LENARTSON v. SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT OF PORTLAND MAINE

This case involved a dispute between an individual named Lenartson and Hardin County, Kentucky, over allegations of excessive force by a deputy sheriff and claims that the county failed to properly train and supervise its officers. The court issued a mixed ruling on the county's request to dismiss the case entirely. The judge granted qualified immunity to Deputy Volentine, which means the deputy cannot be held personally liable for the excessive force claim in federal court. However, the court allowed other claims against the county to move forward to trial, including state law claims related to inadequate training and supervision of law enforcement officers. This decision matters for workers because it shows how difficult it can be to hold individual government employees accountable for their actions due to qualified immunity protections. However, it also demonstrates that employers - even government entities - can still face consequences when they fail to properly train and supervise their employees. While this case involves law enforcement, the principle applies broadly: employers have a responsibility to ensure their workers are adequately trained and supervised, and they may face legal consequences when that training falls short and someone gets hurt.