Paw v. Neeley et al

On February 23, 2026, in Lakewood, Colorado, David Paw, a 28-year-old Asian-American man, was stopped by Officer Michael Neeley for an alleged traffic violation. During the stop, a confrontation ensued, and Neeley deployed a taser and physically struck Paw, causing severe injuries including a broken orbital bone. Paw filed a federal lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Neeley, the police chief, and the city, alleging excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment, false arrest, and racial discrimination. Body camera footage partially captured the incident, but Neeley claimed Paw resisted. The case drew national attention to police accountability and anti-Asian bias.

The jury found in favor of Paw, awarding $2.8 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The city settled related policy claims and agreed to implement enhanced de-escalation training and mandatory body-worn camera review audits.

Whether Officer Neeley's use of force was objectively unreasonable under the circumstances, whether the stop was racially motivated, and whether the city had a pattern of failing to discipline officers for misconduct.

The verdict prompted widespread calls for police reform, particularly regarding traffic stop procedures and anti-Asian hate crime awareness. Advocacy groups cited the case as a landmark for Asian-American civil rights, leading to congressional hearings on bias in policing.