A LawtonCates, S.C. client received a $1.25 million settlement related to a civil rights lawsuit alleging police misconduct.
Thomas Maulson, a 45-year-old Ojibwe man, claimed that Sheriff’s Deputy Will Taege tripped him while handcuffed in a Rhinelander Walmart parking lot, causing him to fall and hit his head. Blood was seen streaming across his face in a surveillance video.
The lawsuit sought damages related to the lasting effects of the injury. The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office charged Maulson with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, which were later dismissed.
Dixon R. Gahnz, who represented Maulson, said that these results provided justice to the victims.
“Mr. Maulson was the victim of a road rage incident, and rather than treat him as such, he was arrested and badly injured,” Gahnz said. “All criminal charges were dismissed before our involvement in this case. The combination of the civil settlement and the dismissal of the charges provides some measure of justice for Mr. Maulson and his family.”
What Happened During the Arrest at the Rhinelander Walmart?
Both the lawsuit and the dropped criminal charges stem from an incident in a Rhinelander Walmart parking lot on March 30, 2024.
According to news reports, Maulson was involved in a road rage incident with another driver.
The two pulled into the parking lot where a physical altercation occurred, but it was soon resolved, and the other driver drove away. Maulson was in his vehicle with his wife and children, ages 7 and 3, when the deputy arrived to check on the reported disturbance.
An eyewitness to the events told Deputy Taege that Maulson was not the aggressor in the earlier altercation and that the other individual had already left the scene.
The deputy then approached Maulson’s vehicle and asked for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. Maulson, who had them in his hand but did not hand them over, was pulled from the vehicle from the deputy.
Taege handcuffed Maulson and was leading him toward his squad car.
At one point Maulson turned his head toward Taege. Taege pushed Maulson on his shoulder to create distance, and Maulson fell to the ground. Taege said he does not recall tripping Maulson, but acknowledges that their feet were in close proximity.
Since Maulson was handcuffed and unable to break his fall, he fell forward and landed on his face, incurring “significant injury to his knee and head”. Moments afterward, another officer appeared to lift Maulson, and on the dashcam video, blood is seen streaming from his face.
He later needed 13 stitches above his right eye, and he suffered medical issues affecting his vision and orientation.
Why Were the Criminal Charges Dismissed?
On April 1, 2024, two days after the incident, Maulson was charged with two misdemeanors: disorderly conduct (as party to a crime) and resisting or obstructing an officer, both misdemeanors.
Both charges, however, were later dismissed. His defense attorney argued for dismissal upon learning that the sheriff’s department failed to retain/preserve the audio of the original 911 call that sent Taege to the parking lot in the first place.
How Did the Fourth Amendment Excessive Force Lawsuit Unfold?
Working with LawtonCates, S.C., Maulson brought forth two claims against Taege in his civil complaint, filed on July 30, 2025:
- One claim under the Fourth Amendment accusing Taege of using excessive and objectively unreasonable force against him
- One claim for punitive damages due to Taege allegedly acting “maliciously, with intentional disregard and deliberate indifference” to Maulson’s rights
In his response to the lawsuit, Taege denied both using excessive force and tripping Maulson, claiming that he acted in good faith. He blamed Maulson’s own conduct for his injuries.
A trial was initially set for September 14, and the parties reached a settlement a few days before the trial was set to occur.
Excessive Force Lawsuits and the Fourth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.
If a government agent seizes a person in an unreasonable way, then they could be found to be in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The legal framework of this interpretation was established in Graham v. Connor (1989).
If you have questions about your rights following an altercation with law enforcement and are curious about an excessive force lawsuit, our attorneys can help. Our firm has been fighting for the injured since 1958, and we can help you and your family if you’ve been affected by an act of negligence.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights.
Disclaimer: past results are not guarantees of future outcomes. Each case depends on its own set of circumstances.
