Guzman v. City of Chicago

Dist. Ct. erred in giving jury instruction regarding issue of defendants-police officers' liability in instant damages-only trial in section 1983 action alleging that defendants violated plaintiff's Fourth Amendment rights when defendants seized her during search of plaintiff's apartment under circumstances where defendants and others searched wrong home. Defendants conceded that liability instruction was improper, and said instruction, along with defendants' attempts to present evidence that others were responsible for plaintiff's damages, had likely effect of confusing jury, which awarded plaintiff only one dollar in damages, by converting instant damages-only trial into one about liability.