Supreme Court Allows Family to Sue FBI Over Mistaken Home Raid

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday that a family whose home was mistakenly raided by FBI agents in 2017 can proceed with their lawsuit against the federal government. The case involves Curtrina Martin, her partner, and her then-7-year-old son, whose Atlanta-area home was entered by a six-agent SWAT team that believed they were targeting a gang member's residence. The Court's decision overturns lower court rulings that had previously blocked the family's ability to seek damages.

Justice Neil Gorsuch authored the Court's opinion, which sends the case back to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for further review. During the 2017 incident, FBI agents reportedly used a battering ram on the front door, detonated a flash-bang grenade, and held family members at gunpoint before realizing they had targeted the incorrect address. The family was represented by the Institute for Justice, a libertarian public interest law group that argued their case before the Supreme Court.

The legal question centered on exceptions to the federal government's general immunity from lawsuits. Congress amended the Federal Tort Claims Act in 1974 to expand Americans' ability to sue federal law enforcement following similar wrong-house raids. The 11th Circuit had previously sided with the government, ruling that the Constitution's Supremacy Clause barred such claims when an official's actions had connections to federal policy implementation.

During April arguments before the Supreme Court, Justice Gorsuch expressed skepticism toward the government's position, questioning whether basic verification steps like checking street signs should be expected of federal agents. The Justice Department had contended it should not be liable because federal law prohibits tort suits when federal employees exercise discretion in performing their duties, arguing that agents used discretion in confirming the house location. The Court's ruling represents a procedural victory for the Martin family, though the ultimate outcome of their lawsuit remains to be determined.

This case highlights ongoing legal questions about government accountability and the balance between federal immunity and citizens' rights to seek redress for damages. The Supreme Court's decision specifically addresses the technical legal question of whether such lawsuits can proceed, rather than determining final liability for the raid itself. The case will now return to lower courts for additional proceedings consistent with the Supreme Court's guidance.