Case ID: f-appx_705/html/0474-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Patsy Ann OXFORD, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of James R. Oxford, deceased; James T. Oxford, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. MADISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE; Sheriff Phillip Morgan, in his official capacity as Madison County Sheriff; Andy Mitchell, Individually and in his official capacity as a Deputy in the Madison County Sheriff's Office, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 17-1342
    United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
    Submitted: November 23, 2017
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Darrell Fayne Brown, Jr., Law Offices of Darrell F. Brown, Jr., Little Rock, AR, for Plaintiffs-Appellants
    Jason E. Owens, Rainwater & Holt, Little Rock, AR, for Defendants-Appellees
    Before WOLLMAN, LOKEN, and COLLOTON, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM.

Patsy and James T. Oxford sued Madison County, Arkansas, and Madison County Sheriffs Deputy Andy Mitchell for allegedly not doing enough to prevent the death of James R. Oxford—Patsy’s husband and James T.’s father—in an automobile accident. We agree with the district court that even if the Oxfords’ allegations are true, they do not describe a constitutional violation that would support liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1988. See Simes v. Ark. Judicial Discipline & Disability Comm’n, 734 F.3d 830, 834 (8th Cir. 2013) (de novo review). The police do not have an enforceable constitutional duty to protect anyone, including people whose affairs they have become involved with, unless they are in' custody (or some similar “special relationship” with the state) or the state affirmatively put them in danger. See Gregory v. City of Rogers, 974 F.2d 1006, 1009-10 (8th Cir. 1992) (en banc). Neither circumstance was present here. As for the county, there can be no municipal liability on the Oxfords’ theory without an underlying constitutional violation. See McCoy v. City of Monticello, 411 F.3d 920, 922 (8th Cir. 2005).

The judgment of the district court is affirmed. 
      
      . The Oxfords did not name the county as a defendant but sued county employees in their official capacities. See Baker v. Chisom, 501 F.3d 920, 925 (8th Cir. 2007).
     
      
      . The Honorable P.K. Holmes, III, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.