Dayton Police Misconduct Lawsuit Lawyer

Being arrested is rarely pleasant, but there are examples of police behavior that occur during an arrest that can lead to serious injuries to detainees. When the police violate your constitutional rights or state laws, you can file a claim against the officers responsible for the misbehavior with the help of a Dayton police misconduct lawsuit lawyer.

Trust Spangenberg Shibley & Liber

The team here at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is an authority on civil rights law in the Cleveland region. Since starting our firm in 1946, we have helped our clients receive over $1 billion in settlements.

Our trial attorneys are nationally recognized and highly decorated, and we have a reputation for helping our clients get positive results in court. Reach out to our team to find out how we can help you.

Reasons to Hire a Police Misconduct Lawsuit Lawyer

In late 2024, Ohio ranked eighth in the nation for police misconduct. In the 14 years preceding the study’s release, eight misconduct cases were settled for a combined $33,700,000, or an average of $4,212,500 per case. As you can see, holding the police accountable for their misdeeds can also translate into a significant payout.

If you’ve been harmed by an officer’s misdeeds, you should hire a police misconduct lawsuit lawyer right away. An attorney can assist you with every aspect of your case, from filing the initial civil rights claim to gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses in support of your case. We are not afraid to take cases to trial, so if that is necessary for your claim, you can trust our team to perform as admirably in the courtroom as we do in negotiations.

Hiring a lawyer is always the most effective way to improve your odds of a positive outcome. In Ohio, the police working at the Dayton Police Department at 248 Salem Avenue are afforded a certain amount of qualified immunity that you’ll have to overcome to file a successful claim, so it’s doubly important that you have a skilled attorney on your side.

Defining Police Misconduct

Few people enjoy being arrested, but sometimes, the actions that police officers take in the process of detaining someone go beyond unpleasant and venture into territories not acceptable under state law. When that happens, those actions are considered police misconduct. Common examples include:

• Making unlawful arrests
• Using excessive force
• Wrongfully imprisoning people
• Performing unlawful searches and seizures
• Falsifying or withholding evidence
• Retaliation or intimidation
• Sexual misconduct
• Wrongful death

Whether you’ve suffered an unlawful arrest at the hands of the police or you have lost a loved one to police brutality, we can help you hold the responsible officers accountable. In addition to facing police misconduct penalties, officers found liable in civil court can also be forced to pay substantial compensation to their victims.

Laws Governing Police Misconduct in Ohio

There are two state laws that govern police misconduct. The first, Ohio Revised Code 2921.45, pertains to civil rights violations. The second, Ohio Revised Code 2921.52, pertains to sham legal processes. Under this law, the police cannot knowingly use sham legal processes to arrest or detain a person or search and seize their property.

If an officer is found guilty under either of these criminal statutes, it may be easier for you to prove your police misconduct case. Federal law provides a means of taking civil action against the responsible officer, whether they are found criminally responsible or not. United States Code 1983 makes it admissible for private citizens to file civil claims against anyone acting “under the color of law.”

While there are legal provisions in place for holding the police accountable for misconduct, these cases can be extremely complex, so it’s essential that you work with an experienced lawyer. Our team has held officers of the law accountable for jail deaths, excessive force, and other serious forms of misconduct.

FAQs

Q: What Behaviors Constitute Police Misconduct?

A: Behaviors that constitute police misconduct include any actions that violate a person’s constitutional rights or state or federal laws. These include excessive force, false arrest, sexual misconduct, and falsifying evidence. If you believe you’ve become the victim of police misconduct, you should contact a Dayton police misconduct lawsuit attorney for help filing a claim.

Q: How Long Does a Police Misconduct Investigation Take?

A: How long a police misconduct investigation takes varies depending on the specifics of your case. More complex cases typically take longer than those that are relatively simple and require little evidence and witness testimony to prove. Your case will also take longer if it goes to trial instead of being settled outside of court.

Q: How Do You Expose Corrupt Police?

A: You can expose corrupt police by filing a police misconduct claim against them. Police misconduct cases don’t just hold the officers responsible for mistreating you accountable for their actions. You may also be able to get a monetary payout to help pay for any damages you suffered as a result of the officer’s misconduct.

Q: What Do You Do if You Feel That a Police Officer Has Treated You Unfairly?

A: If you feel that a police officer has treated you unfairly, you should consult a police misconduct lawyer. Your lawyer can analyze the evidence in the case and determine whether the officer’s actions rise to the status of police misconduct. If that’s the case, your lawyer can help you file a civil rights claim and, if necessary, take the officer or officers to court.

Your Dayton Police Misconduct Lawsuit Lawyer

Whether you’ve suffered excessive force during an arrest or you believe the police have falsified evidence against you, your next step is the same. You should call a Dayton police misconduct lawsuit lawyer to help you file a claim against the responsible officer or officers.

The team here at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can help you file your claim. We recently represented the widow of a 62-year-old man who was restrained and pepper-sprayed to death while trespassing in Florida, and she received a settlement of $4 million. * However, past results are not a guarantee of future outcomes. If you’ve suffered serious harm as the result of police misconduct, we can help you, too. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.

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