Owen v. City of Independence

Owen v. City of Independence

Argued January 8, 1980
Decided April 16, 1980
Full case name Owen v. City of Independence, Missouri, et al.
Citations

445 U.S. 622 (more)

100 S. Ct. 1398; 63 L. Ed. 2d 673; 1980 U.S. LEXIS 14
Subsequent history Petition for rehearing denied June 2, 1980
Holding
A municipality has no immunity from liability under Section 1983 flowing from its constitutional violations and may not assert the good faith of its officers as a defense to such liability.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Warren E. Burger
Case opinions
Majority Brennan, joined by White, Marshall, Blackmun, Stevens
Dissent Powell, joined by Burger, Stewart, Rehnquist

Owen v. City of Independence, 445 U.S. 622 (1980), was a case decided by the United States Supreme Court, in which the court held that a municipality has no immunity from liability under Section 1983 flowing from its constitutional violations and may not assert the good faith of its officers as a defense to such liability.

Background

The city council voted to fire the city's chief of police and in doing so, violated his procedural due process rights to a pre-termination hearing. Plaintiff named the city and city council in the suit.

Opinion of the Court

In an opinion written by Justice Brennan, the Court held that a municipality has no immunity from liability under Section 1983 flowing from its constitutional violations and may not assert the good faith of its officers as a defense to such liability.

External links


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