In Cheairs v. City of Seattle, published August 1, 2025, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment in favor of the defendants. During a protest of the death of George Floyd, protesters breached police fencing surrounding a police station, ignored police orders to fall back, and advanced on the police line. Protesters shined lasers…
In Egleston v. State Personnel Board (Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation), published July 15, 2025, the Second District Court of Appeal, Division 6 affirmed the trial court's denial of a petition for a writ of mandate. The plaintiff worked for the Department of Corrections as a youth correctional officer. The rules and duties governing his conduct…
In A.B. v. County of San Diego, published June 26, 2025, the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division 1 reversed summary judgment for the defendant county, sheriff, and sheriff's deputies. Responding to a report that the plaintiffs' decedent was acting erratically, sheriff's deputies struggled with the decedent, using tasers and blows as he resisted restraint. Eventually…
In Animal Protection and Rescue League, Inc. v. County of Riverside, published June 5, 2025, the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division 1 affirmed judgment entered after the county's demurrer was sustained and summary judgment was granted to the county. The plaintiff and others demonstrated near a pet store in a shopping mall, protesting the store's…
In Estate v. Soakai v. Abdelaziz, published May 16, 2025, a divided panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed denial of the police officer defendants' motion to dismiss the action at the pleading stage based on qualified immunity. According to the complaint's allegations, the defendant officers spotted a person they believed had participated in…
In Barnes v. Felix, published May 15, 2025, the United States Supreme Court reversed summary judgment granted to the defendant police officer in a 42 U.S.C. section 1983 case. The defendant officer pulled a suspect's car over for outstanding toll violations. During the stop, the suspect stated he did not have his license with him, and…
In County of Nevada v. Superior Court (A.C.), published May 12, 2025, the Third District Court of Appeal issued a writ directing the trial court to grant summary judgment to a sheriff's deputy defendant and his agency. Multiple individuals called 911 about an erratically-acting woman walking along a street with two small children. The defendant sheriff's…
In Alves v. County of Riverside, published April 29, 2025, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed a district court's decision declining to grant a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law after a jury trial. The defendant deputies encountered a bleeding man speaking incoherently and engaged in unusual behavior. The deputies believed the…
In Newman v. Underhill, published April 23, 2025, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for the defendant deputies. A suspect in a truck failed to stop for one of the defendant deputy's traffic stop. This was a felony. The deputy chased the suspect's truck. The truck stopped near the plaintiff's home. The suspect…
In Mayfield v. City of Mesa, published March 24, 2025, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit under Title 11 of the American with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. While the plaintiff, who is deaf, was driving home at night, a police officer observed her weaving in traffic and pulled…