BALTIMORE, MD — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a Maryland couple who claimed the U.S. Marshals Service was liable for damage to their apartment doors during an arrest, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).

In Smith v. United States Marshals Service, Civil Action No. CJC-24-2560, the plaintiffs — William J. Smith and Marvella Smith — alleged that Marshals broke through two doors at their residence while executing an arrest warrant for William Smith on January 4, 2024. The couple sought compensation for property damage caused during the operation, arguing that the government should pay for repairs.

According to court records, the Marshals Service’s Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrived at Smith’s apartment building to serve a warrant. Officers used a “halogen tool” to breach the locked street-level entrance and then forcibly entered Smith’s upstairs apartment after he refused repeated commands to open the door. Smith was arrested without further incident.

A week later, Mr. Smith filed an administrative claim under the FTCA, demanding damages for the broken doors. The Marshals Service denied the claim, prompting the couple to file a federal lawsuit on September 4, 2024. The government moved to dismiss the case, arguing that sovereign immunity barred the claim because law-enforcement actions during the execution of lawful duties fall outside the scope of the FTCA’s limited waiver of immunity.

U.S. District Judge Catherine J. Cagle agreed, finding that the court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction. In a memorandum opinion issued this month, the judge wrote that the FTCA “does not authorize suits against the United States for property damage arising from discretionary acts performed by law-enforcement officers in the course of executing lawful warrants.”

The court noted that federal officers have statutory authority to use reasonable force when entering a residence to make an arrest, and that such conduct is protected by the FTCA’s “discretionary function” and “law-enforcement” exceptions. Those provisions shield the government from civil liability when officers act within the scope of their duties.

“The Marshals Service officers were executing a valid arrest warrant,” the opinion stated. “The property damage alleged by Plaintiffs was incidental to that lawful execution. Accordingly, this Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain Plaintiffs’ claim.”

The ruling means the Smiths cannot pursue compensation in federal court for the damaged doors. The decision underscores the limits of suing the federal government under the FTCA — a statute that allows certain tort claims against the United States but preserves broad immunity for law-enforcement operations.

The case is closed, and the plaintiffs have the option to appeal the dismissal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.