Muehler v. Mena

Officers Muehler and Brill (defendants) obtained a warrant to search a suspected gang member's home for weapons and gang evidence; a SWAT team secured the home and detained occupant Iris Mena (plaintiff) and others at gunpoint, handcuffing them in the garage for two to three hours while officers found weapons, drugs, and gang evidence inside. An INS officer separately questioned the detained occupants, including Mena, about their immigration status. Mena sued under section 1983, and a jury found the length of detention and force used unreasonable, awarding her $60,000; the court of appeals affirmed, holding the prolonged handcuffing, the failure to release Mena once she appeared non-dangerous, and the immigration questioning all violated the Fourth Amendment.