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

Members of the Onondaga Nation and supporters protested a tobacco tax agreement on private property adjacent to Interstate 81. After a small group briefly entered the highway to distribute literature, state troopers in riot gear charged the main, peaceful demonstration without a dispersal order, allegedly using excessive force and making indiscriminate arrests.

Issue

Did the district court err in denying qualified immunity to state defendants for alleged First Amendment violations (unlawful dispersal of protest) and Fourth Amendment violations (excessive force and unlawful arrests), given the plaintiffs' version of events?

Holding

The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's denial of qualified immunity, concluding that under the plaintiffs' alleged facts, a reasonable officer would have known their actions violated clearly established First and Fourth Amendment rights. The plaintiffs' cross-appeal was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

Rule

Police may not interfere with peaceful protests unless there is a "clear and present danger" of riot or immediate threat to public safety, and generally must issue a dispersal order. Excessive force claims are analyzed under the Fourth Amendment's "objective reasonableness" standard, considering the severity of the crime, threat to officers, and resistance.

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