In a fierce battle waged over a prolonged period, RJA represented the Chief of Police of Methuen Massachusetts who was terminated by his appointing authority, the Mayor, after the political winds began to blow against the Chief and the Mayor seized the opportunity to score points leading up to a re-election bid. After the Mayor fired the Chief at the local level, the matter was
As some may know, generally a police officer’s challenge to discipline is not brought to arbitration by the officer, but only can be brought to arbitration by an officer’s union. There also are times when, for various reasons, an officer does not wish to be represented by union counsel. In a recent case handled by RJA, an officer wished to have RJA handle his challenge
False arrest and excessive force claims against Revere police officer rejected based upon the work of RJA An individual claiming that he was arrested improperly and punched while handcuffed brought a federal civil rights claim based upon those allegations. In a rare feat, the attorneys at RJA convinced a federal judge to dismiss the excessive force claim of the plaintiff based solely upon the
RJA prevails in Springfield police shooting case An individual who had attempted to elude police officers who were pursuing him was shot by an officer when he failed to comply with the verbal commands of the officers and raised an object that the officers reasonably believed was a gun. In a federal lawsuit filed after the shooting, the plaintiff alleged that several members of the
RJA successfully represents Worcester police officer in lengthy civil rights case Two individuals who were arrested by police officers in a large city brought a civil rights action against a number of officers, alleging false arrest and excessive force. One of the officers sued was represented by RJA. After a procedurally tortured history in federal court, a federal judge dismissed the action on procedural
