Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil Rights - Section 1983.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity for a police officer who fatally shot an unarmed individual. The court held that viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, a reasonable jury could find the use of deadly force violated clearly established law.
The Seventh Circuit vacated a district court ruling that granted partial summary judgment to a plaintiff regarding a warrantless home entry, finding that unresolved factual disputes precluded a legal determination on qualified immunity. The appellate court remanded the case for the district court to resolve key factual issues and ensure both prongs of the qualified immunity test are addressed.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of summary judgment for a police officer who fatally shot a man firing a rifle into the air on New Year's Day. The court held that a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding whether the officer had probable cause to believe the man posed an imminent threat of serious physical harm.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a tenant's Fair Housing Act claim and ruled that her request for a temporary restraining order was moot after she was evicted. The court held that the eviction eliminated any live controversy regarding the stay of proceedings and rejected several procedural challenges raised by the appellant.
The Third Circuit reversed the District Court's grant of summary judgment, predicting that the New Jersey Supreme Court would invalidate the state's 'Background Circumstances Rule' for employment discrimination claims. The court held that the rule, which imposes a heightened burden on majority-group plaintiffs, is incompatible with the text of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
The Third Circuit reversed the district court's denial of summary judgment, holding that a state trooper was entitled to qualified immunity for searching a former mayor's home. The court found that it was not clearly established at the time that a potential conflict of interest under state ethics laws provided probable cause for a warrantless search of a residence.
The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of real estate developers' federal civil rights claims against a Pennsylvania township, ruling that the allegations were barred by the statute of limitations. The court further held that the specific acts alleged did not meet the high legal thresholds required for substantive due process or equal protection violations.
The Sixth Circuit vacated a district court's decision to adjudicate a novel state constitutional tort claim after dismissing all federal claims. The appellate court held that the lower court abused its discretion by exercising supplemental jurisdiction over a complex, unique provision of the Michigan Constitution.
The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Jeniqua Bradley's Section 1983 lawsuit against a Magisterial District Judge. The court held that judicial immunity protected the judge because entering a default judgment is a judicial act performed within his jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court held that a pretrial order denying Yearsley protection is not immediately appealable because the doctrine provides a merits defense rather than an immunity from suit. Consequently, the denial fails the third prong of the collateral-order doctrine, as the issue remains effectively reviewable after a final judgment.