Topic

Qualified Immunity

Every decision we've filed under Qualified Immunity.

MISAEL CORDERO v. GREGORY KELLEY, sued in his individual and official capacities; STEPHEN D’LLIO

The Third Circuit affirmed the grant of summary judgment, holding that correctional officers were entitled to qualified immunity for rejecting an inmate's bulk religious mailings. The court ruled that at the time of the alleged violations, it was not clearly established law that prison officials could not require religious pamphlets to be routed through the chaplaincy rather than sent directly to inmates.

Civil Civil Rights - Religious Liberty (RLUIPA) Qualified Immunity

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Mar 18 2026

5th Cir. 25-40302 Per Curiam

Rahdar v. City of Friendswood

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a couple's Section 1983 claims alleging false and retaliatory arrest, ruling that police officers had probable cause for both incidents. The court held that the plaintiffs failed to overcome the qualified immunity defense because the officers' actions did not violate clearly established law.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity

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Mar 18 2026

11th Cir. 7:23-cv-00089-WLS Published

Dr. Lana Foster v. Echols County School District, Echols County Board of Education, Shannon King, et al

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity to school officials who allegedly refused to implement a settlement agreement due to racial animus. The court held that officials were on notice that interfering with a contract because of race was illegal, regardless of uncertainty regarding personal liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1981.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Qualified Immunity

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Mar 18 2026

8th Cir. 24-2875 Panel Decision

Raven W. Bartz v. City of Minneapolis; Officer Conan Hickey, in his individual and official capacities

The Eighth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a Minneapolis police officer who used a less-lethal projectile against a protester during the 2020 riots, ruling the force was objectively reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. The court also upheld the dismissal of the officer's qualified immunity defense and the district court's refusal to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment

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Mar 17 2026

10th Cir. 1:21-CV-01222-KG-JMR Panel Decision

Salcido v. City of Las Vegas

The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for law enforcement officers in a wrongful death case, ruling that their failure to intervene during a deadly standoff did not violate the victim's constitutional rights. The court held that the officers were not liable under federal civil rights law or state tort law because they did not create the danger and were physically prevented from acting by the shooter's active fire.

Criminal Qualified Immunity Sex Offenses

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Mar 16 2026

6th Cir. 25-5662 Published

THE ESTATE OF JEREMY MARR, by and through JOANNA MARR, its Administrator and JOANNA MARR v. CITY OF GLASGOW, KENTUCKY, CITY OF GLASGOW POLICE DEPARTMENT GUY JOSEPH TURCOTTE

The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for police officers and the City of Glasgow, holding that the officers were entitled to qualified immunity when using force against a drug-intoxicated suspect who actively resisted arrest. The court ruled that the use of a taser and knee strikes did not violate clearly established law because the suspect was struggling and refusing to comply with commands.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment

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Mar 13 2026

11th Cir. 1:19-cv-02047-SCJ Published

Keith Edwards v. Officer J. Grubbs

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a jury verdict holding a police officer liable for excessive force after tasing a fleeing, non-resisting suspect who fell down a steep embankment. The court also upheld the district court's reduction of punitive damages to $1 million while rejecting the plaintiff's claim of municipal liability against the City of Atlanta.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity

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Mar 13 2026

4th Cir. 23-6867 Panel Decision

THEODORE JERRY BOLICK v. JOEL ANDERSON

The Fourth Circuit held that genuine issues of material fact exist regarding whether prison officials were deliberately indifferent to a prisoner's serious physical disabilities by denying him out-of-cell exercise. The court affirmed the dismissal of the claim against the Department of Corrections Director but vacated summary judgment for the local officials, remanding the case for trial.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment

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Mar 13 2026

7th Cir. 25-1523 Panel Decision

FRANK T. WHITEHEAD v. GREGORY PLANTZ and RON WAAS

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison guards, ruling that a prisoner's failure to use established religious accommodation procedures precluded a finding of liability for refusing to hire him. The court further held that a guard's offhand comment calling a prisoner a snitch did not violate clearly established First Amendment law, shielding the officer from liability.

Civil Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner Qualified Immunity

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Mar 11 2026

5th Cir. 24-30754 Per Curiam

Logan Guidry; Kenneth Cotton, III Plaintiffs— v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety; Jerry Goodwin Defendants—

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a wrongful death lawsuit against a Louisiana prison warden, ruling that issuing padlocks to inmates was a reasonable security measure that did not violate the Eighth Amendment. The court held that the low frequency of padlock-related assaults and the necessity of securing inmate property failed to establish the deliberate indifference required for liability.

Civil Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment

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