The Pima County Sheriff lawsuit making headlines in 2026 is a $176 million claim by a Tucson man who says deputies shot and paralyzed him after responding to a hoax emergency call, a practice known as “swatting.” It is one of several legal actions against the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Chris Nanos. Others include an ACLU of Arizona public records case about contact with Border Patrol, an inmate’s lawsuit that was dismissed, and a retaliation claim by a corrections lieutenant. None of these is a class action, and no court has ruled against the department in them. Here is what each case alleges and where it stands.
Pima County Sheriff lawsuits at a glance
| Matter | What it is about | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Melendez notice of claim (2026) | Deputy shooting after a swatting call; $176 million | Notice of claim filed July 23, 2026; no court filing confirmed |
| ACLU of Arizona v. Pima County Sheriff (2025) | Public records about contact with Border Patrol | Filed July 21, 2025; new allegations filed March 2026; pending |
| Marx lawsuit (2026) | Inmate’s COVID-19 jail safety claim; $1.35 million | Dismissed without prejudice in July 2026 |
| Lappin notice of claim (2025) | Alleged retaliation against a candidate for sheriff; $2 million | Claim filed March 2025; outcome not public |
What is the Pima County Sheriff’s Department?
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is the main law enforcement agency for unincorporated Pima County, Arizona, which includes the Tucson area. It also runs the county jail. Chris Nanos, a Democrat, is the elected sheriff. The department received national attention in 2026 while leading the search for Nancy Guthrie, who went missing on February 1, 2026. The lawsuits below are separate from that investigation.
The $176 million swatting shooting claim
The largest and most-searched matter is a notice of claim filed by Axeel Melendez, 24, and his mother, Carmen Melendez. As AZPM reported, they filed it on July 23, 2026, seeking $176 million: $80 million from Pima County, $80 million from the Sheriff’s Department, and $16 million for his mother’s emotional distress.
What the claim alleges
- On April 8, 2026, Melendez warned authorities that hackers had threatened him and that his home might be targeted by a false emergency report.
- On April 10, 2026, deputies responded to a call reporting a shooting at his home. The claim says the call had several warning signs of a hoax, including an out-of-state number.
- When deputies came through a bedroom window, Melendez picked up a legally owned handgun, believing he was in danger.
- Deputies fired, and Melendez was paralyzed from the chest down.
These are the claimants’ allegations, led by attorney Dev Sethi. The department declined to comment, citing pending litigation, and we found no public finding about whether the deputies’ actions were justified.
What is a notice of claim?
In Arizona, a person who wants to sue a county or other public entity must first file a notice of claim. It must be filed within 180 days of the incident and must state a specific amount the person would accept to settle. The government then has 60 days to respond. If it does not settle, the claim is considered denied and the person can file a lawsuit.
The 60-day window for the Melendez claim ran out in late September 2026. As of early October 2026, we could not confirm that a lawsuit had been filed in court.
The ACLU public records case
On July 21, 2025, the ACLU of Arizona sued the Pima County Sheriff under Arizona’s public records law. The group said the department had failed to provide records about deputies’ contact with federal immigration officials, and noted that the department had stopped tracking those contacts in June 2024.
In a March 2026 filing reported by Arizona Mirror, the ACLU alleged that deputies coordinated with Border Patrol to hand over people who were not suspected of any crime between 2021 and 2023. It also asked the court to declare that the sheriff violated the public records law by delaying production for months.
Sheriff Nanos has said repeatedly that his department does not enforce federal immigration law. The case was pending as of our last check, and no court had ruled on the ACLU’s claims.
The inmate COVID-19 lawsuit that was dismissed
On March 5, 2026, Pima County Jail inmate Christopher Marx sued the department and Sheriff Nanos for $1.35 million. As AZFamily reported, he alleged that a deputy moved between his housing unit and one where an inmate was quarantined with COVID-19 without proper sanitation. Some national outlets linked the case to the Guthrie search, but it was unrelated.
In July 2026, the court dismissed the case without prejudice because Marx had not paid the filing fee or filed the paperwork to proceed without paying. “Without prejudice” means he could file it again. The court did not rule on whether his claims were true.
The retaliation claim by a corrections lieutenant
In March 2025, Heather Lappin, a corrections lieutenant at the Pima County Adult Detention Center, filed a $2 million notice of claim, AZPM reported. Lappin ran for sheriff as a Republican in 2024. She alleges that Nanos and senior leaders retaliated against her for her campaign, including through repeated internal investigations and being placed on leave shortly before the election.
The department declined to comment, citing pending litigation. We could not find a public court ruling or settlement in this matter.
Is the Pima County Sheriff lawsuit a class action?
No. Each of these matters involves an individual person or a single organization, not a class of plaintiffs. There is no class action or claims process for members of the public.
Is there a settlement?
We found no announced settlement in any of these matters as of October 2026. Under Arizona law, settlements involving the county are usually approved by the Pima County Board of Supervisors in a public meeting, so any future settlement is likely to appear on its agenda.
What residents should know
- Deadlines are short. Arizona requires a notice of claim within 180 days for claims against public entities, and a lawsuit within one year in most cases.
- Public records are a right. Anyone can request records from the Sheriff’s Department under Arizona’s public records law.
- Swatting is a crime. If you believe you are being targeted, report threats to local police and keep records, as Melendez says he did.
- Get advice for your situation. A licensed Arizona attorney can tell you whether you have a claim and which deadlines apply.
Current status of the Pima County Sheriff lawsuits
The Melendez matter is a notice of claim that may become a lawsuit, the ACLU records case is pending, the Marx case was dismissed without prejudice, and the Lappin claim has no public outcome. No court has found the department or Sheriff Nanos liable in any of these matters.
Last updated: October 4, 2026. We checked the latest public reports and records on this date.
Conclusion: the Pima County Sheriff lawsuit in brief
The Pima County Sheriff lawsuit most people are searching for is the $176 million swatting shooting claim filed by Axeel Melendez and his mother in July 2026. Its allegations have not been tested in court, and we could not confirm a lawsuit filing yet. The department also faces an ACLU public records case and a lieutenant’s retaliation claim, while an inmate’s COVID-19 suit was dismissed on procedural grounds.
None of these is a class action, and there is no verified settlement. For more government enforcement and civil cases, see our Nightfall Group lawsuit explainer and our Lawsuits section.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Pima County Sheriff being sued?
The best-known claim alleges deputies shot and paralyzed a man after a swatting call in April 2026. Other matters involve public records, jail conditions, and alleged retaliation.
How much is the Pima County Sheriff lawsuit for?
The Melendez notice of claim seeks $176 million. The dismissed inmate suit sought $1.35 million, and the Lappin claim seeks $2 million.
Has Sheriff Chris Nanos been found liable?
No. We found no court ruling finding the sheriff or the department liable in these matters.
Is the swatting case a lawsuit yet?
It began as a notice of claim on July 23, 2026, which is required before suing a public entity in Arizona. As of early October 2026, we could not confirm a court filing.
Is this related to the Nancy Guthrie case?
No. These lawsuits are separate from the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Sources
- AZPM: Tucson man seeks $176 million from Pima County Sheriff’s Department (July 30, 2026)
- Law&Crime: notice of claim details in the Melendez swatting case (July 2026)
- ACLU of Arizona: press release on public records lawsuit (July 21, 2025)
- Arizona Mirror: ACLU filing on Border Patrol coordination (March 2026)
- AZFamily: inmate’s $1.35 million lawsuit against the sheriff (March 13, 2026)
- Men’s Journal and other outlets: dismissal of the Marx lawsuit (July 2026)
- AZPM: corrections lieutenant files $2 million retaliation claim (April 9, 2025)