FAHIRRI DANNAH v.CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, et al., ANTHONY BARBERINO, ZACHARY KAISER, and MELISSA MONINGER, in their individual capacities - Articles

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Posted by: Azya Thornton on May 29, 2026

Court: 6th Circuit Court (Published Opinions)

Attorneys 1: ON BRIEF: Sarah J. Hartman, Elizabeth J. Fossel, GRAND RAPIDS DEPARTMENT OF LAW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, for Appellants.

Attorneys 2: ON BRIEF: Michael L. Jones, MARKO LAW, PLLC, Detroit, Michigan, for Appellee.

Judge(s): SUTTON, Chief Judge; LARSEN and MURPHY, Circuit Judges

Court Appealed: United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan at Grand Rapids

SUTTON, Chief Judge. A Grand Rapids police officer frisked Fahirri Dannah during a traffic stop. Before the officer could complete the pat down, Dannah twisted away and started to run. Officers tackled him and wrestled with him until they could place handcuffs on him. Dannah filed this § 1983 action against several of the officers. The district court rejected the officers’ qualified-immunity defense, reasoning that a jury could find that they violated Dannah’s clearly established Fourth Amendment rights. Because the officers did not violate any clearly established law, we reverse.

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