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Civil Rights
False Arrest
Unlawful Custom and Practice

Matthew Goggans v. City of Fullerton, et al.

Published: Sep. 13, 2014 | Result Date: Jul. 17, 2014 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: 8:13-cv-00243-JVS-JPR Bench Decision –  Defense

Court

USDC Central


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Rowena J. Dizon


Defendant

Barry Hassenberg
(Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith)

Dawn M. Flores-Oster
(Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP)

Dana A. Fox
(Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP)


Facts

Matthew Goggans filed a lawsuit against City of Fullerton, and police officers A. Ciciarelli, Frank Nguyen, and Chief Michael Sellers.

Contentions

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff contended that Ciciarelli and Nguyen arrived at plaintiff's residence after a neighbor complained of loud music playing and ordered plaintiff to open the door and walk outside. Plaintiff argued that after he stepped out of his front door, Ciciarelli and Nguyen arrested him for being drunk in public and issued plaintiff a citation, but when plaintiff appeared in court he was told no charges were filed. Plaintiff claimed that defendants falsely arrested him.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants denied the allegations of plaintiff's claims.

Result

The court granted defendants' Rule 56 motion and entered judgment in favor of Ciciarelli and Nguyen on Goggans' claims of false arrest, violation of the First Amendment, and violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court also entered judgment in favor of the City of Fullerton and Sellers.


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