No. 24-570

Mary Dawes, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Decedent Genevive A. Dawes, et al. v. City of Dallas, Texas, et al.

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2024-11-21
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (7)
Tags: body-camera-evidence officer-testimony qualified-immunity section-1983 summary-judgment use-of-deadly-force
Key Terms:
SocialSecurity CriminalProcedure
Latest Conference: 2025-05-15 (distributed 7 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether an officer's subjective belief of danger can negate objective video evidence showing no threat when determining qualified immunity on summary judgment

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTION PRESENTED Petitioners, the plaintiffs in the underlying case, brought suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Officers Hess and Kimpel after the officers shot and killed Genevive Dawes during an incident where officers were responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot. The summary judgment record includes numerous videos from officer body cameras showing that no one was in danger at the time Officers Hess and Kimpel decided to shoot. However, the district court and the Fifth Circuit considered the officers’ subjective statements that they believed other officers were in danger from Dawes’s vehicle, even though such belief was belied by the actual, objective video evidence. In considering that belief, the Fifth Circuit determined that the clearly established law did not prohibit the use of deadly force even when an officer knows that there is no danger. The Question Presented Is: In a qualified immunity determination on summary judgment, did the officer's testimony that he subjectively believed there was a danger justifying the use of deadly force negate the fact issue raised by the objective video evidence showing that there was no danger?

Docket Entries

2025-05-19
Petition DENIED.
2025-05-12
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/15/2025.
2025-04-28
Rescheduled.
2025-04-28
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/2/2025.
2025-04-21
Rescheduled.
2025-04-21
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/25/2025.
2025-04-15
Rescheduled.
2025-04-14
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2025.
2025-04-01
Rescheduled.
2025-03-31
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/4/2025.
2025-03-26
Rescheduled.
2025-03-12
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/28/2025.
2025-03-11
Waiver of Mary Dawes, et al. of right to respond submitted.
2025-02-24
Letter dated February 24, 2025 from counsel for respondent City of Dallas, Texas filed.
2025-02-24
2025-02-24
Brief of Christopher Hess in opposition submitted.
2025-02-24
Letter Concerning No Brief in Opposition from Respondent City of Dallas of City of Dallas submitted.
2025-01-23
Response Requested. (Due February 24, 2025)
2025-01-08
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/24/2025.
2024-12-23
Waiver of right of respondent Christopher Hess to respond filed.
2024-12-23
Waiver of Christopher Hess of right to respond submitted.
2024-12-18
Waiver of right of respondent City of Dallas to respond filed.
2024-12-18
Waiver of City of Dallas of right to respond submitted.
2024-11-18
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 23, 2024)

Attorneys

Christopher Hess
Mark E. GoldstuckerLaw Office of Mark E. Goldstucker, Respondent
Mark E. GoldstuckerLaw Office of Mark E. Goldstucker, Respondent
City of Dallas
Nicholas Dane PalmerDallas City Attorney's Office, Respondent
Nicholas Dane PalmerDallas City Attorney's Office, Respondent
Mary Dawes, et al.
Shelby Jean WhiteDurham, Pittard & Spalding, LLP, Petitioner
Shelby Jean WhiteDurham, Pittard & Spalding, LLP, Petitioner