On August 4, 2014, a 57-year-old disabled African-American woman and her 37-year-old son who lives with her filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiffs sued the District of Columbia under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The plaintiffs, represented by Equal Justice Under the Law, asked the court for compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. The plaintiffs claimed that they were subjected to a baseless, illegal and embarrassing home raid conducted by Metropolitan Police Department ("MPD") officers. Specifically, the plaintiffs claimed that the police obtained a warrant to search their home based only on the fact that another family member had been found with an illegal gun, yet there was no evidence connecting them or their home to any illegal activity. The plaintiffs further alleged that the raid was a violation of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

The raid happened on March 26, 2013. That day, the plaintiffs were at home when, without warning, at least ten heavily armed officers from the MPD broke down the front door. The officers forcibly handcuffed the female plaintiff, who had difficulty moving around without her cane, and stripped searched her son in front of his family. No guns, ammunition, or other contraband were found during the defendants' violent home invasion of the plaintiffs' residence.

On September 16, 2014 the District of Columbia moved to dismiss the complaint claiming that the plaintiffs had failed to state a claim for which they could receive relief from the court.

On January 27, 2015, the plaintiffs filed a motion to compel, which was denied the next day, without prejudice, because it was unclear whether the plaintiffs complied with a rule requiring that they confer with opposing counsel.

On April 28, 2015, the plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint, and on May 24, 2015 filled an amended complaint, naming the individual police officers involved in the violent raid.

On March 31, 2016, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya S. Chutkan issued an order granting the defendant's motion to dismiss in part, and on April 5, 2016, Judge Chutkan ordered the defendant to respond to the plaintiffs' amended complaint. Judge Chutkan found, however, that if the complaint's allegations were true the search warrant application did not make out probable cause to search the plaintiff's home. Judge Chutkan noted that the District's contention that officers could search whoever they found in any home search at any time and without any evidence about the person "ludicrous on its face." 177 F.Supp.3d 347

The parties were then ordered to conduct discovery, which was to end on December 23, 2016, however, there was a joint motion filed in September 2016 to stay discovery; this motion was granted by the Court.

In a November 21, 2016 status report, the parties indicated that they were still in negotiations, and asked the Court to continue the stay for 30 more days.

On February 21, 2017 the parties submitted a joint status report indicating the parties agreed to settle the case. Subsequently, on April 24, 2017 the parties submitted a joint stipulation of dismissal having reached a private settlement agreement. On April 25, 2017 the Court dismissed the case with prejudice, and the case is presumably closed.

Brian Dressel - 02/15/2015
Saeeda Joseph-Charles - 12/22/2016
Will McCartney - 03/25/2018


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