No qualified immunity for K-9 officer, 4th Circuit holds
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a Virginia k-9 officer was not entitled to qualified immunity for excessive force against an unarmed suspect.
Civil Rights – No qualified immunity on excessive force police K-9 claim
The 4th Circuit vacated qualified immunity for Chesterfield County officer Hagen on a Fourth Amendment excessive force claim involving police K-9 deployment.
Civil Rights – Excessive force claim against two officers is reinstated
The 4th Circuit reinstated Patrick Nichols's excessive force claim against officers Bumgarner and Schmidt, emphasizing procedural errors and factual disputes.
Prisons – Former federal inmate’s Bivens’ action is dismissed
The 4th Circuit affirmed dismissal of Mandriez Spivey’s bivens claims against federal prison employees for inadequate medical care and excessive force.
Civil rights – Officer denied immunity in fatal shooting case
A virginia officer was denied qualified immunity in a fatal shooting case for violating the Fourth Amendment by using excessive force against Charles Byers.
Civil Rights – Court reinstates excessive force claims against police officer
The 4th Circuit vacated summary judgment dismissing excessive force claims against Sergeant Joshua Moser in a shooting in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Federal appeals court rules against Fairfax County in police shooting
The Fourth Circuit ruled that Fairfax County police officer Joshua Moser may have violated Jeffery Payne’s constitutional rights in a 2022 shooting.
Civil Rights – Jury to decide if officer violated arrestee’s rights
The WDVA denied summary judgment for Lynchburg police officer Seth Reed in a civil rights case alleging excessive force with a police dog against Calvin Wesley.
U.S. Supreme Court backs officer in excessive force case
Supreme Court rules police officer shielded by qualified immunity in protest excessive force case, finding no clearly established Fourth Amendment violation.
Civil Rights – Deputy sheriff denied summary judgment in excessive force/battery suit
The 4th Circuit affirmed denial of summary judgment for Deputy Wright in a Virginia excessive force suit, citing disputed facts on use of force after surrender.
Police dog bite claims invalid under ‘Bivens’
The 4th Circuit denied a Bivens claim over a U.S. Marshals-led task force injury, finding it a new context and declining to extend the cause of action.
Colorado officer sued over fatal shooting in parking lot
Story highlights ·Officer Brandon Mills fatally shot Rashaud Johnson during a mental health crisis in May · Lawsuit alleges excessive force, failure to provide medical aid · Bodycam shows Johnson […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Medical Malpractice – Death from cancer followed stomach pain misdiagnosis
- Workers’ Compensation – Seasonal worker paralyzed in tobacco baler accident
- Medical Malpractice – Jurors side with doctor in suit over rescue surgery
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Unicycle rider dies after being hit by car
- Premises Liability – Delivery driver injured by porch decking collapse
- Premises Liability – Fall down stairs at resort results in injuries, death
- Medical Malpractice – Jurors side with doctor in suit over rescue surgery
- Workers’ Compensation- Seasonal worker paralyzed in tobacco baler accident
- Medical Malpractice- Death from cancer followed stomach pain misdiagnosis
- Workers’ Compensation – Struck in face by forklift, woman suffers brain injury
- Negligence and Tort – Group home resident falls, sustaining femur fracture
Opinion Digests
- Employment – Former employee’s claims against ODU are narrowed
- Civil Rights – Civil rights suit was filed too late
- Criminal – Woman dodges disorderly conduct conviction
- Zoning – Disgruntled resident’s suit against County zoning officials is dismissed
- Criminal – Trial court lost jurisdiction to act on defendant’s motion
- Civil Procedure – Court seals briefs and exhibits
- Freedom of Information – UVA appropriately withheld documents under ‘working papers’ exemption
- Contract – Sprint sued for terminating contract in bad faith
- Bankruptcy – Purchaser of assets dodges bankrupt predecessor’s alleged liability
- Landlord and tenant – Commercial landlord’s suit against tenant is dismissed
- Administrative – Discovery denied in immigration dispute
- Appeals – Standing and First Amendment rulings certified for interlocutory appeal

















