UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN …...2:12-cv-14766-LPZ-MJH Doc # 1 Filed 10/26/12 Pg 6 of 9 Pg...
Transcript of UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN …...2:12-cv-14766-LPZ-MJH Doc # 1 Filed 10/26/12 Pg 6 of 9 Pg...
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UNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURTEASTERNDISTRICTOFMICHIGAN
SOUTHERNDIVISION
ESTATEOFLUQMANA.ABDULLAH, )byitspersonalrepresentative, )MUJAHIDCARSWELL, ) ) CaseNo. Plaintiff, ) Hon. ) Magistrate:v. ) )UNIDENTIFIEDFBIAGENTS,intheir )individualcapacities;jointlyandseverally; ) ) Defendants. ) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________/
COMPLAINTANDJURYDEMAND_______________________________________________________________________________________________________/
Plaintiff, ESTATE OF LUQMAN AMEEN ABDULLAH, through its personal
representative,MUJAHIDCARSWELL,andbyitsundersignedcounsel,statesasfollows:
Parties
1. Thedecedent,LuqmanA.Abdullah (“Abdullah”),wasa residentofWayneCounty,
andwasatalltimesrelevant,acitizenoftheUnitedStates.
2. MujahidCarswellisAbdullah’soldestbiologicalsonandhasbeendulyappointedas
thepersonalrepresentativeoftheEstateofLuqmanA.Abdullah.
3. Abdullah is survived by his widow, Amina Abdullah, and ten biological children,
Mujahid Carswell, Amatuallah Carswell, Maryam Carswell, Jamil Carswell, Asiyah
Abdullah, Muhammad Abdullah, Shuaib Abdullah, Maimunah Abdullah, Zakiyyah
Abdullah,andZainabAbdullah.
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4. Defendants Unidentified FBI Agents are employed by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (“FBI”), and include agents involved in the tactical operation that
resulted in the shooting death of Abdullah. The tactical operation included a
combinationoftheFBI‐DetroitSpecialWeaponsandTacticsTeam(the“FBI‐Detroit
SWATTeam”),theFBIDetroitJointTerrorismTaskForce(the“FBI‐DetroitJTTF”),
the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (the “FBI HRT”), and the FBI canine team. The
UnidentifiedFBIAgentsarebeingsuedintheirindividualcapacities.
JurisdictionandVenue
5. UnderU.S.Const.Art.III§2,thisCourthasjurisdictionbecausetherightssoughtto
be protected herein are secured by the United States Constitution. Jurisdiction is
properpursuantto28U.S.C.§1331,Bivensv.SixUnknownNamedAgentsofFederal
BureauofNarcotics,403U.S.388(1971),andfederalcommonlaw.
6. A substantial part of the unlawful acts alleged hereinwere committedwithin the
jurisdictionoftheUnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheEasternDistrictofMichigan.
7. Venueisproperunder42U.S.C.§1391(e)astoallDefendantsbecauseDefendants
areofficersofagenciesof theUnitedStatessued in their individualcapacitiesand
becausethisjudicialdistrictiswherePlaintiffresidesandwhereasubstantialpart
oftheeventsoromissionsgivingrisetotheclaimsoccurred.
FactualBackground
8. OnOctober28,2009,atapproximately12:04p.m.,Abdullah,alongwithfourother
men,wereatawarehouselocatedat5171MillerRd.,Dearborn,Michigan.
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9. Abdullahandthefourmenwereloadingboxesataloadingdockatthewarehouse.
10. Uponinformationandbelief, thewarehousewasunderthecontroloftheFBIwho
leasedthewarehouseinanundercovercapacity.
11. OnOctober28,2009,atapproximately12:04p.m.,FBIagentssetoffnoiseandflash
bang tactical diversionary devices that caused the disorientation of Abdullah and
theotherfourmeninthewarehouse.
12. On October 28, 2009, at approximately 12:04 p.m., approximately thirty
UnidentifiedFBIAgents consistingof theFBI‐Detroit SWATTeam, theFBI‐Detroit
JTTF, the FBI HRT, and the FBI canine team (together “FBI tactical team” or
“Unidentified FBI Agents”), entered thewarehouse and surrounded Abdullah and
thefourothermen.
13. The members of the FBI tactical team were clothed in clearly marked tactical
uniformsthatread“FBI.”
14. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsorderedthefivemen,includingAbdullah,to“Getdown
ontheground!”
15. All fivemen, includingAbdullah, immediately showedbothof theirhandsandgot
downfacedownonthegroundwiththeirarmsoutstretchedinfrontofthem.
16. Abdullah and the fourmen did not pose a threat to the Unidentified FBI Agents’
safety.
17. Abdullahlaiddowninsideatrailerfacingeastward,theleftsideofhisbodyclosest
totheentranceofthetrailer.
18. AnUnidentifiedFBIAgentdeployedanFBIK‐9named“Freddy”intothetrailerand
inthedirectionofAbdullah.
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19. TheFBIK‐9repeatedlyattackedandmauledAbdullah,causingsevereinjuriestohis
leftarm,including,butnotlimitedto,hiselbow,backarm,innerarm,andforearm.
20. AbdullahrolledontohisrightsideandgrabbedtheFBIK‐9withbothofhishandsin
anattempttodefendhimselfandpreventtheFBIK‐9fromfurthermaulinghim.
21. AsAbdullah struggledwith theFBIK‐9,Abdullah’s body turned such that hewas
lying on his back and facing westward, the left side of his body closest to the
entranceofthetrailer.
22. TheFBIK‐9repeatedlyattackedandmauledAbdullah’sface,causingsevereinjuries
to, including but not limited to, his forehead, upper eyelid, left cheek, lower lip,
lowerjaw,andbothhands.
23. TheFBIK‐9 toreoffadenturedevice in theroofofAbdullah’smouth,andcaused
Abdullah’supperjawtobreak.
24. Uponinformationandbelief,whileAbdullahwasonhisbackandtheFBIK‐9was
repeatedlymauling, includingbutnot limited to, his face, left arm, andhands, the
UnidentifiedFBIAgentsfiredapproximatelytwentyroundsatAbdullah.
25. Theroundswerefiredat,andnotlimitedto,Abdullah’schest,abdomen,lefthip,left
leg,scrotumandback,causinghispainfuldeath.
26. The Unidentified FBI Agents failed to provide Abdullah with, and/or denied the
provisionof,propermedicalattention.
27. The Unidentified FBI Agents purposely, knowingly, recklessly, improperly and
without cause used excessive force by deploying the FBI K‐9 to attack andmaul
AbdullahandfiringapproximatelytwentyroundsatAbdullah,causinghiswrongful
death.
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28. A sworn affidavit signed by one of the four men, Muhammad Abdul Salaam, is
referenced as an Exhibit to this Complaint. Muhammad Abdul Salaam is an
eyewitnesstotheeventsthatresultedinAbdullah’sdeath.
COUNTI
WrongfulDeath
29. Plaintiffherebyreallegesandincorporatesbyreferencetheforegoingparagraphsof
thisComplaintasiffullysetforthherein.
30. Asstatedmorefullyabove,theactionsoftheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,
2009,amounttoexcessiveuseofforceandconductsorecklessandunreasonableas
todemonstratemalicious and sadistic intent to cause injuryorwrongful death to
Abdullah, or substantial lack of concern for whether injury or wrongful death to
Abdullahwould result, in violation of the United States Constitution,Bivens v. Six
UnknownNamedAgents of FederalBureau ofNarcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and
MCLA691.1407(2).
31. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgents owedAbdullah, thedecedent, a duty tousedue care
undertheUnitedStatesConstitution,Bivensv.SixUnknownNamedAgentsofFederal
BureauofNarcotics,403U.S.388(1971),andMCLA691.1407(2).
32. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsviolatedthatdutyandotherfederallegalobligationsby
their excessive use of force and by demonstrating a deliberate indifference to
whetherAbdullahwouldsufferinjuryorwrongfuldeathbydeployinganFBIK‐9to
attackandmaulhimand firingapproximately twentyroundsatAbdullah, causing
hisdeath.
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33. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgents intentionallyand/orwith recklessdisregard failed to
usesuchcareanddiligencetoavoidAbdullah’sinjuriesandwrongfuldeath.
34. Abdullahsufferedinjuriesanddiedasadirectandproximateresultoftheactionsof
theUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,2009describedabove.
35. BytheactionsoftheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,2009describedabove,
the Unidentified FBI Agents breached the duty of care owed to Abdullah and
proximately causedhim to suffer economic andnon‐economicdamages, including
but not limited to, conscious pain and suffering, and pain and physical injuries,
whichultimatelyresultedinhiswrongfuldeath.
36. Plaintiff,onbehalfoftheEstateofLuqmanA.Abdullah,andallindividualsentitled
todamagesunderMCLA691.1407(2), requests all damages that are fair and just,
including,withoutlimitation,thefollowing:
i. Reasonablemedical,funeralandburialexpenses;
ii. Reasonablecompensation forconsciouspainandsuffering,andpain
andphysicalinjuries,Abdullahsufferedbeforehisdeath;and,
iii. LossessufferedbyAbdullah’snextofkinasresultofAbdullah’sdeath,
including the loss of financial support, loss of services, loss of
consortium,lossofgiftsandothervaluablegratuities,lossofparental
training and guidance, loss of society and companionship, and all
otherlossessuffered.
WHEFEFORE, Plaintiff requests a judgment against Defendants for compensatory
damages inwhatever amount the jury findsnecessary, and furtherdemands a judgment
against individual Defendants for punitive damages for whatever amount the jury finds
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necessary,plusallsuchotherreliefthisCourtdeemsjustandequitable,includingcostsand
attorneys’feesincurredinthisaction.
COUNTII
ViolationoftheFourthandFifthAmendmentstotheUnitedStatesConstitution
37. Plaintiffherebyreallegesandincorporatesbyreferencetheforegoingparagraphsof
thisComplaintasiffullysetforthherein.
38. Defendants violated Plaintiff’s constitutionally protected rights under the Fourth
andFifthAmendmenttotheUnitedStatesConstitution,including,butnotlimitedto,
1)therighttobefreefromtheuseofexcessiveforce,2)therighttoliberty,personal
safety,medicalcareandprotection,and3)therightnottobedeprivedoflibertyand
lifewithoutdueprocess.
39. The Unidentified FBI Agents violated their duty of care and other federal legal
obligations by their excessive use of force and by demonstrating a deliberate
indifference to whether Abdullah would suffer injury or wrongful death by
deploying an FBI K‐9 to attack and maul him and firing approximately twenty
roundsatAbdullah,causinghiswrongfuldeath.
40. The Unidentified FBI Agents knew or should have known that their acts were in
violationofAbdullah’sconstitutionalrights,including,butnotlimitedto,theuseof
excessiveforce,thefailuretoprovideforAbdullah’spersonalsafety,andthefailure
to provide and/or allow the provision of proper medical attention to Abdullah,
therebyproximatelycausingthelossofAbdullah’slife.
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41. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgents intentionallyand/orwith recklessdisregard failed to
usesuchcareanddiligencetoavoidAbdullah’sinjuriesandwrongfuldeath.
42. Abdullahsufferedinjuriesanddiedasadirectandproximateresultoftheactionsof
theUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,2009describedabove.
43. BytheactionsoftheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,2009describedabove,
the Unidentified FBI Agents proximately caused Abdullah to suffer economic and
non‐economicdamages, includingbutnot limited to, consciouspainandsuffering,
andpainandphysicalinjuries,whichultimatelyresultedinhiswrongfuldeath.
44. Plaintiff,onbehalfoftheEstateofLuqmanA.Abdullah,andallindividualsentitled
todamagesunderMCLA691.1407(2), requests all damages that are fair and just,
including,withoutlimitation,thefollowing:
iv. Reasonablemedical,funeralandburialexpenses;
v. Reasonablecompensation forconsciouspainandsuffering,andpain
andphysicalinjuries,Abdullahsufferedbeforehisdeath;and,
vi. LossessufferedbyAbdullah’snextofkinasresultofAbdullah’sdeath,
including the loss of financial support, loss of services, loss of
consortium,lossofgiftsandothervaluablegratuities,lossofparental
training and guidance, loss of society and companionship, and all
otherlossessuffered.
WHEFEFORE, Plaintiff requests a judgment against Defendants for compensatory
damages inwhatever amount the jury findsnecessary, and furtherdemands a judgment
against individual Defendants for punitive damages for whatever amount the jury finds
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necessary,plus all suchother relief thisCourtdeems just and equitable, including costs
andattorneys’feesincurredinthisaction.
JURYDEMAND
NOWCOMESPlaintiff, through its personal representative andby its undersigned
counsel,andherebydemandstrialbyjuryoftheabove‐referencedcausesofaction.
Respectfullysubmitted,AKEEL&VALENTINE,PLLC /s/ShereefAkeel________________ SHEREEFH.AKEEL(P54345)
AttorneyforPlaintiff888W.BigBeaverRd.,Ste.910Troy,MI48084Phone:(248)269‐[email protected]
SWIFT&MCDONALD,P.S. /s/CharlesSwift________________ CHARLESSWIFT(WA#:41671)
AttorneyforPlaintiff 18097thAvenue,Suite1108
Seattle,WA98101Phone: (206)204‐[email protected]
COUNCILONAMERICAN‐ISLAMICRELATIONS,MICHIGAN /s/LenaMasri__________________ LENAF.MASRI(P73461)
AttorneyforPlaintiff21700NorthwesternHwy.,Ste.815Southfield,MI48075Phone:(248)559‐2247
[email protected]:October26,2012
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