Police officers, corrections staff, and government officials hold enormous power over the people they encounter. They are supposed to use that power to protect the public. When they instead use excessive force, make an arrest without legal justification, or abuse someone in their custody, they violate rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and they can be held accountable in court.
For many people, the harm goes beyond physical injury. Victims of police misconduct often face criminal charges they should never have faced, lost jobs, medical bills, and lasting fear of the very institutions meant to keep them safe. A civil rights lawsuit is one of the few tools that can provide compensation for those losses and force government agencies to answer for what happened.
Sam Martin represents people in Washington, DC and New York City whose civil rights were violated by those in power. A former federal law clerk and Stanford Law graduate, Sam takes on a limited number of cases so each client gets direct attention from the attorney handling their case. He knows how government defendants and their lawyers defend these claims, and he builds every case from the start to overcome those defenses.
Civil Rights Cases We Handle
Sam handles claims against police departments, jails, and government agencies, along with the individual officers and officials involved. Common cases include:
- Excessive force. Officers may use only the force that is reasonable under the circumstances. Beatings, chokeholds, unjustified Taser or weapon use, and force used on people who were already restrained or not resisting can all violate the Fourth Amendment.
- False arrest and false imprisonment. An arrest or detention requires probable cause. Being stopped, handcuffed, or held without a legal basis can support a claim, even if you were released without charges.
- Malicious prosecution. When officers or officials bring criminal charges without a legitimate basis, sometimes to cover up their own misconduct, and the case is later dropped or dismissed, you may be entitled to compensation.
- Sexual misconduct by officers or corrections staff. Both DC and New York law treat sexual contact between officers or corrections staff and the people in their custody as abuse. Sexual assault, coercion, and abuse by police or jail staff are serious civil rights violations.
- Abuse and neglect in jails and detention. Jails must keep the people they hold reasonably safe. Assaults by staff, failure to protect detainees from known dangers, and denial of necessary medical care can all give rise to claims.
- Unlawful searches and seizures. Searches of your person, car, or home generally require a warrant or a recognized legal exception. Illegal searches that cause injury, property damage, or a wrongful arrest can be challenged in court.
- Wrongful death. When a person dies because of police force or neglect in custody, their family may bring claims on their behalf and for their own losses.
How Civil Rights Claims Work
Most police misconduct cases are brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a federal law that lets people sue state and local officials who violate their constitutional rights. Depending on the facts, a case may also include claims under DC or New York law, such as assault, battery, or false imprisonment, and claims against the city or agency itself.
These cases come with defenses that ordinary injury cases don’t. Officers often raise qualified immunity, arguing that the law they broke was not clearly established. Holding a city or agency responsible usually requires showing that a policy, custom, or failure to train or supervise caused the violation. Building a strong case early, with body camera footage, dispatch records, use-of-force reports, and witness accounts, is critical.
Washington, DC also presents a unique challenge: many officers who patrol the city work for federal agencies rather than the Metropolitan Police Department. Claims against federal officers follow different rules and deadlines, so identifying exactly who was involved is one of the first steps in any case.
Deadlines are strict, and some are very short:
| Claim | Washington, DC | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Federal civil rights claim (§ 1983) | 3 years | 3 years |
| Notice to the government (state-law claims) | Written notice to the Mayor within 6 months | Notice of claim within 90 days |
| Lawsuit on state-law claims against the city | Depends on the claim; some are 1 year | 1 year and 90 days |
Missing a notice deadline can end a claim before it starts, so speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
What to Do After Police Misconduct
The steps you take in the days and weeks after an incident can protect your case:
- Get medical care. Treat your injuries and make sure they are documented, even if they seem minor. Medical records are often the strongest evidence of excessive force.
- Write down what happened. Record dates, times, locations, badge numbers, patrol car numbers, and the names of witnesses while your memory is fresh.
- Preserve evidence. Save photos of your injuries and damaged property, and keep any video you or bystanders recorded. Ask witnesses to hold on to their footage.
- Be careful what you say. Avoid discussing the incident on social media or giving statements to investigators before speaking with a lawyer, especially if criminal charges are pending.
- Talk to an attorney quickly. Notice deadlines can be as short as 90 days, and surveillance or body camera footage can be overwritten if no one requests it in time.
FAQs
Why Work With Sam Martin
Civil rights cases are hard-fought. Government defendants have significant resources, experienced lawyers, and every incentive to protect their officers. Sam brings the background to match: a Yale and Stanford Law education, clerkships with federal trial and appellate judges, and a track record of multimillion-dollar results for injured clients.
His time in the federal courts gives him a clear view of how judges evaluate civil rights claims and the defenses raised against them, including qualified immunity. He uses that perspective to build cases that are ready for litigation from day one.
You work directly with him, not a case manager. He also brings experience representing survivors of sexual abuse to cases involving misconduct by officers and corrections staff, handling these sensitive matters with discretion and care.
Ready to discuss your case? Call 202-509-0185 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.