Appeals court rules that Minneapolis doesn’t need to defend ex-officer in chokehold lawsuit

The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday ruled that the City of Minneapolis doesn’t have to defend a former officer in a civil rights lawsuit.

RELATED: DOJ’s report shows MPD officers resisted chokehold ban after George Floyd murder | Minneapolis police officer collected $175K in workers’ comp after he was accused of lying about excessive force

The lawsuit alleges that Alexander Brown violated the plaintiff’s civil rights in August of 2020 when he hit the plaintiff with a baton, punched him and then put him in a chokehold, causing him to lose consciousness.

Brown requested legal defense and indemnification from the city, but the city denied his request, stating his actions constituted malfeasance in office, willful neglect and bad faith, according to the ruling.

In May 2021, the city told Brown that he was being investigated for alleged violations of the police department’s policies — specifically the department’s bans on neck restraints and chokeholds.

The plaintiff filed the lawsuit in February of 2024, and Brown requested defense and indemnification from the city shortly after. The city denied Brown’s request, so he appealed, claiming the city exceeded its statutory authority and violated his constitutional rights to due process.

The Court of Appeals sided with the city, writing that the city’s decision “is supported by substantial evidence,” and that the city did not err when it determined that Brown committed malfeasance in using the chokehold.

Read the full ruling below:

OPa242003-101325Download
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