Opinion ID: 50021
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: City of Atlanta Liability

Text: We have recognized that “[f]or liability purposes, a suit against a public official in his official capacity is considered a suit against the local governmental entity he represents.” Vineyard v. County of Murray, Ga., 990 F.2d 1207, 1210 n.3 (11th Cir. 1993). Therefore, the Joneses’ claims against Officers Stone and Frye in their official capacities are claims against the City of Atlanta. The district court held that the City of Atlanta could not be liable to the Joneses because no constitutional violation occurred. As stated above, the existence of a constitutional violation is a jury question. But, we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment on the § 1983 claims against the City of Atlanta on another basis. A local government is liable to a § 1983 plaintiff for actions of the government’s agents when a constitutional injury was inflicted in execution of the government’s policy or custom. See Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 2037 (1978). Here, the Joneses assert that the City of Atlanta has informally adopted a policy condoning the use of deadly force (including firing of 10 weapons at vehicles) in all situations, including those in which the use of weapons is clearly unlawful. Appellants’ Opening Brief at 33. But the Joneses cite no record evidence in support of this assertion. Therefore, they cannot maintain their § 1983 claims against the City of Atlanta. The City of Atlanta was due summary judgment.