Opinion ID: 710926
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether eaglesmith sued ward in his official or personal capacity

Text: 4 The threshold question in this case is whether Eaglesmith brought this suit against Ward in his individual or official capacity. Ward is entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity only if the suit was brought against him in his official capacity. See Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 27, 112 S.Ct. 358, 362-63, 116 L.Ed.2d 301 (1991). We review de novo whether a party is immune from suit under the Eleventh Amendment. Harrison v. Hickel, 6 F.3d 1347, 1352 (9th Cir.1993). 5 In determining whether a suit is an individual- or official-capacity suit, the court must consider the essential nature of the proceeding. Ford Motor Co. v. Dept. of Treasury, 323 U.S. 459, 464, 65 S.Ct. 347, 350, 89 L.Ed. 389 (1945). Eaglesmith argues that the essential nature of the proceeding indicates his intent to sue Ward in his individual capacity. We agree with the district court, however, that the stipulation filed by the parties to dismiss certain defendants, leaving Jack Ward, in his official capacity as Mendocino County Superintendent of Schools, as the only remaining defendant clearly indicates that Eaglesmith brought this suit against Ward in his official capacity. Our holding is based not only upon the stipulation but also upon correspondence between Ward's and Eaglesmith's counsel indicating that Ward's agreement to the stipulation was explicitly conditioned upon the inclusion of the phrase, in his official capacity, after Ward's name. 6