FBI raids wrong house in Atlanta; Supreme Court agrees to hear case
Toi, Gabe and Trina (Credit: Institute for Justice)
ATLANTA - The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of an Atlanta family affected by a mistaken FBI SWAT raid on their home.
What we know:
Trina Martin, her son Gabe, and her boyfriend Toi Cliatt are seeking compensation under the Federal Torts Claims Act (FTCA) after their original lawsuit was dismissed by lower courts.
The Institute for Justice (IJ) is representing the family, arguing that the FTCA should allow their case to proceed.
What's the FTCA?
The Federal Torts Claims Act (FTCA) was enacted by the United States Congress in 1946.
It allows private citizens to sue the United States in federal court for most torts – civil wrongs or wrongful acts – committed by persons acting on behalf of the United States.
Essentially, it provides a limited waiver of the federal government's sovereign immunity, which traditionally protected it from being sued without its consent.
FBI mistakenly raids Atlanta family home
The backstory:
In 2017, the family was awakened by a flashbang grenade as FBI agents mistakenly raided their home, believing it to be a different address.
The agents realized their error only after entering the home and interrogating the family.
Toi said one of the agents gave him his supervisor's business card to offer compensation.
Despite the initial apology and promise to discuss compensation, the family said the federal government ultimately did not follow through.
What they're saying:
"What happened to us was deeply unjust, and I’m relieved that the Supreme Court is taking up our fight for justice and accountability," said Martin. "Congress wanted people in our unfortunate position to have the right to sue. When the government harms innocent people, it has a responsibility to make things right."
IJ Senior Attorney Patrick Jaicomo emphasized the need for the Supreme Court to clarify the FTCA's application.
"It’s time for the Supreme Court to make it clear that the FTCA means what it says, and courts have no business carving exceptions into the statute Congress passed," Jaicomo said.
Why you should care:
The case highlights the broader issue of accountability for federal law enforcement actions and would set a precedent on the rights of individuals to seek compensation when wronged.
What's next:
The Atlanta family is hopeful about the Supreme Court's decision to hear the case.
It's not clear yet when that will happen.
The Source: The information in this article was confirmed by the Institute for Justice.