Protecting Your Constitutional Rights
The U.S. Constitution guarantees every individual the right to be free from unreasonable searches, excessive force, and the deprivation of liberty without due process. When law enforcement officers or government officials abuse their power, holding them accountable requires aggressive, highly technical litigation to pierce the formidable legal shields designed to protect state and federal actors.
Stanton Law DC provides relentless advocacy for victims of police misconduct, false arrest, malicious prosecution, and First Amendment retaliation. We bring federal Section 1983 claims and state-level tort actions to ensure that those who violate the public trust answer to a jury.
Defeating "Qualified Immunity"
Police officers and government officials routinely attempt to hide behind the doctrine of "Qualified Immunity," a controversial legal shield that protects them from civil liability unless a plaintiff can prove the officer violated a "clearly established" constitutional right. Stanton Law DC meticulously researches federal and circuit-level case law to prove that the misconduct in your case was so egregious that the officers knew or should have known their actions were illegal.
Jurisdictional Frameworks & Notice Deadlines
Litigating a civil rights claim against a municipality requires strict adherence to unforgiving procedural deadlines. Missing a statutory notice requirement by a single day can result in your case being permanently dismissed, regardless of the severity of the constitutional violation.
1. Federal Constitutional Claims
| Statutory Structure | Core Protections & Targets | Statutes of Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Section 198342 U.S.C. § 1983 | Allows individuals to sue state and local government officials for civil rights violations. | 3 Years |
| Bivens ActionsDerived from Supreme Court precedent | Allows individuals to sue federal law enforcement officers (FBI, DEA, etc.) for constitutional violations. | 3 Years |
2. Washington, D.C. Claims
| Statutory Structure | Core Protections | Notice Deadlines |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. Tort ClaimsClaims against MPD & District Gov. | False arrest, assault and battery, or malicious prosecution committed by Metropolitan Police Department officers. | Strict 6-Month Notice Under D.C. Code § 12-309, written notice must be provided to the Mayor within 6 months of the incident. |
3. Maryland Claims
| Statutory Structure | Core Protections | Notice Deadlines |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland Declaration of RightsState Constitutional Claims | State-level constitutional claims against county sheriffs, local police, or state troopers for excessive force or unlawful searches. | Strict 1-Year Notice Under the LGTCA and MTCA, formal written notice must be delivered to the specific government entity within 1 year. |