First Law Enforcement Civil Jury Defense Verdict Since the Pandemic
FDAR attorneys Angelica Jarmusz and Daniel Downey recently secured a unanimous jury verdict in favor of Brown County Officers in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The case arose when Brown County Corrections Officer Schadle discovered inmate Zachary Goldson dead in his cell, hanging from a bed sheet. Prior to his death, Goldson had intentionally swallowed potentially dangerous items requiring medical attention on three separate occasions. On October 4, 2013, Goldson was transported to the hospital to address his complaints of stomach pains from the swallowed items. Goldson was discharged from the hospital in the early morning hours of October 5, 2013 and attempted to escape custody, assaulting the transporting deputy in the process. Officers from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and Georgetown Police Department responded to the hospital and re-secured Goldson, who was then [...]
FDAR Attorneys Prevail in Federal Jury Trial
FDAR attorneys, Daniel Downey and Angelica Jarmusz, secured a defense verdict in federal court in the United States Southern District of Ohio following a three-day jury trial. The jury found that the Licking County Sheriff’s deputies represented by FDAR did not violate the Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. The case stemmed from events that took place on April 15, 2016, when deputies from the Licking County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a possible overdose. After the individual was cleared, the deputies left the scene. About five minutes later, the deputies were dispatched back to the residence to respond to a domestic situation regarding an individual who was acting disorderly. Upon arrival, deputies investigated the scene and spoke with the individual who became belligerent and began cursing at the officers. While deputies were assessing the situation, the deputies determined that the [...]
FDAR Attorneys Secure Defense Verdict in Federal Court
FDAR attorneys, Daniel Downey and Melanie Williamson secured a defense verdict in federal court in the United States Northern District of Ohio for a deputy sheriff involved in a fatal officer-involved shooting. The jury found that the Richland County Sheriff’s deputy represented by FDAR did not violate the Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. This case stemmed from the Richland County Sheriff’s Office response to a 911 call on the evening of March 16, 2014. On this date, the decedent physically attacked his wife and mother. He fled law enforcement evading arrest only to appear at the home of his parents brandishing an object he claimed was a firearm. The decedent pointed what appeared to be a gun from under his shirt directly at the responding deputies. The deputies engaged with the decedent trying to get him to calm down and surrender his [...]
FDAR Attorneys Prevail in Federal Jury Trial
FDAR attorneys, Daniel Downey and Melanie Williamson, secured a defense verdict in federal court in the United States Southern District of Ohio following a six-day jury trial. The jury found that the Delaware County Sheriff’s deputies represented by FDAR did not violate the Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. The case stemmed from events that took place on September 30, 2015 when deputies from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call alleging death threats had been made by one neighbor against another. After investigating, the deputies determined that there was probable cause to charge the individual involved; however, the individual was no longer at the scene. Further complicating the situation, this individual had made prior threats toward law enforcement and was a CCW holder. When a deputy engaged this individual to effectuate an arrest his lawful commands were ignored and the [...]
FDAR Attorneys Win Jury Trial in U.S. District Court
Congratulations to FDAR attorneys Daniel T. Downey and Melanie J. Williamson who recently won a jury trial in United States District Court in the Southern District of Ohio on behalf of two Butler County Sheriff’s Corrections Officers. Corey Williams v. Derrick Collins, et al., 1:15-cv-00337 (S.D. Ohio Aug. 17, 2017). Plaintiff, while in the process of being released from jail on an OR bond, began arguing and acting belligerently towards corrections staff. Plaintiff’s release from jail was temporarily halted and he was placed back in a holding cell to cool down. Plaintiff returned to the holding cell and took some of his release paperwork with him. Officers attempted to retrieve this paperwork from Plaintiff. Plaintiff repeatedly defied commands from officers to return the paperwork. Instead, Plaintiff aggressively lunged at one of the officers with a closed fist. The officer used [...]