ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal filed by police officers who are seeking immunity from a lawsuit filed by a college student who says he was beaten up in a case of mistaken identity.
The court agreed Monday to hear the case, which may help clarify questions about a doctrine called “qualified immunity” that gives police officers and other local officials broad protection from lawsuits.
The Virginia-based Institute for Justice represents the college student, James King of Grand Rapids, Michigan. King's lawyers say they are glad to get the issue in front of the Supreme Court.
