Monroe v. Pape - Significance

The ruling revitalized R.S. 1979 of the U.S. Code, derived from article 1 of the so-called Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, which was passed to protect individuals against abuse of their human rights by state authorities. By affirming the ability of citizens to bring civil suit for damages against authorities who violate their constitutional rights, the Court struck a blow for the rights of the individual and curtailed certain capricious police activities. However, by also affirming the immunity of municipalities from civil suit by their citizens, the Court established a legal precedent that was not displaced until Monell v. Department of Social Services, (1977).