Opinion ID: 196042
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Factual Allegations and Procedural History

Text: 4 Plaintiff-appellee Diane Souza, mother of Anthony R. Degrazia, brought this action individually and as administrator of Degrazia's estate. The complaint contains the following factual allegations. During 1988 and 1989, nine young women were murdered in the New Bedford, Massachusetts area in what became known as the highway killings case. The Bristol County district attorney, appellant Ronald A. Pina, appointed himself as the chief prosecutor and investigator in the case. Pina and his press secretary, appellant James Martin, conducted numerous press conferences and other media interviews in which they caused or encouraged the media to link Degrazia to the highway killings case. The complaint alleges that appellants knew or should have known that Degrazia would take his own life as a result of these statements to the media. On July 27, 1991, Degrazia committed suicide. 5 On May 26, 1993, Souza commenced this action under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 1 against Pina, Martin, and two other members of Pina's staff, 2 alleging that they violated Degrazia's constitutional rights under the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments by denying him due process as well as his right to be free from arbitrary and brutal punishment. 3 Appellants moved to dismiss, arguing that Souza had failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted and that appellants were entitled to qualified immunity. By margin orders, the district court denied appellants' motion and their subsequent requests for reconsideration and for written findings. 4 This appeal followed.