Practice Areas → Civil Rights Violations
Civil Rights Attorney | Georgia & Florida
When law enforcement or government officials violate your constitutional rights, there must be accountability. Nwahiri Law takes on the institutions others won't.
The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights — to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, from excessive force, from unlawful discrimination by government actors. When law enforcement or other government officials violate those rights, those responsible must be held accountable.
Attorney Tobechuku Nwahiri represents individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated in Georgia and Florida. These cases require a lawyer willing to take on government institutions. That is exactly what Nwahiri Law does.
Civil Rights Cases We Handle
Excessive Use of Force by Law Enforcement
When police officers use more force than is legally justified — during an arrest, a traffic stop, or any law enforcement encounter — they may be liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and state law.
Wrongful Death at the Hands of Law Enforcement
When excessive force results in death, surviving family members have the right to pursue both civil rights and wrongful death claims.
Civil Asset Forfeiture (Unlawful Seizure of Property)
Government agencies sometimes seize money, vehicles, and property under civil forfeiture laws — often with minimal due process. We challenge unlawful seizures and fight for the return of what belongs to our clients.
Appeals
We handle appeals of civil rights cases in both state and federal courts.
The Legal Basis for Civil Rights Claims
42 U.S.C. § 1983is a federal civil rights statute enacted after the Civil War that allows any person to sue a state or local government official who, acting “under color of state law,” violates their constitutional rights. It is the primary legal vehicle for holding law enforcement officers, sheriffs, and municipal agencies accountable for excessive force, unlawful detention, and other constitutional violations.
Under Monell v. Department of Social Services (1978), municipalities — cities, counties, and their agencies — can be sued under § 1983 when a constitutional violation results from an official policy, a widespread custom, or a failure to train officers adequately. This means the city or county itself can be held liable, not just the individual officer.
These cases are challenging — government entities invoke qualified immunity and have significant resources. Attorney Nwahiri has the experience and commitment to see civil rights cases through. His record includes a $300,000 civil rights settlement against a Florida government entity.
Were Your Civil Rights Violated?
Government entities and law enforcement agencies fight hard to avoid accountability. We fight harder. Contact Nwahiri Law for a free, confidential consultation.