# Von Derhaar v. Watson: Unlawful Seizure and Qualified Immunity

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/swear-on-the-stand-7111404/von-derhaar-v-watson-unlawful-seizure-and-qualified-immunity
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/swear-on-the-stand-7111404/von-derhaar-v-watson-unlawful-seizure-and-qualified-immunity.md
Podcast: [Swear on the Stand](https://stenobird.com/podcast/swear-on-the-stand-7111404)
Published: 2026-06-09T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/danielswear/episodes/Von-Derhaar-v--Watson-Unlawful-Seizure-and-Qualified-Immunity-e3kbk5d
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/fddb5314/podcast/play/121015917/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-4%2F0a076a4a-2369-37ea-5b3e-5ac6b431541f.m4a
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Duration seconds: 2193

## Resource

This case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit outlines a lawsuit involving a civilian police employee and a high-ranking official. The plaintiff, Karl Von Derhaar , alleged that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated when he was forced from his home to undergo a drug test under the orders of Lt. Darryl Watson . The court focused on the doctrine of qualified immunity , which typically protects government officials unless they violate clearly established laws. Ultimately, the judges affirmed the denial of qualified immunity for Watson, ruling that ordering a citizen's seizure without a warrant or emergency was objectively unreasonable . This decision allows the unlawful seizure claim to proceed toward a trial to determine the final merits of the case.

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