Professor Katherine Franke
        Mon. & Weds. 10:40-12:00
        Room WJWH 103

       Fall 2008

"You were put here to protect us, but who protects us from you?
Everytime you say, "that's illegal", does it mean that it's true?
Your authority's never questioned, no one questions you
If I hit you, I'll be killed, if you hit me, I can sue
...
You were here to protect us, but who protects us from you?"

KRS-One - "Who Protects Us From You?" on Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop, Boogie Down Productions

The course will provide an historical and statutory overview of federal civil rights law - with a particular emphasis on police misconduct. Class format will combine lecture and discussion, with an emphasis on discussion. A significant portion of the class will be devoted to the details of litigating under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 - a statute that provides a private right of action for violations of the U.S. Constitution or federal laws. If you plan to clerk after graduation, you will encounter § 1983 cases a great deal, and will find our work in this class very helpful.

Class attendance and participation are very important. Each student will be required to write one short (three-five pages double-spaced) paper during the course of the semester on a problem that will be distributed. There will be an in-class, open-book final examination.

Professor Franke's Coordinates:

Office: Room 627
Office Hours: Wednesdays 2pm - 3:30pm or by appointment
Phone: 854-0061
E-Mail: kfranke@law.columbia.edu
Professor Franke's Assistant: Rachel Jones, 854-7594, rachel.jones@law.columbia.edu

• Nahmod et al., Constitutional Torts (Second Edition)
• Nahmod et al., Constitutional Torts Supplement (2008)

texts are available at: Book Culture, 536 W. 112th Street.

• Supplemental Readings, available during the semester (KF Supp.)

Wednesday, September 3rd - Introduction to the Course

• Please read articles:
  LA Times on racial profiling by the LAPD click here
  NY Daily News on frequency of NYPD use of force click here

Monday, September 8th - Introduction to Section 1983

• § 1983 Prima Facie Case
• Nahmod pp. 1-20

Wednesday, September 10th - Under Color of State Law

• Nahmod pp. 47-100

Monday, September 15th - Under Color of State Law cont.

• Nahmod pp. 47-100

Wednesday, September 17th - Constitutional Deprivations

• Nahmod pp. 171-185
• Nahmod Supp. pp. 7-17
• Chavez v. Martinez - 5th Amendment

Monday, September 22nd - Constitutional Deprivations cont.

• 4th and 5th Amendment Review/Problems

 Wednesday, September 24th - Constitutional Deprivations cont.

• Nahmod pp. 101-129
• Nahmod Supp. pp. 3-7

 Monday, September 29th - Constitutional Deprivations cont.

• Nahmod pp. 129-147

 Wednesday, October 1st - Constitutional Deprivations cont.  

• Nahmod pp. 147-158
• Souders - please watch video: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2458916n
• Souders complaint and answer

 Monday, October 6th - Constitutional Deprivations cont.

• Heck & Constitutional Deprivations Review
• Nahmod pp. 637-659

 Wednesday, October 8th - "And Laws"  

• Nahmod pp. 224-238
• Nahmod Supp. p. 26

Monday, October 13th - Preemption

• Fitzgerald v. Barnstable School Committee
• Lankford v. Sherman
• Saunders, Preemption as an Alternative to Section 1983

Wednesday, October 15th - Preemption

• Ind. Living Center of S. Cal. v. Shewry
• Problem

Monday, October 20th - Absolute Immunities 

• Nahmod pp. 385-437
• Nahmod Supp. pp. 35-38

Wednesday, October 22nd - Qualified Immunity  

• Nahmod pp. 439-463
• Nahmod Supp. pp. 39-40

Monday, October 27th - Qualified Immunity cont. 

• Nahmod pp. 463-480
• Nahmod Supp. pp. 40-42
• Saucier v. Katz

Wednesday, October 29th - Qualified Immunity cont. 

• Nahmod pp. 506-526
• Nahmod Supp. pp. 43-44
  
  Judge McMahon's Individual Practice Rule
  Lee v. McCue

Monday, November 3rd - Qualified Immunity Review

• Problem Group 5

Wednesday, November 5th - No class

Monday, November 10th - Municipal Liability

• Nahmod pp. 239-275

Wednesday, November 12th - Municipal Liability cont.

• Nahmod pp. 275-309
• Nahmod Supp. pp. 27-28

Monday, November 17th - Municipal Liability cont.

• Nahmod pp. 309-334
• Nahmod Supp. p. 29

Wednesday, November 19th -

• Guest Lecture by Jennifer Laurin
• Final report of the Independent Investigator for the HPD Crime Laboratory
• Complaint in Rodriguez v. City of Houston
• City of Houston's Motion for SJ
• Plaintiff's Brief in Opposition to Defendant Bolding's SJ motion
• Plaintiff's Brief in Opposition to Defendant City's SJ motion

 Monday, November 24th - Municipal Liability Review

• Evans
• Williams
• Problem 6

Wednesday, November 26th - No Class

Monday, December 1st - Federal Tort Claims Act

• Berkovitz v. U.S.
• U.S. v. Gaubert

Wednesday, December 3rd -  - Federal Tort Claims Act cont.

• Baum v. U.S.
• Teckle v. U.S.

Monday, December 8th - Review

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