Stephen Spataro

Lawsuits

Named in 11 known lawsuits, $3,143,500 total settlements.

Miranda, Michael vs Spataro, Stephen
Case # 100061/2023, Supreme Court - Richmond, December 6, 2023

Nyquinones, Marcos vs City of Ny
Case # 157615/2022, Supreme Court - New York, September 13, 2022
Complaint
Description: On June 5, 2021, at approximately 11 pm, the Plaintiff who was a journalist covering street protests was standing with his camera in hand and his press badge when an NYPD Captain, Stephen Spataro, approached the Plaintiff and without cause pushed him with a baton. He then swung his baton aiming for the Plaintiff's head. As the Plaintiff tried to escape, defendant Spataro struck him on his shoulders and back seriously injuring him and damaging the Plaintiff's camera. The Plaintiff was unlawfully arrested on July 6, 2021, taken to the 6th precinct where he was held for several hours and issued a desk appearance ticket. The following day, detective and defendant, Thomas Donegan, swore out a criminal complaint cha...

Pastor Rusfeldt, Aden vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 22CV00594, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, January 26, 2022
Complaint
Description: On June 27, 2021, Plaintiff Pastor Aden Rusfeldt attempted to protest the New York City Pride Festival. Plaintiff wrote an email to city officials the day before indicating his intention to protest and did not receive a response. On the day of the protest, Plaintiff and other members of his group were wearing shirts with profane "religious" messages on them and holding signs with similar messaging. Plaintiff was located on the sidewalk and began shouting profane and incendiary language toward people marching in the Pride parade. As a result, many of the marchers began to confront Plaintiff and his group. The confrontation led to some of the marchers throwing bottles at Plaintiff and his group. A group of police...

Lemos, Kevin an Infant By Mng Amezquita, Sandra vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 529003/2021, Supreme Court - Kings, November 17, 2021
Complaint
Description: On or about September 20, 2014 at approximately 2:15 a.m. Plaintiff, who was pregnant and late into her second trimester, was assaulted and battered by PO Degan while she was standing next to her son whom other POs were attempting to arrest. PO Degan threw Plaintiff to the pavement so that she landed on her abdomen. PO Degan then positioned herself on her back and smashed a baton or nightstick on her body. PO Roome assisted PO Degan in pinning Plaintiff to the ground. Plaintiff was then arrested without probable cause for disorderly conduct and was held in custody for approximately 3.75 hours. Thereafter Plaintiff, who had a healthy pregnancy prior, began to have complications and delivered her baby approximate...

Gray, Adam, et Al vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 21CV06610, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 19, 2021
Complaint
Description: On May 30, 2020, plaintiff while in the street photographing, was forcibly pushed to the ground by P.O. Luigi Tirro. Plaintiff was then pulled from the sidewalk and restrained by Lieutenant Robert Cattani and PO Tirro. Plaintiff was t surrounded by officers including PO Nicholas Terrent and handcuffed. Plaintiff was then re-cuffed and detained by PO Leonel Girron and Adam Muniz. Plaintiff repeatedly explained that he was a member of the press and asked that defendants look at his credentials, to no avail. Lieutenant Daniel Gallagher was informed by plaintiff that he was a member of the press, but Lieutenant Gallagher ignored the statement and instructed that the plaintiff be taken away and charged. Inspect Sp...

Lemos, Kevin an Infant By Mng Amezquita, Sandra vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 506513/2018, Supreme Court - Kings, April 5, 2018
Complaint
Description: On September 20, 2014, Plaintiff Amezquita was assaulted by her husband, and others outside a restaurant in Brooklyn while visibly pregnant. She was thrown into the street by members of the NYPD, stepped on, tasered, and battered by the officers after they attempted to arrest her son. Officer Degan threw her to the ground, pinned her down with the assistance of Office Roome, and was hit with a baton. She was arrested without probable cause and held in police custody. This incident resulted in complications to her pregnancy and forced her to deliver the baby, Plaintiff Kevin, 4 weeks early. There are concerns regarding the physical and mental development of Plaintiff Kevin as a result of the force used against h...

Amezquita, Sandra, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 518098/2016, Supreme Court - Kings, October 17, 2016, ended August 4, 2020
$1,448,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about September 20, 2014, Defendant Police Officers Pedro Vallecillo, Elvis Merizalde, Joseph Degan, Eric Roome, Gary Bonavita, Richard Rodrigues, and Defendant Sergeants Richard Rodrigues, Delossantos, Frank Rodriguez, and Lieutenants Stephen threw Plaintiff 1, who was pregnant and late in her second trimester and in the vicinity of her son who was being arrested, abdomen-down onto the pavement. Defendant Officer Degan then positioned himself on Plaintiff 1's back and smashed her body with a baton. The Defendants did so without probable cause. Charges against Plaintiff 1 were dismissed on December 2, 2014. At the same incident as Plaintiff 1's, Defendant assaulted and battered Plaintiff 1's husband, Pl...

Del Rosario, Enrique vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV02139, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, April 21, 2015, ended May 31, 2016
$40,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Defendant Officers severely assaulted Plaintiff for holding a video camera, stole the video camera, and charged him with 120.05, Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, ß 155.30 Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, 120.00 Attempted Assault in the Third Degree, ß 155.25 Attempted Petit Larceny, and ß 240.20 Disorderly Conduct, which resulted in an ACD

Amezquita, Sandra, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV00303, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, January 22, 2015, ended October 15, 2016
Zero Disposition
Complaint
Description: While her son was being arrested, Plaintiff 1, who was visibly pregnant, was thrown to the ground, assaulted, and arrested. She was given a summons for dis con which was later dismissed. Plaintiff 2 was shoved to the ground by Officer Degen and needed to be hospitalized. Plaintiff 3 and 4, the other Plaintiff's husbands, were both assaulted by police officers, arrested, and charged with OGA, harassment, and assault in the 2nd and 3rd degree. Charges later dismissed.

Champagne, Shameek, et Al vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 11CV05644, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, November 18, 2011, ended March 26, 2013
$155,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint, Stipulation

Burch, Tacqwana Adm of Streeter, Stanley vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 11CV02841, U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, June 21, 2011, ended October 31, 2016
$1,500,000 Settlement