On Thursday, the Supreme Court revived a lawsuit against the FBI concerning a 2017 incident where agents mistakenly raided the wrong house in Atlanta. This unanimous decision, led by Justice Neil Gorsuch, allows Toi Cliatt, his former girlfriend Trina Martina, and her son Gabe Watson to pursue claims of assault, battery, and false imprisonment under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), a rare means of holding federal officials accountable. Litigation will now continue in lower courts.
The case underscores the serious issue of law enforcement executing raids at incorrect locations, a problem that has surfaced in several notable instances. Earlier, both a district court judge and the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the government. The legal debate centered on whether the “discretionary function exception”—which protects specific judgment calls made by federal officers—would exempt the FBI in this case.
Although the Supreme Court did not settle this legal question, it lifted a barrier for the plaintiffs to argue it in lower courts. Gorsuch noted the varying interpretations of the discretionary function exception among lower courts and expressed the need for clarity regarding when it might obstruct cases like this. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a separate concurring opinion, suggested that the exception should not necessarily shield the plaintiffs’ claims and was joined by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
During the botched raid, agents brandished weapons and used flash-bang grenades, leading to traumatic experiences for those present: Cliatt was handcuffed, while Martina was restrained from reaching her son, who awoke to armed agents. Upon realizing their mistake, the FBI agents eventually apologized and subsequently arrested the intended target, Joseph Riley, at the correct location.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
