Named in 13 known lawsuits, $251,501 total settlements.
Vera, Oscar vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 509490/2017,
Supreme Court - Kings, May 31, 2017
Ortiz, Matthew vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 17CV01386,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, March 16, 2017, ended February 15, 2018
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: The plaintiff exited a bodega when the officers approached and arrested the plaintiff. He was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree. At no point did the defendants recover any contraband nor did the plaintiff commit any offense in the presence of the defendants. The plaintiff had to go to the hospital for an asthma attack that occurred during the arrest. All charges were dismissed.
Pendley, Javier, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 16CV04316,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 15, 2016, ended March 6, 2017
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Amended Complaint
Description: Plaintiff answered the door and saw Defendant Officer Rahman standing outside, who punched him in the face, forcibly entered the apartment, and searched it. Plaintiff was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of Marihuana in the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Degree and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, which were later dismissed after a judge discredited Det. Rahman's explanation for why he entered the apartment.
Mcgee, Daniel vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 515656/2015,
Supreme Court - Kings, April 21, 2016
Complaint
Poag, William, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 005361/2014,
Supreme Court - Kings, April 11, 2014, ended March 19, 2015
$28,000 Settlement
Sapp, Shanicque vs P.O. Lafortune, Steve, et al.
Case # 14CV00923,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, March 24, 2014, ended December 5, 2014
$7,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On July 19, 2013, at approximately 6:00 a.m., several NYPD officers, including defendant officer Steve LaFortune, used a battering ram to forcibly enter plaintiff's Brooklyn apartment, where she, her twelve-year-old daughter, and Mr. Dorn Henderson had been sleeping. The officers entered with their guns drawn, and at gunpoint, ordered all three of them to the ground and handcuffed them tightly, which caused plaintiff to suffer pain and bruising marks that lasted for several days. The officers conducted an extensive search of the apartment and found only a personal use amount of marijuana. Plaintiff was arrested and charged with non-criminal possession of marijuana, and was released from custody following an ...
Walkin, Alan vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV01424,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, March 7, 2014, ended September 9, 2014
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint,
First Amended Complaint,
Stipulation
Description: Defendant officers broke into and invaded the home of Plaintiffs and arrested them, brought them to the 77th precinct, and charged them with crim possession of stolen property, which the DA declined to prosecute.
Robinson, Remo, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV00751,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, February 6, 2014, ended June 5, 2014
$24,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Amended Complaint
Description: On or about December 27, 2013, Plaintiffs were asleep in their residence when they heard the front door being broken open. Detective Steve Lafortune, PO Qassim Ahmed, Sergeant Sean Mitchel, Sergeant Robert Maloney and POs John Doe 1 1-15 forcibly entered into the residence, and immediately placed all of the occupants, including the Plaintiffs, in handcuffs. The officers claimed that they had entered the way they did pursuant to a search warrant that had been issued by a judge, but failed and/or refused to show or display a search warrant. If indeed true that the officers had obtained a search warrant, such a warrant was only obtained by misleading and misinforming the judge. The officers searched the premises,...
Blackett, Jasper vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV07219,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, January 2, 2014, ended December 30, 2014
$70,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Amended Complaint
Description: On September 26, 2012, NYPD Officers Steve LaFortune, Dennis Friendly, Jennifer LaVelle and Detective Gabriel Nacelewicz entered Plaintiff's residence. When Plaintiff protested by letting them know they were not permitted, one of the officers pushed him in the chest, then the officers punched Plaintiff in the face and proceeded to take him to the ground and handcuff him. The police officers searched the Plaintiff and his home without a warrant or exigent circumstances, but did not find any illegal substances or weapons. Nevertheless, Plaintiff was arrested and transferred to a precinct without cause. He was then transported to Brookdale Hospital for medical treatment for his injuries from the officers' punch. H...
Davis, John vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV06260,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, November 26, 2013
Complaint
Description: On February 3, 2011, sixty-nine-year old Plaintiff entered a convenience store in Brooklyn to purchase a lottery ticket. While he was waiting in line to pay, he was approached by defendant P.O.s William Sommer, Steve LaFortune, Edwards and Dilapi, ordered to the back of the store and, without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, was detained and searched. When defendant P.O.s found USD 4,000 in his pocket, they accused Plaintiff of being a drug dealer. The Plaintiff was neither arrested nor charged with any crime. The defendant P.O. subsequently left the scene without returning approximately USD 1,327 they had taken from the Plaintiff, stating "you're lucky you're getting any of it back and that you're not g...
Harkless, Kevin vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV03347,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, June 21, 2013, ended February 28, 2014
$9,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 18, 2012, plaintiff was standing in front of a friend's house on Milford Street, Brooklyn, talking, when three defendant officers pulled up in a police vehicle, exited and approached the plaintiff and friends. Plaintiff and his friends were searched and plaintiff was immediately placed in handcuffs and ushered into a police vehicle. Plaintiff was transported to the 75th Precinct where he was searched again and placed in a cell. After several hours, plaintiff was transported to Brooklyn Central Booking. Defendants completed arrest paperwork, containing claims they knew were materially false, and was forwarded to the DA to commence criminal prosecution. Plaintiff was charged with Criminal Possession of...
Hampton v. City of New York et al
Case # 11CV02084,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$3,000 Settlement
Complaint
Joseph v. Lallave et al
Case # 13CV07051,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$50,001 Settlement
First Amended Complaint,
Judgment