BROSSEAU v. HAUGEN

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Case Basics
Docket No. 
03-1261
Petitioner 
Brosseau
Respondent 
Haugen
Decided By 
Rehnquist Court (1994-2005)
Opinion 
543 U.S. 194 (2004)
Decided 
Monday, December 13, 2004
Tags
Term:
Facts of the Case 

Brosseau, a police officer in Washington state, shot Haugen in the back as he tried to flee in his vehicle from the police. Haugen sued Brosseau in federal district court, alleging Brosseau used excessive force in shooting him and violated his constitutional rights. The district court ruled for Brosseau, finding she was entitled to qualified immunity. The Ninth Circuit reversed.

Question 

Was a police officer who shot a fleeing suspect entitled to qualified immunity?

Conclusion 
Decision: 8 votes for Brosseau, 1 vote(s) against
Legal provision:

Yes. In an 8-1 per curiam decision, the Court held that Brosseau was entitled to qualified immunity because the Court's previous cases did not clearly establish that shooting the fleeing Hogan would have violated his constitutional rights.

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BROSSEAU v. HAUGEN. The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. 09 February 2012. <http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2004/2004_03_1261/>.
BROSSEAU v. HAUGEN, The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2004/2004_03_1261/ (last visited February 9, 2012).
"BROSSEAU v. HAUGEN," The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, accessed February 9, 2012, http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2004/2004_03_1261/.