Cook County, Illinois v. Thomas

Issue: (1) Whether the lower court properly held that the issuance of a "no duplication of damages" instruction to the jury in a Section 1983 case cures any error resulting from incorrect adjoining instructions that invited the jury to assess damages "by defendant" and "by claim" and to decide the legal question of joint liability; and (2) whether the adjudication of constitutional tort claims against multiple defendants for a single, indivisible injury violates either the law of damages in Section 1983 actions or the defendant’s Seventh Amendment right to a fair trial.

Briefs and Documents

Certiorari-stage documents

• Opinion below (7th Circuit)
• Petition for certiorari
• Brief in opposition