Tenth Circuit Section 1983 Cases

Barney v. Pulsipher

143 F.3d 1299 (10th Cir. 1998) · May 1, 1998

The Tenth Circuit established the framework for supervisory liability under § 1983, holding that a supervisor can be held personally liable when there is an affirmative link between the supervisor's conduct and the constitutional violation. The court articulated that liability requires the supervisor to have had actual or constructive knowledge of a risk of constitutional harm and to have failed to act to prevent it.

Northington v. Jackson

973 F.2d 1518 (10th Cir. 1992) · Aug 17, 1992

The Tenth Circuit established important procedural standards for § 1983 excessive force claims, holding that pro se complaints must be liberally construed and that dismissal without allowing amendment is improper when the plaintiff has alleged facts supporting constitutional violations by law enforcement.

Meade v. Grubbs

841 F.2d 1512 (10th Cir. 1988) · Mar 11, 1988

The Tenth Circuit established important standards for evaluating pro se prisoner civil rights complaints, holding that courts must liberally construe pro se pleadings and that a pro se plaintiff alleging physical violence and denial of medical care by sheriff's deputies states cognizable claims under § 1983. The court also addressed qualified immunity standards for law enforcement officers accused of excessive force.