Opinion ID: 1179762
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act, a successor of the Civil Rights Act of 1871, [6] was enacted in response to a perceived unwillingness by states to protect their citizens' rights. Monroe v. Pape, 365 U.S. 167, 180, 81 S.Ct. 473, 5 L.Ed.2d 492 (1961), overruled on other grounds, Monell v. Department of Social Services of City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978). The purpose of § 1983 is to deter state actors from using the badge of their authority to deprive individuals of their federally guaranteed rights and to provide relief to victims if such deterrence fails. Wyatt v. Cole, ___ U.S. ___, ___, 112 S.Ct. 1827, 1830, 118 L.Ed.2d 504, 512 (1992) (citing Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S. 247, 254-55, 98 S.Ct. 1042, 1047-48, 55 L.Ed.2d 252 (1978)). Thus, § 1983 provides direct access to a judicial forum to all individuals who claim that their constitutional or other federal rights have been violated by persons acting under color of state law. Collins v. City of Harker Heights, Texas, ___ U.S. ___, 112 S.Ct. 1061, 1066, 117 L.Ed.2d 261 (1992); Burnett v. Grattan, 468 U.S. 42, 50, 104 S.Ct. 2924, 2929, 82 L.Ed.2d 36 (1984). State courts have concurrent subject matter jurisdiction with federal courts over § 1983 actions. Nutbrown v. Munn, 311 Or. 328, 337, 811 P.2d 131 (1991) (citing Maine v. Thiboutot, 448 U.S. 1, 100 S.Ct. 2502, 65 L.Ed.2d 555 (1980)).