Washington D.C, Police Misconduct Attorney

Section 1983, which is short for 18 U.S.C. Section 1983, gives people the right to sue state government officials and employees who violate their constitutional rights. It reads:

Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress…

1983 claims can be brought in two ways: against a specific government official or employee or against a municipality. In order to prove municipal liability, the plaintiff must show that the municipality developed or propagated an unconstitutional custom, policy, or procedure. Municipal liability cases are complex and often involve a lot of discovery. They can be a means of bringing about change and can potentially result in compensatory and punitive damages.

Bruckheim & Patel understand how to bring 1983 lawsuits against government officials who violate your constitutional rights. Police misconduct is a frequent source of these types of lawsuits.

Police Misconduct Lawsuit Lawyers

These lawsuits can include:

  1. False arrests by officers without probable cause
  2. Police action taken due to your race or gender but not due to probable cause of a crime
  3. Excessive force in effecting an arrest by way of police brutality
  4. Unlawful searches or seizures
  5. Officer shootings of unarmed individuals

Contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at Bruckheim & Patel, who litigate on behalf of plaintiffs who were victims of constitutional violations by DC Police.

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