(Download) "Estate of Moreland v. Dieter" by District of Columbia Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals * Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Estate of Moreland v. Dieter
- Author : District of Columbia Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
- Release Date : January 14, 2005
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 70 KB
Description
This is an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for deprivation of civil rights arising out of the death of an inmate in the St. Joseph County, Indiana jail. Defendants Erich Dieter and Michael Sawdon, former St. Joseph County sheriffs deputies, were found liable for violating Christopher Morelands civil rights by wrongfully causing his death by the use of unnecessary and excessive force. The jury awarded substantial damages: $29 million in compensatory damages and $27.5 million in punitive damages ($15 million against Dieter and $12.5 million against Sawdon). On appeal Dieter and Sawdon assert evidentiary and instructional errors and also challenge the punitive damages as unconstitutionally excessive. The plaintiffs cross-appeal the district courts order granting summary judgment to Joseph Speybroeck, the sheriff of St. Joseph County. They contend the evidence was sufficient to raise a jury issue about official policy or custom in the jail for purposes of § 1983 liability against the sheriff. We affirm the judgment against Dieter and Sawdon as well as the summary judgment in favor of Sheriff Speybroeck.