Court Opinion

ID: 9481968
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 08:36:38.079506+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:48:41.267769
License: Public Domain

REAVLEY, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
While I have difficulty understanding the justification for the finding that Governor Hobby violated plaintiffs’ civil rights, that issue has been foreclosed. The majority holds that where plaintiff obtains only nominal damages for his constitutional deprivation, he cannot be considered the prevailing party. I disagree and do not read Hewitt, Rhodes and Garland to go so far. The plaintiffs prevailed in their claim although the amount of their benefit was only nominal. I do not regard that result as insignificant. I would, however, order reconsideration of the amount of the fee under these circumstances.