Body Camera Video Cases

Bailey v. Ramos

No. 23-50185 (5th Cir. 2025) · Jan 10, 2025

Officer was entitled to qualified immunity on unlawful arrest, seizure, First Amendment retaliation, and excessive force claims where plaintiff went to downtown San Antonio specifically to confront police and the officer had arguable probable cause for the arrest.

Young v. City of Irving

No. 3:23-CV-1423-D (N.D. Tex. 2024) · Sep 12, 2024

Granted motions to dismiss pro se plaintiff's § 1983 claims against the City of Irving and police officers but granted leave to replead; held that video evidence contradicting the plaintiff's allegations of unlawful arrest and excessive force entitled officers to qualified immunity, and that municipal liability claims based on conclusory allegations of policy or custom failed.

Barrera v. City of Irving

No. 3:24-CV-0177 (N.D. Tex.) · Jan 25, 2024

Pending civil rights action alleging excessive force and municipal liability against the City of Irving and its officers.

Hodge v. Engleman

90 F.4th 840 (5th Cir. 2024) · Jan 16, 2024

Officers were entitled to qualified immunity for fatally shooting a man who exited his car with a gun and pointed it at an officer after a brief pursuit, where bodycam footage blatantly contradicted the plaintiff's allegations; the court treated the district court's consideration of video evidence on a 12(b)(6) motion as an implicit conversion to summary judgment.

Livingston v. Texas

No. 22-11210 (5th Cir. 2024) · Jan 16, 2024

Officers were entitled to qualified immunity in a fatal shooting where body camera footage 'blatantly contradicted' the plaintiff's allegations that the decedent was complying with commands, showing instead that he exited his car with a gun pointed at the officers.

Sligh v. City of Conroe

No. 22-40518 (5th Cir. 2023) · Nov 21, 2023

While siccing a police dog on a suicidal woman who was not suspected of any crime and posed no threat to officers constituted excessive force, the officer was entitled to qualified immunity because the right was not clearly established under the specific circumstances, which involved active resistance followed by unintentionally prolonged canine force.

Spiller v. Harris County

No. 22-20123 (5th Cir. 2023) · Jan 1, 2023

Reaffirmed that employees of the same legal entity cannot conspire among themselves under § 1983 and that municipal liability requires identification of an official policy or custom, not merely individual officer misconduct.

Spiller v. Harris County, Texas

No. 21-20574 (5th Cir. 2022) · Jan 1, 2022

Employees of the same municipal entity cannot conspire among themselves for purposes of a § 1983 conspiracy claim because a single legal entity cannot conspire with itself.

Harmon v. City of Arlington

16 F.4th 1159 (5th Cir. 2021) · Oct 26, 2021

An officer who fatally shot a driver while clinging to the side of the driver's fleeing SUV was entitled to qualified immunity because he reasonably perceived a threat of serious physical harm, and plaintiffs failed to identify clearly established law prohibiting deadly force under those specific circumstances.

Ramirez v. Martinez

716 F.3d 369 (5th Cir. 2013) · May 15, 2013

A deputy was not entitled to qualified immunity on excessive force claims where he tased a business owner twice — including once while the owner was handcuffed and lying face-down — during an encounter at the owner's own business; but the deputy had arguable probable cause for the arrest.

Poole v. City of Shreveport

691 F.3d 624 (5th Cir. 2012) · Aug 16, 2012

Officers were entitled to qualified immunity on excessive force claims arising from an arrest following a traffic stop, where a videotape showed the plaintiff's account of events was contradicted by the objective record.

Ashcroft v. Iqbal

556 U.S. 662 (2009) · May 18, 2009

A complaint must plead facts that make a claim plausible, not merely possible — conclusory allegations and legal labels are not enough.

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly

550 U.S. 544 (2007) · May 21, 2007

A complaint must plead enough facts to state a claim that is plausible on its face — bare assertions and conclusory allegations are not enough to survive a motion to dismiss.

Scott v. Harris

550 U.S. 372 (2007) · Apr 30, 2007

When video evidence blatantly contradicts the plaintiff's version of events, courts need not adopt the plaintiff's account at summary judgment — and a police officer who rams a fleeing motorist's car to end a dangerous high-speed chase does not violate the Fourth Amendment.

Graham v. Connor

490 U.S. 386 (1989) · May 15, 1989

All claims that law enforcement officers used excessive force during an arrest, investigatory stop, or other seizure of a free citizen must be analyzed under the Fourth Amendment's 'objective reasonableness' standard — not substantive due process.

Franks v. Delaware

438 U.S. 154 (1978) · Jun 26, 1978

When a defendant shows by a preponderance of the evidence that a police officer knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth included a false statement in a warrant affidavit, and the false statement was necessary to the finding of probable cause, the warrant must be voided and the fruits of the search excluded.