Newdorf Legal wins unanimous jury verdict for City of Richmond in Taser lawsuit
April 26, 2015 by David Newdorf
Filed under News, What Clients Say
SAN FRANCISCO — A unanimous federal court jury cleared the City of Richmond and one of its police officers of wrongdoing in connection with the use of a Taser to make an arrest. The plaintiff, Andre Little, accused the officer of violating policies and using excessive force in a federal civil rights lawsuit. After a week-long trial, on March 31, 2015, the jury returned a 7-0 verdict in favor of the City and the officer.
Police arrested Mr. Little after he refused to move away from an area where there was an active police investigation. Evidence at the trial showed that Mr. Little physically resisted arrest and that the officer followed the Richmond Police Department’s policy and training. “After the verdict, jurors told the officer that he did nothing wrong,” said the City’s lead defense lawyer, David Newdorf.
Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus praises the jury’s verdict
Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus said he was pleased with the jury’s decision, adding that the officer demonstrated patience and handled a difficult situation “in exactly the way he was trained.”
“There are times when the judicious use of force is entirely appropriate and necessary, and this was one of those cases, so it’s gratifying to see that the jury agreed.” Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus
David Newdorf discusses police misconduct and civil rights lawsuits
Watch David Newdorf discuss police misconduct lawsuits in video interviews on vimeo.com and ReelLawyers.com.
About California Litigation Firm Newdorf Legal
David Newdorf is managing attorney of Newdorf Legal, which represents individuals, businesses and public entities in trials and appeals. The firm’s practice areas include business disputes, business torts/interference with contract, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, investment disputes, real estate, commercial landlord-tenant cases, municipal law and civil rights.
Mr. Newdorf worked previously as a trial lawyer and team leader in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office and was a litigation associate at a major international law firm. Mr. Newdorf has been listed each year since 2011 in Northern California Super Lawyers magazine, an honor reserved every year for no more than 5 percent of the State’s lawyers based on nomination by fellow lawyers and evaluation of professional reputation and achievement. In a more unusual accolade, Mr. Newdorf was named “Badass lawyer of the week” by The Recorder’s blog, LegalPad.
For all of your litigation questions, contact Newdorf Legal, a San Francisco business litigation law firm.