IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Charlottesville Division

MARTESE JOHNSON,
Plaintiff,
v.

Civil Action No.

DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGE CONTROL
2901 Hermitage Road
Richmond, VA 23220,
JARED MILLER
900 Natural Resources Dr. #700
Charlottesville, VA 22903,
THOMAS CUSTER
900 Natural Resources Dr. #700
Charlottesville, VA 22903,
JOHN CIELAKIE
900 Natural Resources Dr. #700
Charlottesville, VA 22903,
and
SHAWN P. WALKER
2901 Hermitage Road
Richmond, VA 23220,
Defendants.
COMPLAINT
Plaintiff Martese Johnson (“Martese”), by and through the undersigned counsel, hereby
brings this Complaint against Defendants the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Jared
Miller, Thomas Custer, John Cielakie, and Shawn P. Walker for civil rights abuses in violation
of the United States Constitution, federal statutes, and the laws of Virginia, and in support

 thereof states as follows:
INTRODUCTION
1.

This matter arises out of the unlawful detention, arrest, and excessive use of force

against Martese on March 18, 2015, by Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie, agents of the
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and out of the pervasive and unchecked unlawful
practices encouraged and knowingly overlooked by the Department.
2.

In the early morning hours of March 19, 2015, Defendants Miller, Custer, and

Cielakie (collectively, the “Agents”), brutally assaulted, seized, arrested, and jailed Martese,
without probable cause and in violation of the United States Constitution, federal statutes, and
the laws of Virginia, believing (falsely and without sufficient information) that Martese had
presented a fake identification card to gain entry to a restaurant and bar on University Avenue in
the City of Charlottesville, Virginia.
3.

In fact, Martese’s identification card was valid.

4.

The Agents’ brutal assault and battery of Martese caused injuries which required

ten stitches to his head and face, resulting in permanent scarring and disfigurement.
5.

Moreover, as a result of the Agents’ unlawful seizure and arrest, Martese was

falsely charged with public intoxication and obstruction of justice. After reviewing eyewitness
testimony, the Commonwealth’s Attorney of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, declined to
prosecute Martese. The General District Court for the City of Charlottesville dismissed both
charges in June of 2015.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
6.

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action under 28 U.S.C. §1331

(federal question jurisdiction), §1343 (deprivation of civil rights), and §1367 (supplemental

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 jurisdiction).
7.

This Court also has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a) because

there is complete diversity of citizenship between Martese and all Defendants, and because the
amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs.
8.

Personal jurisdiction is proper over all Defendants because they all either reside,

work, oversee individuals who work, or have their principal place of business within the
Charlottesville Division of the Western District of Virginia.
9.

Venue is proper in this Court under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b) because a substantial part

of the events or omissions giving rise to Martese’s claims occurred within the Charlottesville
Division of the Western District of Virginia.
PARTIES
10.

Plaintiff Martese Johnson was, at all relevant times, a twenty year-old man and a

citizen of the State of Illinois. Martese was, and currently is, an honors student at the University
of Virginia.
11.

Defendant Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”), is an agency,

which is funded solely through its own revenues and tasked with controlling the distribution of
alcoholic beverages and enforcing the laws of the Commonwealth pertaining to alcoholic
beverages. ABC is run by a board which directs all agency operations, including promulgating
its own regulations and appointing all employees of ABC. The central office of ABC is located
at 2910 Hermitage Road, Richmond, Virginia 23220.
12.

Defendant Shawn P. Walker (“Walker”) is the Director of ABC. On information

and belief, he is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia and operates at 2910 Hermitage
Road, Richmond, Virginia 23220. Walker is being sued in his individual capacity.

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 13.

Defendant Jared Miller (“Miller”) is a Special Agent for ABC operating out of

900 Natural Resources Dr. #700, Charlottesville, VA 22903. On information and belief, Miller
is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Miller is being sued in his individual capacity.
14.

Defendant Thomas Custer (“Custer”) is a Special Agent for ABC operating out of

900 Natural Resources Dr. #700, Charlottesville, VA 22903. On information and belief, Custer
is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Custer is being sued in his individual capacity.
15.

Defendant John Cielakie (“Cielakie”) is a Special Agent for ABC operating out of

900 Natural Resources Dr. #700, Charlottesville, VA 22903. On information and belief, Cielakie
is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Cielakie is being sued in his individual capacity.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The Events of March 17, 2015
16.

On the night of March 17, 2015, St. Patrick’s Day, Martese and a friend from the

University of Virginia decided to leave campus and head to an area of restaurants, bars, and
shopping adjacent to the University known as “the Corner.”
17.

That night, ABC agents had positioned themselves in strategic locations around

the Corner, anticipating numerous violations of Virginia’s alcohol laws based on the many St.
Patrick’s Day celebrations that were taking place.
18.

After leaving campus, Martese and his friend decided to go to Trinity Irish Pub

(“Trinity”).
19.

In Virginia, persons under the age of twenty-one are permitted to enter bars, and

both bars and restaurants on the Corner routinely allow such individuals to enter after presenting
a valid form of identification.
20.

To get into Trinity, Martese and his friend waited in a line spanning

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 approximately half of a block. When they reached the front of the line, Martese presented his
valid identification card to the owner, who asked Martese to recite his zip code. Because
Martese had recently moved, he inadvertently provided the zip code of his mother’s former
address in Chicago, Illinois, rather than her current address.
21.

Martese was denied entry to Trinity because he provided the wrong zip code.

22.

At no point did Martese show any signs of intoxication.

23.

Martese and the owner of Trinity subsequently spoke for a few minutes about

Kenwood Academy in Chicago, where Martese went to high school, as the owner was also from
Chicago.
24.

Unbeknownst to Martese, ABC Agent Miller had been surveilling Trinity and

watched this exchange between Martese and the Owner.
25.

Agent Miller did not see any outward signs of intoxication while surveilling

Martese; nor did the agent witness Martese conduct himself in a belligerent manner as Martese
turned to walk away from Trinity.
26.

Nevertheless, as Martese began to walk away, Agent Miller approached Martese

from behind and grabbed his arm.

Miller did not identify himself as law enforcement or

otherwise attempt to introduce himself to Martese before grabbing his arm. Nor did he stop to
speak to the owner or any other bouncers at Trinity before grabbing Martese.
27.

Martese, startled from being grabbed from behind by someone he did not know,

pulled his arm away and tried to continue walking.
28.

Miller followed him and again grabbed his arm, holding his elbow. For the first

time, Miller demanded to see Martese’s “fake” identification card, while aggressively attempting
to twist Martese’s arm behind his back.

Miller still had not identified himself as law

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 enforcement.
29.

Miller immediately proceeded to this escalated and unnecessary use of force

without first attempting to speak with Martese and without using any de-escalation procedures
that might have been applicable to the situation.
30.

At or around this point in what was already becoming a brutal and callous

encounter, Martese saw the officer’s badge and realized that he was a member of law
enforcement. Miller had still not identified himself as an ABC agent.
31.

Martese attempted to free himself from Miller’s grasp to reach for his

identification card in his pocket and to explain to the agent that he had done nothing wrong.
While this was occurring, ABC Agent Custer, watching this exchange, approached Martese and
Miller and grabbed Martese’s left arm, effectively restraining him and preventing him from
complying with Miller’s order.
32.

Martese was not yelling, did not appear intoxicated, and was not aggressive

towards the Agents.
33.

Despite the Agents’ lack of reasonable suspicion and failure to interview relevant

witnesses, the Agents appeared convinced that Martese had presented a false means of
identification at the door of Trinity. The agents were incorrect and had no basis for their
preconceived misconception and ensuing detention of Martese.
34.

As Martese continued to try to reach his identification card and to explain the

situation to the Agents, all of a sudden, and without provocation, Custer and Miller slammed
Martese into the brick walkway, face first, causing Martese to suffer a severe laceration to his
forehead and scalp.
35.

Martese had blood streaming down his face.

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 36.

After slamming him to the ground, Custer roughly and aggressively handcuffed

Martese’s left hand, while Custer and Miller continued to pin Martese to the ground, despite his
compliance.
37.

Martese was writhing in pain.

38.

ABC Agent Cielakie joined Custer and Miller, and roughly and aggressively

handcuffed Martese’s right hand with a second set of handcuffs and connected the two pairs
behind Martese’s back.
39.

In pain and in shock, with blood streaming down his face and Miller and Custer

on his back, Martese kept repeating to the officers “I go to UVa” in a desperate attempt to
identify himself.
40.

Cielakie then shackled Martese’s legs together.

41.

The Agents placed Martese under arrest. He was not Mirandized.

42.

Martese was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

43.

After receiving treatment, Martese received ten stitches to his forehead and scalp.

He also sustained several smaller lacerations, facial swelling, and bruising along his torso and
arms.
44.

Meanwhile, Miller obtained a warrant for obstruction of justice and public

intoxication. The public intoxication charge was based on illegally obtained statements.
45.

At approximately 4:21 a.m., Martese was taken to the Albemarle County Regional

Jail to appear before a magistrate judge on the two charges.
46.

Martese arrived at the Jail at approximately 4:32 a.m. He was made to undergo

an inmate medical screening and was administered a preliminary breath test at some point
between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m.

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 47.

On Thursday, June 11, 2015, both charges were dismissed by the Commonwealth

Attorney of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia.
48.

The Agents’ brutal and unjustified attack on Martese has left Martese

permanently disfigured as there is scarring to Martese’s forehead and scalp. Moreover, due to
scar tissue on Martese’s scalp, there are areas on which hair will no longer grow.
49.

Due to effects of the Agents’ unjustified attack, Martese missed multiple weeks of

course instruction and was forced to withdraw from a class which set him back academically in
comparison to other candidates for graduation in May 2016.
ABC’s and Director Walker’s Failure to Supervise or Train
50.

ABC agents have a history of aggressive, excessive, and unjustified behavior in

effectuating their duties. This history stems from and is caused by a systemic failure to train and
supervise agents by Defendants ABC and Director Walker.
51.

ABC’s numerous failures to properly train and supervise its agents are highlighted

by an incident in April 2013 also involving University of Virginia students. There, ABC agents,
including Cielakie, swarmed the car of twenty-year-old Elizabeth Daly and slammed on her
windows using steel flashlights and punched her windshield, mistaking the case of water she was
carrying for a case of beer.
52.

Like Martese, Daly was arrested and spent several hours in jail. The charges

against Daly were also dropped by the Commonwealth Attorney of the City of Charlottesville,
Virginia.
53.

Based on the Daly incident, and others that Plaintiff believes to have occurred,

ABC and Walker had specific knowledge of the policy, custom, or widespread practice of ABC
officers’ use of unreasonable, disproportionate, and wrongful force and tactics in approaching

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 suspects believed to have committed minor infractions or regulatory offenses.
54.

Other law enforcement agencies have reacted to ABC’s heavy-handed tactics by

reducing its access and participation in joint operations.
55.

ABC and Walker have failed to act appropriately to change this policy, custom, or

widespread practice of ABC officers’ use of unreasonable, disproportionate, and wrongful force
and tactics in approaching citizens. To the contrary, their policies, discussions, and advancement
decisions, have perpetuated, reinforced, and sanctioned such practices.
Count I
False Arrest (42 U.S.C. §1983)
Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie
56.

Plaintiff incorporates by reference and re-alleges each allegation set forth above.

57.

Under 42 U.S.C. §1983:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation,
custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia,
subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or
other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any
rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws,
shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or
other proper proceeding for redress

58.

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “[t]he

right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable
seizures shall not be violated.” U.S. Const. Amend. 4.
59.

The Fourth Amendment is applicable to the Commonwealth of Virginia under the

Fourteenth Amendment.
60.

The Agents unreasonably seized Martese, and did so within their official capacity

as law enforcement officers, under color of state law, acting within the ordinary course and scope
of their employment, without a judicial warrant and without probable cause.

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 61.

The Agents performed no investigation as to whether Martese possessed a valid

means of identification before seizing him, and a reasonable officer in Miller’s, Custer’s, and
Cielakie’s position would have realized that under applicable law, there was no reason, probable
cause, or reasonably articulable suspicion to believe Martese violated any law of the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
62.

The Agents’ arrest of Martese without probable cause meaningfully interfered

with Martese’s right to be “secure in [his] effects” under the Fourth Amendment, thereby
constituting a seizure.
63.

The Agents’ warrantless seizure of Martese was objectively unreasonable and

disproportionate. Martese did not pose a physical threat or any imminent danger to any of the
Agents, the public, or himself.
64.

Martese’s pulling his arm away from Miller, after Miller approached him from

behind and grabbed his arm without identifying himself as law enforcement, was not objectively
unreasonable and posed no physical threat to Miller; rather Martese’s action was justified and not
dangerous and any objectively reasonable officer should have recognized such.
65.

The Agents also unreasonably ignored other non-physical options to request

Martese’s identification card, such as doing so by first identifying themselves and requesting it
without any physical contact.
66.

The Agents’ seizure of Martese, without probable cause, when Martese was

acting in an objectively reasonable manner, involved reckless and callous disregard for Martese’s
constitutional rights and failed to promote and protect the public trust.
67.

As a direct and proximate result of the Agents’ conduct, Martese has been injured

in various respects, including, without limitation, suffering physical injuries and severe mental

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 anguish due to the egregious nature of the Agents’ actions, all attributable to the deprivation of
his constitutional rights guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and
protected under 42 U.S.C. §1983.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in his favor
and against each of Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie in the amount of approximately
$3,000,000.00, or in such greater amount to be determined at trial, costs, pre-judgment interest,
attorneys’ fees, punitive damages and grant such other and further relief that the Court may deem
appropriate.
Count II
Excessive Force (42 U.S.C. §1983)
Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie
68.

Plaintiff hereby incorporates the allegations in the preceding paragraphs as if fully

set forth herein.
69.

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “[t]he

right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable
seizures shall not be violated.” U.S. Const. Amend. 4.
70.

The Fourth Amendment’s protections apply to use of excessive force by law

enforcement officials against a free citizen. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 394 (1989).
71.

The Fourth Amendment is applicable to the Commonwealth of Virginia under the

Fourteenth Amendment.
72.

The Agents unreasonably used excessive force against Martese when:
a. Miller grabbed Martese from behind without provocation, identification, or use of
any other less intrusive means as Martese was walking away from Trinity;
b. Miller again grabbed Martese’s right arm at the elbow without provocation,

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 identification, or use of any other less intrusive means and attempted to bend it
behind Martese’s back;
c. Custer grabbed Martese’s left arm without provocation, identification, or use of
any other less intrusive means;
d. Custer and Miller slammed Martese to the brick walkway, face first, without
provocation or use of any other less severe means, causing Martese to suffer a
severe laceration to his forehead and scalp;
e. After slamming him to the ground, Custer roughly used excessive force when he
handcuffed Martese’s left hand, while Custer and Miller continued to pin Martese
to the ground;
f.

Cielakie roughly used excessive force when he handcuffed Martese’s right hand;
and

g. Cielakie shackled Martese’s legs together.
73.

Agents Miller’s, Custer’s, and Cielakie’s use of force against Martese was

objectively unreasonable from the first time Miller approached Martese until Martese was lying
on the ground, with blood streaming down his face, his hands cuffed, and legs shackled.
74.

Prior to his unlawful arrest, Martese was not verbally or physically aggressive

towards the agents. Nor did Martese show any signs of intoxication.
75.

No objectively reasonable officer would believe he was in physical danger from

Martese.
76.

The interaction between Martese and the owner of Trinity, which Miller allegedly

witnessed, was friendly and polite. Martese was not hostile, aggressive, or at all violent in that
interaction.

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 77.

Moreover, the “crime” about which Miller ostensibly wanted to question Martese,

possession of a fake identification card, is a regulatory offense.
78.

Martese was also not attempting to flee. Rather, Martese was simply trying to

free his arms so he could reach in his pocket to prove his identity.
79.

The Agents’ use of excessive force on Martese, causing a severe gash on his

forehead and scalp which required ten stitches, involved reckless and callous disregard for
Martese’s constitutional rights.
80.

As a direct and proximate result of the Agents’ conduct, Martese has been injured

in various respects, including, without limitation, suffering physical injuries and severe mental
anguish due to the egregious nature of the Agents’ actions, all attributable to the deprivation of
his constitutional rights guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and
protected under 42 U.S.C. §1983.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in his favor
and against each of Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie in the amount of approximately
$3,000,000.00, or in such greater amount to be determined at trial, costs, pre-judgment interest,
attorneys’ fees, punitive damages and grant such other and further relief that the Court may deem
appropriate.

COUNT III
Failure to Train or Supervise (42 U.S.C. §1983 Monell Claim)
Defendants Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and
Defendant Shawn P. Walker
81.

Plaintiff hereby incorporates the allegations in the preceding paragraphs as if fully

set forth herein.
82.

At all material times, Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie were acting under

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 the color of state law as Agents for ABC.
83.

Agents of ABC have a history of aggressive, excessive, and unjustified behavior

in effectuating their duties. This history stems from and is caused by a systemic failure to train
and supervise agents by Defendants ABC and Walker, including, but not limited to, failures to:
a. train agents to properly and readily identify themselves as law enforcement
officers;
b. train agents to properly approach suspects on foot;
c. train agents to appropriately and proportionally respond to any suspected violation
or threat;
d. train agents to employ an appropriate and proportionate level of force, given the
type of charge alleged and the apparent threat (if any) to the agents at the scene;
and
e. train agents how to recognize and react to situations that might require deescalation or disengagement.
84.

ABC’s numerous failures to properly train its agents are further highlighted by an

incident in April 2013 also involving UVa students. There, ABC Agents, including Cielakie,
swarmed the car of twenty year old Elizabeth Daly and hammered on her windows using steel
flashlights and punched her windshield, mistaking the case of water she was carrying for a case
of beer.
85.

Like Martese, Daly was arrested and spent several hours in jail. The charges

against Daly were also dropped by the Commonwealth’s Attorney of the City for the City of
Charlottesville, Virginia.
86.

Based on the Daly incident, and others that Plaintiff believes to have occurred,

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 ABC and Walker had specific knowledge of the policy, custom, or widespread practice of ABC
Agents’ use of unreasonable, disproportionate, and wrongful force and tactics in approaching
suspects.
87.

ABC and Walker failed to change this policy, custom, or widespread practice of

ABC officers’ use of unreasonable, disproportionate, and wrongful force and tactics in
approaching suspects, but instead, through their policies, discussions, and advancement
decisions, perpetuated, reinforced, and sanctioned such practices.
88.

Moreover, the Agents’ brutal and unlawful actions against Martese on March 18,

2015 plainly demonstrate that:
a. At all material times, ABC failed to train its agents to properly and readily
identify themselves as law enforcement officers.
b. At all material times, ABC failed to train its agents to properly approach suspects
on foot.
c. At all material times, ABC failed to train its agents to appropriately and
proportionally respond to any suspected violation or threat.
d. At all material times, ABC failed to train its agents not to employ tremendous
physical force against a suspect and slam a suspect to the ground, face first, where
the underlying charge is solely for possession of a fake identification card and
there is no immediate threat to the agents or the community.
e. At all material times, ABC failed to train its agents how to recognize and react to
situations that might require de-escalation or disengagement.
89.

The foreseeable result of ABC’s and Walker’s failures is that ABC agents, like

Miller, Custer, and Cielakie, are more likely to unlawfully deprive citizens of “the right . . . to be

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 secure in their persons” in a manner that constitutes an unlawful seizure and use of excessive
force under the Fourth Amendment.
90.

By failing to supervise and train ABC agents, Defendants ABC and Walker

directly or indirectly, and under color of law, allowed and ratified the policy, custom, or
widespread practices discussed above.
91.

ABC’s and Walker’s failures were the moving force behind Miller’s, Custer’s,

and Cielakie’s, wrongful, negligent and/or reckless seizure and assault on Martese.
92.

ABC’s and Walker’s actions in allowing an arrest and use of brutal force without

a warrant and without probable cause was objectively unreasonable and disproportionate because
the arrest and assault of Martese could have been prevented with proper training and supervision
of the Agents.
93.

ABC’s and Walker’s failures exhibit a deliberate indifference and callous

disregard for Martese’s constitutional rights, as well as other citizens of the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
94.

As a direct and proximate result of ABC’s failures, Martese has been injured in

various respects, including, without limitation, suffering physical injuries and severe mental
anguish due to the egregious nature of the Agents’ actions, all attributable to the deprivation of
his constitutional rights guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and
protected under 42 U.S.C. §1983.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in his favor
and against each of Defendants ABC and Walker in the amount of approximately $3,000,000.00,
or in such greater amount to be determined at trial, costs, pre-judgment interest, punitive
damages and grant such other and further relief that the Court may deem appropriate

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 Count IV
Negligence
Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie
95.

Plaintiff hereby incorporates the allegations in the preceding paragraphs as if fully

set forth herein.
96.

Before and at the time Martese was arrested, the Agents owed a duty of care to

Martese to respect Martese’s right to be secure in his own person, to use the care and skill as is
ordinarily possessed by objective members of law enforcement, to have a reasonable and
objective understanding as is possessed by other members of law enforcement regarding
appropriate behavior when approaching and questioning a free citizen, to use non-physical
measures to handle minor and non-violent situations, and to use only a reasonable amount of
force objectively necessary to respond to a situation involving a person suspected of possessing a
fake identification card.
97.

The Agents, each of them and as detailed above, breached this duty directly when

they willfully, knowingly, wrongfully, negligently and/or recklessly assaulted Martese without
any reasonable justification and unreasonably ignored other non-physical and/or non-violent
options to ascertain whether Martese possessed or had used a fake identification card.
98.

The Agents’ actions involved a reckless or callous disregard for the duty they

owed to Martese.
99.

As a direct and proximate result of the Agents’ negligence, Martese has been

injured in various respects, including, without limitation, suffering physical injuries and severe
mental anguish due to the egregious nature of the Agents’ actions.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in his favor

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 and against each of Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie in the amount of approximately
$3,000,000.00, or in such greater amount to be determined at trial, costs, pre-judgment interest,
punitive damages and grant such other and further relief that the Court may deem appropriate.
Count V
Negligent Supervision and Training
Defendants Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and Shawn P. Walker
100.

Plaintiff hereby incorporates the allegations in the preceding paragraphs as if fully

set forth herein.
101.

Upon information and belief, other jurisdictions which use separate law

enforcement officials to enforce the state’s alcohol laws provide formal training and proper
supervision for such officials on the appropriate manner to approach a non-violent suspect and
the appropriate use of force, if any. These trainings demonstrate the degree of care and skill
reasonably expected of law enforcement agencies whose officers will be dealing with situations
involving suspected illegal activity and suspects who may be intoxicated.
102.

ABC and Walker had knowledge of previous incidents of excessive use of force

by its agents in non-violent situations.
103.

Before and at the time of Martese’s assault, ABC and Walker owed a duty to

Martese to employ a reasonable amount of care and skill as is ordinarily possessed by liquor
control enforcement agencies and the states that operate them in formally and regularly
supervising and training such agents in appropriately handling such situations and the
appropriate use of force.
104.

ABC and Walker breached this duty by failing to have proper supervision and

training in place for handling non-violent situations and questioning suspects.
105.

Indeed, despite their knowledge of the policy, custom, or widespread practice of

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 ABC Agents’ use of unreasonable, disproportionate, and wrongful force and tactics in
approaching suspects, as described above, ABC and Walker, through their policies, discussions,
and advancement decisions, perpetuated, reinforced, and sanctioned such practices.
106.

Both ABC’s and Walker’s failure to employ proper supervision and training,

despite previous instances of ABC agents acting unlawfully and using excessive force, showed a
reckless disregard for the safety and well-being of both Martese and the citizens of the
Commonwealth.
107.

As a direct and proximate result of ABC’s and Walker’s negligence, Martese has

been injured in various respects, including, without limitation, suffering physical injuries and
severe mental anguish due to the egregious nature of the Agents’ actions.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in his favor
and against each of Defendants ABC and Walker in the amount of approximately $3,000,000.00,
or in such greater amount to be determined at trial, costs, pre-judgment interest, punitive
damages and grant such other and further relief that the Court may deem appropriate
Count VI
Assault
Defendant Miller
108.

Plaintiff hereby incorporates the allegations in the preceding paragraphs as if fully

set forth herein.
109.

On March 18, 2015, at approximately 12:45 a.m., Martese was lawfully walking

on University Avenue towards Emmett Street in Charlottesville, Virginia.
110.

Miller, while acting in the course and scope of his employment with ABC,

approaching Martese from behind and grabbed his arm without probable cause or reasonable
suspicion to believe Martese had committed a crime.

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 111.

Miller’s unlawful, intentional, and or/grossly negligent actions placed Martese in

reasonable apprehension of bodily harm and/or harmful and/or offensive and unpermitted contact
with Martese’s person.
112.

As a direct and proximate result of Miller’s unlawful, intentional, and/or grossly

negligent actions, Martese has been injured in various respects, including, without limitation,
suffering physical injuries and severe mental anguish due to the egregious nature of Miller’s
actions.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in his favor
and against Defendant Miller in the amount of approximately $3,000,000.00, or in such greater
amount to be determined at trial, costs, pre-judgment interest, punitive damages and grant such
other and further relief that the Court may deem appropriate.
Count VII
Battery
Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie
113.

Plaintiff hereby incorporates the allegations in the preceding paragraphs as if fully

set forth herein.
114.

The Agents, each of them, imposed unwanted, unexcused, and unjustified bodily

contact on Martese when:
a. Miller grabbed Martese from behind as Martese was walking away from Trinity;
b. Miller again grabbed Martese’s right arm at the elbow and attempted to bend it
behind Martese’s back;
c. Custer grabbed Martese’s left arm;
d. Custer and Miller slammed Martese to the brick walkway, face first, causing
Martese to suffer a severe laceration to his forehead and scalp;

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 e. After slamming him to the ground, Custer roughly and aggressively handcuffed
Martese’s left hand, while Custer and Miller continued to pin Martese to the
ground;
f.

Cielakie roughly and aggressively handcuffed Martese’s right hand; and

g. Cielakie shackled Martese’s legs together.
115.

Each of these unpermitted physical contacts caused Martese physical pain.

116.

Each one of the above-described acts of physical contact was objectively

unreasonable and offensive.
117.

More, the above-described acts of physical contact caused Martese significant

physical injury, including lacerations to his forehead and scalp which required ten stitches.
118.

The lacerations caused by Agents’ brutal battery of Martese have caused Martese

to suffer disfigurement as there is permanent scarring to Martese’s forehead and scalp.
Moreover, due to scar tissue on Martese’s scalp, there are areas on which hair will no longer
grow.
119.

As a direct and proximate result of the Agents’ unlawful, intentional, and/or

grossly negligent actions, Martese has been injured in various respects, including, without
limitation, suffering physical injuries and severe mental anguish due to the egregious nature of
the Agents’ actions.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in his favor
and against each of Defendants Miller, Custer, and Cielakie in the amount of approximately
$3,000,000.00, or in such greater amount to be determined at trial, costs, pre-judgment interest,
punitive damages and grant such other and further relief that the Court may deem appropriate.

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 JURY DEMAND
Plaintiff requests a jury trial of all issues so triable.

Dated: October 13, 2015

By: s/ Benjamin G. Chew
Benjamin G. Chew (VSB #29113)
Joshua N. Drian (VSB #82061)
Diana L. Eisner (pro hac vice application
forthcoming)
Attorney for Plaintiff
MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS, LLP
1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 585-6500
Fax: (202) 585-6600
[Email: BChew@manatt.com]
[Email: JDrian@manatt.com]
[Email: DEisner@manatt.com]

John S. Davis (VSB #72420)
Charles E. James (VSB #46310)
Daniel Watkins (VSB #84592)
WILLIAMS MULLEN
Attorney for Plaintiff
200 South 10th Street, Suite 1600
P.O. Box 1320 (23218-1320)
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Telephone: (804) 420-6045
Fax: (804) 420-6507
[Email: dwatkins@williamsmullen.com]
Counsel for Plaintiff Martese Johnson

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