Opinion ID: 2995965
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prayer for Injunctive Relief in Count II

Text: The University also challenges the district court’s failure to dismiss Dr. Nanda’s claims for injunctive relief pursuant 8 The Eighth Circuit considered the effect of Title VII’s disparate impact provisions as well as Title VII’s disparate treatment provision. See Okruhlik v. Univ. of Ark. ex rel. May, 255 F.3d 615, 626 (8th Cir. 2001). No. 01-3448 27 to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The University and its officials contend that the district court erred when it let stand Dr. Nanda’s request in Count II for injunctive relief against the University officials in their official capacities. Because the requested relief of reinstatement can be granted only by the University acting through its trustees, the defendants contend that this request is appropriately characterized as a request for injunctive relief against the University. The University, they continue, is protected by the Eleventh Amendment from such relief. Before we address the merits of this claim, we must first consider whether we 9 have jurisdiction to entertain this aspect of the appeal. We believe that we have jurisdiction over this contention for the same reason that we have jurisdiction over the earlier contention concerning the applicability of the Eleventh Amendment to a suit under Title VII. In essence, the defendants are claiming that the Eleventh Amendment provides them with a shield from litigating this claim. This situation therefore is different from the situation in Cherry in which we held that a claim of immu- nity from punitive damages under Title IX was not the equivalent of a claim of immunity from litigation. See Cherry, 265 F.3d at 547. As our citations to Burns-Vidlak v. Chandler, 165 F.3d 1257, 1260 (9th Cir. 1999), and to Pullman Construction Industries, Inc. v. United States, 23 F.3d 1166, 1169 (7th Cir. 1994), confirm, in Cherry we were 9 Dr. Nanda did not argue that this court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the University’s appeal on this issue; however, this court must assure itself of its own jurisdiction regardless of whether the issue was raised by a party. See Wingerter v. Chester Quarry Co., 185 F.3d 657, 660 (7th Cir. 1999) (“A court of appeals has an obligation to examine its jurisdiction sua sponte, even if the parties fail to raise a jurisdictional issue.”). 28 No. 01-3448 speaking of a claim of immunity not based on the Eleventh Amendment. We agree with the district court that, under § 1983, a suit against state officials in their official capacity limited to injunctive relief is not barred by the Eleventh Amendment. See Will v. Mich. Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71 n.10 (1989). Whether such relief is warranted and whether it is warranted against these defendants are matters not properly before us on this interlocutory appeal.