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Civil Rights and Police Misconduct. The civil rights lawyers at Robins Kaplan have obtained over $40 million in verdicts and settlements for victims of unconstitutional governmental conduct and police brutality.
Civil rights violations can happen to anyone. Our lawyers have represented clients of all different ages, races, genders, backgrounds and socio-economic statuses. Our successes include obtaining a jury verdict against Minnesota’s largest police agency of “deliberate indifference” to the use of excessive force by its officers. We also achieved the largest settlement in Minnesota for a Section 1983 case. Our work has changed the legal landscape for civil rights law and resulted in millions of dollars for victims.
It is necessary to prove that the conduct that is the basis for the lawsuit against the department is part of a pattern of harassment, discrimination, or excessive force. Without evidence of a pattern of misconduct, a lawsuit against the department is unlikely to be successful. Find the Right Criminal Lawyer.
If you are successful in a lawsuit against the police and prevail at trial the available damages depend on the circumstances of the case: Economic Damages: if the court found that the police were guilty of misconduct, the plaintiff might be awarded economic damages to compensate for financial losses.
It is very important that you contact a criminal attorney if you think you might have a claim against a police officer or police department. It is critical that you gather and preserve as much evidence as possible.
Harassment: A successful police harassment lawsuit requires evidence of a pattern of behavior on the part of the police officer or department. Harassment can include a variety of behavior on the part of the police, including illegally spying or surveilling, racial profiling, or making sexist, racist, or homophobic comments.
In order to be successful in a lawsuit against the police, it is important that you have taken to protect your rights in court. First, save any evidence of police misconduct. This might include photographs or video, eyewitness testimony, or medical records if you suffered physical injuries.
It is intended to deter the officer from engaging in the behavior again. Police officers have some defenses available to them if they are sued. If the lawsuit is based on an allegation of excessive force, the officer can claim that their actions were reasonable based on the behavior of the plaintiff.
An experienced criminal attorney can assist you throughout the entire process, from gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, to negotiating with the defendant and representing you in court.
The "Public Records Act" can be found at RCW 42.56.020 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.56). A recent case example of successful enforcement of the PRA is Yousoufian v. Office of Ron Sims, et al., 168 Wn.2d 444, 229 P.3d 735 (2010) (you can read cases on the MRSC website).
The "Public Records Act" can be found at RCW 42.56.020 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.56). A recent case example of successful enforcement of the PRA is Yousoufian v. Office of Ron Sims, et al., 168 Wn.2d 444, 229 P.3d 735 (2010) (you can read cases on the MRSC website).