PHILADELPHIA, PA (PRWEB) October 29, 2013
A federal judge has ruled that a man who sustained critical injuries in a confrontation with Reading police can proceed with his lawsuit against the officers involved. Ernest Martin is seeking well in excess of $150,000 in damages after an alleged police tasing caused him to fall 40 feet from a highway overpass in court case number 12-cv-03665.
Martin was involved in a car chase with police in April 2012. The chase ended when the vehicle Martin was driving crashed into another vehicle on Route 422 in Reading. Police initially reported that Martin allegedly had jumped from the overpass, but investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police and testimony from numerous witnesses revealed that police allegedly shot Martin with a taser as he stood near the ledge, precipitating his fall, according to Court Case No. CP-06-CR-0004948-2012.
“Police officers need to exercise caution and observe basic safety precautions when apprehending a suspect,” said Edith Pearce, personal injury lawyer and founder of The Pearce Law Firm. “We are very pleased with the judge’s ruling, and confident in our case going forward.”
Martin’s suit alleges that the officers involved obstructed justice and defamed his reputation. The suit also claims that officers threatened witnesses in order to protect their initial fabricated report that Martin had jumped from the overpass. Martin was reportedly near death from internal injuries following the incident, and remained hospitalized for months afterwards.
The Reading Police had filed a motion to dismiss Martin’s federal lawsuit, claiming he was charged with theft and resisting arrest. However, the Federal Court agreed with Edith Pearce’s argument that Martin had not plead guilty, but rather had pled no contest to the charges. Thus, Pearce argued that his lawsuit is not barred. The Court agreed and dismissed the Reading Police’s Motion to Dismiss.
The Pearce Law Firm is located at 1429 Walnut Street, 14th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102. For more information about the legal services they provide, interested parties may call (215) 557-8686 or visit the firm’s website at https://thepearcelawfirm.com.
About The Pearce Law Firm
Edith Pearce founded The Pearce Law Firm, P.C. in 2002. She began her career as a trial lawyer for an insurance company and later a defense law firm. She has received the highest peer rating through Martindale-Hubbell AV and has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer multiple times. Edith is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and she is also a member of Mensa, the international high IQ society.
