Sherman Butler: Family Files $150M Lawsuit Over Detroit Eviction

Sherman Butler, a 44-year-old Detroit man, was shot and killed by a court bailiff on July 12, 2024, while officers were carrying out an eviction at his apartment building near Palmer Park in Detroit, Michigan. More than two years later, his family has filed a $150 million federal lawsuit claiming that the people sent to remove him from his home turned a mental health emergency into a deadly encounter instead of waiting for help that was already on the way.

The lawsuit, announced on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, names the bailiff, the City of Detroit, two Detroit police officers and the 36th District Court, according to WXYZ 7 News Detroit. It accuses them of wrongful death, civil rights violations and disability discrimination. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office decided in 2024 not to charge the bailiff, concluding he acted in self-defense. The family's lawyers say that decision does not answer the questions they still have about that morning.

Who Was Sherman Butler?

Butler was a Detroit resident who lived in an apartment building in the Palmer Park neighborhood. His mother, Velma Wafer, described him to FOX 2 Detroit as someone full of personality. "He was creative. He was a comedian. He loved art, tattoos," she said.

Wafer has spoken publicly about how hard the loss has been. Speaking to WXYZ through tears, she said the death has deeply bothered her and that she has no words for it. Advocates for tenants and unhoused people in Detroit have also followed the case closely; tenant rights groups rallied outside the 36th District Court and marched in September 2024 to protest his death, according to BridgeDetroit.

What Happened During the Eviction?

According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, a 36th District Court bailiff went to a building on the 17650 block of Manderson at about 10:53 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2024, with a valid eviction order. Two Detroit police officers were there to assist. Prosecutors said Butler was holding a box cutter and refused to leave.

Investigators said the officers used their Tasers, but neither one had the intended effect. Prosecutors and Detroit police say Butler then moved toward the bailiff and an officer, and the bailiff fired. Butler was pronounced dead at a hospital. Other officers at the scene had requested the Detroit Police Department's Crisis Intervention Team, BridgeDetroit reported, and the family's attorneys say that team was en route when the shooting happened.

What Police and Prosecutors Have Said

On December 3, 2024, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced it would not charge the bailiff. The office said there was "insufficient evidence to charge him with any crime" and that he acted in lawful self-defense and defense of others. Prosecutor Kym Worthy said, "The actions of the bailiff were not criminal given these circumstances."

The prosecutor's office did not release the bailiff's name, explaining that it does not name people who are not charged with a crime. BridgeDetroit reported that the bailiff is a former Detroit police officer who left the department in 2003. Because the bailiff has not been charged and has not been publicly identified by authorities, MotiveX is not naming him.

What Does the Lawsuit Claim?

Attorneys Maurice Davis and Dionne Webster-Cox, who represent the family, argue that everyone at the scene understood Butler was in a mental health crisis and that the bailiff and officers should have waited for the crisis team rather than entering the apartment. "An eviction order does not erase an individual's constitutional rights," Davis said, according to both WDIV Local 4 and WXYZ.

Webster-Cox told WDIV that a Taser used that day was not properly calibrated. FOX 2 Detroit reported that the family cites a Board of Police Commissioners report that found multiple violations, including a failure to follow protocol and the use of improperly calibrated Tasers. The attorneys also dispute the self-defense finding, saying it was reached before the investigation was complete.

These are allegations made in a civil complaint. They have not been tested in court, and the defendants have not yet filed a response.

Has Anyone Responded to the Lawsuit?

When WXYZ asked the 36th District Court about the case, a spokesperson for Chief Judge William McConico said the court was not aware of the lawsuit and had not been formally served. The family's attorneys said they were in the process of serving the defendants.

What Happens Next

Once all defendants are served, they will have the chance to answer the complaint in federal court before the case moves into discovery, according to WXYZ. Davis told WDIV that while no lawsuit can bring Butler back, his mother deserves answers and a full examination in court.

Timeline of the Sherman Butler Case

Frequently Asked Questions

Who shot Sherman Butler?

A bailiff working for Detroit's 36th District Court fired the shots, according to prosecutors. Authorities have not released his name because he was not charged.

Was anyone charged in Sherman Butler's death?

No. In December 2024 the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said the bailiff acted in self-defense and denied the warrant request.

How much is the family seeking?

The family's federal lawsuit seeks $150 million and alleges wrongful death, civil rights violations and disability discrimination.

Was a crisis team called?

Yes. Officers at the scene requested the Detroit Police Crisis Intervention Team, and the family's attorneys say it was on the way when Butler was shot.

MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.

Sources

• WXYZ 7 News Detroit: family files $150 million federal lawsuit
• WDIV ClickOnDetroit: family of Detroit man killed during eviction sues
• FOX 2 Detroit: family of man shot by bailiff files lawsuit
• Wayne County Prosecutor's Office: charging decision release
• BridgeDetroit: bailiff not charged in eviction shooting