Adelson v. Oakland County, et al. — 6th Cir. (Oct 20, 2026)

No. 26-1040 Argued October 20, 2026 Published October 23, 2026

The Sixth Circuit hears an appeal over alleged excessive force at Oakland County Jail. Milton Adelson was intoxicated when he was held there. His estate alleges that deputies beat him and forcibly removed his clothing after an encounter in a holding cell. County officials disputed that he was beaten. What happened at the cell door, and whether he was regarded as suicidal, form part of the competing explanations of his treatment. Two deputies are asking the appeals court to end the claims against them on immunity grounds after the district court refused to do so. Qualified immunity protects government officials from civil damages unless their conduct violates clearly established law that reasonable officials would have known.

Adelson v. Oakland County, et al. (No. 26-1040) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, argued October 20, 2026.

Sources

Argument audio — official Sixth Circuit recording:https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/internet/court_audio/audio/10-20-2026%20-%20Tuesday/26-1040%20Wendy%20Adelson%20v%20Oakland%20County%20MI.mp3

Case and argument date — official recording archive:https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/internet/court_audio/aud1.php

Immunity appeal, origin and hearing — official calendar, October 20, 2026:https://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/sites/ca6/files/documents/oral_argument_calendars/10192026_arg.pdf

Background allegations and county response — FOX 2 contemporaneous interviews, March 10, 2023:https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/lawyer-says-man-died-by-suicide-after-alleged-jail-beating-gm-offers-buyouts-flooding-lawsuits-dismissed.amp

Qualified immunity — Pearson v. Callahan, Supreme Court opinion part II-A:https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/555/223/

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