Plumoff v. Rickard Oral Argument

The Supreme Court considered when police are allowed to use deadly force in high-speed car chases. The Court heard oral argument in Plumhoff v. Rickard, docket number 12-1117. In 2004, police in West Memphis, Arkansas, approached Donald Rickard at a gas station, but he would not get out of his car and sped away, leading police on a high-speed chase through traffic. Police then fired 15 shots into Mr. Rickard’s car, killing Mr. Rickard and his girlfriend. Mr. Rickard’s family sued the police. The Supreme Court previously ruled that law enforcement officials are shielded from such lawsuits unless their conduct is egregious. close