There is a line between filming the police and hindering the police
Facts Antonio Buehler leads the Peaceful Streets Project (PSP), a watchdog organization with the stated mission of holding police accountable for official misconduct. In 2015, Buehler and several other PSP members were cop watching in downtown Austin. Buehler regularly filmed the Austin police, and many officers were familiar with him. In footage taken by Buehler, […]
Summary judgement granted for officers who kill armed fleeing subject
Facts In 2019, Bastrop P.D. received two reports of an armed confrontation at an apartment complex. One report identified the perpetrator as Thomas Johnson who was driving a red truck with rims. Officer Joshua Green encountered a stationary red truck matching the description with flashing hazards and initiated a stop. As Green exited his vehicle, Johnson […]
Summary judgement granted for Officer who tased non compliant subject on traffic stop
Facts In 2018, Louisiana State Police Trooper Ross Brennan stopped Tim Betts for speeding and asked him to step out of his vehicle. Betts initially complied but disagreed about speeding and returned to his vehicle. Brennan asked Betts to stand at the back of his vehicle but Betts refused, saying that he was not causing […]
Facebook and NCMEC are not government agents when passing tips to law enforcement officers about child pornography
Facts Facebook (FB) decided on its own to surveil, collect, and review Stephen Meals‘ private messages with fifteen-year-old A.A., which indicated that Meals and A.A. were in an active sexual relationship. Facebook then deemed that the messages violated its terms of service, its community standards, and probably federal law and sent copies to the National […]
Clarifying questions no longer required for ambiguous requests for counsel
Facts In 2017, Camille Eiland, a counselor at Warren-Yazoo Behavioral Health began treating a young woman, Vickie (14 to 16 years old at time of incidents), for depression. Eiland testified at trial that Vickie’s mother brought her there for treatment. After a few months, Vickie’s mother told Eiland that she was concerned about Vickie’s relationship […]
Summary Judgement denied for Officers who continue to kneel on back of subdued subject who died
Facts In 2016, Anthony Timpa called 911 and stated that he had a history of mental illness, had not taken his medications, was having anxiety, and wanted to be picked up. Sergeant Kevin Mansell arrived on scene and discovered that Timpa had already been handcuffed by private security guards. Dallas P.D. policy stated that five […]