Opinion ID: 160810
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: 1 Plaintiffs, the representatives of two minor children abused by their father, brought suit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983 alleging Defendants violated their fundamental rights under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Defendants Tom Doran, Shirley Medina, and Regina Sentell are social workers for the Children, Youth and Families Department of the State of New Mexico (CYF), and defendant Melba Gonzales is a supervisor for CYF. 1 2 Defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing they were entitled to qualified immunity. The district court treated the motions as motions to dismiss. Defendants appeal the district court's denial of their motions. Jurisdiction to consider Defendants' appeal arises under 28 U.S.C. 1291. See Johnson v. Fankell, 520 U.S. 911, 915 (1997) ([A] Federal District Court order rejecting a qualified immunity defense on the ground that the defendant's actions--if proved--would have violated clearly established law may be appealed immediately as a 'final decision' within the meaning of the general federal appellate jurisdiction statute.). Because Plaintiffs have alleged a clearly established constitutional claim against Defendants Doran and Gonzales, these Defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity; this court therefore affirms the district court's denial of their motions for summary judgment. Because Plaintiffs have not alleged a viable constitutional claim against Defendant Sentell, this court reverses the district court's denial of her motion for summary judgment. Because the constitutional violation Plaintiffs state against Medina was not clearly established at the time of the events underlying this suit, this court reverses the district court's denial of Medina's motion for summary judgment.