Almeria

NAME: City of Los Angeles v. Lyons, 461 U.S. 95 (1983)

FACTS: Lyons was injured by police during a traffic stop after he was put into a chokehold. He
argued for an injunction at the municipality to prevent him and others under those circumstances
from being injured.
ISSUE: Does this case meet the jurisdictional requirements of the Supreme Court and if so does
Lyons meet the requirements to seek injunctive relief against the municipality?
PROCEDURAL HISTORY: Lyons sued the municipality seeking damages and an injunction in
District Court for the Central District of California. The District Court entered the injunction.
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed. The municipality appealed to the Supreme
Court.
HOLDING: In order for the respondent to invoke jurisdiction he is required to show he was in
immediate danger of irreparable injury. The existence of mere past injury does not meet
jurisdictional requirements set forth by Article III, of actual case or controversy.
LAW APPLIED: Article III requirements for jurisdiction:
1. an actual or likely injury
2. injury sufficiently concrete and individually affects plaintiff
3. the challenged action is the cause in fact of the injury
4. the court will be able to redress the injury by its decision