Opinion ID: 775632
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Gottlieb's S 1983 Claim Against the School District

Text: 35 Gottlieb claims that Carbonara's previous altercation with an opposing football coach was handled by school administration in such a way as to constitute deliberate indifference to physical abuse of students generally, and created a policy, practice, or custom that caused her injury specifically. We do not agree. 36 We have recognized that a municipality will be liable for the constitutional violations of a state actor if it acts with deliberate indifference to the consequences [and] established and maintained a policy, practice or custom which directly caused constitutional harm. Stoneking v. Bradford Area Sch. Dist., 882 F.2d 720, 725 (3d Cir. 1989) (emphasis added). Gottlieb has failed to allege a direct casual connection between any such practice and her injury. See Losch v. Borough of Parkesburg, Pa., 736 F.2d 903 (3d Cir. 1984). This causal connection can be established by alleging that policymakers were aware of similar conduct in the past, but failed to take precautions against future violations, and that this failure, at least in part, led to their injury. Id. at 910. The previous conduct is not sufficiently similar to draw a direct causal connection to Gottlieb's injury. 37 Because Gottlieb has not alleged sufficient facts to establish causation, we need not consider whether the School District acted with deliberate indifference and established and maintained an unconstitutional policy, practice, or custom. The District Court therefore did not err in granting summary judgment against Gottlieb's S 1983 claim against the School District.