Police

Historic $98 Million Award in Botham Jean Case Signals Strong Message on Police Accountability and Racial Justice

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Dallas, Texas – A Dallas jury has concluded that Amber Guyger, a former Dallas police officer, must pay $98 million to the family of Botham Jean for killing him in his own home in 2018. This decision arrives five years after Guyger received a 10-year prison sentence for the incident, which stemmed from what the jury deemed “malice, willfulness, or callous and reckless indifference” to Jean’s safety. The jury awarded $60 million in punitive damages and an additional $38 million in compensatory damages for mental anguish, loss of earnings, and other claims. Initially, Jean’s family … Read more

Former Lafayette Police Union Head Loses Appeal in First Amendment Lawsuit Over Delayed Filing

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Lafayette, LA — A former Lafayette police union leader lost his bid to overturn a lower court’s ruling, which found him tardy in filing a lawsuit that challenged alleged infringements on his First Amendment rights. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decided on November 19 against the former union president, who had taken legal action against various city and police officials. The plaintiff in the case was the previous head of the Police Association of Lafayette #905, identified as Stanley. He initiated a federal lawsuit against several former interim police chiefs—including Scott Morgan, Wayne … Read more

Exonerated Man Seeks Justice: Files Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania State Police for Wrongful Conviction

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Pittsburgh, PA — Nearly a decade and a half after his initial arrest for a crime that shook a small Pennsylvania community, Jordan Brown seeks justice through a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Pennsylvania State Police, blaming them for wrongful incarceration during his youth. Charged at the tender age of 11, Brown spent several years detained for the 2009 murder of his father’s pregnant fiancée, Kenzie Marie Houk. His conviction was overturned in 2018 due to a lack of evidence. This legal battle highlights Brown’s ongoing struggle and the broader implications for states like … Read more

Judge Dismisses Gabby Petito’s Family Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Moab Police, Citing Governmental Immunity

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Moab, Utah – A judge in Utah has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Gabby Petito against the city’s police department. The suit claimed that the officers failed to protect Petito during a traffic stop involving her and her fiancé, who was later accused of her murder. The decision was reached by the Seventh District Court Judge Don Torgerson, who cited immunity laws that shield government agencies from such lawsuits. Despite this ruling, Petito’s family expressed their intentions to appeal the dismissal, emphasizing persistent concerns about how law enforcement handles domestic … Read more