MICHAEL CHRESTMAN, as Next Friend to Melissa Wooden v. METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE; BENJAMIN WILLIAMS; BRANDON LOPEZ - Articles

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MICHAEL CHRESTMAN, as Next Friend to Melissa Wooden v. METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE; BENJAMIN WILLIAMS; BRANDON LOPEZ

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Sep 16, 2025

Court: 6th Circuit Court (Published Opinions)

Attorneys 1: ARGUED: Kyle Mothershead, RELENTLESS ADVOCACY, PLLC, Brentwood, Tennessee, for Appellant.

Attorneys 2: ARGUED: Allison L. Bussell, METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY, Nashville, Tennessee, for Appellees.

Attorneys 3: ON BRIEF: Kyle Mothershead, Brian Daniel Mounce, RELENTLESS ADVOCACY, PLLC, Brentwood, Tennessee, for Appellant.

Attorneys 4: ON BRIEF: Allison L. Bussell, Melissa Roberge, METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY, Nashville, Tennessee, for Appellees.

Judge(s): GILMAN, DAVIS, and MATHIS, Circuit Judges

Court Appealed: United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee at Nashville

MATHIS, Circuit Judge. This case arises out of an unfortunate incident in which Melissa Wooden, in the throes of a mental-health crisis, called 911 and asked for police to kill her. Three police officers responded and saw Wooden holding a bat and a pickaxe. One of the officers told Wooden that she would not be harmed. Less than ten minutes after arriving at the scene, that officer tased Wooden and another officer shot her. Michael Chrestman, on Wooden’s behalf, sued the two officers who harmed her and the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (“Metro Nashville”) under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging excessive force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The officers moved to dismiss the complaint, asserting qualified immunity. The district court granted the officers’ motion to dismiss and Metro Nashville’s motion for judgment on the pleadings. Because the complaint plausibly alleges that the officers violated Wooden’s clearly established rights when they tased and shot her, and because the district court erred in granting Metro Nashville’s motion, we reverse in part and vacate in part.

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