Named in 5 known lawsuits, $62,500 total settlements.
Wisdom, Khalid, et Al vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 528412/2021,
Supreme Court - Kings, November 9, 2021
Complaint
Description: On or about December 7, 2018, at approximately 2:00 a.m., plaintiffs were lawfully present inside of a vehicle parked in the area of 569 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. As Mr. St-Cyr, Jr. sat in the driver’s seat and Mr. Wisdom in the passenger seat, Defendants stopped the vehicle, ordered plaintiffs outside, and handcuffed and arrested plaintiffs without probable cause.
In the course of arresting plaintiffs, defendants used excessive force, resulting in injuries to both plaintiffs. After being detained at a police precinct for several hours, plaintiffs were released without charges and the arrests were voided. As a result of Defendants’ misconduct, plaintiffs suffered emotional distress, loss of l...
Celestin, Pierre vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 500006/2021,
Supreme Court - Kings, April 27, 2021, ended March 12, 2025
Administrative Closing
Complaint
Description: On April 27, 2015, Plaintiff Pierre Celestin was attending the funeral of José “Cheo” Robles, in Brooklyn, at a church, when a gunfight broke out, and Celestin’s brother Fritz was shot in the back, nearly fatally. An ambulance came, and Celestin stayed at the scene while his brother, who was gravely wounded. A witness described the shooter as 5’5” and over 200 lbs. Celestin does not fit this description. He is well over 6’ tall, and at the time was over 400 lbs. Celestin’s brothers are also much taller than 5’5”. Witnesses said the shooters got out of an SUV and began shooting, but Celestin and his brothers were in the church, attending the funeral and would not have been seen getting out of an SUV. Two men, Sh...
Pauling, William vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 514034/2019,
Supreme Court - Kings, June 27, 2019, ended February 28, 2020
$17,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On February 22, 2019, Police Officer James M. Grant and other officers stopped, searched, grabbed, assaulted, battered, handcuffed, seized and arrested Plaintiff in an aggressive and excessive manner without warrant or any legal justification. Because of this, Plaintiff suffered permanent bodily injury in and about his head, neck, back, body and limbs. A criminal action against Plaintiff was commenced on or about February 22, 2019, but it was terminated favorably.
Suarez, Hopeton vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 524735/2018,
Supreme Court - Kings, December 11, 2018, ended August 18, 2020
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 5, 2017 the Plaintiff was operating a motor vehicle on Linden Boulevard and Flatbush Avenue in Kings County NY. The Plaintiff parked his car in a legal spot and then police officers approached the motor vehicle without lights/ sirens and ordered the Plaintiff to step out of his car, and without probable cause searched the motor vehicle and Plaintiff was not given any reason as to why the motor vehicle was being searched. Plaintiff was battered and assaulted. Plaintiff was taken to the 70th precinct and put in a holding cell and was interrogated. Plaintiff was then taken to Central Booking and was seen by a judge and then the charges against Plaintiff were dropped. Plaintiff suffered physical injuries...
Paul, Steeve vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV04549,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 5, 2014, ended September 18, 2015
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 28, 2014, plaintiff purchased food for his pregnant girlfriend from a restaurant on Clarendon Road, Brooklyn, NY. As plaintiff left the restaurant to return home with the food, he was bum-rushed by defendant officers who forcibly grabbed, slammed to the ground and physically assaulted him. Defendant officers grabbed the food plaintiff had just bought and threw it away and damaged his cell phone. Plaintiff was tightly handcuffed with his hands behind his back, and further subjected to a strip search. When plaintiff inquired as to the reason for his arrest, he was informed that he fit the description of a liquor store robbery suspect. Plaintiff was then transported to a nearby liquor store, where defen...