Edward E. Powell v. Roger C. Levit

Edward Powell brought this civil rights suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against several police officers, alleging that the officers arrested him without probable cause and with the use of excessive force. The jury found for the defendants. On appeal Powell challenges the district court’s admission of impeachment evidence of Powell’s sixteen-year old criminal conviction and his juvenile record. We find that the admission of the evidence was prejudicial error and therefore reverse.

The events of the evening of June 9,1976 that led to Powell’s arrest were the subject of sharp dispute between Powell…