Legal Opinion
Jonas Magnotti v. Walter J. Kuntz, Individually and in His Official Capacity as an Officer in the Police Department of New Haven, Ct
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Decided November 8, 1990No. 313, Docket 90-7497PublishedCited by 88 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
IRVING R. KAUFMAN, Circuit Judge:
Government officials are personally liable for damages when, acting under color of law, they deprive an individual of “any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The “qualified immunity” doctrine has arisen as a judicially-created counterbalance to this threat of civil punishment. The defense affords not only protection from liability, but, in addition, freedom from suit. This basic principle, which allows police some breathing space in the performance of their duties, informs our decision to reverse the district…
2Cases cited19 opinions
- Harlow v. FitzgeraldSupreme Court of the United States · 1982
- Anderson v. CreightonSupreme Court of the United States · 1987
- Cohen v. Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp.Supreme Court of the United States · 1949
- Mitchell v. ForsythSupreme Court of the United States · 1985
- United States v. LeonSupreme Court of the United States · 1984
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3Cited by88 opinions
- Hartman v. MooreSupreme Court of the United States · 2006
- Mark Cook v. Roberta Sheldon and Nelson Saldana, New York State TroopersCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1994
- Eagleston v. GuidoCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1994
- Singer v. Fulton County SheriffCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1995
- Moffitt v. Town Of BrookfieldCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1991
83 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.