A woman who was hurt in a car crash that ended a police chase more than three years ago can’t sue the officers or the suburban Birmingham city where it occurred, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled Friday.
The justices unanimously turned back an appeal filed by Bria Mines in her lawsuit against the city of Homewood and two police officers, J.C. Clifton and Jason Davis.
Mines was a passenger in a car driven by another woman, Bristinia Fuller, who fled police after a shoplifting report at a Babies “R” Us store on Dec. 14, 2013, the decision said. Driving separate patrol cars, Clifton and Davis pursued the vehicle out of a parking lot and onto a busy street.
Fuller sped down the road, running multiple traffic lights, before losing control while attempting to turn and striking a light pole and another vehicle, the court said. Fuller was killed and Mines was seriously injured.
A lower court threw out a lawsuit filed by Mines, who appealed. But the justices sided with the city and the officers, saying evidence showed they didn’t cause Mines’ injuries.
Police video of the chase shot by a dashboard camera showed “quite clearly” that neither officer’s vehicle was near the one driven by Fuller when she wrecked, and neither caused the crash, the court said.
“The video recording demonstrates that the officers were exercising discretion and judgment during the pursuit of Fuller’s vehicle,” the court said.
Both officers and the city should be protected by laws that grant immunity from such lawsuit, the justices ruled.
Topics Lawsuits Auto Law Enforcement Alabama
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