Richard J. Velez

Lawsuits

Named in 4 known lawsuits, $315,000 total settlements.

Hoover, Trevor, et al. vs City of New York
Case # 21CV04783, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, September 9, 2021, ended December 2, 2022
$280,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 28, 2020, each Plaintiff was present at a protest in Kings County, New York in support of Black Lives Matter. Members of the NYPD began pushing protestors. Plaintiff Hoover was struck in the ribs with a baton, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed with excessively tight handcuffs. Plaintiff Walsh was thrown to the ground, had his head pushed into the ground, and had multiple officers kneel on his back while applying handcuffs. The officers fractured Plaintiff Walsh’s ankle and left a hole in Plaintiff Walsh’s face. The officers forced Plaintiff Walsh to walk to the precinct on his broken ankle. The officers took Plaintiff’s keys and never returned them. Plaintiff LaFauci was struck by an NYPD officer with...

Gjenashaj, Lori V. City of New York, et al.
Case # 19CV04142, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, May 9, 2019, ended March 1, 2022
Zero Disposition
Complaint
Description: On March 25, 2018, plaintiff was in her vehicle at a complete stop when she was surrounded by police vehicles and heavily armed officers. She had previously committed an admitted crime and was fleeing the police. There were no onlookers or civilians around. Plaintiff exited her vehicle with nothing in her hand, having left her toy gun in the car. Without warning, numerous officers fired an unknown number of shots, striking plaintiff in the shoulder and hitting her vehicle multiple times. The officers then arrested her. Plaintiff's husband was in the passenger seat of the car and was forcibly taken from the vehicle and taken to the police station and interrogated while handcuffed for seven hours. He was dismisse...

Smith, Giovanni vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV03181, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, June 6, 2014, ended December 30, 2014
$10,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On February 5, 2014, Plaintiff had just finished walking his seven year old son to school when an unknown individual ran up to Plaintiff and, without provocation, shot Plaintiff in the lower leg. The perpetrator then ran away. NYPD officers, including Detective Jerome, responded to the location. Instead of pursuing the perpetrator, Detective Jerome handcuffed the Plaintiff while the Plaintiff was in the ambulance, then accompanied Plaintiff to the hospital where officer Jerome proceeded to handcuff Plaintiff to his hospital bed by the arm, and shackled Plaintiffs legs, even though the Plaintiff had been shot in the leg. Plaintiff was handcuffed/shackled for more than four hours. Plaintiff had not been accused o...

Jeffrey, Monte vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV00613, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, February 5, 2014, ended June 18, 2015
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about September 28, 2013, Plaintiff was standing in the street talking to his child’s mother when he was approached by several police officers, including PO Richard Velez and Sergeant FNU Figueroa. The officers assaulted Plaintiff, and arrested him with excessive force, including by punching him in the face and on his body. Plaintiff was handcuffed and brought to the precinct for approximately 8 hours. At arraignment, he was subject to several false charges that all lacked legal bases, and was then released on his own recognizance. At the time Plaintiff’s complaint was filed, all charges against him were either still pending, dismissed, or otherwise adjudicated.