Reed v. City of Greenwood

Full title: CHRIS REED PLAINTIFF v. CITY OF GREENWOOD, et al DEFENDANTS

Court: United States District Court, N.D. Mississippi, Greenville Division

Date published: Jun 23, 2008

CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:02CV287-P-B (N.D. Miss. Jun. 23, 2008)

Opinion

CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:02CV287-P-B.

June 23, 2008

ORDER

W. PEPPER JR., District Judge

This cause is before the Court on defendant Harris' Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law or in the Alternative to Amend Judgment [278]. The Court, having reviewed the motion, the response, the briefs of the parties, the authorities cited and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, finds as follows, to-wit:

Harris' post-trial motion attacks the jury's verdict with regard to plaintiff's denial of access claim. The stated ground for the motion is the Court's alleged error in granting certain jury instructions, specifically P-17R and relevant portions of C-10.1R. Those instructions focused on whether Harris violatedMiss. Code Ann. § 99-3-28, a Mississippi statute which establishes the procedure for preferring criminal charges against law enforcement officers. Harris urges that review is proper inasmuch as the instructions at issue improperly elevate the violation of the above-referenced statute to a constitutional tort-a proposition which has been soundly rejected by the Fifth Circuit. Beltran v. The City of El Paso, 367 F.3d 299, 302 n. 1 (5^th Cir. 2004). See also Calhoun v. Hargrove, 312 F.3d 730, 734 (5^th Cir. 2002); San Jacinto Sav. Loan v. Kacal, 928 F.2d 697, 701 (5^th Cir. 1991). Upon consideration, the Court is persuaded there is not only a substantial and ineradicable doubt as to whether the jury was properly guided in its deliberations, but also as to whether the challenged instructions affected the outcome of the case. Russell v. Plano Bank Trust, 130 F.3d 715, 719 (5^th Cir. 1997).

In view of the foregoing, it is necessary to consider how best to remedy the error. Ordinarily, where the error in question pertains to prejudicial jury instructions, the proper remedy is a new trial. Aero International, Inc. v. United States Fire Insurance Co., 713 F.2d 1106, 1113 (5^th Cir. 1983). However, the relief requested by Harris is entry of judgment as a matter of law pursuant to F.R.C.P. 50(b) or, in the alternative, an amendment of the judgment pursuant to F.R.C.P. 59(e). The basis for the requested relief is the fact that the theory of the case, as tried and argued by plaintiff, was whether or not Harris violated Miss. Code Ann. § 99-3-28. There was no other evidence before the jury and hence, no alternative factual basis to support a finding against Harris.¹ Under the circumstances, defendants are entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Accordingly, the Court will set aside the jury's verdict as to plaintiff's denial of access claim against defendant Harris and will enter judgment in favor of defendant Harris on plaintiff's denial of access claim.

1 Plaintiff's alternative suggestion that the jury could have found against Harris on the denial of access claim on the basis that Harris lost the charge Reed made against Solomon Osborne is unavailing. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff, Harris' action was simple negligence. Because negligence is not actionable under § 1983, there was no sufficient evidentiary basis for a verdict against Harris on the denial of access claim.

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that defendant Harris' Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law or in the Alternative to Amend Judgment [278] should be, and hereby is, GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the jury's verdict on plaintiff's denial of access claim against defendant Harris should be, and hereby is, SET ASIDE.

SO ORDERED.