Police Brutality Lawsuit Loans
Is a Police Brutality Lawsuit Loan a Loan?
Not in the way a bank means it. A traditional loan is repaid no matter what, with monthly payments and interest that grows over time. A police brutality lawsuit loan is non-recourse, which means repayment comes only from your settlement. There are no monthly payments, no interest-bearing balance hanging over you, and nothing to repay if you do not win. We look at the strength of your case, not your credit or income, and your home and savings are never at risk.
You will see it called a police brutality lawsuit loan, police misconduct funding, or a civil rights lawsuit cash advance. The words vary. The structure does not. You are selling a small portion of a settlement you have not received yet, and the funder is paid back only if there is one. Here is the practical difference:
| Feature | Pre-Settlement Funding | Traditional Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Credit check required | No | Yes |
| Monthly payments | None | Required |
| Repayment if you lose | $0 | Full balance still owed |
| Based on | Case strength | Credit and income |
| Risk to personal assets | None | Yes |
For the full mechanics, read how pre-settlement funding works before you apply.
Why Police Misconduct Cases Take So Long
Most police brutality cases are federal civil rights claims, and they are some of the hardest-fought cases in the system. The other side is a city or county with public lawyers and a strong incentive to delay. According to The Marshall Project, US cities have paid more than $3 billion to settle misconduct lawsuits, but those settlements often come only after years of litigation. Three features of these cases explain the wait, and each is a reason funding helps.
Section 1983 Claims
Most of these cases are brought under a federal civil rights law, 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, which lets you sue officials who violate your constitutional rights while acting under color of law, such as excessive force under the Fourth Amendment.
Qualified Immunity
Officers often raise qualified immunity, a defense that can shield them unless they violated a clearly established right. Fighting it, including appeals that can pause the case, is the single biggest reason these lawsuits run long.
Suing the City
Holding a city or department liable usually requires showing a policy, custom, or pattern of misconduct, known as a Monell claim. That takes records and discovery, but it is also where the deepest pockets, and the largest settlements, are found.
Many victims drop strong cases simply because they cannot afford to wait. That is the outcome funding is built to prevent. A cash advance covers your bills and medical care so your attorney can push past the immunity fight and hold out for the full value of your claim, instead of settling early out of desperation.
Police Misconduct Cases We Fund
If your civil rights were violated by law enforcement and you have an attorney handling the case, it may qualify for funding. The most common claims we see are below.
Excessive Force
Beatings, unjustified Taser or pepper-spray use, chokeholds, and other force well beyond what the situation called for, leaving you with serious injuries.
Wrongful Death & Shootings
Fatal shootings and in-custody deaths. Surviving family members can bring a civil rights and wrongful death claim, and that claim can qualify for funding.
Wrongful Arrest & False Imprisonment
Arrest or detention with no probable cause, including being held in jail on charges that should never have been brought.
Malicious Prosecution
Charges pursued without probable cause and later dismissed or resolved in your favor, often built on fabricated evidence or a coerced statement.
Illegal Search & Seizure
Unlawful stops, searches, and seizures that violate your Fourth Amendment rights, including warrantless entries and wrong-address raids.
Jail & In-Custody Injury
Injury, denied medical care, or assault while in jail or police custody, where the facility failed to protect a person in its care.
We also fund racial profiling, First Amendment retaliation, and other civil rights claims. See the full list of cases we fund, or just apply and ask.
Who Qualifies for Police Brutality Funding?
- You have a pending police misconduct or civil rights claim, or are a surviving family member in a wrongful death case against law enforcement.
- An attorney is representing you on a contingency-fee basis and will coordinate the transaction with us.
- There is a government defendant or insurance behind the claim to recover from, which is almost always the case.
You do not need good credit, proof of income, a co-signer, or money for an application fee. We fund based on the strength of your case, not your finances. Not sure your situation fits? The application and review are free, so apply and we will tell you within 24 to 48 hours.
How Much Can You Get, and How Fast?
The amount depends on the strength of your case, its likely settlement value, and how long it may take to resolve. Most advances run up to $100,000, with more available for catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. As a rough guide, the total funded amount is kept at or below 10% to 20% of your expected net settlement after attorney fees. You do not have to take the maximum, and a smaller draw now keeps your total fees lower.
Approval is fast because there is no credit check or financial paperwork. Most applicants get a decision within 24 to 48 hours, and funds are usually sent within 24 hours of signing. The slowest step is getting documents back from your attorney’s office, so a responsive law firm means faster funding.
What Does It Actually Cost?
The cost is a fee that builds over time and is paid only at settlement. Two things drive the total. First, how long your case takes to resolve, because fees stop building when the case ends. Since civil rights cases can run for years, this matters. Second, the rate schedule in your contract, which is set at the time of the advance and disclosed in writing before you sign.
Before you sign any pre-settlement contract, ask to see a chart showing exactly what you would owe back if the case settled at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. Reputable funders disclose every fee in dollars, not just percentages. If a funder will not give you that chart, walk away. Several states cap legal funding costs and require specific disclosures, and your contract reflects the rules of the state where you live and where your case is filed. We do not stack compounding fees on top of compounding fees, so you know the maximum you could ever owe back the day you sign.
Police Brutality Lawsuit Loan FAQs
Is a police brutality lawsuit loan really a loan?
No, not in the bank sense. It is non-recourse funding, repaid only from your settlement and only if you win. There are no monthly payments and no interest-bearing balance. If your case does not recover, you owe nothing, which is why your credit, income, and employment are never part of the decision.
What types of police misconduct cases qualify?
Excessive force, wrongful death and police shootings, wrongful arrest and false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, illegal search and seizure, jail and in-custody injury, racial profiling, and other civil rights violations. If law enforcement violated your rights and you have an attorney, apply and we will review it.
What if I lose my case?
You owe nothing. Not the original advance, not the accrued fees, not a single dollar. We absorb the entire loss. That is the core feature of non-recourse funding, and the reason these advances cost more than a bank loan. We take the case risk so you do not have to.
How much can I get, and how fast?
Most advances run up to $100,000, with more on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, usually kept at or below 10% to 20% of your expected net settlement. Approval is fast: most applicants get a decision within 24 to 48 hours, and funds arrive within about 24 hours of signing.
What is Section 1983 and qualified immunity?
Section 1983 is the federal law that lets you sue officials who violate your constitutional rights while acting under color of law. Qualified immunity is a defense that can protect officers unless they violated a clearly established right, and fighting it is the main reason these cases run long. This is general information, not legal advice. Your attorney handles these issues; we just provide the funding to help you wait out the fight.
Do I qualify if criminal charges against me are still open?
It depends. Funding is based on your civil claim, not a criminal case, but related open charges can affect the timing and value of the civil case. The best thing to do is apply and let your attorney walk us through the situation. We will tell you honestly whether funding makes sense right now.
What does it cost?
There is a fee tied to how much you receive and how long the case takes. Before signing, ask to see your total repayment at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months in actual dollars. It costs more than a bank loan because we are paid back only if you win and take the case risk instead of you. A reputable funder gives you that chart without pressure.
Does funding affect my case or my attorney’s control?
No. Your attorney stays in full control of your case, and funders play no part in legal strategy or settlement decisions. Our only role is coordinating repayment when the case settles. Funding actually helps protect your case by taking the pressure off, so you are not forced to accept a low offer just to pay the bills.
