Civil Rights Litigation

• Evaluates whether your rights were violated and who can be held responsible, from individual officers to the agency itself.
• Preserves body-cam footage, records, and witness accounts before they disappear.
• Navigates qualified immunity and the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, which shape every claim against the government.
• Files suit in state or federal court and pursues compensation and changes in policy.

• Excessive force and police misconduct claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
• False arrest, malicious prosecution, and unlawful search and seizure
• Jail and detention conditions, including denial of medical care
• First Amendment retaliation, including for recording or criticizing officials
• Due process and equal protection violations by state and local government
• Claims under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act

Civil rights claims against Metro Nashville and surrounding counties can be filed in federal court for the Middle District of Tennessee or in state court. In Tennessee, most § 1983 claims must be filed within one year, so acting quickly matters.

What is a § 1983 claim?

A federal lawsuit against people acting for the government, such as police officers, who violate your constitutional rights.

What is qualified immunity?

A defense that can shield officials from personal liability unless the right they violated was clearly established. It is a hurdle, not always a bar.

I have a criminal case pending. Can I still bring a civil rights claim?

Often, but the timing and what you say matter. The criminal case usually comes first, and the two need to be handled together.