Kent Papineau, Nedrick Ashton, Clay Rockwell, Abilene Rockwell, Houston Rockwell, Onenhaida Rockwell and Juanita Lewis, Plaintiffs-Counter-Defendants, Shawn Jones, Andrew Jones, Stonehorse Goeman, Marie Peters, Wealthy Bucktooth, Individually and as Guardian Ad Litem for Holly Lyons, Robert E. Bucktooth Jr., Cheryl Bucktooth, Individually and as Guardian Ad Litem for Nadine and Rob Bucktooth, Martha Bucktooth, Roberta Bucktooth, Jordan Bucktooth, Robert Bucktooth, Ronald Jones Sr., Ruth Jones, Debby Jones, Karen Jones, Nikki Jones, Karoniakata Jones, Tracy Kappelmeier, Individually and as Guardian Ad Litem for Adam Kappelmeier and Matthew Kappelmeier, Shirley Snyder, Andrea Potter, Samantha Thompson, Martha J. Skye, Steven Lee Skye, Cara Skye, Andrew Skye, Stormy Skye, Verna Montour, Sesiley R. Snyder, Alice Thompson, Minnie Garrow, Frances Dione, Wentawawi Dione, Joely Vandommelen, Daronhiokwas Horn, A'anase Horn, Tekahawakwen Rice, Kahente Horn Miller, Kahentinetha Horn, Karonhioko'he Horn, Malcolm Hill, Kathy Melissa Smith, William Green Iii, Kevin Henhawk, Dyhyneyyks, Mona Logan, Gerald Logan, Anthony Kloch Jr., Frank Bistrovich, Brent Lyons, Brad Cooke, Janet Cornelius, Jina Jimerson, Duane Beckman, Chad Hill, Donna Hill, Steve Stacy, Dale Dione, Robin Wanatee, Joshua Wanatee, Ally M. Wanatee, Esther Sundown, Shelley George, Sheena Green, Shiela Fish, Garrett Bucktooth, Joe Stefanovich, Tyler Hemlock, Hayden Hemlock, Skroniati Stacy, Kakwirakeron, Tekarontake, Teyonienkwataseh, Daniel Moses, Andrew Moses, Ross John, Barry Buckshot, Seth Tarbell, Deirdre M. Tarbell and Andrew Buckshot, Plaintiffs-Counter-Defendants-Appellees-Cross-Appellants v. James J. Parmley, George Beach, Pamela R. Morris, Dennis J. Blythe, John F. Ahern, Joseph W. Smith, Jeffrey D. Sergott, Michael S. Slade, James D. Moynihan, James J. Jecko, Robert Haumann, Mark E. Chaffee, Christopher J. Clark, Paul K. Kunzwiler, Douglas W. Shetler, Patrick M. Dipirro, Gregory Eberl, Gary A. Barlow, Mark E. Lepczyk, Martin Zubrzycko, Glenn Miner, Gary Darstein, Kevin Buttenschon, Chris A. Smith, Norman J. Mattice, John E. Wood, Thomas P. Connelly, Jerry Brown, Harry Schleiser, Norman Ashbarry, Peter S. Leadley, Martin J. Williams, Gloria L. Wood, David G. Bonner, Dennis J. Burgos, John P. Dougherty, David v. Dye, Daryl O. Free, James J. Greenwood, Andrew Halinski, Robert B. Heath, Robert H. Hovey Jr., Robert A. Jureller, Stephen P. Kealy, Troy D. Little, Edward J. Marecek, Ronald G. Morse, Paul M. Murray, Anthony Randazzo, Allen Riley, Frederick A. Smith and Steven B. Kruth, Defendants-Cross-Defendants-Appellants-Cross-Appellees, County of Onondaga, Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, Kevin Walsh, Onondaga County Sheriff, in His Official and Personal Capacity, Defendants-Cross-Appellees, James W. McMahon Superintendent of New York State Police, in His Official and Personal Capacity, Town of Onondaga, and the Following Persons in Their Personal and Official Capacities as New York State Troopers, Allen v. Svitak Jr., Michael L. Delorenzo, James A. Armstrong, Mark Williams, Clifford A. Heaslip, Edward C. Fillingham, Kimberly A. Fillingham, Jeffrey D. Raub, Mark Bender, Peter Obrist, Eric D. Parsons, Robin Palmer, Michael Grandy, Thomas Irwin, George Mercado, Frank Jerome, James Rogers, Art Brocolli, John Doe, William M. Agan, William M. Ambler, Donald W. Barker, Mark A. Caporuscio, Michael G. Conroy, Peter A. Kalin, Matthew J. Navin, William J. Armstrong, George M. Atanasoff, David R. Barry, Peter J. Beratta, Steven M. Bourgeois, George W. Brownsell, Robert M. Burney, Rodney W. Campbell, Mary A. Clark, Mark Dembrow, Gerald J. Deruby Jr., Michael L. Downey, Gary W. Duncan, John Evans, John J. Fitzgerald, Robert Gardner, John E. Giddings, Douglas R. Gilmore, Gary L. Greene, Andrew A. Lucey, James Martin, James W. O'brien, Gary Oelkers, Derrick A. O'meara, Richard J. Sauer, Michael H. Scheibel, Gary S. Schultz, Timothy G. Siddall, Robert J. Simpson, Katherine Smith, Jay Strait, Michael R. Tinkler, Michael J. White, Donald M. Dattler, Thomas E. Elthorp, Harrison Greeney, Matthew A. Turrie, Dennis J. Cimbal and Kenneth Kotwas, Defendants-Cross-Defendants

465 F.3d 46 · Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 2006

Facts

Plaintiffs, members of the Onondaga Nation and their supporters, organized a protest against a tobacco agreement on private property. State troopers, after monitoring the protest, formed a skirmish line and charged into the demonstration, arresting protesters and allegedly using excessive force without a dispersal order.

Issue

Did the district court err in denying the defendants' motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity regarding the plaintiffs' First and Fourth Amendment claims, and in its application of qualified immunity to the plaintiffs' state-law claims?

Holding

The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's decision denying qualified immunity to the defendants on the First and Fourth Amendment claims and dismissed the plaintiffs' cross-appeal for lack of jurisdiction, finding that genuine issues of material fact existed regarding the reasonableness of the officers' actions.

Rule

Qualified immunity shields police officers from liability unless their actions violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known; the determination involves a two-part inquiry: whether the facts alleged demonstrate a violation of a constitutional right, and whether the officials' actions violated clearly established rights.

Read the full opinion on CourtListener

Case brief last reviewed . Prepared by CaseReader from the published opinion.