U.S. Appeals Court: BIVENS CLAIM QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

• Position: Brief Article

Benefield v. McDowall, 241 F.3d 1267 (10th Cir. 2001). A prison inmate brought a Bivens action against prison officials alleging that he had been exposed to a risk of harm at the hands of other inmates after an officer labeled him as a "snitch." The officer moved for dismissal on the basis of qualified immunity and the district court denied the motion. The appeals court affirmed, finding that it was clearly established at the time of the incident (1998) that labeling a prison inmate as a "snitch" to other inmates violated the inmate's...