Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil Rights - Section 1983.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court order denying a postjudgment motion filed by Andrew Chien. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower court's ruling that the defendants were entitled to absolute judicial immunity.
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.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a § 1983 complaint filed by Kimberly Monique Ross, ruling that the appeal was frivolous because it sought to relitigate claims already decided. The court denied Ross's motion to proceed in forma pauperis because she failed to challenge the district court's finding that her lawsuit was duplicative of a prior action.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Robert Prosper's civil rights claims, ruling that his complaint failed to state a plausible claim against the named officer or the municipalities. The court held that the district court properly dismissed the case because the plaintiff did not allege sufficient facts to establish municipal liability or a special relationship required for a due process claim.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Dr. Aaron Shaw, holding that the plaintiff failed to prove he had subjective knowledge of a substantial risk of serious harm to the pretrial detainee. The court ruled that because the Medical Director did not personally review the specific email detailing the inmate's symptoms, he lacked the requisite awareness to establish a constitutional violation.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity for officers who fired at a fleeing vehicle after it began moving away from the scene. The court held that under clearly established law, no reasonable officer could believe such shots were justified once the suspect vehicle accelerated.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se prisoner. The court ruled that the notice of appeal was not filed within the required thirty-day window.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court order dismissing a pro se civil action without prejudice. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower court's determination that the plaintiff's letter did not constitute a formal complaint.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se plaintiff challenging a district court order. The court held that the order in question was neither a final judgment nor an appealable interlocutory order.