GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A trial date has been set in the civil wrongful death lawsuit against former Grand Rapids Police officer Christopher Schurr in the death of Patrick Lyoya.
According to court documents, the jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 19, 2026, in Kalamazoo. The trial is estimated to last three weeks.
Lyoya family alleges excessive force in suit against ex-officer
The 12-page civil lawsuit was filed in federal court in 2022 by Lyoya’s family. It accuses Schurr of violating Lyoya’s Fourth Amendment protections against excessive force and of gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct under state law.
Ex-officer’s appeal in Patrick Lyoya civil suit dismissed
Last year, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati dismissed Schurr’s appeal in the civil case, citing “lack of appellate jurisdiction.” Schurr’s attorneys have argued he is protected by qualified immunity, which, generally speaking, prevents officers from being sued for actions they took in the line of duty.
The city of Grand Rapids was previously removed from the Lyoya family’s lawsuit, but the family’s attorneys were attempting to get it added again.
Prosecutor will not retry Christopher Schurr in Patrick Lyoya’s death
Schurr was previously charged with second-degree murder for the killing of Lyoya, 26, during a traffic stop on April 4. Video shows Lyoya ran away and there was a struggle that included Lyoya grabbing Schurr’s Taser. The Taser never made contact with either man. The video shows that Schurr, who was on top of Lyoya trying to hold him down, shot Lyoya in the back of the head…