Topic

Civil Rights - Section 1983

Every decision we've filed under Civil Rights - Section 1983.

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Civil 2101 Criminal 1228 Summary Judgment 471 Sentencing Guidelines 419 Immigration (Civil) 358 Constitutional 353 Supervised Release 289 Drug Trafficking 275 Firearms 215 Civil Rights - Employment 205 Intellectual Property 160 Qualified Immunity 153
May 1 2026
4th Cir. 25-6639 Per Curiam

RODNEY ELROY COBBS v. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA; TABOR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION; KAELYN N. SWEET, The Sweet Law Firm; SHERIFF EDWARD MCMAHON

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's civil rights complaint because the appellant failed to challenge the specific legal basis for the dismissal in his informal brief. The court held that this failure resulted in a forfeiture of appellate review regarding the merits of the underlying claim.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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May 1 2026
9th Cir. 4:21-cv-00257-JGZ Unpublished

WRIGHT, ET AL. V. TALAMANTES, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit reversed summary judgment for Dr. Dale Woolridge, holding that conducting a forensic medical exam on a child without parental consent or a court order violates clearly established constitutional rights absent exigent circumstances. The court also reversed summary judgment for investigator Gerardo Talamantes on judicial deception claims, finding a genuine dispute of material fact regarding the materiality of his statements to the juvenile court.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Qualified Immunity
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May 1 2026
11th Cir. 1:25-cv-02192-MHC Per Curiam

Oleksandra Plyatsko v. Judge Alice Benton

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's § 1983 claims against state judges and officials but vacated the judgment to remand with instructions for a dismissal without prejudice. The court held that the plaintiff abandoned her challenge to the domestic relations exception on appeal, requiring the lower court to dismiss the case on that specific jurisdictional ground rather than other procedural bases.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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May 1 2026
10th Cir. 5:25-CV-03049-JWL Panel Decision

Martin v. Schnurr, et al.

The Tenth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a prisoner's Eighth Amendment claim, holding that the lower court erred by relying on a Martinez Report to resolve factual disputes during the screening stage. The appellate court clarified that while such reports may help identify frivolous claims, they cannot be used to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a claim when the report conflicts with the plaintiff's pleadings.

Civil Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner Civil Rights - Section 1983 Summary Judgment
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 26-6126 Per Curiam

Watts v. Burkey

The Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal challenging a magistrate judge's denial of a motion to amend a civil rights complaint because the order was not final or immediately appealable. The court clarified that the subsequent grant of summary judgment does not cure the jurisdictional defect for the earlier amendment denial.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Summary Judgment
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 26-6068 Per Curiam

CORVIN JAUWAN YOUNG v. KELLY GOTHARD, South Carolina Department of Mental Health Director; ERIN GAFFNEY, Residential Program (Superintendent), Wellpath Recovery Solutions; JENNI...

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a civil rights complaint because the plaintiff failed to file specific objections to a magistrate judge's recommendation. This procedural failure forfeited the plaintiff's right to appellate review of the case's merits.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 25-7074 Per Curiam

Richard Vandale Clowney v. SCDC

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Richard Vandale Clowney's Section 1983 complaint because his appellate objections to the magistrate judge's recommendation lacked the required specificity. Although Clowney filed objections on time, they were too generalized to alert the district court to the true legal grounds for his appeal, resulting in a waiver of substantive review.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 25-6789 Per Curiam

NATHANIEL L. JOYNER v. TOBIAS TURLEY; TRAVON RIDDICK; CHARLOTTE ANN EVANS

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to prison officials in an inmate's civil rights action, finding no reversible error in the lower court's ruling. This unpublished per curiam decision leaves the dismissal of the inmate's claims against the defendants in full force and effect without establishing new legal precedent.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Summary Judgment
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May 1 2026
4th Cir. 25-6695 Per Curiam

Weldon Eugene Holtzclaw, Jr. v. Donald C. Coggins

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's summary dismissal of the plaintiff's civil rights complaint, finding no reversible error in the lower court's ruling. Simultaneously, the court ordered the plaintiff to show cause why he should not face monetary sanctions or a prefiling injunction due to a pattern of excessive and frivolous filings.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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