How Much Does It Cost to Sue the Police?

This guide discusses how much it will cost you to sue the police. If you think you have a claim against the police in New York City, contact Cody Warner, P.C. for a free consultation. We can discuss your case and help you get maximum compensation.

Do I Have a Claim to Sue the Police?

Before you consider how much it costs to sue the police, it’s important to understand whether you have a winning claim. After all, if you bring a losing claim against the police, your time, energy, and resources are drained without any benefit.

The most common claims against the police are for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and excessive force.

False Arrest

The police falsely arrest someone when they detain a person without legal justification. For instance, if the police arrest you for driving while intoxicated but they lack probable cause, they are liable for false arrest.

Malicious Prosecution

When the police commence a criminal action against you without probable cause, they are liable for malicious prosecution. Malicious prosecution is similar to false arrest, but it involves a person having to go to court to deal with false charges that aren’t supported by probable cause.

Excessive Force

Also known as police brutality, the police commit excessive force when they use unreasonable force against someone. For instance, if the police respond to a domestic violence 911 call and attack the alleged perpetrator even though he was not a threat, the police can be liable for excessive force.

Typical Law Firm Retainers to Sue the Police

Most law firms sue the police with a contingency retainer agreement. That means you don’t pay any out-of-pocket costs to sue the police. The law firm you retain will only get paid if they are successful with your case.

Typically, law firms take 1/3 of the payout for your case. For instance, if you were to receive a $30,000 settlement, your lawyer would take $10,000 and you would receive $20,000.

This price structure is ideal for most clients. First, it eliminates the client’s risk of losing money from paying the costs of the lawsuit. Second, since the law firm gets a percentage of the payout, the law firm has the incentive to get great results, because the more the client gets, the more the law firm gets.

Typical Costs to Sue the Police

Lawsuits are not free. For instance, lawsuits have filings fees which cost hundreds of dollars. Additionally, court reporters charge for transcribing deposition testimony, which can be thousands of dollars.

Typically, the most expensive cost of litigation is paying for experts. For instance, if you were badly injured by the police, you will need an expert to testify about your injuries and how your life might be altered from the injuries. Such experts can cost many thousands of dollars.

Fortunately, with most contingency retainers, the clients do not pay the costs of hiring experts, court reporters, etc. The law firm takes on the risk of paying those costs, because the law firm believes in your case and thinks that they will make up those costs and more with a favorable settlement or trial verdict.

Need Help Suing the Police?

If you want to sue the police in New York City, contact Cody Warner, P.C. for a free consultation. We are NYC criminal defense lawyers who know the ins and outs of police misconduct. We can fight on your behalf to make sure that you get compensated.

We take police misconduct cases on a contingency basis. Therefore, it will cost you nothing out-of-pocket to sue the police. We only get paid if you get paid. Contact us today to get started with your lawsuit.