ATLANTA, GA – A federal appeals court has ruled that Sidney Renard Parrish’s lawsuit against the Georgia State Patrol and two of its officers will not move forward because he never officially informed them about the case.
According to court records (Case No. 25-10608), Parrish claimed officers falsely arrested him and violated his civil rights. However, the court said he missed the 90-day deadline to serve the lawsuit papers to the people he was suing — something required in all federal cases.
Parrish, who filed the case on his own without a lawyer, told the court he faced personal hardships. But the judges said he didn’t show a valid reason, like relying on bad legal advice or something outside his control, that would excuse the delay.
Since Parrish still has time to refile the case and do it correctly, the court allowed the dismissal to stand.
