Holding D.C. Police Accountable for Alleged Unlawful Arrest of a Mom and her Minor Daughter
Lewis et al. v. District of Columbia et al.
Our lawsuit alleges that, on two separate occasions, Malaika Lewis and her minor daughter, N.L., were subjected to horrendous treatment at the hands of police officers. After Ms. Lewis contacted police for help locating her older daughter, the lawsuit alleges that police officers separated Ms. Lewis from her younger daughter, N.L., for hours while attempting to illegally search her apartment based on one officer’s unfounded hunch that she was somehow hiding a boyfriend who had committed an unspecified crime. According to the complaint, Ms. Lewis was kept away from her daughter for hours, her apartment was illegally searched, and her younger daughter was detained by police for no reason.
Later, Ms. Lewis sought help from CFSA for transportation for her daughter. Instead of receiving help, Ms. Lewis was falsely accused of being suicidal. The complaint alleges that police refused to listen to her when she stated she was fine, and instead tried to force her from her home. After tricking her into opening her apartment door, the police are alleged to have forcibly removed Ms. Lewis from her home and detained her daughter for no reason (without a coat or shoes on a cold winter day). Further, Ms. Lewis was forced to spend the night at a psychiatric facility. She was released the next morning when health professionals confirmed that she was perfectly fine. Both Ms. Lewis and N.L. were left traumatized from these interactions with police.
On behalf of Ms. Lewis and N.L., Civil Rights Corps has raised several claims against the police officers involved and the District of Columbia: False Arrest/Unlawful Seizure under the Fourth Amendment, violation of Substantive Due Process under the Fifth Amendment, First Amendment Retaliation, Intrusion upon Seclusion, Trespass, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligence, Excessive Force, and Assault and Battery.
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