7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Erika Mabes and Brian Mabes, individually and on behalf of L.M., J.R.M., and J.A.M., minor children v. Shannon Thompson, et al.
24-1048 and 24-1082
Civil. Appeals from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge James Sweeney. Reverses the district court’s denial of nine Indiana Department of Child Services employees and consultant doctor Shannon Thompson’s motions for summary judgment because it found that unresolved factual disputes precluded their requests for qualified immunity. Finds no evidence in the record (or identified in the Mabeses’ brief), that Thompson acted in a reckless or otherwise improper manner in providing her recommendation to DCS. Also finds that none of the nine DCS defendants violated the Mabeses’ clearly established rights, entitling them to qualified immunity across the board. Attorneys for appellant: Ryan Hurley, Stephanie Gutwein, Liam Williams, Addison Zielinski. Attorneys for appellees: Ronald Waicuskauski, Joseph Williams, Brad Catlin.