By: Joel Stephen Mattson
When law enforcement uses physical violence without legal justification, it isn’t just abuse—it’s a Fourth Amendment violation. Excessive force is one of the clearest and most damaging forms of misconduct under color of law, and courts have consistently ruled that officers who cross the constitutional line can and must be held accountable.
What Does the Constitution Say About Excessive Force?
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons … against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…” — Fourth Amendment
Excessive force qualifies as an “unreasonable seizure.” Once force exceeds what is objectively necessary to perform a lawful arrest or detention, it violates your constitutional rights.
Key Supreme Court Cases on Excessive Force
- Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985): Deadly force may not be used unless the suspect poses a significant threat to officers or others.
- Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989): Established the “objective reasonableness” test—force must be proportional to the threat.
- Kingsley v. Hendrickson, 576 U.S. 389 (2015): Objective standard applies even to pretrial detainees—officers’ intent does not matter.
- Hope v. Pelzer, 536 U.S. 730 (2002): Qualified immunity does not shield clearly unconstitutional use of force.
See also: Filing a Section 1983 Lawsuit – Your Guide to Civil Rights Remedies
Examples of Excessive Force
- Tasing a handcuffed or non-resisting person
- Tackling someone for refusing to answer a question
- Beating someone during or after arrest
- Using weapons or restraints without justification
- Applying force after a suspect has surrendered
These actions, when unsupported by threat or necessity, are unconstitutional seizures. They are not “mistakes”—they are civil rights violations.
How Joel Stephen Mattson Used the Fourth Amendment in His Case
In Joel’s case, the officer activated emergency lights after he was already on Joel’s property—despite there being no traffic stop, no siren, and no probable cause. After being told the conversation was over, the officer issued unlawful commands, then physically seized Joel in retaliation.
Body cam shows no justification for the force used. The entire arrest stemmed from fabricated allegations and violated clearly established Fourth Amendment rights.
Joel cited Tennessee v. Garner, Graham v. Connor, and Fruit of the Poisonous Tree doctrine in his Section 1983 filings.
See: False Arrest – Understanding Your Rights and Remedies
What Others Have Done to Win Excessive Force Lawsuits
- Rodney King (Los Angeles, 1991): Beaten by officers on video—settled for $3.8 million.
- Martinez v. City of Chicago (2003): Man beaten after already being restrained—jury awarded $275,000.
- Bryan v. MacPherson, 630 F.3d 805 (9th Cir. 2010): Court held tasering a non-threatening suspect was unconstitutional.
Pro se litigants have also prevailed using:
- Body cam / cell phone footage
- Witness affidavits
- Medical records
- Officer admissions or reports that contradict video
How to Prove Excessive Force
- Document the event: Use video, photos, timestamps, injuries, and witness statements.
- Show there was no threat or resistance that justified force.
- Cite Supreme Court precedent and show the violation was of a clearly established right.
- File in federal court under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Related: Understanding the Color of Law – What It Really Means
Remedies Available
- Compensatory damages for medical costs, pain, and emotional trauma
- Punitive damages for willful violations
- Injunctive relief to prevent ongoing patterns
- Declaratory relief affirming your rights were violated
Conclusion
The Fourth Amendment isn’t a guideline—it’s a hard stop. When officers use excessive force, they are acting outside the law, under color of authority. The Constitution, the courts, and the people all have the power to fight back.
Related Articles:
- Understanding the Color of Law – What It Really Means
- Why Invalid Laws Don’t Hold Weight
- Filing a Section 1983 Lawsuit – Your Guide to Civil Rights Remedies
- Fourth Amendment: Your Rights Against Unreasonable Searches
- False Arrest – Understanding Your Rights and Remedies
- Police Misconduct and Government Liability