Columbus Police Misconduct Lawsuit Lawyer

Residents of the Columbus area and throughout Franklin County trust local police officers to protect and serve the public. Police have an inherently dangerous job, but some unfortunately choose to abuse their authority and engage in unlawful behavior that harms those they are meant to protect. Police misconduct can occur in many ways, and a Columbus police misconduct lawsuit lawyer can help you prepare a civil case if you have experienced this in any way.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Police Misconduct Claims in Columbus, OH

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber has been representing injured clients throughout Ohio since 1946. Our team has more than 80 years of experience ready to be leveraged in your police misconduct case, and we are confident we can guide you to a favorable outcome. We understand that this type of case is inherently challenging in multiple ways, and you need to hire a police misconduct lawsuit lawyer to help you level the playing field in this difficult situation.

We have successfully secured more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients, and during the past two years in Ohio, more than 25% of all settlements and case awards over seven figures were recovered by our firm. * We are a team of experienced trial attorneys who have a strong record of successful representation in many civil lawsuits, including those filed against police officers and police departments throughout Ohio.

Our goal in every police misconduct case we accept is to help our client hold the defendant who injured them accountable for the harm they have caused. Police misconduct occurs whenever a police officer oversteps their authority or violates the law. In many of these cases, they expect their position to immunize them from legal accountability, but a Columbus police misconduct lawsuit lawyer can help you pursue a civil lawsuit in response to their mistreatment.

Understanding Police Misconduct in Columbus

According to Police Scorecard, there were 10,874 complaints against police in Ohio from civilians between 2016 and 2022. Of these complaints, only 14% were ruled in favor of the civilians who filed them. During this same period, there were 216 reports of police discrimination, and only 2% of these cases were ruled in favor of civilians; there were 12 reported crimes committed by police, 17% of which were ruled in favor of civilians.

Some of the most commonly reported forms of police misconduct in Ohio and throughout the US include:

• Excessive force. Police must sometimes use physical violence or even deadly force while conducting their official duties. Subduing potentially dangerous suspects can be life-threatening, but police officers are trained to use specific levels of force as their situation requires. If a police officer oversteps these regulations, they may unlawfully cause catastrophic injuries to a person in custody.

• Wrongful shootings. Police officers carry firearms to protect themselves and members of the public from imminent threats of bodily harm or death. There have been many high-profile cases throughout the US over the past several years, highlighting the wrongful use of deadly force by police. A Columbus police misconduct lawsuit attorney can help you determine whether the police’s recent shooting was unlawful.
• Unlawful searches. The Fourth Amendment protects American citizens from unlawful searches and seizures. Police can only conduct searches without warrants during lawful arrests, when evidence of a crime is in plain view, or in a few other specific circumstances. If you believe a recent police search was unlawful, you should hire a police misconduct lawsuit lawyer right away to discuss your legal options.
• Death in custody. When a suspect dies in police custody due to failure to provide medical attention, the surviving family members of the victim may have grounds to file a police misconduct lawsuit for this civil rights violation. An experienced Columbus police misconduct lawsuit lawyer can explain what to expect if you must file this type of wrongful death case.
• Constitutional rights violations. When police arrest a person, they must read the suspect their Miranda rights, and the suspect has the right to remain silent while in police custody as well as the right to legal counsel. Coerced confessions, denying suspects their phone calls, and unlawful detainment are just a few examples of how police misconduct could qualify as violations of a person’s Constitutional rights.

These are just a few examples of the types of police misconduct lawsuits filed in Ohio and throughout the US each year. It can be incredibly daunting for any member of the public to imagine pursuing a civil lawsuit against the Columbus Police Department for any reason, so experienced legal counsel is a crucial asset in these difficult situations.

Building Your Police Misconduct Case in Columbus

The first steps you take after experiencing any form of police misconduct are crucial. When a suspect in custody has experienced police misconduct, they may need to rely on their family to take the first steps in building a police misconduct lawsuit. Otherwise, if you are able to do so, document as much as possible about the incident, seek medical treatment immediately if necessary, and identify any witnesses who may be able to testify on your behalf.

An experienced Columbus police misconduct lawsuit lawyer at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can gather evidence that the average person would not be able to obtain on their own. These cases may require various public records that can be obtained through the Ohio Public Records Act, such as police body camera footage, incident reports, and police dispatch records.

Your attorney may also be able to obtain records from the officer’s Internal Affairs department. Unfortunately, police misconduct occurs in patterns of unlawful behavior. If there is already a personnel file and/or an investigation against the officer in question in your case, or if they have previously been under investigation for similar incidents of misconduct, these records could be valuable supporting evidence in your police misconduct lawsuit.

Your Columbus police misconduct lawsuit lawyer can not only help you prove the full extent of the damages you may be able to recover from a successful police misconduct case, but also assist you with reporting police misconduct to the appropriate authorities. Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can help clients with their interactions with Internal Affairs departments, civilian review boards, the Ohio Inspector General’s Office, and even the US Department of Justice.

One of the biggest challenges a plaintiff faces in a police misconduct case is overcoming the police officer’s qualified immunity. Most police officers and other government officials have qualified immunity from civil lawsuits, but an experienced Columbus police misconduct lawsuit attorney can help their client prove that a clearly established right was violated, nullifying qualified immunity and enabling their client to claim compensation for their damages.

Recovering Compensation for Police Misconduct in Columbus

A 2024 report from ABC6 News stated that Ohio ranked eighth in the United States for police misconduct settlements based on data gathered between October 2009 and July 2023. During this period, eight police misconduct cases were settled in Ohio for a total of $33,700,000 in compensation, or $4,212,500 per case.

The plaintiff in a police misconduct case may not only recover compensation for the economic and non-economic damages they suffered, but also additional compensation for their legal expenses and punitive damages awarded at the court’s discretion. Economic damages in a police misconduct case include any direct financial losses resulting from the defendant’s actions. In many cases, these include:

• Medical expenses. The plaintiff can claim compensation for the cost of all medical care they need to recover from the injuries they suffered. This includes long-term treatment costs if they suffered a serious injury requiring ongoing care.
• Lost income. When a plaintiff has been unable to work and earn income due to police misconduct, they have the right to claim compensation for wages lost during this period. If a person is wrongfully arrested and convicted of a crime they did not commit, they could lose professional licenses or a small business. An attorney can help them accurately evaluate such losses and add them as economic damages in their lawsuit.
• Lost earning capacity. When the victim of police misconduct is critically injured and left unable to work in the future, their attorney may be able to recover compensation for this lost future earning capacity.

Aside from economic damages, the injured plaintiff may also claim compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced. Generally, pain and suffering compensation is paid in proportion to the severity of the victim’s injuries and whether they sustained any permanent harm. A plaintiff may also receive compensation for their emotional distress and the psychological trauma the defendant inflicted.

Ultimately, police misconduct cases are inherently challenging in several ways, and time is a crucial concern for anyone who believes they have grounds to file such a case. Some of the evidence you need will be difficult to obtain and may not be obtainable for long. You also face strict procedural rules you must follow to file your claim successfully.

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can provide compassionate, results-driven legal representation when you need it most after you or a family member has suffered harm from police misconduct. We are ready to help you pursue accountability, and a successful outcome in your case may lead to important systemic changes that prevent others from facing similar mistreatment in the future. Reach out to our firm to learn more about how we can help.

FAQs

Q: What Are the Penalties for Police Misconduct in Ohio?

A: Penalties for police misconduct in Ohio depend on the severity of an officer’s actions. While the City of Columbus will pay settlements or trial verdicts to injured victims, the officer who committed the misconduct in question could face various forms of administrative discipline, including mandatory training, suspension, or firing. If they committed a criminal offense, they not only face these administrative penalties but also criminal prosecution.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for Police Misconduct?

A: The amount of compensation you can claim for police misconduct depends on the details of your experience. You may qualify to claim compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, lost earning power, and for the pain and suffering you experienced. In some cases, plaintiffs are also compensated for their legal expenses and receive punitive damages at the court’s discretion. Your attorney can estimate the full potential value of your case.

Q: How Is Pain and Suffering Compensation Determined in a Police Misconduct Case?

A: In a police misconduct case, pain and suffering compensation is usually determined by assessing the severity of the physical and emotional harm the plaintiff suffered and the effects of the incident on their daily life. Your Columbus police misconduct lawsuit lawyer may seek an amount based on the total of your economic damages, multiplying this figure by a factor that reflects the severity of the effects you suffered.

Q: Why Should I Hire a Police Misconduct Lawsuit Lawyer in Columbus?

A: You should hire a police misconduct lawsuit lawyer in Columbus to level the playing field between you and the police officer who violated their authority. Any civil lawsuit could be more complicated than it appears at first, and overcoming qualified immunity will be extremely difficult without an experienced attorney on your side. You are more likely to build a successful case with a Columbus police misconduct lawsuit lawyer representing you.

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Police Misconduct Lawsuit Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire a police misconduct lawsuit lawyer varies, but the attorneys at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This billing arrangement means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation from the defendant. In some police misconduct cases, plaintiffs receive compensation for their legal expenses.

The team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can help you understand your rights and options for legal recourse after you or a loved one has been harmed by any form of police misconduct in Columbus. We are confident we can help you achieve a favorable outcome, but you have a limited time to build your case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Columbus police misconduct lawsuit lawyer you can trust.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.