We promise to fight for you and seek the justice you deserve, all while keeping your desire for privacy and understanding in mind. As proud Southaven residents serving Northern Mississippi and the Memphis metro area for over 22 years, we will give you with the representation, resources, skill, and compassion you need for your case.
Governmental Liability, Police Liability, Section 1983 Claims
Mississippi Civil Rights Lawyers
Under both Mississippi and Tennessee law, governmental entities (cities, counties, and state agencies) and their agents/employees are in large part protected from lawsuits based upon certain immunities provided to them by statute—more specifically the Mississippi and Tennessee Tort Claim Acts. However, there are certain exceptions to the general rule that must be thoroughly explored by an attorney that fully understands this area of the law.
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“My daughter and I had the pleasure of working with Matt Dalton and was thoroughly impressed by his professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for my daughter.”- Tymara D.
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“Stroud Law Firm is truly outstanding. They are highly professional, maintain excellent communication, and are always client-oriented. Throughout my experience, they kept me informed and made sure I understood every step of the process.”- Julia D.
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“The lawyers at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton represented my case with ease and great professionalism. I appreciated their integrity and would highly recommend this firm.”- Suzanne R.
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“I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Flechas for his exceptional handling of me and my families case. From the start, he showed compassion and professionalism, all while making sure we felt supported.”- Ricky B.
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“Attorney Philip Stroud and Paralegal Heather Zarlingo with Stroud, Flechas and Dalton navigated me through a traumatic time after a 19-year old boy hit me going through a red light at 60 miles per hour.”- Becka P.
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“Mr. Dalton was amazing. He made the whole process seamless. He carries himself with such confidence and was extremely kind. He always returned my calls and made sure I was aware of everything going on.”- Ashley R.
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“If your looking for a law firm that will bend over backwards for you, look no further. This law firm went to bat for my wife and I and knocked it out of the park. We were very satisfied with our settlement. Make sure you check out their website also.”- David J.
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“Cannot say enough good about Mr. Matt Dalton. His empathy, professionalism, and wit made the entire process seamless and as worry-free as one could be.”- Solemn W.
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“I'm very pleased with how Stroud, Flechas & Dalton handled my case. Their staff was friendly and helpful. My questions were answered patiently and in a timely manner, and my case was handled quickly.”- Whitney G.
Types of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Violations Handled by Stroud, Flechas & Dalton
At The Stroud, Flechas & Dalton, we have a strong reputation for aggressively pursuing civil rights claims on behalf of our injured clients against government agencies. We have handled numerous claims, such as:
- Police misconduct, including the use of excessive force by arresting officers, the death of an inmate in a Mississippi jail, inadequate suicide policies and procedures in jail facilities, inadequate “use of force” policies and procedures for jail facilities, unlawful arrest and detention of law-abiding citizens.
- Law enforcement’s abuse of power
- Wrongful or unlawful search and seizure
- Police excessive force claims
- Police K9 dog bite claims
- Jailor excessive force claims
- Improper use of TASER or other weapon—resulting in injury or death
- Section 1983 claims
- Failure to enact adequate suicide prevention policies
- Failure to provide medical care in jails or detention facilities
- False arrest and imprisonment of innocent citizens, including the use of excessive force, placing a citizen under false arrest, warrantless searches or arrests, assault upon a citizen, forcing a citizen to have sexual relations in return for not arresting them or not giving them a ticket, Violations of a citizen’s civil rights, engaging in fraud or theft, or an unlawful murder.
- High-speed police chases resulting in injury or death
- Jailor misconduct and sexual abuse of inmates
- School bus or government vehicle accidents
- Civil rights violations
What are Violations of the First Amendment?
The First Amendment guarantees the right to free expression, as well as the right to assemble peaceably. The First Amendment also guarantees certain religious freedoms as well as the right to petition. In 2015, a First Amendment case in the state of Mississippi was filed against the City of Jackson Police Department for ongoing, blatant violations of free speech rights, particularly those of pro-life advocates. In Ferguson, Missouri, citizens were told they could not stand still while peacefully protesting and could not stop walking for more than five seconds. Reporters were tear-gassed and jailed, and photographers were ordered to stop taking pictures—all blatant violations of the First Amendment.
What are Violations of the Fourth Amendment?
The Fourth Amendment guarantees freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, meaning law enforcement must have probable cause and a warrant to search your person or your belongings. There must be sufficient evidence to convince a reasonable person that a crime has been committed to obtain a warrant. Although the right to privacy is not specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, through the years, the Fourth Amendment and the Ninth Amendment have been interpreted as protecting privacy in certain situations.
What are Violations of the Eighth Amendment?
You are protected under the Eighth Amendment from excessive bail requirements, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment. As an example, in a 1962 California case (Robinson v. California), Robinson was arrested because a police officer thought he saw injection marks on Robinson’s arms. Robinson was subsequently jailed for 90 days—a sentence that was deemed to be a violation of Robinson’s Eighth Amendment right to freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. In 2015, a federal judge in Jackson, Mississippi, temporarily blocked the state from using two execution drugs because the prisoners claimed there was a high risk of excruciating pain from the drugs. The court found that such pain violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment.
What are Violations of the Fourteenth Amendment?
The Fourteenth Amendment addresses the rights of citizens and certain aspects of citizenship. “Equal protection of the laws” figures prominently in many landmark decisions, including Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, Bush v. Gore, and Reed. V. Reed. The Fourteenth Amendment expressly prohibits states from violating an individual’s rights of due process and equal protection.
How Stroud, Flechas & Dalton Can Help
If your civil rights or your civil liberties have been violated, or if you have been a victim of police misconduct, the highly experienced attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton can help. We represent those whose rights have been violated or who have been a victim of discrimination. We aggressively pursue justice for victims of police misconduct and are dedicated to helping our clients secure equitable damages for civil rights violations and civil liberties violations. Whether you are the victim of police brutality, a wrongful conviction, an unlawful arrest, an unlawful search and seizure, or you have suffered discrimination, contact Stroud, Flechas & Dalton.
