Long Beach Police Misconduct Lawyer

Members of the public trust police officers to protect and serve. Unfortunately, some officers take advantage of their authority and victimize members of the public in various ways. If you believe you have been the victim of police misconduct of any kind, you need to speak with a Long Beach police misconduct lawyer as soon as possible.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Police Misconduct Cases in Long Beach, CA

California is notorious for having a high rate of police misconduct incidents that can take many forms. When police officers believe they are above the law, members of the public negatively affected by their misconduct have legal recourse, even if it seems daunting to file suit against a public officer. Greg Peacock Law has proven experience as a civil rights attorney and a Long Beach police misconduct lawyer and can help you pursue accountability.

When you hire Greg Peacock Law to represent you, you are investing in the services of a dedicated legal advocate who will help you build a compelling case against the police officer and/or department responsible for the harm you have suffered. Police misconduct occurs in various ways, and if you are unsure whether you have grounds to file a case, it is important to consult a seasoned attorney as soon as possible.

Types of Police Misconduct Cases We Handle in Long Beach

The team at Greg Peacock Law understands that you are likely to have lots of pressing legal questions about your police misconduct case that you will not be able to answer alone. Police misconduct occurs in many ways, and our team has successfully defended the rights of our clients in all types of cases. Some of the most common types of police misconduct cases we handle in Long Beach include:

• Police brutality. Police officers are sometimes required to use force when subduing suspects and arresting them. Police brutality occurs when they take this too far or when they deliberately injure someone who has already been subdued and/or arrested. Many police brutality cases arise from incidents that occur after a victim has already been arrested while in police custody.
• Wrongful arrest. A wrongful or false arrest occurs whenever a police officer arrests an individual without probable cause or without following the rules of due process. If you believe your arrest was wrongful, a Long Beach police misconduct lawyer can review the details of your arrest and determine whether any due process violations occurred. If so, this could be sufficient grounds to have a criminal case dismissed.
• Illegal search and seizure. The Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution protects against illegal search and seizure. In order for a police officer to conduct a search of private property or to seize private property, they must follow the applicable procedure, such as obtaining a search warrant. If you believe you are the victim of any illegal search and seizure, your attorney can help you determine your options for legal recourse.
• Police dog bite claims. Police officers often rely on K9 units for certain types of cases, and these trained dogs may bite and tackle fleeing suspects in some situations. However, if a police dog unexpectedly bites someone or attacks a bystander who is not related to any criminal investigation, this can form grounds for a civil suit against the police department responsible for the police dog.
• Civil rights violations, such as racial profiling. A police officer cannot simply conduct a search of an individual because of their race or personal appearance, nor can they arrest a person simply because they match the racial description of a suspect. Police must establish probable cause before conducting a search or making an arrest, and using an individual’s race as grounds to do either would constitute illegal racial profiling.
• Excessive force. It is sometimes necessary for a police officer to use physical or even lethal force in order to prevent harm to the public, themselves, or their fellow officers. However, police officers are carefully trained in the proper application of force and may not exceed these limitations. If a police officer uses excessive force and injures or kills a person, this can be grounds for a police misconduct case.

Whatever type of police misconduct you believe you have experienced, it is vital to understand the value of having an experienced Long Beach police misconduct lawyer representing you. Even if your situation seems desperate or hopeless, the right attorney can help you make clearer sense of your options for legal recourse and assist you in building a compelling case against the officer who harmed you.

Police Misconduct

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How Can You Take Legal Action Against a Police Officer in Long Beach?

If you believe you are the victim of any type of police misconduct, you have several options for resolving the situation. It is possible to file a complaint directly with the Long Beach Police Department or the Internal Affairs division in order to have your case investigated. However, it is unlikely that this type of complaint will accomplish much, aside from establishing a formal record that you filed a complaint.

Working with an experienced attorney will help you understand what your legal options are after experiencing police misconduct. Filing a formal complaint is important, but building a civil suit will be necessary if you intend to recover compensation for the damages you suffered and ensure the fullest accountability possible for the officer or department that mistreated you.

US Code Section 1983 pertains to cases filed in response to civil rights violations. This Code Section outlines the grounds on which a member of the public can file a claim against a government entity when their civil rights are violated by a public servant. Navigating any type of police misconduct case successfully in Long Beach will require meeting strict court filing deadlines and gathering substantial evidence to support your case.

Why You Need a Long Beach Police Misconduct Lawyer

Do not assume that you can handle filing a police misconduct case on your own without legal counsel. Even if you are certain that your rights have been violated in some way, you should expect to face a difficult series of legal proceedings in your efforts to ensure accountability for what you experienced. These cases are inherently complex, and you face a criminal justice system that is inherently biased toward defending police officers accused of misconduct.

Your Long Beach police misconduct lawyer can quickly assess the fundamental aspects of your case, identifying the evidence you need to prove the truth of the matter and hold the appropriate parties accountable for their actions. Your attorney will also be essential for collecting compensation for your damages. In a civil case pertaining to police misconduct, it is possible for an injured victim to claim several forms of compensation to repay their damages.

Compensation for Victims of Police Misconduct in Long Beach

Whether you are the victim of police brutality, an illegal search and seizure, a wrongful arrest, or a police dog bite, it is possible to claim various forms of compensation if you can prove that your experience was the direct result of any type of police misconduct. Greg Peacock Law has successfully represented many Long Beach clients in a wide range of police misconduct cases and will leverage this experience to help you pursue accountability and compensation.

The damages that could come into play in a police misconduct case may include:

• Medical expenses. If you were injured by excessive force, police brutality, or a police dog bite, you may be eligible to claim compensation for the cost of any medical care you needed to recover from your injuries. This could include the cost of any long-term medical care needed if you suffered severe injuries.
• Lost income. It is possible that the police misconduct you experienced resulted in your inability to work and earn income for an extended time, or you may have been injured severely enough that you are unable to work again in the future. Your attorney can help you hold the police department accountable for lost wages and lost future earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering. Experiencing police misconduct may have been physically painful, emotionally traumatic, and humiliating. Your attorney can help you claim compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced and depending on the severity of the incident and the scope of its effects, this could form the bulk of your total case award if you succeed with the case.
• Legal fees. It may not cost you anything to hire legal counsel for your police misconduct case. If your experience has forced you to hire legal representation and pursue accountability against a police officer and/or their department, it is possible to hold them accountable for your attorneys’ fees and other legal expenses incurred for pursuing the case.
• Punitive damages. These damages are awarded at the court’s discretion based on the specific details of the case. As the name implies, punitive damages are meant to punish wrongdoing, not to repay a loss. The amount of punitive damages a plaintiff receives will generally depend on the severity of the police misconduct they suffered.

In every case we accept, Greg Peacock Law aims for maximum accountability and maximum compensation for our client’s damages. Even if you are unable to claim compensation for attorneys’ fees in your case, our representation is still affordable and accessible due to our contingency fee billing policy. This means you do not pay upfront fees, and we will only charge a percentage of your final case award if and when we win your case.

Building Your Police Misconduct Case in Long Beach

One issue that often arises and causes members of the public to believe they have no legal recourse against police misconduct is the concept of “Qualified Immunity.” This legal standard exists to provide protection for police officers, rendering them immune to civil liability for damages unless they have clearly broken an established law. This does not, however, mean that the police are entirely insulated from legal recourse when they harm members of the public.

In order to proceed with a police misconduct case in Long Beach, the plaintiff and their attorney must be able to point to an existing case with similar details to the plaintiff’s case. Your Long Beach police misconduct lawyer will be essential for pointing out the legal precedent for your case, identifying the laws that the defendant broke, and helping you ensure accountability for the harm you suffered.

In addition to establishing a legal precedent for your case, your attorney will also help you gather evidence that shows the full scope of the damages you suffered and proof that those damages directly resulted from the police misconduct you experienced. You may have some idea of the damages you have incurred and may claim from the defendant, but a seasoned attorney may uncover forms of compensation you did not realize you could claim.

Filing a civil suit against a police officer or police department is very different from filing a standard personal injury claim against another private party. You face a strict filing deadline with the court and various other obstacles that you would have difficulty overcoming on your own. Your Long Beach police misconduct lawyer will help you build the foundation of your case and prepare you for the difficult legal proceedings ahead of you.

Reach Out to a Skilled Legal Representative in Long Beach Today

You have a short time to build your police misconduct case, and the sooner you consult with an attorney, the more flexibility they will have in building the framework of your case. Greg Peacock Law has the resources and proven experience you want on your side when you must confront the police for their failure to uphold their duties under the law.

During your initial consultation with our team, we will listen to your story and help you understand the legal options available to you. If we believe you have grounds for a case, we will explain the legal services we can provide that can help you successfully ensure accountability for the harm you have suffered. Contact Greg Peacock Law today to schedule your consultation with a Long Beach police misconduct lawyer you can trust.