Opinion ID: 798283
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Civil Lawsuit

Text: In early 2009, while still in bankruptcy, the Guays were subjects of a police investigation into alleged violations of state environmental protection laws. [1] On March 25, 2009, defendant Sean Ford, a Concord, New Hampshire police detective, secured search warrants allowing extensive excavation of two properties owned by the Guays. During execution of the warrants on March 25 and 26, officers also searched the Guays' home, which was not included in either warrant. The officers also denied the Guays and their tenants access to other properties the couple owned for which no warrant was obtained. The search caused extensive damage to the Guays' properties and was widely reported in television and print media. On June 26, 2009, Kevin Guay, acting pro se, filed suit in federal court under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Ford and various other defendants claiming a violation of his Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. [2] He also raised state law claims of malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. A month later, Lorraine Guay, also pro se, filed a substantially similar suit and the district court ordered the two actions consolidated.