Part 8/12:
The case of Khari Illidge exemplifies this obstacle. In 2013, Illidge, unarmed and suffering a mental health crisis, was hogtied and tased 19 times by Alabama deputies, resulting in his death. Despite apparent excessive force, the officers claimed qualified immunity, and courts sided with them because no prior case established such conduct as unlawful. This standard effectively protects officers from lawsuits even in egregious violations of rights, perpetuating systemic impunity.