Andre D. Thompson has filed a compelling civil rights lawsuit, accusing the City of Shaker Heights of constitutional violations that have plagued him for over two decades. The complaint was filed on November 20, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division. Thompson’s allegations against Shaker Heights stem from a conviction he claims was fundamentally flawed due to the state’s failure to disclose critical information.
In 2002, at just 22 years old, Andre D. Thompson faced charges of domestic violence in Shaker Heights Municipal Court. He entered a no contest plea without knowing that the state’s sole witness had failed to appear twice despite being subpoenaed. The court had even issued a contempt summons for this witness, highlighting the lack of evidence necessary to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Thompson alleges that he was never informed about these crucial developments, making his plea neither knowing nor voluntary. For more than twenty years, he has suffered emotionally and financially due to what he calls an unconstitutional conviction.
Thompson’s lawsuit outlines several causes of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, including violations of his Fourteenth Amendment rights and malicious prosecution. He argues that his plea was invalid because it was based on misinformation about the strength of the state’s case. “Had I been informed of these critical facts,” Thompson states in his affidavit, “I would not have entered a plea under any circumstances and would have insisted on dismissal.” His legal filing also accuses Shaker Heights of failing to train its prosecutors adequately and allowing unconstitutional practices to persist within its municipal court system.
The plaintiff is seeking substantial relief from the court: compensatory damages exceeding $20 million for emotional distress, financial losses, and reputational harm; punitive damages to deter future misconduct; and other forms of relief deemed just by the court. He details how this wrongful conviction has led to PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, multiple suicide attempts, and severe economic instability due to lost job opportunities and reduced earning capacity.
Representing himself pro se in this legal battle is Andre D. Thompson. The case is presided over by Judge Calabrese with Magistrate Judge Sheperd assisting in proceedings under Case No.: 1:25-cv-02535-JPC.
Source: 125cv02535_Thompson_v_City_of_Shaker_Heights_Complaint_Northern_District_Ohio.pdf
