Suing the Police for Excessive Force

The Morales Law firm would like to share with you this article: Suing the Police for Excessive Force by NOLO.

If the police roughed you up, read here.

Excessive force by the police during an arrest violates the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. A suspect who has been a victim of excessive force may have a viable lawsuit against the arresting officers and even the municipality that employs them.

Civil, not Criminal

A “tort” is a legal term for a civil wrong (as opposed to a criminal wrong) that resulted in some kind of injury to the plaintiff. Many civil claims against police officers involve the torts of assault and battery. Occasionally, these claims involve the tort of negligence.

Most lawsuits against police officers involve the Civil Rights Act of 1871. (42 U.S.C. § 1983.) A section 1983 claim alleges that the defendant, “under color of law,” violated the plaintiff’s constitutional rights. The use of excessive force constitutes a valid claim under section 1983 because it violates the Fourth Amendment prohibition against “unreasonable seizures.”

Excessive Force

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.

Burden of Proof

In a civil suit, the burden is usually on the plaintiff to prove liability by a “preponderance of the evidence” (meaning “more likely than not”). A defendant—in this case an officer—who raises a defense of justification must prove by the same standard that there was a legal excuse for the conduct in question. (The preponderance-of-evidence standard is much lower than that in a criminal case: “beyond a reasonable doubt.”)

But many states treat excessive force cases somewhat differently than typical lawsuits. In some jurisdictions, there is a presumption that the officer acted with the necessary level of force that the plaintiff must overcome. Additionally, some impose a higher burden of proof than “preponderance of the evidence,” instead requiring the plaintiff to prove a claim of excessive force by “clear and convincing evidence” (a standard higher than “by a preponderance of evidence” but lower than “beyond a reasonable doubt”).

All states agree that the plaintiff being guilty of the crime for which the officer arrested him isn’t a valid defense for the officer. But, by the same token, a plaintiff who can prove innocence is more likely to be able to show that the officer’s use of force wasn’t necessary.

Immunity

Although most jurisdictions have “qualified immunity” statutes, which can relieve public employees of liability for injuries they cause in the course of their duties, many courts (but not all) have held that these statutes don’t apply to claims of excessive force against police officers.

But another potential challenge for citizens who want to sue the police and the city or county is governmental immunity: States are immune from suit by private citizens in federal court under the 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, many states have laws immunizing municipalities from equivalent suits. Ultimately, whether the government has a viable “immunity” claim depends on the facts of the case and the jurisdiction it’s in.

Get Legal Help

The law governing excessive force suits can vary greatly from state to state and from state to federal court, especially on issues like the burden of proof and immunity. If you or someone close to you has been the victim of excessive force by the police, seek the help of an experienced attorney. Only a knowledgeable lawyer will be able to advise you of the applicable law and protect your rights.

By: Michael Tarleton