Gregory Grant and Jordan Barkey Secure Summary Judgment for Michigan County and School Resource Officer

CMDA Law attorneys Gregory Grant and Jordan Barkey obtained summary judgment for a Michigan county and a sheriff’s deputy serving as a school resource officer, resolving all claims against both defendants in a federal civil rights lawsuit. Grant served as lead counsel on the case.

In its October 9, 2026 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan granted the defendants’ motion in its entirety. The lawsuit arose from an encounter involving an elementary school student and alleged unlawful detention, excessive force, and inadequate training or supervision by the county.

Body-worn camera footage played a central role in the Court’s analysis. After reviewing the circumstances and the video record, the Court determined that the student’s brief detention did not violate the Fourth Amendment. It also rejected the excessive force claims, finding, among other things, that the deputy had responded to the student’s complaints about the handcuffs by checking them twice.

Having found no underlying constitutional violation, the Court granted summary judgment to the deputy on qualified immunity grounds and dismissed the related claim against the county.

The decision underscores the importance of a well-developed factual record and careful analysis of the circumstances surrounding an encounter in defending civil rights litigation.

CMDA represents municipalities and law enforcement professionals in complex litigation involving constitutional claims, governmental liability, and related matters.

About Gregory Grant

About Jordan Barkey