ME LD1660

Creates a private right of action allowing individuals to sue government employers (state, county, municipal agencies) for constitutional rights violations committed by government employees acting under color of law

Government employers bear liability for employee misconduct, with individual government employees shielded from personal financial liability in these actions

Eliminates qualified immunity, sovereign immunity, and other common law immunity defenses for government employers in constitutional violation cases

Preserves judicial and legislative immunity for judges and legislators acting in their official capacities; requires courts to evaluate use-of-force claims from the perspective of a reasonable employee on scene without hindsight

Establishes a 3-year statute of limitations, awards attorney's fees to prevailing plaintiffs, and allows a court finding of constitutional violation to serve as evidence of just cause for employee termination