Adams v. Pettway

On December 5, 2025, John Adams, a 29-year-old African American man, was shot three times by Montgomery Police Officer Michael Pettway during a traffic stop. Police claimed Adams reached for a weapon; dashboard footage revealed he was holding a cell phone. Adams survived but sustained permanent spinal injuries resulting in paralysis. In January 2026, Adams filed a federal lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging excessive force, unlawful seizure, and violation of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The incident occurred amid nationwide scrutiny of police conduct, and Adams' legal team argued the officer ignored clear signs that Adams was unarmed.

In April 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama denied Officer Pettway's motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity, ruling that a reasonable jury could find the force excessive. Pettway filed an interlocutory appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, which is pending as of June 2026. No final judgment has been entered.

Whether Officer Pettway's use of deadly force was objectively reasonable under the circumstances, and whether the doctrine of qualified immunity protects Pettway from liability given the disputed facts concerning the perceived threat.

The case intensified national protests against police brutality and systemic racism, becoming a rallying point for advocates seeking to reform or abolish qualified immunity. It drew comparisons to landmark cases like Graham v. Connor and Kisela v. Hughes, and influenced legislative debates on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act at both state and federal levels.