal Winkel also wore body cameras and carried pepper foam

and a second set of handcuffs. (ECF No. 45, PageID #219–20.)

Upon his arrival, Corporal Winkel observed Mr. Goins yelling while officers

tried to talk to him. (ECF No. 45-1, PageID #249–51.) Like Officer Baker, Corporal

Winkel was not aware of the attack that preceded Mr. Goins’ recalcitrant behavior.

(Id.) From Mr. Goins’ angry shouting and noncompliance, Corporal Winkel inferred

that Mr. Goins had a dispute with the two corrections officers. (Id., PageID #252.)

His body camera captured much of Corporal Winkel’s interaction with

Mr. Goins. Corporal Winkel approached Mr. Goins and commanded him to go to his

cell. (Winkel Bodycam at 0:00–0:20.) Each time Corporal Winkel stated, “Go to your

cell,” Mr. Goins responded with, “Don’t touch me” or “I ain’t doing shit, n****.” (Id.

at 0:14–0:22.) After repeating his command five times to no effect, Corporal Winkel

took out his pepper foam and held it in his right hand so that Mr. Goins could see it.

(Id. at 0:20–0:23.) While displaying the pepper foam, Corporal Winkel commanded

Mr. Goins seven more times to go to his cell. (Id. at 0:23–0:30.) Corporal Winkel’s

left hand pointed toward Mr. Goins’ cell, which Officer Vazquez held open. (Id. at

0:29–0:31.)

During this time, Mr. Goins was agitated and responded with constant verbal

expression, much of which was intelligible on the bodycam footage. (Id. at 0:23–0:34.)

Later, he acknowledged that, in his uncontrolled anger, he told Corporal Winkel

several times to spray him. (ECF No. 46-1, PageID #451–52.) The audio does capture

Mr. Goins repeatedly saying, “spray me” as he disobeyed Corporal Winkel’s

commands. (Winkel Bodycam at 0:23–0:35.)

At this point, Mr. Goins stood in front of his open cell, facing away from it and

toward Corporal Winkel. (Id.) Corporal Winkel briefly touched his right hand to

Mr. Goins’ upper left arm and guided him in the direction of the cell. (Id. at

0:30–0:32.) Next, Officer Vazquez put his hand on Mr. Goins’ upper right arm in a

similar guiding motion. (Id. at 0:33–0:35.) Mr. Goins did not respond to the touch

but continued to speak over Corporal Winkel, “You spray me, I will [unintelligible].”

(Id. at 0:33-0:35.) Corporal Winkel later testified that Mr. Goins threatened to beat

Corporal Winkel if he deployed the pepper foam. (ECF No. 45-1, PageID #257.)

At this point, Corporal Winkel lifted his left hand and pressed it against

Mr. Goins’ chest while directing him to “Step back!” (Winkel Bodycam at 0:33-0:35.)

In the body camera footage, Mr. Goins can be seen lifting his cuffed hands and using

them to fling Corporal Winkel’s left hand away while admonishing Corporal Winkel,

“Don’t push me, bro!” (Id.) Corporal Winkel then repeated the command, “Step back!”

several times to no effect. (Id. at 0:35–0:37.)

Although Mr. Goins would not be pushed toward his cell, he allowed Corporal

Winkel to escort him to the wall next to it. (Id. at 0:36–0:37.) Then, Corporal Winkel

directed Mr. Goins to turn around and face the wall. (Id. at 0:38–41.) But Mr. Goins

would not turn around, and the body camera did not capture much of his verbal or

physical response. (Id. at 0:40–0:42.) Surveillance footage suggests that Mr. Goins

raised his arms up and down while pulling away and resisting Corporal Winkel’s

efforts forcibly to turn him. (Surveillance Video at 17:42–17:44.)

The parties agree that Corporal Winkel then sprayed Mr. Goins in the face

with his pepper foam. (ECF No. 37, ¶ 15, PageID #175; ECF No. 46-1, PageID #452;

ECF No. 56, ¶33, PageID #932-33.) Also, they agree that Mr. Goins responded by

grabbing Corporal Winkel’s face with his cuffed hands. (ECF No. 46, PageID #453 &

514-15; ECF No. 56, ¶ 36, PageID #933.) As a result, Corporal Winkel and Mr. Goins

ended up grappling with each other as three additional officers arrived and raced to

intervene. (Surveillance Video at 17:44–17:48.) The two men fell to the floor together

as Mr. Goins maintained his hold on Corporal Winkel’s face despite officers’ efforts to

separate them. (Id. at 17:48–18:28; ECF No. 46-1, PageID #453–54.)

B. Aftermath

Once they were separated, Corporal Winkel left the room and was taken to the

hospital for possible facial injuries; as he later explained, “[he] thought [Mr. Goins]

pulled [his] eyeball out.” (ECF No. 45, PageID #276.) He had no further involvement

with Mr. Goins that day. (Id.)

The remaining corrections officers on the scene placed Mr. Goins in a restraint

chair and wheeled him out of the cell area for medical treatment. (Surveillance Video

at 18:46–20:42; ECF No. 46-1, PageID #455.) Mr. Goins’ face and eyes were washed

to remove the pepper foam residue, and he was medically cleared following an

examination. (Id.) Later, Mr. Goins attributed lingering elbow soreness to hitting

the concrete as Corporal Winkel took him to the floor. (ECF No. 46-1, PageID

#456–57 & 483–84.) Also, he claims his preexisting post-traumatic stress disorder,

anxiety, and depression were exacerbated by his experience being pepper sprayed.

(ECF No. 46-1, Page ID #475.)

Officials at the jail investigated this incident and reviewed reports that

Corporal Winkel and the other officers involved submitted. (ECF No. 53; ECF

No. 46-2.) Ultimately, Corporal Winkel was not disciplined or given corrective

coaching, but Mr. Goins received thirty days in disciplinary isolation. (ECF No. 45-1,

PageID #286; ECF No. 46-2, PageID #544-46.)

C. Policies and Procedures

In its written policy, the Cuyahoga County jail permits corrections officers to

use chemical agents in exigent circumstances or when reasonably necessary “to

prevent or cease physical assault or injury of an individual” or “[i]n circumstances

when lesser levels of force have been ineffective during the event.” (ECF No. 45-5,

PageID #371.) “At no time shall chemical agents be applied to a fully restrained

inmate unless there is a current imminent threat of serious harm.” (Id.)

Months before he pepper-sprayed Mr. Goins, Corporal Winkel responded to an

incident with a noncompliant inmate who refused orders to stand and submit to

handcuffs. (ECF No. 45-1, PageID #239–42.) At that time, Corporal Winkel used

“empty hand controls” to manage the inmate’s resistance. (Id., PageID #241.)

Afterward, Corporal Winkel’s supervisors provided corrective coaching to encourage

him to use pepper foam or to call for assistance to reduce risk of injury to himself and

to the inmate. (Id., PageID #239–42.)

Corporal Winkel testified regarding the training he received on proper use of

force in the correctional context. (ECF No. 45-1, PageID #232–37.) He was trained

to use force where reasonable—not as punishment or on an inmate who is fully

restrained, either in a restraint chair or with his hands cuffed behind his back. (Id.,

PageID #232.) According to these rules, inmates who are handcuffed in front are not

considered fully restrained. (Id., PageID 233–34.) Corporal Winkel explained that

not only do such inmates maintain movement of their arms, but they can pose a

distinct threat if they use their handcuffs as a weapon. (Id.)

Corporal Winkel explained that he was trained to use escalating levels of force

before deploying his pepper foam. (Id., PageID #235–36.) When engaging with a

resistant inmate, first he used verbal communication in an attempt to diffuse the

situation. (Id.) Second, he used non-violent physical gestures such as escorting an

inmate by hand or attempting to turn him around. (Id., PageID #236–37.) Only after

these lesser uses of force did he consider deploying pepper foam. (Id., PageID #236.)

He does not use pepper foam on inmates who are only passively resistaned. (Id.,

PageID #237.) From his prior experience with corrective coaching, Corporal Winkel

understood that he was permitted to use pepper spray on an inmate who was only

verbally noncompliant. (Id., PageID #247.)

As part of his duties, Corporal Winkel attends 80 hours of officer training each

year, including on topics such as pepper spray use and use of force. (ECF No. 45-1,

PageID #222–23 & #225.)

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

On April 11, 2024, Plaintiff Justin Goins filed suit without a lawyer against

Corporal William Winkel, alleging civil rights violations under the Eighth and

Fourteenth Amendments. Goins v. Winkel, No. 1:24-cv-00653 (N.D. Ohio) (“Goins I”).

On July 10, 2025, Plaintiff filed a second action against Corporal Winkel and

Defendant Cuyahoga County Correctional Center, which included additional

allegations. Goins v. Winkel, No. 1:25-cv-01448 (N.D. Ohio) (“Goins II”). The Court

appointed the same counsel for Mr. Goins in both cases (ECF No. 32) and consolidated

the two cases (ECF No. 36.) Since the consolidation, the activity in both cases has

occurred on the docket of the first. At the Court’s direction (id.), Plaintiff filed an

amended complaint (ECF No. 37).

On August 8, 2025, Plaintiff filed his first amended complaint against

Defendants Corporal William Winkel, in his individual capacity, and the Cuyahoga

County Sheriff, in his official capacity. (Id.) Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the

amended complaint asserts two claims against Corporal Winkel: excessive force in

violation of the Fourteenth Amendment (Count I) and deliberate indifference to

serious medical needs in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment (Count II). (Id.)

Additionally, Plaintiff brings his claim against the Sheriff under Monell v.

Department of Social Services of New York, 436 U.S. 658 (1978), for maintaining a

custom, policy, or practice that violated his constitutional rights (Count III). (Id.)

On January 30, 2026, Defendants moved for summary judgment on all counts.

(ECF No. 58.) They argue that Corporal Winkel’s use of force was objectively

reasonable and that Defendant Winkel had no knowledge of Plaintiff’s medical needs.

(ECF No. 58-1, PageID #954–59.) Additionally, Defendants maintain that Corporal

Winkel has qualified immunity because he did not violate a clearly established

constitutional right of Mr. Goins. (Id., PageID #959–62.) In response to Plaintiff’s

claim against the Sheriff, Defendants argue that the Sheriff’s Office appropriately

investigated the incident, adequately trained its officers, and exhibited no pattern of

constitutional violations. (Id., PageID #962–68.) Plaintiff opposes summary

judgment, but does not oppose summary judgment on his claim for deliberate

indifference to Mr. Goins’ serious medical needs (Count II). (ECF No. 59, PageID

#974.)

ANALYSIS

Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no

genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). On a motion for summary judgment, the court

must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party.

Kirilenko-Ison v. Board of Educ. of Danville Indep. Schs., 974 F.3d 652, 660 (6th Cir.

2020) (citing Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574,

587 (1986)).

The moving party has the initial burden of establishing that there are no

genuine issues of material fact as to an essential element of the claim or defense at

issue. Street v. J.C. Bradford & Co., 886 F.2d 1472, 1479–80 & n.12 (6th Cir. 1989);

Chappell v. City of Cleveland, 584 F. Supp. 2d 974, 988 (N.D. Ohio 2008). After

discovery, summary judgment is appropriate if the nonmoving party fails to establish

“an element essential to that party’s case and upon which that party will bear the

burden of proof at trial.” Tokmenko v. MetroHealth Sys., 488 F. Supp. 3d 571, 576

(N.D. Ohio 2020) (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986)).

At this stage, the court’s function is not “to weigh the evidence and determine

the truth of the matter but to determine whether there is a genuine issue for trial.”

Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249 (1986). “The party seeking

summary judgment has the initial burden of informing the court of the basis for its

motion” and identifying the portions of the record “which it believes demonstrate the

absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Tokmenko, 488 F. Supp. 3d at 576 (citing

Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 322). Then, the nonmoving party must “set forth specific

facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial.” Id. (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at

250). “When the moving party has carried its burden under Rule 56(c), its opponent

must do more than show there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.”

Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., 475 U.S. at 586.

If a genuine dispute exists, meaning that “the evidence is such that a

reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party,” summary judgment

is not appropriate. Tokmenko, 488 F. Supp 3d at 576 (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at

250). However, if “the evidence is merely colorable or is not significantly probative,”

summary judgment for the movant is proper. Id. The “mere existence of some factual

dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion

for summary judgment.” Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380 (2007) (quoting Anderson,

477 U.S. at 247–48). “Just as a plaintiff may not rely on conclusory allegations to

proceed past the pleading stage, so too a plaintiff may not rely on conclusory evidence

to proceed past the summary-judgment stage.” Viet v. Le, 951 F.3d 818, 823 (6th Cir.

2020) (cleaned up) (citations omitted). “Conclusory statements unadorned with

supporting facts are insufficient to establish a factual dispute that will defeat

summary judgment.” Id. (quoting Alexander v. CareSource, 576 F.3d 551, 560 (6th

Cir. 2009)).

To determine whether a genuine dispute about material facts exists, it is not

the court’s duty to search the record; instead, the parties must bring those facts to

the court’s attention. See Betkerur v. Aultman Hosp. Ass’n, 78 F.3d 1079, 1087 (6th

Cir. 1996). Ultimately, the court must determine “whether the evidence presents a

sufficient disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided

that one party must prevail as a matter of law.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 251.I.

I. Excessive Force

Section 1983 provides a federal cause of action to a person whose rights

“secured by the Constitution” are violated by an official acting “under color of [State

law].” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In this way, Section 1983 “creates a species of tort liability”

where State actors violate federal constitutional rights. Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S.

477, 483 (1994) (citation omitted). “The first inquiry in any § 1983 suit is to isolate

the precise constitutional violation” alleged. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 394

(1989) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “After pinpointing” the

constitutional right at issue, “courts still must determine the elements of, and rules

associated with, an action seeking damages for its violation.” Manuel v. City of Joliet,

580 U.S. 357, 370 (2017). Under Section 1983, “the general ‘common law of torts’”

bridges the gap between a constitutional right and the elements of a cause of action.

Dibrell v. City of Knoxville, 984 F.3d 1156, 1160 (6th Cir. 2021) (citation omitted).

Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on Count I

because Corporal Winkel’s use of force was not objectively unreasonable in the context

of Mr. Goins’ conduct. (ECF No. 58-1, PageID #954–58.) Plaintiff counters that his

conduct amounted to passive resistance and that Corporal Winkel’s use of pepper

foam was, therefore, excessive. (ECF No. 59, PageID #981-87.)

The Fourteenth Amendment protects the right of a person in pretrial detention

to be free from excessive force. Hopper v. Plummer, 887 F.3d 744, 751 (6th Cir. 2018)

(citing Phelps v. Coy, 286 F.3d 295, 299–300 (6th Cir. 2002)). “[T]he Due Process

Clause protects a pretrial detainee from the use of excessive force that amounts to

punishment.” Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395 n.10 (1989). To prevail on a

claim of excessive force, “a pretrial detainee must show only that the force purposely

or knowingly used against him was objectively unreasonable.” Kingsley v.

Hendrickson, 576 U.S. 389, 396–97 (2015). This inquiry does not turn on the

subjective intent of the officer involved; instead, the standard is objective, examining

what an officer would reasonably have known at the time. Id. at 397–98. In assessing

objective reasonableness, the Supreme Court identified the following non-exhaustive

list of considerations: (1) “the relationship between the need for the use of force and

the amount of force used”; (2) “the extent of the plaintiff's injury”; (3) “any effort made

by the officer to temper or to limit the amount of force”; (4) “the severity of the security

problem at issue”; (5) “the threat reasonably perceived by the officer”; and (6)

“whether the plaintiff was actively resisting.” Id. at 397.

These considerations protect an officer who acts in good faith. Id. at 399. Also,

they account for the government’s legitimate interests, including its need to

effectively manage a jail facility and to preserve internal order, discipline, and

security. Id. at 397. We “defer[ ] to policies and practices” that, “in the judgment of

jail officials,” are necessary to “preserve internal order and discipline and to maintain

institutional security.” Id. at 397. For example, a corrections officer’s “need to ensure

order and security in the jail authorized him to use a takedown maneuver on an

uncooperative inmate who refused to be handcuffed.” Whyde v. Sigsworth, No. 22-

3581, 2024 WL 4719649, at *8 (6th Cir. Nov. 8, 2024).

As a general matter, “[i]nside a jail, correctional officers may use chemical

agents against recalcitrant prisoners for disobeying orders.” Young v. Kent Cnty.

Sheriff's Dep't, No. 21-1222, 2022 WL 94990, at *4 (6th Cir. Jan. 10, 2022) (citing

Caldwell v. Moore, 968 F.2d 595, 600 (6th Cir. 1992)). Whether use of such an agent

constitutes excessive use of force depends on the totality of the circumstances and the

considerations outlined in Kingsley. Where a corrections officer deployed pepper

spray on an inmate who argued and refused commands to step out of a doorway, that

action was not an excessive use of force. Young v. Jourden, No. 1:19-cv-854, 2021 WL

716896 (W.D. Mich. Feb. 24, 2021), aff'd sub nom. Young v. Kent Cnty. Sheriff's Dep’t,

No. 21-1222, 2022 WL 94990 (6th Cir. Jan. 10, 2022). However, once this inmate was

incapacitated by the pepper spray, tasing him was excessive because he no longer

posed a threat or actively resisted. Id.

Here, the parties focus on whether Mr. Goins engaged in “active resistance”

within Kingsley’s framework. (ECF No. 59, PageID #982–87; ECF No. 60.)

“Noncompliance alone does not indicate active resistance.” Eldridge v. City of

Warren, 533 F. App’x 529, 535 (6th Cir. 2013). Instead, active resistance requires

“some outward manifestation—either verbal or physical—on the part of the suspect”

suggesting “volitional and conscious defiance.” Eldridge v. City of Warren, 533 F.

App'x 529, 534 (6th Cir. 2013). To determine whether active resistance is present, a

suspect’s noncompliance with official orders must be considered in its context, such

as where a suspect is “hostile, belligerent, and had thrashed around in an agitated

state.” Id. at 534. In cases where arrestees refused to move their hands for

handcuffing while also making defiant statements or “kicking and screaming so as to

avoid arrest,” such combinations of behaviors constituted active resistance. Id. at 534

(referencing Hagans v. Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, 695 F.3d 505, 507 (6th Cir.

2012)).

Initially, Corporal Winkel observed Mr. Goins shouting and creating a

disturbance while appearing to have a conflict with Officers Vazquez and Baker.

Through his own interactions, Corporal Winkel found that Mr. Goins not only refused

to obey numerous commands to return to his cell but responded to his orders with

verbal defiance (for example, “I ain’t doing shit, n****”). When Corporal Winkel

displayed his can of pepper foam, Mr. Goins repeatedly challenged him saying, “Spray

me.” When Corporal Winkel pushed Mr. Goins in the direction of his cell, Mr. Goins

used his cuffed hands to push away Corporal Winkel’s hand.

These facts and circumstances objectively show both verbal and physical

manifestations of defiance. In the face of Mr. Goins’ defiance, Corporal Winkel

escalated his use of force gradually, only deploying his pepper foam when they stood

in close proximity and Mr. Goins refused to turn toward the wall. Additionally,

Corporal Winkel was aware that, because Mr. Goins was cuffed in front, he

maintained a significant range of motion with his arms and the ability to use his

handcuffs as a weapon. Indeed, Mr. Goins used his cuffed hands to repel Corporal

Winkel, highlighting the fact that he was not fully restrained and was inclined to

resist physically as well as verbally.

The fact that this incident took place inside a jail strengthens this conclusion.

Mr. Goins created a loud disruption within the jail and persisted in noncompliance

despite the presence of three corrections officers and Corporal Winkel’s gradual

escalating use of force. In his setting, and on these facts, deference is due to the

government’s reasonable interest in maintaining order, discipline, and security

within its jails. Kingsley, 576 U.S. at 397.

For these reasons, Corporal Winkel’s use of force was not excessive, as a matter

of law. No rational jury could conclude otherwise. Therefore, Defendants are entitled

to summary judgment on this claim.

II. Monell Claim Against the Sheriff

To prevail on a Monell claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must demonstrate

a constitutional violation and a policy, practice, or custom that causes the alleged

constitutional violation. Monell v. Department of Social Services of New York, 436

U.S. 658, 690-91 (1978); Johnson v. Hardin Cnty., 908 F.2d 1280, 1285 (6th Cir. 1990).

Under Section 1983, a municipality or supervising official cannot be held vicariously

liable on a theory of respondeat superior for a violation of an individual’s

constitutional rights that its officers, employees, or agents commit. Thomas v. City

of Chattanooga, 398 F.3d 426, 432-33 (6th Cir. 2005) (citing Monell, 436 U.S. at 694);

Okoro v. Scibana, 63 F. App’x. 182, 184 (6th Cir. 2003). Instead, a municipality or

supervising official has liability for a policy or practice that caused a constitutional

injury “through its deliberate conduct.” Board of Cnty. Comm’rs v. Brown, 520 U.S.

397, 404-05 (1997). Therefore, without an underlying constitutional violation,

“It/here can be no liability under Monell.” Robertson v. Lucas, 753 F.3d 606, 622 (6th

Cir. 2014) (citing Scott v. Clay Cnty., Tenn., 205 F.3d 867, 879 (6th Cir. 2000));

Heyerman v. City of Calhoun, 680 F.3d 642, 648 (6th Cir. 2012). For this reason,

Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Count III as well.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s motion for

summary judgment. (ECF No. 58.)

SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 6, 2026

J.Philip Calabrese”

United States District Judge

Northern District of Ohio

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