cases in the press
Press Releases
Malicious Prosecution by Denver Police
Articles related to recent cases
Brady Mistic v Nicholas Hanning and Ellie Summers
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Description: Excessive force, wrongful imprisonment
Brady Mistic, deaf Colorado man beaten and arrested by police, takes legal action (R1News, Oct. 7, 2021)
Cops Misinterpret A Deaf Man, Authorities Knocked Him Down To The Ground And Repeatedly Tasered (South Kansas Sun, Oct. 6, 2021)
Police pointed guns at me twice. Lack of diversity training wasn’t the problem (Fox News, Oct. 5, 2021)
Cops Tase a Deaf Man For Not Listening (Progressive Hub, Oct. 5, 2021)
Deaf American Man Drags Police to Court for Jailing Him, Says he didn’t Hear Them (Legit, Oct. 5, 2021)
Colorado: Deaf man arrested and jailed for 4 months after he couldn’t hear police commands (Yahoo News, Oct. 4, 2021)
Deaf Idaho man who couldn’t hear police commands was tased and spent 4 months in prison (Upworthy, Oct. 1, 2021)
Deaf Man Arrested, Jailed For 4 Months After He Couldn’t Hear Police Commands: Lawsuit (Yahoo News, Oct. 1, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man who couldn’t hear police commands says he was tased, spent 4 months in jail (Spot on Colorado, Oct. 1, 2021)
Colorado Man, Who Is Deaf, Sues Police Over Violent Arrest After He Was Unresponsive To Commands During Traffic Stop (Oxygen, Oct. 1, 2021)
Deaf man sues after he says he was tased, spent months in jail for not following police commands (Fox 4 KC, Oct. 1, 2021)
More details in Brady Mistic police brutality case (Daily Moth, Oct. 1, 2021)
Deaf Man Arrested, Jailed For 4 Months After He Couldn’t Hear Police Commands: Lawsuit (Huffpost, Oct. 1, 2021)
Deaf man slammed to ground, tased after he couldn’t hear police, Colorado suit says (The Sacramento Bee, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf man sues two Idaho Springs officers after 2019 arrest (KRDO, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man who couldn’t hear police commands says he was tased, spent 4 months in jail (WPSD Local, Sept 30, 2021)
Cops Assault Deaf Motorist Who Couldn’t Understand (The Young Turks, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf man suing Colorado police department for civil rights violation (NBC News Now, Sept. 30, 2021)
Lawsuit: Idaho Springs, CO, Police Abused and Tased Deaf Man (Legal Reader, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf man says two cops attacked him for not complying with police commands he couldn’t understand (vt, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf man slammed to ground, tased after he couldn’t hear police, Colorado suit says (News Observer, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf man was beaten by cops because he could not understand them, lawsuit says (Times News Network, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf Man Claims Police Attacked Him After He Couldn’t Understand Their Verbal Orders (iheartintelligence, Sept. 30, 2021)
Colorado hearing-impaired Brady Mystic is beaten and arrested by police (New York Latest News, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf Man Beaten By Cops, Jailed Because He Could Not Understand Them: Lawsuit (International Business Times, Sept. 30, 2021)
‘No ears’: Man tells cops he can’t hear, and they use Taser and slam him on ground, suit says (Daily Kos, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man who couldn’t hear police commands says he was tased, spent 4 months in jail (CNN, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man arrested for not complying with police commands he couldn’t understand, lawsuit says (Today, Sept 30, 2021)
Deaf Colorado Man Says He Was Arrested After Not Obeying Police Commands He Couldn’t Hear: Lawsuit (People, Sept. 30, 2021)
Idaho Springs cops face another Taser lawsuit after using weapon on deaf man (KDVR, Sept. 30, 2021)
Deaf Colorado Man Jailed for Failing to Obey Police Commands He Couldn’t Hear, Lawsuit Alleges (NECN, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf Colorado Man Jailed for Failing to Obey Police Commands He Couldn’t Hear, Lawsuit Alleges (NBC Philadelphia, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man who couldn’t hear police commands says he was tased, spent 4 months in jail (KMOV4, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man Brady Mistic beaten and arrested by police files lawsuit (X99 News, Sept. 29, 2021)
Former Idaho Springs Police Officer Nicholas Hanning Faces Civil Lawsuit For Separate Controversial Arrest (CBS Denver, Sept. 29, 2021)
Colorado police tasered a deaf man after he didn’t follow the instructions he couldn’t hear (Insider, Sept. 29, 2021)
Colorado police sued over arrest of deaf man (KYMA, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf Colorado Man Brutal Arrest Trial Nicholas Hanning Brady Mistic (MCU Times, Sept. 29, 2021)
Who is Brady Mistic?(Outrageous moment deaf Colorado man is slammed to the ground, tasered twice for running a stop sign and then jailed for four months for ‘resisting arrest’ ) (Citigist, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man tased for not complying with verbal police commands, lawsuit says (Revolt, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf man sues Idaho Springs police for unreasonable force during arrest (The Denver Channel, Sept. 29, 2021)
Idaho Police Sued for Wrongfully Arresting and Assaulting Deaf Man Who Didn’t ‘Comply’ With Their Verbal Commands (Diversity Inc., Sept. 29, 2021)
Colorado man Brady Mistic was beaten and arrested by law enforcement officers (Belgium News, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf Colorado Man Jailed for Failing to Obey Police Commands He Couldn’t Hear, Lawsuit Alleges (NBCDFW, Sept. 29, 2021)
Police officers sued by deaf Colorado man who couldn’t get their commands (News.ru, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man Brady Mistic beaten and arrested by cops files lawsuit (News Chant, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf man sues police in Colorado over alleged excessive use of force (BBC, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man Brady Mistic beaten and arrested by cops files lawsuit (Sports Grind Entertainment, Sept. 29, 2021)
Brady Mistic, a Deaf Man From Colorado, Sues Police for Tasering Him and Putting Him in Jail for 4 Months When He Couldn’t Understand Them (Breaking Daily News, Sept. 29, 2021)
Outrageous moment deaf Colorado man is slammed to the ground, tasered twice for running a stop sign and then jailed for four months for ‘resisting arrest’ – because he couldn’t hear what cops were saying (Daily Mail, Sept. 29, 2021)
Idaho Springs Police Tased and Tackled Deaf Man, Lawsuit Says (Vice, Sept. 29, 2021)
Two Cops Being Sued Over Tasing of Elderly Man Face New Lawsuit for Arrest of Deaf Man Who Couldn’t Understand Their Commands (Law and Crime, Sept. 29, 2021)
A Deaf Man Who Couldn’t Hear Police Commands Was Tased And Spent 4 Months In Jail (NPR, Sept 29, 2021)
Deaf man sues police he claims tasered him for not complying with commands he couldn’t hear (Independent, Sept. 29, 2021)
Police arrested a man who didn’t comply with their commands. That’s because he is deaf, a new lawsuit says. (Washington Post, Sept. 29, 2021)
Deaf man was beaten by cops because he could not understand them, lawsuit says (NYPost, Sept. 29, 2021)
A deaf man who claims he was tased during arrest says he didn’t comply because he couldn’t understand officers. Now he’s suing. (CBS News, Sept. 29, 2021)
Bodycam shows moments a man who is deaf was arrested by Idaho Springs police officers (NBC News, Sept. 28, 2021)
Colorado cops slammed deaf man to the ground for not complying with their verbal commands: lawsuit (Rawstory, Sept. 28, 2021)
Body cam footage shows Idaho Springs police officers deploying stun gun on deaf man in 2019 arrest (Clear Creek Courant, Sept. 28, 2021)
Deaf Colorado man arrested for not complying with police commands he couldn’t understand, lawsuit says (NBC News, Sept. 28, 2021)
Claim: Notorious Cop Broke His Own Leg While Abusing a Deaf Man (Westword, Sept. 28, 2021)
Deaf man sues after police officers arrested him for not complying with commands he couldn’t hear (USA Today, Sept 28, 2021)
RAW: Officer explains why man who is deaf was arrested following traffic stop (9News, Sept. 27, 2021)
Former Idaho Springs officer faces lawsuit for 2019 arrest of deaf man (9 News, Sept. 27, 2021)
RAW: Body camera footage shows arrest of man who is deaf (9 News, Sept. 27, 2021)
Former Idaho Springs officer faces lawsuit for 2019 arrest of deaf man (MSN, Sept. 26, 2021)
Deaf man files lawsuit against Idaho Springs police, county jail for 2019 arrest (Colorado Sun, Sept. 26, 2021)
Deaf man files civil suit against Idaho Springs police, county jail for 2019 arrest (Clear Creek Courant, Sept. 24, 2021)
Response to Civil Filing (City of Idaho Springs, Sept. 17, 2021)
Estate of Sean Billinger v. Helbig, et al.
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Description: Excessive force, wrongful death
Jenson v. Percichetti, et al.
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Description: Excessive force, wrongful death
Lawsuit filed in shooting of off-duty Adams County deputy 2 years after death (Fox 31 Denver, January 18, 2021)
Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Widow Sues LaSalle Police Over Killing Of Deputy Jesse Jenson (CBSN Denver, January 18, 2021)
Lawsuit filed against LaSalle police officer who shot dead an Adams County deputy (Denver Post, January 18, 2021)
Widow of off-duty deputy killed by LaSalle officer in 2019 shooting files lawsuit against officer, town (Greeley Tribune, January 17, 2021)
Medina v. Samuels, et al.
Practice Area: Medical indifference
Description: Failure to provide a prisoner proper medical care
Federal court greenlights lawsuit against corrections employees for death of Denver inmate (Colorado Politics, December 24, 2020)
Timmy Henley v. Westminster
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Description: Excessive force, wrongful death
Lawsuit claims Westminster Police used false narrative to justify shooting (The Denver Channel, January 8, 2020)
Henley’s family sues Colorado officers who killed him (The Ceres Courier, January 8, 2020)
Westminster police said they killed a man because he charged them with a knife. A new lawsuit says that scenario is impossible. (Denver Post, January 6, 2020)
Martinez v. Janneiahn (Lafayette PD)
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Description: K-9 Excessive force
Lafayette police used K9 to attack unconscious man in his underwear, lawsuit says (Denver Post, November 21, 2019)
Brown v. McDermott (Aurora Police dept.)
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Description: Unlawful stop, search and detention
Black Couple Sues Colorado Police for Illegal Search (The North Star, April 21, 2019)
Young black couple sues Aurora police after broken tail light leads to frisks, car search (The Durango Herald, April 16, 2019)
Lazzaro v. Garcia (Buena Vista Police dept.)
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Unlawful detention, excessive force
BVPD officer sued for rights violations had previous allegation with Salida PD (The Chaffee County Times, Jul 18, 2019)
Buena Vista Police officer sued over domestic call (The Chaffee County Times, )
BV policeman faces lawsuit for allegedly violating man’s rights (The Mountain Mail, July 11, 2019)
Estate of Justin Stieb v. Johnson, et al (Delta County Sheriff’s Dept.)
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Settled
Description: Deliberate indifference to inmate medical needs
Justin Stieb: Video Contradicts Official Version of Delta Jail Death (Westword, August 8, 2017)
Lawsuit: Inmate Denied Meds, Had 200 Seizures in Douglas County Jail (Westword, October 10, 2017)
Delta inmate found dead (Montrose Press, August 18, 2014)
Watlington v. Browne (Colorado Springs Police dept.)
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Excessive force
Colorado Springs cops looking for older white suspect set police dog on young black man, lawsuit say (The Denver Post, December 13, 2017)
Lawsuit accuses Colorado Springs K-9 officer of allowing police dog’s ‘unjustified’ attack (The Gazette, December 13, 2017)
Woodfork v. Wilson, et al (Adams County Police and Sheriff’s Dept.)
Practice Area: Constitutional Rights/Police Misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: First Amendment retaliation/excessive force
A Denver Area Man Gave A Cop The Finger, So The Cop Snapped It In Half, According To Lawsuit (Inquisitr, December 16, 2017)
Suburban Denver deputy snaps man’s middle finger after he flipped lawman off, lawsuit says (The Denver Post, December 13, 2017)
Lawsuit: Officer breaks finger of suspect who flipped him off (9News, December 13, 2017)
Lawsuit: Man’s finger broken for flipping Adams County deputy off (Denver Channel 7, December 13, 2017)
Lawsuit claims man’s middle finger broken after flipping off Adams County deputy (Denver Fox 31 News, December 13, 2017)
Anthony Martinez v. Backer, et al (southern ute police dept.)
Practice Area: Police misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Police shooting/excessive force
Trial underway for man shot by S. Ute police (The Durango Herald, July 21, 2013)
Valenzuela v. Coleman, et al (denver police dept.)
Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Wrongful arrest
Man arrested for forgery at DIA may sue officer involved, judge rules (Colorado Politics, October 21, 2020)
Prison guard suing DIA cops who concluded laundry-damaged driver’s license was fake, arrested him (The Denver Post, February 14, 2018)
Hinman v. Joyce (denver police dept.)
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Wrongful detention and wrongful prosecution
Denver Settles Gunman Case For $122,500 (CBS Denver Channel 4, May 23, 2017)
Denver settles gunman case for $122,500 (The Gazette, May 23, 2017)
Denver settles trumped-up hitman case for $122,500 (The Denver Post, May 22, 2017 )
Randall v. Clark, et al. (denver police dept.)
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Wrongful arrest
Denver council asked to approve $47,000 payment to settle lawsuit against police officers (The Denver Post, April 10, 2017)
Denver will pay $47,500 to settle a case of mistaken identity for which three police officers were disciplined (Denverite, April 10, 2017)
Reilly v. Johnson, et al. (elbert county sheriff)
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Wrongful arrest / Excessive force
Grandmother claims deputies jailed her for stealing own truck; alleges civil rights violations (Denver Channel 7, November 2, 2016)
Valverde v. Denver (police dept.)
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Wrongful shooting / wrongful death
Joseph Valverde Killed by Cop While Trying to Surrender, Attorney Says (Westword, August 9, 2016)
Video: Denver Police named in excessive force lawsuit over deadly shooting (Denver Channel 7, July 25, 2016)
Family of man fatally shot during drug sting sues Denver (The Denver Post, July 26, 2016)
Hoglund v. Denver (sheriff dept.)
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled after officers were disciplined.
Description: Excessive Force / Deprivation of Bodily Integrity
Lawsuit claims Denver Sheriff Department condoned hazing ritual (The Denver Post, May 12, 2016)
Montoya v. Newman, et al (huerfano county jail
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Indifference to Medical Necessity
County settles lawsuit for $200K (World Journal Huerfano, August 6, 2015)
Robinson v. City and County of Denver
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Mistaken Identity Arrest
Jailed 12 days, man proves his mistaken arrest by dropping pants in court; $88K settlement proposed (ABA Journal, January 6, 2015)
Denver set to settle another lawsuit over a mistaken arrest (The Denver Post, January 5, 2015 )
Lucero v. Putnam, et al. (Denver Police Dept.)
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Unlawful arrest, Excessive Force and First Amendment retaliation
Councilwoman Says Denver Can Live With Latest Settlement Involving Police Force (CBS Denver Channel 4, May 3, 2015)
Denver’s excessive force payouts twice as much as Baltimore’s (The Colorado Independent, May 1, 2015)
Denver to pay $50K to woman slammed into wall by cop (Colorado Public Radio, March 3, 2015)
Patricia Lucero Gets $50K After Being Bloodied by Cop Who Wasn’t Disciplined (Westword, March 3, 2015)
Denver to pay $50K to woman slammed into wall by cop (Albuquerque Journal, March 3, 2015)
Federal civil rights lawsuit filed against Denver Police officers (The Denver Post, August 26, 2014)
Woman Claims Excessive Force In Lawsuit Against Denver Police Officers (CBS Denver Channel 4, August 27, 2014)
Independent Police Monitor, Chief Disagree On Force Case (CBS Denver Channel 4, March 13, 2014)
Olive v. Schnurr, Douglas County
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Date: Feb 21, 2014
Outcome: Jury verdict, won
Description: A woman reported to police and the media that she had observed a father give his child margarita from a straw at a public restaurant in the Denver Metro Area. Police officers harassed and then arrested the man. A seven-member jury found that the accusations were false and that the man and his family were entitled to significant damages.
Denver police officer wins defamation lawsuit against woman who said he gave alcohol to toddler (Fox News 31 Denver, Mar 7, 2014)
Denver police officer, wife face charges after witness says they gave toddler sips of booze (The Denver Post, August 30, 2011)
Scarlet Ranch v. Steele, et al. (denver police dept.)
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive Force and Destruction of Evidence
Sex Club Files Suit Against DPD (CBS Denver Channel 4, September 29, 2011)
Lawsuit Threatened Over Taped DPD Takedown (CBS Denver Channel 4, February 8, 2011)
Lunn v. Sellers, et al. (denver police dept.)
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive Force, First Amendment Retaliation
Police brutality: Independent monitor says choke holding Denver cop deserved to be fired (Westword, May 6, 2011)
Denver to pay $80,000 to settle 2 police excessive-force lawsuit (The Denver Post, June 14, 2011)
Hudson v. Marks, et al.
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive Force, Malicious Prosecution
Heaney v. Cordova, et al.
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled while on appeal
Description: Excessive Force, Conspiracy, Malicious Prosecution
Federal jury sides with Denver cops in Rockies opening day arrest brutality case (Denver Post, May 2, 2012)
Did One Denver Police Officer Go Too Far? (5280, September 18, 2009)
Bicyclist sues Denver police over alleged beating (Denver Post, April 6, 2009)
Police consultant: ‘No justification for head slam’ (9News, August 12, 2008)
Videotape shows man beaten by Denver Police (9News, August 12, 2008)
DA drops case against man in clash with cops (Denver Post, August 11, 2008)
Doty v. Jasper, et al.
Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled while on appeal
Description: Deliberate Indifference to Medical Necessity
