Politics & Government

Dormont Officers Request Civil Rights Violation Suit Be Moved To Federal Court

Two officers are accused of assaulting a man after serving him a warrant.

Two police officers accused in a lawsuit of assaulting a man have asked that the suit be transferred to federal court.

Wayde E. Moss, of Dormont, contends in the suit that officers kicked and repeatedly hit him at the station after he was served a warrant on April 11, 2008.

Moss, 57, complained of chest pain when he was put in a cell and medics were called, the suit said.

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He suffered ligament and meniscus tears, a head injury and continues to seek medical treatment for pain, the suit said.

The suit claims assault, battery and violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments against the use of excessive force.

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Officers Thomas Madden and Thomas Mathis are named as defendants, but the suit said other officers were possibly involved.

Borough officials declined comment because the matter was in litigation. Moss' attorney did not return a call for comment Monday.

The suit also named the borough as a defendant, saying it was the borough’s “policy and/or custom … to inadequately supervise and train its police officers, including the defendant officers, thereby failing to adequately discourage further constitutional violations.”

The borough also did not require training for officers known to have engaged in police misconduct, the suit said.

Because of that, the borough and officers knew misconduct would be tolerated, the suit said.

Moss is seeking more than $25,000 from each defendant.

The suit was originally filed in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in July. The defense asked that the suit be moved to federal court on Friday.


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