Filed Date: Oct. 6, 1977
Closed Date: July 2, 1982
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This case involved allegations of misconduct against Officer Baranyai, a policeman of the Borough of Millvale. On October 6, 1977, the Attorney General of Pennsylvania filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against Officer Baranyai and the Millvale chief of police, mayor, and borough council. Filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the complaint sought injunctive relief prohibiting defendants from violating the constitutional rights of the residents of Millvale and all others lawfully present there. The complaint alleged that Officer Baranyai engaged in an extended pattern of beating citizens, false arrest, unconstitutional detention, harassment, and intimidation. It further alleged that Baranyai's misconduct was condoned and ratified by the Millvale chief of police, mayor, and borough council. The Attorney General later amended the complaint to join four individual plaintiffs and to seek class action relief. The District Court, under Judge William W. Knox denied class certification and the matter proceeded to trial in April 1979.
A non-jury trial on the matter lasted 14 days, with 61 witnesses testifying. The District Court made extensive findings of fact and ruled in favor of plaintiffs against all defendants. Of particular note was evidence presented that Baranyai had been convicted of criminal malfeasance in office, stemming from one of the many alleged incidents of misconduct, yet the police chief failed to take any disciplinary action whatsoever. Likewise, the mayor failed to properly investigate the complaints filed against Baranyai and the borough council failed to take any action following Baranyai’s conviction and the Attorney General’s lawsuit. Accordingly, the District Court issued a permanent injunction against all defendants prohibiting them from participating in or encouraging future civil rights violations. 480 F.Supp. 686 (W.D. Pa. 1979). The defendants appealed.
The Third Circuit filed an opinion on February 19, 1981, but the opinion was vacated on March 26, 1981 when the court agreed to rehear the case en banc. The en banc court affirmed in part and reversed in part, holding that the trial court’s grant of injunctive relief was not overbroad and was warranted against the defendant officer, the police chief, and the mayor, but not against the borough council. 659 F.2d 306 (3rd Cir. 1981). The Supreme Court denied certiorari on July 2, 1982. 458 U.S. 1121 (1982).
Summary Authors
Dan Dalton (1/6/2007)
Maddie Turk (4/5/2025)
Adams, Arlin Marvin (Pennsylvania)
Aldisert, Ruggero John (California)
Boas, Paul D. (Pennsylvania)
Dice, Bruce E. (Pennsylvania)
Askin, Frank (New Jersey)
Adams, Arlin Marvin (Pennsylvania)
Aldisert, Ruggero John (California)
Garth, Leonard I. (New Jersey)
Gibbons, John Joseph (Pennsylvania)
Higginbotham, Aloyisus Leon Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Hunter, James III (New Jersey)
Knox, William W. (Pennsylvania)
Seitz, Collins Jacques (Delaware)
Last updated April 27, 2024, 3:22 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Pennsylvania
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 6, 1977
Closing Date: July 2, 1982
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and citizens of the Borough of Millvale whose constitutional rights were violated by a Millvale police officer.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Denied
Defendants
Frank L. Baranyai, Private Entity/Person
Borough of Millvale (Allegheny), Regional
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Unreasonable search and seizure
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Order Duration: 1979 - 0
Issues
General/Misc.:
Incident/accident reporting & investigations
Policing: