HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Marko Law, PLLC, a Michigan civil rights firm, has announced a lawsuit against the city of Hamtramck, Mayor Amer Ghalib, police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, and several city council members.
The lawsuit, brought by Hamtramck City Manager Max Garbarino and Officer David Adamczyk, allegedly exposes systematic corruption within the city and implicates the named council members in retaliation, violations of the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act, breaches of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act, and abuses of public policy.
The complaint alleges that Garbarino and Adamczyk blew the whistle on serious misconduct by multiple officials.
Among the most shocking claims is an alleged scheme to secure a presidential pardon in exchange for millions of dollars involving Altaheri.
The lawsuit further alleges that the defendants suppressed election fraud investigations, interfered with personnel decisions, obstructed criminal probes, and retaliated against whistleblowers through unlawful suspensions, harassment, and public smears.
Specifically, Adamczyk and Garbarino reported detailed evidence of misconduct by Altaheri, including:
- A scheme to facilitate a presidential pardon in exchange for millions of dollars, involving connections to political donors and a known associate of Donald Trump.
- Repeated incidents of domestic violence, including physical assaults against his significant other, threats, and efforts to cover up police responses to his home.
- Creation of a fake Hamtramck Police Department ID for a civilian connected to the bribery scheme in exchange for money.
- Improper use of undercover police resources to assist in retrieving a stolen vehicle, which was then stored at Altaheri’s personal residence.
- Efforts to influence local elections, including pressuring council members, leaking sensitive election fraud evidence, and coordinating public attacks on Garbarino through outside actors.
- Driving a city police vehicle while intoxicated, including running red lights with officers in the car, and being blackmailed by one of those officers into reversing a termination decision.
After Adamczyk reported Altaheri’s misconduct to the Michigan State Police and the FBI, Garbarino allegedly placed him on administrative leave to shield him from retaliation and protect the integrity of the investigation.
Days later, Garbarino suspended Altaheri as his behavior allegedly turned erratic.
In retaliation, Ghalib and the council held an illegal closed-door meeting, placing Garbarino on paid administrative leave, and allegedly launched a public smear campaign against both whistleblowers.
The lawsuit asserts claims under Michigan’s Whistleblower Protection Act, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Open Meetings Act, as well as constitutional violations under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Additional counts include wrongful discharge in violation of public policy, defamation, breach of contract, and racial retaliation based on association with a whistleblower.
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