Opinion

Holter ex rel. Holter v. City of Pasadena

  • 257 F. App'x 2
Court
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Filed
Oct 25, 2007
Status
Published
On the bench
Kozinski, McKeown, Tashima
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 13.1%

The opinion

MEMORANDUM *

In this qualified immunity appeal, we review the district court’s order of summary judgment de novo, and construe all disputed facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. See, e.g., Beier v. City of Lewiston, 354 F.3d 1058, 1063 (9th Cir.2004). Government officials enjoy qualified immunity from civil damages unless then* conduct violates “clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 817 , 102 S.Ct. 2727 , 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982). In analyzing whether an official is entitled to qualified immunity, we must address two questions, in a particular order. First, we consider whether the facts alleged show the officer’s conduct violated a constitutional right. See Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194 , 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151 , 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001). Second, and only if a constitutional right was violated, we consider whether the right was clearly established such that a reasonable officer would *3 believe the alleged conduct to be unlawful. See id.

Construing the facts in the light most favorable to Mr. Holter’s widow and child, including crediting the testimony of the accomplice, we conclude that Officer Carter’s actions were reasonable under the circumstances, and therefore did not constitute unreasonable use of force in violation of the Fourth Amendment. See Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 11 , 105 S.Ct. 1694 , 85 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985). Because there was no violation of the decedent’s constitutional rights, “there is no necessity for further inquiries concerning qualified immunity.” Saucier, 533 U.S. at 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151 .

AFFIRMED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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