Summary
expressing no view on the legal standard applicable to cat's paw claims under § 1983 after sua sponte examining Staub
Summary of this case from Okon v. Harris County Hospital DistrictOpinion
No. 10-60685.
March 31, 2011.
Joseph Robert Murray, II, Harrison Law Office, Ripley, MS, Walter Brent Mcbride, Esq., Mcbride Law Firm, P.L.L.C., Tupelo, MS, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
James H. Stock, Jr., Esq., Robbin Wilson Hutton, Esq., Weintraub Stock, P.C., Memphis, TN, John Max Edwards, Jr., Esq., Attorney, Pontotoc, MS, for Defendants-Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, USDC No. 2:09-CV-102.
Before SMITH, DeMOSS, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
Versa Brown was discharged as a high school principal and sued the school district, school officials, and a private educational-enrichment group under various state and federal theories. The district court granted the defendants summary judgment, explaining its reasoning in a thorough and convincing memorandum opinion, Brown v. N. Panola Sch. Dist., No. 2:09-CV-102, 2010 WL 3001914, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76419 (N.D.Miss. July 28, 2010).
We have reviewed the briefs, pertinent portions of the record, and the applicable law and have heard the arguments of counsel. Because there is no error, we affirm, essentially for the reasons given by the district court.
While this matter was pending on appeal, the Supreme Court decided Staub v. Proctor Hospital ___ U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 1186, 179 L.Ed.2d 144 (2011), which addresses the so-called "cat's paw" theory of employer liability regarding actions by supervisors. We have sua sponte examined Staub and find nothing in it that affects our conclusion that summary judgment was proper. We express no view on what legal standard applies to cat's paw claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in light of Staub.
The summary judgment is AFFIRMED.