The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures[.]” Under what is known as a §1983 Action, persons who have been arrested, abused, or otherwise restrained by “excessive force” may be able to assert their rights under the Fourth Amendment and bring a civil lawsuit against the police and government. However, the assertion of these rights often involves daunting and complicated legal matters.
