Harley Ex Rel. Johnson v. City of New York
Plaintiff Lucille Harley brought a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on behalf of her grandchildren, alleging a violation of their due process rights in connection with their removal from her home in 1990. Defendants, including child welfare caseworkers Kersandra Cox and John Byers, moved for summary judgment, asserting qualified immunity and challenging municipal liability. The court found that the caseworkers were objectively reasonable in their belief of emergency circumstances warranting removal, thereby granting them qualified immunity. Additionally, the plaintiff failed to provide evidence of a municipal policy of 'deliberate indifference,' leading to the dismissal of claims against the City. Consequently, the defendants' motion for summary judgment was granted in its entirety.