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Tag Archives: Civil Rights

Staffer who listened to prosecutor, magistrate gets immunity

Where an investigator with the sheriff’s office did not cause arrest warrants on dog theft and obstruction of justice charges to be issued he was insulated from liability. And where he relied on the opinion of the commonwealth’s attorney and ...

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Deputy sheriff gets no immunity for retaliatory traffic ticket

Where a woman had complained about a Spotsylvania County Deputy Sheriff, and the deputy sheriff later promised to buy another deputy lunch if he issued a ticket to the woman, the deputy sheriff was not entitled to qualified immunity because ...

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Claims struck by trial court remanded for damage award

The circuit court erred by striking plaintiff’s claims of excessive force, false arrest and illegal search against defendant police officer on the basis of sovereign and qualified immunity. Defendant did not challenge the jury’s findings that he was liable for ...

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Excessive force claims against arresting officer filed too late

Where a man sued an arresting officer for excessive force based on injuries allegedly suffered in July 2015, the suit was dismissed because it was filed beyond the two years applicable to § 1983 claims in Virginia. Background On July ...

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Dogs get added protection under 4th Circuit ruling

Even without binding authority in the circuit on the circumstances, a federal appeals panel has denied qualified immunity for a police officer who shot and killed a citizen’s dog when the dog allegedly posed no threat. “Police can’t kill pets ...

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