Case: Henderson v. Gromek
2:13-cv-01645 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Filed Date: Nov. 19, 2013
Closed Date: 2014
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Case Summary
On November 19, 2013, an African-American school teacher filed this lawsuit in the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The plaintiff sued under the Declaratory Judgment Act against a Pittsburgh police officer on the grounds of an unlawful arrest and detainment of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, represented by the ACLU, asked for compensatory and punitive damages, alleging that the officer violated his First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment Rights when the officer detained the plaintiff for 12 hours and pursued false charges against the plaintiff because the plaintiff criticized the officer's unsafe driving. In addition, the plaintiff alleged that the officer violated his First Amendment right to be from retaliation of expressive conduct when the officer placed the plaintiff and another observer in handcuffs when they attempted to record the interaction with the officer.
The charges that were brought against the plaintiff were dropped and the city of Pittsburgh reached a settlement, acknowledging the improper actions of the officer. According to the ACLU, the settlement included the police acknowledging the public's right to video tape police officers, regular meetings between police and members of the community, and damages awarded to the plaintiff in the amount of $52,500.
Summary Authors
Daniel Fryer (11/4/2015)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13162759/parties/henderson-v-gromek/
Mitchell, Robert C. (Pennsylvania)
Campbell, Bryan (Pennsylvania)
Downey, Glen (Pennsylvania)
Love, James H. (Pennsylvania)
Genard, Allison N. (Pennsylvania)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Resources
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13162759/henderson-v-gromek/
Last updated Aug. 22, 2026, 5:04 a.m.
Docket for: HENDERSON v. GROMEK
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 19, 2013
Closing Date: 2014
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
African-American teacher falsely arrested and detained
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Private Entity/Person
Jonathan Gromek
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Constitutional Clause(s):
Unreasonable search and seizure
Other Dockets:
Western District of Pennsylvania 2:13-cv-01645
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Provide antidiscrimination training
Amount Defendant Pays: 52,500
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Race(s):
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Over/Unlawful Detention (facilities)
Policing:
Case Summary of Henderson v. Gromek, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/14250/ (last updated 11/4/2015).