Cranford v. Kluttz (278 F. Supp. 3d 848, 2017)

United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina 2017-09-30

Citations

Full opinion text

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

OSTEEN, JR., District Judge

This matter comes before the court on the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment. Defendants Eddie Kluttz (“Defendant Kluttz”) and Reese Helms (“Defendant Helms”) have moved for summary judgment (Doc. 22), to which Plaintiff Brian Cranford has responded (Doc. 31), and Defendants have replied (Doc. 36). Plaintiff has also moved for summary judgment (Doc. 25), to which Defendants have responded (Doc. 34), and Plaintiff has replied (Doc. 37). This matter is now ripe for resolution. For the reasons stated herein, this court will, grant Defendants’ motion. Plaintiff’s motion will be denied.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Facts and Procedural Background

i. Background

The majority of the facts in this case are relatively undisputed, as a large part of the activities at issue were either videotaped or audiotaped. Two significant factual disputes are present. The first factual dispute, arises from the question of whether Plaintiffs preaching involved a general admonishment to the crowd as a whole when Plaintiff used the terms “tramps, whores, and prostitutes” or whether Plaintiff directed those comments to a specific individual in the crowd. The second dispute relates to the legal effect of Plaintiffs conviction in state district court of the offense of Disorderly Conduct in violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4; the conviction was followed by an acquittal of that offense in state superior court. While the parties suggest different interpretations of the evidence of the actions of Plaintiff, the principle issue is whether Plaintiff has presented evidence sufficient to create a material issue of fact as to whether the conviction in state district court was obtained by fraud or unfair means. This court finds there are sufficient undisputed facts to render summary judgment determination appropriate.

In his own words, Plaintiff is a “Christian[ ] that take[s] a Bible out on the street and just preach[es],” which some call “street preaching.” (Pl.’s Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J.’(“Pl.’s Br”), Ex. 1, Excerpts from Dep. of Brian Douglas Cranford (“PL’s Dep.”) (Doc. 26-2) at 3.) According, to Plaintiff, he engages in street preaching “almost every afternoon,” usually focusing on “local towns” or “surrounding towns” and that “then bn the weekends, [he] usually travels].” (Id.)

On July 20, 2013, the Town' of China Grove, North Carolina, held its annual “Farmers Day Festival” (“Festival”) and Plaintiff decided to preach during the festival. (PL’s Br., Ex. 4, PL’s Resp. to Defs.’ First Set of Interrogs. (Doc. 26-5) at 3-4.) Plaintiff alleges that, when he' arrived at the Festival, he received a “sheét of paper” or “ordinance” detailing “festival rules.” (PL’s Dep. (Doc.'26-2) at 9.) In his deposition, Plaintiff explained that “[i]f you want to pass out literature or to speak on anything'open, you had to have a booth. You had to be a vendor.” (Id.) Plaintiff did not elect to proceed as a “vendor,” instead choosing to stand “outside of the barricade” to preach. (Id. at 10.) Plaintiff preached for over an hour before he was arrested.

While preaching at the Festival, Plaintiff wore an audio recording device under his shirt. (Id. at 7-8.) One of Plaintiffs colleagues also filmed a video of some of the events that transpired on July 20, 2013. (Id. at 11.)

ii. Audio Recording

Plaintiff began preaching at the 6:55 mark of the audio recording. (Defs.’. Mem. of Law in Supp. of Defs.’ Mot. for Summ. J. as to All Claims (“Defs.’ Br,”) (Doc. 23), Ex. 7, Audio recording filed manually (Audio Disc) at 6:55.) At the 10:53 mark, Defendant Helms asked to talk to Plaintiff before informing Plaintiff that “you’re more than welcome to be here, okay, but to be here, you have to purchase a booth.” (Id. at 11:00-11:05.) Upon Plaintiffs resistance, Defendant Helms read, from what he later described as the “rules and regulations for Farmers Day,” the following:

Any person or group wishing to hand out materials or provide information to the public must register with the town of China Grove for a booth within the festival area. No person or group will be allowed inside the festival area to approach visitors with material, verbal, printed or otherwise, unless they register with the town of China Grove.

(Id. at 15:29-15:47.) Following an argument with Defendant Helms and another bystander regarding his First Amendment rights, in which Defendant Helms told Plaintiff that if he did not move to the other side of the barricade he would be arrested, Plaintiff moved outside the barricade marking Festival' grounds and resumed preaching. (Id. at 20:48.)

During the time period between Plaintiff moving to the other side of the barricade and the span for which video footage exists, Plaintiff preached and interacted with festival attendees. (See id.) At multiple points, Plaintiff expressed a continued willingness to enter the barricade and an expectancy to “go to jail” as a result. (Id. at 26:56, 27:30, 28:40,. 32:35, 38:30.) At the 32:16 point, Plaintiff told a festivalgoer that “there’s video cameras all over [Defendants] right now.” (Id.) Pláintiff also expressed that he was “fíxin’ to cross the line here'in a minute.” (Id. at 32:27.)

Around the 45:28 mark, following a contentious exchange with a specific festi-valgoer, Defendant Helms . approached Plaintiff and said, ‘You’re not gonna be disrespectful.” (Id.) Plaintiff responded, “Loud mouth rebellious ladies like this, she needs to keep her mouth quiet.” (Id. at 46:06416:15.) Defendant Helms responded, “I’m gonna ask you one more time—don’t start causing issue with the people. You can preach, but that has nothing to do with talking about people.” (Id. at 46:15-46:30.) Plaintiff then called the police officers “wicked,” said Defendant Helms was “digging a hole deeper for hisself and deeper for hisself,” and said to Defendant Helms, ‘You’re wicked as hell, you’re gonna be on your way to hell, officer.” (|d. at 47:58-48:07.) Plaintiff later called Defendant Helms “a sinner” and “wretched.” (Id. at 1:03:45.)

Plaintiff continued to accost individual festivalgoers. (Id. at 57:58.) Plaintiff also said, “See I know most of you people, you’d love nothing more to come punch a preacher in his face. Oh, but you’re not gonna do anything.” (Id. at 58:54.)

The exchange leading to Plaintiffs arrest occurs from 1:08:09 to 1:09:35. Plaintiff begins:

Oh, God’s gonna judge you, wicked sinner—I’m talking to you. All you ladies need to learn how to put on some clothes, too. I’m talkin’ to her. I’m talkin’ to your family members. And all of those ladies over there. The Bible says that a woman should dress modestly. See a lot of ladies out here dressed like tramps and whores and prostitutes today. The Bible says you dress modestly. Today all you ladies who’s dressed half-nekkid out here.

(Id.) Defendant Helms interrupted him, “Sir, you cannot call people whores and prostitutes.” Plaintiff immediately responded, “The Bible says it calls ‘em whores and' prostitutes.” (Id.) Defendant Helms said, “If you say that one more time, I’ma place you under arrest” and Plaintiff again immediately responded, “You can’t be whores and prostitutes, you can’t be.” (Id.)

iii. Video Recording

The video generally shows Plaintiff from behind, as it appears the videographer was standing some distance behind Plaintiff; The video shows Defendant Helms standing away and to the front of Plaintiff, inside the barricade and beside a car. At various times, as the camera pans from side to side, it appears that one or more police officers may be standing to Plaintiffs left, off the street and on the corner, several feet away from Plaintiff.

During much of the time Plaintiff was preaching, he was forceful but did not appear to cause any fear in bystanders. An older woman using a walker walked past Plaintiff and appeared to pay him no attention. (Defs.’ Br. (Doc, 23), Ex. 5, videotaped recording filed manually (Video Disc) at 01:55.) A young woman walked by and appeared to giggle after she passed him. (Id. at 2:36.) However, in the preaching preceding Plaintiffs arrest, his rhetoric, motions, and mannerisms could be construed to be more directed toward those standing and watching. Nevertheless, even assuming there to be issues of fact as 'to the events preceding Plaintiffs arrest, it does appear something occurred immediately preceding Plaintiffs arrest causing officers to respond.

In the video, 14:42 marks the point where Plaintiff said, “Oh, God’s gonna judge you, wicked sinner.” (Id. at 14:42.) As he said that phrase, Plaintiff extended his right arm parallel to the ground and pointed using his index finger in the direction of a group of people inside the Festival. (Id.) Plaintiff raised, his finger and pointed again as he said “talkin’ to her” at the 14:50 mark. (Id.) Plaintiff then said “talkin’ to your family.” (Id. at 14:51.) Plaintiff then pointed again with his left arm and index finger in the same general direction as he said, “And all of those ladies over there ... the Bible says that a woman should dress modestly.” (Id. at 14:54-14:49.) One second later in the video, beginning at 14:50, Plaintiff continued, “see a lot of ladies out here dressin’ like tramps and whores and prostitutes.”

At this point, Defendant Helms’s daughter and wife turned and spoke to him. (Id. at 15:07.) Defendant Helms then spoke into his radio briefly before approaching Plaintiff. (Id. at 15:25.) When Defendant Helms reached Plaintiff, Defendant Helms said, “You cannot call [inaudible] ‘whores and prostitutes.’ ” (Id. at 15:30.) Defendant Helms then arrested Plaintiff following the exchange detailed above. (Id. at 15:40.)

iv. Legal Proceedings

In his deposition, Defendant Helms testified that he arrested Plaintiff for “disorderly conduct.” (Defs.’ Br., Ex. 6, Excerpts from Dep. of Reese Helms (“Helms Dep.”) (Doc. 23-6) at 15.) On the same date as Plaintiff’s arrest, July 20, 2013, Defendant Helms then brought Plaintiff before Magistrate G.L. Jones, who issued a “Warrant for Arrest.” (Id, Ex. 9, Arrest Warrant for Brian Douglas Cranford, Disorderly Conduct, GS 14-288.4, Case number 13-CR-054457 (“Arrest Warrant”) (Doc. 23-8) at 2.)

The Arrest Warrant says the following: I, the undersigned, find that there is probable causé to believe that on or about the date of offense shown and in the county named above the defendant named above unlawfully and willfully did intentionally cause a public disturbance at PARK ST AND MAIN ST (CHINA GROVE FARMERS DAY), by making utterances and using abusive language, intended and plainly likely to provoke immediate retaliation and thereby cause a breach.of the peace. The acts of the defendant were directed toward HEAVEN LEE HELMS AND OTHER UNNAMED FEMALE PERSONS and consisted of THE DEFENDANT SHOUTING TO THE VICTIMS THAT THEY WERE WHORES AND PROSTITUTES, MAKING REFERENCE TO THE WAY THEY WERE DRESSED.

(Id.) The Arrest Warrant specifies the “Offense in Violation of G.S.” as .“14-288.4.” (Id.) N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4 provides that “[disorderly conduct is a public disturbance intentionally caused by any person who ... Makes or uses any utterance, gesture, display or abusive language which is intended and plainly likely to provoke violent retaliation and thereby cause a breach of the peace,” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14—288.4(a)(2).

On January 29, 2014, the Honorable Marshall Bickett found Plaintiff guilty of the charged offense in North Carolina district court. Plaintiff was represented by counsel in the district court. On January 15, 2015, following an appeal to Superior Court for a trial de novo, a jury found Plaintiff not guilty of the same charged offense. (Defs.’ Br. (Doc. 23) at 9; PL’s Dep. (Doc.;23-4) at 11.)

B. Claims

Plaintiff brings a total of three claims alleging violations of his constitutional rights. (Complaint (“Compl”) (Doc. 1) at 13-18.)' Plaintiffs first claim alleges that Defendants violated his First Amendment “right to Freedom of Speech” by arresting him. (Id. ¶¶ 102-10.) Plaintiffs second claim alleges that Defendants violated his First Amendment right to free exercise of religion by arresting him. (Id. ¶¶ 111-24.) Plaintiffs third claim alleges that Defendants violated the Fourth Amendment by arresting him without probable cause. (Id. ¶¶ 125-35.)

For- each claim, Plaintiff requests relief in the form of damages compensating him for the allegedly wrongful deprivation ■ of his rights, paid bail, attorneys’ fees for defending his criminal prosecution, mental distress, reputational damage, and other harms. (Id. ¶¶ 110, 124,135.) In addition to money damages, Plaintiff requests relief in the form of an injunction preventing Defendants “and all persons acting in concert ... from enforcing the Code in the manner [Defendants] '.enforced it against this Plaintiff.” (Id. at 19.) ■

Notwithstanding the description • of claims under free speech and free exercise of religion as set forth above, the summary judgment briefing presents a serious issue, with respect to the nature of the free exercise claims brought by Plaintiff in his Complaint. Specifically, the issue is whether Plaintiffs Complaint only-alleges claims based upon an interference with or retaliation for the exercise of First Amendment rights as a result of Plaintiffs arrest or whether Plaintiff has also asserted a claim based upon an unconstitutional prior restraint through the Festival Rules. As explained in full below, after supplemental briefing and oral arguments on this issue, this court finds that the claims relating to the Festival Rules are hot properly before this court, and that, even if considered, these claims are all subject to dismissal on the record before this court.

II- LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment is, appropriate where an examination of the pleadings, affidavits, and other proper discovery materials before the court demonstrates that no genuine issue of material facts exists, thus entitling the moving party to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The moving party bears the burden of initially demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of. material fact. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

If the moving party has met that burden, then the nonmoving party must persuade the court that a genuine issue remains for trial. However, this requires “more than simply showing] that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts”; the “nonmoving party must come forward with ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial/ ” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (citations and footnote omitted) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56). In considering a motion for summary judgment, the court is not to weigh the evidence, but rather must determine whether there is a genuine dispute as to a material issue. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

Nonetheless, the court must ensure that the facts it considers can be “presented in a form that would be admissible in evidence” and that any affidavits or evidence used to support or oppose a motion are “made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant or declarant is competent to testify on the matters stated.” See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)(2), (4).

The court must view the facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, drawing inferences favorable to that party if such inferences are reasonable. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. However, there must be more than a factual dispute; the fact in question must be material, and the dispute must be genuine. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. A dispute is only “genuine” if “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for, the nonmoving party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

III. ANALYSIS

Defendants argue that this court should grant their Motion for Summary Judgment because they “are entitled to qualified immunity on each of Plaintiffs constitutional claims.” (Defs.’. Br. (Doc, 23) at 10-21.) Plaintiff responds that Defendants are not entitled to immunity because the magistrate’s issuance of an arrest warrant and Plaintiffs conviction were “obtained by unfair means, namely, false information,” (Pl.’s Br. in Opp’n to Defs.’ Mot. for Summ. J. (“PL’s Opp’n Br.”) (Doc. 31) at 27.)

“In determining whether a defendant is entitled to qualified immunity, [this court] must decide (1) whether the defendant has violated a constitutional right of the plaintiff and (2) whether that right was clearly established at the time of the alleged misconduct.” Ross v. Early, 746 F.3d 546, 560 (4th Cir. 2014) (citing Bland v. Roberts, 730 F.3d 368, 391 (4th Cir. 2013)); see also Maney v. Garrison, 681 Fed.Appx. 210, 224 (4th Cir. 2017). Courts “have discretion to decide which of those questions to address first ‘in light of the circumstances in the particular case at hand.’ In many cases it is beneficial to determine first whether the facts establish a violation of the Constitution.” Maney, 681 Fed.Appx. at 215 (quoting Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 236, 129 S.Ct. 808, 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009)) (citing Estate of Armstrong ex rel. Armstrong v. Vill. of Pinehurst, 810 F.3d 892, 899-900 (4th Cir. 2016)). “A defendant is entitled to qualified immunity if the answer to either question is ‘no.’ ” Williams v. Hall, No. 5:11-CV-279-D, 2013 WL 3200512, at *3 (E.D.N.C. June 24, 2013) (first citing Reichle v. Howards, 566 U.S. 658, 663, 132 S.Ct. 2088, 182 L.Ed.2d 985 (2012); then citing Pearson, 555 U.S. at 236, 129 S.Ct. 808). “The protection of qualified immunity applies regardless of whether the government official’s error is a mistake of law, a mistake of fact, or a mistake based on mixed questions of law and fact.” Pearson, 555 U.S. at 231, 129 S.Ct. 808 (internal quotation marks omitted).

[A] defendant cannot be said to have violated a clearly established right unless the right’s contours were sufficiently definite that any reasonable official in the defendant’s shoes would have understood that he was violating it .... “[E]x-isting precedent must have placed the statutory or constitutional question” confronted by the official “beyond debate.”

Plumhoff v. Rickard, 572 U.S. -, -, 134 S.Ct. 2012, 2023, 188 L.Ed.2d 1056 (2014) (quoting Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, 563 U.S. 731, 741, 131 S.Ct. 2074, 179 L.Ed.2d 1149 (2011)). “When deciding whether a right is clearly established, we ask “whether it would be clear to a reasonable official that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted.’ ” Occupy Columbia v. Haley, 738 F.3d 107, 124 (4th Cir. 2013) (quoting Henry v. Purnell, 652 F.3d 524, 534 (4th Cir. 2011)).

Plaintiff brings three constitutional claims, but each of Plaintiffs claims rests upon his contention that Defendant Helms arrested him without probable cause. It may be that the audio and video leave some facts subject to a dispute. Nevertheless, Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment is based primarily upon undisputed facts: (1) Plaintiff was arrested and charged with a violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4; (2) upon appearance before a state magistrate, a warrant was issued for Plaintiffs arrest, charging that offense; and (3) Plaintiff was convicted in state district court following a bench trial of a violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4.

A. Festival Rules and Unconstitutional Time and Place Restrictions

At the outset, this court finds it necessary to determine whether the Festival Rules in question are properly before the court. Plaintiff dedicates a significant portion of his briefing to arguing that the Festival Rules requiring Plaintiff to remain behind the barricade or purchase a booth as a vendor placed an unconstitutional restraint on speech for which Defendants are liable. (See Pl.’s Br. (Doc. 26) at 9-20; Pl.’s Opp’n Br. (Doc. 31) at 8-13.) Plaintiff argues that Defendant Helms’s act of advising Plaintiff of those Rules and then requiring that Plaintiff move outside the Festival barricade infringed Plaintiffs First Amendment rights. (See id.) Defendants object to this argument and claim, arguing that:

Plaintiff alleges in his Motion for Summary Judgment that the Town’s Festival Regulations, as applied to him, violated his free speech rights and free exercise rights under the First Amendment. See Doc. 26, pp. 9-20. However, Plaintiffs Complaint shows that he alleged only that Defendants’ enforcement of N.C.G.S. § 14-288.4 violated his First Amendment rights. See Doc. 1, ¶¶ 2, 28, 29, 39, 70-82, 84, 89, 92, 95, 99, 100, 105, 108, 113, 115, 121, 122, and Prayer for Relief.

(Defs.’ Resp. in Opp’n to PL’s Mot. for Summ. J. (“Defs.’ Resp. in Opp’n”) (Doc. 34) at 25 (footnote omitted).) Defendants contend any issues with respect to the Festival Rules are not properly before the court. (Id. at 2.) This court agrees with Defendants that the Complaint does not allege a claim based upon the Festival Rules as an unconstitutional prior restraint, either time or place, of speech.

The confusing nature of Plaintiffs claims begins with the use of the term “Code” in the Complaint and the apparent limitation of the claims to injury and damages arising solely from enforcement of the “Code.” In his Complaint, Plaintiff identifies only N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4 as the relevant “Code” provision by which he was deprived of his constitutional rights. (Doc. 1 at 1) (“This action challenges the interpretation and enforcement (as-applied challenge) of North Carolina General Statutes, § 14-288.4 (hereinafter ‘Code’)”.) N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4 is a criminal statute and very different from any rules of the Festival. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4 is clearly not the source of any rule of the Festival requiring Plaintiff, and others distributing information, to register as a vendor.

Following identification of the relevant “Code” provision in his Complaint, Plaintiff alleges a number of actions arising from and related to enforcement of the “Code.” Plaintiffs Complaint alleges Plaintiff was exercising his rights outside the Festival and in the public streets. Most relevant to this analysis, the Complaint alleges the following:

30. On July 20, 2013, Plaintiff was exercising his constitutional rights to Freedom of Speech and Free Exercise of Religion by peacefully sharing his Christian message outside the Farmer’s Market festival (hereinafter “festival”) while remaining entirely in the Town’s Public Spaces.

31. On July 20, 2013, REESE HELMS approached Plaintiff and stated Plaintiff was trespassing.

32. On July 20, 2013, REESE HELMS stated Plaintiff was not welcome at the festival.

33. On July 20, 2013, REESE HELMS demanded that Plaintiff leave immediately.

34. On July 20, 2013, Plaintiff replied he was outside the festival grounds.

35. On July 20, 2013, REESE HELMS stated the festival organizers did not want Plaintiff anywhere nearby the festival.

36. On July 20, 2013, Plaintiff replied he was on a public sidewalk outside the festival in an area open to the general public.

37. On July 20, 2013, REESE HELMS stated that Plaintiff offended REESE HELMS’s wife.

38. REESE HELMS’s wife is the daughter of the EDDIE KLUTTZ.

39. On July 20, 2013, REESE HELMS arrested Plaintiff pursuant to the Code in cooperation and with the consent and approval of EDDIE KLUTTZ.

(Compl. (Doc. 1) ¶¶ 30-39 (emphasis added).)

Plaintiff further alleges that Defendants’ “enforcement of the Code and their actions under color of state law have deprived ... Plaintiff of his constitutional rights.” (Id. ¶ 80.) Plaintiff alleges, in his first and second causes of action, that “[a]s interpreted and enforced by [Defendants], Plaintiffs manner of Freedom of Speech is prohibited by the Code,” (id. ¶ 105), and “Plaintiffs manner of Free Exercise of Religion is prohibited by the Code.” (Id. ¶ 115.) In-junctive relief is requested, prohibiting Defendants “from enforcing the Code” in a manner to deprive Plaintiff of his constitutional rights. (Id. at 19.)

Plaintiffs allegations in the Complaint are clearly based solely upon enforcement of North Carolina state law by Defendants, and the Festival Rules are irrelevant to the claims as alleged as the activity at issue is alleged to have taken place outside the Festival. The Complaint never alleges, mentions, or suggests a claim based upon the Festival Rules, nor does the Complaint describe Defendant Helms’s request that Plaintiff move from inside the Festival barricade to outside the Festival barricade.

The Festival Rules and the North Carolina General Statutes are two very different sets of rules, propounded by different entities and with different applications and consequences for violation of those rules. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4 is a state law created by the legislature; violation of that statute is a misdemeanor with corresponding criminal penalties. Furthermore, Plaintiff has not presented evidence sufficient to establish what governmental entity created the Festival Rules, if any. Plaintiff argues that “[t]own officials meet each year before the Festival to plan. Kluttz testified he is involved in planning and preparing the policies to be enforced during the Festival.” (Pl.’s Br. (Doc. 26) at 4.) However, in the cited portion of Defendant Kluttz’s deposition, Defendant Kluttz explained that “we’re given [the rules and regulations] by the City,” (Defs.’ Br., Ex. 3, Excerpts from Dep. of Eddie Kluttz (“Kluttz Dep.”) (Doc. 26-4) at 3), but does not' identify the source of thé rules or the nature of the rules. Plaintiff offers no further evidentia-ry support for the proposition that Defendant Kluttz had any involvement in the promulgation or creation of the Festival Rules.

The Festival Rules' are filed as an exhibit (Defs.’ Br., Ex. 6 (Doc. 26-7)), but those1 rules do not identify who created the rules, who is responsible for the creation of the rules, how those rules constitute government action, or what-the circumstances were with respect to the Festival itself. While Defendants appear to concede that “[t]he Farmer’s Day Festival is hosted annually by the Town of China Grove,” (Defs.’ Resp. in Opp’n (Doc. 34) at 5), no citation is presented for this proposition and it is not clear who may have created the rules of the Festival as relating to activities of 'the vendors and attendees of the' Festival. Plaintiff has not presented evidence of any specific entities or individuals responsible for the Festival Rules. “[C]ourts of course must place the burden of persuasion on the. plaintiff, not the defendant, because state action is an element of a § 1983 claim.” Brentwood Acad. v. Tenn. Secondary Sch. Athletic Ass’n, 531 U.S. 288, 308-09, 121 S.Ct. 924, 148 L.Ed.2d 807 (2001) (Thomas, J., dissenting) (citing Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Sullivan, 526 U.S. 40, 49-50, 119 S.Ct. 977, 143 L.Ed.2d 130 (1999); West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48, 108 S.Ct, 2250, 101 L.Ed.2d 40 (1988)). Accordingly, the propriety of any China Grove-created Festival Rules is not, an issue before this court because Plaintiff has not named an entity responsible for their creation as a defendant.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 54(c) provides that “[e]very ... final judgment should grant the relief to which each party is entitled, even if the party has not demanded that relief in its pleadings.” This rule “permits relief predicated on a particular theory only 'if that theory was squarely presented and litigated by the parties at some stage or other of the proceedings.” Pinkley, Inc. v. City of Frederick, 191 F.3d 394, 400 (4th Cir. 1999) (quoting Rodriguez v. Doral Mortgage Corp., 57 F.3d 1168, 1173 (1st Cir. 1995)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Here, Plaintiffs Complaint does not plead a claim based on the Festival Rules nor does it seek relief in connection to the Festival' Rules. Accordingly, Defendants’ Answer does hot once reference the Festival Rules. Prior to summary judgment, Defendants were not on notice of any claims with; respect to the Festival Rules. This-is illustrated by the fact that Defendants’ Memorandum of Law in Support of Summary Judgment defends against claims connected to Plaintiffs arrest, as alleged by Plaintiff, and references the Festival Rules only in passing. (See generally Defs.’ Br. (Doc. 23).) Plaintiffs Complaint “failed from the outset to- give the defendants fair notice that they might be facing a [Festival Rules] claim.” Pinkley, 191 F.3d at 401.

Furthermore, Defendants never acceded to [this] claim, either expressly or implicitly.” Id. This is evidenced by Defendants’ adamant objections, after Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment was. filed, that the Festival Rules are not properly at issue in this case. (See, e.g., Defs.’ Resp. in Opp’n (Doc. 34) at 25-29; Defs.’ Reply to Pl.’s Br. in Opp’n to Defs.’ Mot. for Summ. J. (Doc. 36) at 2-5.) Moreover, Plaintiff did not once move to amend his Complaint to include a claim that explicitly . alleges claims relating to the Festival Rules. Accordingly, this court does not have Defendant’s consent to move forward at either summary judgment or trial with respect to the non-pled issue at hand.

This court believes that “[i]t would not serve the interests of justice ... to redeem a totally unpleaded, unlitigated claim in circumstances that threaten significant prejudice” to Defendants, Pinkley, 191 F.3d at 402 (citing Rodriguez, 57 F.3d at 1171)), at this late date, after the time to amend the pleadings has passed. Accordingly, this court finds that a § 1983 claim against the named Defendants based upon the enforcement of the Festival Rules is not squarely presented and will therefore not be ruled upon by this court.

Nevertheless, even if such a claim was implicitly framed by the pleadings, this court is of the opinion that the evidence is not sufficient to support such a claim as to the named defendants. This inadequacy of evidence is further evidence of the unpled nature of the claim. This court finds that because the Festival Rules were not squarely presented in the Complaint or Answer, the parties have not presented evidence to support a finding that the named Defendants’ enforcement of the Festival Rules infringed upon Plaintiffs clearly established rights. As a result, qualified immunity protects Defendants’ actions on the facts before the court.

. Both Defendant Kluttz and Helms have been sued in their individual capacities. Plaintiff did. not name the Town of China Grove or either Defendant in his official capacity as a party in the present suit. (Compl. (Doc. 1) at 1; Civil Cover Sheet (Doc. 1-1 at 1.) Defendants .argue, that:

[T]he regulations are not properly before the Court because Plaintiff has not asserted an official capacity claim against either. Defendant or named the Town of China Grove as a party in interest in this suit. Defendants named m their individual.capacity only cannot be personally liable for policies which they did not enact.

(Defs.; Resp. in Opp’n (Doc. 34) at 27.)

This court is not persuaded as to Defendants’ analysis of these issues, but does agree with Defendants’ conclusions in large part, that is, even if Plaintiff has alleged a claim based upon the Festival Rules, Defendants Kluttz and Helms.are entitled to summary judgment on the basis of qualified immunity.

Defendants árgué that, if the Festival Rules are properly before the court, first, the Rules constitute valid and lawful time, place, and manner restrictions under the First Amendment,’ and second, that they are entitled to qualified immunity. (Defs.’ Resp. in Opp’n (Doc. 34) at 28 n.9.) As to their qualified immunity argument, Defendants argue that:

[They] nevertheless would be entitled to qualified immunity in applying [the Festival Rules] because a reasonable officer would not have known that asking a street preacher to move over five feet to a position where he could .continue to preach for. one and one-half hours, thereby reaching the same audience he would have reached from the location in which he desired to stand, would violate a constitutional right, and it was not clearly established on July 20, 2013 that doing so would have violated the First Amendment in terms of freedom of speech or freedom of religion.

Id.

In his summary judgment briefing, Plaintiff contends that the Festival Rules prohibited him from preaching on the public streets inside the Festival. (Pl.’s‘ Opp’n Br. (Doc. 31) at 8.) Those streets, according to Plaintiff, are a traditional public forum, and his exclusion therefrom constitutes an infringement of his First Amendment Rights. (Id. at 9.) Plaintiff further argues that the case law on issues such as these “has been established for many years, even decades” and that “no reasonable person would ever accept the Festival rules or ever attempt to enforce them.” (PL’s Additional Br. Supp. PL’s Mot. for Summ. J. (“PL’s Add’l Br.”) (Doc. 55) at 12-13.)

“In determining whether a defendant is entitled to qualified immunity, [this court] must decide (1) whether the defendant has violated a constitutional right of the plaintiff and (2) whether that right was clearly established at the time of the alleged misconduct.” Ross v. Early, 746 F.3d 546, 560 (4th Cir. 2014). “In reviewing Plaintiffs claims, the Court finds it helpful to consider the applicability of qualified immunity to each claim, beginning with the step of considering whether an objectively reasonable officer would have known [Defendant's conduct violated a clearly established constitutional right.” Stokes v. Harris, No. 1:10CV935, 2014 WL 5149222, at *7 (M.D.N.C. Oct. 14, 2014). “To determine whether a federal right was clearly established at the time of the defendants’ alleged conduct, we focus ‘not upon the right at its most general or abstract level, but at the level of its application to the specific conduct being challenged.’” Jackson v. Long, 102 F.3d 722, 728 (4th Cir. 1996) (quoting Zepp v. Rehrmann, 79 F.3d 381, 385 (4th Cir. 1996)).

In considering time, place, or manner restrictions, the Supreme Court has provided the following guidance:

Expression, whether oral or written or symbolized by conduct, is subject to reasonable time, place, or manner restrictions. We have often noted that restrictions of this kind are valid provided that they are justified without reference to the content of the regulated speech, that they are narrowly tailored to serve a significant governmental interest, and that they leave open ample alternative channels for communication of the information. '

Clark v. Cmty. for Creative Non-Violence, 468 U.S. 288, 293, 104 S.Ct. 3065, 82 L.Ed.2d 221 (1984).

Here, the parties are in disagreement as to almost every aspect of the Festival Rules. Plaintiff characterizes the Festival Rules as granting Defendants “unfettered discretion” as to render them content-based. (PL’s Opp’n Br. (Doc. 31) at 10.) Defendants contend that the regulations are not content based. (Defs.’ Resp. to PL’s Additional Br. (“Defs.’ Resp. to Add’l Br.”) (Doc. 56) at 4.) Plaintiff contends that the Rules are not narrowly tailored to serve significant government interests, (PL’s Opp’n Br. (Doc. 31) at 11), while Defendants contend that they are. (Defs.’ Resp. to Add’l Br. (Doc. 56) at 4 (pointing to the compelling government interests of health and public safety concerns).) Plaintiff argues that the Rules do not leave open ample alternative channels bf communication, (PL’s Opp’n Br. (Doc. 31) at 11-12), while Defendants argue that they do. (Defs.’ Resp. to Add’l Br. (Doc. 56) at 4.) Adding to the mix of considerations before the court on this issue, Plaintiff unequivocally contends that the Festival was a public forum. (PL’s Opp’n Br. (Doc. 31) at 9.) It is not immediately clear that this is the case, because as evidenced in Defendant Kluttz’s deposition, the streets were closed to vehicular traffic, (Kluttz Dep. (Doc. 26-4) at 4), and many aspects of the Festival •rendered the setting quite different from traditional public forums.

The Fourth Circuit has explained in the context of First Amendment claims that, when answering a constitutional question requires “a ‘particularized balancing’ that is subtle, difficult to apply, and not yet well-defined,” that it will rarely be considered “clearly established” for qualified immunity purposes. See DiMeglio v. Haines, 45 F.3d 790, 806 (4th Cir. 1995) (considering whether public employee’s speech on a matter of public concern was constitutionally protected). In support of this general proposition, the Fourth Circuit cited:

Medina v. City and County of Denver, 960 F.2d 1493, 1498 (10th Cir.1992) (“In determining whether the law was clearly established, we bear in mind that allegations of constitutional violations that require courts to balance competing interest may make it more difficult to find the law ‘clearly established’ when assessing claims of qualified immunity.”); Borucki v. Ryan, 827 F.2d 836, 848 (1st Cir. 1987) (“[W]hen the law requires a balancing of competing interest, ... it may be unfair to charge an official with knowledge of the law in absence of a previously decided case with clearly analogous facts.”) (citation omitted); Myers v. Morris, 810 F.2d 1437, 1462 (8th Cir.) (“[I]f the existence of a right or the degree of protection it warrants in a particular context is subject to a balancing test, the right can rarely be considered ‘clearly established,’ at least in the absence of closely corresponding factual and legal precedent.”), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 828, 108 S.Ct. 97, 98 L.Ed.2d 58 (1987); Benson v. Allphin, 786 F.2d 268, 276 (7th Cir.) (A constitutional rule that “involv[es] the balancing of competing interests” is “so fact dependent that the ‘law’ can rarely be considered ‘clearly established.’”), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 848, 107 S.Ct. 172, 93 L.Ed.2d 109 (1986).

Id.

To determine whether enforcement of the Festival Rules on the facts before the court constituted a violation of Plaintiffs First Amendment rights requires a multi-step, fact intensive, balancing inquiry. It is not the case that an objectively reasonable officer would have known that his conduct violated a clearly established constitutional right in this situation. See Brown v. Gilmore, 278 F.3d 362, 367 (4th Cir. 2002).

In Wood v. Moss, the Supreme Court held that it was not clearly established whether Secret Service agents who moved protesters away from the President had an obligation to ensure that groups with different viewpoints were equal distance away from the President. — U.S. -, 134 S.Ct. 2056, 2067-69, 188 L.Ed.2d 1039 (2014). Similarly, Defendants presented Plaintiff with two options: (1) buy a booth and continue preaching, or (2) preach from a few feet in another direction, behind the barricade. It is likely that a reasonable officer in Defendants’ situation would not have viewed asking a preacher to move several feet along the same street he was originally preaching on as a clear violation of the individual’s First Amendment rights. Accordingly, Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity with respect to their enforcement of the Festival Rules.

Finally, Plaintiff does not raise an argument under Monell v. Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978). (PL’s Opp’n Br. (Doc. 31) at 33 (“Cranford’s Monell claim does not fail because he did not make a Monell claim.”).) Despite this, Plaintiff states in his supplemental briefing that “[i]f the Town did create the Festival rules, pursuant to Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure the Court should allow Plaintiff to name the Town as an additional Defendant.” (PL’s Add’l Br. (Doc. 55) at 8.)

As a preliminary matter, this request to name an additional defendant is untimely. The time for joining additional parties and amending pleadings has clearly passed. (Joint Rule.26(f) Report (Doc, 10) at 2 (“Plaintiffs) should be allowed until April 29, 2016, to request leave to join additional parties or amend pleadings.”).) The Joint 26(f) Report was adopted by the court on February 22, 2016. (Text Order.) Summary judgment has been fully briefed and any amendment of this magnitude will prejudice Defendants. The Complaint frames the issues for purposes of discovery and nowhere was'this issue raised with respect to a facial or an ás-applied challenge of the Festival Rules sufficient to put'Defendants on notice. For this reason alone, Plaintiffs request to amend -his Complaint pursuant tó Rule 15 to add as a defendant the Town of China Grove and to further proceed with a claim as to the Festival Rules should be denied.

Furthermore, even if this court were to permit Plaintiff to amend his Complaint to include the Town of China Grove as an additional defendant, this court is still not convinced that doing so would lead to a different outcome on these facts and, therefore, finds' any motion to amend is futile. This ⅛ because (1) for the reasons described above, the Festival Rules are not properly before this court; and (2) if they were, Plaintiff has not established that the rules are a policy or custom attributable to the Town of China Grove.

“[Municipal liability [under § 1983] results only ‘when execution of a government’s policy or custom, whether made by its lawmakers or by those whose edicts or acts may -fairly be said to represent official policy, inflicts the injury.’” Spell v. McDaniel, 824 F.2d 1380, 1385 (4th Cir. 1987) (quoting Monell, 436 U.S. at 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018). To establish municipal liability for acts of municipal employees; Plaintiff must “prove the existence of an official policy or custom that is fairly attributable to the municipality and that proximately caused the deprivation of [his] rights.” Jordan by Jordan v. Jackson, 15 F.3d 333, 338 (4th Cir. 1994).

A policy or custom for which a municipality may be held liablé can arise in four ways: (1) through an express policy, such as a written ordinance or regulation; (2) through the decisions of a person with final policymaking authority; (3) through an omission, such as a failure to properly train officers, that “manifest[s] deliberate indifference to the rights of citizens”; or (4) through a practice that is so “persistent and widespread” as to constitute a “custom or usage with the force of law.”

Lytle v. Doyle, 326 F.3d 463, 471 (4th Cir. 2003) (citing Carter v. Morris, 164 F.3d 215, 218 (4th Cir. 1999)).

First, as discussed above, Plaintiff has failed to introduce evidence from which this court could conclude that the Town of China Grove itself put forward the Festival regulations. A comprehensive review of all evidence in the record that might tend to suggest that the Festival Rules,are attributable to the Town includes: (1) the Festival Rules cite the Town website (PL’s Add’l Br., Ex. 3 (Doc. 55-3) at' 1); (2) Defendant Kluttz’s deposition testimony that he was given the Festival Rulés “by the City” (Kluttz Dep. (Doc. 26-4) at 3); (3) Officer Ernest Lamont Cole’s deposition testimony that the Town puts the “guidelines for Farmers Day in the paper” (PL’s Add’l Br., Ex. 4 (Doc. 55-5) at 2); and (4) Defendants’ statements, in their brief that the Festival is hosted by the City (Defs.’ Resp. in Opp’n (Doc. 34) at 6). Adding even more uncertainty into the mix, the audio recording reflects Defendant Helms describing the Festival Rules as “the rules of the County.” (Defs.’ Br., Ex. 7, Audio Disc (Doc. 23) at 16:30.) Furthermore, a search of the Town’s municipal code does not produce the rules in dispute. See generally, China Grove, North Carolina, Code of Ordinances, Municode, , https:// library. municode.com /nc/ china_grove/codes/ code_of_ordinanees. Accordingly, there is no formally adopted policy that the court could fairly attribute to the Town of China Grove.

Second, it is possible for municipal liability to arise “through the decisions of a person with final policymaking authority[.]” Lytle, 326 F.3d at 471. “[T]he identification of policymaking officials is a question of state law.” City of St. Louis v. Praprotnik, 485 U.S. 112, 124-25, 108 S.Ct. 915, 99 L.Ed.2d 107 (1988) (“[W]e can be confident that state law (which may include valid local ordinances and regulations) will always direct a court to some official or body that has the responsibility for making law or . setting policy in any given area of a local government’s business.”), “If an official’s acts are subject to review or supervision by a municipal policymaker, that official does not have final policymaking authority.” Alexander v. City of Greensboro, 762 F.Supp.2d 764, 783 (M.D.N.C. 2011) (citing Riddick v. Sch. Bd., 238 F.3d 518, 523-24 (4th Cir. 2000)).

Here, it is possible that Defendant Kluttz, the chief of police, might have final policymaking authority. China Grove’s Code of Ordinances provides, however:

' The chief of police shall be appointed by the town manager and shall have control over the police department under the supervision of the town manager. The chief shall keep the town manager informed of the department’s activities and make such reports as the manager may from time to time require, and he shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by the town manager.

China Grove, North Carolina, Code of Ordinances, § 34-20, Municode, https:// library. municode.com /nc/china_grove/codes /code_ofi,ordinances. The Code of Ordinances also provides: “For, all matters pertaining to the. government of the police department not provided for by law or by this Code, the chief of police shall recommend, for, the approval of the town manager, police department policies.” Id. § 34-21. Accordingly, like the Greensboro chief of police in Alexander, Defendant Kluttz’s policy decisions are subject to the approval of the town manager, and thus not final. 762 F.Supp.2d at 783. Therefore, because Kluttz is not a final policymaking authority, any decision made by him is not capable of triggering municipal liability.

Nonetheless, Plaintiff points to Defendant Kluttz as having been involved in the promulgation of the Festival Rules, Plaintiff argues that “[Defendant] Kluttz. testified he is- involved in planning and preparing the policies to be enforced during the Festival,” (PL’s, Br, (Doc. 26) at 4.) However, in Defendant Kluttz’s deposition as cited by Plaintiff, Defendant Kluttz explained that “we’re.,given [the rules and regulations] by the City.” (Kluttz Dep. (Doc. 26-4) at 3.) Plaintiff offers no further eviden-tiary support for the proposition that Defendant Kluttz had any involvement in the promulgation or creation of the Festival Rules and the record contains no evidence to the contrary. Accordingly, even if Defendant Kluttz had final policymaking authority, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that he- was involved in the development of the Festival Rules in the first place.

Third, municipal liability may be triggered “through an omission, such as a failure to properly train officers, that ‘manifests] deliberate indifference to the rights of citizens.’ ” Lytle, 326 F.3d at 471 (citing Carter, 164 F.3d at 218). On the facts before the court, it is unclear how this route to establishing municipal liability might apply in this case.

Fourth, it is possible for a municipal “custom or usage” to' be treated as if it has the force of law despite “not receiving] formal approval through the body’s official decisionmaking channels” and thus trigger municipal liability. Monell, 436 U.S. at 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018; see also Bd. of Cty. Comm’rs v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 404, 117 S.Ct. 1382, 137 L.Ed.2d 626 (1997).

“Custom and usage,” in the sense of “persistent and widespread ... practices” by municipal agents and employees, may be attributed to a municipality when the duration and frequency of the practices warrants a finding of either actual or constructive knowledge by the municipal governing body that the practices have become customary among its employees. See id. at 768. Actual knowledge may be evidenced by recorded reports to or discussions by a municipal governing body. Constructive knowledge may be evidenced by the fact that the practices have been so widespread or flagrant that in the proper exercise of its official responsibilities the governing body should have known of them. See id.

Similarly, where a municipal policymaker has actual or constructive knowledge of such a course of customary practices among employees subject to the policymaker’s delegated responsibility for oversight and supervision, the “custom or usage” may fairly be attributed to the municipality as its own. See id. at 769 (“custom” may be attributed to municipality through policymaker who has acceded to it).

Spell, 824 F.2d at 1387.

There is no evidence in the record to support a finding that the Festival Rule in question was persistent and widespread in its duration or frequency as to give the Town either actual or constructive notice. (See, e.g., PL’s Br., Ex. 2, Excerpts from Dep. of Reese Helms (“Helms Dep.”) (Doc. 26-3) at 29 (“I am now [sic] aware if that rule has been in place the entire time.”).) Further, this analysis brings the court back to the fundamental problems within this case: (1) as discussed above, it is unclear whether the Festival Rules should be considered a government, public, private, city, county, or state custom under this analysis; and (2) it is further unclear the capacity in which Defendants Helms and Kluttz were operating on Farmers Day.

Because Plaintiff has failed to meet his burden of “proving] the existence of an official policy or custom that is fairly attributable to the municipality,” Jordan by Jordan, 15 F.3d at 338, a Monell claim against the Town would not lead to a different result were Plaintiff permitted to join the Town of China Grove as a Defendant.

B. Fourth Amendment Claim and Conviction in District Court

Because Defendants’ arguments as to the remaining claims are based in large part upon the undisputed facts of the legal proceedings, this court will begin the analysis with Plaintiffs Fourth Amendment claim, which is based upon an alleged absence of probable cause to arrest. Plaintiffs Third Cause of Action alleges that Defendants “did not Rave probable cause to arrest Plaintiff,” (Compl. (Doc. 1) 11127), and that Defendants provided false statements in support of the arrest and probable cause for the arrest, all of.which were performed under color of state law. (IdL ¶¶ at 130-83). Plaintiff alleges these actions were in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the- United States Constitution, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. (See id. ¶ 126; Pl.’s Br. (Doc. 26) at 2.) “An arrest made in violation of a person’s fourth _ amendment right to be free from unreasonable seizures, therefore, will give rise to a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.” Sowers v. City of Charlotte, 3:14-cv-523-RJC-DCK, 2015 WL 8491498, at *3 (W.D.N.C. Dec. 9, 2015) (citing Street v. Surdyka, 492 F.2d 368 (4th Cir. 1974)).

The parties put forward different interpretations of the evidence surrounding the actions of Plaintiff, the spectators, and Defendant Helms prior to and during the arrest. Regardless of any factual dispute, Defendants first contend that Plaintiffs conviction in North Carolina district court establishes probable cause for Plaintiffs arrest for a violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4 as a matter of law. (See, e.g., Defs.’ Br. (Doc. 23) at 18-19.)

“Probable cause to justify an arrest means facts and circumstances within the officer’s knowledge that are sufficient to warrant a prudent person, or one of reasonable caution, in believing, in the circumstances shown, that the suspect has committed ... an offense.” Cahaly v. Larosa, 796 F.3d 399, 407 (4th Cir. 2015) (quoting Michigan v. DeFillippo, 443 U.S. 31, 37, 99 S.Ct. 2627, 61 L.Ed.2d 343 (1979) (internal quotation marks omitted)). “The general rule is that [a district court] conviction, even though it was' later overturned on appeal, conclusively establishes probable cause for the arrest.” Elabanjo v. Bellevance, No. 1:11CV349, 2014 WL 222097, at *6 (M.D.N.C. Jan. 21, 2014), report and recommendation adopted, No. 1:11CV349, 2014 WL 793791 (M.D.N.C. Feb. 26, 2014); see Hoover v. McDowell Cty., No. 96-2566, 1998 WL 398825, at *3 (4th Cir. June 15, 1998) (per curiam); Simpson v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 231 N.C.App. 412, 415, 752 S.E.2d 508, 509-10 (2013); Myrick v. Cooley, 91 N.C.App. 209, 213, 371 S.E.2d 492, 495 (1988). Further, “[o]nce a pretrial seizure has been rendered reasonable by virtue of a probable cause determination by a neutral and detached magistrate, the continuing pretrial seizure of a criminal defendant—either by detention or by bond restrictions—is reasonable.” Brooks v. City of Winston-Salem, 85 F.3d 178, 184 (4th Cir. 1996).

However, “where a conviction was procured by fraud or other unfair means, it [does] not conclusively establish probable cause.” Simpson, 231 N.C.App. at 415, 752 S.E.2d at 509;, see Elabanjo, 2014 WL 222097, at *6. As stated in an unpublished, per curiam Fourth Circuit opinion, Hoover v. .McDowell County,

The North Carolina Supreme Court defines probable cause as “the existence of such facts' and circumstances, known to [the defendant] at the time, as would induce a reasonable man to commence a prosecution.” Cook v. Lanier, 267 N.C. 166, 147 S.E.2d 910, 914 (N.C. 1966) (quoting Morgan v. Stewart, 144 N.C. 424, 57 S.E. 149, 151 (N.C. 1907)). In North Carolina, as a general rule,

[i]n civil actions for malicious prosecution ... our appellate courts have followed, the majority rule that “absent a showing that the conviction in District Court was procured by fraud or ether unfair means, the conviction conclusively establishes the existence of probable cause, even though the plaintiff was acquitted in Superior Court.”

Hoover, 1998 WL 398825, at *3(quoting Myrick, 91 N.C.App. at 213, 371 S.E.2d at 495). The North Carolina Court of Appeals-, in* Simpson, explained in detail the relationship between the probable cause determination as a result of a conviction in a lower court and the necessity of establishing fraud or unfair means to overcome that determination:

Defendants cite to our Supreme Court’s decisions in Griffis v. Sellars, 20 N.C. 315 (1838), and Overton v. Combs, 182 N.C. 4, 108 S.E. 357 (1921). In Griffis, plaintiff brought suit against defendant for wrongful prosecution. In the county court, plaintiff had been found guilty, but in the superior court, plaintiff had been found not guilty. Nonetheless, our Supreme Court held that “[t]he judgment in the county court justifies the institution of the prosecution in that court.”' Griffis, 20 N.C. at 317. Similarly, in Overton, our Supreme Court held that where in a former suit the essential issue is decided in favor of the plaintiff on the question óf probable cause, that finding is conclusive and plaintiff may not be held liable in a subsequent complaint for malicious prosecution. Overton, 182 N.C. at 7, 108 S.E. at 358.

We note,, however, that this doctrine has eroded somewhat over time. In Moore v. Winfield, 207 N.C. 767, 178 S.E. 605 (1935), our Supreme Court clarified its decision in Overton, and held that despite its ruling in that case, “the great weight of authority is to the effect that a conviction and judgment in a lower court is conclusive, but if not sustained on appeal, it can be impeached for fraud or other unfair means in its procurement.” Moore, 207 N.C. at 770, 178 S.E. at 606.

This Court later held that, where a conviction was procured by “fraud or other unfair means,” it did not conclusively' establish probable cause. Myrick v. Cooley, 91 N.C.App. 209, 213, 371 S.E.2d 492, 495 (1988). In Myrick, we noted the- following language from the Supreme Court’s opinion in State v. Sparrow, 276 N.C. 499, 173 S.E.2d 897 (1970), discussing the effect of the appeal of a conviction from the district court to the superior court.

[Wjhen an appeal of right is taken to the Superior Court, in contemplation of law it is as if the case had been brought there originally and there had been no previous trial. The judgment appealed from is completely annulled and is not thereafter available for any purpose.

Myrick, 91 N.C.App. at 213, 371 S.E.2d at 495. (quoting Sparrow, 276 N.C. at 507, 173 S.E.2d at 902). This Court expressed doubt as to “whether a judgment of the District Court which is overturned on the merits should be afforded any more weight in these circumstances than a magistrate’s independent determination of probable cause[,]” and noted that “it seems incongruous to infer from a subsequent conviction the existence of probable cause for the initial arrest when it is clear that innocence of the offense charged does not establish an absence of probable cause for the arrest.” Id. at 213-14, 371 S.E.2d at 495. Nonetheless, we held that “in the absence of a showing that the District Court conviction of Myrick was obtained improperly, the conviction establishes, as a matter of law, the existence of probablé cause for his arrest and defeats both his federal and state claims for false arrest or imprisonment.” Id. at 214, 371 S.E.2d at 495.

Simpson, 231 N.C.App. at 415, 752 S.E.2d at 509-10.

Defendants argue that “Plaintiffs conviction conclusively establishes that probable cause existed for his arrest and precludes a Section 1983 cause of action for each of the constitutional violations asserted by Plaintiff.” (Defs.’ Br. (Doc. 23) at 11.) Plaintiff responds that Defendants are not entitled to immunity because the magistrate’s issuance of an arrest warrant and Plaintiffs conviction (both constituting probable cause) were “obtained by unfair means, namely, false information.” (PL’s Opp’n Br. (Doc. 31) at 27.) Plaintiff specifi-cally argues that Defendant Helms “accused Cranford of calling his wife a whore and a prostitute, which the record reflects he did not .... Cranford generally referred to people dressing like whores and prostitutes as against Biblical principles, which is not the same as calling Helms’ wife (or anyone else) a whore and a prostitute.” (Id. at 27-28.) Plaintiff argues that “[t]he Arrest Warrant itself demonstrates the false information upon which it relied .... [T]here is no evidence that Cranford used abusive language or called anyone a whore or prostitute.” (Id. at 28-29.)

The record does not support the conclusion that false information was used to obtain the warrant or that “fraud or other unfair means” were used to obtain the conviction as required by Simpson v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 231 N.C.App. 412, 415, 752 S.E.2d 508, 509 (2013). “Fraud or unfair means” imposes a substantial evi-dentiary burden. In Simpson, the North Carolina Court of Appeals held that, at the motion to dismiss phase, allegations of a “false, fictitious, fabricated, and fraudulent written ‘confession’ ... and ... maliciously false and fraudulent testimony” was sufficient to comply with Myrick’s requirement of showing the district court verdict was procured “fraudulently and unfairly.” Id. at 416, 752 S.E.2d at 510. In Moore v. Winfield, the Supreme Court of North Carolina upheld a jury verdict that found a defendant guilty of malicious prosecution where “it was shown by plenary evidence that the evidence upon which plaintiff was convicted in the recorder’s court was false and perjured and secured by threats, in-timidations, and promises of reward—or otherwise, through fraud.” 207 N.C. 767, 770, 178 S.E. 605, 607 (1935).

Plaintiff’s characterization of the record in support of his false information contention is inaccurate at best and disingenuous at worst. Although Plaintiff is correct that the statement that provoked his arrest is undisputed and could be construed literally to have addressed attire and the- crowd generally, .(Defs.’ Br., Ex. 7, Audio Disc (Doc. 23) at 6:55 (“See a lot of ladies out here dressed