Named in 27 known lawsuits, $1,453,907 total settlements.
Holden, Maurice vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 24CV06495,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, December 10, 2024
Complaint
Description: On September 16, 2021, the defendants, NYPD officers, broke into the plaintiff's, Maurice Holden, home located at 247 Maple Parkway, Staten Island, New York. The plaintiff is one of the few African Americans living at this location. The defendants claimed that they had a search warrant to enter the plaintiff's home, which was based on an allegation that the plaintiff engaged in criminal activity. The plaintiff was sleeping at 6AM on September 16, 2021, when the defendants forcibly entered and searched his home, and falsely arrested the plaintiff and his partner although no crime was committed. The NYPD officers claimed that illegal contraband was recovered from the plaintiff's home and forwarded to the district...
Morales, Courtney vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 24CV05210,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 15, 2024, ended September 11, 2025
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On April 26, 2023, Plaintiff was present inside a basement bedroom when she heard screaming from upstairs. The door to the basement was kicked open shortly after, followed by Plaintiff's room's door. Defendant PO, including Reich, entered the room. Defendant Reich handcuffed Plaintiff and brought her upstairs of the home, where she was held in custody and unlawfully imprisoned for a period of time. Defendant Reich later imprisoned Plaintiff in a police vehicle and transported to 122nd precinct. While at the precinct, Plaintiff was forced to sit on a bench handcuffed to a wall. She was denied access to medications and requested medical care during this time. Plaintiff was eventually transferred to 120th precinct...
Vargas, Felipe vs The City of Ny, et al.
Case # 152262/2023,
Supreme Court - Richmond, April 2, 2024
Complaint
Description: On December 8, 2020, the defendants unlawfully stopped the plaintiff's vehicle without reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or legal justification. The officers immediately ordered the plaintiff to exit the vehicle, and he complied. They then unlawfully pulled down the plaintiff's pants and conducted a strip search on a public street. An officer pulled the elastic of the plaintiff's underwear and released it, causing it to snap painfully against his skin. None of the officers were wearing masks, exposing the plaintiff to COVID-19 risk, and one officer, without wearing gloves, grabbed the plaintiff's genitals, squeezed his testicles, and ran his hand between the plaintiff's buttocks, causing extreme pain.
When...
Velazquez, Erik vs The City of Ny, et al.
Case # 152261/2023,
Supreme Court - Richmond, April 2, 2024
Complaint
Description: On December 8, 2020, at approximately 3:00 pm, plaintiff was lawfully driving home from the supermarket in the vicinity of 205 Mill Road, Staten Island, New York 10306 when Defendants Mathew Reich, Michael Forster, Dominick Libretti, Christian Cataldo, James Malpeso, Michael Dalbero unlawfully stopped the vehicle, without reasonable suspicion, probable cause or any legal justification. Before plaintiff had an opportunity to exit the vehicle, defendants reached inside of the vehicle, opened the door and pulled plaintiff out of the vehicle where he was searched, handcuffed, and falsely arrested. Defendants then transported Plaintiff to the 122nd Precinct where he was unlawfully searched three additional times. De...
Putillo, William vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 150597/2021,
Supreme Court - Richmond, May 20, 2021, ended July 8, 2022
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On April 18, 2019, near the Staten Island Expressway in Staten Island, Defendant Officers, including Officer Ranola, Detective Reich, Detective Gagliardi, and Sergeant Dalbero, wrongfully pulled Plaintiff over and Plaintiff was unlawfully searched, seized, and arrested by Defendants. Defendants wrongfully commenced prosecution against Plaintiff without probable cause or justification. On April 24, 2019 and June 12, 2019, all charges against Plaintiff were dismissed.
Johnson, John vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 18CV03526,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 10, 2018, ended May 22, 2019
$11,901 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was pulled over by Defendant Officers, ordered out of his car and cuffed while the car was searched. Plaintiff was taken to the 121st precinct and was pressed with drug charges. These charges were dismissed.
Adams, Dennis vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 18CV03401,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, June 14, 2018, ended March 14, 2022
Order/Judgment (Verdict)
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff and friends were pulled over in a car for allegedly not using a turn signal. Defendant Officers interrogated the group and then searched the car. Plaintiffs were removed from the car. Defendant Officer recovered marijuana from the search, and arrested the group for possession of marijuana. Plaintiff was charged with possession of a controlled substance, phencyclidine.
Balzano, Joseph vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 17CV02830,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, May 18, 2017, ended June 15, 2018
$15,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was driving with a female passenger when he was pulled over by police officers. Officers ordered Plaintiff and passenger out of the vehicle while Officer Agostino searched the vehicle and the Plaintiff. Passenger possessed controlled substance which she voluntarily surrendered to police officers. Plaintiff was then arrested along with the passenger, handcuffed, and placed in a police van for hours before being transported to a precinct. At the precinct, during interrogation, Agostino grabbed plaintiff by the neck and slammed plaintiff's head against the wall twice.
Skolnick, Michael vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 150035/2017,
Supreme Court - Richmond, January 9, 2017, ended May 15, 2020
$125,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about September 23, 2014, at or around the intersection of Willowbrook Avenue and Forest Avenue in Staten Island, Defendants-NYPD officers Matthew Reich, Joseph Ryan, and Philip Vaccarino, without a warrant and without probable cause or reasonable suspicion to believe that Plaintiff had committed a crime, forcibly stopped Plaintiff's motor vehicle, directed Plaintiff to exit his motor vehicle, and then forcibly detained him outside his vehicle and searched his person. During and after the search, Defendants Reich, Ryan, and Vaccarino verbally and physically threatened Plaintiff and found no contrabrand on Plaintiff's person. Each of the Defendant-officers was the subject of numerous previous citizen compl...
Miles, Natasha vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 16CV05936,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 28, 2016, ended January 11, 2018
$50,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: The plaintiff was driving down Maple Parkway when she was pulled over by the two defendant officers though she was not engaging in any unlawful conduct nor committing any traffic violations. The defendant officers opened the door to her vehicle, forcibly seized the plaintiff, handcuffed her, and searched the car. Although there was nothing illegal in the car, the defendant officers claimed they observed an empty bottle of alcohol and charged her with violation of NY's Open Container law. The charge was later dismissed.
Fiseku, Alban vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 100624/2016,
Supreme Court - Richmond, August 8, 2016, ended August 24, 2020
$300,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about May 15, 2016, Plaintiff Alban Fiseku was on the street outside an MTA Bus Depot on Yukon Avenue in Staten Island when he was hit by a vehicle operated by Defendant NYPD Officer Mathew Reich. At the time of the impact, Reich was driving negligently and recklessly. Fiseku was seriously injured by the collision. Following the collision, Defendant Reich, Defendant Officer Vincent Agostino, and other unidentified officers began to assault and beat Plaintiff Fiseku. This attack was unprovoked. Plaintiff asked the Defendants to stop and told them he was injured, but he was ignored. Plaintiff was subsequently arrested without cause and the officers pursued charges against him.
Tesoriero, Petronilla vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 150791/2016,
Supreme Court - Richmond, July 5, 2016, ended April 16, 2019
$9,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On July 11th, 2015, Plaintiff Petronilla Tesoriero was driving her car when she was suddenly stopped and pulled over without any probable cause by Defendant Detective Matthew Reich Defendant Reich placed Plaintiff in handcuffs and arrested her. Defendant Officers Detective Reich and Sergeant Kim Murray detained Plaintiff at the Precinct for several hours.
Deprospo, Bernard vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 16CV00352,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, March 1, 2016, ended October 19, 2017
$27,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: After arresting Plaintiff, Defendant Officers took him on a "rough ride" in their police car.
Cortes, Valeriano vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV01718,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, April 6, 2015, ended January 31, 2016
$3,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On November 7th, 2014, the defendants maliciously arrested plaintiff in Staten Island. Plaintiff was falsely accused of possessing an illegal substance. He was detained by police officers and beaten.
Orlando, Vincent, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05331,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, September 19, 2014, ended March 24, 2015
$40,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Stipulation,
Stipulation
Description: Both plaintiffs were in a vehicle owned by Plaintiff 1 when they were stopped by an unmarked car. Four plainclothes defendant officers approached plaintiff's 1 vehicle and searched both plaintiffs. They tightly handcuffed and detained plaintiffs in a van driven by defendant officers Banghart and Sposito. According to the complaint, the plaintiffs were taken to either 121st or 123rd Precinct. They were brought on unspecified charges, which were later dismissed.
Sottile, Phillip vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05132,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, September 2, 2014, ended June 6, 2015
$15,001 Settlement
Complaint,
Stipulation
Description: On September 2, 2011, Plaintif Phillip Sottile was allegedly stopped at gunpoint as a passenger in a motor vehicle and then pulled from the car, handcuffed tightly and beaten by police officers of the NYPD including Detectives Michael Lopresti, Mathew Reich, and Steven Sposito. He alleges false arrest, excessive force, Intentional infliction of emotional distress, failure to intervene, malicious abuse of process, and more.
Stewart, Ameir, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV02854,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, May 15, 2014, ended September 20, 2016
$22,503 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Complaint,
Stipulation
Description: On May 29, 2013, the Defendant officers violently invaded the Plaintiffs’ home in Richmond County, NY, and falsely arrested each of them. Defendant officers awoke Plaintiff Stewart with a chokehold and headlock, forcefully grabbed him by the back of his neck, and repeatedly struck and punched Plaintiff Stewart in the jaw, face and body without cause or provocation. Defendant Officers applied handcuffs too tightly, causing Plaintiff Stewart pain in his hands and wrists. Defendant Officers were observed proceeding from various other locations around the Plaintiffs’ house into Plaintiff Stewart’s room to strike him multiple times each, with no apparent law enforcement purpose.
Plaintiffs were transported to the 12...
Priore, Patricia vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 150003/2014,
Supreme Court - Richmond, January 13, 2014, ended November 20, 2014
$2,500 Settlement
Depinto, Vincent vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV06321,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, January 14, 2013, ended May 28, 2014
$50,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Complaint
Description: On September 23, 2011, plaintiff was arrested inside of 561 Rathbun Avenue, Staten Island, New York, placed in severely over tight handcuffs, and forced to remain in tight handcuffs for a prolonged period of time, resulting in injuries. Plaintiff was transported to the 120th precinct. Plaintiff complained numerous times about the tightness of the handcuffs but his pleas were ignored and mocked. After his release from custody, plaintiff sought emergency treatment for wrist pain on September 30, 2011, for various injuries requiring orthopedic treatment.
Amoroso, Michael vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV04939,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 17, 2012, ended August 21, 2013
$7,501 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Stipulation
Marrero, Eric vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV04385,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, September 11, 2012, ended April 23, 2013
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint, Amended 12-cv-04385.pdf,
Stipulation
Brice, Yves Aka Brice, Yves vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 003330/2011,
Supreme Court - Kings, February 18, 2011, ended March 31, 2026
$200,000 Settlement
Clay et al v. City of New York et al
Case # 14CV01633,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$55,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Stipulation
Weiss v. City of New York et al
Case # 16CV00776,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
Amended Complaint,
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was inside of a vehicle being operated by a friend when the vehicle was pulled over by Mark Scarlatelli and John Doe and ordered both the Plaintiff and John Doe to get out of the vehicle without cause or justification and proceeded to unreasonable search the Plaintiff without any reasonable suspicion that the Plaintiff had either committed, was committing, or was about to commit any crime/offense. Defendant officers removed a pill bottle from Plaintiff's pocket which contained the Plaintiff's lawfully prescribed daily medication. Defendant Officers ignored his explanation and the fact that he had a letter and prescriptions from his doctor in his bag that was in the vehicle proving it was lawfully pres...
Viscuso v. City of New York et al
Case # 08CV05180,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$30,000 Settlement
Second Amended Complaint,
Stipulation
Cortopassi v. The City of New York
Case # 09CV01539,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$400,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Stipulation
Shorter v. The City of New York et al
Case # 07CV04793,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
$15,001 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Second Amended Complaint,
Stipulation
