A Democratic nominee for the University of Michigan Board of Regents filed a 10 million dollar wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Ali Naji, a gunman shot and killed by a Dearborn police officer after attempting to fire at the front desk of a police station during a Christmas toy drive in December 2022. Surveillance video showed Naji pulling a handgun and attempting to shoot, but the weapon jammed before the officer returned fire. A county prosecutor later concluded the officer acted in lawful self defense.

In the lawsuit, attorney Amir Makled argued that the officer used unlawful deadly force and should have employed deescalation techniques, claiming Naji did not pose a physical threat because the officer was behind a bullet resistant window. The complaint praised Naji as a 'truly remarkable individual' and sought compensatory damages from the officer and the city. City officials countered that the shooting was justified given the immediate threat to officers and civilians उपस्थित during the toy drive.

A federal judge dismissed the case, ruling the officer's actions were reasonable as a matter of law, and an appellate court upheld that decision. Makled, who has also represented other controversial clients, did not respond to requests for comment.