Opinion ID: 2997240
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standards for Qualified Immunity

Text: The defendants appeal the district court’s denial of their motion for summary judgment on qualified immunity. This decision is reviewed de novo. See McGrath v. Gillis, 44 F.3d 567, 569 (7th Cir. 1995). At this stage, we must view the facts in the light most favorable to Ms. Crull, the nonmoving party. Summary judgment is only appropriate when “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986). Summary judgment should be granted when the facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, fail to establish an essential element of the nonmoving party’s claim on which she will bear the burden of proof at trial. See Beauchamp v. City of Noblesville, Ind., 320 F.3d 733, 742 (7th Cir. 2003). To establish qualified immunity, a court must first ask whether, “[t]aken in the light most favorable to the party asserting the injury, do the facts alleged show the [defendants’] conduct violated a constitutional right?” Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201 (2001). Second, the court must determine if the right was clearly established at the time of the violation. See id. In addressing these questions, we also must inquire as to whether the facts, viewed in the light most favorable to Ms. Crull, demonstrate a violation of her 3 constitutional rights. 3 Ms. Crull suggests that this court lacks jurisdiction to hear this appeal because it was an interlocutory appeal based on disputed (continued...) 10 No. 02-4093