Philadelphia Family Court
PHILADELPHIA – Security measures and a lack of guards place visitors of Philadelphia’s family court in danger, says a lawsuit filed by a man who was attacked there.
Tyriek Newell went through metal detectors and X-ray machines to determine if he was bringing in a prohibited firearm or other weapon, a lawsuit filed Feb. 25 in Philadelphia federal court says. That prevented him from being able to protect himself against two men who attacked him on the third floor, he says.
The suit alleges violations of Newell’s constitutional rights and that there weren’t enough security guards present to protect visitors - and that the ones who were there weren’t adequately trained.
“It was the lack of staffing in the Philadelphia Family Court – a direct result of the Sheriff’s policies – that was the driving force behind the injuries to Mr. Newell,” the suit says.
Newell went to the courthouse in February 2024 with his niece, but a fight broke out after two men started menacing and attacking “individuals who were either with Mr. Newell’s party or in the general vicinity,” the suit says.
Deputies present did not intervene as the incident turned physical, Newell says. He was hit in the face and head and suffered a concussion, he adds. Another visitor recorded the fight, and the two men were arrested by Philadelphia police officers.
Philadelphia sheriff Rochelle Bilal failed to fill funded security-guard positions despite an increase in violence in courthouses in recent years, the suit says. Money earmarked for training was diverted to pay for executive positions and non-union office staff, it says.
“While these policy decisions may not have been facially unconstitutional, they nevertheless amounted to deliberate indifference to the safety of citizens inside of courthouses including the Philadelphia Family Court,” the suit says.
Jason Javie represents Newell.
