Lykken v. Brady

RILEY, Chief Judge.

Pursuant to a valid warrant, law enforcement officers engaged in a large-scale search of Kerwyn Lykken’s and Esther Lykken’s (together, the Lykkens), Union County, South Dakota, farm. As the search was conducted, some of the Lykkens’ livestock bolted through a fence, and Esther’s pregnant cat gave birth. The search lasted four days, during which the livestock lost weight, Esther’s stove was left on, and some of the kittens died. The Lykkens sued six of the officers under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, asserting civil rights violations arising from the search. The district court 1…