U.S. top court: lawyers hired by cities can seek immunity

Source: Reuters

By James Vicini
WASHINGTON | Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:49am EDT

(Reuters) - The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that private attorneys or others temporarily hired by local governments to conduct investigations can assert immunity from civil rights lawsuits alleging constitutional violations and seeking damages.

The high court ruled such individuals were not barred from getting immunity solely because they do not work for the government on a permanent or full-time basis.

The justices unanimously overturned a U.S. appeals court decision and ruled a private attorney retained by city officials to help with a personnel investigation can claim immunity in a lawsuit alleging constitutional violations.

The ruling was a victory for lawyer Steve Filarsky, who had been hired by the city of Rialto, California, to investigate possible misuse of sick leave.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/17/us-usa-lawyers-immunity-idUSBRE83G0Z320120417