F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
NOV 28 2001
TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
ANTHONY LEWIS,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
No. 01-3212
v. (District of Kansas)
(D.C. No. 00-2158-CM)
RICHARD FAIRBANKS,
Defendant-Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before HENRY, BRISCOE, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Anthony Lewis filed a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint against
Richard Fairbanks, a police officer with the Lansing Police Department, alleging,
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
inter alia, that Officer Fairbanks arrested him without probable cause and
illegally searched his vehicle. 1 The district court granted summary judgment in
favor of Officer Fairbanks, concluding as follows: (1) Lewis’ false arrest claim
was barred by his plea of no contest to the charges of eluding a police officer and
speeding; (2) in the alternative, Lewis’ arrest was supported by probable cause;
and (3) the extremely limited search of Lewis’ car was a proper search incident to
arrest.
On appeal, this court reviews a grant of summary judgment de novo. See
Jurasek v. Utah State Hosp., 158 F.3d 506, 510 (10th Cir. 1998). “[W]e examine
the factual record and reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable
to the party opposing summary judgment.” Id. (quotation omitted). With this
standard in mind, we have reviewed the parties’ briefs and contentions, the
district court’s memorandum order, and the entire appellate record. For those
reasons stated in the district court’s memorandum order dated June 15, 2001, this
court agrees that Lewis’ arrest was supported by probable cause and that the
search of his car was a proper search incident to arrest. These conclusions fully
resolve this appeal. Accordingly, we express no opinion on the district court’s
Although Lewis set forth several additional claims in his § 1983
1
complaint, he does not reference those claims in his appellate brief. Accordingly,
those claims are waived. See State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Mhoon, 31 F.3d 979,
984 n.7 (10th Cir. 1994) (“[A]ppellant failed to raise this issue in his opening
brief and, hence, has waived the point.”).
-2-
alternative conclusion that Lewis’ false arrest claim is barred by his no contest
plea. See Howard v. Dickerson, 34 F.3d 978, 981 n.2 (10th Cir. 1994) (leaving
open question whether no contest plea “represents a defense to a § 1983 action
asserting arrest without probable cause”).
For those reasons set out above, the United States District Court for the
District of Kansas is hereby AFFIRMED. All outstanding motions are DENIED.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Michael R. Murphy
Circuit Judge
-3-