Robert Cramer v. B. L. Crutchfield

Cramer, a citizen of Delaware, appeals from the district court’s grant of summary judgment for Crutchfield, a Virginia state trooper, in Cramer’s suit for damages brought for violation of his constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and, under diversity jurisdiction, for the common law torts of malicious prosecution and abuse of process. We affirm.

I

On September 5, 1977, Crutchfield stopped Cramer’s truck as it drove through Prince George County, Virginia, and accused him of having a radar detection device, the use of which was illegal under Virginia law. Crutchfield asked Cramer to open…