John Apodaca, Individually & as Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Theresa Apodaca, Deceased Lorraine Apodaca v. Rio Arriba Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't the Cnty. of Rio Arriba the Rio Arriba Bd. of Cnty. Commissioners Adelinda G. Martinez, Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Benigno (Ben) F. Martinez Emilio Naranjo, Individually & in His Off. Capacity as Rio Arriba Cnty. Manager Delaino Romero, Individually & in His Off. Capacity as a Rio Arriba Cnty. Deputy Sheriff, Earl Apodaca Janet Apodaca v. Rio Arriba Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't the Cnty. of Rio Arriba the Rio Arriba Bd. of Cnty. Commissioners Adelinda G. Martinez, Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Benigno (Ben) F. Martinez Emilio Naranjo, Individually & in His Off. Capacity as Rio Arriba Cnty. Manager Delaino Romero, Individually & in His Off. Capacity as a Rio Arriba Cnty. Deputy Sheriff, 905 F.2d 1445 (10th Cir. 1990). · Go Syfert
John Apodaca, Individually & as Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Theresa Apodaca, Deceased Lorraine Apodaca v. Rio Arriba Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't the Cnty. of Rio Arriba the Rio Arriba Bd. of Cnty. Commissioners Adelinda G. Martinez, Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Benigno (Ben) F. Martinez Emilio Naranjo, Individually & in His Off. Capacity as Rio Arriba Cnty. Manager Delaino Romero, Individually & in His Off. Capacity as a Rio Arriba Cnty. Deputy Sheriff, Earl Apodaca Janet Apodaca v. Rio Arriba Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't the Cnty. of Rio Arriba the Rio Arriba Bd. of Cnty. Commissioners Adelinda G. Martinez, Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Benigno (Ben) F. Martinez Emilio Naranjo, Individually & in His Off. Capacity as Rio Arriba Cnty. Manager Delaino Romero, Individually & in His Off. Capacity as a Rio Arriba Cnty. Deputy Sheriff, 905 F.2d 1445 (10th Cir. 1990). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
121 citation events (49 in the last 25 years) across 26 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Webber v. Mefford (ca10, 1994-12-19)
Treatment trajectory · 1990 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1990 2008 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 33 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Webber v. Mefford (2×) also: Cited "see"
10th Cir. · 1994 · signal: cf. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
njegligent operation of a vehicle by a police officer does not rise to the level of a constitutional violation.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Webber v. Mefford (2×) also: Cited "see"
10th Cir. · 1994 · signal: cf. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
egligent operation of a vehicle by a police officer does not rise to the level of a constitutional violation.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) James Campbell and Lois Campbell, as Co-Administrators for the Estate of Ronald J. Campbell, Deceased v. Colin F. White (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
7th Cir. · 1990 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
only unreasonable intentional detentions violate the constitution
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Gibbons v. Pinal County Sheriff's Office
D. Ariz. · 2025 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
egligent operation of a vehicle by a police officer does not rise to the 6 level of a constitutional violation . . . .
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Sebastian v. Douglas County
Colo. · 2016 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
ne seized unintentionally does not have a constitutional complaint.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Sebastian v. Douglas County
Colo. · 2016 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
ne seized unintentionally does not have a constitutional complaint.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Sebastian v. Douglas County
Colo. · 2016 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
ne seized unintentionally does not have a constitutional complaint.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Howerton v. Fletcher
4th Cir. · 2000 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
only unreasonable intentional detentions violate the constitution.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Browder v. Casaus
10th Cir. · 2017 · confidence medium
Id. at 1446.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Jones v. Norton
10th Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
Apodaca, 905 F.2d at 1447-48.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Perez v. Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City (2×)
10th Cir. · 2005 · confidence medium
Id. at 1446.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Williams v. Denver (2×)
10th Cir. · 1997 · confidence medium
Id. at 1446.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Williams v. City & County of Denver (2×)
10th Cir. · 1996 · confidence medium
Id. at 1446.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Pearson v. Oklahoma City
10th Cir. · 1996 · confidence medium
Id. at 1446.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Pearson v. City of Oklahoma
Emer. Ct. App. · 1996 · confidence medium
Id. at 1446.
examined Cited as authority (rule) Ortega v. Romero (3×)
10th Cir. · 1994 · confidence medium
Romero was not using his siren or flashing lights. [Plaintiff] was making a left turn out of the restaurant parking lot, when Romero rounded the curve and crashed into her car broadside. 10 Id. at 1446. 11 Noting the Supreme Court has drawn a distinction between constitutional violations and torts committed by a public official, id. at 1447, we concluded "[c]ollisions between police vehicles and others caused by police negligence clearly fall on the tort' side of the line." Id.
discussed Cited "see" Orona v. Board of Commissioners for Bernalillo County
D.N.M. · 2020 · signal: see · confidence high
See Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dept., 905 F.2d 1445 , 1447 (10th Cir. 1990) (a municipality may not be held liable where there is no underlying constitutional violation by any of its officers (citing City of Los Angeles v. Heller, 475 U.S. 796, 799 (1986)); Hinton v. City of Elwood, Kan., 997 F.2d 774, 782 (10th Cir. 1993) (where an individual law enforcement officer is entitled to qualified immunity on the ground that his or her conduct did not violate the law, it is proper to dismiss claims against the municipality) Moreover, Plaintiffs fail to point to any policy or custom to un…
discussed Cited "see" Fenn v. City of Truth or Consequences
D.N.M. · 2019 · signal: see · confidence high
See, Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dept., 905 F.2d 1445 , 1447 (10th Cir. 1990) (a municipality may not be held liable where there is no underlying constitutional violation by any of its officers (citing City of Los Angeles v. Heller, 475 U.S. 796, 799 (1986)); Hinton v. City of Elwood, Kan., 997 F.2d 774, 782 (10th Cir. 1993) (where an individual law enforcement officer is entitled to qualified immunity on the ground that his or her conduct did not violate the law, it is proper to dismiss claims against the municipality.
discussed Cited "see" Moore Ex Rel. Moore v. Board of County Commissioners
D. Kan. · 2007 · signal: accord · confidence high
To establish a Fourth Amendment violation, plaintiffs must show that Deputy Peter-man terminated Jared Moore’s freedom of movement “through means intentionally applied.” Brower v. County of Inyo, 489 U.S. 593, 596-97 , 109 S.Ct. 1378 , 103 L.Ed.2d 628 (1989) (seizure requires that “person be stopped by the very instrumentality set in motion or put in place in order to achieve that result”); accord Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Dep’t, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1447 (10th Cir.1990).
discussed Cited "see" JAMES TERRELL, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HEIRS AND NEXT OF KIN OF TALENA TERRELL, — v. BREK ANDREW LARSON SHAWN AARON LONGEN, —
8th Cir. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
See Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dep't, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1446-47 (10th Cir.1990) (responding to silent burglar alarm); Cannon v. Taylor, 782 F.2d 947, 950 (11th Cir.1986) (disturbance call); Walton v. Salter, 547 F.2d 824, 825 (5th Cir.1976) (armed robbery call). 13 For these reasons, we hold that the intent-to-harm standard of Lewis applies to an officer's decision to engage in high-speed driving in response to other types of emergencies, and to the manner in which the police car is then driven in proceeding to the scene of the emergency.
discussed Cited "see" James Terrell v. Brek Larson (2×)
8th Cir. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
See Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Dep’t, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1446-47 (10th Cir. 1990) (responding to silent burglar alarm); Cannon v. Taylor, 782 F.2d 947, 950 (11th Cir. 1986) (disturbance call); Walton v. Salter, 547 F.2d 824, 825 (5th Cir. 1976) (armed robbery call).
discussed Cited "see" Terrell v. Larson
8th Cir. · 2004 · signal: see · confidence high
See Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dep't, 905 F.2d 1445 (10th Cir.1990) (responding to burglar alarm with neither lights nor siren activated); Cannon v. Taylor, 782 F.2d 947 (11th Cir.1986) (responding to disturbance with neither lights nor siren activated); Walton v. Salter, 547 F.2d 824 (5th Cir.1976) (responding to armed robbery call). 5 41 For these reasons, I conclude that the intent-to-harm standard of Lewis applies to a police officer's high-speed driving in response to other types of emergencies, as the Seventh Circuit held in Carter v. Simpson, 328 F.3d 948, 952 (7th Cir.2003)…
discussed Cited "see" James Terrell v. Brek Larson (2×)
8th Cir. · 2004 · signal: see · confidence high
See Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Dep’t, 905 F.2d 1445 (10th Cir. 1990) (responding to burglar alarm with neither lights nor siren activated); Cannon v. Taylor, 782 F.2d 947 (11th Cir. 1986) (responding to disturbance with neither lights nor siren activated); Walton v. Salter, 547 F.2d 824 (5th Cir. 1976) (responding to armed robbery call).5 For these reasons, I conclude that the intent-to-harm standard of Lewis applies to a police officer’s high-speed driving in response to other types of emergencies, as the Seventh Circuit held in Carter v. Simpson, 328 F.3d 948, 952 (7th Cir.…
discussed Cited "see" Bradley v. United States
D.N.J. · 2001 · signal: accord · confidence high
See City of Los Angeles v. Heller, 475 U.S. 796, 799 , 106 S.Ct. 1571 , 89 L.Ed.2d 806 (1986)(“If a person has suffered no constitutional injury at the hands of the individual police officer, the fact that the departmental regulations might authorize use of unconstitutional action is quite beside the point”); Rodriguez v. City of Passaic, 730 F.Supp. 1314, 1321 (D.N.J.1990), aff'd 914 F.2d 244 (3d Cir.1990); accord Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dep’t, 905 F.2d 1445 (10th Cir.1990).
discussed Cited "see" Hill v. Martinez
D. Colo. · 2000 · signal: accord · confidence high
In the Tenth Circuit, “[a]n act is reckless when it reflects a wanton or obdurate disregard or complete indifference to risk, for example ‘when the actor does not care whether the other person lives or dies, despite knowing that there is a significant risk of death’ or grievous bodily injury.” Medina v. City and County of Denver, 960 F.2d 1493, 1496 (10th Cir.1992) (quoting Archie v. City of Racine, 847 F.2d 1211, 1219 (7th Cir.1988) (en banc), cert, denied, 489 U.S. 1065 , 109 S.Ct. 1338 , 103 L.Ed.2d 809 (1989)); accord Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriffs Dep’t, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1…
discussed Cited "see" Cossio v. City and County of Denver, Colo.
D. Colo. · 1997 · signal: see · confidence high
See Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1448 (10th Cir.1990) (refusing to reconsider Trujillo and holding “the Supreme Court’s recent cases requiring proof of more than negligence to support a § 1983 action premised on the due process clause are harmonious with the precedent of this circuit, including Trujillo”); Archuleta v. McShan, 897 F.2d 495, 498 (10th Cir.1990) (stating “[t]he requirement ... that there be an element of deliberateness in directing the misconduct toward the plaintiff before the Due Process Clause is implicated” comported with Tent…
cited Cited "see" Michael Kirk Leggett v. Jeff George, Correctional Officer O.C. Jenkins, Warden and Kathleen M. Hawk, Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons
10th Cir. · 1995 · signal: see · confidence high
See Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dep't, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1447-48 (10th Cir.1990).
discussed Cited "see" Betts v. City of Greeley, Colo.
10th Cir. · 1995 · signal: see · confidence high
See Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dep't, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1447 (10th Cir.1990)(holding that where there was no underlying constitutional violation by a county officer, there could be no action for failure to train properly).
discussed Cited "see" Troublefield v. City of Harrisburg, Bureau of Police (2×)
M.D. Penn. · 1992 · signal: see · confidence high
See Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dep’t, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1447 (10th Cir.1990) (accidental collision between sheriff’s deputy's automobile and plaintiff’s decedent’s car did not constitute a “seizure”).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Rainey v. Patton
S.D. Ohio · 2012 · signal: see also · confidence low
See also Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1447 (10th Cir.1990) (“[0]ne seized unintentionally does not have a constitutional complaint.”); Koetter v. Davies, 2010 WL 3791482 at *5 (D.Utah Sept. 22, 2010) (“[T]he Fourth Amendment prohibition on excessive force during arrest does not apply to unintentional or incidental applications of force.”).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Hill v. Shobe
7th Cir. · 1996 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Ross v. United States, 910 F.2d 1422, 1433 (7th Cir.1990); see also Apodaca, 905 F.2d at 1447
cited Cited "see, e.g." Hill v. Shobe
7th Cir. · 1996 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Ross v. United States, 910 F.2d 1422, 1433 (7th Cir.1990); see also Apodaca, 905 F.2d at 1447.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Tompkins v. City of Hartshorne, Okl.
10th Cir. · 1995 · signal: see also · confidence low
We have defined a reckless act as one which "reflects a wanton or obdurate disregard or complete indifference to risk, for example 'when the actor does not care whether the other person lives or dies, despite knowing that there is a significant risk of death' or grievous bodily injury." Medina, 960 F.2d at 1496 (quoting Archie v. City of Racine, 847 F.2d 1211, 1219 (7th Cir.1988) (en banc), cert. denied, 489 U.S. 1065 (1989)); see also Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dep't, 905 F.2d 1445 , 1446-47 n. 3 (10th Cir.1990); Archuleta v. McShan, 897 F.2d 495, 499 (10th Cir.1990).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
John Apodaca, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Theresa Apodaca, Deceased Lorraine Apodaca
v.
Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department the County of Rio Arriba the Rio Arriba Board of County Commissioners Adelinda G. Martinez, Personal Representative of the Estate of Benigno (Ben) F. Martinez Emilio Naranjo, Individually and in His Official Capacity as Rio Arriba County Manager Delaino Romero, Individually and in His Official Capacity as a Rio Arriba County Deputy Sheriff, Earl Apodaca Janet Apodaca v. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department the County of Rio Arriba the Rio Arriba Board of County Commissioners Adelinda G. Martinez, Personal Representative of the Estate of Benigno (Ben) F. Martinez Emilio Naranjo, Individually and in His Official Capacity as Rio Arriba County Manager Delaino Romero, Individually and in His Official Capacity as a Rio Arriba County Deputy Sheriff
88-1595.
Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Jun 19, 1990.
905 F.2d 1445

905 F.2d 1445

John APODACA, Individually and as Personal Representative of
the Estate of Theresa Apodaca, Deceased; Lorraine
Apodaca, Plaintiffs Appellants,
v.
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT; The County of Rio
Arriba; The Rio Arriba Board of County Commissioners;
Adelinda G. Martinez, Personal Representative of the Estate
of Benigno (Ben) F. Martinez; Emilio Naranjo, Individually
and in his Official Capacity as Rio Arriba County Manager;
Delaino Romero, Individually and in his Official Capacity as
a Rio Arriba County Deputy Sheriff, Defendants-Appellees.
Earl APODACA; Janet Apodaca, Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT; The County of Rio
Arriba; The Rio Arriba Board of County Commissioners;
Adelinda G. Martinez, Personal Representative of the Estate
of Benigno (Ben) F. Martinez; Emilio Naranjo, Individually
and in his Official Capacity as Rio Arriba County Manager;
Delaino Romero, Individually and in his Official Capacity as
a Rio Arriba County Deputy Sheriff, Defendants-Appellees.

Nos. 88-1595, 88-1910.

United States Court of Appeals,
Tenth Circuit.

June 19, 1990.

Richard Rosenstock, Chama, N.M. (Robert R. Rothstein of Rothstein, Bailey, Bennett, Daly & Donatelli, Santa Fe, N.M., with him on the briefs), for plaintiffs-appellants.

Douglas A. Baker (Benjamin Silva, Jr., with him on the brief), James H. Johansen of Butt, Thornton & Baehr, Albuquerque, N.M., for defendants-appellees Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Dept., Rio Arriba County, Rio Arriba Bd. of County Com'rs, Emilio Naranjo and Delaino Romero.

M. Karen Kilgore and David F. Cunningham of White, Koch, Kelly & McCarthy, Santa Fe, N.M., filed a brief on behalf of defendant-appellee Adelinda G. Martinez, Personal Representative of the Estate of Benigno (Ben) F. Martinez.

Before HOLLOWAY, Chief Judge, LOGAN, Circuit Judge, and BROWN, District Judge.[*]

LOGAN, Circuit Judge.

[*~1445]1

This is the consolidated appeal of two cases arising out of a collision between defendant Delaino Romero, a Rio Arriba County deputy sheriff, and plaintiffs' decedent Theresa Apodaca (Theresa). Theresa's parents, plaintiffs John and Lorraine Apodaca, filed an action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 alleging that Romero, Rio Arriba County, and other county officers deprived Theresa of her life without due process of law, that Romero seized her unreasonably and with excessive force in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, and that the plaintiff parents were deprived of their right to associate with their daughter guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments.[1] Plaintiffs Earl and Janet Apodaca, siblings of the decedent, allege only that they were deprived of their right to intimate familial association. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants on plaintiffs' due process claims, and dismissed plaintiffs' First and Fourth Amendment claims.[2] 647 F.Supp. 752. We affirm.

2

We review the granting of summary judgment and dismissal de novo, applying the same standard as the district court. Abercrombie v. City of Catoosa, 896 F.2d 1228, 1230 (10th Cir.1990); Morgan v. City of Rawlins, 792 F.2d 975, 978 (10th Cir.1986). Summary judgment is to be granted if no material issues of fact remain, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). We presume all allegations reasonably pleaded are true. In dealing with each kind of motion we resolve all conflicts in favor of the party resisting the motion. Morgan, 792 F.2d at 978; Abercrombie, 896 F.2d at 1230.

3

* Deputy Romero was responding to a silent burglar alarm at an automobile dealership when his marked police car collided with Theresa's car, as she was leaving the parking lot of a restaurant. Accepting the plaintiffs' version of the facts, we assume that Romero was driving 55-65 miles per hour around a blind curve on which the regular speed limit was 35 miles per hour. It was after midnight, and had been raining and sleeting. Romero was not using his siren or flashing lights. Theresa was making a left turn out of the restaurant parking lot, when Romero rounded the curve and crashed into her car broadside.

4

* Negligence and Due Process

[*~1446]5

Plaintiffs assert that Romero's negligent driving, under color of state law, deprived Theresa of her right to life without due process.[3] There is no dispute that Romero was acting under color of state law when the accident occurred.

[*1447]6

We agree with the defendants that negligent operation of a vehicle by a police officer does not rise to the level of a constitutional violation. The Supreme Court has drawn a distinction between constitutional violations and torts which just happen to be committed by public officials. See Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 701, 96 S.Ct. 1155, 1160, 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976) (distinguishing between torts and constitutional violations); Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 544, 101 S.Ct. 1908, 1917, 68 L.Ed.2d 420 (1981) (same); Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 332-33, 106 S.Ct. 662, 665-66, 88 L.Ed.2d 662 (1986) (same). See also Hewitt v. City of Truth or Consequences, 758 F.2d 1375, 1379-80 (10th Cir.) (negligent conduct not constituting abuse of official power), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 844, 106 S.Ct. 131, 88 L.Ed.2d 108 (1985). Collisions between police vehicles and others caused by police negligence clearly fall on the "tort" side of the line. Paul, 424 U.S. at 698-99, 96 S.Ct. at 1159-60; Parratt, 451 U.S. at 544, 101 S.Ct. at 1917. This holding comports with the views of other circuits. See Cannon v. Taylor, 782 F.2d 947, 949-50 (11th Cir.1986) (police cruiser collides with bystander's car); see also Roach v. City of Fredericktown, 882 F.2d 294, 297 (8th Cir.1989) and Jones v. Sherrill, 827 F.2d 1102, 1106-07 (6th Cir.1987) (police chasing suspect whose car collides with bystander's car).[4]

B

Illegal Seizure

7

Plaintiffs argue that Romero's actions constituted an unlawful seizure of Theresa in violation of the Fourth Amendment, applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. This argument misperceives the nature of what constitutes a "seizure" for Fourth Amendment purposes. The Supreme Court has recently clarified the issue in a manner favorable to the defendants' position.

8

In Brower v. County of Inyo, 489 U.S. 593, 109 S.Ct. 1378, 103 L.Ed.2d 628 (1989), the Supreme Court held that a seizure must be "willful" to be actionable under the Fourth Amendment. 109 S.Ct. at 1381. The Court carefully distinguished between accidental and intentional detentions. Only unreasonable intentional detentions violate the Constitution. Id. at 1382. An action may lie for one intentionally but wrongly seized, see Jamieson v. Shaw, 772 F.2d 1205, 1209-10 (5th Cir.1985) (passenger in car stopped by roadblock was seized for constitutional purposes because officers intended to stop car); however, one seized unintentionally does not have a constitutional complaint. Brower, 109 S.Ct. at 1381. There is no allegation here that Romero intended to stop either Theresa or her car; therefore, she was not unlawfully seized for Fourth Amendment purposes.

9

Because plaintiffs have alleged no federal constitutional violations, we need not address the plaintiffs' claims against the sheriff's department, county, and other officers in their official capacities. Roach, 882 F.2d at 297-98. When there is no underlying constitutional violation by a county officer, there cannot be an action for failing to train or supervise the officer. City of Los Angeles v. Heller, 475 U.S. 796, 799, 106 S.Ct. 1571, 1573, 89 L.Ed.2d 806 (1986).

II

10

Plaintiffs urge us to reconsider our decision in Trujillo v. Board of County Commissioners, 768 F.2d 1186 (10th Cir.1985), which required evidence of an intent to interfere with a protected relationship before a relative of a person injured or killed by a state actor could sustain a Sec. 1983 claim premised on a violation of the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of association. In formulating its intent requirement, the Trujillo opinion expressly considered a situation like the one at bar, noting that without an intent requirement, state actors could be liable to a parent whose child is killed in an automobile accident resulting from the negligence of a state official. 768 F.2d at 1190. Contrary to plaintiffs' arguments, the Supreme Court's recent cases requiring proof of more than negligence to support a Sec. 1983 action premised on the Due Process Clause are harmonious with the precedent of this circuit, including Trujillo, and we do not reconsider it at this point. Indeed, we have recently followed and reapplied the principles of Trujillo. See Archuleta v. McShan, 897 F.2d 495 (10th Cir.1990); Bryson v. City of Edmond, 905 F.2d 1386 (10th Cir.1990).

11

Accordingly, the district court's grant of summary judgment on the issue of due process and its dismissal of the plaintiffs' claims premised on the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments are AFFIRMED.

*

The Honorable Wesley E. Brown, Senior United States District Judge for the District of Kansas, sitting by designation

1

The due process and illegal seizure claims were brought on behalf of Theresa's estate by John Apodaca, personal representative of the estate. The intimate familial association claim was brought by Theresa's parents in their own right

2

The district court's dismissal of pendent state claims was also originally on appeal to this court. By stipulation, however, the parties have dismissed that portion of the appeal

3

Plaintiffs allege that Romero's actions exceeded bare negligence and were reckless and wanton. In whatever manner plaintiffs attempt to dress up their claims, their cases come down to allegations that Romero was driving too fast for the road and visibility conditions. At most, therefore, plaintiffs' allegations are grounded in negligence

We note that, as a practical matter, any risks created by Romero for bystanders like Theresa are reciprocally created for himself. As such it is hard to imagine Romero being truly indifferent to the risks he was creating, which is a necessary characteristic of recklessness. See W. Keeton, D. Dobbs, R. Keeton & D. Owen, Prosser and Keeton on the Law of Torts, Sec. 34, at 213 (5th ed. 1984) (reckless act is one done "in disregard of a known or obvious risk" likely to result in harm); Model Penal Code Sec. 2.02(2)(c) (1985) (defining recklessness as conscious disregard of substantial and unjustifiable risk).

4

We note that New Mexico police officers are not shielded from tort liability for reckless driving. The same statute that permits officers to exceed the speed limit in the course of their duties, provides for liability for injury arising from unjustified risks caused by officers. See N.M.Stat.Ann. Sec. 66-7-6 (allowing an emergency vehicle to disregard posted speed limits but not protecting driver from "consequences of his reckless disregard for safety of others.") Thus the fact that officers are permitted to drive in excess of the speed limit does not constitute an arbitrary use of government authority; it is carefully circumscribed by state law