Evansville seeks favorable ruling in firefighter's lawsuit

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - The city of Evansville is asking a federal judge to rule in its favor in a black firefighter's lawsuit alleging two white police officers violated his constitutional rights during a traffic stop.

George Madison Jr.'s lawsuit alleges the Evansville police officers pulled him over in August 2013 on the basis of his race and violated his Fourth Amendment rights through the use of excessive force, unreasonable seizure and unlawful arrest. The Evansville firefighter's suit seeks $700,000 in damages.

The Evansville Courier & Press reports (http://bit.ly/15XWGwW ) city attorneys filed a court motion Tuesday asking a judge to declare Madison's lawsuit without merit and factual basis.

It also says Madison made more than two dozen Facebook posts and provided statements to police that he didn't believe the traffic stop was racially motivated.

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com