Court: lie detector test may be admissible

Posted in Civil Rights,Criminal Law,Latest News on February 16, 2016

Is it true that lie detector tests are not admissible evidence? The prevailing rule is that results of a polygraph are not admissible on the issue of credibility. Such a rule would jeopardize a suspects civil rights and presumption of innocence if the jury placed too much emphasis on the test results, which are subject… read more…

5 Things Victims of Excessive Force Should Do

Posted in Civil Rights,Excessive Force,Jails and Prisons,Latest News,Negligence on February 15, 2016

If you’re the victim of excessive force, and you want to hold the person responsible for your injuries accountable for their actions, here’s a list of five things you should do immediately afterwards:  Get immediate medical attention for your injuries Before doing anything, the victim of excessive force should have their injuries evaluated by a… read more…

Court: police responsible for excessive force under Okla. constitution

Posted in Civil Rights,Excessive Force on February 12, 2016

A federal judge in Oklahoma City has concluded that a police officer can be individually liable for excessive force under the Oklahoma state constitution for actions taken outside the scope of their employment. Police brutality, depending on the degree and circumstances, may not fall within a police officer’s job duties. Consequently, a municipal employer of… read more…

Police not entitled to last word in wrongful death cases

Posted in Civil Rights,Excessive Force on February 11, 2016

In wrongful death cases where police kill the only witness who could contradict their version of events, is the court required to accept the testimony of the police? The issue is not uncommon in excessive force cases that result in the death of the only person involved in the police-citizen encounter. But witness testimony is not the only evidence available… read more…

Defamation: is your reputation protected by the constitution?

Posted in Civil Rights on February 1, 2016

If the government publicizes false information about you or your business, do you have any recourse under the constitution? Is it defamation? The theory boils down to this: because a false or defamatory comment can harm the good name and reputation of a business (especially when uttered by the government), there must be some measure of due… read more…