This was a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of a North Smithfield resident, seeking the return of lawfully possessed weapons that were seized from him by local police for more than six years. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Jason Richer, argued that the N. Smithfield Police Department violated his right to due process and his right to keep and bear arms by retaining his property without just cause. Current Status: Lawsuit settled in July 2019.
In 2015, we filed a similar lawsuit against the City of Cranston.
Jul 10, 2019
Jury Awards N Smithfield Resident $20K in Damages for Unlawful 6-Year Seizure of Weapons by Police
A federal jury today awarded $20,000 in damages to North Smithfield resident Jason Richer as compensation for the violation of his due process rights when the North Smithfield Police Department refused, for six years, to return lawfully possessed weapons they had seized from him, and instead demanded that he obtain a state court order to get his guns back.
Jun 02, 2016
Judge Rules Unlawful Six-Year Seizure of Weapons by North Smithfield Police
A federal judge has ruled that a North Smithfield man’s due process rights were violated when the North Smithfield Police Department refused for over six years to return lawfully possessed weapons that officers had seized from him, and instead demanded that he obtain a state court order if he wanted to get his guns back.
Apr 23, 2015
ACLU Files Lawsuit Over Unlawful Six-Year Seizure of Weapons by North Smithfield Police
The ACLU today filed a lawsuit in federal district court on behalf of a North Smithfield resident, seeking the return of lawfully possessed weapons that were seized from him over six years ago by the local police department and which the department still refuses to return to him. The lawsuit, filed by RI ACLU volunteer attorney Thomas W. Lyons on behalf of Jason Richer, argues that the North Smithfield Police Department has violated his right to due process and his right to keep and bear arms by retaining his property without just cause. The ACLU successfully filed a similar lawsuit against the Cranston Police Department three years ago.
Apr 04, 2022
ACLU, Cranston Settle Major “Search and Seizure” Case that Went to the U.S. Supreme Court
A seven-year legal battle over privacy rights in the home, fought by ACLU of Rhode Island cooperating attorneys in a case that went all to the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, ended today with the filing of a settlement in the case of Cranston resident Edward Caniglia.
Related News & Podcasts
Jul 10, 2019
Jury Awards N Smithfield Resident $20K in Damages for Unlawful 6-Year Seizure of Weapons by Police
A federal jury today awarded $20,000 in damages to North Smithfield resident Jason Richer as compensation for the violation of his due process rights when the North Smithfield Police Department refused, for six years, to return lawfully possessed weapons they had seized from him, and instead demanded that he obtain a state court order to get his guns back.
Jun 02, 2016
Judge Rules Unlawful Six-Year Seizure of Weapons by North Smithfield Police
A federal judge has ruled that a North Smithfield man’s due process rights were violated when the North Smithfield Police Department refused for over six years to return lawfully possessed weapons that officers had seized from him, and instead demanded that he obtain a state court order if he wanted to get his guns back.
Apr 23, 2015
ACLU Files Lawsuit Over Unlawful Six-Year Seizure of Weapons by North Smithfield Police
The ACLU today filed a lawsuit in federal district court on behalf of a North Smithfield resident, seeking the return of lawfully possessed weapons that were seized from him over six years ago by the local police department and which the department still refuses to return to him. The lawsuit, filed by RI ACLU volunteer attorney Thomas W. Lyons on behalf of Jason Richer, argues that the North Smithfield Police Department has violated his right to due process and his right to keep and bear arms by retaining his property without just cause. The ACLU successfully filed a similar lawsuit against the Cranston Police Department three years ago.
Apr 04, 2022
ACLU, Cranston Settle Major “Search and Seizure” Case that Went to the U.S. Supreme Court
A seven-year legal battle over privacy rights in the home, fought by ACLU of Rhode Island cooperating attorneys in a case that went all to the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, ended today with the filing of a settlement in the case of Cranston resident Edward Caniglia.
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