united states district court eastern district of … · abdullah, and zainab abdullah....

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UNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURTEASTERNDISTRICTOFMICHIGAN

SOUTHERNDIVISION

ESTATEOFLUQMANA.ABDULLAH, )byitspersonalrepresentative, )MUJAHIDCARSWELL, ) ) CaseNo. Plaintiff, ) Hon. ) Magistrate:v. ) )UNIDENTIFIEDFBIAGENTS,intheir )individualcapacities;jointlyandseverally; ) ) Defendants. ) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________/

COMPLAINTANDJURYDEMAND_______________________________________________________________________________________________________/

Plaintiff, ESTATE OF LUQMAN AMEEN ABDULLAH, through its personal

representative,MUJAHIDCARSWELL,andbyitsundersignedcounsel,statesasfollows:

Parties

1. Thedecedent,LuqmanA.Abdullah (“Abdullah”),wasa residentofWayneCounty,

andwasatalltimesrelevant,acitizenoftheUnitedStates.

2. MujahidCarswellisAbdullah’soldestbiologicalsonandhasbeendulyappointedas

thepersonalrepresentativeoftheEstateofLuqmanA.Abdullah.

3. Abdullah is survived by his widow, Amina Abdullah, and ten biological children,

Mujahid Carswell, Amatuallah Carswell, Maryam Carswell, Jamil Carswell, Asiyah

Abdullah, Muhammad Abdullah, Shuaib Abdullah, Maimunah Abdullah, Zakiyyah

Abdullah,andZainabAbdullah.

2:12-cv-14766-LPZ-MJH Doc # 1 Filed 10/26/12 Pg 1 of 9 Pg ID 1

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4. Defendants Unidentified FBI Agents are employed by the Federal Bureau of

Investigation (“FBI”), and include agents involved in the tactical operation that

resulted in the shooting death of Abdullah. The tactical operation included a

combinationoftheFBI‐DetroitSpecialWeaponsandTacticsTeam(the“FBI‐Detroit

SWATTeam”),theFBIDetroitJointTerrorismTaskForce(the“FBI‐DetroitJTTF”),

the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (the “FBI HRT”), and the FBI canine team. The

UnidentifiedFBIAgentsarebeingsuedintheirindividualcapacities.

JurisdictionandVenue

5. UnderU.S.Const.Art.III§2,thisCourthasjurisdictionbecausetherightssoughtto

be protected herein are secured by the United States Constitution. Jurisdiction is

properpursuantto28U.S.C.§1331,Bivensv.SixUnknownNamedAgentsofFederal

BureauofNarcotics,403U.S.388(1971),andfederalcommonlaw.

6. A substantial part of the unlawful acts alleged hereinwere committedwithin the

jurisdictionoftheUnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheEasternDistrictofMichigan.

7. Venueisproperunder42U.S.C.§1391(e)astoallDefendantsbecauseDefendants

areofficersofagenciesof theUnitedStatessued in their individualcapacitiesand

becausethisjudicialdistrictiswherePlaintiffresidesandwhereasubstantialpart

oftheeventsoromissionsgivingrisetotheclaimsoccurred.

FactualBackground

8. OnOctober28,2009,atapproximately12:04p.m.,Abdullah,alongwithfourother

men,wereatawarehouselocatedat5171MillerRd.,Dearborn,Michigan.


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9. Abdullahandthefourmenwereloadingboxesataloadingdockatthewarehouse.

10. Uponinformationandbelief, thewarehousewasunderthecontroloftheFBIwho

leasedthewarehouseinanundercovercapacity.

11. OnOctober28,2009,atapproximately12:04p.m.,FBIagentssetoffnoiseandflash

bang tactical diversionary devices that caused the disorientation of Abdullah and

theotherfourmeninthewarehouse.

12. On October 28, 2009, at approximately 12:04 p.m., approximately thirty

UnidentifiedFBIAgents consistingof theFBI‐Detroit SWATTeam, theFBI‐Detroit

JTTF, the FBI HRT, and the FBI canine team (together “FBI tactical team” or

“Unidentified FBI Agents”), entered thewarehouse and surrounded Abdullah and

thefourothermen.

13. The members of the FBI tactical team were clothed in clearly marked tactical

uniformsthatread“FBI.”

14. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsorderedthefivemen,includingAbdullah,to“Getdown

ontheground!”

15. All fivemen, includingAbdullah, immediately showedbothof theirhandsandgot

downfacedownonthegroundwiththeirarmsoutstretchedinfrontofthem.

16. Abdullah and the fourmen did not pose a threat to the Unidentified FBI Agents’

safety.

17. Abdullahlaiddowninsideatrailerfacingeastward,theleftsideofhisbodyclosest

totheentranceofthetrailer.

18. AnUnidentifiedFBIAgentdeployedanFBIK‐9named“Freddy”intothetrailerand

inthedirectionofAbdullah.


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19. TheFBIK‐9repeatedlyattackedandmauledAbdullah,causingsevereinjuriestohis

leftarm,including,butnotlimitedto,hiselbow,backarm,innerarm,andforearm.

20. AbdullahrolledontohisrightsideandgrabbedtheFBIK‐9withbothofhishandsin

anattempttodefendhimselfandpreventtheFBIK‐9fromfurthermaulinghim.

21. AsAbdullah struggledwith theFBIK‐9,Abdullah’s body turned such that hewas

lying on his back and facing westward, the left side of his body closest to the

entranceofthetrailer.

22. TheFBIK‐9repeatedlyattackedandmauledAbdullah’sface,causingsevereinjuries

to, including but not limited to, his forehead, upper eyelid, left cheek, lower lip,

lowerjaw,andbothhands.

23. TheFBIK‐9 toreoffadenturedevice in theroofofAbdullah’smouth,andcaused

Abdullah’supperjawtobreak.

24. Uponinformationandbelief,whileAbdullahwasonhisbackandtheFBIK‐9was

repeatedlymauling, includingbutnot limited to, his face, left arm, andhands, the

UnidentifiedFBIAgentsfiredapproximatelytwentyroundsatAbdullah.

25. Theroundswerefiredat,andnotlimitedto,Abdullah’schest,abdomen,lefthip,left

leg,scrotumandback,causinghispainfuldeath.

26. The Unidentified FBI Agents failed to provide Abdullah with, and/or denied the

provisionof,propermedicalattention.

27. The Unidentified FBI Agents purposely, knowingly, recklessly, improperly and

without cause used excessive force by deploying the FBI K‐9 to attack andmaul

AbdullahandfiringapproximatelytwentyroundsatAbdullah,causinghiswrongful

death.


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28. A sworn affidavit signed by one of the four men, Muhammad Abdul Salaam, is

referenced as an Exhibit to this Complaint. Muhammad Abdul Salaam is an

eyewitnesstotheeventsthatresultedinAbdullah’sdeath.

COUNTI

WrongfulDeath

29. Plaintiffherebyreallegesandincorporatesbyreferencetheforegoingparagraphsof

thisComplaintasiffullysetforthherein.

30. Asstatedmorefullyabove,theactionsoftheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,

2009,amounttoexcessiveuseofforceandconductsorecklessandunreasonableas

todemonstratemalicious and sadistic intent to cause injuryorwrongful death to

Abdullah, or substantial lack of concern for whether injury or wrongful death to

Abdullahwould result, in violation of the United States Constitution,Bivens v. Six

UnknownNamedAgents of FederalBureau ofNarcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and

MCLA691.1407(2).

31. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgents owedAbdullah, thedecedent, a duty tousedue care

undertheUnitedStatesConstitution,Bivensv.SixUnknownNamedAgentsofFederal

BureauofNarcotics,403U.S.388(1971),andMCLA691.1407(2).

32. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsviolatedthatdutyandotherfederallegalobligationsby

their excessive use of force and by demonstrating a deliberate indifference to

whetherAbdullahwouldsufferinjuryorwrongfuldeathbydeployinganFBIK‐9to

attackandmaulhimand firingapproximately twentyroundsatAbdullah, causing

hisdeath.


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33. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgents intentionallyand/orwith recklessdisregard failed to

usesuchcareanddiligencetoavoidAbdullah’sinjuriesandwrongfuldeath.

34. Abdullahsufferedinjuriesanddiedasadirectandproximateresultoftheactionsof

theUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,2009describedabove.

35. BytheactionsoftheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,2009describedabove,

the Unidentified FBI Agents breached the duty of care owed to Abdullah and

proximately causedhim to suffer economic andnon‐economicdamages, including

but not limited to, conscious pain and suffering, and pain and physical injuries,

whichultimatelyresultedinhiswrongfuldeath.

36. Plaintiff,onbehalfoftheEstateofLuqmanA.Abdullah,andallindividualsentitled

todamagesunderMCLA691.1407(2), requests all damages that are fair and just,

including,withoutlimitation,thefollowing:

i. Reasonablemedical,funeralandburialexpenses;

ii. Reasonablecompensation forconsciouspainandsuffering,andpain

andphysicalinjuries,Abdullahsufferedbeforehisdeath;and,

iii. LossessufferedbyAbdullah’snextofkinasresultofAbdullah’sdeath,

including the loss of financial support, loss of services, loss of

consortium,lossofgiftsandothervaluablegratuities,lossofparental

training and guidance, loss of society and companionship, and all

otherlossessuffered.

WHEFEFORE, Plaintiff requests a judgment against Defendants for compensatory

damages inwhatever amount the jury findsnecessary, and furtherdemands a judgment

against individual Defendants for punitive damages for whatever amount the jury finds


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necessary,plusallsuchotherreliefthisCourtdeemsjustandequitable,includingcostsand

attorneys’feesincurredinthisaction.

COUNTII

ViolationoftheFourthandFifthAmendmentstotheUnitedStatesConstitution

37. Plaintiffherebyreallegesandincorporatesbyreferencetheforegoingparagraphsof

thisComplaintasiffullysetforthherein.

38. Defendants violated Plaintiff’s constitutionally protected rights under the Fourth

andFifthAmendmenttotheUnitedStatesConstitution,including,butnotlimitedto,

1)therighttobefreefromtheuseofexcessiveforce,2)therighttoliberty,personal

safety,medicalcareandprotection,and3)therightnottobedeprivedoflibertyand

lifewithoutdueprocess.

39. The Unidentified FBI Agents violated their duty of care and other federal legal

obligations by their excessive use of force and by demonstrating a deliberate

indifference to whether Abdullah would suffer injury or wrongful death by

deploying an FBI K‐9 to attack and maul him and firing approximately twenty

roundsatAbdullah,causinghiswrongfuldeath.

40. The Unidentified FBI Agents knew or should have known that their acts were in

violationofAbdullah’sconstitutionalrights,including,butnotlimitedto,theuseof

excessiveforce,thefailuretoprovideforAbdullah’spersonalsafety,andthefailure

to provide and/or allow the provision of proper medical attention to Abdullah,

therebyproximatelycausingthelossofAbdullah’slife.


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41. TheUnidentifiedFBIAgents intentionallyand/orwith recklessdisregard failed to

usesuchcareanddiligencetoavoidAbdullah’sinjuriesandwrongfuldeath.

42. Abdullahsufferedinjuriesanddiedasadirectandproximateresultoftheactionsof

theUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,2009describedabove.

43. BytheactionsoftheUnidentifiedFBIAgentsonOctober28,2009describedabove,

the Unidentified FBI Agents proximately caused Abdullah to suffer economic and

non‐economicdamages, includingbutnot limited to, consciouspainandsuffering,

andpainandphysicalinjuries,whichultimatelyresultedinhiswrongfuldeath.

44. Plaintiff,onbehalfoftheEstateofLuqmanA.Abdullah,andallindividualsentitled

todamagesunderMCLA691.1407(2), requests all damages that are fair and just,

including,withoutlimitation,thefollowing:

iv. Reasonablemedical,funeralandburialexpenses;

v. Reasonablecompensation forconsciouspainandsuffering,andpain

andphysicalinjuries,Abdullahsufferedbeforehisdeath;and,

vi. LossessufferedbyAbdullah’snextofkinasresultofAbdullah’sdeath,

including the loss of financial support, loss of services, loss of

consortium,lossofgiftsandothervaluablegratuities,lossofparental

training and guidance, loss of society and companionship, and all

otherlossessuffered.

WHEFEFORE, Plaintiff requests a judgment against Defendants for compensatory

damages inwhatever amount the jury findsnecessary, and furtherdemands a judgment

against individual Defendants for punitive damages for whatever amount the jury finds


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necessary,plus all suchother relief thisCourtdeems just and equitable, including costs

andattorneys’feesincurredinthisaction.

JURYDEMAND

NOWCOMESPlaintiff, through its personal representative andby its undersigned

counsel,andherebydemandstrialbyjuryoftheabove‐referencedcausesofaction.

Respectfullysubmitted,AKEEL&VALENTINE,PLLC /s/ShereefAkeel________________ SHEREEFH.AKEEL(P54345)

AttorneyforPlaintiff888W.BigBeaverRd.,Ste.910Troy,MI48084Phone:(248)269‐[email protected]

SWIFT&MCDONALD,P.S. /s/CharlesSwift________________ CHARLESSWIFT(WA#:41671)

AttorneyforPlaintiff 18097thAvenue,Suite1108

Seattle,WA98101Phone: (206)204‐[email protected]

COUNCILONAMERICAN‐ISLAMICRELATIONS,MICHIGAN /s/LenaMasri__________________ LENAF.MASRI(P73461)

AttorneyforPlaintiff21700NorthwesternHwy.,Ste.815Southfield,MI48075Phone:(248)559‐2247

[email protected]:October26,2012


2:12-cv-14766-LPZ-MJH Doc # 1-1 Filed 10/26/12 Pg 1 of 4 Pg ID 10

united states district court eastern district of … · abdullah, and zainab abdullah....

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