Scott v. Louisville Metro Government

In 2020, the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked demonstrations advocating for the elimination of racist and violent policing across all 50 states. Louisville Metro Police Department’s response to these largely peaceful demonstrations was violent; throughout late May and June, LMPD used tear gas, flashbangs, pepper balls, batons, and other military-grade technology on protesters. Through June and July, LMPD has engaged in mass arrests, rounding up dozens — if not hundreds — of peaceful protesters and charging them with unwarranted felonies. In one high-profile incident, LMPD’s militarized response led to yet the senseless death of David McAtee, a local Black restaurant owner, died after the National Guard and LMPD opened fire on him at his restaurant on May 31, 2020.

Attorney(s)

Corey Shapiro, Ashok Chandran

Pro Bono Law Firm(s)

Emery, Celli, Brinckerhoff, Abady, Ward, & Maazel

Date filed

July 30, 2020

Court

Western District of Kentucky

Judge

Charles R. Simpson III

Status

Open

Case number

3:20-cv-00535-CRS-CHL

PRESS RELEASES AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS

Press Releases

Follow the Case

July 30, 2020: ACLU-KY, others sue LMPD for excessive force against peaceful protesters.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (ACLU-KY), and law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP (ECBAWM) filed a complaint against the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) for their repeated use of force and intimidation in response to peaceful protesters demonstrating against police violence. Read more.

August 25, 2020: Temporary restraining order filed against Louisville Metro Police Department over use of crowd-control weaponry.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational and Fund, Inc. (LDF), the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (ACLU-KY), and the law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP (ECBAWM), filed a request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on behalf of plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD)’s use of military force against peaceful protestors. Read more.

November 25, 2020: Federal Court allows lawsuit challenging Louisville's militaristic response to peaceful protests to continue.

A Kentucky district court denied a motion to dismiss an ongoing lawsuit against the City of Louisville, Kentucky, for the Louisville Metro Police Department’s (LMPD) repeated use of military-type force and intimidation in response to peaceful protesters demonstrating against police violence. Read more.

Initial Court Filing | July 30, 2020

Read our complaint against Louisville Metro Government.

Read our complaint against Louisville Metro Government for the Louisville Metro Police Department’s (LMPD) repeated use of military-type force and intimidation in response to peaceful protesters demonstrating against police violence at the bottom of this page.