Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil Rights - Section 1983.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Jill Coit's § 1983 claims against prison officials, ruling that her fourth amended complaint failed to state a claim. The court held that the Eleventh Amendment barred monetary relief against official-capacity defendants and that the complaint did not comply with federal pleading standards.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's Eighth Amendment claim because the plaintiff failed to explain why the magistrate judge's recommendation was incorrect in his objections. The court held that the district court properly screened the complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and did not err by declining to distinguish between personal and official capacity claims.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se civil rights lawsuit filed by a former inmate against multiple judges and prosecutors. The court held that state officials are not persons under federal civil rights statutes and that the defendants were protected by absolute judicial and prosecutorial immunity.
The Third Circuit reversed the judgment against a detective who recommended charges against a civilian, ruling that probable cause existed for the offenses. The court also vacated the punitive damages award against a police officer, reducing it to twelve thousand dollars as constitutionally excessive.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court dismissal of a challenge to a Harris County administrative order restricting public access to misdemeanor bail bond contents. The court held that the order constitutes a permissible denial of access to government information rather than a violation of the First Amendment.
The Fourth Circuit vacated a district court dismissal of a pro se excessive force complaint, ruling that the lower court applied an overly strict pleading standard and failed to include a second officer as a defendant. The appellate court held that the plaintiff's allegations, accepted as true, sufficiently stated a plausible claim under the Fourth Amendment's reasonableness test.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Bradley Monical's civil rights claims, ruling that his suit was barred by Oregon's two-year statute of limitations and his failure to exhaust administrative remedies. The court further held that his access-to-courts claim failed due to a lack of evidence showing actual injury.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of landowners' Fifth Amendment takings claims, ruling that they failed to state a valid claim for a judicial taking. Although the court found the plaintiffs had standing and that sovereign immunity did not bar the suit, it held that the New Mexico Supreme Court's decision merely clarified existing public easements rather than taking established property rights.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's decision in a case involving the death of Terral Ellis in pretrial custody, where the jury awarded $33 million in compensatory damages for violation of constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment on a prisoner's claim regarding inadequate nutrition but reversed the ruling on unsanitary toilet and shower conditions. The court held that a reasonable jury could find prison officials acted with deliberate indifference to the Eighth Amendment regarding the facilities, remanding the case for trial on that specific claim.