Tag Archives: Qualified Immunity

Summary Judgment Inappropriate Even Where Plaintiff’s Only Eyewitness Account Is Contradicted by Others on the Scene as Well as by the Witness’s Original Police Statement, Holds Sixth Circuit

In Gambrel v. Knox Cnty., Ky., No. 20-6027 (6th Cir. Feb. 8, 2022), the panel reverses in part summary judgment in a § 1983 Fourth Amendment excessive force case. Applying Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372 (2007), the panel holds that the principle that witness testimony may be disregarded on summary judgment if it is “blatantlyContinue reading “Summary Judgment Inappropriate Even Where Plaintiff’s Only Eyewitness Account Is Contradicted by Others on the Scene as Well as by the Witness’s Original Police Statement, Holds Sixth Circuit”

Split Sixth Circuit Panel Holds that Government Did Not Forfeit Argument on Appeal That the Plaintiff Failed to State a Bivens Claim

In Elhady v. Unidentified CBP Agents, No.20-1339 (6th Cir. Nov. 19, 2021), the panel majority skips over the qualified immunity issue presented in the interlocutory appeal to hold that the plaintiff failed on the merits to state a Bivens claim against several border-patrol agents. The judges disagree about whether the government forfeited this merits argumentContinue reading “Split Sixth Circuit Panel Holds that Government Did Not Forfeit Argument on Appeal That the Plaintiff Failed to State a Bivens Claim”

Dissenting Ninth Circuit Judge Makes “Plea to the Supreme Court” to Fix Interlocutory Appeals of Qualified Immunity

A split panel in Estate of Anderson v. Marsh, No. 19-15068 (9th Cir. Jan. 15, 2021) holds that the court of appeals lacks jurisdiction over an interlocutory appeal – at the summary judgment stage – of a denial of qualified immunity. The dissenting judge, though, implores the Supreme Court to review the appellate jurisdiction issue,Continue reading “Dissenting Ninth Circuit Judge Makes “Plea to the Supreme Court” to Fix Interlocutory Appeals of Qualified Immunity”