Case: Carraway v. Doe

1:17-cv-00137 | U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Filed Date: Jan. 20, 2017

Closed Date: 2017

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On Jan. 20, 2017, an individual who participated in a protest in Washington D.C., on President Trump's Inauguration Day, filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiff sued John Doe D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers, John Doe U.S. Park Police Officers, and the Interim Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, all in their individual capacities. Represented by private counsel, plaintiff sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Bivens for alleged violations of…

On Jan. 20, 2017, an individual who participated in a protest in Washington D.C., on President Trump's Inauguration Day, filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiff sued John Doe D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers, John Doe U.S. Park Police Officers, and the Interim Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, all in their individual capacities. Represented by private counsel, plaintiff sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Bivens for alleged violations of Fourth Amendment protections from false arrest and excessive force. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants used a "kettle" tactic to confine him and other demonstrators to a small area, and then deployed chemical irritants and flash-bang grenades against the members of the putative plaintiff class, as well as striking them with batons. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants then made numerous arrests without probable cause. The plaintiff sued on his own behalf and on behalf of a putative class, estimated to encompass at least thirty people, described as individuals who were subjected to the same police action as the plaintiff.

The plaintiff asked the court for declaratory, injunctive, and monetary relief. Specifically, the plaintiff asked the court to declare defendants' conduct unlawful, order the expungement of class-members' arrest records, and for compensatory and punitive damages.

On April 18, 2017, the plaintiff filed a motion to stay the case during the resolution of his criminal felony charges related to the incident in the District of Columbia Superior Court. On April 24, 2017, Senior Judge Richard J. Leon granted the plaintiff's motion.

On June 12, 2017, the plaintiff provided notice of voluntary dismissal of the case without prejudice.

As of Mar. 20, 2018, the case appears to be closed.

Summary Authors

Micah Telegen (2/10/2017)

Sean Mulloy (11/6/2017)

Elizabeth Greiter (3/20/2018)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4571847/parties/carraway-v-john-doe-mpd-officers/


Judge(s)

Leon, Richard J. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Light, Jeffrey Louis (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Leon, Richard J. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:17-cv-00137

Docket [PACER]

June 12, 2017

June 12, 2017

Docket
1

1:17-cv-00137

Complaint

Carraway v. John Doe MPD Officers

Jan. 20, 2017

Jan. 20, 2017

Complaint
5

1:17-cv-00137

Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice

Carraway v. John Doe

June 12, 2017

June 12, 2017

Notice Letter

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4571847/carraway-v-john-doe-mpd-officers/

Last updated April 3, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against JOHN DOE MPD OFFICERS, JOHN DOE PARK POLICE OFFICERS, PETER NEWSHAM with Jury Demand ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0090-4812875) filed by BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER CARRAWAY. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Light, Jeffrey) (Entered: 01/20/2017)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons

View on PACER

Jan. 20, 2017

Jan. 20, 2017

RECAP
2

SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to PETER NEWSHAM, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney General, Mayor of the District of Columbia, and Attorney General of the District of Columbia (Attachment: # 1 Consent Forms)(jd) (Entered: 01/23/2017)

Jan. 23, 2017

Jan. 23, 2017

PACER
3

STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 3/16/2017. (lcrjl3, ) (Entered: 03/16/2017)

March 16, 2017

March 16, 2017

PACER
4

MOTION to Stay by BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER CARRAWAY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Light, Jeffrey) (Entered: 04/18/2017)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

April 18, 2017

April 18, 2017

RECAP

Order on Motion to Stay

April 24, 2017

April 24, 2017

PACER

Order on Motion to Stay

April 24, 2017

April 24, 2017

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting 4 Motion to Stay. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 4/24/17. (lcrjl3, )

April 24, 2017

April 24, 2017

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting 4 Motion to Stay. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 4/24/17. (lcrjl3, )

April 24, 2017

April 24, 2017

PACER
5

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER CARRAWAY (Light, Jeffrey) (Entered: 06/12/2017)

June 12, 2017

June 12, 2017

PACER
5

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER CARRAWAY (Light, Jeffrey) (Entered: 06/12/2017)

June 12, 2017

June 12, 2017

PACER
5

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER CARRAWAY (Light, Jeffrey) (Entered: 06/12/2017)

June 12, 2017

June 12, 2017

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Policing

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 20, 2017

Closing Date: 2017

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A private citizen who participated in a protest in Washington, D.C., on the day of President Trump's inauguration.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Mooted before ruling

Defendants

D.C. Metropolitan Police (District of Columbia), Federal

Unidentified U.S. Park Police Officers, Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

Constitutional Clause(s):

Unreasonable search and seizure

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

Policing:

Excessive force

False arrest

Pepper/OC Spray (policing)