Legal Opinion
Grandstaff v. City of Borger
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Decided August 5, 1985No. Nos. 84-1241, 84-1337PublishedCited by 221 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
REAVLEY, Circuit Judge:
The City of Borger police mistook James C. Grandstaff for a fugitive and killed him. The estate and family of Grandstaff sued and recovered $1,430,000, together with attorneys fees and expenses, from four of the officers as well as the City. We uphold the liability of the officers on both the federal and state claims and the damages award because of Texas law; we sustain the 42 U.S.C. § 1983 liability of the City but modify the damages recovered against it.
*165I. The Events of August 11, 1981
Shortly after 4:00 a.m. two Borger policemen signaled the driver of a pickup truck…
2Cases cited40 opinions
- Monell v. New York City Dept. of Social Servs.Supreme Court of the United States · 1978
- McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. GreenSupreme Court of the United States · 1973
- Harlow v. FitzgeraldSupreme Court of the United States · 1982
- Rizzo v. GoodeSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
- Baker v. McCollanSupreme Court of the United States · 1979
35 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by221 opinions
- Piotrowski v. City of HoustonCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 2001
- Baker v. PutnalCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1996
- Peterson v. City of Fort Worth, Tex.Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 2009
- Oliver v. ScottCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 2002
- George Thompkins, Cross-Appellee v. Bill Belt, Sheriff, Avoyelles Parish, CrossCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1987
216 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.