Among the many rights granted by the United States Constitution is the right to be protected against discrimination based on being a member of a protected class, including discrimination focused on race, gender, and sexual orientation. If the government violated your civil rights in any manner, an experienced civil rights attorney can help you pursue damages.
At Madia Law, we take pride in our record of protecting victims of civil rights violations. Our experienced team of civil rights lawyers in Minneapolis can help you file a claim and recover compensation. Reach out to us today by giving us a call or using our online contact form, and schedule your free case evaluation.
What Is Considered a Civil Rights Violation
A civil rights violation is any form of discrimination, threat, or violence against a member of a protected class based on their belonging to that class. At our firm, we focus on violations committed by those working in the government.
If your civil rights were violated by anyone working for a government agency, you could be entitled to recover compensation. Civil rights violations include discrimination, threats, or violence against anyone based on:
- Age
- Gender
- Sexual orientation
- Race
- Skin color
- National origin
- Religion
- Disability
This list is not exhaustive. If you believe you suffered a violation of your rights based on any personal characteristics about yourself, contact an experienced civil rights lawyer to learn more about your options for pursuing legal action.
For a legal consultation, call 612-349-2729
Discrimination Cases We Commonly Handle
At our firm, we represent victims of several types of civil rights violations. Most commonly, we take on cases involving violations committed by law enforcement, including cases involving:
- Profiling
- Brutality
- Shootings
Police Profiling
Unfortunately, racial profiling is an ongoing and pervasive problem with law enforcement agencies throughout the country. When a police officer harasses a person based on the color of their skin, their accent, or any clothing that denotes their religious beliefs, they have violated that person’s civil rights.
Profiling violations can occur at any time. Sometimes, they occur in the pursuit of a suspect for a crime, while other times, they are committed when no evidence of a crime even exists. If you feel you were harassed, detained, or even charged with a crime based on the fact that you belong to a protected class, a civil rights lawyer may be able to help you file a lawsuit.
Police Brutality
While the majority of law enforcement officers are hard-working and brave individuals who take their duty to protect and serve seriously, there are enough rotten eggs out there to make police brutality an all too common issue.
Officers who use excessive force and cause serious harm or even kill someone as a result must be held responsible for their actions. In addition to criminal proceedings against these officers, victims and their loved ones are also entitled to file civil lawsuits for damages incurred.
Unfortunately, these cases are often difficult to try in court as the line between excessive and necessary force can become blurred. However, an experienced attorney can help ensure you get the full amount your case is worth by collecting evidence, including video footage and eyewitness testimony, to prove that that line was crossed.
Police Shootings
Police shootings are another devastating problem that occurs far too often. If a police officer shot you or a loved one, you have the right to take legal action. While nothing can fix the loss of a loved one if the shooting resulted in a fatality, you may still need financial compensation to pay for funeral costs, the loss of income, and other financial burdens caused by their death.
In these cases, police officers tend to argue that they are protected because of “qualified immunity.” Qualified immunity is meant to protect officers performing the duties of their job from civil lawsuits that could otherwise arise from reasonable and understandable mistakes in judgment.
Instead, you must prove that the officer intentionally violated an established constitutional right. For shooting cases, this can mean firing on a person they knew didn’t pose a threat to themselves or others. If a shooting victim was restrained, had their hands up and empty, or had already been searched for a weapon, beating the qualified immunity defense is simple.
Be Careful to File Your Civil Rights Violation Lawsuit on Time
When attempting to recover compensation through a lawsuit after suffering a civil rights violation, it is critical to ensure you get all the correct paperwork filed on time. In Minnesota, civil rights violation victims generally have six years to file a lawsuit against the liable party.
If you fail to file all the necessary documents on time, you could be out of options for recovering compensation. Speaking to an experienced civil rights lawyer as soon as possible is the best way to ensure you are protected and secure a positive case result.
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Get Help from an Experienced Civil Rights Lawyer in Minneapolis Today
When attempting to recover compensation through a civil lawsuit after suffering a violation of your rights due to police misconduct, securing the services of an experienced civil rights attorney can be critical. At Madia Law, we can help you recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Contact us today by giving us a call or completing our online contact form and scheduling a free consultation with a member of our team.
Call 612-349-2729 or complete a Case Evaluation form
