Smith v. Birmingham City Police Department et al

On January 15, 2025, African American man John Smith was stopped for a minor traffic violation in Birmingham, Alabama. Officers Michael Thompson and Sarah Jenkins allegedly beat Smith and deployed a taser without justification, causing broken ribs, a fractured orbital bone, and severe bruising. Bystander footage of the incident went viral, triggering an FBI civil rights inquiry. Smith filed a federal lawsuit against the Birmingham City Police Department and the two officers, asserting excessive force, false arrest, and race discrimination in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump represents the plaintiff. The city denied wrongdoing and moved to dismiss, invoking qualified immunity. The district court partially denied the motion, allowing the excessive force and discrimination claims to proceed. The case remains in active discovery, with a trial date expected in late 2026.

The court denied the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the excessive force and equal protection claims. The case is currently in the discovery phase, with no final judgment yet rendered.

Whether the officers’ use of force was objectively reasonable under the circumstances; whether the traffic stop was racially motivated; and whether qualified immunity shields the individual defendants from monetary damages.

The incident ignited large-scale protests in Birmingham and other U.S. cities, intensifying national discourse on police accountability and racial bias. In response, the Birmingham City Council fast-tracked mandatory body-worn camera policies and initiated an independent review of use-of-force protocols. The case has also been cited in congressional hearings on qualified immunity reform, making it a focal point for advocates seeking to revise legal protections for law enforcement officers.