Vaughan v. Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

This case arises out of an entry onto the plaintiff, Vaughan’s, property to remove citrus trees by Elso and Conner, employees of the Department of Agriculture, and Weller, a deputy sheriff. The trial court entered orders dismissing these three defendants on grounds that they were entitled to qualified immunity.

The essential qualified immunity issue in this appeal is whether, at the time of the incident, the law clearly established that a warrant was required for the search of Vaughan’s property and whether, by entering his yard and arresting Vaughan, they exceeded the parameters of reasonable…