Firm files lawsuit against Securitas alleging civil rights violations

October 30, 2024 - Firm attorneys Nicholas A. Carlin and Michael D. Levinson filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court on behalf of Plaintiffs Ameer Ali and Nicholas Kincaid against Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. and Michael Koppel for civil rights violations, negligence, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

On March 13, 2024, Defendant Koppel, a private security guard who was employed by Securitas, racially profiled, harassed, and assaulted Mr. Ali, who is Black, and Mr. Kincaid, who is White, while on duty during an incident at Two Embarcadero Center in San Francisco. Mr. Ali and Mr. Kincaid were heading to the Sephora store located within the shopping center when Defendant Koppel, who is White, stopped them for no reason and instructed them “don’t go in there … you’re gonna go steal.” Mr. Ali and Mr. Kincaid questioned the basis for his assumption, which Mr. Kincaid recorded on video, but all Defendant Koppel could say in response was “I’ve been around a long time.” The clear inference was they were stopped due to Mr. Ali’s race.

Further exacerbating the issue, when Mr. Ali and Mr. Kincaid questioned Defendant Koppel’s authority and asked him for identification, Defendant Koppel lifted up his jacket to reveal a handgun and quickly flashed a badge. Mr. Ali and Mr. Kincaid later found out Defendant Koppel was not licensed to carry a concealed weapon, and he was impersonating a peace officer; the badge he flashed was a “Retired Lieutenant” badge from a time he worked as an investigator for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.

Mr. Ali and Mr. Kincaid allege Securitas failed to properly supervise and train Defendant Koppel and is liable to Plaintiffs both directly and vicariously.

As a result of the incident, Mr. Ali and Mr. Kincaid have suffered severe emotional distress in addition to other general damages and seek compensatory, punitive, and statutory damages against all Defendants.

San Francisco television station ABC7 aired a story about the incident shortly after it happened.