Legal Opinion
Joseph E.L. Sullivan v. David R. Freeman and James C. Delworth
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Decided October 4, 1991No. 89-2869PublishedCited by 63 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
POSNER, Circuit Judge.
This is a diversity suit by a prisoner against the two federal public defenders who represented him unsuccessfully in his effort to fend off the revocation of his parole. The suit alleges that the defenders committed legal malpractice in violation of the common law of Illinois and seeks damages. The district judge dismissed the suit on the ground that public defenders have absolute immunity from liability for damages.
The litigants and the district judge apparently were unaware that shortly after this suit was filed Congress amended the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C.…
2Cases cited16 opinions
- Polk County v. DodsonSupreme Court of the United States · 1981
- Ferri v. AckermanSupreme Court of the United States · 1979
- Orville E. Stifel, II v. William F. Hopkins, Esq.Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · 1973
- Sheila Arbour, Personal Representative of the Estate of Victor Arbour v. Eugene JenkinsCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · 1990
- Moss v. ClarkCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · 1989
11 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by63 opinions
- Kelley Mala v. Crown Bay MarinaCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 2013
- United States v. ComstockSupreme Court of the United States · 2010
- Smith v. CummingsCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit · 2006
- Tatum C. Singletary v. Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of ChicagoCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1993
- Edward Bontkowski v. Brian SmithCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2002
58 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.