what type of attorney do i need to sue the police

by Adela Boehm 8 min read

A civil lawyer is in the best position to assess whether the crime for which you are a victim of, meets the required threshold to sue the police.Oct 21, 2019

Is it difficult to sue the police?

2 days ago · What type of lawyer do I need to sue the police not a civil rights issue? Lawyer directory. Find a lawyer near you. Avvo has 97% of all lawyers in the US. Find the best ones near you. ... Better understand your legal issue by reading guides …

How can I sue the police for harassment?

Jun 08, 2013 · What type of lawyer do I need to sue the Police Department for not investigating a serious crime against me? I was shot in the head and almost died from my injuries, I had emergency brain surgery and have bullet fragments in my brain, I had to learn to walk/ talk again.

What kind of lawyer do I need to file a lawsuit?

Jul 16, 2021 · It is common to want to sue the police after unpleasant contact or friction, especially when the conflict resulted in an arrest that seemed unwarranted, unfair, or downright abusive. Suing the police is complicated, though, even when you have been a victim of some kind of police misconduct and are absolutely innocent with regard to your arrest.

How do I file a lawsuit against a police department?

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Can I sue the police?

Suing the police. If you want to sue someone, you can do so only for certain reasons - what lawyers call 'causes of action'. ... However, you could make a complaint against the police officer. Also, you can sue the police only for what they have done to you personally.

Can you sue the police for emotional distress?

Generally, citizens can (successfully) sue the police for infliction of emotional distress in one of two instances, when an officer: intentionally or recklessly acts in a way that causes emotional injury or. causes emotional distress through a negligent act.

Can you claim compensation from the police?

In civil actions against the police, financial compensation (also known as “damages”) is payable to successful claimants. Depending on the circumstances, this police abuse compensation can be paid along with other remedies, including: ... publicity, to show people that you were the victim of police abuse.

What to do if a police officer is harassing you?

If a police officer is harassing you and tries to search you, do not consent to the search. Say calmly and loudly enough for passersby to hear, “I do not consent to this search.” * File a complaint. For most illegal street harassment, we recommend that you report it by calling the police.

What happens if you sue the police?

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.

How to be successful in a lawsuit against the police?

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.

What is excessive force?

Excessive Force: Where a person has been the victim of excessive force by a police officer that resulted in serious injury or death, they have grounds for a lawsuit against the police.

What is the difference between harassment and discrimination?

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. Discrimination: Like harassment, there must be proof that the behavior is part of a pattern. Discrimination might be on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sex, ...

What is the 4th amendment?

Fourth Amendment Violation: The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees protection from unreasonable searches and seizures at the hands of the government. The police are considered agents of the government and are required to adhere to the protections in the Fourth Amendment.

What is government immunity?

Governmental immunity is a policy that protects governments and government agencies from lawsuits in many cases. The intent behind governmental immunity is to make it easier for governments to make decisions and take action without the fear of being sued for their conduct.

What is the immunity of a police officer?

Qualified immunity means that police officers are protected from being sued as long as they are acting within the guidelines of their job and not acting negligently or unreasonably.

James Donald Garrett

Police departments have immunity from these types of suits. Courts have ruled they have no obligation to the public to investigate or make an arrest.

David Ian Schoen

I don't know of any lawsuit for failing to make an arrest. You could hire a criminal lawyer who could interface with the police and find out what the problem is and put pressure on them if necessary to do their job. You nay also be misinterpreting what the police are telling you.#N#More

James Regan

Are you holding something back from the police?#N#Crime victims compensation form - Oregon Department of Justice: In the aftermath of a crime, the Oregon Crime Victim's Compensation Program works to ease the financial burden suffered by victims and their family members...

Christian K. Lassen II

Some evidence of the crime would typically be needed before an arrest is made. Try to locate any possible witnesses.

Michael R Crosner

This is not intended to be legal advise or as legal representation. I am a California personal injury attorney . Be aware that every state has its own statute of limitations; and statutes & case laws that govern the handling of these matters.

Jay Bodzin

You cannot sue the police department for not investigating a crime against you. Private citizens have no right to legally compel the police to investigate anything.

What happens if you sue the police?

If you sue the police for misconduct and win, you may be awarded damages, or monetary compensation, as restitution for the violation of your civil rights and any physical or emotional injuries. The court may also require the police officers and police department involved to pay punitive damages, which is meant as punishment for the misconduct.

What is police misconduct?

The police abuses and violations suffered by citizens that are most often litigated are known generally as police misconduct. These cases usually involve, but are not limited to, actions such as discrimination, harassment, false arrest, and excessive force. In order to sue the police for discrimination or harassment, ...

What is the law that protects citizens from abuse and other violations by government officials?

Federal and state laws protect citizens from abuse and other violations by government officials, such as police officers. Victims of abuse by police can sue the officers individually as well as the local governments that employ them. Typically, people sue the police under Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act of 1871. This law is known simply as Section 1983, and it specifically prohibits anyone acting under the authority of the law from violating another person’s civil rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Why is it important to work with an attorney?

It is important to work with an attorney, especially one who is familiar with police misconduct cases, because they are complex and difficult to try in court. Also, if you have been charged with a crime as part of the incident; oftentimes, police will charge victims of their misconduct with a crime, such as resisting arrest or assault, ...

Who is Jeffrey Johnson?

Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

What is false arrest?

False arrest claims usually assert that the victim’s Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable seizure was violated. To prove such a violation, the victim must show that the police did not have probable cause, or sufficient evidence to warrant an arrest. If the police had probable cause, or believed that they had probable cause, ...

What is Section 1983?

This law is known simply as Section 1983, and it specifically prohibits anyone acting under the authority of the law from violating another person’s civil rights under the U.S. Constitution. The police also enjoy legal protections, including “qualified immunity,” which generally insulates them from lawsuits.

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Risks

  • It is absolutely possible to sue the police, because they are not themselves above the law. While it is difficult, it is definitely not impossible to succeed in a lawsuit against the police. Lawsuits against law enforcement typically involve some form of police misconduct. Police misconduct occurs when a police officer violates someone elses constitutional rights.
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Examples

  • There are several examples of police misconduct, including false arrest and imprisonment, perjury, police brutality and corruption, racial profiling, and the falsification and spoliation of evidence, among others. The most common of these misconduct claims are:
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Causes

  • Suing a police officer for emotional distress is also possible. However, it is on the victim to prove that the police officer acted intentionally or recklessly to cause the emotional injury, or that the police officer acted so negligently that their actions caused emotional distress.
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Administration

  • Before a citizen can proceed with suing a police officer, they must first go through the appropriate administrative channels. Most states actually require this prior to filing a lawsuit. Administrative law governs the activities of governmental agencies, and could include reporting the incident to the police departments division of internal affairs or the Department of Justice.
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Issues

  • Victims may sue the individual police officers involved in their case, the supervisor of those officers involved, as well as the government that has employed and regulates them. Most commonly, in misconduct claims, it is the individual police officer themselves being sued. Governmental immunity plays a large role when suing the offending municipality.
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Significance

  • Because of how difficult the governmental immunity doctrine makes suing a municipality, suing a police officer supervisor is generally only feasible if they were directly involved with the incident in question. Typically, courts will not find a supervisor vicariously liable, or responsible for the actions of another person, such as a person they hired.
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Prognosis

  • The chances of success when suing a police officer depends greatly on the type of claim being made against the officer. Cases against abuse of power that have legal backing, such as civil forfeiture (or the legal confiscation of personal property without a warrant), are typically much more difficult to win.
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Effects

  • Property owners are at risk of losing their property without being convicted, or even charged with an offense, and the law is unfortunately stacked against those who have lost property to the police. Conversely, some see civil forfeiture as a tool utilized by the police to discourage organized crime involved in illegal drug trade, or other similar criminal organizations.
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Uses

  • Easier-to-prove lawsuits could include negligence, excessive force, or intent. For instance, if an officer fatally wounds an innocent bystander, but the officers body camera was not recording the incident, the question of intent would come into play. Wrongful death lawsuits, as well as homicide charges, are not uncommon as the law is less likely to protect police officers involved i…
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