ÿWPCŒ ÂzU_üœ¿Å†hU_üœ¯oýUî½ =Œ:íÜÔŽPá}¶Ÿ)lbÃà*½h?ÖnÞúF¼n Í4ptë}_!ÃŒ’ îÁk÷h±bëÊ¿"Jgð¡XGxÇP9×ûwS-³‘Õ?GôÍ'¡[áòŒ²P‰RzDá ?ÊŸzM»ë[âŽê&Æf¨q.¶ž³Y`éYLšÐf‚ª>p³øLü'è!Fæ,‹þ †r{6Ö3tDûJ 7£ ØY‰U>ïÆÍ†,ë}œ™öâèg=Ë*7çåp÷Ñ_ •iw%h€FHJ6>C²=UNäç…ãàžw¤úòž.ÞÍ£E'ÀÝþü‰'e«Œ¯'œ_X¥Dn{=ÿBù†Î÷ úcÔãÑô±Ðoô³ó5 1«„XtŒ“˜6aÀ¯ÊÅó²x0Çá}í†]U¿¼N¦xGo Öh³2U ®Óçü&ɼ1M²]ðÛ¤Þ§‡µAEì“ΜIõÑ(ô0 µd¿ÅÙpNì§fZtFóñòÇ­$Žÿ~¯,Õ«á ’4Y_J0MçÐŽç„ÖBI¸Ó}³â¢Qò/$GvêQv 9ë(ü‘4©Øƒö}õÀvXî'êgvöËv(#Á0 %ñ 0D÷ 0G;U:‚ 0¨¼U 8dnTœNðUNòUF@ ^ † w’ 4– ª ¹ E» f½ a¿ mÓ 1‡ê UBq b³ ‚» m= 1uª 72Qggggggggg Bo˜HP LaserJet 5/5M - StandardÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0X(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó($¡¡Ô€Xœ·XXXÔ<þ6X9`("Courier NewTT(F:2#ô$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€XRÄXXXÔÝ  ÝÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó<4šÛ 9Z+‹ Courier New «<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxþ6X@ÉDQX@<þ6X9`(CourierTTXXwþ6X@ÉüQX@(ÎáA Z‹6Times New Roman Regular´¾½Q 9Z+‹.Courier New RegularoŸY0s ´P/0?,}£backup3|x øÀTABLE AÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(5hCEKQW]cioAutoList1I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpi- ù- Ô 1 ' Turner0Turner .    cÝ ƒ#ô$ÝÔ€X@ XXXÔÓ  Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔCounsel€for€plaintiff€apparently€initially€intended€toÐ ° Ðpresent€several€expert€witnesses,€but€the€district€court€disallowedÐ †Ö Ðthese€witnesses€in€a€pre„trial€ruling.€€The€basis€for€this€rulingÐ \¬ Ðwas€plaintiff's€counsel's€repeated€failure€to€provide€expertÐ 2‚ Ðdisclosure€statements€pursuant€to€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.€Rule€26.€ò òó óÐ X ÐPlaintiff€does€not€challenge€that€ruling€on€appeal.3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i) Ñ ° Ñ  dÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€X@ XXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ=€@ ÐXdÐd=ÓÑTRY,3Ø'Xà3Ø' Letter 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÑ ? ÑÙ*ƒ !ÙÔ€ X¨.XXX@ ÔÔ€ °gž°X X¨.Ôò òÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÑ€OY ÑUnited€States€Court€of€AppealsÔ€ „Þc„° °gžÔÐ ° ÐFor€the€First€Circuitó óÔ€ „ùÜ„„ „ÞcÔÔ€ X@ X„ „ùÜÔÐ „Ô ÐÓSÓÌßA€') °°` dE<¹` AßÐ º  ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àÌNo.€03„1765Ð u Å ÐÌÓ  Óà@@ìàJEAN€ISOM,€as€a€beneficiary,€best€friend,€mother,€naturalÐ ! q Ðguardian€and€representative€of€the€estate€of€ROBERT€MARK€ISOM,Ð ÷ G  Ðand€in€her€individual€capacity,Ð Í   ÐÓóÓà@ ìàPlaintiff,€Appellant,ˆÐ £ó  ÐÌà@tt)ìàv.ˆÐ OŸ  ÐÌÓ  Óà@@ÜÜ ìàTOWN€OF€WARREN,€RHODE€ISLAND,€POLICE€CHIEF€THOMAS€B.€PERROTTO,Ð ûK  ÐJR.,€POLICE€OFFICER€SAM€GREEN,€POLICE€OFFICER€RAYMOND€J.Ð Ñ! ÐOUELLETTE,€POLICE€DETECTIVE€MICHAEL€PATRICK€CLANCY,€Ð §÷ ÐPOLICE€CAPTAIN€ELY€BARKETT,€POLICE€OFFICER€JOSEPH€R.€LOISELLE,€Ð }Í ÐÓ_Óà@ÄÄìàDefendants,€Appellees,ˆÐ S£ ÐÌÓ  ÓDR.€ELIZABETH€LAPOSTA,€RHODE€ISLAND€MEDICAL€EXAMINER,Ð ÿO ÐKEVIN€HOPKINS,€DETECTIVE,Ð Õ% ÐDefendants.Ð «û ÐÓ ÓÌßA€') °°` dE<V` AßÐ W§ ÐÌà@œ œ ìàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€UNITED€STATES€DISTRICT€COURTˆÐ <Œ ÐÓ  ÓFOR€THE€DISTRICT€OF€RHODE€ISLANDÐ b ÐÓiÓÌà@Œ Œ ìà[Hon.€Mary€M.€Lisi,€òòU.S.€District€Judgeóó]ˆÐ ¾ ÐÌßA€') °°` dE<i` AßÐ jº  ÐÌà@„„'ìàBeforeˆÐ O Ÿ" ÐÌÓ  Óà@@((ìà€Lynch,€òòCircuit€Judgeóó,Ð û!K$ ÐStahl,€òòSenior€Circuit€Judgeóó,€Ð Ñ"!% Ðand€Lipez,€òòCircuit€Judgeóó.Ð §#÷& ÐÌÌßA€') °°` dE<(&` AßÐ )&y!) ÐÌÓ  ÓÓ  Óà  àòòEdward€P.€Manning,€Jr.óó€for€appellant.Ð '^"+ Ðà  àòòAnthony€F.€DeMarcoóó,€with€whom€òòReynolds,€DeMarco€&€Boland,€Ltd.óóÐ ä'4#, Ðwas€on€brief,€for€appellees.Ð º( $- ÐÌÌÔ*‹ƒ'ddd Xdd Xdd X°(#°(#‹ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ <+Œ&0<+Œ& ‹‹ÐÓ¸ ÓÐ SI +ð&1  “â@38041„„‰ “â@‰‹‹SÐÌFebruary€25,€2004Ð v,Æ'3 ÐÐ RHCL-œ(4"  “â@38041  “â@ ‹‹RÐâ âÐ,"  +ð&5 ? ,ÐÓ  ÓÙ* !ÙÌâ âÌÔ‡ X¨.XX X@ ÔÔ‡ ˆž½ˆX X¨.ÔÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÓÓÑ8€@ XXdÖdÈ8ÑÑ€ÑÓ*°,X°` ¨ ƒX°œX*Óà ` àò òòòóóÔ#† ˆÛ5 ˆˆ ˆž½ö #ÔÔ‡ˆÛ5 ˆ ˆ ˆÛ5ÔÔ#†X@ X ˆˆÛ5#ÔLYNCH,€òòCircuit€Judgeó óóó.€€This€case€arises€out€of€anÐ \¬ Ðincident€that€was€tragic€for€everyone€involved.€€A€few€momentsÐ $t Ðafter€saying€he€wanted€to€die,€Robert€Mark€Isom,€age€33€andÐ Ð  Ðemotionally€disturbed,€was€shot€to€death€by€police€officers€of€theÐ | Ì ÐTown€of€Warren,€Rhode€Island€on€the€morning€of€March€7,€1997.ò òó ó€€IsomÐ ( x  Ðhad€entered€a€liquor€store€with€an€axe€and€briefly€held€hostage€twoÐ Ô$  Ðemployees€before€releasing€one€and€inadvertently€allowing€the€otherÐ €Ð  Ðto€escape.€€When€officers€entered€the€store,€Isom€ignored€theirÐ ,|  Ðcontinuous€requests€to€put€down€the€axe;€fearing€for€the€officers'Ð Ø( Ðsafety,€one€officer€attempted€to€subdue€Isom€with€pepper€spray.€Ð „Ô ÐIsom€responded€not€by€dropping€to€the€ground,€as€the€officer€hadÐ 0€ Ðhoped,€but€by€raising€the€axe€and€running€toward€two€officers.€Ð Ü, ÐThose€officers€then€shot€Isom€to€death.€Ð ˆØ Ðà ` àHis€mother,€Jean€Isom,€sued€the€town,€its€police€chief,Ð 4„ Ðseveral€officers,€and€the€medical€examiner€in€federal€districtÐ à0 Ðcourt,€asserting€claims€of€excessive€use€of€force€under€42€U.S.C.Ð ŒÜ  Ððð€1983€and€state€law€claims€for€wrongful€death€under€R.I.€Gen.€LawsÐ 8!ˆ" Ððð€10„7„1.ò òó ó€€At€the€heart€of€the€case€is€the€claim€that€the€decisionÐ ä"4$ Ðto€use€the€pepper€spray€was€a€colossal€misjudgment,€resulting€in€aÐ $à& Ðneedless€and€wrongful€death.Ð <&Œ!( Ðà ` àAlthough€the€defendants€moved€for€summary€judgment€on€theÐ è'8#* Ðbasis€of€qualified€immunity,ò òó ó€for€reasons€not€apparent€on€theÐ ”)ä$, Ðrecord,€the€district€court€never€decided€the€motion.ò òó ó€€Rather,€theÐ @+&. Ðcase€went€to€trial€on€April€21,€2003,€and€the€jury€heard€three€daysÐ ° Ðof€evidence.Ð \¬ Ðà ` àAt€the€close€of€the€plaintiff's€case,€the€defendants€madeÐ X Ða€motion€for€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law€under€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.Ð ´  Ð50(a).€€The€court€orally€granted€the€motion€and€subsequently€wroteÐ ` ° Ða€decision€explaining€its€reasoning.€€We€affirm.Ð  \  Ðà ` àMany€excessive€force€cases€involving€officers'€judgmentÐ ¸  Ðcalls€are€resolved€on€qualified€immunity€grounds,€either€on€summaryÐ d´  Ðjudgment€or€at€trial.€€òòSeeóó€òòRyderóó€v.€òòUnited€Statesóó,€515€U.S.€177,Ð `  Ð185€(1995)€("Qualified€immunity€specially€protects€public€officialsÐ ¼  Ðfrom€the€specter€of€damages€liability€for€judgment€calls€made€in€aÐ h¸ Ðlegally€uncertain€environment.").€€But€the€defendants€did€not€raiseÐ d Ðimmunity€as€an€issue€at€the€time€of€their€Rule€50€motion,€and€soÐ À Ðthey€have€waived€that€defense€as€a€grounds€for€the€motion.€Ô#† X@ XXX@ #ÔÔ‡X@ XX X@ ÔÐ l¼ Ðà@tt)ìàò òI.ó óˆÐ h Ðà ` àOur€review€of€the€grant€of€the€Rule€50(a)€motion€is€òòdeÐ à0 Ðnovoóó.€€òòEspadaóó€v.€òòLugoóó,€312€F.3d€1,€2€(1st€Cir.€2002).€€We€reviewÐ ŒÜ  Ðthe€evidence,€taking€all€inferences€in€favor€of€Isom,€and€askÐ 8!ˆ" Ðwhether€a€reasonable€jury€could€have€decided€that€the€defendantsÐ ä"4$ Ðwere€liable€based€on€the€evidence€presented.€€òòSeeóó€òòAcevedo-Garciaóó€v.Ð $à& ÐòòMonroigóó,€No.€02„1139,€2003€U.S.€App.€LEXIS€24475,€at€*40€(1st€Cir.Ð <&Œ!( ÐDec.€5,€2003);€òòTransamerica€Premiere€Ins.€Co.óó€v.€òòOberóó,€107€F.3dÐ è'8#* Ð925,€929€(1st€Cir.€1997).Ð ”)ä$, Ðò òà@88)ìàII.ˆÐ @+&. Ðó óà ` àWe€describe€the€evidence€adduced€at€trial€in€the€lightÐ ° Ðmost€favorable€to€the€plaintiff.€òòóó€Ð \¬ Ðà ` àOn€the€morning€of€March€7,€1997,€Robert€Mark€Isom€enteredÐ X Ð1776€Liquors,€a€liquor€store€in€Warren,€Rhode€Island.€ò ò€ó óErin€AlvesÐ ´  Ðand€Beth€Engell€were€working€at€the€store,€but€no€customers€wereÐ | Ì Ðpresent.ò òó ó€€After€walking€around€the€store,€Isom€approached€Alves€andÐ ( x  Ðasked€her€if€she€was€single€and€would€like€to€go€on€a€date.€ò òó ó€AlvesÐ Ô$  Ðexplained€that€she€had€a€boyfriend,€and€asked€if€she€could€helpÐ €Ð  ÐIsom€find€anything.ò òó ó€€Isom€did€not€respond,€but€simply€left€theÐ ,|  Ðstore.€ò òó óÐ Ø( Ðà ` àAlves€watched€Isom€through€the€store€window€as€he€openedÐ „Ô Ðthe€trunk€of€a€car€and€removed€an€object€wrapped€in€newspaper.€ò òó óÐ 0€ ÐIsom€came€back€into€the€store€with€the€concealed€item€and€placed€itÐ Ü, Ðon€the€store€counter.€€ò òó óHe€asked€Engell€to€lock€the€store's€doors,Ð ˆØ Ðbut€she€said€that€she€did€not€have€the€keys.ò òó ó€€Alves€recalled€thatÐ 4„ ÐIsom€"was€saying€his€life€was€worth€shit€and€he€had€nothing€to€liveÐ à0 Ðfor."€€Isom€then€asked€Alves€and€Engell€if€they€had€a€gun;€theyÐ ŒÜ  Ðresponded€that€they€did€not.€€Continuing€to€mutter€that€his€lifeÐ 8!ˆ" Ðwas€worthless,€Isom€pressed€the€concealed€item€against€Engell'sÐ ä"4$ Ðstomach,€explaining€that€he€did€not€want€to€have€to€hurt€eitherÐ $à& ÐAlves€or€Engell.€ò òó ó€At€some€point,€Alves€activated€a€silent€alarmÐ <&Œ!( Ðbehind€the€counter.€ò òó óÐ è'8#* Ðà ` àIsom€then€unwrapped€the€concealed€item€„„€it€was€an€axe.€ò òó óÐ ”)ä$, ÐHe€began€to€play€with€the€axe.€ò òó ó€Alves€started€to€cry€and€EngellÐ @+&. Ðasked€Isom€if€Alves€could€leave€because€she€was€pregnant.€€IsomÐ ° Ðsaid€yes,€and€Alves€left€the€store.€ò ò€ó óShortly€thereafter,€when€IsomÐ \¬ Ðput€his€head€down€on€the€counter€and€continued€to€mutter,€EngellÐ $t Ðran€out€of€the€store€as€well.€ò òó óÐ Ð  Ðà ` àEngell€encountered€Police€Sergeant€Green,€who€asked€herÐ | Ì Ðwhether€the€man€inside€was€armed€(the€silent€alarm€had€brought€theÐ ( x  Ðpolice€to€the€store).€€Engell€replied€that€Isom€was€carrying€anÐ Ô$  Ðaxe.€ò òó ó€Green,€by€himself,€entered€the€store€with€his€gun€drawn€andÐ €Ð  Ðstarted€talking€to€Isom,€who€was€standing€in€the€middle€of€theÐ ,|  Ðstore.€ò òó ó€Isom€was€initially€silent,€but€eventually€told€the€officerÐ Ø( Ðhis€name€and€said,€according€to€Green,€that€"he€was€going€to€dieÐ „Ô Ðtoday."€€ò òó óIsom€then€became€non„responsive€to€Sergeant€Green'sÐ 0€ Ðfurther€questions€and€"just€went€blank."€ò òó ó€He€was€holding€the€axe€inÐ Ü, Ðhis€right€hand€with€a€tight€grip,€and€it€was€raised€slightly€up.€ò òó óÐ ˆØ ÐSeveral€seconds€later,€Officer€Ouellette,€who€had€arrivedÐ 4„ Ðseparately,€entered€the€store€and€knelt€down,€with€his€gun€drawn,Ð à0 Ðon€Sergeant€Green's€right.ò ò€ó ó€At€about€the€same€time,€anotherÐ ŒÜ  Ðofficer,€Loiselle,€entered€the€store€and€positioned€himself€at€theÐ T!¤" Ðrear€exit.€ò òó óÐ #P$ Ðà ` àGreen€and€Ouellette€testified€that€they€startedÐ ¬$ü& Ð"continuously"€"pleading"€for€Isom€to€drop€the€axe,€but€IsomÐ X&¨!( Ðremained€in€a€daze€and€did€not€reply.€ò òó óAt€some€point,€two€otherÐ (T#* Ðofficers,€Captain€Barkett€and€Detective€Clancy,€entered€the€store.€Ð °)%, ÐSergeant€Green€explained€to€Captain€Barkett€that€he€was€"trying€toÐ \+¬&. Ðhandle€it€between€[himself]€and€Mr.€Isom."€ò òó ó€Captain€Barkett€did€notÐ ° Ðreply.€€Detective€Clancy€also€began€telling€Isom€to€drop€the€axe.€ò òó óÐ \¬ Ðà ` àAfter€several€minutes,€Detective€Clancy,€who€was€in€plainÐ X Ðclothes,€reached€over€and€removed€Sergeant€Green's€cannister€ofÐ ´  Ðpepper€spray€from€his€belt.ò òó ó€€He€testified€that€he€was€concernedÐ ` ° Ðthat,€given€Isom's€non„responsiveness,€the€officers'€safety€was€inÐ  \  Ðdanger€and€he€believed€that€spraying€Isom€with€the€pepper€sprayÐ ¸  Ðwould€allow€the€officers€to€suppress€Isom.€ò ò€ó óDetective€Clancy€thenÐ d´  Ðheld€up€the€pepper€spray€to€Captain€Barkett,€the€commanding€officerÐ ,|  Ðon€the€scene,€who€"nodded€to€[Clancy]€in€the€affirmative€nature."€ò òó óÐ Ø( ÐDetective€Clancy€yelled€out€"ASR,"€an€indication€to€the€otherÐ „Ô Ðofficers€that€he€was€going€to€use€the€spray;ò òó ó€each€of€the€officersÐ 0€ Ðhad€been€through€several€hours€of€training€on€the€use€of€pepperÐ Ü, Ðspray€in€which€this€code„word€had€been€explained.€ò òó óÐ ˆØ Ðà ` àFrom€behind€the€store€counter,€Detective€Clancy€startedÐ 4„ Ðto€spray€Isom€with€the€pepper€spray€and€yelled€for€Isom€to€put€downÐ à0 Ðthe€axe.€ò òó ó€Clancy€explained€that€normally€the€spray€"causesÐ ŒÜ  Ðdebilitation€.€.€.€and€you€just€want€to€succumb€to€[officers']Ð 8!ˆ" Ðcommands."€€Still,€the€spray€appeared€to€have€no€effect€on€Isom,Ð ä"4$ Ðwhich€Clancy€found€"remarkable."€ò òó ó€Clancy€testified€that€in€"[a]llÐ $à& Ðof€the€years€that€[he€had]€used€the€spray,€it's€always€had€anÐ <&Œ!( Ð[e]ffect€on€individuals."€ò òó ó€Officer€Ouellette€also€said€that€he€wasÐ è'8#* Ð"caught€off€guard"€when€the€spray€did€not€affect€Isom.ò òó ó€€OfficerÐ ”)ä$, ÐLoiselle€agreed,€explaining€that€the€spray€did€not€seem€to€have€anÐ @+&. Ðeffect€on€Isom,€which€was€unusual:€"[t]ypically€an€individualÐ ° Ðexposed€to€[the€spray]€would€have€an€involuntary€closure€of€theÐ \¬ Ðeyes,€uncontrollable€coughing,€loss€of€coordination€or€stamina."ò òó óÐ X Ðà ` àAfter€the€spray€stopped,€Isom€turned€toward€OfficerÐ ´  ÐLoiselle€and€then€suddenly€lifted€the€axe€and€charged€towardÐ ` ° ÐSergeant€Green€and€Officer€Ouellette.ò ò€€ó óWhen€Isom€was€within€tenÐ  \  Ðfeet€of€Green€and€Ouellette,€still€running€toward€them€with€the€axeÐ Ô$  Ðraised,€the€two€officers€fired€their€guns€at€Isom.€€Isom€fell€toÐ €Ð  Ðthe€floor€and€died€shortly€thereafter.Ð ,|  Ðà@üü(ìàò òIII.ó óòòˆÐ Ø( ÐóóA.€€òòSection€1983€ClaimóóÐ  ð Ðà ` àPlaintiff's€ðð€1983€claim€alleges€that€the€officersÐ Lœ Ðviolated€Isom's€Fourth€Amendment€rights€by€using€excessive€force€inÐ øH Ðthe€course€of€attempting€to€disarm€him.€€In€order€to€prevail€onÐ ¤ô Ðthis€claim,€the€plaintiffs€must€establish€that€the€officers'€use€ofÐ P  Ðthe€pepper€spray€was€objectively€unreasonable€under€theÐ üL Ðcircumstances.€€òòSeeóó€òòGrahamóó€v.€òòConnoróó,€490€U.S.€386,€397€(1989);Ð ¨ø  ÐòòJarrettóó€v.€òòTown€of€Yarmouthóó,€331€F.3d€140,€148€(1st€Cir.€2003).€€Ð T!¤" Ðà ` àThis€inquiry€requires€the€factfinder€to€consider€theÐ #P$ Ðreasonableness€of€the€officers'€actions€from€the€perspective€of€aÐ ¬$ü& Ðreasonable€officer€on€the€scene,€rather€than€through€the€lens€ofÐ X&¨!( Ðhindsight.€€òòGrahamóó,€490€U.S.€at€396.€€In€doing€so,€the€factfinderÐ (T#* Ðshould€take€into€account€"the€severity€of€the€crime€at€issue,Ð °)%, Ðwhether€the€suspect€poses€an€immediate€threat€to€the€safety€of€theÐ \+¬&. Ðofficers€or€others,€and€whether€he€is€actively€resisting€arrest€orÐ ° Ðattempting€to€evade€arrest€by€flight."€€òòId.óó€at€396;€òòBastienóó€v.Ð \¬ ÐòòGoddardóó,€279€F.3d€10,€14€(1òòóóst€Cir.€2002).€€All€of€the€attendantÐ X Ðcircumstances€must€be€considered.€€òòSeeóó€òòGrahamóó,€490€U.S.€at€396.€€Ð ´  Ðà ` àThe€police€here€encountered€a€situation€fraught€withÐ ` ° Ðhazard€for€themselves€and€for€Isom;€Isom€was€a€distraught,Ð  \  Ðseemingly€suicidal€man,€who€had€briefly€held€two€hostages€and€wasÐ ¸  Ðrefusing€to€comply€with€continuous€officer€requests€that€he€putÐ d´  Ðdown€an€axe.€€In€the€presence€of€such€danger,€the€plaintiffs€couldÐ `  Ðnot€prevail€at€trial€without€providing€some€evidence€that€wouldÐ ¼  Ðbring€into€question€the€officers'€judgment€call€to€use€pepperÐ h¸ Ðspray.Ð d Ðà ` àBut€the€plaintiff€presented€no€evidence€directlyÐ À Ðaddressing€this€point.€€The€closest€that€the€plaintiff€came€was€inÐ l¼ Ðthe€testimony€of€Sergeant€Green:Ð h ÐÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓQ.€And€I€believe€you€indicated€that€you€would€not€haveÐ Ä Ðused€the€pepper€spray€at€that€time€on€Mark€Isom?Ð šê ÐA.€Yes,€sir,€I€did.Ð pÀ  ÐQ.€And€what€did€you€give€for€your€reason€for€that?Ð F –! ÐA.€It€wouldn't€„„€I€don't€think€it€would€be€effective€atÐ !l" Ðthat€point.€€He€still€had€an€axe€in€his€hand,€so€itÐ ò!B# Ðwouldn't€be€an€option€for€me.Ð È"$ Ð...Ð ž#î% ÐQ.€Why€would€you€have€not,€according€to€your€testimony,Ð t$Ä& Ðhave€sprayed€Mr.€Isom€at€that€time?Ð J%š ' ÐA.€It€wasn't€an€option€for€me,€like€I€said€before.€€HeÐ  &p!( Ðhad€an€axe€and€that€by€spraying€him€may€not€have€helpedÐ ö&F") Ðthe€situation€at€all.€ò òó óÐ Ì'#* ÐÒ°CÒÒ°#CÒÌÓ1CÓDuring€cross„examination,€Sergeant€Green€elaborated€on€his€earlierÐ x)È$, Ðtestimony€about€the€pepper€spray:Ð $+t&. ÐÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓQ.€€What€did€you€feel€your€responsibility€was€in€coveringÐ ° ÐMr.€Isom€with€your€firearm€from€the€time€you€were€in€theÐ †Ö Ðstore€until€the€shots€were€actually€fired?€€What€was€yourÐ \¬ Ðresponsibility€other€than€trying€to€convince€him€toÐ 2‚ Ðdisarm?Ð X ÐA.€€To€make€sure€that€he€wasn't€going€to€go€and€hurt€oneÐ Þ. Ðof€us€or€hurt€himself€and€try€to€contain€him€inside€ofÐ ´  Ðthe€building.€Ð Š Ú ÐQ.€€And€in€order€to€do€that€job,€was€pepper€spray€anÐ ` ° Ðoption€for€you?Ð 6 †  ÐA.€€No,€sir.Ð  \  ÐQ.€€And€can€you€tell€me€and€the€judge€and€the€Court€whyÐ â 2  Ðpepper€spray€was€never€an€option€for€you€during€that€timeÐ ¸  Ðyou€were€in€the€store?Ð ŽÞ  ÐA.€€I€feared€for€my€life,€and€I€feared€that€he€was€goingÐ d´  Ðto€hurt€one€of€us.€€And€I€was€the€primary€officer€on€theÐ :Š  Ðscene,€and€I€had€to€focus€on€what€was€happening€at€hand.Ð `  ÐQ.€€You€testified€that€there€was€no€warning€by€OfficerÐ æ6 ÐClancy€prior€to€the€time€he€actually€yelled€ASR€that€heÐ ¼  Ðwas€going€to€use€the€pepper€spray.€€òòDid€you€feel€thatÐ ’â Ðpepper€spray€at€that€point€in€time€was€an€option€forÐ h¸ ÐOfficer€Clancy?óóÐ >Ž ÐA.€€òòYes.óóÐ d Ðà ` à...Ð ê: ÐQ.€€[W]hat€did€you€expect€Isom€to€do€if€he€had€been€hitÐ À Ðby€the€pepper€spray?Ð –æ ÐA.€€Probably€become€disoriented€where€we€could€actuallyÐ l¼ Ðphysically€take€him€down.€ò òó óÐ B’ ÐÌÒ°5GÒÒ°CGÒÓQGÓ(emphasis€added).€€Sergeant€Green's€testimony€was€not,€as€plaintiffÐ î> Ðcontends,€that€no€objective€police€officer€could€have€thought€thatÐ šê Ðthe€use€of€pepper€spray€was€warranted€in€the€circumstances€faced€byÐ F –! ÐDetective€Clancy.€€On€the€most€favorable€reading€of€the€testimonyÐ ò!B# Ðfor€the€plaintiff,€Sergeant€Green's€testimony€establishes€only€thatÐ ž#î% Ðhe€believed€it€would€not€have€been€reasonable€for€an€officer€òòinÐ J%š ' ÐGreen's€particular€situationóó€to€use€the€pepper€spray.€€But,€asÐ ö&F") ÐSergeant€Green€himself€explained,€the€circumstances€andÐ ¢(ò#+ Ðresponsibilities€that€he€faced€were€quite€different€than€thoseÐ N*ž%- Ðfaced€by€Detective€Clancy.€€As€the€€initial€officer€on€the€scene,Ð ú+J'/ ÐGreen's€primary€responsibility€was€not€necessarily€to€defuse€theÐ ° Ðsituation€so€much€as€to€prevent€it€from€escalating.€€DetectiveÐ \¬ ÐClancy,€who€arrived€at€the€store€after€the€other€officers€hadÐ X Ðestablished€some€control€over€the€situation,€was€in€a€differentÐ ´  Ðsituation€from€Green,€and€thus€had€different€tactical€optionsÐ ` ° Ðavailable€to€him€in€deciding€what€was€the€most€appropriate€action.€Ð  \  ÐIn€fact,€Sergeant€Green€acknowledged€that€use€of€the€pepper€sprayÐ ¸  Ðwas€"an€option"€for€Detective€Clancy.Ð d´  Ðà ` àAside€from€Sergeant€Green's€testimony,€the€plaintiff€didÐ `  Ðnot€present€any€other€evidence€even€addressing€the€reasonablenessÐ ¼  Ðof€the€officers'€actions.€€No€expert€testified€that,€under€theÐ h¸ Ðcircumstances€faced€by€Detective€Clancy,€no€reasonable€officerÐ d Ðwould€have€used€pepper€spray;€in€fact,€the€plaintiffs€did€notÐ À Ðproduce€any€expert€testimony€at€all.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€ò òó óÔ#† X@ XXX@ j#ÔÔ‡X@ XX X@ Ô€Nor€did€the€plaintiffÐ l¼ Ðproduce€any€written€policy€or€text€stating€that€the€use€of€pepperÐ h Ðspray€in€circumstances€such€as€those€faced€by€Clancy€was€notÐ Ä Ðreasonable.€€The€plaintiff€argues€that€such€evidence€was€not€neededÐ pÀ  Є„€that€this€is€a€matter€which€should€have€been€left€to€the€jury'sÐ !l" Ðcommon€sense€and€that€the€plaintiffs€were€entitled€to€let€the€juryÐ È"$ Ðreach€a€decision.€€Ð t$Ä& Ðà ` àWe€agree€with€the€district€court€that€this€argumentÐ ° Ðfails.€€For€the€jurors€to€have€been€given€an€opportunity€toÐ \¬ Ðexercise€their€common€sense€on€the€ultimate€question€of€whether€noÐ X Ðobjectively€reasonable€officer€would€have€used€pepper€spray,€thereÐ ´  Ðmust€have€been€some€basis€in€the€evidence€on€which€to€ground€thatÐ ` ° Ðdetermination.€òòóó€Even€putting€aside€the€evidence€that€DetectiveÐ  \  ÐClancy€was€experienced€in€the€use€of€pepper€spray,€believed€itÐ ¸  Ðwould€decrease€the€ultimate€risk€of€violence€from€Isom,€andÐ d´  Ðrequested€and€received€permission€to€use€the€spray€from€theÐ `  Ðcommanding€officer,€no€reasonable€jury€could€have€found€in€theÐ ¼  Ðplaintiff's€favor.€€There€was€no€evidence€from€which€the€jury€couldÐ h¸ Ðrationally€draw€the€conclusion€that€the€officers'€actions€wereÐ d Ðobjectively€unreasonable.€€At€best,€Sergeant€Green€said€that€òòheóóÐ À Ðwould€not€have€used€the€pepper€spray,€not€that€an€objectivelyÐ l¼ Ðreasonable€officer€in€Detective€Clancy's€position€would€not€have.€Ð h ÐÓ€ (5h83ÓØ! !ØB.€€òòWrongful€Death€ClaimsóóÐ Ä Ðà ` àThe€court€also€dismissed€plaintiff's€state€law€wrongfulÐ pÀ  Ðdeath€claims.€€The€Rhode€Island€statute€requires€that€death€beÐ !l" Ðcaused€by€the€wrongful€act,€neglect,€or€default€of€another.€€òòSeeóóÐ È"$ ÐR.I.€Gen.€L.€ðð€10„7„1.Ô#† X@ XXX@ ˜V#ÔÔ‡X@ XX X@ Ô€€In€theory,€the€plaintiff€in€this€case€mightÐ t$Ä& Ðhave€established€a€breach€of€a€duty€of€care€by€showing€a€violationÐ  &p!( Ðof€the€Warren€police€department's€use„of„force€policy.€€That€policyÐ Ì'#* Ðprovides,€in€relevant€part,€that:Ð x)È$, ÐÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓ2.€Non„deadly€force€may€be€used€by€a€police€officer€inÐ $+t&. Ðthe€performance€of€his€duty:Ð ú+J'/ Ðà ` àa.€when€necessary€to€preserve€the€peace,€prevent€Ð ° Ðà ` àcommission€of€offenses,€or€prevent€suicide€or€self„Ð †Ö Ðà ` àinfl[i]cted€injury;€orÐ \¬ Ðà ` àb.€when€necessary€to€overcome€resistance€to€arrests,Ð 2‚ Ðà ` àto€conduct€searches€and€seizures,€and€to€prevent€Ð X Ðà ` àescapes€from€custody;€orÐ Þ. Ðà ` àc.€when€in€self„defense,€or€defense€of€another€Ð ´  Ðà ` àagainst€unlawful€violence€to€his€person€or€property.Ð Š Ú Ð...Ð ` ° Ð9.€€Chemical€substances€may€be€used€when€physical€forceÐ 6 †  Ðis€necessary:Ð  \  Ðà ` àa.€to€protect€an€officer€or€other€person€from€an€Ð â 2  Ðà ` àassault;€orÐ ¸  Ðà ` àb.€to€SUBDUE€a€person€who€resists€arrest;€orÐ ŽÞ  Ðà ` àc.€to€deter€persons€engaged€in€riotous€conduct.Ð d´  ÐIt€is€preferred€that€chemical€substances€not€be€used€ifÐ :Š  Ðresistance€is€minor€and€not€hazardous,€or€if€physicalÐ `  Ðpowers€would€reasonably€achieve€the€same€end.€ò òó óÐ æ6 ÐÌÒ° aÒÒ°aÒÓ&aÓ(emphasis€in€original).Ð ’â Ðà ` àNo€breach€of€a€duty€of€care€can€be€based€on€this€policy.€Ð >Ž ÐThe€policy€gives€officers€significant€discretion€to€exercise€theirÐ ê: Ðjudgment€in€using€pepper€spray;€the€officers€were€within€thatÐ –æ Ðdiscretion€when€they€decided€to€use€pepper€spray€on€Isom.€€To€theÐ B’ Ðextent€that€the€state€law€claim€is€based€on€common€law€notions€ofÐ î> Ðduty€of€care,€our€conclusion€that€there€was€insufficient€evidenceÐ šê Ðto€show€that€the€officers€acted€in€an€objectively€unreasonableÐ F –! Ðfashion€is€sufficient€to€support€dismissal.€€Ð ò!B# ÐÓ  Óò òIV.ó óÐ ž#î% ÐÓ—iÓà ` àJudgment€for€the€defendants€is€òòò òaffirmedó óóó.€€Ô#† X@ XXX@ Ä_#Ô