Webb v. City of Homewood, Alabama, et al.

On January 24, 2025, Marcus Webb, an African American resident of Homewood, Alabama, was subjected to a traffic stop by Homewood police officers led by Officer James Matthews. The officers alleged that Webb was uncooperative and resisted commands. During the encounter, a taser was deployed, and an officer placed a knee on Webb’s neck and back while restraining him, causing severe injuries including hypoxia and multiple fractures. Bystander video that later emerged contradicted the initial police report, showing Webb posed no immediate threat. Webb filed a federal civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the City of Homewood and the involved officers, asserting excessive force, unlawful seizure, and municipal liability for failure to train. The incident ignited local protests and drew national attention from civil rights organizations. The plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages, along with injunctive relief to mandate reforms in police de-escalation policies and body camera usage.

As of mid-2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama partially denied the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds, allowing the excessive force and municipal liability claims to proceed. An interlocutory appeal on qualified immunity by the officers is pending before the Eleventh Circuit, while trial has been tentatively set for late 2026.

The central dispute is whether the officers’ use of force was objectively unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment, and whether they are entitled to qualified immunity. The case also examines municipal liability under Monell for deliberate indifference to constitutional rights through inadequate training and supervision.

The case intensified local and national scrutiny of suburban policing practices, particularly in Jefferson County. It galvanized community demands for mandatory body camera activation, de-escalation training, and the establishment of a civilian review board. The incident became a touchpoint in ongoing debates over racial profiling, police accountability, and the scope of qualified immunity reform in the United States.