Jeremy  Williams vs. Birmingham Police

Case Background

On July 8, 2021, Plaintiff Jeremy Williams filed a lawsuit in the Alabama State, Circuit Court of Jefferson county, Birmingham Division (Case number: 22cv237). Judge Annemarie C. Axon presided over this case. The lawsuit involved claims of trespassing and civil rights violations stemming from a prior incident. Williams had been wrongfully arrested by Officer Jared Norsworthy for trespassing outside the Innisfree Irish Pub despite not entering the premises. Williams alleged that his civil rights were violated during this unlawful arrest, which was a central aspect of the lawsuit.

Cause

On the evening of November 22, 2020, Jeremy Williams visited Moe’s Restaurant near downtown Birmingham, Alabama, where he had drinks. Later, Williams and his friend later planned to visit the nearby Innisfree Irish Pub. Williams’s friend entered the pub, but a security guard named Frank did not allow Williams entry, claiming that Williams appeared intoxicated. Williams remained outside the pub but did not leave immediately. During this time, Williams interacted with Jared Norsworthy, an off-duty Birmingham police officer working security at the pub. Williams asked why he had been denied entry, to which Norsworthy allegedly responded, “You must want to get arrested.” Moments later, while still standing on the public sidewalk, Williams was arrested by Norsworthy for trespassing. Although Williams had never entered the pub, he was charged with third-degree trespass. However, the charges against Williams were eventually dismissed.

Injuries

Jeremy Williams suffered personal injury as a result of his wrongful arrest for trespassing by Officer Jared Norsworthy. Despite never entering the pub and merely standing on the public sidewalk, Williams was detained and arrested without probable cause. This unlawful arrest led to significant emotional distress, harm to his reputation, and undue legal and personal costs. Williams’s rights were violated, and he experienced emotional trauma and distress as a result of the wrongful arrest and its consequences.

Damages

Williams sought damages for the violation of his civil rights. This included compensation for the emotional damages caused by the wrongful arrest and the legal costs incurred. Specifically, Williams sought $1,200 in attorney fees, along with additional sums for the emotional and reputational damages sustained from the false arrest. The damages were a direct result of Officer Norsworthy’s actions, which lacked legal justification, as Williams had never committed trespassing by entering the premises.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Jeremy Williams
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Terrell E. McCants |  Kimberly K. Augustus-Tucker
  • Defendant(s):Birmingham Police
    • Counsel for Defendants: James D. Love | Pamela T. Jones

Claims

Jeremy Williams filed a lawsuit against the Birmingham Police Department and Officer Jared Norsworthy, claiming that Norsworthy violated his civil rights by making an unlawful arrest without probable cause. Williams argued that he was standing on a public sidewalk outside the Innisfree Irish Pub and had not entered the establishment, making the trespassing charge invalid. Williams sought compensation for attorney fees, emotional damages, and other consequential harms caused by the wrongful arrest. The case centered on Officer Norsworthy’s unlawful actions, with Williams arguing that his rights were violated during the arrest.

Defense

Officer Jared Norsworthy defended his actions by disputing the facts surrounding the arrest. He argued that, contrary to Williams’s account, Williams was not standing outside the pub but was inside the gate of the Innisfree Irish Pub at the time of the arrest. Norsworthy further claimed that the doorman, Frank, had informed him that Williams had already trespassed by attempting to enter the pub. Norsworthy contended that he only arrested Williams after he was asked to leave the gate, a decision that he had personally observed. According to the defense, these facts provided the necessary probable cause to arrest Williams for trespassing, countering the claim of an unlawful arrest.

Jury Verdict

On December 18, 2024, the jury sided with the defendant, Officer Jared Norsworthy, in the case. After deliberating on the evidence presented by both parties, the jury found that Norsworthy had acted within his rights when he arrested Jeremy Williams for trespassing.

Court Documents:

Documents are available for purchase upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com