9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Sep. 10, 2020
9th Circuit rules against qualified immunity for accused social workers
9th Circuit Judge Mary H. Murguia, writing for panel, issued a split opinion that one of Sampson's attorneys, Duane R. Folke of Los Angeles, said "tears down some of the walls put up by the doctrine of qualified immunity" in lawsuits against public employees, including police officers.
A Los Angeles County social worker is protected by qualified immunity for sexually harassing a woman who was trying to become legal guardian to her niece, but that will not be the case in future lawsuits, a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled Wednesday.
And the panel revived a First Amendment claim by plaintiff Natia Sampson that the Department of Children and Family Services retaliated against her for complaining about the...
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