Civil Rights Litigation
“Corruption in the agencies charged with enforcing our laws not only threatens communities by allowing dangerous criminals to roam free, it also undermines the confidence of our citizens in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. The same is true with respect to judicial corruption. We must all, in our own countries, lead the fight to ensure integrity within our police and judicial systems.”
(Former United States Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, in remarks to the Second Global Forum on Fighting Corruption)
“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. – Lord Acton
Maryland and District of Columbia
Police Misconduct Lawyers
Police are a vital part of our society and are dedicated to maintaining peace and order in our often chaotic world. However, on occasion, a police officer will step out of the reach of his job description and treat a citizen of this country unlawfully. The police are a boding force in society, and while our Maryland and DC police brutality attorney team has the utmost respect for the police force, we hold them to high standards and will not tolerate any police brutality or abuse of citizens by the police force. Kim knows how valuable the police are, but she also realizes that police officers, like any human, can step outside of their job duties and requirements and take discipline too far in their own hands.
There are many studies which attempt to gauge the amount of police brutality in major U.S. cities, but the bottom line is that it does happen from time to time and it remains one of the major travesties in our society. Maryland and DC police brutality attorney Kim Parker is dedicated to preserving your civil rights and ensuring you are treated with the same respect as any other citizen.
Perhaps the most salient and memorable case of police brutality, the once which brought the term to light in society, is the case of Rodney King, who was severely beaten by a number of LAPD officers.
Maryland and DC police brutality attorney Kim Parker is willing to deal with all types of police brutality cases, not just those that involve severe beatings. If you feel you have been treated wrongly by the police, contact an Maryland And DC police brutality attorney at Kim Parker to discuss your rights today.
Types of Cases We Handle.
Police Brutality – Excessive Use of Force
Police brutality is a term used to describe any excessive and unnecessary physical force, assault, or verbal abuse used by law enforcement when dealing with the public. The United States Code, the laws that govern the day to day running of the country, states that any person working under the authority of a state law enforcement body who violates the civil rights of anyone in the U.S. is liable to pay for any damages they cause.
There are some widely known cases of police brutality, but there are thousands more that never receive nationwide media attention. Any time a police officer abuses his or her authority and inflicts undue suffering on any person it is an affront to not only the victim of the pain, but to society as a whole. The people we depend on to protect us from criminal aggressors should never become the aggressors themselves.
If you or someone you know was the victim of physical, metal, or verbal police brutality you may be entitled to take action against the perpetrators. Let a knowledgeable, experienced attorney guide you through the complex, confusing, and difficult proceedings required to take abusive law enforcement officers to justice.
Police Brutality Attorney – Police Shootings
A police officer should only draw his or her weapon as an absolute last resort to stop a person. Although many police officers realize the seriousness of using their firearms, a small percentage of these people fail to grasp the power they wield and use their guns in inappropriate ways.
There are very strict conventions that govern exactly when and how police officers can use their weapons to stop a suspect. Even though law enforcement communities frown upon the use of lethal force to stop a suspect, a few reckless individuals can tarnish the reputation of an entire department.
If you or someone you know was the victim of a police shooting, you may have the right to take action. The laws that apply to police shootings are extraordinarily complex and confusing, but our team of dedicated legal professionals will fight for your case and see you are justly compensated for your suffering. Contact us today.
Police Brutality – False Arrest Lawsuits
One of the most frequently abused police powers is the ability of law enforcement officers to detain and arrest people for no reason. False Arrest is easier to quantify than excessive force, because while the amount of power needed to perform a job is questionable, the ability to detain a person suspected of a crime is very clear and detailed.
Although police can only detain people on the grounds of “reasonable suspicion” or because of probable cause that the person has committed a crime, some unscrupulous officers use their power to arrest people for their own personal reasons. This flagrant abuse of power undermines the trust and faith people have in those they pay to protect them.
If you have been subjected to a false arrest you may have the right to seek damages against those who are liable. You need to have dedicated and experienced counsel in order to pursue justice against those who abuse their power as law enforcement officers. You need not be a victim of unchecked power any longer.
Police Brutality – Abuse of Power
Abuse of power is a catch-all term for the ways police officers can abuse their positions in law enforcement to take advantage of those they are supposed to serve and protect. Police officers are bound by United States Code 42, section 1983 that states any person who acts as a law enforcement officer is liable for any offenses they commit in violation of a person’s civil rights.
As part of their jobs, police can detain, arrest, and kill people. Although most peace officers take their duty to protect and serve the public very seriously, a small percentage will always abuse their power to fulfill selfish personal desires and goals. Abuse of police power usually includes excessive force, false arrest, assault, and illegal killings. Many people who are victims of police abuse of power feel they have no recourse or ability to take action against those who injure them.
Fortunately, those who enforce the law are not above the law. If you or someone you know has been a victim of abuse of power you may have the right to seek compensation for the injury and damage you suffer. Take action against those who abuse their power and cause you harm. Contact a dedicated and experienced lawyer today.
Police Brutality Assault Attorneys
A police officer who commits an illegal assault is as culpable and liable for their actions as any civilian who commits assault. In fact, a law enforcement officer who willingly assaults another person in the line of duty can be held responsible for their actions, for in their role as a sworn peace officer they ought to know better.
The long term effects of a police assault are not always physical. Many people who suffer assault at the hands of “peace” officers experience severe depression, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress disorder. An assault, whether physical or mental, totally undermines and destroys the faith we all have in law enforcement in general.
Those who commit assault should be held accountable for their actions regardless of whether or not they wear a badge. If you or someone you know endured an assault at the hands of a police officer you may be entitled to take legal action. Let a compassionate, dedicated, and experienced lawyer help restore your faith in the legal system. Contact one today.
Taser Gun/Stun Gun Injury
Tasers are less-than lethal law enforcement tools that can cause serious injuries in some cases. Powered by eight AA or one 9V battery, Tasers cause a disruption in the electrical part of the nervous system to ideally prevent a suspect from harming themselves or someone else without use of lethal force. Taser International Inc. markets the guns as safe, which in turn increases their sales to law enforcement agencies across the country and around the world.
Unfortunately, a study conducted by the Arizona Republic revealed that between September 1999 and March 2004, 44 people died as a result of Taser use, as opposed to 42 deaths confirmed by Taser Inc. The same study revealed that the safety assurances of Taser were based on autopsy reports they never actually had. Based on these reports, Taser believed it could claim that their products never caused serious injury or death to anyone.
Based on the original assertions by Taser Inc, many people, including some in the law enforcement community, believe that Tasers cannot cause serious harm or injury. This caused them to use Tasers with impunity, believing any injury or pain caused to the suspect was temporary. This lack of proper training led to a number of deaths, including a man who died after he was tased in a Minneapolis group home of the mentally ill.
If you or someone you love was injured by police or other law enforcement agencies wielding Tasers, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your pain and suffering. Let a dedicated and experienced
Taser gun injury lawyer help you get the restitution you deserve. Contact one today.
Driving While Black (Racial Profiling)
Just because a certain part of town is a hotbed of criminal activity does not make a particular individual guilty by association. It does not give police the right to detain or harass a person because they “fit the profile” or “looked suspicious.” Unless they observe a crime or act on credible information, police are bound by the Fourth Amendment (the right against unreasonable search and seizure) and the Fourteenth Amendment (the right to due process).
A common scenario involves pulling a car over on a flimsy excuse (for example, registration one month expired, or “erratic driving”). Police then use that as a basis to search the car, hoping to find drugs, guns, intoxication or other evidence that supports their unjustified traffic stop. Another tactic is to aggressively question people whose only crime is walking down the street or hanging out. Police will harass and provoke them into a trumped-up charge of resisting arrest or disorderly conduct, providing the basis to search and detain the person.
Contact Kim, at 410-234-2621 or kp@kimparkerlaw.com, to discuss your case.
Police Misconduct
We trust that law enforcement officers will not take advantage of their positions of authority, and respect the constitutionally guaranteed rights of every citizen of the United States. Police misconduct occurs when officers of the law violate someone’s constitutional rights. When police violate rights both the officer and their agency can be held liable in both civil and criminal courts.
Civil police misconduct can include a wide range of topics that can sometimes be vague and confusing. No officer can continually deprive a person of their constitutionally rights without good cause. One incident does not usually establish a pattern, and it courts can pass injunctions against officers in order to prevent further police misconduct. Furthermore, officers cannot discriminate unfairly based on race or ethnicity.
Criminal police misconduct involves the deprivation of constitutional rights in a criminally inappropriate way. There is also no requirement that the police are discriminatory in any way. Typical examples of police misconduct include excessive force, sexual assault, intentional false arrest, and fabrication of evidence. It is important to retain any kind of documentation in the types of cases, for it will allow you to better illustrate your side of the case.
If you or someone you love was the victim of police misconduct, you may be entitled to take legal action against those responsible, and claim financial restitution based on your situation. You must not hesitate, because statute of limitation laws can restrict the amount of time you have to press your case. Let a dedicated and experienced police misconduct lawyer help you today.
High Speed Pursuits
High speed pursuits are nighttime news staples, as many people are excited by spills and thrills of police cars chasing wanted fugitives through the streets of the city. There are even entire reality television programs dedicated to police chases and crashes. The real reality is that high speed pursuits are as dangerous to innocent bystanders as they are to the police and alleged perpetrators.
Almost 50% of all police chases end in accidents, and a great deal of these accidents result in serious injury or death. There many standards and regulations regarding police pursuits in most jurisdictions throughout the country, but many law enforcement officers will pursue an alleged criminal even for only a minor offense. Speeds in high speed pursuits can easily top 100 miles an hour, and can range miles over city streets, rural roads, and busy rush hour highways.
It is unfortunate many innocent victims on the roads suffer injury or loss due to police misconduct during high speed chases. Police must exercise as much caution as possible to avoid injuring innocent people or damaging their property, but sometimes careless officers will risk virtually anything to make a “collar” and arrest the alleged criminal. When this occurs, victims of high speed pursuits can sometimes recover damages against those responsible.
If you or someone you know was a victim in a high speed pursuit, you need to contact a dedicated and experienced lawyer immediately. You could have the right to financial restitution based on your pain, suffering, and loss, but if you hesitate the statute of limitation laws in your state could end your case before it has a chance to begin. Don’t miss out on the justice you deserve. Contact a lawyer today.
Contact Kim Parker today at 410-234-2621 to discuss your case.