Civil Rights
Police Misconduct & Excessive Force
When an officer uses more force than the law allows, the Constitution gives you a way to hold them accountable. These cases are hard, and we are built for them.
What the law protects
The badge is not a license to use any force.
The Fourth Amendment allows police to use only the force that is reasonable under the circumstances. When an officer crosses that line, through an unjustified beating, an unreasonable shooting, or force used long after any threat has passed, that is a constitutional violation you can sue over under federal civil rights law (42 U.S.C. §1983).
What these cases look like
When force becomes misconduct
Excessive force
Strikes, takedowns, tasers, or restraints beyond what the situation called for, including force used against someone already restrained or complying.
Unjustified shootings
The use of deadly force where there was no immediate threat, one of the most serious forms of police misconduct.
Denial of care
Ignoring a serious injury or medical need after a use of force, which can turn a bad situation into a fatal one.
Cover-ups
False reports, missing footage, and coordinated stories that hide what really happened. We dig past the official version.
Why these cases are hard, and how we take them on
The evidence has to be undeniable
Officers are protected by legal doctrines like qualified immunity, and departments defend these cases aggressively. Winning takes a record built with care. We move quickly to secure:
- Body-camera and surveillance video, before it is lost, deleted, or overwritten.
- Medical records that document the injuries and their cause.
- Witness accounts, found and preserved while memories are fresh.
- Incident reports and internal records that reveal what the department knew.
- Expert analysis of use-of-force standards and what the officer should have done.
Answers
Questions people ask us
What counts as excessive force?
Force is measured against what was reasonable at the moment, given the threat and the circumstances. Force used against someone who is restrained, complying, or no longer a threat is often where a case is strongest.
What is qualified immunity, and does it end my case?
Qualified immunity can shield officers from some lawsuits, and it is a real hurdle. It does not make these cases impossible, but it does mean the case has to be built and argued with skill. We know how to meet it.
Do I have to have been convicted or acquitted first?
Not necessarily. A civil rights claim for excessive force is about what the officer did to you, which can be separate from any criminal charge you faced. We can advise on how the two interact.
How long do I have to file?
Civil rights claims carry strict filing deadlines, and evidence like video can disappear quickly. The sooner you reach out, the more we can protect.
Talk to us about your case
If an officer crossed the line, let us take a look.
Evidence can vanish fast in these cases. If you or a loved one was harmed by police, reach out now. You can reach us by phone 24/7.
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