LOUIS ALFORD v. BRANDON DEFFENDOLL; ZACHARY SMITH; CANNON COUNTY, TENNESSEE - Articles

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LOUIS ALFORD v. BRANDON DEFFENDOLL; ZACHARY SMITH; CANNON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jan 23, 2026

Court: 6th Circuit Court (Published Opinions)

Attorneys 1: ARGUED: Drew Justice, JUSTICE LAW OFFICE, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for Appellant.

Attorneys 2: ARGUED: T. William A. Caldwell, ORTALE KELLEY LAW FIRM, PLLC, Nashville, Tennessee, for Appellees.

Attorneys 3: ON BRIEF: Drew Justice, JUSTICE LAW OFFICE, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for Appellant.

Attorneys 4: ON BRIEF: T. William A. Caldwell, ORTALE KELLEY LAW FIRM, PLLC, Nashville, Tennessee, for Appellees.

Judge(s): MOORE, THAPAR, and RITZ, Circuit Judges

Court Appealed: United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee at Nashville

KAREN NELSON MOORE, Circuit Judge. Outside of Woodbury, Tennessee, deputies Brandon Deffendoll and Zachary Smith pulled over a pickup truck for minor traffic violations. As the driver, Louis Alford, and his girlfriend rummaged around for the documents Deffendoll requested, Deffendoll spotted a syringe filled with clear liquid. Deffendoll proceeded to search the truck, unearthing additional empty syringes, a baggie of powder, paper smeared with residue, empty baggies, pills that were prescribed to a person who was not present, and two digital scales. Deffendoll arrested Alford and charged him with three state drug offenses. The charges were ultimately dismissed, but not before Alford was jailed and his parole was revoked. Alford then filed this action against Deffendoll, Smith, and Cannon County, bringing false arrest, malicious prosecution, and Monell claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Following discovery, the district court granted the defendants summary judgment on all three § 1983 claims. For the reasons that follow, we AFFIRM the district court’s grant of summary judgment.

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