Officer-Involved Shootings

Demanding Justice After Police Shootings.

When officers use deadly force without justification, we hold them accountable. We represent shooting survivors and families of those killed.

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Quick Answer: Can I sue after a police shooting?

Yes. If police use deadly force unlawfully, the victim (or their family in a wrongful death case) can sue under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for 4th Amendment violations. We investigate independently—we do not rely on the police to police themselves.

The Legal Standard: Graham v. Connor

Courts evaluate police shootings under the "objective reasonableness" standard from Graham v. Connor. The key question: Would a reasonable officer, facing the same situation, have used deadly force?

We win cases by proving:

  • No imminent threat: The victim posed no immediate danger to anyone.
  • Planted evidence: Officers claim the victim had a weapon—but body cam shows otherwise.
  • Fleeing suspect: Under Tennessee v. Garner, you cannot shoot a fleeing suspect unless they pose a serious threat.
  • Mental health crisis: Officers failed to use de-escalation tactics.

Types of Cases We Handle

Fatal Shootings

Wrongful death claims for families who lost loved ones to officer-involved shootings.

Non-Fatal Shootings

Claims for survivors who were shot but lived, often with permanent disability.

Mistaken Identity

Cases where officers shot the wrong person—innocent bystanders or homeowners.

No-Knock Raid Deaths

Fatal shootings during warrant executions where officers failed to announce themselves.

Our Investigation Process

We never rely on the internal investigation. Police investigating police is an inherent conflict. We independently:

  • Demand body cam footage: Before it can be "lost" or edited.
  • Commission private autopsy: Medical examiners sometimes defer to law enforcement narratives.
  • Interview witnesses: We find and depose civilian eyewitnesses.
  • Hire use-of-force experts: Former officers who testify on police training standards.
  • File preservation orders: Prevent destruction of evidence.

Case Criteria

  • Shooting by Law Enforcement: Police, sheriff, or federal agent.
  • Death or Serious Injury: Fatal or permanently disabling wounds.
  • Questionable Circumstances: Victim was unarmed, fleeing, or no threat.

Trial Strategy and Authority Links

Use these resources while we develop liability proof, preserve evidence, and map damages for full-value litigation.

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Jason Hicks

Jason Hicks

About the Author

Jason Hicks is a recognized authority in Section 1983 litigation. He has represented victims of police brutality across Oklahoma, fighting all the way to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Common Questions

Can I sue the officer personally?

Yes. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, you can sue the individual officer. However, they will raise "qualified immunity" as a defense. We know how to overcome this doctrine by proving the officer violated clearly established law.

What if the police say the shooting was justified?

Police departments almost always clear their own officers. An internal finding of "justified" does not prevent a civil lawsuit. We conduct our own independent investigation using body cam footage, private autopsies, and civilian witnesses.

How long do I have to file?

In Oklahoma, the statute of limitations for § 1983 claims is two years from the date of the shooting. Contact us immediately to preserve evidence—body cam footage can be deleted within weeks.

Serious Case Criteria for Police Shooting

We focus on high-impact claims where evidence, legal strategy, and trial preparation materially change outcomes.

This section is designed for families comparing firms based on litigation depth, not marketing volume. Use it to evaluate whether your claim has the severity, proof path, and timeline urgency required for a serious trial strategy.

Do You Meet Serious-Case Criteria?

We qualify cases by objective factors that drive recoverable value and courtroom credibility.

  • - In-custody death, severe force event, or major constitutional violation.
  • - Medical neglect, delayed response, or ignored emergency warning signs.
  • - Potential body-cam, jail video, dispatch, or incident report evidence.

Evidence and Investigation Priorities

We map immediate records that can be lost through short retention windows or delayed disclosure.

  • - Body-cam, jail surveillance, dispatch audio, and use-of-force reports.
  • - Medical records, intake notes, and timeline reconstruction.
  • - Preservation notices to prevent deletion of video or digital records.

Damages and Value Drivers

We value claims from records and long-term impact models, not quick-adjuster formulas.

  • - Life impact, wrongful death losses, and long-term medical harm.
  • - Strength of federal claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and proof of deliberate indifference.
  • - Punitive exposure and litigation pressure when conduct is egregious.

Defense Tactics and Rebuttal Focus

Anticipating defense themes early protects settlement leverage and trial positioning.

  • - Qualified immunity and policy-shield arguments that narrow officer accountability.
  • - Narrative framing that blames medical outcomes instead of custody decisions.
  • - Delayed disclosure of body-cam and jail video that distorts timelines.

Evidence Preservation Window and Timeline

High-value litigation depends on preserving digital, medical, and witness evidence early. We start with urgent preservation notices, then sequence liability and damages proof before defense narratives harden.

Delays can permanently reduce case value. A structured timeline allows us to prove what happened, who knew what, and when each party failed to act. That chronology becomes the foundation for both settlement pressure and trial testimony.

What Happens Next

  1. Urgent review and claim pathway selection (state/federal strategy).
  2. Evidence preservation and witness development.
  3. File suit, force discovery, and trial preparation.

Damages Documentation Checklist

Serious-value recovery depends on record quality. Keep a disciplined file of provider notes, specialist recommendations, work restrictions, wage-loss records, and day-to-day functional impacts. This record set is often decisive when insurers challenge severity or duration.

We align each damages category with admissible proof so valuation reflects true long-term consequences, not a short-term snapshot created before treatment stabilization.

Liability Framework and Proof

We align every allegation with objective records, timeline evidence, and expert testimony. The goal is not volume; it is trial-grade proof that survives aggressive defense motions.

Local Venue and Process Context

Oklahoma venue selection, filing sequence, and early motion practice can materially change leverage. We build each case for the forum that best supports full-value recovery.

Common Questions

These questions reflect the most common decision points in high-stakes injury and civil-rights case review.

Do civil rights cases require fast action?

Yes. Evidence retention windows can be short and statutory notice deadlines can control state-law claims.

Can a family pursue justice after a jail death?

Yes. Families can pursue federal and state claims when evidence supports constitutional and negligence violations.

How do you address qualified immunity defenses?

We build fact-specific records early and litigate the constitutional violation with detailed timeline evidence.

Do you handle these cases on contingency?

Yes. No fee unless we win.

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No fee unless we win.