James Andrew Sims, Jr. v. Coffee County Sheriff's Office, Entire Police Dept., and Entire Sheriff's Dept.

Sims · United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Waycross Division · November 24, 2025 · No. 5:25-cv-55

Summary

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia dismissed without prejudice James Andrew Sims, Jr.’s 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint arising from his arrest. The court held that the Douglas Police Department, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, and Coffee County Jail were not proper persons subject to suit under § 1983, closed the case, and denied leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal.

Holdings

  1. The complaint failed to state a § 1983 claim because the Douglas Police Department, Coffee County Sheriff's Office, and Coffee County Jail were not persons or suable legal entities subject to liability under § 1983.
  2. The plaintiff was denied leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal because an appeal from the dismissal would not be taken in good faith.

Questions Presented

  1. Whether the complaint stated a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the entire police department, sheriff's office, and county jail.
  2. Whether the plaintiff should be denied in forma pauperis status for an appeal because any appeal would not be taken in good faith.

Disposition

dismissed

Cases Cited (18)

  • Waldman v. Conway, 871 F.3d 1283, 1289 (11th Cir.)(followed)
  • Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520(followed)
  • McNeil v. United States, 508 U.S. 106, 113(followed)
  • Moore v. Bargstedt, 203 F. App'x 321, 323 (11th Cir.)(followed)
  • Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678(followed)
  • Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555(followed)
  • Hale v. Tallapoosa County, 50 F.3d 1579, 1582 (11th Cir.)(followed)
  • Strange v. JPay Corp., No. 19-15154, 2020 WL 3547931, at *2 (11th Cir. June 9, 2020)(followed)
  • Dean v. Barber, 951 F.2d 1210, 1214 (11th Cir.)(followed)
  • Nichols v. Ala. State Bar, 815 F.3d 726, 731 (11th Cir.)(followed)

Showing top 10 of 18.

Cited In (0)

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