Dr. Marc Lamont Hill Files $1 Million Lawsuit Against Philadelphia Police Department

NEWS

» by Danielle Canada October 14, 2010, 15:02pm


Famed Professor Dr. Marc Lamont Hill is making headlines after filing a $1 million lawsuit against the Philadelphia police department for harassment.

Hill, who teaches at Columbia University and is a FOX News commentator, says he was harassed by Officer Richard DeCoatsworth.

In the lawsuit, Hill, 31, says he was dropping off a friend around 12:30 a.m. on June 12 when the officer and his partner pulled up behind him and motioned him to move.

Hill says he told officers he was dropping off a friend and they drove off without incident.

The lawsuit claims however that after Hill pulled away from the scene, officer's pulled him over and ordered him to step out of the vehicle.

The professor says Officer DeCoatsworth dragged him out of the car by the left arm and searched the vehicle without a warrant.

He also says the officer and his partner asked him whether he could afford his vehicle and went through his checkbook.

The lawsuit adds that DeCoatsworth slammed Hill against his vehicle, pushed his fist into Hill's back and threatened to take him to jail before letting him go without citation or arrest.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, DeCoatsworth is considered a local hero after being shot in the face by a suspect in 2007.

 

Hill claims that his constitutional rights were violated by “the City's policies, procedures, customs and practices of allowing its officers to make stops without reasonable suspicion, and to use unreasonable and excessive force thereby violating the civil rights of those with whom they come into contact."

He is seeking $1 million in damages.

Comment Comments 8 Tags Tags: , , , ,
  • MISSVALZ

    Wrong Brother this time, this happens every single day to my brothers, uncles, son, nephews they work hard for everything they got went to school got a good paying job and bought there things legally. And the cops are mad because they dont have what they think a black brother should not have or could not have without doing something illegal. Never met a good cop, said it before and say again.

  • Divanerd

    The white cops once pulled my husband over when he was driving to our new home with a large television in the back of our SUV. They told him, "We've been experiencing a lot of robberies in this neighborhood, and you look suspicious." Moving your furniture in a truck in broad daylight on the first of the month, and he looked "suspicious"? Yeah, right!

  • karla

    PunkAZZ turned cop he ain't no f@#%# hero! He grew up like so many lil boys wanting to be a tough guy. But he knew he could never get respect in the streets without a gun and a badge. He is just another dirty cop!

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  • Luke Thompson

    This makes me sick hearing Marc Lamont Hill has file a lawsuit for a cop doing his job. Shame on you Hill. The Police are trying to clean up the streets where brother and sister are being killed and rob. Police has a right to search your car if they have probable cause that means no warrent is needed.
    Hill should help out the people and make a changes. Instead Hill waste tax payer money and is out for himself. Shame on you HILL!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.rhymesandpolitics.com Lady Iva

    The police department has earned the reputation for being racist and it's no one's fault but their own. Just because Dr. Hill isn't the only one being pulled over for driving while Black, doesn't mean that it is right.

    http://www.rhymesandpolitics.com

  • Mabel

    I don't think he is suing just because he was pulled over, most black men are so used to getting pulled over anyways. I think he is suing because he was roughed up for no good reason and the obviously racist questions about his ability to own the vehicle he was driving.

  • http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2010/11/15/chicago-police-stop-settling-cases-lawsuits-against-cops-plummet/ RustyShackleford

    Interesting. I wonder if they'll settle.

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