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Qualified Immunity

Every decision we've filed under Qualified Immunity.

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Civil 3414 Criminal 1968 Summary Judgment 812 Sentencing Guidelines 723 Civil Rights - Section 1983 653 Immigration (Civil) 649 Constitutional 538 Supervised Release 475 Drug Trafficking 445 Civil Rights - Employment 370 Firearms 323 Anders Brief 243
Mar 27 2026
5th Cir. 25-20362 Per Curiam

Robert Prosper v. Harris County; City of Houston; C. M. Blackburn

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.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Mar 26 2026
6th Cir. 24-1526 2-1

MACHELLE PEARSON v. MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HEIDI E. WASHINGTON

The Sixth Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for high-level prison officials, holding that their reliance on incompetent medical contractors did not constitute a clearly established Eighth Amendment violation. While the court affirmed that the officials were not the proximate cause of the injuries under state law, it remanded the case to allow the plaintiffs to pursue their state-law negligence claims.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Mar 26 2026
6th Cir. 24-1528 2-1

MACHELLE PEARSON v. MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HEIDI E. WASHINGTON

The Sixth Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for high-level prison officials who relied on contracted medical providers to treat a scabies outbreak. The court held that officials are not liable for the incompetence of contractors unless their own actions were so unreasonable as to violate clearly established law.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Mar 25 2026
11th Cir. 1:16-cv-01780-RDC Published

Joyner v. City of Atlanta

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment against Terry Joyner on his Title VII and Georgia Whistleblower Act claims but reversed the grant of qualified immunity to individual defendants on his First Amendment retaliation claim. The court held that removing Joyner's flexible work schedule after he reported ticket-fixing constituted a material adverse action that likely chilled protected speech.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment
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Mar 23 2026
6th Cir. 25-1321 Published

Grady v. Cratsenburg

The Sixth Circuit reversed the district court's denial of qualified immunity, holding that the plaintiffs failed to satisfy the narrow exception to the probable cause defense under Nieves v. Bartlett. The court reasoned that the officers had probable cause for the arrests and the evidence did not sufficiently show that similarly situated individuals were treated differently based on protected speech.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment
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Mar 23 2026
U.S. Sup. Ct. 25-297 Per Curiam

Zorn v. Linton

The Supreme Court reversed the Second Circuit, holding that a police officer was entitled to qualified immunity for using a rear wristlock to remove a passive protester. The Court ruled that existing precedent did not clearly establish that this specific conduct, performed after repeated warnings, violated the Fourth Amendment.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Mar 23 2026
5th Cir. 24-40704 Per Curiam

Greg Murphy v. Beaumont Independent School District; Shannon Allen

The Fifth Circuit vacated the district court's grant of summary judgment on Greg Murphy's due process claims, finding a genuine dispute of material fact regarding his entitlement to premium pay under school district policy. The court affirmed summary judgment on Murphy's First Amendment and Fourth Amendment claims, holding that the record supported the district's legitimate reasons for his termination and arrest.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment
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Mar 19 2026
3rd Cir. 23-1815 Panel Decision

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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