April.05.2021
An Orrick pro bono team collaborated with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on a federal lawsuit against the Baltimore Police Department over its practice of unlawfully searching and seizing the personal property of survivors of violent crime without a warrant or consent.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, was filed on behalf of shooting survivors who had their property taken by the Baltimore Police Department while undergoing medical treatment. The constitutional violations occurred between 2018 and 2021. The class action seeks compensation or redress for violating the plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment rights, as well as demands that the BPD must in the future train, supervise and discipline officers to ensure lawful searches and seizures.
“The pattern of misconduct by the BPD in this case is appalling – particularly because it is directed at victims of serious assaults – and we look forward to fighting to correct the wrongs committed against these plaintiffs and ensure they are not repeated in the future,” said Orrick partner Ellen Murphy, who led our team’s pro bono effort. “This is a prime example of carrying out our responsibilities as lawyers to fight for racial and social justice in our communities and we stand firmly behind the fight against these unlawful police practices.”
In addition to Ellen, the Orrick team includes partner Anne Malik and associates Nicole Lloret, Matthew Reeder, Alison Epperson and Olamide Olusesi.