Dunn v. Manuel et al

This civil rights case was filed on September 23, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. Plaintiff John Dunn, as the personal representative of the estate of a deceased individual, brought a lawsuit against Officer David Manuel, the City of Albuquerque, and the Albuquerque Police Department. The complaint alleges constitutional violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, including excessive force and failure to provide adequate medical care during an encounter, which ultimately resulted in a wrongful death. The case represents a civil action seeking damages for alleged police misconduct and the deprivation of the decedent's rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.

The case remains in its preliminary litigation stages as of early 2025. No trial date has been set, and motions practice, including potential qualified immunity assertions by the defendant officer, is expected.

The central dispute focuses on whether Officer David Manuel used excessive force and was deliberately indifferent to a serious medical need, and whether the City of Albuquerque maintains unconstitutional policies or customs of inadequate training and supervision that caused the constitutional violations.

This case adds to the national scrutiny of police use-of-force practices and accountability mechanisms. It highlights ongoing community tensions in Albuquerque regarding officer-involved fatalities and may influence local policy debates on police oversight, training reforms, and the application of qualified immunity doctrines.