WPCf qXkH_[5/>*šGeI h(4rMۈ؎29? $Zr~3<>#GzLKPj)>$M%Mq$\y z~G!yFӑlU^Z(k]qtlCDݎila{@!5T5 j`Xxs؅  m_m!(nrt=gQDdiҹT 8DR!N"z9 ]6m#< uRMjCaW@TZsE,avpc~K$ztcȈ"XdHE'N,NJhapD6*'*!-_pU[Sp 1S(HN-a%+sk޹ȩ{y8MXsD!(+3mL(#!0 %Q 0 DW 0(U: 0 UNUF^ w@4.= m?VE^f`abNvUBxb 2p/"Q >IIIIIII BIHP LaserJet 4,,,,,,0X(#$  0  ($<6X9`("Courier NewTT(':2u$ !        0  vr Z6Times New Roman RegularQ 9Z+.Courier New Regular u$      *    _OftheDistrictofMassachusetts,sittingbydesignation.XXXe  8V>XXdXXd8o[X` hp x (#%'0*,.8135@8:<H?AXo  COFFIN,SeniorCircuitJudge. AppellantJamesCummings  broughtthissuitunder42U.S.C.1983claimingthathisrighttosubstantivedueprocesswasviolatedwhenappelleeAllenMcIntire,anondutypoliceofficer,allegedlystruckhimunjustifiablyasCummingsaskedforstreetdirections.Thedistrictcourtgrantedsummaryjudgmentforalldefendants. #  1      ׀ItconcludedthatMcIntire's    conductthoughdeplorable,unprofessionalandoffensivedidnot"shocktheconscience,"andthusfellshortofestablishingaconstitutionalviolation.Weaffirm.@ I.FactualBackground `   Therelevantfactsareessentiallyundisputedforpurposesofourreview, #  2      ׀whichisdenovo.SeeUnderwritersatLloyd'sv. 0 Labarca,260F.3d3,7(lstCir.2001).OnthemorningofOctober  4,1998,appelleeMcIntirewasassignedwithtwootheruniformedofficerstodirecttrafficatanintersectioninPortland,Maine, 0 thatwasalongtherouteofaroadracetakingplacethatday.Thecorner,whereWashingtonandOceanavenuescross,wasahecticsceneofheavytrafficactivity.Theofficersperiodicallyneededtostopcarsorrunners;theysometimesallowedbothvehiclesandrunnerstomovethroughatthesametimeandatothertimesstoppedalllanesoftraffictoallowtherunnerstopass.Atabout9:20a.m.,appellantCummingsarrivedattheintersectionlookingforArcadiaStreet.Whenheencounteredtherace,hedroveintotheparkinglotofanearbyconveniencestoreandgotoutofhiscartoaskavolunteerfordirections.ShewasbusywiththeraceandunfamiliarwithArcadiaStreet,andsoshedirectedhimtoOfficerMcIntire.Cummingsapproachedtheofficer,whohadstoppedcarsandwaslookingrighttolefttochecktrafficasrunnersstartedtocomethroughtheintersection.Thedistrictcourt,borrowingfromthefactualsummarypreparedbythemagistratejudge,describedtheensuingeventsasfollows:8  Theofficer...essentially[hadhis]backtoCummings,withhisheadswivelingwatchingthetrafficandrunners.Cummingsmovedonlyastepforwardandbegantoasktheofficerfordirections.Frombehind,Cummingssaid,"Excusemesir,"waitedforperhapstwosecondsandrepeated,"Excuseme,sir."Whennotrafficwasmovinganditwasperfectlyquiet,Cummingsbegantoaskhisquestion,holdinghisrightarmoutstraightfromhisbodyatapproximatelyafortyfivedegreeangle.Cummingswasstandingapproximatelyfourfeetawayfromtheofficer.      Todescribewhathappenednext,thedistrictcourtquotedCummings'affidavit:8   ` 18.BeforeIcouldcompletemyquestion,OfficerMcIntireturnedtowardsmeandshovedmehardtowardthefarcurbofWashingtonAvenue.     ,'3 Ѐ8   ` 19.AsOfficerMcIntireshovedme,hewasverbally  abusivetome.Heyelled"IFYOUDON'THAVEAGODAMMED[sic]EMERGENCYGETTHEHELLOUTOFHERE."    8   ` 20.TheforceoftheblowpropelledmebackwardsandItwistedviolentlyinanefforttomaintainmybalance.    Cummingsdidnotfall,butreportedthathesufferedimmediatepaininhisleftbackandleftlegandfoot.Apreexistingmedicalconditionmadehisneckvulnerabletofractureandherniation,andheallegedthatasaresultofMcIntire'sshoveheunderwentbacksurgeryandhassince"sufferedstabbingpain,andpermanentimpairment."  CummingssubsequentlyfiledthisactionallegingdeprivationofhisrighttobefreefromtheuseofexcessiveandunreasonableforcepursuanttotheFifthandFourteenthAmendmentstotheUnitedStatesConstitutionandanalogousMaineconstitutionalprovisions.ThemagistratejudgeconcludedthatMcIntire'sallegedbehaviorwassufficientlyegregiousthatajurywouldbepermittedtofindthatit"shockedtheconscience,"buthefoundnoevidentiarybasisforholdingeitherthepolicechieforthecityresponsibleforMcIntire'sconduct.  ThedistrictcourtagreedthatMcIntire'sbehaviordeservedcensure,butdisagreedwiththemagistratejudge'slegalconclusion.Hetermedtheconduct"deservingofdiscipline,"butstatedthatitdoesnot"'shocktheconscience'#XXXXV6 #XV6XXXinthewaythe '`", SupremeCourtortheFirstCircuithasusedthoseterms."#XXXXV6}#XV6XXXThe (#.  courtthereforegrantedsummaryjudgmentforalldefendantsonall 0*%0 claims.Asexplainedearlier,seenote1supra,onlythe  substantivedueprocessclaimagainstMcIntireisbeforeus. @#II.Discussion     Claimsofexcessiveforcebyapoliceofficerarisingoutsidethecontextofaseizure,andthusoutsidetheFourthAmendment,areanalyzedundersubstantivedueprocessprinciples.SeeCounty    ofSacramentov.Lewis,523U.S.833,843(1998);Evansv.Avery, `  100F.3d1033,1036(lstCir.1996).Thedispositivequestioninsuchananalysisiswhetherthechallengedconductwassoextremeasto"shocktheconscience."Lewis,523U.S.at84647;Hasenfus  v.LaJeunesse,175F.3d68,72(lstCir.1999). P   Variousformulationshavebeenusedtoidentifyconductsufficientlyoutrageoustomeetthatstandard,whichdeliberatelywassethightoprotecttheConstitutionfromdemotiontomerely"afontoftortlaw,"Lewis,523U.S.at847n.8,848(quotingDaniels  v.Williams,474U.S.327,332(1986)).Courtshaveheldthatthe  p actsmustbe"suchas'tooffendevenhardenedsensibilities,'"Johnsonv.Glick,481F.2d1028,1033n.6(2dCir.1973)(citation @" omitted),"uncivilized[]andintolerable,"Hasenfus,175F.3dat  $ 72,"offensivetohumandignity,"Rochinv.California,342U.S. `"& 165,174(1952),ormustconstituteforcethatisbrutal,inhumane,orvicious,id.;Lillardv.ShelbyCountyBd.ofEduc.,76F.3d % * 716,726(6thCir.1996).  Thisisobviouslynotastandardwithpreciseboundaries,but (#. initslengthydiscussionofsubstantivedueprocessinLewisthe 0*%0 SupremeCourtnotedcertainuniformprinciplesthatdooperate: +'2 negligentconductis"categoricallybeneaththethresholdofconstitutionaldueprocess,"while"behaviorattheotherendof @ theculpabilityspectrum,"i.e.,"conductintendedtoinjureinsomewayunjustifiablebyanygovernmentinterest,"ismostlikely `  tosupportasubstantivedueprocessclaim.523U.S.at849. #  3      ׀When  @ theculpabilityresultingininjuryfallssomewherebetweentheseextremes,itis"amatterforclosercalls,"id.,andwhether `  conductisactionableasadueprocessviolationwilldependuponthecontextinwhichitoccurs: 0  #XXXXV6#XV6XXX8  Deliberateindifferencethatshocksinoneenvironment  maynotbesopatentlyegregiousinanother,and#XXXXV6 *#XV6XXXour  concernwithpreservingtheconstitutionalproportionsofsubstantivedueprocessdemandsanexactanalysisofcircumstancesbeforeanyabuseofpoweriscondemnedasconscienceshocking.    **Id.at850. 8   TheCourtillustratedtheimportanceofcontextbycontrastingnormalpretrialcustodywithhighspeedlawenforcementchases.Inthecaseofasuddenpursuit,withvirtuallynoopportunityforofficerstodeliberate,muchmoreoutrageousbehaviorwouldbetoleratedthaninthetypicalprisonsetting,where"forethoughtaboutaninmate'swelfareisnotonlyfeasiblebutobligatory." !% Id.at851.Accordingly,"midlevel"fault,suchasrecklessness (#x' ordeliberateindifference,isinsufficientfordueprocessliabilityincircumstancesdemandinginstantjudgment;toobtain H&!+ redressinasuddenpursuitcase,theCourtheld,aplaintiffmustshow"intenttoharmsuspectsphysicallyortoworsentheirlegalplight."Id.at854.Bycontrast,deliberateindifferencemaybe   enoughtoshocktheconsciencewheretheclaimarisesfromthestate'sallegedfailuretoprovidethoseinitscustody,say,aprisoner,withdecentcareandprotection.Id.at85152.      Thisisacasewhosefactualcontextfallswithinthemiddleground,neithersotenseandrapidlyevolvingasahighspeedpolicepursuitnorsounhurriedandpredictableastheordinarycustodialsituation.SomecourtsapproachsuchcasesbyassessingthefactspursuanttoatestformulatedbyJudgeFriendlyinJohnson,481F.2dat1033,withwhichwesubstantiallyagree: 0 8  Indeterminingwhethertheconstitutionallinehasbeencrossed,acourtmustlooktosuchfactorsastheneedfortheapplicationofforce,therelationshipbetweentheneedandtheamountofforcethatwasused,theextentofinjuryinflicted,andwhetherforcewasappliedinagoodfaithefforttomaintainorrestoredisciplineormaliciouslyandsadisticallyfortheverypurposeofcausingharm.    See,e.g.,Nealv.FultonCountyBd.ofEduc.,229F.3d1069,1076 x! (11thCir.2000);Pettav.Rivera,143F.3d895,902(5thCir.  X# 1998);Thompsonv.Olson,798F.2d552,55859(lstCir.1986). !%   AppellantarguesthatliabilityshouldattachbecauseOfficerMcIntire'sconductwasatthemostreprehensibleendoftheculpabilityspectrum;heclaimsthattheshovebespokeanintenttoinjurethatlackedjustification.Becausesuchintentsufficestosupportconstitutionalliabilityagainstofficersineventhemoststressfulcircumstances,appellantclaimsthatthedistrictcourterredindismissinghisclaim. ,'3   Weareconstrainedtoconcludeotherwise.WhilethereisnodoubtthatMcIntireunnecessarilyutilizedphysicalforce,weagreewiththedistrictcourtthattherecorddoesnotpermitafindingthathedidso"maliciouslyandsadisticallyfortheverypurpose `  ofcausingharm,"Johnson,481F.2dat1033.Atthetimeheacted,  @ McIntirewasjugglingdriversandrunnersinabusylocation,swivelinghisheadtobesurenoproblemsarose. #  4      ׀Insuch `  circumstances,ahardshoveaccompaniedbyabusivelanguage,whoseevidentpurpose!asevenappellantacknowledges!wastoget 0  Cummingsoutoftheway, #  5      ׀doesnotinourviewconstitutethe  "brutal"and"inhumane"conductnecessarytoestablishadueprocessviolation.  TheDueProcessClauseisintendedtopreventgovernmentofficials"fromabusing[their]power,oremployingitasaninstrumentofoppression,"Lewis,523U.S.at846(internal  citationomitted);here,theofficer'sactionwasreactiveratherthanreflective,seeminglyinspiredbya"carelessorunwiseexcessofzeal"incommunicatinghisdispleasurewithCummings' @" interruption,ratherthanbyapurposetoharm.SeeShillingford  $ v.Holmes,634F.2d263,265(5thCir.1981).Itistruethat `"& appellantsufferedasevereinjury.Theseverityoftheinjuryin #@( theordinarycasemaybeafairproxyforegregiousbehaviorleadingtoliability,asJohnsonsuggests.Itisnotsomuchhere @ becauseplaintiffhadanunusualmedicalcondition,makinghimpeculiarlyvulnerable. #  6      ׀Cf.Shillingford,634F.2dat266(finding `  constitutionalliabilitywherepoliceofficerstruckplaintiffinthefacewithanightstick,eventhoughonlyminorinjuryoccurred,becauseitwas"merelyfortuitous"thattheresultsoftheattackwerenot"crippling").&&& & #  7      ׀     AlookatthefactsunderlyingothersubstantivedueprocessclaimshelpsplacethiscaseintoperspectiveandreinforcesourconclusionthatMcIntire'sconductwasnotofconstitutionaldimension.Amongthecasesinwhichplaintiffshaveprevailed`  #  8      ׀are 0 thoseinvolvingastudentblindedinoneeyewhenacoachintentionallystruckhimintheheadwithametalweight,seeNeal, P 229F.3dat1076;ateacher'sfabricationofsexualabusechargesagainstafather,resultinginlossofcontactwithhischildforthreeyears,seeMorrisv.Dearborne,181F.3d657,668(5thCir.   1999);rapebyapoliceofficerinconnectionwithacarstop,see @" Rogersv.CityofLittleRock,152F.3d790,797(8thCir.1998);  $ a57dayunlawfuldetentioninthefaceofrepeatedrequestsforrelease,seeArmstrongv.Squadrito,152F.3d564,582(7thCir. @ 1998);policeofficersaidingathirdpartyinshootingtheplaintiff,seeHemphillv.Schott,141F.3d412,419(2dCir. `  1998);anintentionalassaultbyapoliceofficerwhostruckapretrialdetaineetwiceintheheadandthreatenedtokillhim,see    Johnson,481F.2dat102930;andaprincipalforcinghiswayinto `  aroomwhereastudentwashiding,grabbingherfromthefloor,throwingheragainstthewall,andslappingher,seeWebbv. 0  McCullough,828F.2d1151,1159(6thCir.1987).Theconductin  thesecases,involvingseriousphysicalintrusionsorsustainedabuse,differsmarkedlyfromMcIntire'sisolated,intemperateoutburst.  Theencounterherehasmuchmorethefeelofthosecasesinwhichcourtshaverejecteddueprocessclaims,notwithstandingthecontemptibleconductatissue.Defendantsprevailedwherepoliceofficersallegedlyengagedinmonthsofharassmentandintimidationandpushedoneplaintiff,whosufferedamiscarriagetwodayslater,seeCruzErazov.RiveraMontanez,212F.3d617,62324(lst  $ Cir.2000);ateacherslappedastudentasingletimeinangerandwithoutjustification,seeLillard,76F.3dat726;amurder #@( suspectcommittedsuicideafterprosecutorsencouragedthemediatolinkhimtoaseriesofmurders,seeSouzav.Pina,53F.3d423, '`", 427(lstCir.1995);and,officersallegedlythreatenedmorethan oncetokilltheplaintiffandtoldheryoungchildrenthatifthe 0*%0 policecaughttheirfathertheywouldneverseehimagain,see  Pittsleyv.Warish,927F.2d3,9(lstCir.1991). @    PlaintiffgivesparticularemphasistoShillingford,634F.2d   at263,inwhichatouristwasstruckbyapoliceofficerwhileattemptingtophotographthearrestofaMardiGrasreveler.Thetouristwasuninvolvedinandnotinterferingwiththepoliceaction.Theofficerintentionallystruckthetourist'scamerawithhisnightstick,whichdestroyedthecameraandsmasheditintothetourist'sface,laceratinghisforehead.Thecourtfoundtheassaulttobesufficientlyseveretoestablishadeprivationofconstitutionalrights.Id.at266. P Ѐ  Shillingfordoffersonlylimitedsupportforappellant's 0 position.Asinthatcase,theattackhereisfairlydescribedas"unprovokedandunjustified,"))**)see)))634F.2dat266.Butthesurrounding P circumstanceswerenotablydifferent:unlikeinShillingford,the  unjustifiedconductwasanopenhandedshoveratherthanadirectstrikewithaweapon.Thelikelypotentialforinjuryfromthepushwassubstantiallylessthanforuseofthenightstick.Inaddition,asnotedearlier,ratherthanreflectingadeliberateefforttodoharm,themessagebehindMcIntire'sconductwasreasonablyunderstoodtobesimply"getoutofmyway."  McIntire'sviolentconductunquestionablywasinconsistentwithhispublicresponsibilitiesasapoliceofficeranddeservescondemnation.Asamemberoflawenforcement,hehadaparticularobligationtoexerciserestraint,nomatterhowstressfulthecircumstancesmayhavefelttohim.Yet,toequatehisoutburst +'2 withsuchbrutalconductasarape,anearlytwomonthunlawfulimprisonment,ashooting,orrepeatedphysicalassaultswouldbetolowertheveryhighthresholdforconstitutionalwrongdoing."[O]nlythemostegregiousofficialconductcanbesaidtobe'arbitraryintheconstitutionalsense,'"Lewis,523U.S.at846  @ (internalcitationomitted).  Werewetoholdthatthislevelofpoliceofficermisconductwasreachedbytheconductatissuehere,involvingbadjudgmentandviletemperinasituationofsomestress,wewouldgofartowardmakingthedueprocessclause"asurrogateforlocaltortlaworstatestatutoryandadministrativeremedies,"Hasenfus,175 P F.3dat74.WefindtheSupremeCourt'sassessmentofthecircumstancesinLewisequallyapplicablehere: p 8  Regardlesswhether[McIntire]'sbehavioroffendedthereasonablenessheldupbytortlaworthebalancestruckinlawenforcement'sowncodesofsoundpractice,itdoesnotshocktheconscience....    ,118,-523U.S.-.S...Ct..at855.  V 8   Thedistrictcourt'sgrantofsummaryjudgmentfordefendantisthereforeaffirmed.+  X#   +#XXXXV6*#