Opinion ID: 780379
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Unidentified Officers

Text: 38 All three plaintiffs assert that unidentified officers used excessive force in removing them from their cells and escorting them to OPI for medical treatment. In dismissing Combs's excessive force claims due to his failure to present any evidence concerning the identity of the officers, the district court stated: Even assuming that the facts as set forth by Plaintiff Combs are true, there is no way for a jury to determine whether the conduct was a good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm, absent an allegation that certain individuals are responsible for the conduct. Claiming that they were unable to identify the officers because they wore black uniforms, gas masks, and no name badges, plaintiffs argue that [t]he District Court's holding, if permitted to stand, discourages civil rights litigants from redressing their claims and encourages unscrupulous state officers to shield their identity and their liability with black suits, gas masks, and a lack of officer name badges. 39 The district court properly dismissed Combs's excessive force claims against any unidentified officers, and defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Skatzes's and Robb's claims against unidentified officers as well. Under their theory of the case, plaintiffs are entitled to recover damages from some source, even if they cannot prove that any named defendant actually used force against them. Plaintiffs essentially seek to impose respondeat superior liability against the supervisory officers, ManCI, ODRC, and/or the State of Ohio for the actions of these unidentified officers. It is well settled that § 1983 liability will not be imposed solely on the basis of respondeat superior. Hays v. Jefferson County, 668 F.2d 869, 872 (6th Cir.1982). 4 40