878, 83 L.Ed.2d 878 (1985); Owen v. City of Independence, 445 U.S. 622, 638, 100 S.Ct. 1398, 1409, 63 L.Ed.2d 673 (1980); Meadowbnar Home for Children v. Gunn, 81 F.3d 521, 532 (5th Cir.1996); Babb v. Dorman, 33 F.3d 472, 475 n. 5 (5th Cir.1994); Colle v. Brazos County, Texas, 981 F.2d 237, 244 n. 36 (5th Cir.1993); and Fields v. City of South Houston, Texas, 922 F.2d 1183, 1191 (5th Cir.1991). 159 . See Colle v. Brazos County, Texas, 981 F.2d at 244 n. 30. 160 . See Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 25, 112 S.Ct. 358, 361-62, 116 L.Ed.2d 301 (1991); Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. at 165-66, 105 S.Ct. at 3105; Brandon v. Holt, 469 U.S. at 471-72, 105 S.Ct. at 878; Brooks v. George County, Mississippi, 84 F.3d 157, 164 (5th Cir.1996), cert. denied,-U.S.-, 117 S.Ct. 359, 136 L.Ed.2d 251 (1996), (<HOLDING>); Baker v. Putnal, 75 F.3d 190, 195 (5th
holding that a damages suit against a state officer in his official capacity was barred because it was functionally a suit against the state holding that a suit against a state official in his or her official capacity is a suit against the state itself and not cognizable under  1983 holding a suit against a sheriff in his individual capacity was subject to section 1146llls notice requirements because the sheriff was acting in his official capacity holding that suit against county sheriff in his official capacity was suit against county holding that a suit against a state official in his or her official capacity is not a suit against the official but rather is a suit against the officials office