U.S. Supreme Court holds that courts should dismiss federal civil rights suits seeking damages when a judgment in favor of the plaintiff necessarily implies the invalidity of the plaintiff's criminal sentence, but that sentence has not already been overturned. Oregon state constitutional provision prohibiting judicial review of jury awards of punitive damages in most cases violates the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, U.S. Supreme Court holds. Pacific Mutual Life Ins. Prisoner could not sue state prison warden in his official capacity for damages under federal civil rights law.
Court rejects eighth amendment challenge to punitive damage awards.
Browning-Ferris Industries of Vermont, Inc. v. Kelco Disposal, Inc. 109 S. Ct.