Defending Law Enforcement
Bill Flahive began representing law enforcement agencies and officers in 1994.
The firm recognizes the critical services that our law enforcement community provides to the State and the Nation. We are committed to providing the highest level of attention and energy to defending claims against officers and agencies.
Through decades of experience, the firm understands the laws, policies, and procedures followed by officers, agencies and prosecutors to ensure law enforcement is effective in protecting citizens, while also providing fair and impartial treatment to those suspected of wrongdoing.
The firm's attorneys have handled more than 50 matters in Federal and State courts alleging violations of civil and constitutional rights. Significant victories have included successful defense against allegations of unlawful arrest, unconstitutional searches, and malicious prosecution against police officials and other criminal investigators.
Members of our firm have successfully defended against claims of unlawful use of force by Corrections officers against inmates, medical treatment of incarcerated individuals with serious ailments such as epilepsy and tuberculosis, and claims of failure to protect inmates from violence inflicted by other inmates.
Bill worked with other attorneys to uphold the constitutionality of New Jersey's Assault Weapons Ban and successfully defend the constitutionality of the DNA sampling provisions of Megan's Law.
Many of the firm's cases in defending law enforcement included application of Tort Claims Act defenses.
While past outcomes are, of course, not a prediction of future results, here is some of our experience in this area:
- Litigation of dozens of matters in Federal and State Court, most resulting in dismissal through motion practice
- Successfully defending clients in jury trials alleging civil rights violations on issues such as use of force and alleged unconstitutional search and seizure