The Martin Firm - selected case information

LOCAL

Friday, November 22, 2002

Court upholds dismissal of suit

By Jim Houston Staff Writer

U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land's dismissal of a suspected drug dealer's suit against the city and Metro Narcotics Task Force officers has been upheld by the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

The suit by Reggie Thomas, who was struck by a pursuing unmarked police car as he fled arrest on June 20, 2000, alleged his constitutional rights were violated. Land granted summary judgment, ruling that Thomas had not shown any such violations occurred or that Officer Rodney Spears intentionally

struck him with the vehicle. He also ruled that the city, Chief of Police Willie Dozier and Muscogee County Sheriff Ralph Johnson were entitled to official immunity from the suit, with Spears and fellow officers entitled to qualified immunity.

Columbus attorney Frank Martin represented Spears in the case, with Jim Clark of Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford representing the city and city officials.

The two-sentence affirmation of Land's dismissal of the suit cited his "well-reasoned order."