Can I sue an officer of the law or the police department if an officer entered my home without identifying their self first did not explain why they were there?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Can I sue an officer of the law or the police department if an officer entered my home without identifying their self first did not explain why they were there?

Asked on December 5, 2011 under Criminal Law, Pennsylvania

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

Nothing would prevent you from filing a lawsuit against a law enforcement officer if he or she did not identify themself first before entering your home. Whether you would prevail on liability and damages seems a harder thing for you to establish from your question.

Law enforcement under certain circumstances have the right to enter a person's home without a warrant and without immediately identifying themselves. An example would be when there is a belief that a crime has immediately happened or the police officer is in hot pursuit of a person.

There are a lot of governmental immunities to consider as well when a police officer is sued within the course and scope of his or her duties. I suggest that you consult with a personal injury attorney further over the question you are writing about experienced in suing police departments.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption