Statute Annotations › Federal › 42 U.S.C. § 1983

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Civil action for deprivation of rights: the cases that interpreted this section

Jurisdiction
Federal
Case notes
85,166
Cited in passing
107,856
Citing cases indexed
283,166
Case dates
1955–2022
Screened through
2022-06-03
Checked for later law changes
2026-10-17
Courts' treatment: live
No reviewed case has held this section invalid, preempted, superseded or repealed.
This reflects what the reviewed cases said, not legislative action: a later amendment or repeal by the legislature would not appear here unless a reviewed case discussed it.

193,022 citing cases reviewed of 283,166 in the citation index: 85,166 interpreted the section (annotated below), 107,856 cited it only in passing. Cases filed after 2022-06-03 may not have been reviewed yet.

Have a situation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983?

These notes show how courts have ruled. Ask about your specific facts and see which of these rulings apply, with citations you can check.

Heck bar for Fourth Amendment claims

Section 1983 bars a damages claim challenging imprisonment after probation or parole revocation until the revocation and related sentence have been invalidated.

GARVIN v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA · filed 2020-07-30

As Garvin appears to be seeking money damages from the City of Philadelphia based on allegedly unconstitutional imprisonment, the Court construes the Complaint as one under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. ... As the decision to revoke Garvin’s probation or parole and his related sentence have not been invalidated, Garvin’s claims for damages based on his imprisonment are not cognizable at this time.
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Section 1983 bars a damages claim that would necessarily imply the invalidity of a conviction unless the conviction has already been invalidated.

Strepka v. Thompson · filed 2020-10-16

We agree with the district court that claim one is barred by Heck, which holds that a state prisoner may not sue for damages under § 1983 if a favorable judgment “would necessarily imply the invalidity of his conviction or sentence” unless the prisoner shows “that the conviction or sentence has already been invalidated.”
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Section 1983 does not provide a damages remedy for a claim that would necessarily show that a prisoner’s confinement lasted too long, even when the claim challenges the procedure used to calculate credits.

Kilman v. Williams · filed 2020-10-19

That would necessarily demonstrate that the duration of Kilman’s confinement was invalid, even if his claim is viewed purely as a due process challenge to CDOC’s allegedly wrongful procedure for computing credits.
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Section 1983 does not permit a damages claim that would undermine an outstanding conviction unless the conviction has been favorably terminated.

Murphy v. Butler · filed 2020-12-02

Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant Butler are barred by the Heck doctrine.
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Section 1983 does not permit damages for an involuntary commitment when success on the claim would necessarily imply that the commitment is invalid, unless the commitment has first been invalidated.

Ardaneh v. U.S. Government · filed 2020-12-11

To the extent Plaintiff challenges the fact of his confinement, such claims are barred by Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994), because success on those claims would necessarily imply that his commitment is invalid.
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Section 1983 bars a search-and-seizure damages claim when success would necessarily invalidate an outstanding conviction.

Lee v. The City of Troy · filed 2021-02-16

Therefore, Lee's illegal search and seizure claim for the March 3 incident is barred by Heck unless he can prove that conviction was successfully challenged through some more appropriate mechanism.
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Section 1983 bars a damages claim whose success would imply the invalidity of a parole revocation or conviction that has not been invalidated.

GRIFFITH v. TRAENDLY · filed 2021-03-10

Given that Plaintiff's revocation of parole and criminal conviction have not been overturned by any of the means discussed above, the Court dismisses his Fourth and Fifth Amendment claims as Heck barred.
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Heck bars a § 1983 damages action challenging an added probation condition imposed after a violation hearing, even when the state court made no definitive finding that probation was violated.

Ray v. Recovery Healthcare Corporation · filed 2021-08-13

Second, even assuming that Ray is correct that (1) there is meaningful daylight between Art. 42A.751 and .752 hearings, (2) the state court operated under .751, and (3) the state court did not technically “modify” Ray’s probation despite the explicit language of its order, the policy reasons underlying Heck would still extend to bar a § 1983 action in this case for many of the same reasons expressed in the opinion.
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Section 1983 does not permit a claim that would invalidate a parole revocation unless the revocation has already been invalidated.

Reed v. Williams · filed 2021-09-17

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has recognized that Heck applies to § 1983 claims that would invalidate a parole revocation.33 Reed’s claims that his parole was improperly revoked are barred by Heck because he does not allege that his parole revocation has been invalidated. So I dismiss this claim without prejudice.
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Section 1983 does not permit a challenge to a parole revocation that has not been invalidated when success would undermine the prisoner’s continued confinement.

Mayfield v. MDOC · filed 2021-09-29

Plaintiff’s claims are not properly raised in a § 1983 proceeding. ... Here, because Mayfield expressly challenges his parole revocation and does not allege that the revocation has been invalidated, his claims are barred under Heck.
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Section 1983 does not permit damages for unlawful confinement when success would necessarily imply the invalidity of a supervised-release revocation that has not been overturned.

Brooks v. Luebke · filed 2021-10-22

Were Brooks’ claim for damages successful, it would necessarily imply the invalidity of his revoked supervision and his continued detention because his claim is premised on Defendants allegedly lacking jurisdiction and authority to revoke his supervised release and detain him. Because Brooks has not overturned the revocation of his supervised release (in fact, his allegations indicate that his efforts to do so have repeatedly failed), his claim is barred by Heck.
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Section 1983 does not permit a damages claim that would call an existing conviction or sentence into question unless that conviction or sentence has been invalidated.

Risch, Kenneth v. Tallier, Tracy · filed 2021-11-17

A claim for damages that bears a relationship to a conviction or sentence that has not been so invalidated is not cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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Section 1983 bars a damages claim whose success would imply that a sentence is invalid unless the sentence has already been invalidated.

Schuenke v. Kostheewa · filed 2022-04-08

Here, the plaintiff’s claim for damages would imply that his sentence is invalid, and therefore the rule of Heck applies.
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Section 1983 claims that would undermine a probation revocation cannot proceed unless the revocation has been vacated, set aside, or otherwise called into question.

Murphy v. Lock · filed 2022-05-02

Murphy does not allege, nor can it be plausibly inferred, that the sanction regarding his probation violation has been vacated on appeal, set aside, or otherwise called into question. Unless and until that occurs, Murphy cannot pursue a claim that would undermine the validity of the probation revocation.
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Mount Healthy defense

Section 1983 requires a defendant invoking the Mount Healthy defense to show that the adverse action would have occurred for legitimate reasons even if an improper motive played a part.

Broderick v. Evans · filed 2009-06-26

The Mount Healthy defense, applicable only to the section 1983 claims against Evans, requires the defendant to show that even if an improper motive played a part, the adverse action would have been taken for legitimate reasons.
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Proof of actual harm

Section 1983 does not require proof that a constitutional deprivation caused actual harm to establish a violation.

Estate Of Maria Teresa Macias · filed 2000-07-20

A plaintiff may prove a violation of S 1983 without demonstrating that the deprivation of his or her constitutional rights caused any actual harm.
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Institutional liability

Section 1983 requires proof of a policy before a public institution can be held liable for damages.

Horen v. BD. OF EDUC. OF CITY OF TOLEDO · filed 2009-09-08

Proof of such policy is a sine qua non of institutional liability in a § 1983 case.
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Section 1983 permits a claim against an institutional defendant only when its policy or custom sanctions a violation of the plaintiff’s rights.

Rankin v. Obaisi · filed 2019-08-05

A plaintiff can sustain a § 1983 claim against an institutional defendant like Wexford only if he can show that the entity has a policy or custom that sanctions the violation of his rights.
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Section 1983 permits institutional liability when a policy reflects deliberate indifference to an inmate’s serious medical needs and causes a constitutional injury.

Tuduj v. Lawrence · filed 2020-09-24

Institutional liability is possible under the Monell doctrine where a municipal or here, by extension, an institutional policy both reflects deliberate indifference to an inmate’s serious medical needs and causes a constitutional injury. See e.g., Glisson v. Indiana Dep’t of Corr., 849 F.3d 372, 378 (7th Cir. 2017) (en banc). But Wexford’s alleged “policy” of not prescribing sunglasses did not harm Tuduj because, as just mentioned, he had no medical need for sunglasses and in any event he received post-operative sunglasses, which he does not contend were less helpful than rubber sunglasses.
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Section 1983 requires a plaintiff seeking to hold an institution liable to show that its policy or custom caused the alleged constitutional violation.

Bowers v. University of Delaware · filed 2020-11-30

For an institution to be liable under § 1983, a plaintiff must demonstrate that an institutional policy or custom caused the alleged constitutional violation.
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Section 1983 permits an institution to be liable for its employees’ constitutional violations only when an official policy, custom or practice, or final policymaker caused the violations.

Stewart, Timothy v. Moore · filed 2022-05-06

An institution can be liable for the actions of its employees only if the violations were caused by an official policy, a custom or practice, or an official with final policy-making authority.
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Retaliatory transfer

Section 1983 allows a prisoner to pursue a retaliatory transfer claim against an individual prison official who retaliates for filing grievances.

Williams v. Brown · filed 2009-09-10

As to Appellee Brown, however, taking the well-pleaded allegations in his complaint as true, Williams stated a chronology of events and alleged sufficient facts to state a retaliatory transfer claim against Brown in his individual capacity. ... Furthermore, we agree with the magistrate judge in the second Report & Recommendation that qualified immunity does not shield Appellee Brown from liability. ... Thus, Brown cannot claim qualified immunity as a bar to Williams’s complaint.
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Consent to judgment for nominal damages

In a § 1983 action where nominal damages are the only remaining relief, a defendant may consent to judgment for the full amount without admitting liability.

Husain v. Springer · filed 2009-10-26

However, plaintiffs cite no authority holding that a defendant may not dispose of a case by agreeing to entry of judgment against herself for the nominal damages which are the sole relief sought by a plaintiff, simply because the lawsuit concerns constitutional rights. In fact, the Second Circuit has made it clear that, even in actions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a defendant “should be afforded the choice to consent to judgment and payment of nominal damages.”
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A potential award of nominal damages under § 1983 can keep a procedural due process claim live after the plaintiff receives other relief.

TRAFFORD v. City of Westbrook · filed 2009-11-12

According to mootness doctrine, as applied in actions brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Trafford’s success in reversing the deprivation of which he complains does not render his constitutional claims moot. ... The Court therefore determines, based on Trafford’s demand for expungement and his potential recovery of nominal damages, that the arbitral panel’s June 2009 award and the City’s response to it did not moot his procedural due process claims.
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A request for nominal damages does not keep a Section 1983 claim alive after the challenged law changes when the plaintiff alleges no completed violation or actual injury.

Management Properties, LLC v. Town of Redington Shores, Florida · filed 2021-04-19

However, damages claims can only save a Section 1983 claim from mootness “where such claims allege compensatory damages or nominal damages for violations of procedural due process.” ... Here, Management fails to allege any facts that would connect its nominal damages claim to a completed violation of a legal right.
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When a § 1983 claim arises

Section 1983 allows a person to sue a state actor for a constitutional violation caused by that actor's conduct.

Crowe v. County of San Diego · filed 2010-01-14

Thus, all of the pre-trial proceedings in which plaintiffs’ Fifth Amendment rights were violated give rise to § 1983 claims.
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Section 1983 does not provide a remedy for a direct challenge to the validity of a sentence.

Pruett v. William Stephens, Director · filed 2015-04-24

We agree with the district court that this is a direct challenge to the validity of his sentence and, therefore, cannot be maintained under § 1983.
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Search warrant misrepresentations

Section 1983 requires a plaintiff challenging a warrant for misrepresentations to show a knowing or reckless false statement or material omission that was necessary to the finding of probable cause.

Palmieri v. Kammerer · filed 2010-01-27

A plaintiff suing under § 1983 and challenging a warrant on the basis of misrepresentation of material facts must make the same showing that is required at a suppression hearing under Franks v. Delaware: the plaintiff must show that the affiant knowingly and deliberately, or with a reckless disregard of the truth, made false statements or material omissions in his application for a warrant, and that such statements or omissions were necessary to the finding of probable cause.
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Conflicts of interest in joint representation

Section 1983 permits municipal liability for injuries caused by employees acting pursuant to municipal policy, and joint representation requires disqualification only when an actual conflict exists.

Lieberman v. City of Rochester · filed 2010-02-04

District courts have interpreted Dunton to require disqualification of counsel representing both an individual officer and the municipal employer in Section 1983 cases only where counsel acts in a way that is actually against the officer’s interests. ... In other words, a potential conflict is insufficient to warrant disqualification; rather, the employee must show that an actual conflict exists. ... Considering these unequivocal representations, the City’s and the Officers’ interests appear aligned at this stage of the litigation.
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Causal relationship between conduct and deprivation

Section 1983 requires a plaintiff to show a causal relationship between the defendant’s conduct and the deprivation of a constitutional right.

Barnes v. Hennepin County District Attorney's Office · filed 2010-02-05

We further hold the district court did not err in concluding Barnes’s claims under the First, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments described no conduct by defendants that violated the rights secured by these constitutional provisions, and thus Barnes failed to state a claim as to each. See Gordon v. Hansen, 168 F.3d 1109, 1113 (8th Cir. 1999) (per curiam) (explaining, for a § 1983 claim to succeed, the plaintiff must show a causal relationship between the defendant’s conduct and the deprivation of a constitutional right).
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Section 1983 can impose liability on an officer who causes another person to deprive someone of constitutional rights, but the court found no such liability where the shooting officer was entitled to qualified immunity.

Pauly v. White · filed 2017-10-31

42 U.S.C. § 1983 not only imposes liability on those who actually deprive a person of their rights under the Constitution, but also imposes liability on those who “cause” a person to be subjected to a deprivation. ... But, as we explained above, Officer -White is entitled to qualified immunity because his alleged use of excessive force was not clearly established in the circumstances of this case. It therefore cannot serve as the basis of liability for Officers Mariscal and Trues-dale.
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Duty to act

Section 1983 requires a legal duty to act when a claim rests on a defendant’s failure to act.

Kinsella v. Cooley · filed 2010-03-08

Kinsella’s complaint failed to show that the defendants were under a legal duty to file the abstract of judgment, as required to state a cognizable claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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Failure to prosecute another person

Section 1983 provides no cause of action for a state’s failure to prosecute another person.

Thompson v. Grey · filed 2010-07-20

As the district court properly recognized, there is no cause of action for the state’s failure to prosecute another person under section 1983.
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Excessive force—elements of claim

A plaintiff bringing a § 1983 excessive-force claim must prove injury caused by clearly excessive force that was objectively unreasonable; each element is necessary to establish liability.

Aguilera v. Nava · filed 2010-07-21

In order to prevail on a claim of excessive force under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must show “(1) an injury, which (2) resulted directly and only from the use of force that was clearly excessive to the need; and the excessiveness of which was (3) objectively unreasonable.”
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Disparate impact

Section 1983 does not permit liability based on disparate impact alone.

INDIANAPOLIS CHAPTER OF NAACP v. Ballard · filed 2010-09-16

Even so, a disparate impact theory of liability is not available under section 1983.
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Exclusionary rule

The fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine does not apply to civil claims under § 1983.

Snider v. Pekny · filed 2012-09-27

This is in part because the “fruit of the poisonous tree” doctrine, which in criminal cases generally directs a court to exclude all evidence “tainted” by an illegal search or seizure, does not apply to civil claims made under § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not apply the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine to suppress evidence gathered after a Fourth Amendment violation if the evidence was otherwise constitutionally obtained.

Willis v. Mullins · filed 2011-08-16

In the context of a Section 1983 suit, the fact that Defendants’ initial entry into the hotel room was a Fourth Amendment violation does not require the suppression of any subsequent evidence if it is otherwise constitutionally gathered.
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The fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine does not apply to civil actions under § 1983.

Hargroves v. City of New York · filed 2011-02-22

The “fruit of the poisonous tree” doctrine does not apply to civil actions brought under § 1983, see Townes v. City of New York, 176 F.3d 138, 145 (2d Cir. 1999); therefore, we may analyze the initial stop independently of Wu’s subsequent identifications.
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The fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine does not apply to civil actions under § 1983.

Hinds v. City of New York · filed 2010-09-28

The fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine is inapplicable to civil actions arising under § 1983.
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Section 1983 claims do not apply the exclusionary rule to exclude evidence obtained after an allegedly unlawful stop.

Ryan v. Koester · filed 2015-02-02

The Court concludes that because the exclusionary rule is inapplicable to § 1983 claims, the issue of whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop the Plaintiff based on alleged traffic violations or to administer field sobriety tests is immaterial.
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In a § 1983 malicious-prosecution suit against police officers, the exclusionary rule does not bar evidence obtained through an illegal search from establishing probable cause for an arrest warrant.

Black v. Wigington · filed 2016-01-22

The Blacks’ claim of malicious prosecution fails because Deputy Kain, Deputy Stamatellos, and Investigator Wilson are entitled to qualified immunity. The evidence from the Blacks’ trailer provided probable cause for the arrest warrants. It does not matter whether that evidence was discovered in compliance with the Fourth Amendment because the exclusionary rule does not apply in a civil suit against police officers.
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The exclusionary rule does not apply in § 1983 cases.

Lia Lingo v. City of Salem · filed 2016-06-27

Accordingly, regardless whether this is an intrasovereign or an intersovereign case, that fact would not alter our conclusion that the exclusionary rule does not apply in a § 1983 case.
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In a § 1983 false arrest claim, evidence obtained through an unlawful stop or search may be used to establish probable cause.

Kinslow v. Duckins · filed 2016-07-20

To be sure, in the context of a criminal prosecution, the exclusionary rule may invalidate an arrest based on evidence obtained from an illegal stop or search. But courts have repeatedly held that such evidence may be used to establish probable cause in the context of § 1983 and other civil claims.
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The exclusionary rule does not apply in § 1983 cases, so officers may rely on unlawfully obtained evidence to defend a false arrest claim.

Lia Lingo v. City of Salem · filed 2016-08-08

Accordingly, regardless whether this is an intrasovereign or an intersovereign case, that fact would not alter our conclusion that the exclusionary rule does not apply in a § 1983 case.
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The exclusionary rule does not apply to civil suits under § 1983.

Lipford v. City of Chicago · filed 2018-03-05

Although the Defendant Officers might have illegally entered and searched Plaintiff’s home (an issue for a jury to decide), the exclusionary rule does not apply to civil suits under § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not impose civil liability solely because an officer obtained a warrant using evidence that could be suppressed in a criminal proceeding.

Thorp v. District of Columbia · filed 2018-05-24

Put more plainly, even were a court to suppress the pills found in Plaintiff’s freezer in a criminal proceeding, Kyle would not face any additional civil liability solely because he obtained a second warrant based on that discovery.
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Section 1983 does not apply the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine, so evidence found during an unlawful search can establish probable cause for a later detention.

Mayo v. LaSalle County · filed 2019-07-15

As the defendants explain, there is no “fruit of the poisonous tree” doctrine in claims brought pursuant to § 1983.
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The exclusionary rule does not prevent a court from considering a confession suppressed in a criminal case when deciding probable cause in a Section 1983 suit.

Livingston v. Luberoff · filed 2020-02-21

Therefore, the court finds that the Magistrate Judge did not err in relying on case law beyond the purview of the Fourth Circuit by including the suppressed confession and the two arrest warrants issued for Unlawful Conduct Toward a Child in determining that probable cause did exist.
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The exclusionary rule does not bar evidence from an allegedly unlawful search when assessing probable cause in a § 1983 action.

BARNETT v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA · filed 2020-10-29

Finally, to the extent that Barnett contends that we cannot consider the items found during the allegedly unlawful search, Barnett is mistaken. Although the exclusionary rule may apply in criminal cases, rendering the fruits of an allegedly illegal search inadmissible, that is not the case in a § 1983 proceeding.
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The criminal exclusionary rule does not apply in § 1983 cases.

Linin v. Neff · filed 2021-03-18

But this exclusionary rule applies only in criminal cases, not § 1983 cases.
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The exclusionary rule does not apply in actions brought under § 1983.

Johnigan v. City of Vancouver · filed 2021-08-02

The exclusionary rule, applicable in criminal cases and prohibiting the government from introducing illegally seized evidence against a defendant, does not apply in cases brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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Maliciousness

Section 1983 liability does not require proof of maliciousness.

Repking v. Lokey · filed 2010-09-30

We note where the circuit judge looked at maliciousness as a factor for § 1983 liability. While it certainly is a factor under state immunity law, we do not find maliciousness to be a prerequisite for § 1983 liability under federal law or federal jurisprudence.
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Duplicative claims

Section 1983 does not create a separate excessive-force claim when it duplicates a claim alleging the same Fourth Amendment violation.

Herr v. Peterson · filed 2010-11-16

Count III asserts the same claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and is, therefore, duplicative of Count I.
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Section 1983 claims against individual agency employees are duplicative when the complaint alleges no conduct separate from their actions as agents of the agency.

R.B. v. County of Westmoreland · filed 2013-05-28

We also agree with the District Court that plaintiffs‘ § 1983 action is against Westmoreland County and WCCB, not the individual WCCB employees; dismissal of the duplicative claims against the employees was therefore proper.
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A § 1983 claim may be dismissed as duplicative when it relies on the same facts and seeks the same relief as a Rule 80B appeal.

Fair Elections Portland, Inc. v. The City of Portland · filed 2020-05-13

Similarly, Plaintiffs' 1983 claims (Counts III and IV) rely on the same factual allegations and seek the same relief as the Rule SOB appeal. ... Because these claims require the court to engage in the same legal and factual analysis necessary to decide the Rule SOB appeal, Counts III and IV are also dismissed as duplicative.
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A Section 1983 official-capacity claim against an employee may be dismissed as duplicative when the employee’s governmental employer is already a defendant.

Hill v. Madison County · filed 2020-09-02

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s official-capacity claims against Bufford are duplicative of her claim against Madison County because an official-capacity claim is really a claim against the official’s employer.
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A § 1983 claim against a county board is duplicative when an official-capacity claim against the sheriff already names the county and no separate basis for board liability is alleged.

Banks v. Hayes · filed 2020-10-22

Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claim against the Board is simply a redundant claim against Delaware County, and plaintiffs’ § 1983 claim against the Board should be dismissed as duplicative.
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Section 1983 provides a means to bring constitutional claims, so a separate general Section 1983 count duplicates constitutional claims already treated as brought under it.

Harris v. University of Massachusetts Lowell · filed 2021-08-27

The Court will address the freestanding constitutional claims as if brought under § 1983, see id., therefore Count IV is duplicative of the other counts.
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Section 1983 makes separate direct constitutional claims unnecessary when they seek the same relief for the same alleged violations.

Myers v. St. George Police Department · filed 2022-03-11

Plaintiff’s constitutional claims are duplicative of his § 1983 claim and unnecessary.
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Section 1983 claims against officers in their official capacities are duplicative when the relevant governmental entity is already a defendant.

Bhattacharya v. Murray, Jr. · filed 2022-03-16

The Court will sustain Defendants’ objections to the R&R here—under Fourth Circuit case law, as held in Love-Lane, where a Plaintiff seeks to add cause of action under § 1983 against a party in their official capacity after already having a cause of action against the relevant governmental entity, the proposed amendment is redundant and thus should be denied.
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Federal actors

Section 1983 does not govern claims against federal employees; those claims are brought under Bivens.

Jackson v. United States of America · filed 2020-12-28

Plaintiff claims he is bringing this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. However, because he is bringing this action against federal employees, the action is one brought pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
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Section 1983 does not govern a claim against a federal employee for acts in a federal capacity; that claim arises under Bivens.

Aruanno v. Cavanaugh · filed 2012-01-31

The District Court characterized Aruanno‟s entire complaint as a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. Because Judge Cavanaugh is a federal employee, that claim should have been construed as arising under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 389 (1971).
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Section 1983 is not the cause of action for a claim against a federal employee; such a claim should be brought under Bivens.

Aruanno v. Walsh · filed 2011-08-29

Although the District Court characterized Aruanno’s complaint as a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action, it technically should have been brought as a Bivens action since the Defendant is a federal employee.
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Section 1983 does not provide a remedy against federal actors alone.

United States v. Lee · filed 2010-12-10

Section 1983 is improper, however, because Lee sued only federal actors.
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Section 1983 applies to state actors; constitutional claims against federal actors are construed as Bivens claims.

Lewis v. U.S. Parole Commission · filed 2012-01-20

The plaintiff’s complaint charges federal actors, not state actors, with violating the Constitution by maintaining inaccurate records. See Compl. at 2. As such, the court did not err in construing the plaintiff’s purported § 1983 claims as a Bivens action.
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Section 1983 does not provide a claim for relief against federal actors.

Moore v. Hollingsworth · filed 2012-08-20

42 U.S.C. § 1983 is not an appropriate vehicle for his claim because he seeks relief from federal, not state, actors.
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Section 1983 applies to state actors acting under color of state law, not federal actors.

Smith v. Donahoe · filed 2013-01-08

Section 1983 applies only to state actors acting under the color of state law, not to federal actors. ... Therefore, whether brought under Section 1983 or Bivens, Plaintiffs claims for monetary relief against the USPS under Count I — III must be dismissed.
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Section 1983 does not provide a claim against federal actors such as the Social Security Administration or its employees.

Johnson v. Office of Social Security Administration · filed 2013-03-19

Section 1983 does not confer federal jurisdiction over claims against federal actors like the SSA or SSA employees.
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Section 1983 does not apply to federal actors.

Rivera v. Department of Justice · filed 2013-03-28

Section 1983 does not apply to federal actors, Settles v. U.S. ... Parole Comm’n, 429 F.3d 1098, 1104 (D.C. Cir. 2005), and “[d]efendants argue correctly that the United States has not consented to be sued for monetary damages based on a constitutional violation or, in other words, for a “‘Bivens-type cause of action directly against a federal agency.’” Mullen v. Bureau of Prisons, 843 F. Supp. 2d 112, 116 (D.D.C. 2012) (citing Meyer, 510 U.S. at 486).
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Section 1983 applies to persons acting under color of state law and does not allow claims against federal agencies or officials acting under federal law.

Prentice v. United States · filed 2013-07-11

Section 1983 applies to persons acting under color of state law and does not permit claims against federal agencies or federal officials acting under color of federal law.
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Section 1983 does not permit a claim against an FBI agent acting as a federal officer.

Snyder v. United States · filed 2014-01-07

Defendant Giordano, of course, is an employee of the FBI and thus a federal actor. Therefore, he cannot be sued under Section 1983.
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Section 1983 does not permit a claim against a federal actor acting under color of federal law.

Humphrey v. Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security · filed 2014-12-30

The district court analyzed Humphrey’s claims in Counts 1 and 2 under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, even though a plaintiff may not bring a § 1983 claim against a federal actor acting under the color of federal law.
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Section 1983 applies to persons acting under color of state or territorial law; a claim against the federal Bureau of Prisons for federal action is insubstantial.

Robleto v. United States · filed 2015-12-10

There is no substantial claim here, if there ever could be, that the Bureau of Prisons was acting under color of state (or territorial) law or is a “person” doing so.
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Section 1983 requires action under color of state law; a federal agency and its officials generally cannot be sued under it.

Haines v. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration · filed 2016-02-18

However, as a general matter, “[t]he federal government and its officials are not subject to suit under [§ 1983].” Conner v. Greef, 99 F. App’x 577, 580 (6th Cir. 2004) (citing Ana Leon T. v. Fed. Reserve Bank, 823 F.2d 928, 931 (6th Cir.1987)). ... Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s dismissal of Haines’ § 1983 claims.
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Section 1983 does not provide a claim against a federal agency acting under federal law.

Ryan v. McDonald · filed 2016-06-13

As a general matter, claims arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 may only be brought against state officials acting under color of state law, not federal actors acting under color of federal law.
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Section 1983 provides no remedy for injuries caused by federal Public Health Service employees acting within the scope of their employment.

Camerano v. United States · filed 2017-04-19

And given that plaintiff has not submitted any evidence disputing that this case involves employees of the United States Public Health Service acting within the scope of their employment, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 does not provide a remedy for plaintiff's alleged injuries even if, as plaintiff argues, those employees violated the Nursing Home Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1396r–1396r-8.
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Section 1983 applies to state actors, not federal agencies.

Johnson v. Commissioner of Social Security · filed 2019-08-01

42 U.S.C. § 1983 only applies to state actors and not federal agencies.
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Section 1983 does not provide a cause of action against a federal contractor.

Cage v. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center · filed 2019-08-14

Section 1983, however, does not provide a cause of action against a federal contractor like Alutiiq.
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Section 1983 does not govern constitutional damages claims against federal actors; those claims are governed by Bivens.

Shade v. Welsh · filed 2019-09-17

When the Court entered the dismissal order, it mistakenly referred to Plaintiff's claim as a “civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983” rather than a Bivens civil rights action.
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Section 1983 does not cover claims against federal actors; such claims are properly classified as Bivens claims.

Kornafel v. United States Postal Service · filed 2019-11-20

In his complaint, Kornafel indicated that his claims were brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. They are more properly classified as Bivens claims because they are against federal actors.
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Section 1983 does not govern constitutional claims against individual federal officials acting as federal officials; those claims are considered under Bivens.

Kevin Grady, Sr. v. Kinder · filed 2020-02-11

Although Grady framed his due-process claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the district court properly understood him to have brought the action under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), because he sued individual defendants who are federal actors.
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Section 1983 does not provide the cause of action for individual-capacity claims against federal employees; those claims proceed under Bivens.

Abram v. Leu · filed 2020-03-02

However, to the extent he sues federal employees in their individual capacities, the Court construes such claims as being brought pursuant to Bivens, the federal analog to § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not apply to federal marshals acting as federal officers because they are not acting under color of state law.

Miller v. US Marshals Services · filed 2020-03-13

But § 1983 does not apply to the USMS because marshals are federal actors, not state actors.
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Section 1983 does not provide a claim against a federal agency or individuals acting under color of federal law.

Quintana-Dieppa v. Department of the Army · filed 2020-03-25

However, it cannot form the basis of an action against individuals acting under color of federal law or against a federal agency. Rogers v. Vicuna, 264 F.3d 1, 4 (1st Cir. 2001). There is no dispute that plaintiff’s allegations hinge on defendants’ actions under color of federal law. ECF No. 1 at 2-3. As such, plaintiff’s claims under § 1983 necessarily fail.
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Section 1983 does not apply to federal actors.

Quansah v. Justice Department · filed 2020-03-26

Plaintiff cites 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which is not applicable to federal actors.
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Section 1983 applies to constitutional violations by state actors, not federal actors.

Rivera v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Service · filed 2020-08-12

To begin, § 1983 only applies to constitutional violations committed by state actors, not federal actors.
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Section 1983 applies to state actors, not federal actors.

United States v. Dorio · filed 2020-09-02

As to the latter, the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that 42 U.S.C. § 1983 applies only to state, not federal, actors.
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Section 1983 does not cover a claim against a federal judge acting as a federal government actor; such a claim must be brought under Bivens.

Dunigan v. Simon · filed 2021-01-07

Technically, because Judge Simon is a federal government actor, a claim against him must be brought under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
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Section 1983 authorizes claims against persons acting under color of state or local law; claims against federal actors may be construed under Bivens.

Ellis v. Hawk · filed 2021-01-26

Thus, the Court construes Ellis’s reference to seeking relief under “1983” as seeking relief under Bivens.
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Section 1983 does not support a claim against federal actors whose challenged conduct lacks a connection to state action.

O'Donnell v. Nedd · filed 2020-11-10

Finally, Defendants argue Plaintiff’s §1983 claim cannot be brought against Defendants Nedd, Pendley, Bernhardt, Stewart, or the United States because of their positions as federal government actors. ... Plaintiff concedes that the § 1983 claim cannot stand against Defendants Nedd, Pendley, Bernhardt, Stewart, and the United States. See Doc. No. 14 at 7. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s fourth cause of action against Defendants Nedd, Pendley, Bernhardt, Stewart, and the United States.
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Section 1983 does not govern constitutional claims against federal actors; Bivens applies instead.

Keys v. Lane · filed 2021-03-17

Although Plaintiffs reference 42 U.S.C. § 1983, because they are suing federal actors for constitutional violations, Bivens is applicable.
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Section 1983 does not apply to federal actors.

Ward v. Parker · filed 2021-03-30

Furthermore, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 does not apply to federal actors.
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Section 1983 applies to claims against state actors; constitutional claims against federal actors may instead arise under Bivens.

Herbin v. Roman · filed 2021-04-26

Plaintiff brings his complaint as a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. But because he alleges that agencies and employees of the federal government – not state actors – violated his constitutional rights, the Court construes Plaintiff’s claims as arising under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
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Section 1983 applies to state and local government actors, not federal officials or entities.

Lenhart v. Savetski · filed 2021-06-11

Claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 apply only to state and local government actors. It does not provide a cause of action against federal government officials or entities.
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Section 1983 does not apply to federal actors.

Rizvi v. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania · filed 2021-08-16

Section 1983 does not apply to federal actors.
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Section 1983 does not apply to the federal government or federal employees acting under federal law.

Chavez v. United States of America · filed 2021-09-14

The Complaint fails to state a claim pursuant 42 U.S.C. § 1983 because the only Defendants named in the Complaint are the United States, the USDA and federal employees.
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Section 1983 does not provide a cause of action against federal actors acting under federal law.

Small Business in Transportation Coalition v. Department of Transportation · filed 2021-09-27

Here, SBTC’s claims of First Amendment violations plainly apply to federal actors acting under federal law, and so SBTC cannot rely on a cause of action under § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not provide a cause of action against federal agents acting in their federal capacity.

Selvam v. United States of America · filed 2021-11-05

Since the individual defendants—Agent Connor and unnamed individuals “employed by defendant USA”—are federal agents, Compl. 2, Section 1983 cannot sustain his claims against them.
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Section 1983 provides a cause of action against persons acting under color of state law, but not against federal officials.

Barrett v. GEO · filed 2021-12-02

“Section 1983, however, provides no right of action against federal (rather than state) officials.” Russell v. United States Dept. of the Army, 191 F.3d 1016, 1019 (9th Cir. 1999). To the extent Plaintiff has named federal rather than state actors as Defendants, his Complaint is properly construed pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
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Section 1983 does not provide a remedy for constitutional violations by persons acting under color of federal authority.

Rayborn v. Marion · filed 2021-12-03

Although Plaintiff asserts this claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the defendants, it appears he should have pursued relief under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), for alleged violations of his constitutional rights by persons acting under color of federal authority.
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Section 1983 permits claims only against persons acting under color of law for a state, territory, or the District of Columbia.

Haughton v. US Department of Homeland Security · filed 2021-12-17

But, it is well-established that plaintiff may only bring a Section 1983 claim against persons acting under the color of law for a state, territory, or the District of Columbia.
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Section 1983 provides no right of action against federal officials; constitutional claims against them must be brought, if at all, under Bivens.

Gonzales v. Noonan · filed 2022-03-30

“Section 1983, however, provides no right of action against federal (rather than state) officials.” Russell v. United States Dept. of the Army, 191 F.3d 1016, 1019 (9th Cir. 1999). To the extent Plaintiff has named federal rather than state actors as Defendants, his Complaint is properly construed pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
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Section 1983 authorizes suits against state and local officers but provides no cause of action against federal actors.

David Campeau, Jr. v. Sandercock · filed 2022-05-20

The appellants brought their lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which, by its own terms, authorizes suits against state and local officers; it does not provide a cause of action against federal actors.
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Section 1983 applies to state actors, not federal actors.

Carter v. Bexar County Sheriffs Off. Personnel Admin. Sergeant Abraham · filed 2022-06-03

By its very terms, § 1983 applies to state, not federal actors.
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Administrative grievances

Section 1983 does not impose liability on prison officials merely for failing to investigate a prisoner’s complaints or grievances.

Golden v. Jefferys · filed 2022-05-11

Prison officials incur no liability under § 1983 if they fail or refuse to investigate a prisoner's complaints or grievances.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on an official merely for denying an administrative grievance or failing to act on information in it.

Anderson 979199 v. Huss · filed 2022-03-22

Section 1983 liability may not be imposed simply because an official denied an administrative grievance or failed to act based upon information contained in a grievance.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on prison officials solely for reviewing inmate grievances.

(PC) Martinez v. Davey · filed 2021-09-30

The prison grievance procedure does not confer any substantive rights upon inmates and actions in reviewing appeals cannot serve as a basis for liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on prison officials for failing to investigate a prisoner’s complaints or grievances.

Brand v. Oglesby · filed 2021-09-23

Thus, prison officials incur no liability under § 1983 if they fail to investigate a prisoner’s complaints or grievances.
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Section 1983 generally does not impose liability for reviewing or mishandling a prisoner’s grievance without causing or participating in a violation of rights.

(PC) White v. Krantz · filed 2021-09-16

Actions in reviewing prisoner’s administrative appeal generally cannot serve as the basis for liability in a section 1983 action.
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Section 1983 does not provide a claim based solely on a prison official’s failure to process or respond to a grievance.

Boyd v. Doe · filed 2021-06-30

Judge Deere explains that Mr. Boyd’s complaint about the grievance procedure fails as a matter of law because a prison official’s failure properly to process or respond to a grievance, standing alone, is not grounds for a claim brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Id., at 2). ... Accordingly, the Court adopts the Recommended Disposition as its findings in all respects (Dkt. No. 4).
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Section 1983 does not make prison officials liable for failing or refusing to investigate a prisoner’s complaints or grievances.

Pryor v. Atkins · filed 2021-06-16

Therefore, prison officials incur no liability under § 1983 if they fail or refuse to investigate a prisoner’s complaints or grievances.
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Section 1983 does not provide a claim based solely on a prison official’s failure to respond to grievances.

AZCONA v. ELLIS · filed 2021-03-25

But the failure to respond to grievances does not state a claim for relief under § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a prison official solely for reviewing and denying an inmate grievance.

(PC) Mekhtarian v. Ortega · filed 2021-03-03

This means that a prison official’s action in reviewing an inmate grievance cannot serve as a basis for liability under Section 1983.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a defendant solely for denying a prisoner's grievance.

Johnson 753595 v. Dixon-Ingalls · filed 2020-09-03

Such an allegation does not even support a claim against Defendant Barnes, Shehee v. Luttrell, 199 F.3d 295, 300 (6th Cir. 1999) (holding that denying a grievance does not create liability under § 1983), much less demonstrate that Defendant Barnes is placing Plaintiff in imminent danger of serious physical injury.
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Section 1983 does not allow a claim against a prison official based solely on the official’s participation in the prison grievance process.

Allen v. Simon · filed 2020-12-14

However, a § 1983 plaintiff cannot proceed against a prison official based solely on the official’s participation in the prison grievance process.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a prison official solely for reviewing an inmate grievance.

(PC) Montgomery v. Wong · filed 2020-11-12

This means that a prison official’s action in reviewing an inmate grievance cannot serve as a basis for liability under Section 1983.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a prison official solely for improperly processing an inmate’s grievance or appeal.

Salmen v. California Department of Correction Rehabilitation · filed 2020-11-02

However, a prison official’s allegedly improper processing of an inmate’s grievances or appeals, without more, cannot serve as a basis for Section 1983 liability.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on prison officials solely for denying or failing to act on an inmate’s grievances.

Curtis v. Christian County, Kentucky · filed 2020-10-05

By the same token, a plaintiff cannot maintain a claim against a prison official based solely on his handling of the plaintiff’s grievance.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a prison official for processing an inmate’s grievances or appeals without more.

Valdez v. Zhang · filed 2020-09-09

However, as to Defendants Robert and Gates, a prison official’s allegedly improper processing of an inmate’s grievances or appeals, without more, cannot serve as a basis for § 1983 liability.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on prison officials merely for failing to investigate or respond to grievances.

Reilly v. Washington · filed 2020-06-15

Failure to investigate or respond to grievances does not establish a § 1983 violation.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a prison appeals coordinator merely for improperly processing a prisoner’s grievances or appeals.

Walker v. Gonzalez · filed 2020-04-30

Additionally, the Court finds Plaintiff’s Complaint fails to state a claim as to Inmate Appeals Coordinator Foston because an official’s allegedly improper processing of a prisoner’s grievances or appeals, without more, does not serve as a sufficient basis for section 1983 liability.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on prison officials merely for improperly processing an inmate’s grievance or appeal.

Battensby v. Zhang · filed 2020-01-28

A prison official’s allegedly improper processing of an inmate’s grievances or appeals, without more, cannot serve as a basis for section 1983 liability.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on prison medical officials merely for improperly processing an inmate’s grievances or health care appeals.

Powell v. Basto · filed 2019-10-24

However, a prison medical official’s allegedly improper processing of an inmate’s grievances or health care appeals, without more, cannot serve as an independent basis for section 1983 liability.
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Section 1983 does not impose personal liability on a prison official merely for denying an inmate grievance.

Walker v. Hickenlooper · filed 2015-10-08

But even if his allegations are credited, the officials would not incur personal liability because we have squarely held that a prison official’s denial of a grievance cannot create liability under § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a prison official merely for denying an administrative grievance.

Thompson v. Stapleton · filed 2010-12-15

And Hofbauer’s denial of Thompson-Bey’s administrative grievance is otherwise not actionable under § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability for failing to properly investigate or rectify an inmate grievance.

Lewis v. Zon · filed 2013-01-25

However, plaintiff does not oppose the portion of defendants’ summary judgment motion seeking to dismiss that claim, and in any event, failure to properly investigate or rectify inmate grievances does not provide a basis for liability under Section 1983.
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Section 1983 does not make prison officials liable merely for failing to process or investigate an inmate’s grievances.

King v. Houston · filed 2014-05-14

Likewise, King’s allegation that they did not adequately consider his grievances did not state a claim. See Buckley v. Barlow, 997 F.2d 494, 495 (8th Cir. 1993) (per curiam) (prison officials’ failure to process or investigate grievances, without more, is not actionable under § 1983).
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on officials solely for responding to grievances or participating in the grievance procedure.

Kiser v. State of Ohio · filed 2019-08-30

Responding to a grievance or otherwise participating in the grievance procedure is insufficient to trigger liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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Section 1983 liability cannot rest on a failure to investigate a complaint or grievance.

Zambon v. Crawford (TWP1) · filed 2019-09-09

As noted above, failure to investigate a complaint or grievance is insufficient to establish liability under § 1983. Thus, Defendant Myers is not liable under § 1983, even if he failed to investigate a complaint about Officer Crawford.
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Section 1983 does not make a complaint examiner liable merely for recommending dismissal of an inmate grievance.

Pirtle v. Brooks · filed 2019-09-16

A complaint examiner is not liable under § 1983 for merely recommending that an inmate complaint be dismissed.
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Section 1983 generally does not impose liability on prison officials solely for reviewing or denying inmate grievances.

(PC) Hunter v. Williams · filed 2020-06-03

The prison grievance procedure does not confer any substantive constitutional rights upon inmates and actions in reviewing and denying inmate appeals generally do not serve as a basis for liability under § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a prison official solely for improperly processing an inmate’s grievances or appeals.

Ramsey v. Zhang-MD · filed 2020-06-23

A prison official’s allegedly improper processing of an inmate’s grievances or appeals, without more, cannot serve as a basis for Section 1983 liability.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on an official solely for improperly processing a prisoner’s grievances or appeals.

Smith v. Avalos · filed 2020-08-19

As an initial matter, the Court finds Plaintiff’s Complaint fails to state a claim as to any of the named Defendants because an official’s allegedly improper processing of a prisoner’s grievances or appeals, without more, does not serve as a sufficient basis for section 1983 liability.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a prison official merely for denying or improperly processing a prisoner’s grievance or appeal.

Davies v. Heick · filed 2020-09-29

A prison official’s denial of a grievance or allegedly improper processing of a prisoner’s grievances or appeals, without more, is not a sufficient basis for liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on a prison official solely for denying a prisoner’s grievance.

Johnson v. Thorpe · filed 2021-01-20

By the same token, a plaintiff cannot maintain a claim against a prison official based solely on his or her denial of the plaintiff’s grievance. ... In light of this jurisprudence, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has failed to state claim against Defendants Thorpe, VanMeter, or Woosley based upon their involvement in the grievance process and that the claims must be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
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Section 1983 does not impose liability on prison officials merely for failing or refusing to investigate a prisoner’s complaints or grievances.

Brown v. Childs · filed 2021-05-17

Prison officials incur no liability under § 1983 if they fail or refuse to investigate a prisoner’s complaints or grievances.
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Section 1983 does not make a prison official liable solely for denying a prisoner’s grievance.

Odom v. Bruce · filed 2021-10-08

A plaintiff cannot maintain a claim against a prison official based solely on his denial of the plaintiff’s grievance.
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Section 1983 does not make a prison official liable merely for denying or failing to act on an inmate’s grievance.

Dunson v. Lyons · filed 2021-11-19

In any event, “the denial of or failure to act upon an inmate’s grievance does not, by itself, subject a prison official to liability.”
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Standing of tribal members

Section 1983 permits a tribal member directly cited and convicted under state law to sue over an alleged violation of his federally secured treaty hunting right.

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF COLVILLE v. Anderson · filed 2011-01-03

Therefore, the Court finds Mr. Johnson has standing to bring his § 1983 claim based on the alleged unlawful state citation and conviction in violation of the federally-secured treaty hunting right.
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Section 1983 permits family members to sue in their individual capacities only if the defendant’s conduct was aimed at the familial relationship.

Ramirez-Lluveras v. Pagan-Cruz · filed 2012-04-23

In contrast, plaintiffs have standing to bring suit in their individual capacities pursuant to section 1983 only if Pagan’s conduct was aimed at the familial relationship. ... Accordingly, here, like in Ramirez-Lluveras I, the plaintiffs’ section 1983 action brought in their personal capacities against Pagan is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
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Section 1983 permits surviving family members to sue for their own damages only when the alleged constitutional violation was aimed at the family relationship.

Ramirez-Lluveras v. Pagan-Cruz · filed 2012-05-21

To have standing to bring suit pursuant to section 1983, plaintiffs must avail themselves of the exception to the general bar on third party standing: that the alleged constitutional violation was aimed at the family relationship.
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Section 1983 lets tribal members sue to vindicate individual rights, but a tribe cannot use it to assert sovereign rights or its members’ individual rights as parens patriae.

Chemehuevi Indian Tribe v. McMahon · filed 2019-08-19

The individual plaintiffs may bring § 1983 claims against the defendants. The Tribe, however, cannot assert its sovereign rights under that statute.
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Full faith and credit claims

Section 1983 does not provide a federal court remedy to enforce the Full Faith and Credit Clause against a nonjudicial state official.

Adar v. Smith · filed 2011-04-12

Section 1983 has no place in the clause’s orchestration of inter-court comity—state courts may err, but their rulings are not subject to declaratory or injunctive relief in federal courts.
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Section 1983 does not provide a remedy against a nonjudicial state official for an alleged violation of the Full Faith and Credit Clause.

Adar v. Smith · filed 2011-04-13

The question, then, is whether this obligation gives rise to a right vindicable in a § 1983 action. We hold that it does not.
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Arrests under invalid laws

Section 1983 may remedy a Fourth Amendment violation caused by an arrest under a law that is unambiguously invalid on state law grounds.

McMullen Ex Rel. Obchinetz v. Maple Shade Township Ex Rel. New Jersey Municipal · filed 2011-06-27

Thus, in certain circumstances, an arrest pursuant to a law that is unambiguously invalid for reasons based solely on state law grounds may constitute a Fourth Amendment violation actionable under § 1983.
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Enforcement of IDEA and Rehabilitation Act rights

Section 1983 does not provide a damages remedy for alleged violations of the IDEA or Rehabilitation Act.

MG v. Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education · filed 2011-06-30

Therefore, plaintiffs cannot pursue a § 1983 damages action to remedy the alleged violations of the IDEA and Rehabilitation Act; they must seek relief directly under those statutes instead.
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Section 1983 permits an excessive force claim to proceed when success would not imply that a conviction or disciplinary decision is invalid.

Elcock v. Whitecotton · filed 2011-08-02

Further, her claim of excessive force lays out a plausible basis for relief even if we assume she kicked Whitecotton, cf.Moore, 652 F.3d at 724-25, so she can proceed on this claim without running afoul of Heck and Edwards, see id.
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Section 1983 cannot be used to enforce the IDEA because the IDEA has a comprehensive enforcement scheme incompatible with individual enforcement under section 1983.

Howell v. Gray · filed 2012-02-14

This Court agrees with the district court and the majority of circuits that have found that plaintiffs may not bring suit under section 1983 to enforce the IDEA. The IDEA creates a comprehensive enforcement scheme which is incompatible with individual enforcement under section 1983.
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Section 1983 cannot be used to sue a state official in her individual capacity to vindicate rights created by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Weatherford v. Nevada Rural Housing Authority · filed 2013-05-17

To the extent that Weatherford is attempting to sue individual defendants for violations of the Rehabilitation Act, the Court grants Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. The Ninth Circuit has held that “a plaintiff cannot bring an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against a State official in her individual capacity to vindicate rights created by ... section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.”
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Section 1983 permits a claim to enforce IDEA rights and seek available damages when the administrative process offers no reasonable relief.

A. ex rel. A. v. Hartford Board of Education · filed 2013-10-08

The administrative procedural safeguards, such as they are alleged to have been implemented, are failing Plaintiffs, there is no reasonable relief available to them under the administrative process, and consequently Plaintiffs ought to be able to bring suit under Section 1983 to enforce these provisions of the IDEA, including any monetary and any other damages that are available under this statute, as addressed infra.
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Notes 84601–84750 of 85,166, oldest cases first.

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