Jurimatic by Exlitem

Jury Rejects Assault and Excessive Force Claims Against Officer Involved in Fatal Shooting

Jury Rejects Assault and Excessive Force Claims Against Officer Involved in Fatal Shooting

N
Nishica Srivastava
January 9, 2025
Jury Rejects Assault and Excessive Force Claims Against Officer Involved in Fatal Shooting

Tofte Et Al V. City Of Longview Et Al

Case Background

Brian Tofte and Cynthia Alderette, the Decedent Justin Lee Tofte's parents, and Michael T. Smith, the personal representative of Justin Lee Tofte’s estate filed a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Longview police alleging excessive force and assault after Justin Lee was fatally shot after attempting to flee an arrest attempt. The case was tried in the United States District Court, Washington Western (Tacoma). District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright presided over this civil rights lawsuit. [Case number: 3:22cv5700]

Parties

The City of Longview is a political subdivision of Washington State. It includes various departments, such as the Longview Police Department (LPD), responsible for law enforcement within the city. Robert Huhta served as the interim chief of the LPD and was responsible for overseeing Patrol, Detectives, and Special Units. He supervised decisions related to the officers involved in the incident. Huhta’s actions and inactions were linked to the officers' behavior, as he condoned or ignored their actions and established practices. Jordan Sanders and Matt Hartley were detectives with the LPD, acting within the scope of their employment during the incident. John Reeves, a sergeant with the LPD, was also acting within his employment duties. Defendants John Does 1-10 are employees or agents of the LPD, acting within their employment scope. It is believed most of them are residents of Longview. These defendants were allegedly negligent and deliberately indifferent, either acting in line with or allowing the policies that led to the incident. Their identities will be determined as discovery progresses. Brian Tofte, the decedent’s father, brings claims in his personal capacity. Cynthia Alderette, the decedent’s mother, also brings claims in her personal capacity. Michael T. Smith, the personal representative of Justin Lee Tofte’s estate, brings claims on behalf of the estate and its

Continue Reading This Article

Subscribe to access this article and our entire library of legal content.

Unlimited access to all articles
Expert legal analysis and insights
Downloadable resources and templates
Subscribe Now Login to Access

You've reached your free article limit for this month

Tags

Wrongful Death
Excessive force
Assault
constitutional rights
wrongful death
excessive force
assault