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Have you or a loved one been seriously injured or killed by a police officer’s excessive force?Don’t know where to start? Start by calling us to discuss. 502.553.4750.
What is excessive force? The term ‘excessive force’ is not precisely defined; however, the use of force greater than that which a reasonable and prudent law enforcement officer would use under the circumstances is generally considered to be excessive. In most cases, the minimum amount force required to achieve a safe and effective outcome during law enforcement procedures is recommended.
Police officers are authorized to use force when necessary, but the force used must be appropriate to the situation. Police officers can often make bad judgment calls in stressful situations. However, in other circumstances existing biases play a role in this decision-making, or an officer uses his position of power to injure and lead to use of excessive force. The arrival of cell phone cameras has captured on an unsettling number of interactions with police across the country where the officer inappropriately, and sometimes illegally, uses excessive force.
Excessive force by a law enforcement officer(s) is a violation of a person’s constitutional rights. Police brutality is a violation of the law. “Cruel and unusual punishments” by the state (police) are prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment provides further protection to individuals, prohibiting the state from depriving “any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”.
Our experienced excessive force attorney at Stein Whatley Astorino, PLLC can help you. A lawyer can be a powerful tool to hold officers and their employers accountable for their actions and conduct. Our goal is to recover compensation for the pain and suffering and for the financial hardships the excessive force has caused for you and your family.