Murray v. Penobscot County DA
Murray v. Penobscot County DA
Opinion
July 12, 1994 [NOT FOR PUBLICATION] UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT
No. 93-2024 GREGORY T. MURRAY, Plaintiff, Appellant, v. PENOBSCOT COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ET AL., Defendants, Appellees.
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MAINE [Hon. Morton A. Brody, U.S. District Judge]
Before Torruella, Boudin and Stahl, Circuit Judges.
Gregory T. Murray on brief pro se.
Jeffrey M. Silverstein, Assistant District Attorney, on brief for appellee R. Christopher Almy, District Attorney County of Penobscot.
Paul W. Chaiken, Michael A. Hodgins, and Rudman & Winchell on brief for appellee Bangor Police Department.
Per Curiam. Murray appeals from the dismissal of
his 1983 complaint filed against the Penobscot County District Attorney and the Bangor Police Department. We affirm substantially for the reasons stated in the magistrate judge's August 23, 1933 recommended decision, adding these comments.
1. We agree that the district attorney was immune from damages liability with respect to his decision not to prosecute appellant. Harrington v. Almy, 977 F.2d 37, 40
(1st Cir. 1992).
2. We turn to appellant's false arrest, illegal detainment, and illegal search and seizure claims against the police department. Citing to Monell v. Department of Social
Services, 436 U.S. 658, 690 (1978), the magistrate's report
correctly informed Murray that these claims were subject to dismissal because liability could not be imposed absent allegations that the harm was inflicted pursuant to an official policy or custom. Despite that notice, Murray made no attempt to correct the complaint's deficiency. There simply are no allegations, as there must be to sustain a 1983 suit, linking a department policy or custom with any constitutional violation. Monell, 436 U.S. at 691-94; see
also Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 385 (1989); Bordanaro v.
McLeod, 871 F.2d 1151, 1157 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 820
Purvis v. Ponte, 929 F.2d 822, 826-27 (1st Cir. 1991) (
1915(d) dismissal did not violate Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319 (1989), where magistrate's report gave plaintiff notice of his complaint's factual deficiencies and an opportunity to cure).
Affirmed.
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