Source: http://www.pllkc.org/wp/research/research-guides/section-1983-civil-rights-actions/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 22:45:43+00:00

Document:
“Section 1983” refers to 42 U.S.C. §1983, the federal statute that enables you to file a civil action for deprivation of constitutional and federal statutory rights by persons acting under “color of law.” Originally enacted in 1871, Section 1983 litigation experienced a period of dormancy, until 1961 and the landmark Supreme Court case, Monroe v. Pape, 365 U.S. 167 (1961), which gave private litigants a federal court remedy as a first resort rather than only in default of (or after) state action. Today, Section 1983 actions most commonly involve 1st Amendment issues like freedom of speech; 4th Amendment issues like search and seizure or use of force; 8th Amendment issues like cruel and unusual punishment; and 14th Amendment claims of due process violations.
What Laws Govern Section 1983 Actions?
The Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, ch. 22, §1, 17 Stat. 13 is the larger act of which 42 U.S.C. §1983 is one part. The jurisdictional authority of 42 U.S.C. §1983 is prescribed by 28 U.S.C. §1343 (a)(3). Individual state statutes of limitation will generally apply to Section 1983 claims. In Washington State, RCW 4.16.080 defines actions limited to three years. A number of cases have noted that this three-year personal injury statute of limitations applies to Section 1983 actions, including RK Ventures, Inc. v. City of Seattle, 307 F.3d 1045 (2002).
Section 1983 litigation in a nutshell by Michael G. Collins, shelved at KF 1325 .C58 C65 2011.
Typical Section 1983 Claims (2008) by Maureen M. Middleton.
Police Misconduct and Civil Rights Law (2008) by John J. Davis.
Failure to Train as a Theory of Section 1983 Liability in the 11th Circuit (2008) by Philip W. Savrin.
Liability Under Section 1983 (2003) by the Legal Services Department of the Orange County Department of Education.
Section 1983 Outline (2011) by Kent Brintnall (2002), updated 2011 by Office of Staff Attorneys, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Section 1983 Litigation (1998) by Karen M. Blum and Kathryn R. Urbonya, Federal Judicial Center.
Civil Rights Division guide from the United States Department of Justice.

References: §1983
 v. 
 §1
 §1983
 §1983
 §1343
 v.