GILBERTSONInvestigations Inc. (239) 571-1840
Use of Force
Self-Defense
False Arrest & Search
Criminal-Defense Support
Police Misconduct
Deficient Investigations
Failure to Train & Monell
Agency Training
From the record $640,000 jury verdict, with the jury crediting the expert testimony. Hunter v. City of Federal Way, W.D. Wash.
Retention $9,000 flat fee · discovery review and the written report Full case history Washington casework · The deepest state record Florida practice · Based in Naples Casework by state · Every state in the file For Retaining Counsel The Library · Guides for counsel
The practice The team · Three experts, over 110 years Professor Gregory Gilbertson (Ret.) Sheriff Robert Snaza · Independent consultant FBI Special Agent Christopher Holland (Ret.) · Independent consultant Law enforcement expert witness · What the discipline covers
Gilbertson Investigations Inc. · Selected Results

Selected results,
on the record.

Direct line: (239) 571-1840  ·  GregoryGilbertson@proton.me

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only

A selection of matters resolved in the client's favor: civil recoveries for plaintiffs and, for the defense, acquittals and dismissals, each with its published citation. This is a selection, not the complete file. The full table of cases, including matters that resolved other ways, is provided to retaining counsel on request.

$41.6MRecovered in the matters below
33Civil recoveries listed
7Acquittals & dismissals listed
23Federal court matters
The experts

Three experts. Over 110 years.

Professor Gregory Gilbertson (Ret.), FBI Special Agent Christopher Holland (Ret.), and Sheriff Robert Snaza consult with attorneys nationwide regarding police practices and procedures, use of force, false arrest, police misconduct, criminal, and self-defense casework.

The team, in full
Portrait of Professor Gregory Gilbertson (Ret.)CEO & Owner
Professor Gregory Gilbertson (Ret.)Police Practices & Use of Force

Thirty-eight years in four uniforms: street cop, soldier, professor, investigator. More than 220 matters in 42 states and D.C. since 2014, with testimony that has not been excluded at trial in any state or federal court.

Full biography
Portrait of Sheriff Robert R. SnazaConsultant
Sheriff Robert SnazaLaw Enforcement Executive · Policy & Training

More than thirty-five years in public safety: twelve years and three terms as the elected Sheriff of Lewis County, Washington, and six years a commissioner of the state board that sets peace-officer training standards.

Full profile
Portrait of Christopher Holland, FBI Special Agent (Ret.)Consultant
FBI Special Agent Christopher Holland (Ret.)Cold Case & Crime Scene Analysis

Forty years of investigative casework, from patrolman in St. Louis County to the FBI in Chicago, and on to task forces in Afghanistan and Liberia. His work on the Idaho student murders is examined in Broken Plea, the New York Times bestseller by Christopher Whitcomb.

Full profile
From the Bench
U.S. District Court Western District of Washington

Never excluded. Professor Gilbertson’s testimony has not been excluded at trial in any state or federal court.

Ruling on a motion to exclude his testimony in Alvarez v. King County, No. C16-0721RAJ, 2017 WL 3189025 (W.D. Wash. July 27, 2017), Judge Richard A. Jones entered the following opinion.

“Mr. Gilbertson’s qualifications demonstrate extensive experience in policing. His expansive work as a police officer in Georgia, with assignments as a SWAT team officer, juvenile court investigator, school resource officer, stakeout squad officer, senior patrolman, and patrolman; then a career as a tenured college professor and university lecturer teaching criminal justice courses to degree-seeking students at colleges and universities, and as a licensed private investigator conducting felony pretrial investigations for attorneys in Washington State in dozens of criminal cases, makes him unique in the field of police expert witnesses. The Court finds that, based on his experience, Mr. Gilbertson’s testimony can be expected to have a reliable basis in knowledge and experience of police practices.”

The Hon. Richard A. Jones United States District Judge
39 matters

  • Monet Carter-Mixon, Estate of Manuel Ellis and Marcia Carter v. City of Tacoma, Christopher Burbank, Mathew Collins, Masyih Ford, Timothy Rankine, Pierce County, et al., Case No 3:2021-cv-05692, Excessive Force.

    2021WashingtonFederal courtUse of forceWrongful death$10.0M recovered

  • The Estate of Joshua Flores v. City of Centralia et al., No. 3:2021-cv-05458, Excessive Force & Civil Rights Violations.

    2021WashingtonFederal courtUse of forcePolice misconductWrongful death$200,000 recovered

  • Estate of Matthew Graves v. City of Eagle Point, OR, D. Or. 20 Or. Lit. Arb. Rpts. 48 Jan. 21, 2020, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and § 1988, Excessive Force.

    2020OregonFederal courtUse of forceWrongful death$4.5M recovered

  • Pellum v. King County, No. 2:20CV01033 (W.D. Wash.) (filed July 2, 2020) Excessive Force; 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

    2020WashingtonFederal courtUse of force$500,000 recovered

  • Joyce v. Pierce County, No. 3:2019-cv-06119, W.D. WA., filed Nov. 22, 2019, 42. U.S.C. 1983 Excessive Use of Force.

    2019Federal courtUse of force$3.5M recovered

  • Maria Guitierrez vs. City of Arlington, WA et al., No. 2019-00021784, False Arrest, Excessive Force & Civil Rights Violations.

    2019WashingtonState courtUse of forceFalse arrestPolice misconduct$300,000 recovered

  • Poplawski v. Pedersen, No. 2:18CV01704, W.D. Wash. 2019, False Arrest.

    2019WashingtonFederal courtFalse arrest$100,000 recovered

  • Horton v. City of Chicago, No. 13-CV-6865, 2018 WL 6505398, N.D. Ill. Dec. 11, 2018, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Excessive Use of Force.

    2018IllinoisFederal courtUse of force$700,000 recovered

  • Lankford v. City of Pullman, No. 2:16-CV-00377-SMJ, 2018 WL 1125644 (E.D. Wash. Mar. 1, 2018, False Arrest.

    2018WashingtonFederal courtFalse arrest$75,000 recovered

  • State of Washington v. Faire, No. 18-1-01062-9 (Snohomish Cty. Super. Ct., filed Apr. 9, 2018) (Theft, Second Degree – Exceeds $750). Case Dismissed.

    2018WashingtonState courtPolice practicesDismissal

  • Taylor v. City of Seattle, No. C18-262 TSZ, 2018 WL 5024029, W.D. Wash. Oct. 17, 2018, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Excessive Use of Force.

    2018WashingtonFederal courtUse of force$1.5M recovered

  • Hunter v. City of Fed. Way, No. C16-1445RSL, 2017 WL 6406019, W.D. Wash. Dec. 15, 2017, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Excessive Use of Force - Trial Testimony.

    2017WashingtonFederal courtUse of force$640,000 recoveredTrial testimony

  • Jane Doe v. City of Sacramento, Sacramento Cty. Super. Ct. Mar. 17, 2017, Police Misconduct, Assault, Battery.

    2017CaliforniaState courtPolice misconduct$1.4M recovered

  • Jason Jackson v. Matthew Carter, 2017, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Excessive Use of Force,.

    2017State courtUse of force$450,000 recovered

  • Hagopian v. Seattle et al, No. 2:15CV01055 (W.D. Wash. June 6, 2016) (42 U.S.C. § 1983, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, Assault.

    2016WashingtonFederal courtPolice practices$100,000 recovered

  • Laquida Cockerham v. City of Chicago, No. 2016-L-001682, Cook Cty. Cir. Ct. filed Feb. 17, 2016, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Excessive Use of Force.

    2016IllinoisState courtUse of force$1.2M recovered

  • Pickens v. City of Orting, No. 3:15CV05529, W.D. Wash. Nov. 10, 2016, Wrongful Termination, 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

    2016WashingtonFederal courtPolice practices$250,000 recovered

  • State of Washington v. Poplawski, No. 16-1-07774-5 (King Cty. Super. Ct., filed Nov. 16, 2016) (False Arrest). Acquittal.

    2016WashingtonState courtFalse arrestAcquittal

  • State of Washington v. Rodney Wheeler¸ No. 16-1-05587-3, King Cty. Super. Ct., filed Oct. 5, 2016, Murder, Second Degree - Acquittal at Trial.

    2016WashingtonState courtHomicide defenseAcquittal$500,000 civil settlement

  • State of Washington v. Alonzo Briant Price-Holt, 15-1-04606-0 (King Cty. Super. Ct., filed Nov. 24, 2015).

    2015WashingtonState courtPolice practices$160,000 settlement

  • State of Washington v. Anthony Salanoa Ili, No. 15-1-05244-2 (King Cty. Super. Ct., filed Aug. 13, 2015) (Assault – 3rd Degree, Self-defense) Acquittal at Trial.

    2015WashingtonState courtSelf-defenseFirearms self-defenseAcquittal

  • State v. Hanson, (New London Super. Ct. 2013), acquitted, Nov. 15, 2013 (Attempted murder; First-degree Assault. Acquittal – Trial Testimony.

    2013ConnecticutState courtHomicide defenseAcquittalTrial testimony

  • Brooke Fortson, Plaintiff, v. City of Los Angeles, A Municipal Entity; Chief Michel Moore, Officer Nicholas Illsley, Officer Jovanna Hernandez; and Does 3-10, Case No. 2:21-CV-00384-CJC.

    CaliforniaFederal courtPolice practices$350,000 recovered

  • Donald Jones as Personal Representative of the Estate of Dante Jones, Plaintiff, v. Franklin County, a municipality, Cody Quantrell, an agent of Franklin County, and Jim Raymond, an agent of Franklin County, WA, NO. 4:22-cv-5138.

    WashingtonFederal courtWrongful death$1.8M recovered

  • Estate of Jesse S. Sarey v. City of Auburn, WA and Officer Jeffrey Nelson, Case No. 19-06470, Excessive Force and Civil Rights Violations.

    WashingtonState courtUse of forcePolice misconductWrongful death$4.0M recovered

  • Fahren James, Plaintiff, v. City of Los Angeles, et al., case No. 2:21-cv-04525-CBM-AS, Excessive Force.

    CaliforniaFederal courtUse of force$500,000 recovered

  • James Faire and Angela Faire v. Okanogan County et al., No. 2:20-CV-00337, Complaint for Damages and Civil Rights Violations.

    WashingtonFederal courtPolice misconduct$850,000 recovered

  • Joseph Allen v. City of Auburn and Officer Jeffery Nelson, Case No. 18-11040, Excessive Force.

    WashingtonState courtUse of force$450,000 recovered

  • Kaala D. Jones vs. City of Conway, AR et al. No. 4:21-cv-205-JM, False Arrest & Civil Rights Violations.

    ArkansasFederal courtFalse arrestPolice misconduct$350,000 recovered

  • Nicholas Stern, Plaintiff, vs. City of Los Angeles, a municipal entity; Chief Michel Moore; Christian Arrue; Nicholas Chacon; David Martin; and Shannon Paulson Does 3-100 inclusive, Defendants, Case No: 2:21-cv-03760-CBM-AS, Excessive Force.

    CaliforniaFederal courtUse of force$150,000 recovered

  • Nikita Tarver, Plaintiff, v. city of Seattle and Several Unknown Officers, Defendants, Case No. 2:22-cv-00736-BJR.

    Federal courtPolice practices$825,000 recovered

  • Olivia Selto as Personal Representative of the Estate of Kevin Peterson Jr. v. County of Clark, Sheriff Chuck Atkins, Sheriff’s Detective Robert Anderson, Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Feller, John and Jane Does 1-10, No. 3:22-cv-5384, Wrongful Death.

    Federal courtWrongful death$1.2M recovered

  • Rita Rivera, as Administratrix the Estate of Tyreas E.K. Carlyle v. The City of Philadelphia Police Officer Carapucci, et al. No 3730, Assault & Battery.

    PennsylvaniaState courtWrongful death$150,000 recovered

  • Robert Hanks and Stephanie Hanks vs. Clark County and Clark County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Lanny Kipp, Deputy Shaun Kays, Deputy Sean Boyles, Deputy Shane Celemenhagen, Deputy Donald Sullivan, and Deputy Samir Vejo, No. 3:22-cv-5359.

    Federal courtPolice practices$150,000 recovered

  • State of Florida v. Ivan Alberti Sierra, Murder 2nd Degree, Self Defense (Deposition), Dismissed.

    FloridaState courtSelf-defenseHomicide defenseFirearms self-defenseDismissalDeposition

  • State of Oregon vs. Jordan Christopher Clark, Murder 2nd Degree, No. 20CR37909, Self-defense, Acquittal, Trial Testimony.

    OregonState courtSelf-defenseHomicide defenseFirearms self-defenseAcquittalTrial testimony

  • The Estate of David Novak v. City of Spokane, Cause No. 21-2-00037-32, Excessive Force & Civil Rights Violations.

    WashingtonState courtUse of forcePolice misconductWrongful death$4.0M recovered

  • The Estate of William Abbe, deceased vs. City of Vancouver et al. No. 3:21-cv-5790, Excessive Force & Civil Rights Violations.

    WashingtonFederal courtUse of forcePolice misconductWrongful death$725,000 recovered

  • Young Choi v. City of Lakewood, David Butts, and Brian Luttrull, Cause No. 3:21-cv-5119, Excessive Force & Civil Rights Violations.

    WashingtonFederal courtUse of forcePolice misconduct$75,000 recovered

About this selection. The matters above are a selection: civil engagements that produced a recovery for the client, and criminal engagements that ended in acquittal or dismissal. They are not the complete casework record, and they are not offered as a success rate. Figures are the amounts recorded in each engagement, and citations are reproduced as filed. Retention does not imply testimony in every matter, and every case turns on its own facts; no result is promised or implied for any other matter. The complete table of cases is provided to retaining counsel on request, and is the document to rely on for disclosure purposes.

Request the full table of cases
Casework by state AlabamaArizonaCaliforniaConnecticutFloridaIllinoisNevadaOhioOregonPennsylvaniaWashingtonWyoming Each page lists that state's matters in the practice file and the results published for it.
In Full

Five matters, start to finish.

The same matters as they were worked: what the case was, how the engagement came about, what retaining counsel said afterward, and how it resolved. Descriptions and figures are as reported by retaining counsel. Every case turns on its own facts; no result is promised or implied for any other matter.

Jury verdictUse of force

Estate of Alfontish Cockerham v. City of Chicago

Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois

The matter.

A 2015 officer-involved shooting, among the most publicized police shooting cases in Chicago that year. A young man was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer while running away; the incident was captured on video, and what the video showed became the contested heart of the case.

The engagement.

Retained by plaintiff's counsel Nenye E. Uche of Uche P.C., Chicago, as the police practices and use of force expert. Counsel found Gregory through a former war crimes prosecutor at the international criminal court in The Hague.

“His deposition and trial testimony was a tour de force. He was especially powerful and effective when confronted by an aggressive cross examination at trial. I interviewed the jury after the verdict. The foreperson specifically noted we would not have won if Professor Gilbertson had not testified.”Nenye E. Uche, Esq. · Uche P.C., Chicago

Disposition. After a two-week trial the jury returned a judgment totaling $1.18 million, as reported by retaining counsel.

Wrongful deathUse of force

The Che Taylor Matter · City of Seattle

Retained December 2019 · James Bible, Attorney at Law

The matter.

In February 2016, Che Taylor was shot and killed by two undercover Seattle police officers under circumstances retaining counsel described as suspicious.

The engagement.

Retained as the police practices and use of force expert. The written report exposed several substandard police practices and officer actions inconsistent with standardized police procedures.

“Professor Gilbertson's insights and analysis helped me secure a 1.5 million dollar settlement with the City of Seattle for the Taylor family.”James Bible, Attorney at Law · Seattle, WA

Disposition. $1.5 million settlement with the City of Seattle, as credited by retaining counsel.

Jury verdictUse of force

Josiah Hunter v. City of Federal Way

U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington · Retained July 2018

The matter.

An excessive force case in which Mr. Hunter was placed in a dangerous choke-hold by a Federal Way police officer.

The engagement.

Analyzed the facts of the case, issued a detailed report, and testified at trial in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington as counsel's use of force expert.

“At trial the jury agreed with Professor Gilbertson's testimony that the officer used excessive force and awarded Mr. Hunter $640,000.00 in damages. His insights, analysis, reports, and trial testimony are always persuasive.”James Bible, Attorney at Law · Seattle, WA

Disposition. $640,000 jury verdict for the plaintiff, with the jury crediting the expert testimony on excessive force.

Federal civil rightsPolice misconduct

Alvarez v. King County

No. C16-0721RAJ, 2017 WL 3189025 (W.D. Wash.)

The matter.

Federal civil rights litigation in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

The engagement.

Police practices analysis for counsel. The full engagement record for this and other federal matters is available to retaining counsel on request.

Criminal defenseSelf-defense

State v. Clark

No. 20CR37909, Multnomah County Circuit Court, Oregon

The matter.

A criminal matter in which self-defense was the central issue.

The engagement.

Self-defense and police practices testimony for the defense, explained to the jury in plain language.

Disposition. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts.

Retain

Discuss a matter of your own.

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only. Conflicts are checked before anything substantive, and you will hear about a conflict immediately.

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For counsel with a matter to scope, or a request for the full table of cases.

Inquiry sent.

You will hear back directly. If the matter is urgent, call (239) 571-1840.

(239) 571-1840Direct line, Naples, Florida GregoryGilbertson@proton.meDirect email, prefilled for this matter.
Nationwide practiceRetained in 42 states and D.C. · Based in Naples, FL

Conflicts are checked before any substantive discussion. Please do not send privileged material with a first inquiry; after retention the record is exchanged on physical media. Gregory consults for attorneys and their staff only, and does not provide legal advice or attorney referrals to individuals.