Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil Rights - Section 1983.
The Seventh Circuit dismissed an appeal from a denial of qualified immunity because the case turned on genuine disputes over material facts. Appellate courts lack jurisdiction to resolve factual contests at the summary judgment stage, even when video evidence exists.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity for a police officer who used deadly force against a man holding a hatchet, ruling that the force was objectively unreasonable under the totality of the circumstances. The court held that the officer violated clearly established Fourth Amendment rights because the suspect posed no immediate threat and was fleeing when shot in the back.
The D.C. Circuit vacated preliminary injunctions blocking the transfer of transgender women inmates to men's facilities, ruling that the district court failed to make necessary individualized findings of fact. The court held that while the Eighth Amendment claim was not barred by jurisdictional or exhaustion statutes, the plaintiffs did not demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits without specific evidence of their unique vulnerabilities.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Robert Walker's civil suit against judges, a law firm, and the Florida Bar for failure to state a claim. However, the court remanded the case to correct the procedural record, ordering that dismissals based on sovereign immunity be entered without prejudice to allow for potential refiling.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of David Anthony Babb's civil rights complaint, ruling that his allegations failed to plausibly establish that private defendants acted as state actors. The court held that mere licensing, regulation, or state approval of private conduct is insufficient to transform private behavior into state action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
The Tenth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a prisoner's excessive force claim, holding that video evidence did not blatantly contradict the plaintiff's allegation of twenty-three taser strikes. The court further ruled that the district court abused its discretion by dismissing the case under Heck v. Humphrey without providing the plaintiff notice to address the bar under his own version of events.
The Tenth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a prisoner's Eighth Amendment medical care claims, holding that the lower court erred by applying a pleading standard to a statute of limitations defense that requires factual development. The court clarified that accrual of a deliberate indifference claim depends on when a plaintiff knew or should have known of the defendant's subjective state of mind, a determination inappropriate for resolution on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of claims against Texas officials but reversed the dismissal of claims against a Colorado social services worker. The court held that while the Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars challenges to the underlying Texas child support order, it does not preclude a due process claim regarding the refusal to hold a hearing on modified financial circumstances.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Adrian Livingston's Section 1983 claims, ruling that his post-acquittal detention was justified by good-faith reliance on an inaccurate detention system. The court rejected arguments regarding malicious prosecution, statute of limitations, and supervisory liability, finding no constitutional violations or policy failures by the county.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a California prisoner's civil rights claims, ruling that his allegations regarding strip searches, segregation, and disciplinary hearings failed to state a constitutional violation. The court held that the complaint lacked specific factual support necessary to overcome the high pleading standards required for prisoner litigation.