Kansas City, MO personal injury attorney Jarrett Johnson talks about some memorable civil rights violation cases he’s handled. Many of the cases he works on are atypical, particularly those where individuals are targeted because of the color of their skin and treated differently as a result.

In one case, Johnson represented an African-American woman who was current on her car payments. One day, she answered a knock on her door and was confronted by a repo man saying, “I’m here to take your car.” The woman pleaded with him to let her contact customer service to prove her payments were up to date, but the repo man refused and attempted to forcibly enter her garage. When she blocked his entry, he assaulted her, beating her severely. The woman suffered lacerations, bruises, and broken bones from head to toe.

Under Missouri law, car dealerships have a “non-delegable duty” to repossess vehicles peacefully, meaning they are legally responsible for any harm caused during the repossession, even if they did not instruct the repo man to use force. The dealership was held liable due to its choice of person to handle the repossession. Johnson was able to secure a settlement for his client from the dealership that sold her the car, holding the company accountable, not just the individual who assaulted her.

Another example of racial discrimination in everyday life occurred when Johnson represented an African-American businessman who entered a major department store to purchase supplies for a contracting project. After purchasing several small items, he placed them and his receipt in his pocket. He was then confronted by a white security guard who accused him of shoplifting. When the businessman attempted to show the receipt, the security guard tackled, cuffed, and beat him.

Further investigation revealed that the department store had failed to check the background of the security guard, who was a former police officer fired for using his police car to stalk his ex-girlfriend. The guard would pull her over by activating his emergency lights. His history of violating others’ rights contributed to the humiliating experience for Johnson’s client. Johnson was able to secure a sizable settlement for the businessman, holding the department store accountable for failing to properly vet its security personnel.