Supreme Court declines to dismiss excessive force claim against Michigan police officer

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Michigan police officer Phillip Reinink regarding an excessive force claim related to a protest following the death of George Floyd. The incident occurred on May 30, 2020, when Reinink deployed tear gas during a disturbance in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He mistakenly used a canister intended for aerial deployment, which injured protester Sean Hart. A police investigation deemed Reinink's actions unreasonable, resulting in a two-day suspension. The case involves the legal doctrine of qualified immunity, which typically protects police from civil rights claims. While Reinink's appeal was denied, two justices expressed support for him. A federal judge had previously dismissed Hart's claim, but the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later ruled in Hart's favor, stating that Reinink should have known that his actions constituted unlawful use of force.