Working Up A Civil Rights Case Before Trial

A.Considerations In Deciding Whether To Take A Civil Rights Case

• The Basic Facts
• Injuries/Damages
• Who Are The Plaintiff(s)
• Who Is The Decedent
• Who Are The Defendants
• Is There A Related Criminal Case
• Are There Witnesses
• Newspaper Articles
• Audio
• Video
• District Attorney Review
• Assessing The Negative Evidence
• Surviving MSJ
• Getting Around Qualified Immunity
• Assessing The Clients’ Expectations

B.Dealing With The Related Criminal Case

1. Charges
2. Copy Of File
3. Discovery – Using The Criminal Case To Get Early Discovery
4. The Plea – Possible Negative Implications
5. Heck v Humphrey – Is The Case Barred by The Criminal Conviction
6. Claim Requirement
7. Statute Of Limitations
8. Tolling Of Statute
9. Timing Of The Filing
10. Staying The Case
11. Pleading The Fifth
12. Don’t Let The Criminal Conviction Preclude The Civil Action

C.What To Do Before Filing The Lawsuit

1. Getting Documents
   1. Medical Records
   2. Photographs
   3. Autopsy Report
2. Securing Witnesses
3. Family Documents
4. Researching The Case
5. Getting All The Plaintiffs
6. Conflict Of Interest Waivers
7. Establishing Liability
8. Researching The Law
9. Building Damages

D.Filing The Complaint

1. State Court vs Federal Court
2. Claims For Relief – What Claims Can Be Brought Under Federal And State Law
3. Identifying The Plaintiffs
4. Identifying The Defendants
5. Requesting The Appropriate Damages
6. Sufficient Factual Allegations
7. Request For Jury Trial
8. Dealing With Demurrers And Motions To Dismiss
9. Filing Amended Complaints

E.Getting The Documents

1. Public Records Request
2. District Attorney Review
3. Newspaper Articles
4. Agency Review
5. Related Criminal Case
6. Disclosures
7. Requests For Production Of Documents
8. Audio
9. Video
10. Officer Statements
11. Internal Affairs Review
12. Protective Orders
13. Forensic Evidence

F.Taking Effective Depositions

1. Style Of Questioning
2. Police Officers
3. Witnesses
4. Paramedics
5. Treating Physicians
6. Medical Examiner
7. Detectives
8. 30(B)(6) Depositions
9. Persons Most Knowledgeable/ Persons Most Qualified Depositions
10. Monell Depositions
11. Defendant Depositions
12. Expert Depositions
13. Plaintiffs’ Depositions

G.Framing The Case

1. Focusing The Jury On Important Issues
2. Focusing The Jury On Facts You Can Prevail On
3. The Issue Is
4. The Issue Is Not
5. Using Voir Dire – To Set The Standards
6. Using Opening Statement – To Set The Standards
7. Using Cross-Examination – To Set The Standards
8. Using Experts To Frame The Case/Set The Standard
9. Jury Instruction
10. Verdict Form
11. POST Standards
12. Training
13. Policies
14. Deposition Testimony

H.Setting The Standard(s)

• What Is Excessive Force
• Standards Re Deadly Force
• Standards Re Less Lethal Force
• Using POST Standards
• Using Policy Language
• Using Training Materials
• Using Officer Testimony
• Using Expert Testimony
• Using Jury Instructions
• Standards of Different Types of Force
  • Carotid Restraint
  • Taser
  • Pepper Spray
  • Police Batons
  • Bean Bag Shot Gun
  • K-9
  • 40 Mm Rounds
  • Restraint / Positional Asphyxia
  • Standards Re Arrest
  • Standards Re Detention
  • Standards Re Medical Care
  • Prone Restraint

I.Using Experts

• Police Practice Experts
• Trajectory Experts
• Forensic Experts
• Medical Experts
• Damages Experts
• 30(b)(6) Experts

J.Opposing Summary Judgment

1. Citing Cases Similar To Yours
2. Distinguishing Unfavorable Cases
3. Developing Disputed Issues Of Material Fact
4. Using Deposition Testimony
5. Using Statements Of Defendants
6. Using Declarations (Witnesses – Experts)
7. Using Photographs
8. Framing The Case – In The MSJ Opposition
9. Setting The Standard – In The MSJ Opposition

K.Dealing With Qualified Immunity

1. Creating Material Factual Disputes
2. Showing Law Clearly Established
3. Citing Similar Cases
4. Distinguishing Unfavorable Cases
5. Falls Within The Obvious Argument
6. Assume All Plaintiffs’ Facts – Take All Reasonable Inferences
7. Not Applicable To State Claims
8. Using Officer Training
9. Expert Declarations
10. Policies – Using The Policies Of The Defendants
11. POST Training (Peace Officer Standards And Training)
12. Not Applicable To Monell
13. Using Deposition Testimony To Show Law Clearly Established
14. Using Deposition Testimony Re Training – Hypothetical Questions