Monroe v. Pape
United States Supreme Court
365 U.S. 167 (1961)
Monroe (plaintiff) sued the city of Chicago and individual police officers (defendants) under section 1983, alleging officers broke into his home without a warrant, arrested him, and detained and interrogated him without access to counsel or the courts, all without ever filing formal charges. The city moved to dismiss, arguing section 1983 provided no civil remedy for actions taken within the scope of governmental functions, and the district court agreed and dismissed the complaint; the appellate court affirmed, and Monroe sought Supreme Court review.
Whether 42 U.S.C. section 1983 affords a civil cause of action to redress violations of an individual's constitutional rights committed by a government official.