Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil Rights - Section 1983.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a § 1983 lawsuit alleging wrongful arrest because the arresting officer possessed probable cause based on the totality of circumstances. The court held that the subsequent dismissal of the underlying assault charge does not negate the existence of probable cause at the time of arrest.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se civil rights complaint because the plaintiff failed to cure specific deficiencies identified by the district court. The court held that the dismissal without prejudice was not an abuse of discretion since the statute of limitations had not yet expired.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Sean Wright's Section 1983 claims, holding that the State Attorney's Office is an arm of the state entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity. The court further upheld the dismissal of claims against the Sheriff's Office and individual officers because Wright failed to allege sufficient facts to establish Article III standing or liability under Monell.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for officers who used force to handcuff a large suspect actively resisting arrest for violent felonies. The court held that no clearly established law prohibited the officers' actions because the suspect's physical defiance created a unique factual context not covered by prior precedent.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a prison nurse, ruling that her management of an inmate's irritable bowel syndrome did not constitute deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment. The court held that the record demonstrated consistent medical evaluation and treatment, distinguishing a disagreement over care from constitutional violation.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Texas prisoner's Section 1983 claims alleging assault and medical neglect by jail officials. The court held that the district court properly dismissed claims with prejudice for failure to state a claim and without prejudice for defective service of process.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se prisoner's complaint, holding that district courts must construe pleadings liberally but are not required to act as legal advocates. The court determined the plaintiff's essential grievance was an Eighth Amendment claim for deliberate indifference, not an Americans with Disabilities Act claim.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit against seven federal judges, holding that they are protected by absolute judicial immunity. The court found no reversible error in concluding that the judges' alleged conduct fell within their judicial capacity.
The Sixth Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of a § 1983 complaint alleging due process violations in a child custody removal, ruling that the domestic-relations exception does not automatically bar federal constitutional claims. The appellate court remanded the case for further proceedings, determining that the lower court prematurely dismissed the complaint without allowing the plaintiff to prove her federal claims.
The Tenth Circuit reversed the district court's grant of qualified immunity to Officer Betty Shelby, holding that the right to be free from deadly force against an unarmed, nonthreatening suspect was clearly established. The court affirmed the dismissal of Monell claims against the City of Tulsa but remanded for consideration of supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state-law wrongful death claim.