Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of $100 Million Suit Against Colorado Springs Police

Overview

• The U.S. Court of Appeals on Jan. 14 affirmed a district court's dismissal of Jacob Root's civil-rights lawsuit.
• Root sought $100 million, alleging a Fourth Amendment violation after a taser deployment left him quadriplegic.
• His complaint claimed he was on uneven ground and the shock prevented him from bracing, causing a head-first fall and a broken neck.
• Colorado Springs police said Root fled from officers during the encounter, according to court records.
• The courts found the officers shielded by qualified immunity and said the suit failed to allege a municipal policy or custom causing a constitutional violation.