Were you or a family member a victim of police violence?
According to the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, states are granted the power to establish and enforce laws protecting the welfare, safety, and health of the public. As an extension of this, police officers generally are given broad powers to carry out their duties. However, the First and Fourth Amendments to the Constitution and other laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, place limits on how far they can go when trying to enforce the law.
The reality is that police officers sometimes go too far in the use excessive force in order to enforce the law. When this occurs, the victim of this type of police misconduct can file a civil lawsuit against the police department and city in question if these actions have resulted in personal injury or damage to the victim’s reputation.
Bringing suit against a police department, city, or state is a complex task. You must prove that the conduct of the police involved exceeded reasonable limits, infringed upon your constitutional rights, and resulted in some type of injury or damages. In these types of cases, the evidence to support your claim is, perhaps, the most important factor in a successful misconduct lawsuit. Evidence can include medical records, photographs, video and audio recordings, and witness statements.
Unfortunately, in many cases that evidence is controlled by the police. So, hiring an attorney with experience in cases involving police misconduct is critical to the success of your case. A good PI attorney will have the resources to carry out his or her own investigation which is important when it comes to collecting and preserving important evidence.
Los Angeles personal injury attorney, Greg Yates, is well known for fighting complex cases for victims of police brutality. He was at the center of one of the biggest police scandals in Los Angeles history, the Rampart police corruption scandal, representing 60 clients and securing settlements totaling almost $20 million in damages.
They’re not above the law
Police officers are supposed to uphold the law and keep us safe from harm. But, when they exceed their authority, resulting in serious injuries such as broken bones, or, even worse, in the death of an individual, they’re subject to legal consequences for their actions.
Recent high-profile cases involving police misconduct have involved police shootings of unarmed individuals who police claim were resisting arrest or who they suspected of carrying a weapon on their person. Cases such as these allege negligence and wrongful death on the part of the officer or officers involved in the incident.
Damages awarded in police misconduct cases can include:
- Compensatory damages – such things as current and future medical costs, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, burial expenses
- Punitive damages
- Civil rights damages
Your legal rights
If you’re a victim of police brutality or misconduct, contact Greg Yates, PI attorney who has sued the LAPD and successfully recovered millions of dollars in damages for his clients. Considered by many to be one of the best attorneys in Los Angeles, Greg Yates has one of the highest success rates in the state of California.
Contact our office to schedule your free consultation.