Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Samantha Lee-Ann Sealey v. Arturo Mancias, et al.
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, No. 24-50998 · judgment August 19, 2025
Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.
Question presented
I. To avoid dismissal of a § 1983 excessive-force suit, must a plaintiff plead, as an element of her claim, that the officer had a “superior alternative” that would have avoided the harm? II. To avoid dismissal under the “clearly established” prong of qualified immunity, must the plaintiff identify an identical fact pattern, as the Fifth Circuit continues to hold, or can prior precedent clearly establish a constitutional violation despite some factual variation? (i)
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Brandon Elliott Beck
GearyBeck, LLP
For respondent
Jacqueline M. Stroh
The Law Office of Jacqueline M. Stroh, P.C.
Proceedings
- Apr 20 2026Petition DENIED.
- Mar 25 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2026.
- Mar 20 2026Waiver of right of respondent Arturo Mancias and the City of San Antonio to respond filed.
- Feb 17 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 23, 2026)
- Jan 12 2026Application (25A696) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until February 15, 2026.
- Jan 06 2026Application (25A696) to extend further the time from January 16, 2026 to February 15, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.
- Dec 16 2025Application (25A696) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until January 16, 2026.
- Dec 08 2025Application (25A696) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 17, 2025 to February 15, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.