Civil Rights & Police Misconduct
Lex Grayner Law PC takes cases on behalf of individuals harmed by excessive force, wrongful arrest, and unlawful searches, holding the officers and agencies accountable for violating their civil rights.
Lexa knows the law enforcement system from the inside. As a former prosecutor in San Francisco and Alameda, she worked directly with police officers, reviewed use-of-force reports, and saw firsthand how departments respond when misconduct occurs. As a judicial law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Lexa helped the court decide dispositive motions in civil rights cases. She understands law enforcement, how judges assess civil rights cases, and where these cases are most vulnerable.
Types of Cases
Excessive force
Officers may use only the force that is reasonable under the circumstances. Beatings, unjustified Taser or K-9 use, chokeholds, and shootings can all cross that line.
Wrongful arrest
Police need probable cause to arrest you. An arrest without it, or one based on fabricated evidence, can violate your constitutional rights.
Unlawful searches
Searches of your person, car, or home generally require a warrant, consent, or a recognized exception. An illegal search can support a claim on its own.
Why Experience Matters
Civil rights claims can be brought under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1983) and California law, including the Bane Act. Depending on the facts, you may be able to hold both the individual officers and the agency that employs them responsible. Officers often raise defenses like qualified immunity, which can make these cases harder to win. Experienced counsel who anticipates those defenses from the start makes a difference.
Deadlines Are Short
A claim against a California public agency generally must be filed within six months of the incident. Federal civil rights claims generally have a two-year deadline. Missing a deadline can end your case before it begins, so it is important to act quickly.
Evidence That Can Make a Difference
Civil rights cases often turn on evidence that disappears quickly. Medical records documenting injuries, photographs of the scene, officers’ names and badge numbers, witness contact information, and video from phones, body cameras, or nearby businesses can all be critical. The sooner an attorney is involved, the better the chance of preserving it.