TT&H Attorneys win summary judgment for police offer accused of civil rights violations.

On February 17, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the entry of summary judgment in favor of a police officer who was accused of civil rights violations after shooting at a car leaving the scene of a crime. The driver of the car, who was convicted of aggravated assault, had crashed into a police cruiser and was driving erratically in a residential neighborhood. In upholding the grant of qualified immunity to the officer, the Third Circuit found that the law was not so clearly established that a reasonable officer in his shoes would have known that the use of deadly force in such circumstances was unlawful. At the District Court level, the case was handled by Thomas McGinnis and Karin Romano of the firm’s Pittsburgh office. Karin also assisted Louis Long, chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, in the continued defense of the claim following an appeal to the Third Circuit.

Questions about this case can be directed to Louis Long, at (412) 926-1424 or llong@tthlaw.com, to Thomas McGinnis, at (412) 926-1420 or tmcginnis@tthlaw.com, or to Karin Romano, at (412) 926-1426 or kromano@tthlaw.com.