Opinion ID: 2973311
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Summary Judgment for the City of Columbus

Text: A municipality may be held liable in a § 1983 claim under respondeat superior or vicarious liability, Monell v. New York City Dep. of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694–95 (1978), if the plaintiff can establish that her injury was a direct result of the City’s official policy or custom. Cummings v. City of Ackron, 418 F.3d 676, 684–85 (6th Cir. 2005) (citing City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 385 (1989)). However, a municipality can only be held liable under § 1983 if the officer inflicted a constitutional deprivation. Scott v. Clay County, Tenn., 205 F.3d 867, 879 (6th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 874 (2000) (“[O]ur conclusion that no officer-defendant had deprived -6- No. 05-3269 Burris v. Thorpe the plaintiff of any constitutional right a fortiori defeats the claim against the County as well.”); Claybrook v.Birchwell, 199 F.3d 350, 361 (6th Cir. 2000) (“[B]ecause the charged official conduct did not inflict any constitutional deprivation [the officer’s supervisor] cannot be liable to her for any alleged neglect to train or supervise those officers, or failure to develop appropriate. . . policies.”). As discussed supra, Thorpe did not act under color of state law. Therefore, Burris cannot prevail under § 1983 against the City of Columbus.