Harrington v. Lancaster. In January 2024, Civil Rights Corps filed a federal lawsuit against three members of the Harris County Constables, Precinct 2 on behalf of Harris County resident Tyler Harrington. The complaint alleges that officers James Lancaster, Nathaniel Cano, and Jared Lindsay conducted a warrantless no-knock entry into Mr. Harrington’s home in the middle of the night and held him at gunpoint, despite questioning aloud whether they were at the wrong house. The complaint raises several claims against the defendants, including violations of the Fourth Amendment for unlawful entry, unlawful search, unlawful seizure, and excessive force.
Litigation
Post Type Description
Defending a Child’s Right to Hug Their Parents in Flint
S.L. v. Swanson. In 2024, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of a group of children and parents in Flint, Michigan who were unable to visit jailed family members because of the decision to end in-person visits at the jail.
Defending a Child’s Right to Hug Their Parents in Port Huron
M.M. v. King. In 2024, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of a group of children and parents in Port Huron, Michigan who were unable to visit jailed family members because of the decision to end in-person visits at the jail.
Holding D.C. Police Accountable for Alleged Unlawful Arrest of a Mom and her Minor Daughter
Lewis v. District of Columbia. 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.
Challenging Pretrial Detention Practices in Maryland
Butler v. Prince George’s County. In 2022, CRC and partners filed a class action lawsuit challenging Prince George’s County’s pretrial detention practices. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that PG County and its officials violate Plaintiffs’ rights under the United States and Maryland Constitutions by detaining people pretrial without meeting the substantive and procedural standards required for pretrial detention.
Holding D.C. Police Accountable for Alleged Unlawful Seizure, Arrest, and Excessive Force
Millet v District of Columbia. In March of 2023, CRC brought suit on behalf of David Millet against the District of Columbia, Metropolitan Department Police Officer Peter Apollon, three John Doe Special Police Officers, Special Police Officer (SPO) Darrell Harris, Jr., and Security Assurance Management, Inc.
Holding D.C. Police Accountable for Alleged False Arrest, Assault, and Imprisonment of District Resident
Jackson v. District of Columbia. In 2023, we filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia and two Metropolitan Police Department Officers alleging that MPD officer seized and arrested Mr. Jackson without probable cause within seconds of approaching him on a sidewalk, assaulted him during the arrest, and then jailed Mr. Jackson for over 24 hours.
Challenging the Los Angeles Bail Schedule
Urquidi v. City of Los Angeles. CRC and co-counsel brought suit in California Superior Court in November 2022 on behalf of several individuals who had been jailed for five days simply because they could not access enough cash to pay for their freedom.
Accountability New York
Prosecutors are some of the most powerful lawyers and are only rarely held accountable for professional misconduct. In New York, journalists have documented dozens of court findings of prosecutorial misconduct with no consequence. The New York Times Editorial Board wrote in 2018, “there’s no reliable system for holding prosecutors accountable for their misconduct, and they certainly can’t be entrusted with policing themselves.”
COVID-19: Fighting for Release & Better Conditions for People Detained in Cook County Jail
Mays v. Dart. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., many of us protected ourselves by isolating in our homes. For the millions of people trapped in jails and prisons across the country, this was not an option.