Opinion ID: 197155
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Soto's Individual Claim.

Text: 27 The district court held that Soto, in her individual capacity, could not bring a due process claim based on injury to her children. Soto, 878 F.Supp. at 327. On appeal, Soto argues both that the district court erred in so holding and that the injury she complains of is not limited to the loss of the companionship of her children, but also comprehends the mental anguish she has suffered personally. 28 We review the district court's grant of summary judgment de novo. Dominique v. Weld, 73 F.3d 1156, 1158 (1st Cir.1996). We examine, viewing the record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, whether the district court correctly applied the substantive law and whether any disputed facts have the potential to change the outcome of the suit. See Martinez v. Colon, 54 F.3d 980, 983-84 (1st Cir.1995). 29 There is no absolute constitutional right to enjoy the companionship of one's family members free from all encroachments by the state. See Valdivieso Ortiz v. Burgos, 807 F.2d 6, 8 (1st Cir.1986). State action that affects the parental relationship only incidentally ... even though the deprivation may be permanent ... is not sufficient to establish a violation of a identified liberty interest. Pittsley v. Warish, 927 F.2d 3, 8 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 879, 112 S.Ct. 226, 116 L.Ed.2d 183 (1991). Thus, the death of a family member will not ordinarily give those still alive a cognizable due process claim under section 1983. See Manarite v. Springfield, 957 F.2d 953, 960 (1st Cir.) (child could not sue police for failure to prevent father's suicide), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 837, 113 S.Ct. 113, 121 L.Ed.2d 70 (1992); Valdivieso Ortiz, 807 F.2d at 10 (stepfather and siblings had no cause of action where prison guards beat inmate to death). Here, the defendants' actions, despite the tragic outcome, were not specifically aimed at ending or affecting Soto's relationship with her children. Nor can Soto successfully distinguish her case from the cited precedents of this court by pointing to her own mental anguish. The question is not one of a degree of suffering, but whether the plaintiff can establish a violation of federal right. While Soto's loss was of enormous, heartbreaking magnitude, the Constitution does not protect against all harms. She herself was not deprived of a constitutionally protected interest, and she may not bring a section 1983 due process claim on her own behalf. 30