PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 19, 2026) — Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and co-counsel Gregg Zeff will join the family of Ronald Harmon at a news conference today. They will announce a federal lawsuit against the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and University of Pennsylvania Police Department personnel.
Harmon, 52, died on Jan. 9, 2025, following a Nov. 5, 2024, encounter with Penn police on Spruce Street. According to the complaint, an officer wrongfully fired a Taser in broad daylight that struck Harmon in the back as he ran past, and he fell and struck his head, sustaining the injuries that led to his death. His death certificate classifies the manner of death as homicide. The complaint alleges Harmon had not threatened anyone and officers had not observed a weapon. The complaint alleges that the Taser use violated a Penn police directive permitting it only against someone who is violent, actively aggressive, threatening, or resisting arrest, and that officers departed from several other department policies.
WHO:
Family of Ronald I. Harmon
Attorney Ben Crump
Attorney Gregg Zeff, Zeff Law Firm
WHEN:
Monday, Oct. 19, 2026
3:30 p.m. ET
WHERE:
Philadelphia Branch of the NAACP
4458-B Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19140
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MEDIA CONTACT:
[email protected]
ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
