Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-1_08-cv-00039/USCOURTS-ared-1_08-cv-00039-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Other Civil Rights

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1

 See Owens v. Scott County Jail, 328 F.3d 1026, 1027 (8th Cir. 2003) (affirming

summary judgment for defendant jail on grounds that county jails are not legal entities amenable

to suit); Powell v. Cook County Jail, 814 F. Supp. 757 (N.D. Ill. 1993) (county jail not subject to

suit under § 1983); Marsden v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 856 F. Supp. 832, 836 (S.D.N.Y. 1994)

(“jail is not an entity that is amendable to suit”).

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

NORTHERN DIVISION

LARRY J. LANGSTON PLAINTIFF

VS. 1:08-CV-00039-WRW

TATE LAWRENCE, et. al. DEFENDANTS

ORDER

Pending is Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss party Izard County Jail (Doc. No. 18).

In his original Complaint, Plaintiff named Izard County Jail as a defendant. Suits against

any “person” acting under color of state law who subjects a citizen to the deprivation of

constitutional rights are authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 1983. However, a “jail” is not recognized as

an entity capable of suing and being sued under state law and is, therefore, not a “person” within

the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 1983.1 In naming Izard County Jail as a defendant, Plaintiff has not

named a “person” amenable to suit within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Accordingly, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Izard County Jail (Doc. No. 18) is

GRANTED.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 26th day of August, 2008.

/s/ Wm. R. Wilson, Jr._____________

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:08-cv-00039-BRW Document 23 Filed 08/26/08 Page 1 of 1