Named in 2 known lawsuits, $15,000 total settlements.
Bell, Rashawn vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV04940,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, September 3, 2014, ended September 21, 2015
$7,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On April 5, 2013, Plaintiff was visiting a friend in Brooklyn. NYPD P.O. including Francisco Espinal, Lt. Matthew Ficano, Hajit Chowdhary, Edward Saenz and others knocked on the door and asked Plaintiff to step outside. He complied. For no reason they then grabbed Plaintiff, threw him against a wall, causing his head to strike the wall. Defendant Espinal then used handcuffs to strike the Plaintiff's forearm extraordinarily hard, resulting in a significant laceration that required 15 sutures and left a permanent scarring.
Ricomonte, Dante vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV04371,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 9, 2013, ended February 12, 2014
$7,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 26, 2012, plaintiff and a friend were returning home from playing basketball in the park in Brooklyn. As plaintiff approached West 33rd Street, a defendant officer approached plaintiff and his friend, and asked plaintiff's friend to repeat what he had just said. Plaintiff told the officers that his friend was talking to plaintiff and that they had done nothing wrong. In response, the officer said, "Are you his lawyer?" The officer then grabbed plaintiff by the wrist and asked for his name. When plaintiff asked the officer why he was being harassed, he was placed in unnecessarily tight handcuffs. Plaintiff told the officer the handcuffs were causing pain but officers ignored his request. Plaintiff was pla...
