Case: Bryant v. Taylor, City of

2:22-cv-12066 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: Sept. 1, 2022

Closed Date: March 11, 2024

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Case Summary

This case concerns the constitutionality of the Taylor Police Department (TPD)’s seizure of a disabled person’s dog. On September 1, 2022, a Black individual with a physical disability sued the City of Taylor, two individual TPD officers, and an animal control officer under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The motivation for this lawsuit arose when the plaintiff’s dog pulled a lead line into his crate and entangled his leg. After the plaintiff, whose legs were amputated, tried and failed to free the dog, he called 911 for help. TPD officers arrived to free the dog, charged the plaintiff with animal cruelty, took the dog away for four months, and charged the plaintiff a fee for the dog’s impoundment. Represented by the ACLU of Michigan, the plaintiff alleged that TPD unlawfully seized his property in violation of the Fourth Amendment and Art. I, § 1 of the Michigan Constitution, and that the later-abandoned animal cruelty charge constituted malicious prosecution under Michigan law. He also alleged that TPD had a practice of discriminating against Black people and those with disabilities, that the city failed to train TPD officers how to properly treat people with disabilities, and that the city gave animal control officers unfettered discretion regarding impounded animals. He sought damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees.

The case was assigned to District Judge Victoria A. Roberts, who dealt with scheduling and discovery matters until District Judge Gershwin A. Drain took over the case on July 17, 2023. He issued a scheduling order setting the jury trial for May 28, 2024.

On December 27, 2023, defendants moved for summary judgment on all claims. Defendants based their motion on the assertion that the TPD officers were entitled to qualified immunity for their actions, and that since qualified immunity applies, plaintiff's federal and state law claims are invalid.

On February 8, 2024, mediator Tom Cranmer called the court to inform that he is mediating the case and that scheduling a settlement conference was thus unnecessary.

On March 11, 2024, Judge Drain issued an order dismissing the case with prejudice, stating that the parties had reached a resolution on the matter. While the details of the settlement agreement were not published, it seems that TPD agreed to drop all charges and waive all fees that defendant seemingly incurred. The court retained jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the settlement agreement.

The case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Sophia Acker (11/13/2023)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/64942212/parties/bryant-v-taylor-city-of/

Judge(s)

Drain, Gershwin Allen (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Davidson, Syeda F. (Michigan)

Fancher, Mark P. (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

Clark, Robert C. (Michigan)

Judge(s)

Drain, Gershwin Allen (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Davidson, Syeda F. (Michigan)

Fancher, Mark P. (Michigan)

Grieco, Jennifer M. (Michigan)

Korobkin, Daniel S. (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

Clark, Robert C. (Michigan)

Peyser, Mark W. (Michigan)

Potter, Trevor S. (Michigan)

Potter, Steven M. (Michigan)

Sizemore, Layla Rose (Michigan)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 2:22-cv-12066	Complaint	Sept. 1, 2022	Sept. 1, 2022 Complaint
32 2:22-cv-12066	Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment	Dec. 27, 2023	Dec. 27, 2023 Pleading / Motion / Brief
38 2:22-cv-12066	Order of Dismissal	March 11, 2024	March 11, 2024 Order/Opinion

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Resources

Resources related to this case
Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
Why We're Suing the Taylor Police Department on Behalf of a Pet Owner with a Disability Syeda Davidson	The wrong people for the job. That’s what the Taylor police proved to be when Dale Bryant, in April 2021, phoned 911 in desperate need of help. It is also why we have just filed a lawsuit on beh…	Sept. 8, 2022	Sept. 8, 2022 https://www.aclumich.org/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/64942212/bryant-v-taylor-city-of/

Last updated Aug. 31, 2026, 4:44 a.m.

Docket for: Bryant v. Taylor, City of

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Sept. 1, 2022	COMPLAINT filed by Dale Bryant against Max Dorflinger, Lanny Hall, Aaron Layne, Taylor, City of with Jury Demand. Plaintiff requests summons issued. Receipt No: AMIEDC-9039481 - Fee: $ 402. County of 1st Plaintiff: Wayne - County Where Action Arose: Wayne - County of 1st Defendant: Wayne. [Previously dismissed case: No] [Possible companion case(s): None] (Davidson, Syeda) (Entered: 09/01/2022)	RECAP
2	Sept. 1, 2022	NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel S. Korobkin on behalf of Dale Bryant. (Korobkin, Daniel) (Entered: 09/01/2022)	RECAP
3	Sept. 1, 2022	NOTICE of Appearance by Mark P. Fancher on behalf of Dale Bryant. (Fancher, Mark) (Entered: 09/01/2022)	RECAP
4	Sept. 2, 2022	SUMMONS Issued for * All Defendants * (LGra) (Entered: 09/02/2022)	RECAP
	Sept. 2, 2022	Notice to Parties of Consent of a Civil Action before a Magistrate Judge Option
	Sept. 2, 2022	A United States Magistrate Judge of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636c and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form is available for download at http://www.mied.uscourts.gov (LGra)
5	Sept. 7, 2022	NOTICE of Appearance by Jennifer M. Grieco on behalf of Dale Bryant. (Grieco, Jennifer) (Entered: 09/07/2022)	RECAP
6	Sept. 26, 2022	CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. Taylor, City of served on 9/13/2022, answer due 10/4/2022. (Davidson, Syeda) (Entered: 09/26/2022)	RECAP
7	Sept. 26, 2022	CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. Lanny Hall served on 9/16/2022, answer due 10/7/2022. (Davidson, Syeda) (Entered: 09/26/2022)	RECAP
8	Oct. 6, 2022	NOTICE of Appearance by Mark W. Peyser on behalf of All Defendants. (Peyser, Mark) (Entered: 10/06/2022)	RECAP
9	Oct. 6, 2022	NOTICE of Appearance by Steven M. Potter on behalf of Lanny Hall, Taylor, City of. (Potter, Steven) (Entered: 10/06/2022)	RECAP
10	Oct. 6, 2022	NOTICE of Appearance by Robert C. Clark on behalf of Lanny Hall, Taylor, City of. (Clark, Robert) (Entered: 10/06/2022)	RECAP
11	Oct. 6, 2022	NOTICE of Appearance by Trevor S. Potter on behalf of Lanny Hall, Taylor, City of. (Potter, Trevor) (Entered: 10/06/2022)	RECAP
12	Oct. 6, 2022	NOTICE of Appearance by Layla Rose Sizemore on behalf of Lanny Hall, Taylor, City of. (Sizemore, Layla) (Entered: 10/06/2022)	RECAP
13	Oct. 21, 2022	STIPULATION AND ORDER Extending the Due Date for All Defendants to File Responsive Pleadings to November 7, 2022. Signed by District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. (LVer) (Entered: 10/21/2022)	RECAP
14	Nov. 4, 2022	ANSWER to Complaint with Affirmative Defenses with Jury Demand by All Defendants. (Peyser, Mark) (Entered: 11/04/2022)	RECAP
15	Nov. 16, 2022	NOTICE TO APPEAR BY VIDEO CONFERENCE: Scheduling Conference set for 1/5/2023 at 3:30 PM before District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. (see image for details and dates) Attorneys will receive Zoom connection information prior to the conference. (LVer) (Entered: 11/16/2022)	RECAP
16	Dec. 22, 2022	STIPULATED ORDER Adjourning the Due Date for the Parties' Initial Disclosures, Submission of Joint Discovery Plan and the Court's January 5, 2023 Conference for Thirty Days. Scheduling Conference via Zoom reset for 2/8/2023 at 4:00 PM before District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. Joint Discovery Plan due: 1/25/2023. Attorneys will receive Zoom connection information prior to the conference. Signed by District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. (LVer) (Entered: 12/22/2022)	RECAP
17	Jan. 25, 2023	DISCOVERY plan jointly filed pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26(f) (Davidson, Syeda) (Entered: 01/25/2023)	RECAP
	Feb. 8, 2023	Minute Entry for virtual proceedings before District Judge Victoria A. Roberts: Scheduling Conference held on 2/8/2023. (Court Reporter: None Present, Not on the Record) (LVer)
18	Feb. 21, 2023	SCHEDULING ORDER PHASE I: Settlement Conference set for 7/26/2023 at 2:00 PM before District Judge Victoria A. Roberts, Discovery due by 9/27/2023. Signed by District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. (Refer to image for additional dates) (LVer) (Entered: 02/21/2023)	RECAP
19	April 21, 2023	WITNESS LIST by Dale Bryant (Davidson, Syeda) (Entered: 04/21/2023)	RECAP
20	April 21, 2023	Lay WITNESS LIST by All Defendants (Peyser, Mark) (Entered: 04/21/2023)	RECAP
21	June 23, 2023	Expert WITNESS LIST by All Defendants (Peyser, Mark) (Entered: 06/23/2023)	RECAP
22	July 5, 2023	STIPULATED ORDER to Extend Deadlines. Discovery due by 11/27/2023, Settlement Conference set for 12/13/2023 at 10:00 AM before District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. Signed by District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. (LVer) (Entered: 07/05/2023)	RECAP
23	July 9, 2023	Stipulated Order for Substitution of Attorney. Signed by District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. (LVer) (Entered: 07/09/2023)	RECAP
24	July 9, 2023	STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER. Signed by District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. (LVer) (Entered: 07/09/2023)	RECAP
	July 17, 2023	Text-Only Reassignment
	July 17, 2023	Text-Only Order of reassignment from District Judge Victoria A. Roberts to District Judge Gershwin A. Drain pursuant to Administrative Order 23-AO-033. (SSch)
25	July 19, 2023	NOTICE TO APPEAR IN PERSON: Status Conference set for 8/1/2023 at 11:00 AM before District Judge Gershwin A. Drain (TMcg) (Entered: 07/19/2023)	RECAP
	July 19, 2023	Text-Only Notice of Hearing Cancelled
	July 19, 2023	TEXT-ONLY NOTICE:Settlement Conference on 7/26/2023 is Cancelled re 18 Scheduling Order, (TMcg)
26	Aug. 1, 2023	SCHEDULING ORDER: Discovery due by 11/27/2023 Dispositive Motion Cut-off set for 12/27/2023 Final Pretrial Conference set for 5/15/2024 at 3:00 PM before District Judge Gershwin A. Drain Jury Trial set for 5/28/2024 at 9:00 AM before District Judge Gershwin A. Drain Signed by District Judge Gershwin A. Drain. (Refer to image for additional dates) (TMcg) (Entered: 08/01/2023)	RECAP
27	Aug. 1, 2023	ORDER REFERRING OTHER MATTERS to Magistrate Judge Altman : Settlement Conference.[APRIL 2024] Signed by District Judge Gershwin A. Drain. (TMcg) (Entered: 08/01/2023)	RECAP
	Aug. 1, 2023	Minute Entry for in-person proceedings before District Judge Gershwin A. Drain: Status Conference held on 8/1/2023 (Court Reporter: Merilyn Jones) (TMcg)
28	Aug. 17, 2023	PLAINTIFF'S EXPERT WITNESS LIST by Dale Bryant (Davidson, Syeda) (Entered: 08/17/2023)	RECAP
29	Dec. 6, 2023	STIPULATED ORDER Regarding Facilitation re 26 Scheduling Order, Signed by District Judge Gershwin A. Drain. (TMcg) (Entered: 12/06/2023)	RECAP
30	Dec. 20, 2023	Ex Parte MOTION Defendants ExParte Motion to File Exhibits via the Media Upload Feature for their Forthcoming Motion for Summary Judgment by All Defendants. (Peyser, Mark) (Entered: 12/20/2023)	RECAP
31	Dec. 21, 2023	ORDER Granting 30 Motion for Leave to Upload Exhibit Using Media File Upload. Signed by District Judge Gershwin A. Drain. (TMcg) (Entered: 12/21/2023)	RECAP
32	Dec. 27, 2023	MOTION for Summary Judgment by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Transcript of Axon Body 3 Video 2021-04-15 2310 DORFLINGER, # 3 Exhibit 2 - Transcript of Axon Body 3 Video 2021-04-15 2310 LAYNE, # 4 Exhibit 3 - Transcript of Axon Body 3 Video 2021-04-15 2313 LAYNE, # 5 Exhibit 4 - Transcript of Axon Body 3 Video 2021-04-15 2329 LAYNE, # 6 Exhibit 5 - Transcript of Axon Body 3 Video 2021-04-15 2359 DORFLINGER, # 7 Exhibit 6 - Transcript of Axon Body 3 Video 2021-04-15 2359 LAYNE, # 8 Exhibit 7 - Transcript of 04-15-21 11.04.47 PM Phone Audio File, # 9 Exhibit 8 - Transcript of 04-15-21 11.02.52 PM Phone Audio File, # 10 Exhibit 9 -Case Report, # 11 Exhibit 10 - Deposition Transcript of Max Dorflinger dated 11-17-23, # 12 Exhibit 11 - Photo No. 1 of Cage, # 13 Exhibit 12 - Photo No. 2 of Cage, # 14 Exhibit 13 - Animal Shelter Disposition Card, # 15 Exhibit 14 - Affidavit of Matthew A. Zick, # 16 Exhibit 15 - Register of Actions, # 17 Exhibit 16 - Toner v Village of Elkton, # 18 Exhibit 17 - Bateman v Driggett) (Peyser, Mark) (Entered: 12/27/2023)	RECAP
	Dec. 28, 2023	Notice of Receipt of Media File/Physical Object
	Dec. 28, 2023	TEXT-ONLY NOTICE of Receipt of Media File Exhibits 1-8 by Max Dorflinger, Lanny Hall, Aaron Layne, Taylor, City of re 32 MOTION for Summary Judgment (SSch)
33	Dec. 29, 2023	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE re 32 MOTION for Summary Judgment by All Defendants Proof of Service regarding thumbdrive containing video and audio Exhibits 1-8 of Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment delivered via overnight UPS to counsel for Plaintiff (Peyser, Mark) (Entered: 12/29/2023)	RECAP
34	Jan. 4, 2024	NOTICE OF IN PERSON HEARING on 32 MOTION for Summary Judgment. Motion Hearing set for 3/28/2024 @ 10:00 AM before District Judge Gershwin A. Drain (LBar) (Entered: 01/04/2024)	RECAP
35	Jan. 17, 2024	RESPONSE to 32 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Dale Bryant. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Deposition Transcript of Dale Bryant, # 3 Exhibit 2 - Verification of Complaint, # 4 Exhibit 3 - Deposition Transcript of Lanny Hall, # 5 Exhibit 4 - Deposition Transcript of Aaron Layne, # 6 Exhibit 5 - Declaration of Allison Kriger, # 7 Exhibit 6 - Disposition Cards, # 8 Exhibit 7 - Impoundment Reports, # 9 Exhibit 8 - Disabled Persons Policy, # 10 Exhibit 9 - Deposition Transcript of Chief John Blair, # 11 Exhibit 10 - Dragonwood Conservancy, Inc. v. Felician) (Davidson, Syeda) (Entered: 01/17/2024)	RECAP
36	Jan. 31, 2024	REPLY to Response re 32 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Transcript of the Testimony of Lanny Hall 11-29-2023, # 3 Exhibit 2 - Transcript of Review Hearing Before Judge Salomone 09-22-2021) (Peyser, Mark) (Entered: 01/31/2024)	RECAP
37	Feb. 1, 2024	NOTICE TO APPEAR BY TELEPHONE: Status Conference set for 2/12/2024 at 10:30 AM before Magistrate Judge Kimberly G. Altman - *PLEASE SEE NOTICE FOR IMPORTANT CALL-IN INFORMATION* (CCie) (Entered: 02/01/2024)	RECAP
	Feb. 8, 2024	Text-Only Notice of Hearing Cancelled
	Feb. 8, 2024	TEXT-ONLY NOTICE: Status Conference on 02/12/2024 is Cancelled re 37 Notice to Appear - Mediator Tom Cranmer called to inform the court he is mediating the case and there is no need to schedule a settlement conference at this time. (CCie)
38	March 11, 2024	ORDER of dismissal. Signed by District Judge Gershwin A. Drain. (DPer) (Entered: 03/12/2024)	RECAP