In a prior decision, Campbell v. Miller, 06-1981, 499 F.3d 1 (7th Cir. Ind., 2007), an appeals court ruled that no reasonable jury could find that a strip search and visual inspection of an arrestee's anal cavity, conducted in a backyard within the sight of others for no identified reason complied with the Fourth Amendment. The appeals court found that the officer who conducted the search was liable to the arrestee, while the city that employed him was not, as it did not have a policy that caused the manner in which the search had been conducted. In a hearing on damages on remand, the trial court ruled that the plaintiff was barred from seeking to recover punitive damages because a conclusive ruling on the issue had been reached at trial, and the arrestee had failed to challenge that portion of the court's rulings during the appeal. Campbell v. Miller, #1:03-cv-180, 2008 U.S. Dist. Lexis 501 (S.D. Ind.).
     Federal appeals court rules that no reasonable jury could find that a strip search, including an inspection of an arrestee's anal cavity, conducted in public in the open backyard of a home where the arrest was made, complied with the Fourth Amendment, when there was "no identifiable reason" for carrying out the strip search in that manner. Further proceedings were therefore ordered on claims against the officers. Summary judgment for defendant city was upheld however, since there was no evidence that the place and manner in which the strip search was conducted was caused by any official municipal policy or custom. Campbell v. Miller, No. 06-1981, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 20547 (7th Cir.).
     A reasonable police officer would not have understood at the time of the incident (April of 2001) that a strip search of the arrestee in his motel room, based on a suspicion that he was concealing drugs, violated his constitutional rights. The officer was therefore entitled to qualified immunity, and a federal appeals court overturns an award of $1 in nominal damages to the plaintiff (already reduced to that amount by the trial court from a jury award of $35,000). In a suit against a city and police officers for alleged civil rights violations arising from a strip search of plaintiff in his motel room, denial of qualified immunity for defendant-officer is reversed where a reasonable officer in defendant's position would not have understood that the strip search of plaintiff in his motel room would violate his constitutional rights. The strip search was not conducted in public view, and the court found that standards for privacy and hygiene "clearly were met" since the officers were the same sex as the arrestee, and the officer wore a sanitary latex glove while conducting it. Richmond v. City of Brooklyn Ctr., No. 05-3770, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 14710 (8th Cir.).
     Federal appeals court upholds jury's award of $5 in nominal damages and $25,000 in punitive damages to arrestee on his claim that a strip search performed by police officers was unreasonable. While the officers claimed that the strip search was required in order to stop the arrestee from destroying drugs found on his person after a lawful arrest, no reasonable jury could conclude that this justification was reasonable. Two routine searches of the arrestee's person did not reveal any weapons or contraband and a narcotics dog did not demonstrate any interest in the arrestee. Wilson v. Aquino, No. 05-7053, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 12285 (2nd Cir.).
     Claim that U.S. Marshals at D.C. Superior Court were subjecting all female arrestees to strip searches and/or visual body cavity searches without any individualized reasonable suspicion that they were concealing contraband or weapons, but that similarly situated male arrestees were not strip searched, if true, stated a claim for violation of the Fourth and Fifth Amendment. Further, it would have been clear to a reasonable officer that such a policy was unconstitutional. Johnson v. D.C., Civil Action No. 02-2364, 2006 U.S. Dist. Lexis 82930 (D.D.C.). [N/R]
     There was not reasonable suspicion sufficient to justify a strip search of a female high school student on the basis of statements by a fellow student that she had heard the student tell others that she had hid drugs in her underpants. There was no indication that the informant student provided reliable information in the past, and no attempt to corroborate the tip. While the student searched had engaged in past misconduct, none of it had involved drug use. Phaneuf v. Fraikin, No. 04-4783, 448 F.3d 591 (2nd Cir. 2006). [N/R]
     Female high school students subject to a strip search conducted by the school's dean, who was looking for $60 allegedly stolen from a fellow student, stated a viable federal civil rights claim when the dean did not have information sufficient to provide individualized reasonable suspicion needed to conduct such searches. A section of the Illinois School Code, addressing the issue of searches of students, did not provide a private right of action for damages for the students under state law. Carlson v. Bremen High School District 228, No. 05 C 6194, 423 F. Supp. 2d 823 (N.D. Ill. 2006). [N/R]
     In a lawsuit concerning the strip-searching of an adult and seven children during a warrant-based search of an apartment for drugs, trial judge's reply to jury's question about municipal liability was not erroneous. Jury's verdict for defendant city upheld on appeal. Quiles v. Kilson, No. 05-1026, 2005 U.S. App. Lexis 22741 (1st Cir.). [2005 LR Dec]
     Officers who subjected a female shopper to a body cavity search after she activated a security sensor while leaving a store were entitled to qualified immunity, when the evidence showed that she told a male officer she had no objection to being searched, or to waiting for a female officer to arrive to conduct the search. Even if there was a question as to whether the shopper's consent was actually voluntarily, based on alleged prior statements by store personnel before the officers arrived, the officers acted reasonably and on the basis of information indicating the shopper's consent. McNeal v. Roberts, #04-30660, 129 Fed. Appx. 110 (5th Cir. 2005). [N/R]
     Unwritten custom of allowing city police investigators "unfettered discretion" in conducting their administrative investigations into alleged police misconduct resulted in unconstitutional strip searches of police officers during investigation of motorist's claim that the officers stole from him during a traffic stop. Monistere v. City of Memphis, No. 03-5412, 115 Fed. Appx. 845 (6th Cir. 2004). [N/R]
     Lawsuit asserting claims under Kansas state statute concerning legitimate procedures for strip and body cavity searches was governed by three-year statute of limitations applicable to statutory claims, rather than one-year statute of limitations governing privacy claims or two-year statute of limitations applicable to federal civil rights claims in the state. The arrestee's lawsuit, therefore, was not time barred and was reinstated. McCormick v. City of Lawrence, No. 90,853, 104 P.3d 991 (Kan. 2005). [N/R]
     Strip searches of more than twenty male and female students by schoolteachers, seeking to recover stolen money, carried out, in part, at the direction of a police officer, were unconstitutional, but defendants were entitled to qualified immunity from liability because the law on the issue was not clearly established in May of 2000. Beard v. Whitmore Lake Sch. Dist., No. 03-1904, 402 F.3d 598 (6th Cir.2005). [2005 LR Jun]
     Conducting an investigatory strip search to attempt to discover drugs on persons already arrested for a different offense violated the arrestees' civil rights, federal appeals court rules, in the absence of reasonable suspicion of possession of drugs. Officer was entitled to qualified immunity on carrying out strip searches at all, but not on the clearly unreasonable manner in which he was alleged to have carried them out. Evans v. Stephens, No. 02-1642, 2005 U.S. App. Lexis 8071 (11th Cir.). [2005 LR Jun]
     Officers could not have reasonably believed that supervising officers were not violating arrestee's civil rights during execution of no-knock search warrant on home in allegedly conducting invasive body cavity searches of two women in front of male officers and visual body cavity searches of three men, or by allegedly physically assaulting persons present during the search without provocation. Defendants were not, therefore, entitled to qualified immunity. Officer who allegedly misled the magistrate into issuing the warrant by omitting material facts was also not entitled to qualified immunity. Bolden v. Village of Monticello, No. 04 CIV.1372, 344 F. Supp. 2d 407 (S.D.N.Y. 2004). [N/R]
     Search warrant for a residence which authorized a search of "all persons" present for drugs was not adequately supported by detailed information to support probable cause to believe that all occupants of the premises were involved in criminal activity. Officers who carried out the search pursuant to the warrant, and who strip-searched or pat-searched four adults and two minors in the home, were entitled to qualified immunity because the law on the issue was not clearly established at the time of the search. Owens Ex Rel. Owens v. Lott, No. 03-1194, 372 F.3d 267 (4th Cir. 2004). [2004 LR Nov]
     Female police officer's warrantless strip search of a female resident of a children's home was justified by her reasonable suspicion that she possessed narcotics, and even if she were mistaken in believing that she could conduct such a search under the circumstances, she was entitled to qualified immunity. Reynolds v. City of Anchorage, No. 02-6443, 2004 U.S. App. Lexis 16301 (6th Cir. 2004). [2004 LR Oct]
     An arrestee who was subjected to a body cavity search for drugs after being arrested for a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession and then released was not entitled to an injunction against the city's practice of conducting such searches. The trial court had not certified a class action in the case, and unless the same series of events were to occur to the plaintiff again, there was no present controversy between him and the city concerning its handling of future arrests. The plaintiff could pursue his claim for money damages, and if the trial court ruled that the practice involved was unconstitutional, the appeals court stated, the city would have to "cease" the practice "whether or not a formal injunction issues." Campbell v. Miller, #03-3018, 373 F.3d 834 (7th Cir. 2004). [N/R]
    Strip searches of patrons during execution of search warrant for drug transactions at nightclub were unlawful when carried out without individualized reasonable suspicion of possession of drugs or probable cause, and sheriff was not entitled to qualified immunity for conducting the searches. Federal appeals court upholds award of $100 in nominal damages and $15,000 in punitive damages for each plaintiff. Williams v. Kaufman County, No. 02-10500, 352 F.3d 994 (5th Cir. 2003). [2004 LR Mar]
     Police officer who allegedly subjected two African-American college students to a strip search after stopping them for speeding was entitled to qualified immunity for conducting the searches without reasonable suspicion that they were concealing contraband or weapons, for his alleged verbal abuse of them, and for the "humiliating" way in which the strip searches were allegedly conducted. Evans v. City of Zebulon, No. 02-16424, 2003 U.S. App. Lexis 23479 (11th Cir.). [2004 LR Jan]
     Nightclub patrons strip-searched and detained for three hours because they were present during execution of search warrant on premises for evidence of crack cocaine transactions were properly awarded $100 in actual damages and $15,000 in punitive damages each. Sheriff was not entitled to qualified immunity for conducting searches without particularized reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Williams v. Kaufman County, No. 02-10500, 343 F.3d 689 (5th Cir. 2003). [2004 LR Jan]
     State social worker violated Fourth Amendment rights in conducting a visual body cavity search of a female minor based on accusations of sexual abuse without demonstrating probable cause and obtaining a court order, getting parental consent, or showing emergency circumstances, but she was entitled to qualified immunity because the violation was not clearly established in July of 1999. Mother of child did consent to investigative home visit and therefore had no individual claim for Fourth Amendment violations. Roe v. Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, #01-50711, 299 F.3d 395 (5th Cir. 2002). [N/R]
      Strip search of woman arrested on a misdemeanor charge was sufficient, under District of Columbia law, to support a claim against U.S. Marshals for intrusion upon seclusion, a form of invasion of privacy, even if their actions did not violate the U.S. Constitution. Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. Secs. 1346(b), 2671-2680 does not waive the sovereign immunity of the United States for constitutional claims. Helton v. United States, 191 F. Supp. 2d 179 (D.D.C. 2002). [N/R]
     Update: Judge declines to impose $129,750 damage award suggested by advisory jury in lawsuit brought over "humiliating" strip search of beautician conducted at airport by U.S. Customs agents after drug dog alerted to her. Kaniff v. U.S., No. 99C-3882 (U.S. Dist. Ct. N.D. Ill. March 8, 2002). [2002 LR Apr]
    A beautician on her way home from a vacation camping trip was awarded $129,750 in damages by a jury for an allegedly "humiliating" strip search conducted at an airport by U.S. Customs agents after a drug dog alerted to her. The plaintiff was required to strip, bend over and spread open her vagina and buttocks as the agents looked for drugs which were not found, and then agreed to be x-rayed at a local hospital. Kaniff v. U.S. No. 99C-3882 (U.S. Dist. Ct. N.D. Ill.), reported in The National Law Journal, p. B3 (Sept. 17, 2001). [N/R]
     343:110 Eight 8th-graders strip searched by officer during search for missing money were entitled to $5,500 each in damages; search was "invasive and degrading" and not based on individualized suspicion that any of them had taken the money. Bell v. Marseilles Elementary School, No. 00-C-2553, U.S. Dist. Ct., N.D. Ill., reported in Chicago Tribune, p. 14 (May 3, 2001).
     340:62 Officer's alleged penetration of arrestee's vagina with his finger, squeezing of her hips and kneading of her buttocks with his ungloved hand while he searched her in her open nightgown in the street before putting her in the squad car violated clearly established Fourth Amendment rights when there was no justification for the search, and she was being arrested for a misdemeanor 2-day old noise ordinance violation. Amaechi v. West, No. 00-1129, 237 F.3d 356 (4th Cir. 2001).
     342:94 Officer was not liable for arresting female motorist on the basis of a recalled warrant, when the officer was unaware it was recalled; search requiring motorist to expose and rearrange her undergarments before using bathroom at station, however, was unreasonable when neither the crime involved in the arrest or any other circumstances created any suspicion that arrestee could be concealing contraband. Mason v. Village of Babylon, 124 F. Supp. 2d 807 (E.D.N.Y. 2000).
     337:13 City was liable for strip search of female arrestee in custody for violation of municipal code provision prohibiting possession of an unlicensed dog, since neither the arresting officer nor the matron who conducted the search suspected that she possessed weapons or other contraband. Huck v. City of Newburgh, 712 N.Y.S.2d 149 (A.D. 2000).
     337:14 Strip search of minor female, not named in search warrant, during search of trailer for marijuana, would not be reasonable absence particularized suspicion that she was concealing drugs on her person; deputy was not entitled to qualified immunity from liability. Sims v. Forehand, 112 F. Supp. 2d 1260 (M.D. Ala. 2000).
     329:77 Female motorist who exposed her breasts and nipples outside her vehicle to a female and a male officer in order to show that she was not the suspect wanted in an arrest warrant (who had a tattoo on her breast) could not recover damages from the officers when she herself spontaneously engaged in the exposure and the officers did not order or demand that she expose herself in this manner then and there; officers were entitled to qualified immunity. Nelson v. McMullen, No. 98-6454, 207 F.3d 1202 (10th Cir. 2000).
     331:111 Passenger strip searched after his arrest when drugs were found in car trunk was entitled to $25,000 in damages when strip was not based on reasonable suspicion; jury's initial award of $125,000 for emotional distress was excessive. Kelleher v. N.Y. State Trooper Fearon, 90 F.Supp. 2d 354 (S.D.N.Y. 2000).
     333:142 Strip search of entire fifth grade elementary school class in an attempt to find $26 collected for a class trip which was allegedly missing was "disproportionate" to the harm of missing the money and therefore an unreasonable search; police officer and teacher, however, were entitled to qualified immunity for conducting search in 1996, when the law on the subject was not "clearly established." Thomas v. Clayton County Bd. of Education, 94 F.Supp. 2d 1290 (N.D. Ga. 1999).
     320:125 Jury awards $5,019,600 to woman strip searched by N.Y.C. jail guards after her arrest on minor charges; search was allegedly conducted as part of ten-month policy of searching all, regardless of reasonable suspicion of possession of weapons, drugs, or other contraband; class action lawsuit pending on behalf of 63,000 others. Ciraolo v. N.Y.C., U.S. Dist. Court, S.D.N.Y., May 6, 1999, reported in The New York Times, p. A25, National Edition (May 12, 1999).
     292:62 Strip search of female arrestee in detention cell was justified by her arrest for discarding drug contraband and the discovery of rolling papers in her purse; search was carried out professionally by officer of the same sex; subjective motivation of male officer in ordering strip search was irrelevant for purposes of qualified immunity defense when search itself was objectively reasonable Swain v. Spinney, 932 F.Supp. 25 (D.Mass 1996).
     297:142 Deputy sheriff's defense that he was "only following orders" in ordering strip search of female detainee awaiting notification of court date on misdemeanor charges rejected by federal court; deputy was also not entitled to qualified immunity, since requirement that such arrestees not be strip searched absent "reasonable suspicion" of possession of weapons or contraband was clearly established. Dugas v. Jefferson County, 931 F.Supp. 1315 (E.D. Tex. 1996).
     265:14 Florida state statute requiring written authorization of supervising officer for strip searches applies to "all strip searches," court rules, reinstating suit by arrestee against sheriff Welch v. Rice, 636 So.2d 172 (Fla App. 1994).
     268:62 Officers were entitled to qualified immunity for strip-searching misdemeanor traffic arrestee who refused to identify himself at first; arrestee's failure to provide identification and possession of $1,000 in cash were grounds to believe that he was possibly involved in more serious criminal conduct than misdemeanor traffic offense Wachtler v. County of Herkimer, 35 F.3d 77 (2nd Cir. 1994).
     270:94 Sheriff was not entitled to qualified immunity for strip search of woman arrested for traffic violations; failure to produce a driver's license or other picture id did not give rise to objectively reasonable suspicion that arrestee was in possession of contraband Kelly v. Foti, 870 F.Supp. 126 (E.D. La 1994).
     Women traffic/misdemeanor arrestees illegally strip searched without reasonable belief that they possessed weapons or contraband to receive $601 million settlement from city Doe v. Calumet City, Chicago Sun-Times p. 4 (Sept 11, 1993).
     Federal appeals court upholds reasonableness of strip search of non-felony juvenile detainee in custody based on reasonable suspicion that juvenile was concealing a weapon or contraband Justice v. City of Peacetree City, 961 F.2d 188 (11th Cir. 1992).
     Officers were not entitled to qualified immunity for strip search of 17 year-old female truck passenger, conducted after investigatory stop revealed that suspected drug dealer was not in the truck, removing grounds for further detention of truck occupants Timberlake v. Benton, 786 F.Supp. 676 (M.D. Tenn 1992).
     Strip and body cavity searches of detainees can not be conducted merely on the basis of reasonable suspicion of possession of ordinary stolen property Fuller v. MG Jewelry, 590 F.2d 1437 (9th Cir. 1991).
     City liable for officers' repeated strip searches of female traffic/misdemeanor arrestees without reasonable belief that they had weapons or contraband; city adopted policy prohibiting such searches but failed to supply it to those who did searches or conduct training to explain policy Doe v. Calumet City, 754 F.Supp. 1211 (N.D.Ill. 1990).
     Female officer's visual observation of female detainee's urination violated clearly established constitutional rights in the absence of particularized suspicion of possession of contraband or that detainee might harm herself DiLoreto v. Borough of Oaklyn, 744 F.Supp. 610 (D.N.J. 1990).
     Strip search of man arrested for suspended vehicle registration violated Fourth Amendment in absence of reasonable suspicion of possession of weapon, controlled substance or evidence of crime; officers and municipality were immune from liability for emotional distress to the extent officers acted within state law in conducting strip search Ernst v. Borough of Fort Lee, 739 F.Supp. 220 (D.N.J. 1990).
     New trial ordered to determine whether city allowed strip searches where passing individuals could "peep" inside Iskander v. Village of Forest Park, 690 F.2d 126 (7th Cir. 1982).
     Woman unconstitutionally strip-searched awarded $30,000 Tikalsky v. City of Chicago, 687 F.2d 175 (7th Cir. 1982).
     Not all detainees may be strip-searched DeMier v. Gondles, 676 F.2d 92 (4th Cir. 1982).
     Visual body cavity search of female arrestee was constitutional Dufrin v. Spreen, 712 F.2d 1084 (6th Cir. 1983).
     Strip search of all pretrial detainees improper according to 4th Circuit Court; county attorney and other officials liable for not following earlier court opinions in the matter Smith v. Montgomery Co, Md, 573 F.Supp. 604 (D.Md 1983).
     Strip-search of traffic violator improper; no liability to officer for personnel error in regarding warrant Hill v. Bogans, 735 F.2d 391 (10th Cir. 1984).
     Arrest incident called "second-rate soap opera" Bovey v. City of Lafayette, Ind, 586 F.Supp. 1460 (N.D.Ind 1984).
     Police department policy requiring visual body cavity search for all pretrial detainees arrested for felonies is unconstitutional Kennedy v. Los Angeles Police Department, 667 F.Supp. 697 (CD Cal 1987).
     Appeals Court upholds liability for strip search of disarmed male pretrial detainee (who was deputy sheriff). conducted before female officer Abshire v. Walls, 830 F.2d 1277 (4th Cir. 1987).
     Defendants not entitled to qualified immunity for strip searching man arrested for nonpayment of parking tickets Walsh v. Franco, 849 F.2d 66 (2d Cir. 1988).
     Strip search of woman arrested for failure to license her dog was unreasonable, but strip search policy not invalid Watt v. City of Richardson Police Dept, 849 F.2d 195 (5th Cir. 1988).
     Observation of arrestee while she used bathroom and changed sanitary napkin was unreasonable Wilkes v. Borough of Clayton, 696 F.Supp. 144 (D. NJ 1988).
     " See also: Administrative Liability: General; Attorney's Fees: Against Government; Governmental Liability: Sheriffs/Constables