Melanie Williams v. Matthew Sirmons

Melanie Williams brought suit against Deputy Matthew Sirmons, Deputy James Mills, and Sheriff John Rutherford of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, alleging, inter alia, that Mills and Sirmons used excessive force against her in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Deputies Mills and Sirmons moved for summary judgment, arguing that they were entitled to the defense of qualified immunity. The district court denied the deputies’ motion. Sirmons and Mills appeal.

As an initial matter, we note that a district court’s order denying a defendant’s motion for summary judgment grounded on a claim of qualified…