Partners Rolf Kroll and Emily Mahler secured judgment in their Client’s favor in a civil rights action arising from an officer-involved shooting.
The matter originated from a January 2024 incident involving a mental health crisis and subsequent police response at a residence in Upper St. Clair. Plaintiff, acting as administratrix of the estate, brought suit against officers from Bethel Park, Brentwood, and Baldwin Borough, alleging excessive force under federal law and asserting state law claims for wrongful death and battery. In their Motion for Summary Judgment, Emily and Rolf focused upon the complex and rapidly evolving facts leading up to this unfortunate fatal encounter, including extensive crisis intervention efforts and deployment of non-lethal tactics.
Following a thorough review of the detailed evidentiary record, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania granted summary judgment in favor of the officers on the federal excessive force claim, finding the officers were entitled to qualified immunity. The Court determined that the law did not clearly establish a constitutional violation under the circumstances, and thus the officers were immune from civil liability. The Court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims, dismissing them without prejudice. Harrisburg Associate Claire Murtha was instrumental in the briefing of this successful effort.
