Civil Rights Litigation Attorneys in Las Vegas

Civil rights litigation is a very specific type of law that should only be pursued by an experienced Las Vegas attorney. Civil rights could be very complex, especially when dealing with a government official if they have violated your civil rights. We recommend that prior to consulting with an attorney, make sure that the attorney has the relevant experience and knowledge. The attorney who is taking on a civil rights claim must have prior experience. 

Could I file a lawsuit for a civil rights violation in Las Vegas?

If you have had your civil rights violated by a government official, whether it is a city official, or a police officer, you have the right to collect damages for your violated right. You have the right to hold the other party responsible for compensation. This is explained more In detail under 42  USC Section1983, which is a federal law.

Is civil rights federal law?

Civil rights is mostly established under federal law since there are several laws that provide protections for all of the United States, not just a state. This means that not only will your attorney need to know State Nevada law, but will also need to know federal law in terms of civil rights and what rights you are afforded as a citizen of the United States.

Federal Law

Section 1983 allows a person who has had their civil rights violated by a government employee to file a lawsuit against the government for any of their rights that have been taken advantage of. This is an old standing federal law, and has been consistently used for countless major United States law cases in the past. This act also allows those who have had their rights violated to get financially compensated for those violations.

How do I prove a civil rights violation?

There are several requirements that must be met in order to file a lawsuit when civil rights are being taken advantage of. These include:

• The plaintiff, which is the party that is filing the lawsuit, needs to point to a specific civil right that has been violated. In order to prove a civil rights violation, you need to be as specific as possible. You must be able to point to that specific right in an act, or in the Constitution.
• The plaintiff must prove that the person that violated their civil rights was acting within the course and duty of the government responsibilities.

Who could be held responsible for a civil rights violation?

In order to file a civil rights violation, you must be able to prove that the person who violated your rights was acting within the scope of government duties. This means that only a certain number of positions could be held responsible for civil rights violations. This may include:

• Police officers
• City officials
• County employees
• Government political officials

What are common civil rights lawsuits?

Examples of some types of instances that have resulted in civil rights violations include:

• People being held in police custody and have had their rights violated, for example have been manipulated to speak, or have been deprived of food as a tactic.
• Improper searches and seizures by police officers.
• Assault by police officers that may lead to physical injuries or death.
• Threat by government officials limiting speech.

Who can file a civil rights lawsuit?

Almost anyone who has had their rights violated could file a lawsuit for violation of their civil rights. Whether there has been a violation of federal, state, or local rights, anyone who resides in Nevada could file a lawsuit for violation of their rights. For example, even government officials who have had their rights violated by another government official could file a lawsuit for violation of their civil rights.

For example, if a police officer has been treated improperly by other fellow police officers, they have a right to file a lawsuit against the government officials, despite the fact that they are also a government official. 

What kind of damages could I receive for my civil rights litigation lawsuit in Las Vegas? 

The compensation depends on the circumstances of the civil rights violation. 

• Medical bills: if you have suffered any type of physical injuries as a result of a violation, then you could recover medical bills and costs associated with treating those injuries.
• Lost wages: if you have to take time off work to care for injuries caused by a civil rights violation, then you are able to recover compensation for any lost wages.
• Future lost income: if the injuries from the civil rights violation were severe and resulted in future permanent disability, then the victim will be able to recover future lost income, along with the medical bills associated with treating those injuries in the future.
• Punitive damages: punitive damages are not always awarded, but are most likely to be awarded in civil rights cases over any other case. For example, punitive damages are awarded when a party acts with malicious intent. Malicious intent means the other party knew what they did was wrong, yet proceeded anyway. This is frowned upon by all courts, and punitive damages could result in millions of dollars to the victim.

What will our Las Vegas civil litigation attorneys do? 

• When you come in for your initial evaluation, we will review all of the information that is involved in your civil rights violation. This includes taking a look at the parties involved, and the actions that led up to the civil rights violations.
• Next we will file a lawsuit in the appropriate court, and gather as much evidence as possible to prove a strong case. 
• We will negotiate with third parties in order to come to a solution and a settlement agreement that will satisfy all parties.  
• Our attorneys want our clients to feel comfortable during this process, and ask as many questions as they have regarding their civil rights case. We are available 24/7 to help our clients with any issues they may have. We understand that a civil rights lawsuit is not easy, and we are here every step of the way.