When a TASER Becomes Deadly Force: A $100 Million Mistake
The Eleventh Circuit reminds officers that it's not always the weapon—it may be the environment that determines whether force is constitutionally "deadly." Over the past decade, courts have routinely described conducted energy weapons (CEWs), commonly referred to as TASERs, as intermediate force, not deadly force. That classification has shaped countless use-of-force decisions and training programs. But as every use-of-force instructor knows, no force option exists in a vacuu
5 min read
When Mental Illness Meets an Active Shooter: The Fourth Circuit Draws the Line on ADA Liability
Morgan v. City of Charlotte, No. 23-1748 (4th Cir. June 29, 2026). TL;DR The Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for officers who shot a mentally ill man after he repeatedly threatened neighbors, fired what appeared to be a real handgun into a residential neighborhood, and refused commands to disarm. The court held that the use of deadly force was objectively reasonable under the Fourth Amendment and that the City did not violate the ADA because officers made reasonable
5 min read
Knock, Announce... But Don't Expect Suppression: Florida Supreme Court Rewrites Search Warrant Law
State v. Times, No. SC2024-0647 (Fla. June 25, 2026) TL;DR In a major shift in Florida search-and-seizure law, the Florida Supreme Court held that evidence will no longer be suppressed solely because officers violate Florida's statutory knock-and-announce requirement while executing a valid search warrant. In doing so, the Court expressly overruled its 2010 decision in State v. Cable, aligning Florida with the United States Supreme Court's decision in Hudson v. Michigan. Why
3 min read