A three-judge appellate court panel in Washington, DC, has revived a lawsuit brought by families against two district police officers accused of using excessive force against children.

 

While observing the Caribbean Carnival Parade on Georgia Avenue on June 28, 2008, Roger and Rosena Rudder and their 15-year-old daughter Diamin, and Noverlene Goss and her 5-year-old daughter spotted relatives in the parade and stepped off the sidewalk intending to hug them. Officer William Chatman shoved Rosena Rudder, and officer Shannon Williams used her baton on the children, according to the plaintiffs.

 

The two families sued the officers, only to have their case dismissed by a federal judge. They appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for DC, which revived some of the plaintiffs’ claims.

 

According the court’s explanation, the plaintiffs had “inexplicably” agreed that their claims were voided by a one-year statute of limitations. However, such a concession did not apply to the claims of violence against the children.

 

“The plaintiffs allege facts sufficient to support their claim that Officers Chatman and Williams acted with a degree of force unjustified by the circumstances,” wrote Judge Douglas Ginsberg. “The defendants wisely concede this point with respect to the allegations against Officer Williams.”

-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Cops Still Face Claims of Beating Kids at Parade (by Rose Bouboushian, Courthouse News Service)

Roger Rudder et al. v. Shannon Williams (U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia) (pdf)