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Andrew C. Schwartz (State Bar No. 64578) CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK A Professional Corporation 2121 North California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, California 94596 Telephone: (925)947-1147 Facsimile: (925) 947-113.3 schwa rtzcmslaw.com )J L 12 Karen L. Snell (State Bar No. 100266) Attorney at Law 102 Buena Vista Terrace San Francisco, CA 94117 Telephone: (415) 225-7592,:\ Facsimile: (415) 487-0748 ksnell(snelI-law.com Attorneys for Plaintiffs
ANGIE INMAN, COREY INMAN,JO INMAN, and TYLER INMAN, Plaintiffs, vs. SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY, SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE SECURITY OFFICERS ROGER BARRERA, KAITLYN COLE, JORDAN EMENYSMITH, FABIAN GONZALEZ, SANTOS HERNANDEZ, DARRYL KRINER, ERIC NEGRETE, LUZ NIETO, JOAQUIN SEYMOUR, NICHOLAS SOLANO, SAUL VALADEZ and KEVIN WALSH, CITY OF SANTA CRUZ, SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICERS AHLERS, DENISE COCKRUM and BRIAN HATCHER, and DOES 1 through 100, Defendants.
ASENO. COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES (Violation of Civil Rights) DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL (925)947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
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INTRODUCTION
This is an action for money damages brought by ANGIE INMAN,
COREY INMAN, JON INMAN and TYLER INMAN, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983 and 1988, the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution, and the common law of the State of California, against SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY, SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE SECURITY OFFICERS ROGER BARRERA, KAITLYN
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I COLE, JORDAN EMENY-SMITH, FABIAN GONZALEZ, SANTOS HERNANDEZ, I DARRYL KRINER, ERIC NEGRETE, LUZ NIETO, JOAQUIN SEYMOUR, I NICHOLAS SOLANO, SAUL VALADEZ and KEVIN WALSH, CITY OF SANTA I CRUZ, SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICERS AHLERS, DENISE COCKRUM and
BRIAN HATCHER, and DOES I through 100.
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CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Sled., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL: (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
U.S.C. 1331 and 1343. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiffs state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1367(a). 3. The actions giving rise to Defendants liability, as alleged in this
Complaint, occurred within the Northern District of California. Venue is therefore proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) and Civil Local Rule 3-2(d).
INTRADISTRICT ASSIGNMENT
4. The events which give rise to Plaintiffs claims occurred in Santa Cruz,
California. This case is therefore appropriate for assignment to the San Jose Division pursuant to Civil Local Rule 3-2.
IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES
5. At all times material to this Complaint, Plaintiffs ANGIE INMAN, COREY
INMAN, JON INMAN, and TYLER INMAN were residents of Novato, California.
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1 Plaintiff COREY INMAN was a minor at the time of the actions described herein, but 2 all Plaintiffs are now of full age. 3 4 6. At all times material to this Complaint, Defendant SANTA CRUZ
I SEASIDE COMPANY was a private company located in Santa Cruz, California, that
7. At all times material to this Complaint, Defendants ROGER BARRERA,
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10 SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY SECURITY OFFICERS who were acting under 11 color of law and within the course and scope of their employment with Defendant 12 SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY. Each of these Defendants jointly participated 13 with Defendant CITY OF SANTA CRUZ and Defendant CITY OF SANTA CRUZ iI POLICE OFFICER Defendants in the constitutional deprivations alleged herein. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
CASPER. MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL: (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
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CRUZ was a public entity and a person within the meeting of 42 U.S.C. 1983. 9. At all times material to this Complaint, Defendants AHLERS, DENISE
COCKRUM and BRIAN HATCHER were CITY OF SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICERS who were acting under color of law and within the course and scope of their employment with CITY OF SANTA CRUZ. They are sued in their individual capacities. 10. Plaintiffs are ignorant of the true names and capacities of Defendants
DOES 1 through 100, and therefore sue these Defendants by such fictitious names. Plaintiffs will amend their Complaint when the true names and capacities of Defendant DOES I through 100 have been ascertained. Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and on that basis allege, that Defendants DOES I through 100 are responsible in some manner for the injuries suffered and damages incurred by Plaintiffs as alleged in this Complaint. Any reference in this Complaint to "Defendant," "Defendants," or to a
Angie Inman, et al., v. Santa Cruz Seaside Company, et al. Complaint Page 3
1 specifically-named Defendant refers also to Defendants DOES 1 through 100. These 2 Defendants are sued in their individual and official capacities. 3 4 5 11.
I INMAN, took their three children - Plaintiff TYLER INMAN, age 21; Plaintiff COREY
6 INMAN, age 17; and a daughter, age 14- and two friends of their children to the Santa 7 Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. 8 12. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is owned by the SANTA CRUZ
9 SEASIDE COMPANY. It is jointly patrolled by Defendant SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE 10 COMPANY SECURITY OFFICERS and CITY OF SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICERS. 11 13. Plaintiffs purchased tickets from Defendant SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE
12 COMPANY which authorized them to be at the amusement park at the time of the 13 events described herein. 14 14. At approximately 10:40 p.m., as Plaintiffs exited "Fright Night," the
15 Boardwalks haunted house attraction, Defendants SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE 16 COMPANY SECURITY OFFICERS WALSH and COLE confronted Plaintiff TYLER
17 INMAN. 18 19 15. In the presence of Plaintiff TYLER INMANs parents, younger siblings
and friends, Defendant WALSH accused him of performing a "lewd act" inside the
20 haunted house. The accusation was based on a report of a "possible lewd act" by a 21 SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY SECURITY OFFICER who had been watching 22 the attractions CCTV monitors. Plaintiff TYLER INMAN and his family had been 23 together inside the haunted house, and they denied the accusation, which upset them. 24 Plaintiffs asked Defendants to review the videotape that purportedly showed Plaintiff 25 TYLER IN MAN committing a "lewd act" as it would prove that Defendants accusation 26 was not true. 27 28
CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL: (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
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Defendant SOLANO did review the videotape, and was indeed unable to
confirm that a lewd act had been committed. Defendant SOLANO updated the
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officers on scene of this fact. But rather than apologizing to Plaintiffs, Defendant
I WALSH told Plaintiffs, in a rude and aggressive manner, that he wanted them to leave
the amusement park. 17. By this time several additional SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY
SECURITY OFFICERS, including Defendants COLE, GONZALEZ, HERNANDEZ, KRINER, NEGRETE and SEYMOUR, and at least three Defendant CITY OF SANTA
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CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
treatment of TYLER by crying out and reaching toward him, they too were subjected to excessive force by Defendants. Defendants, including Defendants COLE, HERNANDEZ, SEYMOUR and SOLANO, deliberately pushed Plaintiff ANGIE INMAN against a wall, bruising her arms. Defendants grabbed her and dragged her along when she couldnt keep up. In so doing, they broke her wrist. Defendants handcuffed Plaintiff ANGIE IN MAN and placed her in a paddy wagon. Her wrist became so swollen that the handcuffs cut into her skin. Only after she made repeated requests did Defendants loosen the handcuffs.
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forced Plaintiff JON INMAN onto the ground and Defendant WALSH applied a choke 3 hold to his neck. Plaintiff JON INMAN was beaten by Defendants until he became 4 unconscious. Defendants sprayed Olesoresin Capsicum, also known as pepper
5 spray, in Plaintiff JON INMANs eyes, nose, and mouth at very close range. 6 7 Thereafter, Defendants, including Defendants HERNANDEZ and BARRERA, failed to provide Plaintiff JON INMAN with first aid. In addition to the injuries he suffered to his
8 eyes and airways, Defendants caused Plaintiff JON INMAN to suffer abrasions to his 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL. (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
feet, arms, legs, and head. Defendants then handcuffed Plaintiff JON IN MAN and placed him in a paddy wagon. 20. When Plaintiff COREY INMAN reached for his brother during
I Defendants assault on Plaintiff TYLER INMAN, Defendants, including BARRERA, I SEYMOUR, EMENY-SMITH and HERNANDEZ, took Plaintiff COREY INMAN to the
ground, spraining his back and scraping his knees. Defendants then arrested him. 21. Based on Defendants false allegations, Plaintiffs were charged with
criminal offenses. Plaintiff TYLER IN MAN was charged with battery against a police officer, public intoxication and trespassing. Plaintiff ANGIE IN MAN was charged with resisting arrest. Plaintiff JON IN MAN was charged with resisting arrest and battery. Plaintiff COREY IN MAN was charged with resisting arrest and battery. 22. After Defendants handcuffed Plaintiff TYLER INMAN, he was driven in
an ambulance to Dominican Hospital where he was treated by doctors. Defendants then took him to the Santa Cruz County Jail, where he was booked into custody. Plaintiff TYLER INMAN was not released from the Jail until the following day, after posting $5000 bail. After Plaintiffs ANGIE INMAN and COREY INMAN were handcuffed, detained, advised of their rights, and asked to give a statement, they were cited and released. Plaintiff JON INMAN was taken to Santa Cruz County Jail and booked into custody, where he remained until 5:30 a.m. the following day, at which point he was released from the Jail on his promise to appear in court.
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CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL: (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
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them in their criminal cases. Plaintiffs were required to participate in the criminal case,
I which caused them to miss work and school. All Plaintiffs suffered the mental stress
of knowing there were criminal charges pending against them for more than a year. 24. Finally, on June 10, 2013, at the request of the Santa Cruz County
District Attorneys Office, all charges against Plaintiffs were dismissed. The dismissal was due to the District Attorneys conclusion that there was insufficient evidence that Plaintiffs had committed any of the offenses Defendants had alleged.
DAMAGES
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medical expenses, emotional distress, and they were forced to pay bond and attorneys fees. Plaintiffs have also suffered the violation of their constitutional rights and the loss of their sense of security, dignity, and pride as citizens and residents of the United States of America. 26. The individually named Defendants acted with malice and oppression,
as described herein. These Defendants conduct was intended to harm Plaintiffs or was despicable, carried out with a conscious disregard of Plaintiffs rights and safety. Defendants conduct also subjected Plaintiffs to cruel and unjust hardship in conscious disregard of Plaintiffs rights. Plaintiffs therefore are entitled to recover exemplary damages from these Defendants. 27. Plaintiffs have retained civil attorneys to pursue their rights as asserted
in this Complaint. Plaintiffs are entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys fees incurred in the prosecution of this action against Defendants pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF 42 U.S.C. 1983 - 4th Amendment (By All Plaintiffs Against All Defendants)
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Plaintiffs claim damages for the injuries set forth above under 42 U.S.C. 4th Amendment
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constitutional rights, including their rights to be free from excessive force and unlawful
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WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs seek relief as hereafter set forth. SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF 14th Amendment 42 U.S.C. 1983 - 4th and (By Plaintiff JON INMAN Against Defendants HERNANDEZ and BARRERA And Does I through 100)
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though fully set forth in this claim for relief. 31. Plaintiff JON INMAN claims damages for the injuries set forth above
under 42 U.S.C. 1983 against Defendants HERNANDEZ and BARRERA and Does 14th Amendment constitutional right to 1 through 100 for violation of Plaintiffs 4 and adequate medical care.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks relief as hereafter set forth. THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF 42 U.S.C. 1983 - Monell (By Plaintiffs Against Defendants SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY and CITY OF SANTA CRUZ and Does I through 100)
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as though fully set forth in this claim for relief. 33. At all times relevant, Defendants SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY and CITY OF SANTA CRUZ and Does I through 100 developed and maintained policies or customs exhibiting deliberate indifference to the constitutional rights of people in Santa Cruz and people visiting the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, which caused the violations of Plaintiffs rights.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs seek relief as hereafter set forth. FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF Assault (By All Plaintiffs Against All Defendants)
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CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Sude 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL. (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
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though fully set forth in this claim for relief. 35. On November 27, 2012, Defendant CITY OF SANTA CRUZ received the
3 government claims Plaintiffs timely filed pursuant to the provisions of the California 4 Tort Claims Act, California Government Code 910 et seq. Defendant CITY OF 5 SANTA CRUZ denied the claims by letter dated January 23, 2013. 6 7 36. The SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY SECURITY OFFICERS and the CITY OF SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICERS committed their alleged actions in
8 the course and scope of their employment with SANTA CRUZ SEASIDE COMPANY 9 and CITY OF SANTA CRUZ. 10, 37. The CITY OF SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICER Defendants are liable
11 pursuant to California Government Code 820.1(a), which renders a public employee 12 liable for injury caused by his or her act or omission to the same extent as a private 13 person. The CITY OF SANTA CRUZ is liable pursuant to Government Code 815.2, 14 which renders a public entity liable for injury proximately caused by an act or omission
15 of an employee of a public entity within the scope of his or her employment if the act 16 or omission would give rise to a cause of action against the public employee. 17 38. On May 26, 2012, Defendants, and each of them, intended to harm or
18 come into offensive contact with Plaintiffs. 19 39. Plaintiffs reasonably apprehended that Defendants were about to touch
20 them in a harmful or offensive manner. 21 40. Defendants also threatened to touch Plaintiffs in a harmful or offensive
22 manner and Plaintiffs reasonably apprehended that each Defendant was about to 23 carry out that threat. 24 41. Plaintiffs did not consent to the conduct of any of the Defendants and
25 were harmed thereby. 26 42. Each Defendants conduct was a substantial factor in causing the
27 alleged harm. 28
CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ& COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek. CA 94596 TEL (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
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FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF Battery (By All Plaintiffs Against All Defendants)
Plaintiffs incorporate the foregoing paragraphs of this Complaint as
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though fully set forth in this claim for relief. 44. On May 26, 2012, Defendants, and each of them, touched Plaintiffs or
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caused Plaintiffs to be touched with the intent of harming or offending Plaintiffs. 45. 46. 47. Plaintiffs did not consent to the conduct of any of the Defendants. Plaintiffs were harmed by Defendants conduct. A reasonable person in Plaintiffs situation would have been offended by
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Defendants conduct. 48. alleged harm. Each Defendants conduct was a substantial factor in causing the
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WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs seek relief as hereafter set forth. SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF False Arrest and Illegal Imprisonment (By All Plaintiffs Against All Defendants)
49. Plaintiffs incorporate the foregoing paragraphs of this Complaint as
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CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut CreeK, CA 94596 TEL: (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
though fully set forth in this claim for relief. 50. On May 26, 2012, Defendants, and each of them, arrested Plaintiffs
without process and prohibited Plaintiffs from moving freely. 51. Defendants deprived Plaintiffs of this freedom of movement by use of
force, threats of force, and unreasonable duress. 52. Plaintiffs did not consent to their false arrest and false imprisonment and
were harmed thereby. 53. alleged harm. Each Defendants conduct was a substantial factor in causing the
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SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF Intentional Infliction Of Emotional Distress (By All Plaintiffs Against All Defendants) Plaintiffs incorporate the foregoing paragraphs of this Complaint as
4 though fully set forth in this claim for relief. 5 55. On May 26, 2012, Defendants, and each of them, either engaged in
6 outrageous conduct intended to cause Plaintiffs emotional distress or acted with 7 reckless disregard of the probability that Plaintiffs would suffer emotional distress 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 58. 56. 57. Plaintiffs suffered severe emotional distress. Each Defendants conduct was a substantial factor in causing the
20 including severe emotional distress. 21 62. Each Defendants conduct was a substantial factor in causing the
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs seek relief as hereafter set forth. NINTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF California Civil Code 52, 52.1 (By All Plaintiffs Against All Defendants) Plaintiffs incorporate the foregoing paragraphs of this Complaint as
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2 coercion and intimidation, interfered with and threatened to interfere with Plaintiffs 3 rights guaranteed by the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments tothe United States 4 Constitution and Art. 1, 13 of the California Constitution. 5 65. The actions of these Defendants, and each of them, was a substantial
6 factor in causing Plaintiffs to sustain harm and the special and general damages 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL: (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
which Plaintiffs will establish at trial. 66. The individually named Defendants acted with malice and oppression.
These Defendants conduct was intended to harm Plaintiffs or was despicable, carried out with a conscious disregard of Plaintiffs rights or safety. Defendants conduct also subjected Plaintiffs to cruel and unjust hardship in conscious disregard of Plaintiffs rights. Plaintiffs are entitled to such statutory damages allowed by California Civil Code 52, and 52.1(b). WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs seek relief as hereafter set forth. 1. 2. 3. and 52; 4. For reasonable attorneys fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1988 on For general, pecuniary and special damages, according to proof; For exemplary damages against all individually sued Defendants; For statutory damages pursuant to California Civil Code 52.1
Plaintiffs First, Second and Third Claims for Relief. 5. For reasonable attorneys fees pursuant to California Civil Code
51.2 and 52 on Plaintiffs Tenth Claim for Relief. 6. For prejudgment interest pursuant to Civil Code 3288, or as
otherwise permitted by law; 7. 8. proper. II For costs of suit; and For such other and further relief as the court may deem just and
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CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 1020 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TEL. (925) 947-1147 FAX (925) 947-1131
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Plaintiffs hereby demand a jury trial in this action.
Dated: July
It,
2013
Andrew C. Schwartz
CASPER, MEADOWS, SCHWARTZ & COOK
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