Glorianna Moore v. Oakland County, Michigan, Eric Hix, Daniel Hedrick

Detroit, Michigan personal injury lawyer represented the Plaintiff who sued the Defendants on civil rights violation theories un 42 U.S.C. 1983.



When Glorianna Moore refused to show her license to Officer Brian Wilson at a traffic stop, he opened her car door and grabbed her arm. Because Moore started screaming and twisting her body away, Officer Wilson restrained her by holding her arm and head until backup arrived.



On May 8, 2020, Glorianna Moore drove her car to deliver a Dunkin' Donuts order to a DoorDash customer in Pontiac, Michigan. Officer Brian Wilson noticed that she was going 50 miles per hour in a 35 mile-per-hour zone. He stopped her. Wilson's dashcam and Moore's phone camera captured the next three minutes.

Wilson approached the driver-side window and greeted her: "What's up, man?” R.40-4 at 1:27. Seeing "some type of card in her hand,” R.40-3 at 51, he held his palm out and said, "Your license,” R.40-4 at 1:31. Moore responded: "What am I getting stopped for? What am I getting stopped for? I don't have to give you my license.” R.40-4 at 1:33–1:35. Moore recoiled and moved her hands "towards the center console area . . . where [Officer Wilson] could not see” them. R.40-3 at 56–57.

Wilson tried to remove Moore from her vehicle. Telling her, "you're coming out [of] the car,” he tried to open the driver-side door from the exterior handle, which was locked. R.40-4 at 1:37. He reached through the window to grab Moore's arm and "control her hands.” R.40-3 at 61. At the same time, Wilson ordered Moore to "Shut the car off.” R.40-4 at 1:37–1:42. She did not agree to turn off the car. R.40-4 at 1:42–1:45. Moore leaned away and loudly objected, "No I don't. Get off of me. Get off of me.” R.40-4 at 1:38–1:41.

Things escalated. Wilson opened the door from the inside and grabbed Moore's arm. Moore pulled out her phone to capture the encounter. She began yelling that Wilson had "grabbed on [her] arm,” "Get off of me,” and "Help,” as she thrashed her arm and body to twist away from him. R.48-25 at 0:10–0:20. Wilson called for backup. Attempting to control the situation in the interim, he pulled Moore's arm out of the car with one hand and held her neck down with the other. R.40-4 at 2:05–2:11. He repeatedly exclaimed "Stop” and "Relax.” R.40-4 at 2:08–2:20. That did not work. Moore continued to struggle against Wilson's grip and continued to scream. She protested that he "didn't tell [her] what [she] was pulled over for.” R.40-4 at 2:27–2:29.

Two officers arrived a minute later. The three officers together handcuffed Moore and escorted her into Wilson's patrol car. According to Officer Wilson, they found an "off white rocky substance” in Moore's car that tested positive for cocaine. R.40-2 at 7. Prosecutors charged her with possessing cocaine, obstructing a police officer, and driving without a license. When a more thorough lab test revealed that the substance was not cocaine, the prosecutors dismissed all of the charges.

Moore sued all three officers and Oakland County under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that they had violated clearly established Fourth Amendment principles by using excessive force to seize her and thus were not entitled to qualified immunity.

Defendant's motion for summary judgment granted.



Affirmed