Section 1983 – Info about bringing a civil rights lawsuit Show
A Section 1983 lawsuit is a legal claim alleging that a state or local official has violated your civil rights under the United States Constitution. These actions may be brought in state or federal court. Victims can pursue
The injunction can prevent the violation from happening again. The damages can compensate the victim and punish the wrongdoer. However, victims have to overcome the qualified immunity defense in order to recover monetary damages. Note, though, that recent law bars the use of this defense in some cases. 1. What is a Section 1983 lawsuit?A Section 1983 lawsuit is a civil rights lawsuit. It can be filed by someone whose civil rights have been violated. The victim can file a lawsuit if the wrongdoer was acting under color of law.1 Civil rights are those guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or certain federal laws.1 The Supreme Court recognizes that there is a deprivation of rights when:
Rights guaranteed by state law cannot be the basis of a Section 1983 lawsuit. Only federal rights are protected by the statute.7 Technically, Section 1983 is nothing more than a procedural device based on a federal statute. It gives federal courts jurisdiction to hear civil rights cases. No one can be liable under Section 1983. Instead, it creates liability for violating other federal laws. That is why 1983 cases always include an alleged violation of another law, such as the:
A Section 1983 lawsuit is a civil rights lawsuit that can be filed by someone whose civil rights have been violated. At common law, prior to Section 1983, lawsuits against the state and its agents were barred by sovereign immunity. Section 1983 was originally designed to protect slaves who were freed in the Civil War. Southern states passed laws that harassed and intimidated African Americans. Law enforcement officers in the south used their positions to assault victims. The law was passed by legislators as a part of the Civil Rights Act of 1871. This act of Congress allowed black victims to file a lawsuit and recover money damages. That lawsuit could be filed in federal court. The congressional intent was for victims to avoid state court decisions. In state court, the victim would likely have faced a strong bias. 2. What does “under color of law” mean?The civil rights violation has to be committed “under color of law.” People act under color of any statute when they behave with the apparent authority of the state. While on the job, police department officers and jail guards act under color of state law.11 State officials can act under color of law while they break the law, too. They can violate official policy and still maintain the appearance of state action.12 So long as they have the appearance of state actors, they can be sued.
This means that off-duty police officers can be acting under the color of law. However, there have to be signs that the officer made it seem like he was on the job (acting in “an official capacity”). Factors could include:
However, working for the state does not always mean that a person acts under color of law. Some people who technically work for the state cannot act under color of law.
On the other hand, people who do not work for the government can still act under color of law. This can happen if they conspire with government officials to deprive someone of their civil rights.
Section 1983 litigation claims can be filed against state and local officials. 3. Who can I sue under Section 1983?Victims of civil rights violations can sue people who acted under the color of law. This includes:
A Section 1983 litigation claim can be filed against state and local officials such as:
However, Section 1983 does not normally reach federal officials.16 Federal officials can only be sued under Section 1983 if they act alongside state or local officials.17 When they are acting on their own, federal officials can be sued in a Bivens claim instead. (See our article on Bivens vs 1983). Private individuals can also be sued if they conspire with state officials. This would make them act under color of law.18 When the constitutional violation was a custom or policy of the municipality, the municipality can be sued, too.19 Municipalities include:
However, states like California or Texas cannot be sued in a Section 1983 claim.20 4. Can you bring a 1983 claim in state court?Victims who suffered deprivation of any rights can file a Section 1983 cause of action in state lower courts (district courts).21 However, the ability to recover monetary damages is drastically reduced. The state official cannot be sued for official conduct for money damages.22 5. What damages can I obtain?Successful Section 1983 claims can produce 2 kinds of remedies:
The court can award monetary damages for compensation as well as punitive damages. The compensation aims to cover the victim’s:
The punitive damages aim to punish the wrongdoer for violating the victim’s rights. They cannot be recovered from a municipality, though.23 Some state officials are absolutely immune to 1983 claims for monetary damages. This absolute immunity applies to their official conduct. These people include:
Section 1983 claims that demand damages are also susceptible to the qualified immunity defense. This defense allows other state officials to claim they were acting in good faith. The defense can succeed so long as they did not:
However, municipalities cannot make use of the qualified immunity defense. They can be held liable even if they did not know they were violating the victim’s constitutional rights.28 Note also that recent California law, Senate Bill 2, bars police officers from raising a qualified immunity defense in California lawsuits brought under the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act. A citizen can file a Bane Act suit if any government employees interfered by threat, intimidation, or coercion with that party’s constitutional rights. Senate Bill 2 also prohibits prison guards and their employers from using a qualified immunity defense in cases where they injured a prisoner or failed to provide him/her with medical care. Section 1983 causes of action can also pursue prospective relief. This comes in the form of an injunction, or court order. That order changes be made to prevent another, similar violation from happening in the future. 6. Is there a statute of limitations?There is a statute of limitations for Section 1983 claims. This means the civil action (lawsuit) must be filed within a certain time frame. However, that length of time depends on the type of constitutional violation. Courts have to apply the statute of limitations that is most similar to the violation.29 This is often a personal injury statute of limitations, which tends to be 3 years. However, some 1983 cases can have different time constraints. Contact our law firm for help. Our civil law attorneys also practice criminal law and torts. Legal References:What are the most common civil rights violations?The most common complaint involves allegations of color of law violations. Another common complaint involves racial violence, such as physical assaults, homicides, verbal or written threats, or desecration of property.
What crime has the longest statute of limitations?Although the majority of federal crimes are governed by the general five-year statute of limitations, Congress has chosen longer periods for specific types of crimes—20 years for the theft of art work;19 10 years for arson,20 for certain crimes against financial institutions,21 and for immigration offenses;22 and 8 ...
What civil rights are guaranteed?The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing Federal statutes that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and religion.
What is the statute of limitations for a civil suit in California?Personal injury: Two years from the injury. If the injury was not discovered right away, then it is 1 year from the date the injury was discovered. Breach of a written contract: Four years from the date the contract was broken. Breach of an oral contract: Two years from the date the contract was broken.
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