Opinion ID: 8870
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Official Capacity Liability Under Monell

Text: 31 Brooks's suit against Sheriff Howell in his official capacity is treated as a claim against George County. Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 23-27, 112 S.Ct. 358, 361-362, 116 L.Ed.2d 301 (1991). To establish liability on the part of George County, Brooks must demonstrate a policy or custom which caused the alleged constitutional deprivation. Monell v. New York City Dept. of Soc. Serv., 436 U.S. 658, 690-92, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 2036, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978). Appellants contend no such policy is present. However, the jury found that the Fourteenth Amendment violations were part of a custom, policy or practice of the county. This finding has sufficient support in law and fact. 32 We note that even a single decision may create municipal liability if that decision were made by a final policymaker responsible for that activity. Brown v. Bryan County, Oklahoma, 67 F.3d 1174, 1183 (5th Cir.1995) (emphasis in original). Sheriffs in Mississippi are final policymakers with respect to all law enforcement decisions made within their counties. Huddleston v. Shirley, 787 F.Supp. 109, 112 (N.D.Miss.1992); Miss.Code Ann. § 19-25-1, et seq. Sheriff Howell admitted on the record that the department kept none of the required records detailing the locations and number of days prisoners worked. The jury could infer from this statement that the county had a policy of not keeping such records. Therefore, George County is liable for the ongoing actions of its policy maker, Sheriff Howell, in depriving Brooks of his property without due process. Turner v. Upton County, 915 F.2d 133, 137 (5th Cir.1990), cert. denied 498 U.S. 1069, 111 S.Ct. 788, 112 L.Ed.2d 850 (1991). 33