Federal Judiciary

Petition of the day

By Anna Christensen

The ?Petition of the day? posts feature petitions that are likely to appear on our ?Petitions to watch? list when they are scheduled for consideration by the Justices. ?Petitions of the day? are those that Tom has identified as raising one or more questions that has a reasonable chance of being granted in an appropriate case. We generally do not attempt to evaluate whether the case presents an appropriate vehicle to decide the question, which is a critical consideration in determining whether certiorari will be granted.

The petition of the day is: 

Title: Depee v. Mahach-Watkins
Docket: 10-151
Issue(s): Whether, when a civil rights plaintiff seeks substantial money damages but receives only nominal damages, a court may award attorney?s fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988, notwithstanding the failure of the litigation to achieve a significant public benefit such as declaratory, injunctive, or class relief.

Certiorari-Stage Documents

• Opinion below (9th Circuit)
• Petition for certiorari

Full post as published by SCOTUSBLOG on September 07, 2010 (boomark / email).