Wins

Sep 26, 2007 Timothy T. Coates
Ninth Circuit holds that officer had probable cause to arrest based solely on interrogation of crime victim, and had no duty to conduct further investigation prior to making arrest

John v. El Monte, 515 F.3d 936 (9th Cir. 2007), 9th Cir. Case No. 05-56125. GMSR partner Tim Coates persuaded the Ninth Circuit to reverse the denial of summary judgment to law enforcement officer Eric Youngquist in a civil rights action arising from the arrest of a school teacher for child molestation based solely on interrogation of the victim. The court held that the officer had probable cause as a matter of law and clarified the limitations on an officer’s need to conduct additional investigation once probable cause has been established.