Deck 1: Overview

Question 1

It has been estimated that, since the 1990s, annual filing of civil lawsuits against police averages approximately:

A) 100,000
B) 50,000
C) 30,000
D) 10,000

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Data suggested that, by 2006, allegations of civil rights violations were resolved by juries in what percentage of cases that proceeded to trial?

A) 12%
B) 35%
C) 65%
D) 87%

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Plaintiffs are more likely to prevail in litigation against law enforcement officials when the basis of the suit is over:

A) Excessive force
B) Failure to train
C) Strip searches
D) Unconstitutional agency policy

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Civil suits by prisoners under Title 42, Section 1983 of the United States Code exploded following the United States Supreme Court case of:

A) Cooper v. Pate (1964)
B) Farmer v. Brennan (1994)
C) Scott v. Harris (2007)
D) Anderson v. Creighton (1987)

Question 5

Most suits filed by prisoners are resolved at what stage of the proceedings?

A) A verdict following a trial on the merits of the case.
B) Settlement immediately before the beginning of the trial.
C) Settlement following discovery.
D) At the pleading stage.

Question 6

A 1992 study found that most civil rights complaints filed by prisoners were filed against:

A) Correctional supervisors
B) Correctional officers
C) Medical personnel
D) Other prisoners

Question 7

Darrell Ross found that prisoners filed their lawsuit without legal counsel in what percentage of cases?

A) 10%
B) 37%
C) 66%
D) 92%

Question 8

Prisoner lawsuits have declined since 2000 as a result of what federal law?

A) Fair Debt Collection Act
B) Prisoner Litigation Reform Act
C) Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
D) 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Question 9

A study reported that the average time from filing to resolution of civil rights cases in federal courts was:

A) Two years
B) One year
C) 10 months
D) Six months

Question 10

A plaintiff will be awarded punitive damages in what percentage of tort cases?

A) 63%
B) 54%
C) 12%
D) 5%

Question 11

High profile civil cases involving law enforcement personnel include:

A) Rodney King and Los Angeles police officers
B) Amadou Diallo and New York police officers
C) Randy Weaver family and U.S. Marshalls
D) All of the above

Question 12

A study of cases in federal district courts in New York, found that monetary damages were awarded in what percentage of cases?

A) 10%
B) 21%
C) 30%
D) 45%

Question 13

Which U.S. city was reported to have paid more in damages over police litigation than any other?

A) New York
B) Detroit
C) Chicago
D) Houston

Question 14

Most civil cases filed against police officers that result in financial awards to plaintiffs are decided by judge or jury verdicts.

Question 15

A majority of police academy cadets reported that fear of being sued was a rational emotion.

Question 16

Overall, police officers lose more often than plaintiffs in civil litigation.

Question 17

Prisoners are more likely than the general public to file lawsuits.