Weiser Police Lawsuit
Weiser Police Lawsuit
Weiser Police Lawsuit
vs.
This is a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sections 1983, 1985 and Bivens
v. Six Unnamed Federal Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), filed by Plaintiff for
violations of her protected rights to be free from the use of excessive force, illegal
seizure, and unlawful arrest pursuant to the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments
to the Constitution of the Untied States.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
II.
III.
This Court has jurisdiction over Plaintiffs State claims set forth in this complaint
pursuant to supplemental jurisdiction to hear related state law claims under 28
U.S.C. Section 1367(a). Both the federal and the state claims alleged herein arose
from a common nucleus of operative facts, the state claim is so related to the
federal claims that they form part of the same case or controversy, and the actions
would ordinarily be expected to be tried in one judicial proceeding.
IV.
Actions complained of herein took place within the jurisdiction of the United
States District Court, District of Idaho in that one or more of the defendants reside
in Idaho and Plaintiffs claims for relief arose in this District. Accordingly, venue
in this judicial district is proper under 28 U.S.C. Section 1391.
PARTIES
V.
At all relevant times, Plaintiff Carrie Ann Kinkade has resided in the city of
Fruitland and/or Payette County, Idaho.
VI.
At all relevant times, Defendant Brandon Hathorn, was a law enforcement officer
employed by the City of Weiser Police Department and working under color of
law. Defendant Hathorn is sued in his individual capacity.
VII.
At all relevant times, Defendant Jason Maxfield, was a law enforcement officer
employed by the City of Weiser Police Department and working under color of
law. Defendant Maxfield is sued in his individual capacity.
VIII.
At all relevant times, Defendant Gregg Moon, was a law enforcement officer
employed by the City of Weiser Police Department and working under color of
law. Defendant Moon is sued in his individual capacity.
IX.
X.
XII.
All Defendants have acted under color of state and/or federal law at all times
relevant to this Complaint.
XIII.
Plaintiff served a timely tort claim notice in compliance with the Idaho Tort
Claims Act.
XIV. Plaintiff is entitled to an award of attorney fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
Section 1988.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
XV.
On or about the 21st day of May, 2014, Defendants Hathorn and Maxfield
responded to a police dispatch call at Legends in Weiser, Idaho. Defendants found
Ms. Kinkade outside of the business, and, after an initial investigation, Ms.
Kinkade was asked by Defendant Hathorn to leave the location. Ms. Kinkade
made statements that she would be leaving and asked Defendant Hathorn that
since she was leaving, she could say fuck you to him and there was nothing he
could do. After making another statement of fuck you to the officer and a
gesture, Defendant Hathorn grabbed Ms. Kinkade by the throat and choked her.
XVI. While choking, Ms. Kinkade struggled to break the grasp on her throat.
Defendant Hathorn released Ms. Kinkade who again stated fuck you and tried
to push him away from her, Defendant Hathorn then rushed Ms. Kinkade, threw
his right arm around her neck, and then slammed her to the concrete sidewalk
landing with his full weight on top of her.
XVII. Without cause, Defendant Hathorn then arrested Ms. Kinkade and placed her in
handcuffs, and walked and dragged her to a patrol car. Ms. Kinkade did not have
shoes on. Defendants directed her to the patrol car about one-half block away by
pulling up on her panties and half carrying her to the vehicle.
XVIII. Defendant Hathorn and Maxfield attempted to put Ms. Kinkade in the patrol
vehicle and pat her down, when Ms. Kinkade stated that she was not going to
comply, Defendant Hathorn threw her face down into the concrete and frisked
her. Defendant Hathorn, spread her legs apart and frisked her while she was face
down on the ground, during this assault placed his knee in her back, rolled her
around. She sustained cuts, scrapes and bruises.
XIX. Defendant Hathorn and Maxfield then forced Ms. Kinkade into the patrol vehicle
and Defendant Maxfield drove her to the Weiser Police Department and parked in
the Sally Port.
XX.
Ms. Kinkade requested a different officers take her out of the patrol vehicle. Ms.
Kinkade made multiple requests while inside the vehicle to have a different
officer assist her.
XXI. After Ms. Kinkades repeated requests for a different officer, Defendant Hathorn
grabbed Ms. Kinkade by her hair to pull her out of the vehicle while Defendant
Maxfield began pushing her out of the vehicle. Defendant Hathorn pulled Ms.
Kinkade out of the back seat of the patrol car, handcuffed, by the hair and head,
and dropped her face first onto the concrete floor. Ms. Kinkade was knocked
unconscious.
XXII. Ms. Kinkade was violently picked up and drug to the jail, placed in a chair with
restraints, then strapped down, and booked into the jail before any of her wounds
were reviewed or treated.
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF: Excessive Force
42 U.S.C. 1983 and/or Bivens cause of action:
Violation of the 4th and 14th Amendments against Defendants
XXIII. Ms. Kinkade incorporates by reference paragraphs I-XX as though fully set forth
herein.
XXIV. Ms. Kinkade is entitled to be free from unlawful search and seizure of her person
AMENDED CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT, Page | 6
pursuant to the parameters of the 4th and 14th Amendments to the United States
Constitution. Ms. Kinkade is entitled to be safe and secure from under and
unreasonable force when being seized by law enforcement.
XXV. The acts and omissions of Defendants in using extreme and unwarranted force on
Ms. Kinkade when conducting an unlawful arrest, including, but are not limited
to, choking her, throwing her to the ground on multiple occasions, and dropping
her face first onto a concrete floor without any way of cushioning her fall. These
actions, individually and collectively violated Ms. Kinkades protected rights,
were an excessive seizure of her person, were objectively unreasonable based
upon the totality of the circumstances and amounted to deliberate indifference to
Ms. Kinakdes protected rights. Defendants violated the requirements of the 4th
and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution held by Ms. Kinkade to
the integrity of her person to be free from excessive and unconstitutional use of
force.
XXVI. The specific actions of Defendants, individually and in concert with each other
alleged to be a violation of Ms. Kinkades protected rights are more specifically
set forth below:
a.
Defendant Hathorn used excessive force when reaching out and choking
Ms. Kinkade with his hand.
b.
c.
Defendant Hathorn and Maxfield used extreme and excessive force when
Defendant Hathorn and Maxfield used extreme and excessive force when
they pulled and pushed Ms. Kinkade out of the back seat of the patrol car
and dropped her face down onto the concrete floor without any means of
breaking her fall.
e.
f.
g.
h.
XXVII.
knew or reasonably should have known that their conduct was not only well
below the standard prescribed by law, but was illegal per se.
XXVIII.
seizure and confinement of her person pursuant to the parameters of the 4th and
14th Amendments to the United States Constitution.
XXXIII.
Plaintiffs protected rights against seizure of her person without probable cause,
was objectively unreasonable based on the totality of the circumstances, and
amounted to deliberate indifferent to Plaintiffs protected rights. Defendants
violated the requirements of the 4th and 14th Amendment rights held by Plaintiff to
the integrity of their person and their right to be free from unlawful arrest.
XXXIV.
Defendant Hathorn and Maxfield arrested and seized Ms. Kinkade in the
public street because she made a statement to the officers after being told
that she was free to go, she stated, Then I can tell you to fuck off and you
cannot do anything about it.
b.
Ms. Kinkade then stated the same again at which time and without reason,
Defendant Hathorn grabbed Ms. Kinkade by the throat with one hand and
choked her.
c.
During and after Defendant Hathorn was choking her, Ms. Kinkade
attempted to get him away from her, using reasonable force to protect
herself from Defendant Hathorn unreasonable aggression.
d.
Defendant Hathorn again then attacked Ms. Kinkade and with one arm
around her neck, threw her forcibly onto the concrete and landed with his
f.
XXXV.
All Defendants conduct was well defined by law and each defendant
knew or should have known that their conduct was not only well below the
standard of law described herein, but was illegal per se.
XXXVI.
Kinkade sustained physical, emotional, and mental injury. The extent of Ms.
Kinkades damages will be more fully proven at trial.
XXXVII.
they were on duty, working for and employed by City of Weiser and the City of
Weiser Police Department, in uniform, and carrying a badge and weapon and
therefore acting under color of state law and authority.
On all claims for relief Plaintiff prays for judgment finding that her protected
rights were violated:
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Award Plaintiff her reasonable attorneys fees and costs against all
Defendants;
7.
JS 44 (Rev. II/IS)
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the infonnation contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadin&s or other papers as required by law, except as
provided by local rules of court. This fonn, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is requtrcd for the usc of the Clerk of Court for the
purpose ofinitiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF TillS FORM.)
I. (a) PLAINTIFFS
DEFENDANTS
Payett~._l_daho
NOTE:
:II
::J2
U.S. Government
Plaintiff
lf3
U.S. Govmuncnt
Defendant
LJ4
Federal Question
(U.S. Government Not a Purty)
Diversity
__ iCONTRACT ..c--
0
LJ
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LJ
LJ
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REAL PROP.ERt:Y
n 2 I0 Land Condemnation
LJ
LJ
LJ
LJ
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- :- -.:::-.-
c .. :~
110 Insurance
120Marine
I 30 Mitter Act
140 Negotiable Instrument
I SO Recovery of Overpayment
& Enforcement of Judgment
IS I Medicare Act
I 52 Recovery of Defaulted
Student Loans
(Excludes Veterans)
I 53 Recovery of Overpayment
of Veteran's Benefits
160 Stockholders' SuiL~
I 90 Other Contract
I95 Contract Product Liability
I96 Franchise
DEF
0 I
LJ 2
Citi1.cn or Subject of a
ForeiRn Country
Foreign Nation
PTF
LJ I
220 Foreclosure
230 Rent Lease & Ejectment
240 Torts to Land
245 Ton Product Liability
290 All Other Real Property
:
I
TORTS
-.
PERSONAL INJURY
LJ 310 Airplane
LJ 31 S Airplane Product
Liability
LJ 320 Assault, Libel &
Slander
n 330 Federal Employers'
Liability
LJ 340 Marine
0 345 Marine Product
Liability
LJ 350 Motor Vehicle
Ll 3SS Motor Vehicle
Product Liability
LJ 360 Other Personal
Injury
LJ 362 Personal Injury
Medical Malpractice
CMLRIGHTS
~440 Other Civil Rights
LJ 441 Voting
LJ 442 Employment
0 443 Housing/
Accommodations
LJ 445 Amer. w/Oisabilities Employment
LJ 446 Amcr. w/Oisabilitic:s Other
LJ 448 Education
FORFEITURFJPENALTY
PERSONAL INJURY
LJ 365 Personal Injury Product Liability
LJ 367 H~:alth Carel
Pharmaceutical
Personal Injury
Product Liability
LJ 368 Asbestos Personal
Injury Product
Liability
PERSONAL PROPERTY
LJ 370 Other Fraud
LJ 371 Truth in Lending
LJ 380 Other Personal
Property Damage
LJ 385 Property Damage
Product Liability
PRISONER PETmONS
Habeas Corpus:
LJ 463 Alien Detainee
LJ SIO Motions to Vacate:
Sentence
LJ 530 General
LJ S3S Death Penalty
Other:
0 540 Mandamus & Other
LJ 550 Civil Rights
LJ SSS Prison Condition
n 560 Civil Detainee Conditions of
Confinement
LJ
LJ
LJ
LJ
LJ
LJ
.LABOR
710 Fair Labor Standards
Act
720 Labor/Management
Relations
740 Railway Labor Act
75 I Family and Medical
Leave Act
790 Other Labor Litigation
791 Employee Retirement
Income Security Act
LJ 423 Withdrawal
28 usc 157
:J
0 820 Copyrights
::J
0
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n 830 Patent
:"1
CJ 840 Trademark
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RITY
86t IliA (t39sm
LJ 862 Black Lung (923)
n 863 DIWCIDIWW (40S(g))
LJ 864 SSID Title XVI
0 865 RSI (40S(g))
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OTHER STATUTES
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LJ 87 I IRS-Third Party
26USC7609
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.. _, . JMMIGRATION.
LJ 462 Naturalization Application
LJ 465 Other Immigration
Actions
0 2 Removed from
Proceeding
State Court
Remanded from
Appellate Court
0 4 Reinstated or
Reopened
0 S Transferred from
Another District
0 6 Multidistrict
Litigation
(.fpec(M
Cite th.. U.S. Cjvil S!ll!utc und.cr wbicJu.ou arc filing[Do IJ!'Lclte)urisdlctiol}ql.,!fl.tutr;,'.PJlltzu)divJ!!l!Y):
42 u~c 19H3,19Ho, 28 usc 1~~1,1343, 42 U~t; 1988, 28 uSt; 1"t>' \a,,~~,
Bri~fdesctiJ:!tion of cause:
Weiser t;ity violated Plaintiffs civil rights to be free from use of excessive force, Illegal search and unlawful arrest
VII. REQUESTED IN
COMPLAINT:
VIII. RELATED CASE(S)
IF ANY
DATE
DEMANDS
1,000,000.00
JURY DEMAND:
DOCKET NUMBER
JUDGE
SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD
05/16/2016
AMOUNT
APPLYING IFP
JUDGE
MAG. JUDGE