Do you offer a free consultation for startups?

Yes. The Rhodes Law Firm offers a free initial consultation — no obligation, no pressure.

What legal services do you offer for startups and entrepreneurs?

We offer corporate formation, contract drafting, outside general counsel, IP protection, regulatory compliance, and investor agreement support for startups in Louisiana and nationally.

Do you handle divorce and child custody cases in Louisiana?

Yes. The Rhodes Law Firm provides compassionate family law representation including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, spousal support, and adoption throughout Louisiana.

How much does a family law attorney cost in New Orleans?

The Rhodes Law Firm offers a free initial consultation so you can understand your options before making any financial commitment. Contact us at (504) 475-0975 to get started.

Where is The Rhodes Law Firm located?

The firm is based in New Orleans, Louisiana and serves clients statewide and nationally.

How do I contact The Rhodes Law Firm?

Call (504) 475-0975 or schedule a consultation at therhodeslawfirm.com.

Can I sue a police officer for excessive force?

Yes. A Section 1983 claim for excessive force is based on the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable seizures. To succeed, you must show the officer used more force than was objectively reasonable under the circumstances. Courts consider the severity of the crime, whether the subject posed an immediate threat, and whether the subject was actively resisting. Qualified immunity is the primary defense.

What is overdetention in Louisiana?

Overdetention occurs when an individual is held in custody beyond their lawful release date — for example, after a sentence is complete, bail is posted, charges are dropped, or a court orders release. Overdetention violates the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. The Rhodes Law Firm has experience in overdetention claims and has won at the federal appellate level on this issue.

How long do I have to file a civil rights claim?

Section 1983 claims in Louisiana are subject to the state's general personal injury prescriptive period of 1 year from the date of the constitutional violation. Missing this deadline bars the claim. Certain tolling rules may apply for minors or where the violation was fraudulently concealed. Consult an attorney immediately if you believe your rights were violated.

What damages are available in a civil rights case?

Compensatory damages (actual damages for injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress), punitive damages (against individual officers in cases of malicious or reckless conduct), nominal damages (when a right was violated but no actual harm occurred), and attorney's fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988. Damages against municipalities and counties require proof of an unconstitutional policy or custom (Monell liability).

Can I sue a city or parish for civil rights violations?

Yes, but municipal liability under Section 1983 (Monell v. Dept. of Social Services) requires showing that the constitutional violation resulted from an official municipal policy, custom, or practice, or a failure to train. You cannot sue a municipality simply because one of its officers violated your rights — you must show a broader institutional failure.

What constitutional rights are most commonly violated?

The most frequently litigated constitutional violations in civil rights cases include: Fourth Amendment (unreasonable searches, excessive force, false arrest); First Amendment (free speech, retaliation for protected expression); Fourteenth Amendment (due process, equal protection); and Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment, conditions of confinement). Each constitutional theory has its own elements and standards.

What should I do if my civil rights were violated?

1) Seek medical attention if injured; 2) Document everything — injuries, location, badge numbers, witness names; 3) Preserve any video or photographs; 4) Do not provide written statements to government officials without legal counsel; 5) Contact a civil rights attorney immediately — the 1-year prescriptive period in Louisiana begins to run from the date of the violation.

Practice Area

Civil Rights Attorney — Louisiana

Jonathan M. Rhodes is an experienced Louisiana civil rights litigator representing individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated by government actors. Practice areas include police misconduct, excessive force, overdetention, Section 1983 federal civil rights claims, First Amendment retaliation, and government accountability litigation. Serving New Orleans, Metairie, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, and statewide Louisiana. Free consultation: (504) 475-0975.

Request a Consultation (504) 475-0975

Practice Areas

Civil Rights Legal Services

Police Misconduct & Excessive Force

Section 1983 claims for unlawful force, false arrest, unlawful searches, and Fourth Amendment violations.

Overdetention Claims

Held beyond your lawful release date? Jonathan Rhodes has won federal appeals on overdetention. We fight for you.

Section 1983 Federal Civil Rights

42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims against government officials who violated your constitutional rights under color of law.

First Amendment Retaliation

Government retaliation for protected speech, assembly, or petition. Your constitutional rights are non-negotiable.

ICE & DHS Rights Violations

Constitutional protections for individuals subjected to unlawful immigration detention or civil rights violations.

Why Jonathan Rhodes

A Proven Civil Rights Litigator

Jonathan M. Rhodes has dedicated a significant portion of his practice to civil rights and constitutional litigation — holding government officials accountable when they violate the rights of the individuals they are sworn to protect. His experience in federal court, including at the appellate level, makes him a formidable advocate for civil rights plaintiffs.

Jonathan has experience with overdetention claims — one of Louisiana's most persistent civil rights issues — and has won at the federal appellate level on behalf of clients held beyond their lawful release dates. This experience gives him deep insight into the procedural, constitutional, and strategic dimensions of civil rights litigation.

The Rhodes Law Firm takes civil rights cases seriously because the stakes are serious — your constitutional rights are not abstractions. They are the most fundamental protections you have against the power of the state.

Federal court experience including appellate litigation
Overdetention — federal appellate experience
Police misconduct and excessive force claims
Section 1983 constitutional litigation
Government accountability and municipal liability
Free initial consultation — confidential

Key Takeaways in Civil Rights Cases

1-Year Deadline

Louisiana's prescriptive period for Section 1983 claims is 1 year from the date of the constitutional violation. Act immediately.

Document Everything

Preserve injuries (photographs), officer badge numbers, witness names, and any video footage — request from dashcam, bodycam, and surveillance before it is deleted.

Qualified Immunity Is Not a Bar

Qualified immunity is a serious obstacle but can be overcome. The law is evolving in plaintiffs' favor in many circuits.

Municipal Liability Requires More

To hold a city or parish liable, you need evidence of an unconstitutional policy or custom — not just a single officer's bad act.

Written & Reviewed By

Jonathan M. Rhodes

Attorney at Law — The Rhodes Law Firm

Practice Areas: Civil Rights Litigation, Section 1983, Overdetention · Last Updated: October 1, 2026

Serving: Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana

Civil Rights Knowledge Center

Know Your Constitutional Rights

What Is a Civil Rights Lawsuit?

The basics of civil rights litigation.

What Is Section 1983?

How to sue government officials.

What Is Qualified Immunity?

The doctrine and its limits.

Can I Sue a Police Officer?

Excessive force and police misconduct.

Overdetention Claims in Louisiana

Held beyond your release date.

Civil Rights Lawyer New Orleans

Orleans Parish civil rights representation.

Civil Rights Lawyer Metairie

Jefferson Parish civil rights representation.

Louisiana Legal Resource Center

All legal resources.

Service Areas

Civil Rights Attorney by Location

Civil Rights Lawyer New Orleans

Orleans Parish

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Civil Rights Lawyer Metairie

Jefferson Parish

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Civil Rights Lawyer Jefferson Parish

All of Jefferson Parish

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Civil Rights Lawyer Louisiana

Statewide Representation

Learn More →

Authoritative Civil Rights Resources

42 U.S.C. § 1983 — Civil Rights Statute (Cornell LII) ↗U.S. DOJ Civil Rights Division ↗U.S. DOJ — Special Litigation Section (Police Misconduct) ↗ACLU of Louisiana — Civil Rights Resources ↗Louisiana Human Rights Act — La. R.S. 51:2231 et seq. ↗Fourth Amendment — U.S. Constitution (Cornell LII) ↗Fourteenth Amendment — Equal Protection & Due Process ↗Southern Poverty Law Center — Civil Rights Resources ↗

Civil Rights Law — Frequently Asked Questions

Protect Your Constitutional Rights

Louisiana's prescriptive period for civil rights claims is 1 year. Do not wait. Free initial consultation.

Request a Free Consultation (504) 475-0975