Qualified immunity shields government officials from liability for money damages for violation of a right under federal law if "their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known."
This ruling by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, addresses claims by government officials of their "entitlement to qualified immunity" in the underlying litigation.
Following a discussion the Doctrine of Qualified Immunity and then reviewing the plaintiff's claims of violations of his rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution of the United State, the Circuit Court of Appeals:
1. Affirmed the district court's denial of the government officials' motion for judgment on the plaintiff's pleadings concerning his Fourteenth Amendment claim;
2. Reversed the district court's denial of the government officials' motion for judgment on the plaintiff's pleadings concerning his Eighth Amendment claim; and
3. Remanded the matter to the district court "for further proceedings."
Click HERE to access the text of Circuit Court's decision posted on the Internet.