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Civil rights suit cleared to proceed in fatal police shooting

Civil rights claims against two Philadelphia police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Brandon Tate-Brown in 2014 were cleared to proceed Monday, despite a federal judge tossing several counts alleged in a lawsuit filed by his family.

Civil rights claims against two Philadelphia police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Brandon Tate-Brown in 2014 were cleared to proceed Monday, despite a federal judge tossing several counts alleged in a lawsuit filed by his family.

In a 20-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell denied a request from Tate-Brown's mother to turn her case into a class-action lawsuit - a move that would have opened the door for others who say they were subjected to excessive police force join in the civil action.

Tate-Brown, a 26-year-old African American man, was fatally shot in December 2014 after a struggle following a traffic stop in Mayfair. The District Attorney's Office has said it does not intend to pursue a criminal case against officers.

His lawsuit alleges the shooting was racially motivated and accuses officers of tampering with the scene to make it appear as if Tate-Brown had been the aggressor in the struggle. - Jeremy Roebuck