Opinion ID: 462303
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Liability of Kelly and Warren.

Text: 14 The district court found Kelly personally liable for damages under section 1983. Kelly now argues that he acted in good faith and is entitled to the defense of qualified immunity. Kelly argues that his discretionary acts in arresting and detaining Dennis thus do not expose him to liability for damages. 15 Kelly's acts are not shielded from liability for civil damages, as they constitute violations of clearly established law. See Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982). We recognize that not every wrongful arrest is a violation of well-settled law. See Saldana v. Garza, 684 F.2d 1159, 1164-65 (5th Cir.1982), cert. denied, 460 U.S. 1012, 103 S.Ct. 1253, 75 L.Ed.2d 481 (1983). However, we conclude that a reasonable police officer could not have believed Kelly's acts were permissible. To arrest someone on the basis of a civil summons, following an attorney's directions to Go out and get him, and to hold him until that attorney orders his release, is not within the imaginable scope of lawful police conduct. 16 The district court correctly recognized that Sheriff Warren was not liable under section 1983, since he was neither personally involved in the arrest or detention of Dennis, nor was there a causal connection between his acts and the violations of Dennis' federal rights. See Lozano v. Smith, 718 F.2d 756, 768 (5th Cir.1983). However, the district court held Warren liable for damages under a Mississippi statute which provides that [a]ll sheriffs shall be liable for the acts of their deputies, and for money collected by them. Miss.Code Ann. Sec. 19-25-19 (1972). Warren claims that Mississippi law provides at most only for an award against him in his official capacity, not in an individual capacity. 17 The statute on its face appears to provide for personal liability of the sheriff; no mention is made of liability running only in his official capacity. While this provision has not been interpreted with regard to a deputy's acts in making an unlawful arrest, the Mississippi Supreme Court has held that where a deputy has negligently driven an official automobile the sheriff is liable to a person injured as a proximate result thereof. Poole v. Brunt, 338 So.2d 991, 994 (Miss.1976); see also Barr v. Davis, 369 So.2d 513, 514 (Miss.1979) (reversing demurrer, sheriff and deputy both liable for deputy's negligent driving on official business); Bearry v. Stringfellow, 246 Miss. 123, 149 So.2d 500 (1963) (affirming judgment against sheriff for deputy's fatal shooting of suspect). Poole favorably quotes this passage from Annot., 15 A.L.R.3d 1189, 1201: Generally speaking, even though a sheriff is personally liable for an act of his deputy, it does not necessarily follow that his bondsman is also liable. 338 So.2d at 995 (emphasis added). It thus appears that Mississippi law provides for a sheriff's liability under section 19-25-19 to be personal in nature. 18