Legal
Colorado ACLU Cases

Legal Department Docket, 2002-Present

Case Name: Jane Doe v. North Metro Drug Task Force
Case Number: 04-B-722 (MJW), United States District Court, District of Colorado
ACLU Case Number: 2003-10

Description: This lawsuit, filed on behalf of a woman from one of Denver's northern suburbs, alleges that the North Metro Drug Task Force made her strip naked in the parking lot of her condominium in full view of her neighbors and male law enforcement officers and forced her to submit to a humiliating and degrading "decontamination" ritual that had no legitimate purpose whatsoever. The "decontamination" took place after the Task Force had thoroughly searched the woman's home looking for a nonexistent methamphetamine laboratory. In addition to failing to find a meth lab, the law enforcement officers found no dangerous chemicals and failed to detect any of the volatile vapors that pose a potential risk to public safety. They did find a small personal-use quantity of methamphetamine and arrested the woman for possession. The lawsuit alleges that in the absence of a meth lab or any dangerous fumes, the degrading "decontamination" ritual served no arguable law enforcement or public safety purpose.

Issues: Police Practices, Right of Privacy

ACLU of Colorado Attorneys: Norton Cutler, Chantell Taylor, Mark Silverstein

Links to Selected Documents:

News Release, April 12, 2004: "ACLU sues North Metro Drug Task Force on behalf of woman forced to strip naked in full view of neighbors"

First Amended Complaint, filed April 14, 2004

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