Civil Rights

Steve Haney has earned a reputation as a standout civil‑rights litigator,  in cases involving police misconduct and excessive‑force claims as well as in areas of discrimination and offering equal opportunity to his clients. A recent high‑stakes case illustrates exactly why Haney is considered “elite.” In the matter involving the Michigan State Police (MSP), the state agreed to settle an excessive force lawsuit after a federal judge — upon viewing video evidence — rejected the officers’ claim to qualified immunity. The judge’s willingness to let the case proceed, rather than dismiss it on immunity grounds, underscores how compelling the factual record was and how effective the advocacy needed to be to overcome one of the most formidable hurdles in civil‑rights work (i.e., immunity defenses).

That outcome vividly demonstrates Haney’s ability to marshal factual, visual, and constitutional arguments in a way that persuades even cautious courts to deny immunity and allow full adjudication of rights claims. Due to this, Steve Haney doesn’t just litigate civil rights cases — he leads them, setting benchmarks in cases like the MSP matter where immunity is rejected, video dictates the narrative, and justice can move forward.