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Criminal Law keyed to Dripps
Lopez v. City of Chicago
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*Case Brief Anatomy includes: Brief Prologue, Complete Case Brief, Brief Epilogue
- The Brief Prologue provides necessary case brief introductory information and includes:
- Topic: Identifies the topic of law and where this case fits within your course outline.
- Parties: Identifies the cast of characters involved in the case.
- Procedural Posture & History: Shares the case history with how lower courts have ruled on the matter.
- Case Key Terms, Acts, Doctrines, etc.: A case specific Legal Term Dictionary.
- Case Doctrines, Acts, Statutes, Amendments and Treatises: Identifies and Defines Legal Authority used in this case.
- The Case Brief is the complete case summarized and authored in the traditional Law School I.R.A.C. format. The Pro case brief includes:
- Brief Facts: A Synopsis of the Facts of the case.
- Rule of Law: Identifies the Legal Principle the Court used in deciding the case.
- Facts: What are the factual circumstances that gave rise to the civil or criminal case? What is the relationship of the Parties that are involved in the case. Review the Facts of this case here:
Joseph Plaintiff (Plaintiff) was arrested without a warrant by Chicago police for the murder of a twelve-year-old boy. The boy had been struck and killed by stray gunfire in a drive-by shooting. An eyewitness identified Plaintiff as the shooter. Thereafter, Chicago detectives (Defendants) kept Plaintiff shackled to the wall of a windowless, nine-by-seven foot interrogation room for four days and nights while they investigated the case. Plaintiff only had a small metal bench or dirty floor upon which to sleep and there was no toilet or sink. Plaintiff was given only one bologna sandwich and one serving of juice during the four days and nights. From time to time, detectives would question Plaintiff and they made him stand in two line-ups. After two and one-half days, Plaintiff became disoriented and gave a false confession that did not match the details of the crime. On the fifth day of his detention, Plaintiff was moved to the city lockup, charged, and finally taken to court. Shortly thereafter, detectives located another individual who confessed to the murder. Plaintiff was released the following day. Plaintiff sued Defendants under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for a violation of his constitutional rights and a supplemental state claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. After hearing the evidence, the district court granted the Defendants’ motion for a judgment as a matter of law. Plaintiff appealed.
- Issue(s): Lists the Questions of Law that are raised by the Facts of the case.
- Holding: Shares the Court's answer to the legal questions raised in the issue.
- Concurring / Dissenting Opinions: Includes valuable concurring or dissenting opinions and their key points.
- Reasoning and Analysis: Identifies the chain of argument(s) which led the judges to rule as they did.
- The Brief Prologue closes the case brief with important forward-looking discussion and includes:
- Policy: Identifies the Policy if any that has been established by the case.
- Court Direction: Shares where the Court went from here for this case.