A recently filed class action lawsuit accuses District of Columbia police officers of intentionally running their squad cars into black motorcyclists, in order to then confiscate the bikes and sell them.
The main plaintiff in the case claims that the Metropolitan Police Department officers intentionally target mostly young, male, African American motorcyclists in poorer areas of the city, without regard for their lives, safety, or constitutional rights.
The suit further claims that the District of Columbia and MPD supervisors not only condone but also tacitly encourage this practice, in order to make money off of the bikes.
The class seeks to represent all young black motorcyclists riding small motorbikes or all terrain vehicles of 250 cubic centimeters or less. They estimate the class size to be in the hundreds, based upon the declarations submitted by victims.
The complaint alleges that riders abandon their bikes after being hit by MPD cruisers, in an attempt to flee. The bikes are then confiscated, and allegedly sold to create a revenue stream. The class claims the officers have caused bodily injuries, pain and suffering, disability, emotional distress and damage to their bikes, among other things. They seek class certification and $100 million in compensatory and punitive damages for alleged constitutional violations, negligence, assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
This is an incredibly nuanced claim of police misconduct. One of the facts that is not discussed is the reason why the young men abandon their bikes after having been hit. One possible explanation is that they have reasons beyond the collision to want to avoid police. Another potential reason could be that they were somewhat to blame for having caused the accident.
However, an alternative explanation based upon the suit is that the young men do not understand why they are targets of the cruisers, and they flee because they fear police brutality. Further discovery and correspondence during litigation and trial will reveal the full nature of the evidence and claims.
If the young motorcyclists are the unfair targets of these police collisions as they are alleging, then they could potentially be entitled to the redress they are seeking, which includes recovery for property damage, pain and suffering, and disability.
If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury due to someone else’s negligent actions, contact the knowledgeable attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers immediately. Our attorneys have extensive experience in working with individuals and families who have suffered as a result of the personal injury or wrongful death of a loved one. Our dedicated attorneys have represented families who have suffered from wrongful deaths caused by car accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability and other traumatic events. If you believe that your loved one died because of the wrongful or negligent actions of another, please contact the personal injury attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen by calling 1-800-654-1949 or by visiting our website, in order to schedule your initial free consultation.
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