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What Is a Monell Claim? A Monell claim is based on the Monell doctrine, a 1978 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Under this doctrine, individuals can challenge individual law enforcement officers, municipalities, and police policies when misconduct (in certain situations) causes harm or violates their constitutional rights. If you believe you have a valid case, you should discuss your options with a Monell claim lawyer who handles these cases regularly. They will be familiar with this doctrine and how to hold a government agency liable. Because of the nature of their jobs, law enforcement officers must make careful decisions when interacting with the public, pursuing fleeing suspects, and making arrests. Under the Monell decision, victims can seek compensation, accountability, and change from not only the officers involved but also the agency or municipality responsible for the policies that allowed the officer misconduct. For example, victims often use Monell claims when addressing police chase injuries. Many police departments have policies against police pursuits. When an officer engages in a high-speed police chase, innocent victims can suffer injuries. Monell claims provide an effective way to protect an individual’s civil rights and hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct. It also plays a significant role in bringing to light and addressing systemic issues with police policy and overreach.