Benezra & Culver, P.C.>Civil Rights Law > Representative Cases > Firm Prevails on Precedent Setting Appeal

On January 11, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit denied the Defendant’s appeal in Tyler Sanchez v. Joe Ryan Hartley, et al. Benezra & Culver represents Tyler Sanchez, a cognitively disabled man, who was subjected to a malicious prosecution based on information police officers knew was untrue and unreliable. The Court’s decision permits Mr. Sanchez to proceed with his claim that Defendants’ conduct violated his Fourth Amendment right to be free from malicious prosecution. From a legal standpoint, the decision is extremely significant. Prior to this holding, the scope and contours of a Fourth Amendment malicious prosecution claim were highly uncertain. In its Opinion, the Tenth Circuit sided with Mr. Sanchez’ view of the claim, and clarified for all time the expansive scope of this claim.