Colorado Police Misconduct Legal Questions

There are several ways to handle injustices by the cops or other government employees. You might consider filing an internal complaint with the Police Department. The idea is that the Department would then investigate what happened. This has the advantage of being free. You could file a civil rights lawsuit. These lawsuits are possible, but difficult. For state law claims related to injuries, there are short timelines and limits on what you can file. There may also be federal claims under Section 1983. These claims hold government officials accountable for unconstitutional behavior. They take careful analysis and are also difficult to move forward, because the law favors the government. However, most of the successful cases against cops are this type of case. They are usually contingency cases, meaning that you don't pay attorney fees up front, and the attorney doesn't get anything unless you win. But there are also significant costs to running the case, and the client may need to pay those. Basically, a civil rights lawyer would gather and analyze the information you have and help you decide if there is a case, and also if it's a case the lawyer is willing to take (which is not always the same thing).... Read More