Opinion ID: 782348
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the district court's dismissal of the city of dyersburg

Text: 31 Lanier contended that the City of Dyersburg, Tennessee should have been liable to him under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 because the city had a policy and custom of instructing its police officers to follow FBI orders, regardless of whether the FBI directs the police officers to violate established law. See Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978) (local government cannot be held liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 under a theory of respondeat superior unless the plaintiff pleads and proves an injury caused by action taken pursuant to official municipal policy). The district court dismissed Lanier's § 1983 claim against the City of Dyersburg because Lanier made only conclusory allegations in his complaint. Conclusory, unsupported allegations of the deprivation of rights protected by the United States Constitution or federal laws are insufficient to state a claim. See Morgan v. Church's Fried Chicken, 829 F.2d 10, 12 (6th Cir.1987); Chapman v. City of Detroit, 808 F.2d 459, 465 (6th Cir.1986). Lanier's complaint alleged that City of Dyersburg police officers recorded his telephone calls at the request of the FBI. Lanier never offered anything beyond this conclusory allegation to suggest that this was a part of some official policy or custom of the City of Dyersburg. Therefore, the district court properly dismissed Lanier's § 1983 claim against the City of Dyersburg.