Excessive

Federal Jury Delivers Mixed Verdict in Syracuse Police Shooting Case: Excessive Force Determined, But Family Awarded $10,000

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Syracuse, N.Y. — A federal jury delivered a nuanced verdict Friday in a civil lawsuit concerning a fatal shooting involving a local police officer, marking a significant moment for the city of Syracuse. While the jury found that Officer Kelsey Francemone used excessive force in the 2016 shooting of Gary Porter, they awarded Porter’s family only $10,000, a sum far lower than the city’s previously proposed settlement of $825,000. During the trial, a federal judge indicated that the determination of excessive force could be overturned due to the principle of qualified immunity, which often shields … Read more

Greenpeace Battles $667 Million Damage Ruling: Claims Excessive Costs Aim to Stifle Activism

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BISMARCK, N.D. — Greenpeace is asking a North Dakota court to reconsider a substantial damage award of nearly $667 million linked to the Dakota Access Pipeline project. The environmental organization contends that this figure is excessively high and lacks justification. During a trial earlier this year that spanned more than three weeks, a Morton County jury determined that Greenpeace played a role in the financial losses experienced by Energy Transfer, the pipeline’s developer. Jurors found the group liable for damages related to protests held in 2016 and 2017, as well as for making statements deemed … Read more

Federal Judge Dismisses Excessive Force Lawsuit from Dallas Security Guard Mistaken for Suspect, Sparking Calls for Accountability

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Dallas, Texas — A federal judge recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former security guard, who claimed that Dallas police officers used excessive force when they mistakenly identified him as a family violence suspect in 2021. U.S. District Judge Karen Gren Scholer ruled that the officers involved were protected by qualified immunity, which shields public officials from legal accountability under certain circumstances. In her 20-page ruling, Scholer determined that officers had probable cause to detain Silvester Hayes, 29, citing his failure to use a turn signal and his alleged resistance to arrest as justifications … Read more

Brookfield Township Police Face Accountability as Woman Wins Settlement in Excessive Force Case

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Brookfield, Ohio — A woman has reached a settlement in her lawsuit against the Brookfield Township Police Department, accusing officers of using excessive force during her arrest in 2021. The agreement comes after the legal proceedings drew public attention to the conduct of local law enforcement. The plaintiff, Angela Thomas, claimed that during her arrest, two officers used physical force beyond what was necessary. According to the details of the case, Thomas alleged that the officers struck her and restrained her in a manner that caused significant injury. She emphasized that the incident left her … Read more