A recent unanimous Supreme Court decision ruled in favor of a family who experienced a wrongful raid by law enforcement, allowing them to pursue legal action.

Wrong-House Raids

The Supreme Court's decision focused on the issue of 'wrong-house raids,' where law enforcement mistakenly enters a private residence in search of a suspect. This was the case for Trina Martin, her son Gabe, and partner Toi Cliatt in Atlanta in 2017, when FBI and SWAT agents raided their home while looking for a neighbor linked to gang activity.

Lawsuit Against FBI

In 2019, the family filed a lawsuit against the FBI and individual agents involved in the raid. Bringing such cases to court, especially in federal court, is challenging due to the government's general immunity from lawsuits. The key question before the Supreme Court was whether this particular wrong-house raid met the criteria for legal action.

Federal Tort Claims Act

The Federal Tort Claims Act, passed in 1946 and amended in 1974, allows lawsuits against the federal government for damages caused by its employees. The recent case raises the question of whether victims can sue the government directly or only if officers were following official orders.

Government's Defense

The government argued that FBI officers were instructed to go to the correct address, not the one they raided, and should not be held liable for individual judgment errors in high-pressure situations. Holding the government accountable for such mistakes, according to the government, could hinder future law enforcement operations.

Counterargument

Martin and Cliatt contend that regardless of the officers' mistake, Congress intended for the government to be responsible for such incidents when amending the statute in 1974. This case marks a departure from previous Supreme Court decisions that often sided with law enforcement in similar claims.