Tuesday, March 12, 2024

How To Sue A Police Officer For Excessive Force

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Medical Neglect In Jail Or Prison

Man suing Erie Police officer for excessive force speaks out

Jail and prison inmates are legally entitled to adequate medical care, including:

  • the dispensing of necessary medications
  • dental care
  • hospitalization when necessary

Inmates who are deprived of adequate medical care may be able to sue. Learn more in our article on medical neglect in Nevada jails and prisons.

Can You Sue A Police Officer Personally In Pennsylvania

by smbtadmin | Apr 6, 2021 | Uncategorized |

The Philadelphia Police Department spent much of the last few years involved in a series of scandals. Allegations of police brutality are nothing new in the city, and the Black Lives Matter movement has had a strong presence here since before last summer. The Philadelphia police department has a long, troubling history of police brutality aimed at the Black community.

When victims are assaulted or killed by police officers, they often wonder about their legal options. At Abramson & Denenberg, P.C., we focus a large part of our legal practice on suing the Philadelphia PD for police brutality. Many of our clients wonder whether they can sue the individual police officer after a police brutality incident, as well.

Is Excessive Force A Battery

Yes, law enforcement officers use of excessive force is often considered a type of battery. Depending on the law used , the claim is either battery or excessive force. Meaning that if a person sues for police brutality using state law, its referred to as a battery.

An experienced excessive force lawyer should know the best way to file the case. Privilege is one defense to a battery claim. As noted by Nolo, a battery is privileged if the physical contact equaled a reasonable amount of force during the course of an arrest. Since the underlying facts and considerations would be the same, a plaintiff will usually win both excessive force and battery claims, or lose both claims.

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Unjustified Use Of Tasers

Tasers are a dangerous weapon and should only be used in urgent circumstances. A police officer should only use a taser to stop a confrontation. They are designed to incapacitate an attacker at a distance. They are preferred over the use of a firearm, but still pose a risk of serious injury or death.

A recent Reuters investigation identified 1,081 deaths involving the use of tasers. In many of those instances, the use of a taser was not warranted under the circumstance. In several hundred instances, the family of the victim sued the government for the taser death and received a settlement payout.

George Floyds Brother Speaks Out As Medical Examiner Rules Floyds Death A Homicide

Lawsuit says Omaha Police used excessive force at protests ...

Often in big, high-profile cases, the courts votes will break down along ideological lines but not always. In this case of constitutional interpretation, the majority claimed it is simply following past precedent to solidify what constitutes a seizure under the Fourth Amendment. . If you agree with the dissent, you believe the majority is enlarging the definition of what qualifies as a seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the breaking point.

On the current court, the chief justice may truly be an ideological island, but one with frequent visitors. Roberts and Kavanaugh took quite a bit of incoming verbal fire from their dissenting conservative colleagues. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for himself and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Gorsuch described the majoritys conclusion that physical force can amount to a seizure as a view that is as mistaken as it is novel. This is legal speak for You made this up because you wanted to get to a certain outcome. It goes without saying that judges arent supposed to make up the law theyre supposed to interpret existing law.

Supreme Court justices are people too, and it strains common sense to think they are unaware of this current moment in history. Perhaps both the majority and the dissenting opinions do acknowledge, if only implicitly, the moment of reckoning we are facing in our country.

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Tulsa Excessive Force / Police Misconduct Lawyer

If you believe that a police officer used excessive force during the course of an arrest or investigation, that officer may have violated your rights under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. A victim of excessive force or police misconduct may have legal grounds for a lawsuit, either against the arresting officers or the department that employs them. Our personal injury team recently recovered a $2 million award for excessive force- schedule your free consultation today to see how we may help you and your family fight back.

Title Vi Of The Civil Rights Act Of 1964 And The Ojp Program Statute

Together, these laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion by State and local law enforcement agencies that receive financial assistance from DOJ. . These laws prohibit both individual instances and patterns or practices of discriminatory misconduct, i.e., treating a person differently because of race, color, national origin, sex, or religion. The misconduct covered by Title VI and the OJP Program Statute includes, for example, harassment or use of racial slurs, discriminatory arrests, discriminatory traffic stops, coercive sexual conduct, retaliation for filing a complaint with DOJ or participating in the investigation, discriminatory use of force, or refusal by the agency to respond to complaints alleging discriminatory treatment by its officers. What remedies are available under these laws? DOJ may seek changes in the policies and procedures of the agency to remedy violations of these laws and, if appropriate, also seek individual remedial relief for the victim. Individuals also have a private right of action in certain circumstances under Title VI and under the OJP Program Statute in other words, you may file a lawsuit yourself under these laws. However, you must first exhaust your administrative remedies by filing a complaint with DOJ if you wish to file in Federal Court under the OJP Program Statute.

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What Is The Burden Of Proof For An Excessive Force Lawsuit

As excessive force lawsuits play out in civil court, the plaintiff-victim does not have to meet the criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead of the higher reasonable doubt standard, the plaintiff-victim only needs to meet the preponderance of the evidence standard. In other words, the plaintiff-victim needs to show that their position is more likely true than not true. This is a much easier standard to meet than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Extreme And Outrageous Conduct

Lawsuit alleges excessive force by Oceanside Police

Conduct is extreme and outrageous when it goes beyond all possible bounds of decency it is behavior that society won’t tolerate. Conduct qualifies as extreme and outrageous when it would cause a reasonable person in a similar circumstance to suffer extreme emotional distress it must be more than annoying, offensive, or humiliating.

Courts decide whether conduct is extreme and outrageous on a case-by-case basis. The court may consider whether:

  • the officer knew that the plaintiff was particularly susceptible to emotional distress
  • there was a pattern of conduct or an isolated incident, or
  • the officer was in a position of power .

In one federal case, for example, a woman offered support to her husband, who was under arrest and being interrogated for the murder of her three-year-old daughter. The detective who heard her offer of support yelled at her that her husband killed the child and that the husband never loved her or her daughter. The officer was in a position of authority and the mother was particularly susceptible to emotional distress at that time. The conduct was sufficiently extreme and outrageous for an intentional-infliction-of-emotional-distress claim. .)

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Can Evidence Found Through The Misconduct Be Excluded From Court

Victims in police misconduct cases can find themselves facing a criminal charge. Evidence may have been obtained by violating the suspects civil rights. The defense can bring a suppression motion asking that this evidence be excluded from trial. Without the evidence obtained through the misconduct, the prosecutor may have little else to use.

Misconduct victims can also file a civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983

Is It Misconduct When Police Commit Perjury

Police misconduct also includes committing perjury. Police officers perjure themselves when they lie while under oath. They can do this:

  • during trial,
  • in police reports, or
  • in affidavits supporting probable cause for a search or arrest warrant.

This can make the resulting warrant invalid. Using the warrant can violate the victims Fourth Amendment rights.

Perjury is also a crime. It can lead to charges of offering false evidence, as well.

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Police Misconduct Case Study

A police misconduct lawsuit was filed involved the shooting death of a twenty-three-year-old man in Flint Township. He was pulled over by police for a traffic stop but got out of his car and began to flee. While fleeing, he was shot and killed by the police officer.

Plaintiffs proved the police officer had no reasonable justification for the shooting. The city then agreed to pay a wrongful death settlement to his family in the amount of $ 1,390,000.

Filing A Police Misconduct Report In Nevada

Pennsylvania Police Officer Used Excessive Force When ...

A misconduct complaint is not the same as filing a civil complaint or filing a police report. All a misconduct complaint does is allow the applicable review board to issue reports and recommendations to the sheriff, who then decides whether to take action and discipline the police.

Victims should consult with an attorney to help guide them through filing a police misconduct report in Nevada. Every jurisdiction has its own rules, and any missteps may compromise its chances of success.

No matter the location, anyone who may have been victim to or witnessed police misconduct in Nevada should immediately write down what happened in detail. This prevents important facts from being forgotten, which would weaken their case against the police. Ideally the specifics should include the following:

  • the police officers badge number
  • any witnesses to the misconduct
  • an in-depth narrative of exactly what happened when and where, including direct quotations
  • hospital records

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Can I Sue A Police Department For Use Of Excessive Force

Being in a suspects position during an arrest has many frightening and stressful elements on its own without the added issue of police misconduct. Unfortunately, many people in New Mexico sustain serious, life-threatening injuries because of the use of excessive force. The use of excessive force violates your civil rights according to the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution. If a police officer inflicts a personal injury or takes the life of a loved one due to suspected excessive use of force, you could have grounds for a civil claim against the responsible police department in New Mexico.

Your Excessive Use Of Force Claim Where To Begin

The first step in suing for excessive force is to begin carefully preserving and documenting evidence as soon after the incident as possible. Since there is no concrete definition of excessive force, it is up to you to convince the court that excessive force was used in your particular case by producing evidence. Evidence that can be helpful includes:

  • Your story. Some people have trouble remembering what occurred during a traumatic event, and it is important to be able to tell your story clearly and precisely when you testify in court. If you can, write a detailed account of what happened as soon after the incident as possible.
  • Clothing and objects. If you have clothing that was torn or other personal objects that were damaged by police during the incident, set these items aside and keep them in a safe place.
  • Witnesses. If there were other people present during the incident who witnessed the polices behavior, try to obtain their names and phone numbers so that they can corroborate your story and confirm the use of excessive force. Attempt to get signed statements from them in case they forget certain details by the time you go to court .

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What Is A Bivens Lawsuit

A Bivens lawsuit is a civil rights lawsuit for money damages that is filed against a federal official. It is very similar to a Section 1983 claim. Unlike 1983 claims, though, Bivens lawsuits can be filed against federal actors like:

Also unlike 1983 claims, Bivens claims cannot be filed against entities like:

  • Department of Justice ,
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement , and
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation .17

Like 1983 claims, though, defendants can claim qualified immunity for their actions.

Misfeasance In Public Office

Court dismisses Topeka officers appeal in lawsuit over excessive force

There is an overlap between misfeasance in public office and malicious prosecution in civil actions against the police.

If there is no malicious prosecution claim, because for example, reasonable and probable cause cannot be shown, or where the alleged bad faith is not malice in its classical sense, the tort of misfeasance in public office may be appropriate .

What is misfeasance in public office?

Misfeasance in public office can be defined as a civil tort pursued against the holder of a public office following the misuse or abuse of power.

The Three Rivers DC v Bank of England case set out the test to show misfeasance in public office as follows:

  • the person whose conduct is in question is a public officer, and the conduct was an exercise of his or her power in that capacity
  • s/he intended to injure the claimant by the exercise of that power, or knowingly/ recklessly acted in excess of that power
  • the officer knew that the act would probably cause damage of the kind actually caused.
  • The second part of this test means that the tort requires bad faith on the part of the officer. A mistake is not enough.

    Bad faith can arise in two ways:

  • When the officer deliberately exercises his or her powers to injure a person and
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    Annapolis Man Files Complaint Against Mdta Police Claiming Officer Used Excessive Force

    An Annapolis man filed a citizen complaint in October with Maryland Transportation Authority police claiming an officer used excessive force when detaining him during a traffic stop on Rowe Boulevard.

    David Williams, 52, said he experiences frequent migraines since an MDTA police officer kneed and punched him in the head while taking him into custody July 16.

    Officer Sean Hicks pulled Williams over at 12:53 a.m. July 16 for speeding 10 mph over the limiton Rowe Boulevard near westbound Route 50. Police dash camera footage of the incident provided to The Capital showsWilliams 2008 Infiniti sedan pull to the shoulder and start to roll forward after he tried to exit the car without putting it in park. Hicks wrote in charging documents that he believed Williams was under the influence of alcohol after Williams performed a three-part field sobriety test.

    The video shows Hicks giving Williams a Breathalyzer test and the option to call someone to pick him up or to go to the police station to take an intoximeter test, a breath alcohol measure that, unlike a Breathalyzer reading, is admissible in court. Hicks and Williams talked calmly to each other during the 16-minute traffic stop. The interaction unraveled in one minute.

    Williams repeated the phrase I am not fighting as Hicks and Khan handcuffed him in the middle of the right lane of Rowe Boulevard. Maryland State Police trooper Erin Lowe, who was also at the scene, restrained Williams legs before searching his car.

    I Am A Victim Of Police Misconduct:

    Seek medical attention Document your claim Your time to sue is limited contact an experienced personal injury lawyer

    Changes may occur in this area of law. The information provided is brought to you as a public service with the help and assistance of volunteer legal editors, and is intended to help you better understand the law in general. It is not intended to be legal advice regarding your particular problem or to substitute for the advice of a lawyer.

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    Excessive Use Of Force By Police

    Police officers are generally allowed to use whatever force is necessary to make an arrest or defend themselves. In most jurisdictions, when a jury has to decide whether an officer used more force than was necessary to make an arrest, the judge instructs it to consider what a reasonable person with the officer’s knowledge would have deemed necessary under the circumstances.

    So, an arresting officer is allowed to use more force to arrest a resisting suspect than if the suspect were compliant, and may use deadly force if threatened with death or great bodily harm. The amount of force an officer may lawfully use against a fleeing suspect depends on whether the person appears to have committed either a felony or a misdemeanor.

    Whether an officer’s use of force was excessive is so dependent on the facts that appellate courts often defer to juries’ conclusions in that regard.

    Get A Top Michigan Police Misconduct Lawyer

    Allentown settles police excessive force case for $160k ...

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