Case Title: Shepherd v. Washington County

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: arkansas

Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

Date: 1998-02-19T00:00:00Z

Document:
Peggy Sue SHEPHERD, Personally and as
Administratrix of the Estate of George
Shepherd, Deceased,  v. WASHINGTON COUNTY,
Arkansas, Sheriff Kenneth McKee, Personally
and in His Official Capacity, and Deputy John
Doe, Personally and in His Official Capacity,

97-530                                             ___ S.W.2d ___

                    Supreme Court of Arkansas
               Opinion delivered February 19, 1998


1.   Civil procedure -- Rule 12(b)(6) -- review of denial of
     dismissal. -- In reviewing the denial of a dismissal granted
     pursuant to Ark. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), the facts alleged in the
     complaint are treated as true and viewed in the light most
     favorable to the party who filed the complaint; when the trial
     court decides Rule 12(b)(6) motions, it must look only to the
     complaint.

2.   Civil procedure -- fact pleading -- requirements of. --
     Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(1) requires that a
     pleading which sets forth a claim for relief must contain a
     statement in ordinary and concise language of facts showing
     that the pleader is entitled to relief; Rule 12(b)(6) provides
     for the dismissal of a complaint for "failure to state facts
     upon which relief can be granted"; these two rules must be
     read together in testing the sufficiency of the complaint;
     facts, not mere conclusions, must be alleged; in testing the
     sufficiency of the complaint on a motion to dismiss, all
     reasonable inferences must be resolved in favor of the
     complaint, and pleadings are to be liberally construed.    

3.   Constitutional law -- requirements for claim under Federal
     Civil Rights Act -- Martinez v. California discussed. -- In
     Martinez v. California,