Opinion ID: 574013
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jefferson County Sheriff's Department

Text: 16 The district court correctly dismissed Dean's claim against the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. We agree with the magistrate judge's conclusion, which was adopted by the district court, that the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department is not a legal entity and, therefore, is not subject to suit or liability under section 1983. In so concluding, we reject Dean's reliance on Monell v. Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 690, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 2035, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978), where the Supreme Court held that Congress intend[ed] municipalities and other local government units to be included among those persons to whom § 1983 applies. The question here is not whether the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department is a person for the purposes of liability under Monell and section 1983, but whether the Department is a legal entity subject to suit. 17 Sheriff's departments and police departments are not usually considered legal entities subject to suit, see, e.g., Martinez v. Winner, 771 F.2d 424, 444 (10th Cir.1985) (Denver Police Department not suable entity), vacated, 475 U.S. 1138, 106 S.Ct. 1787, 90 L.Ed.2d 333 (1986) (remanding for consideration of mootness), vacated as moot, 800 F.2d 230 (1986) (no controversy because plaintiff withdrew from case); Post v. City of Fort Lauderdale, 750 F.Supp. 1131 (S.D.Fla.1990); Shelby v. City of Atlanta, 578 F.Supp. 1368, 1370 (N.D.Ga.1984); Ragusa v. Streator Police Department, 530 F.Supp. 814, 815 (N.D.Ill.1981), but capacity to sue or be sued shall be determined by the law of the state in which the district court is held. Fed.R.Civ.P. 17(b); 4 see also Shaw v. California Dep't of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 788 F.2d 600, 605 (9th Cir.1986) (relying on California law to hold that San Jose Police Department may be sued in federal courts). Under Alabama law, a county sheriff's department lacks the capacity to be sued. White v. Birch, 582 So.2d 1085, 1087 (Ala.1991). The district court, therefore, correctly dismissed Dean's case against the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. 5