Attorneys Matt Cross and Neal Wilds Obtain Summary Judgment on Constitutional Claims Against County Jail Officials

CMDA Attorneys Matthew Cross and Neal Wilds recently obtained a dismissal for their clients in U.S. District Court. The case involved a pre-trial detainee who alleged violations of his First and Fourteenth Amendment Rights during his detention within a county jail. The detainee claimed he was retaliated against by jail officials for requesting notary services and claimed he was threatened and received inadequate treatment within the jail, in violation of his constitutional rights.

Through their diligent efforts during discovery, Attorneys Cross and Wilds found that the detainee’s claims were completely illegitimate and untrue. They moved for Summary Judgment, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan granted the Motion. The Court concluded that the alleged retaliation did not constitute a First Amendment violation. The Court also agreed with the Defense that, based upon the detainee’s own conduct and testimony, there was no evidence of any unconstitutional punishment by jail officials. Plaintiff could not show a genuine issue of material fact regarding his claims. As a result, the case was dismissed.

This dismissal emphasizes the significant impact that hard-working advocacy can have when fighting for justice for our clients.

Matthew Cross is a partner in the Firm’s Traverse City office where he focuses his practice on municipal law, zoning and land use, law enforcement defense and litigation, insurance defense, and general litigation. He has experience handling employment law, personal injury defense, marijuana licensing litigation, civil rights litigation, constitutional litigation, and other municipal issues. He may be reached in our Traverse City office at (231) 922-1888 or mcross@cmda-law.com.

Neal Wilds is an attorney in the Firm’s Traverse City office where he focuses his practice in the areas of law enforcement defense and litigation, municipal law, and insurance defense. Neal has significant trial and law enforcement defense experience. He may be reached in our Traverse City office at (231) 922-1888 or nwilds@cmda-law.com.