4/15/14 - A civil rights lawsuit is moving forward in federal court involving a man challenging a traffic stop in the City of Howell. The case is being heard in U.S. District Court in Ann Arbor, with Judge John Corbett OâMeara presiding. Christopher Bailey of Canton Township alleges his rights were violated by Howell Police Officer Luke Lorenz during a September 2011 traffic stop. The civil suit seeks $500,000 in damages and also names the City of Howell and Police Chief George Basar as defendants. Bailey, formerly of Fowlerville, alleges Lorenz wrongfully stopped his vehicle when he left a high school reunion and arrested him but also claims illegal search and seizure, denial of due process and malicious prosecution surrounding his refusal to submit to a chemical test. The City sought to dismiss the lawsuit but that motion was denied. It defends the officer had probable cause to stop, detain and arrest Bailey and is further entitled to the cloak of Qualified Immunity. The City maintains that Baileyâs having entered a plea to expired license plates, no proof of insurance and careless driving is virtually an admission of probable cause. Initial disclosures were due Tuesday and the federal suit remains in the discovery phase, which is expected to conclude in July. (JM)
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