US District Court WDTN Docket Feed

Young v. City of Memphis and Memphis Police Department - Federal Claims Dismissed, State Law Remanded

The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee granted the City Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiff Symara A.C. Young's federal claim, with Young not opposing the dismissal. The Court further exercised its discretion under 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3) to remand the remaining state-law claim under the Tennessee Governmental Torts Liability Act to state court, finding that factors of convenience, fairness, and comity weighed in favor of remand rather than retaining supplemental jurisdiction.

Estrada Morales v. Bullock - Habeas Corpus Bond Hearing

On April 22, 2026, the US District Court for the Western District of Tennessee ordered service and a stay of transfer in Kevin Francisco Estrada Morales's habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, challenging his continued detention as an "arriving alien" without a bond hearing. The court directed that Estrada Morales serve copies of the petition and order on Respondent Christopher Bullock (ICE Field Office Director) and the US Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee within five days. The court also ordered that Respondent shall not transfer Estrada Morales out of the West Tennessee Detention Facility during the pendency of the Petition.

Cherrele Payton v. William Spearman and City of Munford - Police Shooting §1983 Suit, Partial Dismissal

The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee granted the City of Munford's partial motion to dismiss in Cherrele Payton's civil rights suit, dismissing her Tennessee Government Tort Liability Act (TGTLA) negligence claim and punitive damages claim against the City WITH PREJUDICE under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). The dismissal was granted because Tennessee's TGTLA provides municipalities governmental immunity from negligence suits absent a specific statutory waiver, and the City is immune from punitive damages. Plaintiff conceded the punitive damages claim against the City. Plaintiff's surviving claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Officer William Spearman for Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment violations remain pending, including her request for compensatory damages.