Document: 473 U.S. 159 105 S.Ct. 3099 87 L.Ed.2d 114 KENTUCKY, dba Bureau of State Police, Petitionerv.James E. GRAHAM et al. No. 84-849. Argued April 16, 1985. Decided June 28, Syllabus Respondents were arrested following the warrantless raid a house in Kentucky by local and state police officers who seeking murder suspect. Claiming deprivation federal rights allegedly resulting from police's use excessive force other constitutional violations accompanying raid, respondents filed suit Federal District Court under, inter alia, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, money damages. Among named defendants Commissioner "individually as Commissioner," Commonwealth Kentucky, which was sued only for attorney's fees should eventually prevail. The Court, relying on Eleventh Amendment, dismissed party. On second day trial, case settled favor respondents, then moved that pay their costs pursuant to 1988, provides any action enforce court may allow "the prevailing party . reasonable fee part costs." granted motion, Appeals affirmed. Held: Section 1988 does not be recovered governmental entity when plaintiff sues employees personal capacities prevails; accordingly, since this necessarily litigated personal-capacity an official-capacity action, it error award against Commonwealth. Pp. 163-171. (a) While define parties must bear costs, logical place look recovery is losing Liability merits responsibility go hand hand. Where defendant has been prevailed against, either because legal immunity or merits, authorize defendant. 163-165. (b) Personal-capacity suits seek impose liability upon government officer actions he takes under color law, whereas are generally treated agent. With distinction mind, clear his her capacity cannot lead imposition entity. 165-168. (c) To hold can victory officials would inconsistent with rule made liable 1983 respondeat superior basis. Nothing 1988's history suggests intended imposed simply create where nonexistent. P. 168. (d) Although Police both "individual" "official" limited purpose award, there no doubt, given Amendment doctrine, did monetary Absent waiver valid congressional override, bars damages court, bar remains effect official capacity. Accordingly, could have maintained court. suing capacity, nor respondents' become naming issue liability. 168-170. (e) Hutto v. Finney, 437 678, 98 2565, 57 522, alter basic philosophy run together, suggest available 170-171. 742 F.2d 1455, (CA 6 1984), reversed. George M. Geoghegan, Jr., petitioner. Jack Lowery, Louisville, Ky., respondents. Justice MARSHALL delivered opinion Court. 1 question presented whether allows prevails. 2 * November 7, 1979, trooper murdered. Suspicion quickly focused Clyde Graham, whose step-mother's car found near site slaying driver's license billfold discovered nearby bushes. That evening, 30 40 city, county, converged Graham's father Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Without warrant, entered home twice all occupants, six here. Graham among them.1 According they severely beaten, terrorized, illegally searched, falsely arrested. Kenneth Brandenburgh, highest ranking law enforcement directly involved carrying out at least one raids. An investigation Attorney General's office later concluded had used "complete breakdown" discipline created "uncontrolled" situation. App. Brief 21-22. 3 Alleging number rights, Court.2 Their complaint sought various officers, city Hardin County, Also Police," sued, but plaintiffs prevail.3 Shortly after filed, Based its report, refused defend individual defendants, including litigation expenses. 4 $60,000.4 settlement agreement, embodied order dismissing case, barred specifically preserved right moved, fees. At hearing argued request denied matter event, such award. Rejecting these arguments, ordered $58,521 more than $6,000 expenses.5 In short per curiam solely Court's decision 522 (1978), Sixth Circuit Wilson, 1455 (1984). 5 We certiorari address proposition, rejected two Courts Appeals,6 prevails capacities. 469 1156, 900, 83 916 (1985). now reverse. II This requires us unravel once again distinctions between personal- suits, see Brandon Holt, 464, 873, 878 (1985), time context awards 1988. relevant portion enacted Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards Act 1976, 90 Stat. 2641, provides: 7 "In proceeding provision sections 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986 title, title IX Public Law 92-318, VI 1964, discretion, party, United States, costs" (emphasis added). 8 If covered awarded "unless special circumstances render unjust." S.Rep. 94-1011, p. (1976), U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News pp. 5908, 5911; Supreme Virginia Consumers Union Inc., 446 719, 737, 100 1967, 1977, 64 641 (1980). so many words costs. Nonetheless, party—the legally responsible relief merits. litigation, Fed.Rule Civ.Proc. 54(d),7 clearly also 9 recognized much Virginia, supra. There three-judge chief justice promulgating, refusing amend, Bar Code violated First Amendment. held absolute legislative shielded acts taken vacated stating we nothing "in Congress permit premised enjoy immunity." U.S., 738, S.Ct., 1978.8 Thus, hand; defendant.9 Cf. Pulliam Allen, 466 543-544, 104 1970, 1981-1982, 80 565 (1984) (state judge injunctive declaratory 1988). 10 Proper application principle public careful adherence suits.10 Because apparently continues confuse lawyers confound lower courts, attempt through concrete examples practical doctrinal differences actions. 11 law. See, e.g., Scheuer Rhodes, 416 232, 237-238, 94 1683, 1686-1687, (1974). Official-capacity contrast, "generally represent another way pleading agent." Monell New York City Dept. Social Services, 436 658, 690, n. 55, 2018, 2035, 56 611 (1978). As long receives notice opportunity respond, is, respects name, Brandon, supra, 471-472, 878. It personally, real interest while executed official's assets, recover judgment itself.11 12 establish enough show official, acting caused right. Monroe Pape, 365 167, 81 473, 492 (1961). More required however, itself " 'moving force' behind deprivation, Polk County Dodson, 454 312, 326, 102 445, 454, 70 509 (1981) (quoting Monell, 694, 2037); thus, entity's "policy custom" played violation supra; Oklahoma Tuttle, 471 808, 817-818, 2427, 2433, 85 791 (1985); id., 827-828, 2437, 2438 (BRENNAN, J., concurring judgment).12 When comes defenses liability, may, depending position, able assert defenses, objectively reliance existing See Imbler Pachtman, 424 409, 96 984, 47 128 (1976) (absolute immunity); Pierson Ray, 386 547, 1213, 18 288 (1967) (same); Harlow Fitzgerald, 457 800, 2727, 73 396 (1982) (qualified Wood Strickland, 420 308, 95 992, 43 214 (1975) (same). unavailable. Owen Independence, 445 622, 1398, 63 673 (1980); (1985).13 immunities claimed forms sovereign entity, qua possess, exhaustive, list illustrates actions.14 13 A defendant, rather employs him. Indeed, unless distinct cause asserted itself, even lawsuit present defense. entitle him let alone nonparty. Hensley Eckerhart, 461 424, 103 1933, 76 (1983). Yet result officials. B 14 Such statement municipality statute designed make effective remedies similar statutes, unlike contrary, just making "mutual insurance" scheme, 2037, avoid 'relief fund lawyers.' Hensley, 446, 1946 (opinion BRENNAN, J.) 122 Cong.Rec. 33314 (remarks Sen. Kennedy)). guarantee will anytime clients sue ultimate insurer. Instead, runs liability; if substantively basis, similarly basis non-existent. III 15 conclude therefore erred awarding Kentucky.15 asserting point expressly Brandenburgh purposes doubt Commonwealth.16 16 that, absent court.17 Ford Motor Co. Department Treasury Indiana, 323 459, 65 347, 350, 89 L.Ed. 389 (1945). Cory White, 85, 90, 2325, 2328, 72 694 (1982); Edelman Jordan, 415 651, 663, 1347, 1355, 39 662 because, discussed above, "a servant 'in capacity' imposes represents. ." 471, 878.18 17 Given understanding court.19 fail acknowledge point, freely concede never it;20 reach same end Nor defendant's ----. Naming create, whole cloth, necessary support request. claim capable being absence claim, IV Despite Appeals' contrary view, today fully consistent holds proper properly namely, together. result, neither 19 vigorously protest holding "effectively destro[y]" cases one. 19. fear overstated. unavailable merits; apply fee-shifting provisions pre-existing background substantive rules. V 20 Only entitled relief, fees, decisions 21 ordered. killed month motel Illinois. causes §§ 1986, well Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eleventh, Fourteenth Amendments. Complaint ¶ 13. settled, need below separate distinguish purported action. Before briefed brought we, analyze way. Our discussion throughout meant express view 1983. states: "Pursuant Sec. d/b/a payment attorney incurred action." 4(D). "[p]aragraph 4(D) states sole party." 14. Five thousand dollars came $10,000 County. remaining $45,000 paid personally agent "Kentucky Legal Fund." latter presumably represented interests sued. Petitioner appeal expenses, occasion consider appropriateness portions Berry McLemore, 670 (CA5 1982) (municipal officials); Morrison Fox, 660 (CA3 1981) appears reached case. Glover Alabama Corrections, 753 1569 (CA11 1985). J. Moore, W. Taggart, Wicker, Moore's Practice 54.70[1], 1301 (1985) ("Costs" "against incident judgment"); C. Wright, A. Miller, Kane, Procedure 2666, 173 (1983) (" 'Costs' refers those charges permitted reimbursed opponent action"). enjoined enforcing suggested roles. roles, remanded further proceedings. injunction tied rules somewhat different respect defendants. Prevailing 54(d), vexatious, frivolous, harass embarrass 429, 2, 1937, nature degree success Maher Gagne, 448 122, 2570, 653 sometimes referred individual-capacity Should die pending final resolution pursue decedent's estate. death replacement automatic substitution successor office. 25(d)(1); App.Proc. 43(c)(1); Rule 40.3. 2037 ("[A] injury inflicted agents. execution government's policy custom, lawmakers edicts fairly said policy, inflicts 1983"). addition, punitive municipality, Newport Fact Concerts, 453 247, 101 2748, 69 616 (1981), Smith Wade, 30, 1625, 75 632 longer bring officials, units relief. Memphis Garner, 1, 1694, (decided Tennessee Garner ) (damages municipality). Unless waived overridden it, own name regardless sought. Pugh, 438 781, 3057, 1114 (1978) (per ). implementation custom prospective State. Ex parte Young, 209 123, 28 441, 52 714 (1908). cases, specify both. "The course proceedings" typically indicate imposed. 469, 877, county entities, aspect before us. 3, abrogate State's immunity. Quern 440 332, 99 1139, 59 358 (1979); 651 arose authorized immunity, petitioners contention disputed, accept grounded overcome Pennhurst School Hospital Halderman, 465 89, 79 67 (1984); Monetary "ancillary" 667-668, 1357-1358. No argument failing dismissal alleged done allowing enter agreement; negotiations. 17; Tr. Oral Arg. 18.

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