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civil rights

A Kansas Highway Patrol retro patrol car is parked outside their headquarters
Nov 22, 2023

Federal judge grants injunction banning ‘Kansas Two-Step’ Highway Patrol tactic

The Kansas Highway Patrol must stop using a tactic known as the “Kansas Two-Step” to detain out-of-state drivers long enough to find a reason to search their vehicles for illegal drugs, a federal judge has ruled.

The Eagleton Federal Courthouse
Sep 8, 2023

8th Circuit sides with cop in alleged 1st Amendment retaliation case

The appeals court sided with a police officer accused of arresting a man as retaliation for using his First Amendment right to free speech.

The Thomas Eagleton Federal Courthouse
Sep 1, 2023

St. Louis must pay for violating due process in towed vehicle case

Both the City of St. Louis and a woman who sued the municipality for the seizure of her truck saw their appeals fail in front of the 8th Circuit.

Charles Murrell fends off a marcher from a group bearing insignias of the white supremacist group Patriot Front on July 2, 2022, in Boston.
Aug 8, 2023

Boston man files lawsuit seeking to bankrupt white supremacist group he says assaulted him

A Black teacher and musician who says members of a white nationalist hate group punched, kicked and beat him with metal shields during a march through Boston last year has sued the organization.

Symbol of law and justice in the empty courtroom, law and justice concept.
Jun 15, 2023

Jury finds for student who alleged abuse by teacher

Jackson County jurors awarded $950,000 to a seventh grader who claimed she was fondled by an adult after class at her middle school.

Amazon Echo and Echo Plus devices, behind, sit near illuminated Echo Button devices
Jun 2, 2023

Amazon to pay $31M in privacy violation penalties for Alexa and Ring camera

Amazon agreed Wednesday to pay civil penalty to settle FTC allegations it violated a child privacy law and deceived parents by keeping for years kids' voice and location data recorded by its popular Alexa voice assistant.

May 16, 2023

Former Missouri police officer accused of handcuffing man, allowing officer’s brother to beat him

A former suburban St. Louis police officer is accused of handcuffing a man so the officer’s brother could beat him.

May 12, 2023

Federal lawsuit filed over fatal 2022 police shooting of Kansas City-area suspect

The family of a man killed by police officers in Independence filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit Thursday, accusing the officers of shooting the man without justification.

court gavel on $100 bills
May 12, 2023

Missouri attorney wins large verdict for L.A. school’s abuse

In a case handled in part by a Missouri-licensed attorney who also practices in California, a Los Angeles County jury delivered a $45 million verdict to the family of special needs twins who sued over a classroom aide’s repeated use of hand sanitizer on open cuts to “inflict pain and obtain behavioral compliance,” according to the lawsuit.

Close up of several volumes of law books of codes and statutes on consumer protection
May 8, 2023

Man’s suicide in jail draws settlement with family

Adrian Smith was incarcerated at the Reynolds County jail from Sept. 26, 2018, until his death on Nov. 19, 2018. He had a history of serious mental illness and suicide attempts.

May 3, 2023

Lawsuit begins over patrol tactic known as ‘Kansas two step’

The Kansas Highway Patrol uses a tactic dubbed the “Kansas two step” to search vehicles — often from other states — when there is often no legitimate cause for the search, according to a lawsuit being heard this week in federal court.

Thomas Eagleton Federal Courthouse
Apr 26, 2023

8th Circuit OKs tiny award for cops’ search of KC coffee shop

The 8th Circuit ruled on April 26 that a Kansas City coffee-shop owner missed his chance to seek punitive damages after winning a nominal award against a police officer who searched his stores.

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