Starr v. Baca
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
652 F.3d 1202 (2011)
After inmate Starr (plaintiff) was beaten by fellow inmates -- allegedly after a deputy opened his cell door to permit the attack -- he sued Sheriff Baca (defendant) individually for supervisory liability, alleging deliberate indifference to unconstitutional jail conditions and detailing several prior instances of inmate injuries or deaths from subordinates' unconstitutional conduct that Baca knew about but did nothing to address; the district court granted Baca's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.
Whether, to survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual allegations to give fair notice and enable effective defense, and must plausibly suggest an entitlement to relief.