Jermaine Capel v. Norfolk Public Schools - Dismissal Affirmed

4th Circuit Daily Opinions

Filed March 2nd, 2026

Detected March 3rd, 2026

Summary

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's dismissal of Jermaine Capel's amended complaint against Norfolk Public Schools. The claims were brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court found no reversible error in the dismissal.

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What changed

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the lower court's decision to dismiss Jermaine Capel's amended complaint, which raised claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against Norfolk Public Schools. The appeal, docketed as No. 24-2215, was decided per curiam, with the court finding no reversible error in the district court's order, which was issued under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). The original district court case number was 2:23-cv-00393-AWA-LRL.

This decision means the plaintiff's case against Norfolk Public Schools has been definitively dismissed at the appellate level. As an unpublished opinion, it does not set binding precedent for future cases in the Fourth Circuit. Regulated entities, particularly educational institutions and employers, should note that while this specific case did not establish new legal standards, it reinforces the existing legal framework for evaluating claims under § 1983 and Title VII, especially when complaints are dismissed under § 1915(e)(2) for failure to state a claim.

Source document (simplified)

UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES CO URT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH C IRCUIT No. 24-2215 JERMAINE M. CAPE L, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. NORFOLK PUBLIC S CHOOLS, Defendant - Appellee. Appeal from the Unit ed States Distri ct Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, at Norfolk. Arenda L. W right Allen, Distric t Judge. (2:23- cv -0039 3-AWA-LRL) Submitted: February 2 6, 2026 Decided: March 2, 2026 Before NIEMEYER and QUATTLE BAUM, Circuit Judge s, and FLOYD, Senior Circui t Judge. Affirmed by unpublish ed per curiam opini on. Jermaine M. Capel, Ap pellant Pro Se. Unpublished opinions are not binding prec edent in this circuit.

2 PER CURIAM: Jermaine M. Capel appeals the dis trict court’s order dismissing under 28 U.S. C. § 1915(e)(2) his amend ed complaint r aising claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Ti tle VII of the Civil Righ ts Act of 1964, as am ended, 42 U.S. C. §§ 2000e to 2000e -17. W e have reviewed the record and find no reversible err or. Accordingly, we affi rm the district court’s order. Capel v. Norfolk Pub. Schs., No. 2:23 - cv -00393-AWA- LRL (E.D. Va. D ec. 5, 2024). We dispense with oral argu ment because the facts an d legal contentions are adequately presented in the material s before this court and argume nt would not aid th e decisional process. AFFIRMED