Court Opinion

ID: 9475804
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 05:38:45.646816+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:44:56.761933
License: Public Domain

ON PETITION FOR REHEARING
PER CURIAM:
Mitchell v. Forsyth, 472 U.S. 511,530,105 S.Ct. 2806, 2817, 86 L.Ed.2d 411 (1985) held that “a district court’s denial of a claim of qualified immunity, to the extent that it turns on an issue of law, is an appealable ‘final decision’ within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1291 notwithstanding the absence of a final judgment.” In the present case the district court’s denial of defendants’ motion for summary judgment did not turn on an issue of law; the court denied defendants’ claim of qualified immunity because the case required substantial factual development before it could be determined with finality whether Riley had been subjected to constitutional deprivation and, if so, whether some or all of the defendants were entitled to the benefit of qualified immunity. The district court’s order is therefore not a final appealable decision.
In addition, the Supreme Court in Mitchell v. Forsyth specifically noted that it was expressing no opinion regarding the appeal-ability of a denial of qualified immunity when the plaintiff’s action involves claims for injunctive relief that will have to be adjudicated regardless of the resolution of any damage claims. Id. 105 S.Ct. at 2812 n. 5. Because Riley requested injunctive relief as well as damages, this case is not clearly controlled by Mitchell v. Forsyth.
Wainwright’s petition for rehearing is DENIED.