Filipovits & Smith, LLC

Family of DeKalb County man sues county, police officers after deadly welfare check The family of Arben Pilici has filed a lawsuit against DeKalb County after he suffocated in the back of a police car during a February 2024 welfare check at his home.

Filipovits & Smith attorneys appeared on WABE's "Closer Look with Rose Scott" yesterday to discuss the lawsuit about the death of Arben Pilici in police custody. Listen here: www.wabe.org/family-of-de...

Family lawsuit alleges man died after being restrained during welfare check - SaportaReport Read Family lawsuit alleges man died after being restrained during welfare check by Adrianne Murchison for SaportaReport here.

Coverage in @saportareport.bsky.social of our new lawsuit filed on behalf of the family of Arben Pilici: 'Family lawsuit alleges man died after being restrained during welfare check' saportareport.com/family-lawsu...

DeKalb County mother sues after son dies in police restraint The family of a DeKalb County man who died after being restrained on his stomach by police said in a federal lawsuit this week that his civil rights were violated.

The AJC covers our new lawsuit filed on behalf of the family of Arben Pilici: 'DeKalb County mother sues after son dies in police restraint' www.ajc.com/news/2026/02...

DeKalb Co. family files complaint after man with mental illness allegedly dies while in police custody; calls for better training The family of 49-year-old Arben Pilici called police for help after he refused to go to his appointment to renew mental health prescriptions, but it turned deadly.

11Alive covers our new lawsuit filed on behalf of the family of Arben Pilici: "DeKalb Co. family files complaint after man with mental illness allegedly dies while in police custody; calls for better training" www.11alive.com/article/news...

Fulton Sheriff’s Office settles open records lawsuit for $75,000 The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has paid $75,000 to settle an open records lawsuit after unlawfully withholding video of a woman being choked by a jailer, according to law firm

Coverage by @appenmedia.bsky.social of our work in an Open Records case: 'Fulton Sheriff’s Office settles open records lawsuit for $75,000' www.appenmedia.com/news/fulton-...

Fulton County facing lawsuits over homestead exemptions In recent years, Fulton County has come under fire for retroactively revoking homestead exemptions when someone dies, then billing heirs or co-owners for multiple years of back taxes. Two proposed cla...

"Fulton County facing lawsuits over homestead exemptions" www.wabe.org/fulton-count...

Mother files lawsuit against medical providers at Bartow, Cherokee jails after son dies The lawsuit claims Bradley Fullerton died at the Bartow County Jail on Oct. 17, 2023, after having seizure activity for 45 minutes.

Atlanta News First covers a newly filed lawsuit with representation from Spears & Filipovits: "Mother files lawsuit against medical providers at Bartow, Cherokee jails after son dies" www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/09/24/m...

Two lawsuits challenge Fulton’s retroactive homestead exemption clawbacks  Heirs and co-owners have been hit with crushing bills for back property taxes, the lawsuits say.

Two lawsuits challenge Fulton’s retroactive homestead exemption clawbacks 

Heirs and co-owners have been hit with crushing bills for back property taxes, the lawsuits say.

Jail staff ignored man having a seizure until he died in GA, mom’s lawsuit says “He was the most resilient and amazing human, and this world was richer for having him in it.”

The Miami Herald covers a newly filed suit with representation from Spears & Filipovits: "Jail staff ignored man having a seizure until he died in GA, mom’s lawsuit says" www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...

Spears & Filipovits is among the firms and attorneys who "lead this week's edition of Law360 Legal Lions, after the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Constitution's supremacy clause cannot shield the federal government from Federal Tort Claims Act suits." www.law360.com/pulse/articl...

VICTORY!!! Supreme Court Sides with Family in Wrong House Raid Case

In April, the Court heard argument in Martin v. United States.

Today we won!
ij.org/press-releas...

#WrongHouseRaid #MartinVUS #SCOTUS #SupremeCourt

Woman sues Atlanta officer for allegedly leaving her topless in squad car Incident – which included masked officer opening car to take a photo of her – took place during Swat-style raid

Yet another ex. of how state response to movement against “Cop City” training center has led me to stories I never thought I’d have to write:
@neonflag.bsky.social @micahh.bsky.social
@dnbrgr.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

The FBI mistakenly raided their Atlanta home. Now the Supreme Court will hear their lawsuit The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in a yearslong legal battle over an FBI raid on the wrong Atlanta house.

A SWAT team broke down an innocent family’s door. But when they tried to get justice, the court slammed its doors in their face.

Tomorrow, we take this fight to #SCOTUS. 🏛️

Today, you can hear the full backstory from @apnews.com:

Law enforcement raids on the wrong home are alarmingly frequent and destructive. An effective legal remedy is essential for their victims. We're proud to back @ij.org as they take their case to #SCOTUS.
engage.nlg-npap.org/node/200643
@spearsfilipovits.bsky.social @yalelawschool-yls.bsky.social

Lawsuit claims Fulton Co. retroactively removing homestead exemptions from heir homes Under state law, heirs are eligible for property tax breaks even while they finalize their parents’ estates.

WSB-TV coverage of homeowners' lawsuit against Fulton County with representation from Spears & Filipovits and Atlanta Legal Aid: 'Lawsuit claims Fulton Co. retroactively removing homestead exemptions from heir homes' www.wsbtv.com/news/local/f...

Jeff Filipovits is among the featured interview subjects in the new podcast "We Came to the Forest," about the "Stop Cop City" protests and the police killing of Manuel Esteban Paez Terán. wondery.com/shows/we-cam...

Lawsuit claims Fulton County oversteps its power in practice that retroactively raises homeowners' taxes A new lawsuit claims Fulton County is retroactively raising people’s taxes – even while state law doesn’t give the county that power.

A @wabe.org report about our recently filed suit: 'Lawsuit claims Fulton County oversteps its power in practice that retroactively raises homeowners' taxes' www.wabe.org/fulton-count...

Attorney Jeff Filipovits speaks at a lectern bearing the State Bar of Georgia seal, accompanied by a slide explaining laws regarding false arrest.

Spears & Filipovits partner Jeff Filipovits was a featured speaker last week at the annual Section 1983 civil rights litigation seminar at the State Bar of Georgia. Partner Brian Spears is the co-chair and co-host of the program, which provides continuing legal education to civil rights attorneys.

Justices take up case on right to sue over mistaken SWAT raid - SCOTUSblog The Supreme Court will weigh in on whether a Georgia family whose home was mistakenly raided by an FBI SWAT team can sue the federal government for the error. Just over six hours after the justices is...

Spears & Filipovits is serving as additional counsel in this wrong-house SWAT raid case just accepted for review by the U.S. Supreme Court. www.scotusblog.com/2025/01/just...

Two Fulton County homeowners, represented by Spears & Filipovits and Atlanta Legal Aid, filed suit this week over a property tax collection system that retroactively removed their homestead exemptions and illegally charged them thousands of dollars. Read more here: civil-rights.law/press-releas...

Family attorney for 'Stop Cop City' protester says lawsuit confronts unchecked police powers This Saturday will mark two years since the death of environmental activist Manuel Esteban Paez Terán. They were fatally shot by Georgia State Troopers during a reported “clearing operation” at the si...

Attorney Jeff Filipovits speaks on "Closer Look with Rose Scott" on @wabe.org: "Family attorney for 'Stop Cop City' protester says lawsuit confronts unchecked police powers" www.wabe.org/family-attor...

Parents of Forest Defender Killed by Police File Civil Rights Lawsuit - UNICORN RIOT DeKalb County, GA – The parents of slain forest defender Manuel ‘Tortuguita’ Paez Terán filed a civil rights lawsuit Tuesday against three Georgia law enforcement officers they say are most responsibl...

The parents of slain forest defender Manuel ‘Tortuguita’ Paez Terán filed a civil rights lawsuit Tuesday against three Georgia law enforcement officers they say are most responsible for the death of their child in January 2023.

unicornriot.ninja/2024/parents...

Family of Slain ‘Stop Cop City’ Activist Sues in Pursuit of Answers - Capital B News - Atlanta Paez Terán’s parents say they have been denied answers about the circumstances surrounding their child’s death

Capital B Atlanta @capitalbatl.bsky.social : "Family of Slain ‘Stop Cop City’ Activist Sues in Pursuit of Answers" atlanta.capitalbnews.org/cop-city-law...

Family of ‘Cop City’ protestor files lawsuit against 3 law enforcement officers The suit accuses the defendants of violating the First Amendment to free speech and the Fourth Amendment to protect Americans from unreasonable searches or seizures.

Atlanta News First: 'Family of ‘Cop City’ protestor files lawsuit against 3 law enforcement officers' www.atlantanewsfirst.com/video/2024/1...

Family files new lawsuit in 2023 death of Atlanta training center protester The suit filed Tuesday seeks answers from officers involved in planning the `clearing operation’ outside the Atlanta public safety training center.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 'Family files new lawsuit in 2023 death of Atlanta training center protester' www.ajc.com/news/crime/f...

Family of ‘Cop City’ activist shot dead by Georgia police sue officers involved Complaint alleges fourth amendment rights of Manuel ‘Tortuguita’ Paez Terán were violated during 2023 raid

The Guardian: 'Family of ‘Cop City’ activist shot dead by Georgia police sue officers involved' www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...

Family of 'Cop City' activist who was killed by troopers files lawsuit The family of an environmental activist shot and killed by state troopers near the site of a planned Atlanta-area police and firefighter training center activists call “Cop City” has filed a lawsuit a...

Washington Post: 'Family of 'Cop City' activist who was killed by troopers files lawsuit' www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...

Tortuguita’s parents sue police for civil rights violations against slain forest defender – Atlanta Community Press Collective Attorney Jeff Filipovits speaks at a press conference announcing a civil rights lawsuit brought by the parents of slain environmental activist Manuel

atlpresscollective.com/2024/12/17/t...

The parents of Manuel "Tortuguita" Paez Teran, an environmental protester killed by police while opposing Atlanta’s Public Safety Training Center, today filed a civil rights lawsuit with representation from Spears & Filipovits and @loevy.com. Read our press release: civil-rights.law/press-releas...