Topic

Qualified Immunity

Every decision we've filed under Qualified Immunity.

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

Read summary →

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

Read summary →

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

Read summary →

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

Read summary →

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

Read summary →

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

Read summary →

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

Read summary →

Mar 11 2026

3rd Cir. 2:20-cv-20559 Panel Decision

Michael Kaplon v. Morris Township Police Department; Madison Police Department; Borough of Madison; Township of Morris; Chief Mark DiCarlo; Chief Darren P. Dachisen, Sr.; Police...

The Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment for police officers and municipalities in a civil rights case arising from a drunk driving crash and subsequent arrest. The court held that the officers had reasonable suspicion to stop the appellant and that the force used to subdue him was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment

Read summary →

Mar 10 2026

9th Cir. 8:23-cv-00306- Published

B.B., a minor by and through her mother, Chelsea Boyle v. Capistrano Unified School District; Jesus Becerra, an individual in his individual and official capacities; Cleo Victa, an individual in her individual and official capacities

The Ninth Circuit vacated a district court's grant of summary judgment for a school principal who disciplined a first-grade student for a drawing. The panel held that elementary students retain First Amendment protections and that age is a relevant but non-dispositive factor in the Tinker balancing test.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment

Read summary →

Mar 10 2026

6th Cir. 25-1053 Published

BRAYTON JAMES GROTH v. NICHOLAS HILL, SCOTT MCINTYRE, and RAYMOND FAES

The Sixth Circuit dismissed the officers' interlocutory appeal for lack of jurisdiction because they refused to accept the plaintiff's version of genuinely disputed facts regarding the level of resistance. The court held that without a factual concession or clear video evidence resolving the dispute, appellate review of qualified immunity denials in excessive-force cases is barred.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity

Read summary →