Court Opinion

ID: 9480204
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 07:41:10.283635+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:47:32.688137
License: Public Domain

WELLFORD, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I concur with most of Judge Guy’s thoughtful discussion of the issues in this case. I am fully in accord with Part IIA and C and the rationale with respect to the claims against the University of Louisville and the state law claims. I agree also with the statement in Part IIB that “[d]ue process concerns are clearly not implicated in Dickstein’s and Kmetz’s actions with regard to the letter from Franks.” I agree further that there is “no support ... for plaintiffs fanciful conspiracy theory.”
I find no necessity, however, to adopt the statement quoted from Rice v. Ohio Department of Transportation, 887 F.2d 716, 719 (6th Cir.1989), which may be interpreted to mean that the doctrine of Will v. Michigan Department of State Police, — U.S. -, 109 S.Ct. 2304, 105 L.Ed.2d 45 (1989), somehow bars suits under § 1983 against state officials when those officials are being sued in their individual capacities. I do not view Will as barring § 1983 suits against state officials whenever the suits concern actions taken in their official capacities. Instead, I believe that Will bars suits against state officials only when those officials are sued in their official capacities.
Accordingly, I would affirm the decision of the district court that under the facts of this case defendants Dickstein and Kmetz enjoy qualified immunity.