Memphis Police Brutality Lawyer
Memphis has a long history of police brutality marked by federal and state civil and criminal cases and consent decrees ordering its police department to stop unconstitutional practices and unlawful assaults on citizens. If you have been the victim of police brutality, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. The Police Brutality Center can connect you with an experienced Memphis police brutality lawyer to pursue the justice you deserve.
Memphis has a history of racial profiling and police brutality dating back to assaults on black Civil War soldiers returning home. The Memphis police department has lost several lawsuits based on its officers’ unconstitutionally brutal actions.
An accomplished Memphis police brutality lawyer can help you or a loved one if the police unlawfully assault you. These civil rights attorneys have experience in federal and state police brutality laws and are ready to help you fight for justice and compensation.
Police Misconduct Laws in Memphis
Most Memphis police brutality lawsuits are based on Section 1983 of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1871. Your attorney must prove that the police violated your civil rights to succeed.
Tennessee has its own state law governing police misconduct. Under T.C.A. § 39-16-403, a public servant in their official capacity cannot intentionally subject another to arrest, frisk, halt, detention, stop, search, seizure, or dispossession when they know their conduct is unlawful. The same law makes it illegal for public servants to deny or impede someone exercising their lawful rights and privileges.
To pursue a police brutality lawsuit for compensation, you must file it within the Tennessee statute of limitations. Under T.C.A. § 28-3-104, you must file your claim within one year of the incident date. If one of the involved officers is charged criminally, you have two years to file your civil suit.
If you do not file your lawsuit on time, a judge will likely throw out your case, regardless of how egregious the police conduct and how serious your injuries are. An experienced civil rights lawyer can help you file your claim on time.
Memphis Police Department History
Memphis has a troubling history of racism and injustice. In 1959, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his first speech in Memphis and was elated by the crowd’s enthusiasm. However, Memphis was also the site of Dr. King’s assassination in 1968. Until 2022, a federal building in Memphis bore the name of Clifford Davis, a Ku Klux Klan leader.
Up to the early 1950s, the city was primarily controlled by E.H. Crump, also known as Boss Crump and his political machine. Crump started what became known as the reign of terror in Memphis. Under his direction, the Memphis police intentionally brutalized minorities and labor activists in the 1940s. At that time, victims of police violence had little to no recourse.
The reputation of the Memphis police department is still one of violence and inequality. There have been several other notable cases of alleged police brutality. Many involve the infamous “choir practice” ritual during which on-duty Memphis police officers drink on precinct grounds before interacting with citizens. One such incident led to the brutal beatings of black Memphis citizens Michael McDonald and Quentin Lytle. The city and police department settled with the victims, but no officers faced discipline.
The Memphis police also engaged in “Beale Street Sweeps,” in which they unlawfully made people, often minorities, clear the street. Lakendus Cole was beaten by Memphis police performing one of these sweeps. The officers in question did not realize that Cole was himself an off-duty Memphis police officer. Cole sued the City of Memphis in federal court and won. No officers were disciplined.
As of 2023, the city is facing lawsuits in cases involving black victims and alleged police brutality following traffic stops.
Cases of Police Brutality in Memphis
Some notable cases of police brutality in Memphis have occurred recently, indicating that that change is still necessary. Moreover, city residents need access to accomplished Memphis police brutality lawyers who can help them pursue justice and seek compensation.
Tyre Nichols - 2023
Five Memphis police officers who were part of the Memphis police department Scorpion Unit beat black motorist Tyre Nichols to death in 2023. The officers initially stated that Nichols was driving recklessly. The police chief later said that the charge was unsubstantiated.
The officers were arrested and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and official misconduct. The federal government charged them with violating Nichols’ rights for the beating itself, failing to intervene to stop it, failing to render aid, and concealing their actions.
One of the officers, Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty to federal charges of using excessive force, failing to intervene in an unlawful assault, and conspiracy to cover up the officers’ actions.
Monterrious Harris - 2023
Just three days before Scorpion Unit members beat Tyre Nichols, other members of the squad beat Monterrious Harris, who was parking his car at an apartment building. Harris claimed he was dragged, stomped, and beaten by the police until witnesses intervened. The officers made falsified charges against Mr. Harris, which a judge later threw out. As of December 2023, Harris is suing the City of Memphis for $5 million.
Latoris Taylor - 2022
While investigating a carjacking, police chased Latoris Taylor and shot him to death. The police and the district attorney said that Taylor fired at officers, and they returned fire. However, Taylor was running away.
Corey Brewer - 2022
Memphis police investigating a fatal shooting pulled over Corey Brewer, whom they considered a suspect. According to officers, Brewer did not obey commands to get out of his vehicle and shot at them. The police shot and killed Brewer in his car.
Family members are typically denied details when Memphis police officers kill their loved ones. Unlike the quick release of the Tyre Nichols videos, police typically withhold body camera footage and other evidence from those seeking answers.
An experienced Memphis police misconduct lawyer can help you gather critical evidence and decide on filing a case in federal or state court.
Memphis Police Brutality Lawyers
Some police brutality attorneys have national firms that take on federal civil rights cases. Some notable law firms handling cases in Memphis include:
- Ben Crump, who is representing the family of Tyre Nichols
- The Cochran Firm, founded by the late civil rights advocate Johnnie Cochran, handles police brutality and other civil rights cases.
- Spense Partners and attorney Robert L.J. Spense, Jr. represent Monterrious Harris in his $5 million Memphis police brutality suit. The firm also handled the police brutality cases related to Beale Street Sweeps and choir practice.
If you or someone you love has been a victim of police misconduct in Memphis, you have a right to get legal help and pursue justice.
Why Work With a Police Brutality Lawyer?
Police brutality cases are complex, and police officers and departments often claim qualified immunity. This doctrine protects them from liability if they reasonably believe their actions were lawful.
This immunity applies even if the officers were wrong in judging their conduct. It serves as a high bar to overcome. You need an experienced Memphis police brutality lawyer to help make your case.
Your attorney can help you in several other ways, including the following:
- Procuring key evidence such as body camera footage
- Interviewing witnesses
- Investigating past conduct by the involved officers and the Memphis police department
- Securing expert testimony
- Calculating your damages
When you sue a police department, compensatory damages could include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. In rare cases, you may also be able to collect punitive damages, which are reserved for the most egregious cases.
Filing a Civil Rights Claim in Memphis
If you or a loved one has been the victim of police brutality, file a complaint with the Memphis Police Department’s Inspectional Services Bureau. You can also make anonymous complaints if you are a witness to police brutality or police misconduct.
According to the Memphis Police Department Policy and Procedure Manual, the Security Squad of the department investigates all police shootings and other misconduct claims.
To start filing a lawsuit, contact the Police Brutality Center. We will connect you with an accomplished Memphis police misconduct lawyer who can advise you on the best next steps for filing in state or federal court.
Filing a Civil Rights Claim in Memphis
If you or a loved one has been the victim of police brutality, file a complaint with the Memphis Police Department’s Inspectional Services Bureau. You can also make anonymous complaints if you are a witness to police brutality or police misconduct.
According to the Memphis Police Department Policy and Procedure Manual, the Security Squad of the department investigates all police shootings and other misconduct claims.
To start filing a lawsuit, contact the Police Brutality Center. We will connect you with an accomplished Memphis police misconduct lawyer who can advise you on the best next steps for filing in state or federal court.
Police Reform in Memphis
In July 2023, after Tyre Nichol’s death, the Justice Department announced a civil pattern or practice investigation into the Memphis Police Department and the City of Memphis. The investigation covers the entire police department and focuses on its use of force, searches, stops, and arrests.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland noted serious allegations of a pattern of unconstitutional practices and discriminatory policing based on race. He also noted allegations that the Memphis Police Department engaged in dangerously aggressive traffic enforcement.
This Justice Department investigation is the ninth pattern or practice investigation into police departments nationwide in just three years. The agency is negotiating consent decrees with the Louisville and Minneapolis police departments to address their unconstitutional practices.
Get Legal Help
The Police Brutality Center can connect you with an experienced Memphis police brutality lawyer who will listen to the details of your case and advise you on how to pursue compensation.
