PHILADELPHIA — An individual is suing a police officer, citing alleged breach of duty.
Deana M. Dorsey filed a complaint on Oct. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Philadelphia Police Officer Thomas Ershaw, alleging violation of the Fourth Amendment rights of an individual to not be subjected to excessive use of government/police force.
According to the complaint, on June 21, 2017, while exiting her home with her family, Dorsey was suddenly and without warning verbally and physically abused by a neighbor.
Ershaw arrived on the scene and entered the building when he allegedly and violently seized and handcuffed the plaintiff, causing her shoulder to be dislocated, causing severe and agonizing pain. Plaintiff also claims defendant had no reason for handcuffing her and refused to handcuff the true assailant.
The plaintiff holds Ershaw responsible because the defendant allegedly acted under color of state law to attack plaintiff for no reason causing injuries to plaintiffs shoulder, arms, wrists, and hands.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for compensatory and emotional injury damages, costs of action, attorneys' fees, punitive damages, and such other and further relief as the Court may deem appropriate. She is represented by Stephen O'Hanlon of The O'Hanlon Law Firm, PC in Philadelphia.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case No. is 2:18-cv-04234-CMR.