Filed: Patrick Fisher

F I L E D
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT
United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit
APR 10 2001
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
RICHARD L. CRUDUP,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
ROBERT SCHULTE, District

Attorney, JUDGE MARK SMITH,
Comanche County Judge, CITY OF
LAWTON, OKLAHOMA, and
DARRELL SOUTHERLAND, Officer,
No. 00-6396
(D.C. No. 99-CV-1428-R)
(W.D. Okla.)
Defendants-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before EBEL, KELLY and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
Plaintiff-Appellant Richard L. Crudup (Crudup) appeals the district
courts dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. 1983 action. On November 5, 1998, Lawton
Police Officer Darrell Southerland (Southerland) stopped Crudups vehicle on
After examining appellants brief and the appellate record, this panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R.
34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This
Order and Judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of
the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the
citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be
cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
*
suspicion that Crudup was driving with a suspended license. (Doc. 10, Ex. A at
4.) Southerland circled the vehicle and noticed the butt of a revolver visible
under the front passengers seat. (Id. at 8.) Southerland arrested both Crudup and
his passenger for unlawful possession of a firearm. (Doc. 45 at 2.) Southerland
submitted an offense report to the Comanche County District Attorneys office,
and an assistant district attorney filed a charge against him for being a felon in
possession of a firearm in violation of Okla. Stat. tit. 21 1283. (Doc. 38 at Ex.
2.) Following a preliminary hearing, Judge Mark Smith (Judge Smith) held that
there was probable cause to bind Crudup over for trial. (Id. at Ex. 3.) A jury
subsequently acquitted Crudup. (Doc. 46 at 2-3.)
Crudup sued Southerland, Comanche County District Attorney Robert
Schulte (Schulte), Judge Smith, and the City of Lawton, Oklahoma, alleging
they deprived him of his civil rights in violation of 42 U.S.C. 1983. (Doc. 17.)
A magistrate judge, liberally construing Crudups pro se complaint, concluded
that he had alleged acts of malicious prosecution, simple negligence, and
negligent entrustment. (Doc. 46 at 3.) Adopting a Report and Recommendation
prepared by the magistrate, the district court dismissed the actions against the
City of Lawton and Southerland for failure to state a claim. The district court
dismissed the remaining claims against Judge Smith and Schulte, holding they
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were entitled to absolute immunity from liability. (Doc. 46; Doc. 50.) For
substantially the reasons relied upon by the district court, we now AFFIRM.
A.
City of Lawton, Oklahoma

The district court dismissed Crudups complaint against the City of Lawton
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. We review the
dismissal of a complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) de novo. See Hunt v. Uphoff, 199
F.3d 1220, 1223 (10th Cir. 1999).
Dismissal of a pro se complaint for failure to state a claim is proper
only where it is obvious that the plaintiff cannot prevail on the facts
he has alleged and it would be futile to give him an opportunity to
amend. In determining whether dismissal is proper, we must accept
the allegations of the complaint as true and we must construe those
allegations, and any reasonable inferences that might be drawn from
them, in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Further, we must
liberally construe the allegations of a pro se complaint.
Perkins v. Kansas Dept of Corr., 165 F.3d 803, 806 (10th Cir. 1999) (citations
omitted).
The district court construed Crudups claim against Lawton as resting
solely on its status as Southerlands employer, and dismissed the complaint
reasoning that a city cannot be liable for the acts of its employees under 1983
because of respondeat superior alone. (Doc. 46 at 5.) See Board of County
Commrs v. Bryan County, Oklahoma, 520 U.S. 397, 405 (1996); Monell v. New
York City Dept of Soc. Serv., 436 U.S. 658, 690-91 (1978). We agree, and
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therefore affirm the district courts order dismissing Crudups claim against the
City of Lawton.
B.
Defendant Southerland
Southerland did not raise the affirmative defense of qualified immunity,
and therefore we proceed to the merits of Crudups claim. Crudups claims

against Southerland are based on a conclusory allegation that Southerland stopped
Crudup to harass [him] for something other than a routine traffic stop. (Doc. 17
at 10). In subsequent filings, Crudup was more specific, alleging that
Southerlands actions were motivated by racial bias. 1 (See, e.g., Doc. 20.) Based
on these allegations, the district court construed Crudups complaint as an attempt
to predicate his 1983 claim on an allegation of malicious prosecution. (Doc. 46
at 3.) Crudup also alleged that Southerland was negligent in failing to ascertain
In his brief on appeal, Crudup asserts that the district court failed to
consider a violation of the Equal Protection Clause as a possible ground for relief.
It is true that the district court did not specifically address this argument in its
order. The only allegations in Crudups complaint that might support such a
claim, however, are a conclusory statement that Southerland first approached
Crudup to harass the Plaintiff for something other than a routine traffic stop,
and a statement that Crudup had filed a disciplinary complaint against
Southerland shortly after the arrest alleging he discriminated against Crudup on
the basis of race. (Doc. 17 at 3, 10, 12.) These allegations are at best vague
and conclusory, and are thus insufficient to give rise to a claim under the Equal
Protection Clause. Cf. Northington v. Jackson, 973 F.2d 1518, 1521 (10th Cir.
1992) (although court should liberally construe pro se plaintiffs complaint, the
court should not assume the role of advocate, and should dismiss claims which are
supported only by vague and conclusory allegations.)
1
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whether Crudup had a valid drivers license before initiating contact. Finally,
Crudup alleged a claim of negligent entrustment against Southerland. (Doc. 17
at 6, 22.)
To the extent Crudups claims are based on negligence, the district court
correctly dismissed them on the ground that negligence cannot serve as the basis
for a 1983 claim. See Woodward v. City of Worland, 977 F.2d 1392, 1399
(10th Cir. 1992) (The Supreme Court has made it clear that liability under
1983 must be predicated upon a deliberate violation of constitutional rights by
the defendant. It cannot be predicated upon negligence. (citations omitted).)
This circuit has held a plaintiff may state a claim under 1983 for a
deprivation of Fourth Amendment rights to be free of unreasonable seizure on the
basis of defendants malicious prosecution of a plaintiff. See Taylor v. Meacham,
82 F.3d 1556, 1561-62 (10th Cir. 1996). [O]ur circuit takes the common law
elements of malicious prosecution as the starting point for the analysis of the
1983 malicious prosecution claim, but always reaches the ultimate question,
which it must, of whether the plaintiff has proven a constitutional violation. Id.
at 1561 (emphasis in original). In other words, the evidence ultimately must show
that Crudup was subjected to an unreasonable seizure in violation of the Fourth
Amendment. Id.
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The elements of malicious prosecution in Oklahoma are: (1) the bringing

of the original action by the defendant; (2) its successful termination in favor of
the plaintiff; (3) want of probable cause to bring the action; (4) malice; and (5)
damages. Parker v. City of Midwest City, 850 P.2d 1065, 1067 (Okla. 1993). In
Taylor, we assumed that a wrongful arrest may be a first step leading toward
malicious prosecution. See 82 F.3d at 1564 n.8 (citing Albright v. Oliver, 510
U.S. 266, 279 n.5 (1994) (Ginsburg, J., concurring)). As the district court
recognized, however, Taylor held that a judges conclusion that there is sufficient
evidence to bind the defendant over for trial after a preliminary hearing breaks the
chain of causation between the officers actions and any violation of a 1983
plaintiffs fourth amendment rights. See Taylor, 82 F.3d at 1564. Similarly, even
accepting that Southerlands actions gave rise to a cognizable 1983 claim for
malicious prosecution, in this case Judge Smiths finding of probable cause to
bind Crudup over for trial is fatal to the claim. 2
The district court correctly noted that Crudup alleged a police officer gave
perjured testimony during his preliminary hearing, and that Taylor is arguably
distinguishable on that basis. (Doc. 46 at 14 n.8; Doc. 45, Affidavit at 1-2.) We
agree with the district court, however, that Crudups blanket statement to that
effect, without identifying either the content of the false testimony, the witness
who offered the testimony, or the stage of the proceedings in which it was
offered, is insufficient to give rise to a genuine question of material fact on this
issue. Cf. Northington, 973 F.2d at 1521(court should dismiss claims which are
supported only by vague and conclusory allegations).
2
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C.
Defendants Smith and Schulte

The district court, after considering affidavits submitted by the defendants
and giving Crudup an opportunity to respond with additional evidence, granted

the defendants motion for summary judgment, holding that both Schulte and
Judge Smith were entitled to absolute immunity from liability on these claims.
(Doc. 46 at 6.) We review the district courts grant of summary judgment de
novo, applying the same standards as the district court in determining whether
genuine issues of material fact exist, and, if not, whether the movant is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. See Simms v. Oklahoma ex rel. Dept of Mental
Health & Substance Abuse Servs., 165 F.3d 1321, 1326 (10th Cir. 1999). We
liberally construe a pro se litigants pleadings in conducting our review,
see Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972), but we do not consider
materials or arguments not presented to the district court, see Myers v. Oklahoma
County Bd. of County Commrs, 151 F.3d 1313, 1319 (10th Cir. 1998).
We agree with the district court that Judge Smith is entitled to summary
judgment on grounds of absolute judicial immunity. A judge will not be
deprived of immunity because the action he took was in error, was done
maliciously, or was in excess of his authority; rather he will be subject to liability
only when he has acted in the clear absence of all jurisdiction. Stump v.
Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 356-57 (1978) (citations and quotations omitted).
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Crudup has not alleged any action taken by Judge Smith that occurred either
outside of his judicial capacity or in the clear absence of jurisdiction, and
therefore he is immune from 1983 liability in this case. 3
We likewise affirm the district courts grant of summary judgment in favor
of Comanche County District Attorney Robert Schulte. First, the evidence shows
that Schulte was not personally involved in Crudups prosecution, and was aware
of the case only in his capacity as the prosecuting attorneys supervisor. (Doc.
38, Schulte Affidavit at 9.) Thus, whatever claims Crudup might have alleged
against the assistant district attorney prosecuting his case, the record contains no
evidence that would support 1983 liability on the part of Schulte. Cf. Smith v.
Maschner, 899 F.2d 940, 950-51 (10th Cir. 1991) (respondeat superior alone will
not support 1983 liability); Coleman v. Turpen, 697 F.2d 1341, 1346 n.7 (10th
Cir. 1982) (Prosecutor Turpen, to be liable [under 1983], must have been
personally involved in the deprivation.). Further, Schulte enjoys broad
Crudups affidavit alleges that Judge Smith conducted an ex parte meeting

with the assistant district attorney prosecuting Crudups case, and subsequently
imposed an excessive and financially ruinous bond on him. (Doc. 45, Attached
Affidavit.) We have noted, however, that judges enjoy absolute immunity from
liability under 1983 even when the judge allegedly conspires with private
parties. Hunt v. Bennett, 17 F.3d 1263, 1267 (10th Cir. 1994) (citing Dennis v.
Sparks, 449 U.S. 24, 28-32 (1980)). Therefore, even if we were to conclude that
Crudups allegation was sufficient to raise a triable question of fact as to whether
Judge Smith conspired with the assistant district attorney, this would not
materially change our analysis of this issue.
3
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immunity for actions taken in his capacity as a prosecutor. See Imbler v.

Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 431 (1976) ([I]n initiating a prosecution and in
presenting the States case, the prosecutor is immune from a civil suit for
damages under 1983.). This immunity extends to all activities that are
intimately associated with the judicial . . . process. Id. at 430-31; see also Scott
v. Hern, 216 F.3d 897, 908 (10th Cir. 2000). In this case, all of the actions said
to have given rise to Crudups alleged constitutional injuries were intimately
associated with the prosecutions role in bringing criminal charges against
Crudup, and therefore they fall within this grant of immunity. Cf. Imbler, 424
U.S. at 428-29 (prosecutor is immune from 1983 liability for malicious
prosecution).
D.
Conclusion
For the forgoing reasons, we AFFIRM the district courts dismissal of
Crudups claim against the City of Lawton and Southerland for failure to state a
claim. We further AFFIRM the district courts grant of summary judgment in
favor of the remaining defendants. We DENY, however, a motion appended to
Southerlands and the City of Lawtons answer brief alleging Crudups appeal
was frivolous and seeking double costs pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 38.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
David M. Ebel
Circuit Judge
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F I L E D

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

United States Court of Appeals

ROBERT SCHULTE, District

City of Lawton, Oklahoma

and therefore we proceed to the merits of Crudups claim. Crudups claims

The elements of malicious prosecution in Oklahoma are: (1) the bringing

Defendants Smith and Schulte

and giving Crudup an opportunity to respond with additional evidence, granted

Crudups affidavit alleges that Judge Smith conducted an ex parte meeting

immunity for actions taken in his capacity as a prosecutor. See Imbler v.

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