False Imprisonment and Deprivation of Civil Rights: Boyd v. County of Genesee

Sommers Schwartz attorneys Matthew Turner and Michael McCullough filed a lawsuit on behalf of a man alleging false imprisonment and deprivation of his civil rights against the County of Genesee, Michigan and several of the Sherriff’s deputies employed by the County.

George E. Boyd was arrested on April 7, 2022. The court set a $40,000 bond for pretrial release. After his bondsman posted the bond, he was told to come back and pick it up.  Genesee County deputies told him and Mr. Boyd that he could not be released because he was subject to a federal hold for alleged crimes involving a minor.  No such hold existed as this was a case of mistaken identity.   

Genesee County agents eventually obtained confirmation that there were no federal charges against Mr. Boyd. However, they did not inform him that he was entitled to be released on bond. Mr. Boyd was wrongfully held at the Genesee County Jail until July 8, 2022, after which the Genesee County Prosecutor’s office eventually dismissed all of the charges against him.

During Mr. Boyd’s wrongful incarceration, he was the victim of an assault by another inmate that was motivated by the nature of the alleged charges. Mr. Boyd also lost his job and was prevented from obtaining his electrical journeyman’s license.

The complaint alleges that the intentionally wrongful and deliberately indifferent conduct of the Genesee County Deputies and jail employees caused the unconstitutional imprisonment, delayed investigation into the error, and caused him to remain wrongfully incarcerated in violation of his civil rights.

Plaintiff seeks compensation for his pain and suffering, mental anguish, mental anxiety, humiliation, embarrassment, and depression. He also claims economic losses, including but not limited to the loss of past and future wages and earning capacity.