Halverson v. Schneider

Background

Dennis L. Halverson sued Sergeant Glen Schneider, Officer Brian Wentworth, Officer Paul Larson, and Secretary Jeanne Reagan in their individual and official capacities. The opinion describes them as police officers and employees for the City of Champlin, Minnesota. Halverson alleged that his arrest after a December 6, 2013 dispute with a neighbor violated his civil and constitutional rights. He also alleged that reports related to his arrest were redacted unlawfully under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

Report and Recommendation

United States Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz recommended granting the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Summary judgment is a decision entered when the record shows no genuine dispute about a fact that could affect the outcome and the moving party is entitled to judgment under the law.

Halverson filed objections. The district court explained that specific objections would receive a fresh review, while nonspecific objections would be reviewed for clear error. The court determined that Halverson’s objections did not identify specific problems with the recommendation or specific evidence in the record supporting a genuine dispute of material fact.

Ruling

The court concluded that the report and recommendation was neither clearly erroneous nor contrary to law and that it correctly determined that no genuine disputes of material fact supported Halverson’s claims. Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright therefore overruled Halverson’s objections, adopted the April 25, 2018 report and recommendation, and granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. The order directed that judgment be entered accordingly.