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$153,800 verdict - Obtained for a store owner who was improperly detained in his jewelry store by six police officers. The evidence showed the store owner went to his store to let his guard dog relieve itself. He was approached by several members of the police department and asked why he was at the store. He explained it was his store and they used his keys to enter the store. The officers nonetheless handcuffed the store owner and detained him in his store for approximately one hour while the officers rummaged through the jewelry store, stole cash and threatened him with a revolver. The incident was captured on the owner's surveillance cameras.
Settlement - Obtained for property owners for the shooting death of their family dog by Prince George's County Sheriffs. Sheriffs were attempting to serve a warrant on an individual and went to the wrong address. The occupants advised the officers of their mistake and the requested the officers allow them to bring the family dog inside as it was barking. The Sheriffs denied this request and prohibited the homeowners from moving about their home or securing their dog. Officers thereafter shot and killed the family dog - a mixed breed Labrador Retriever.
Verdict - The case involved Sheriffs seeking to serve an alleged warrant on an individual. When they arrived at the house the occupants - a young woman, her mother and her 2 year old daughter - advised the Sheriffs the person they were looking for was not a resident of the home. They further advised the Sheriffs where the individual they were looking for lived and worked. The Sheriffs nonetheless detained the homeowners for more than an hour and prior to leaving the residence threatened the homeowner in front of her 2 year old child. The homeowner requested to see a copy of the warrant. Sheriffs did not produce the warrant. It was discovered through litigation the Sheriffs did not possess a valid search warrant.
Six figure settlement - The parents of a young man who was strangled by six police officers brought a wrongful death/civil rights claim. The evidence showed a young man was involved in a car accident and left the scene of the accident. Police officers found him several blocks away at his home. A confrontation ensued and six police officers apprehended and handcuffed the young man. He died during the confrontation and the officers and police department alleged the death was due to positional asphyxia. An autopsy was performed and the medical examiner determined the cause of death was homicide secondary to asphyxiation. The medical evidence on autopsy demonstarted the young man had been strangulated by the police officers. Three independent witnesses testified they saw the police strangle the decedent.
Verdict - A young man and his friend were sitting on their front porch one evening. A local police officer approached the young men and asked them what they were doing. They responded they were not doing anything and the officer exited his car and asked the young men if they were getting smart with him. They said no. The officer then walked onto the porch and punched one of the men in the face. Neither of the men touch any action against the officer. The young man was taken to the hospital and received stitches to his mouth. Through discovery the Plaintiffs introduced testimony from a fellow police officer that the Defendant officer admitted to the attack and bragged about similar attacks on other young men in the community.
