Emily Weinman excessive force case Settled in Pennsylvania federal Court
In 2018, the arrest of Emily Weinman drew international attention due to the excessive and unnecessary use of force by police officers. Ms. Weinman, who was 20 at the time, was enjoying a day at the beach with her 18-month old daughter and Aunt. Police officers Thomas Cannon and Robert Jordan approached Ms. Weinman after seeing two unopened cans of Twisted Tea lying against a cooler. The officers demanded she take a breathalyzer, Ms. Weinman complied and passed as she had not consumed any alcohol. Ms. Weinman explained that the beverages belonged to her aunt who was returning shortly and suggested that the officers wait for her arrival. Knowing that she had done nothing wrong, Ms. Weinman refused to provide the officers with her last name, at which point a verbal altercation begins as the officers accuse Ms. Weinman of not respecting them. Ms. Weinman backs away from the cops, and says “Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me,” at which point Officer Cannon says “Alright, you’re about to get dropped”. The officers proceed to tackle Ms. Weinman to the ground, yanking her around by the hair, twisting her arm behind her back, and choking her. While Ms. Weinman is on the ground screaming, the officer then begins to repeatedly punch her in the face and head. The distressed Ms. Weinman screams during this encounter that she has done nothing wrong, that they have no right to beat her, and beg them to stop as infant daughter watches nearby. The officers arrest then Ms. Weinman on aggravated assault and resisting arrest, indictable offenses which were based on fabricated statements of Officers Cannon and Jordan. She eventually plead guilty to disorderly conduct and all other charges were dismissed. This assault left Ms. Weinman with significant mental anguish, humiliation, emotional pain, and continuing injuries and damages.
The Bonjean Law Firm represented Ms. Weinman in a 2020 federal lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against The City of Wildwood, Officer Cannon, Officer Jordan, and Lieutenant Kenneth Gallagher. The Bonjean Law Firm demonstrated how Ms. Weinman’s constitutional rights had been violated, how the intention of Officer Cannon was to assault, not arrest, Ms. Weinman, how the officers made false statements in police reports, sworn complaint summons, and to a Grand Jury. Bonjean Law brought seven claims: excessive force, fabricated evidence, failure to intervene, conspiracy, a Monell claim against the City of Wildwood, assault and battery, and civil conspiracy. Rather than facing the Bonjean Law Firm in court and risking a jury’s verdict, the City reached a settlement to Ms. Weimman’s satisfaction.