Named in 8 known lawsuits, $134,500 total settlements.
Deckard, Keith vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 816112/2022E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, November 1, 2022, ended April 11, 2024
$10,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 13, 2020, Keith Deckard (Plaintiff) was illegally stopped, seized and searched, battered and assaulted, detained, and arrested by or at the direction of Defendants. Before said date, a complaining witness alleged that Plaintiff had committed a criminal offense against them to defendants, but the defendants failed to perform a good faith police investigation conducted with an attendant assessment of reasonable suspicion to determine whether the complaining witness’s allegations were credible and/or if they wanted to press charges. On the day of the incident, plaintiff was at hi attorney responding to a demand to voluntarily surrender himself under threat of being issued a warrant. Defendants then ille...
Seth, Shaquan vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 806683/2021E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, June 10, 2021
Complaint
Description: On or about August 16, 2017, the Plaintiff was unlawfully stopped while leaving a local store. Police Defendant Martinez and unnamed Police Defendants decided to arrest Plaintiff, despite witness testimony and camera evidence that exonerated him. Police Defendants also reported several crimes to the DAs office, despite there being no reasonable suspicion. Based on these false allegations, the plaintiff was incarcerated for a year. Charges were dismissed and sealed in 2019.
Lisby, Shakur vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 031206/2020E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, November 3, 2020, ended August 8, 2022
$16,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 7, 2019 or 2020 at approximately 11:54 a.m. Plaintiff was lawfully in the area of 1930 Gildersleeve Avenue assisting with service of a court document. Police were requested to help effectuate service. PO Villanueva and an unnamed officer arrived and service was effected without incident. Suddenly POs told Plaintiff to place his hands behind his back and did not respond to Plaintiff's requests for explanation. Plaintiff began walking away when PO Villanueva and John and Jane Doe 1-20 approached, and yelled at and threated Plaintiff causing Plaintiff to fear for his safety. Plaintiff was grabbed and shoved to the ground with PO knees in his back. Plaintiff was then handcuffed in an excessively-tight man...
Dortch, Mandell vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 150939/2018,
Supreme Court - New York, March 1, 2018, ended January 14, 2020
$45,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or around August 25, 2015, Plaintiff Mandell Dortch was walking on the street in midtown Manhattan when he was approached by Defendant NYPD Officers Robinson Martinez and Frederic Ortiz. He was accused of appearing suspicious and the Defendants accosted him and battered him before arresting and handcuffing him. The handcuffs were so tight that they caused extreme pain. The following day, August 26, Plaintiff was booked on charges of fraudulent accosting, aggressive begging, and disorderly conduct and was held for two weeks. As a result of this assault, Plaintiff sustained serious physical bodily injuries, in addition to the psychological injuries and social stigma he suffered. This case against the Plaintiff...
Paul, Nicholas vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 17CV00804,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, February 17, 2017, ended September 8, 2017
$3,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was inside a parking garage when he was stopped, searched, and arrested by Officer Martinez. Officer searched his car and the plaintiff, and allegedly took a $380 Nike gift card, receipts for the gift card, bank records, cash, an Apple laptop computer, an iPhone and a Toyota Corolla that the plaintiff had rented. Plaintiff was then charged with possessing three forged credit cards.
Johnson, Gregory vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV05877,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, July 31, 2015, ended November 7, 2016
Zero Disposition
Complaint
Description: On July 6, 2014, Plaintiff was legally selling music composed by him in an area designated to him by the New York City Police Department when members of the New York City Police Department approached him and arrested him for Robbery in the Second Degree (Penal Law Section 160.10). He was then charged by the New York County District Attorney's Office. In late September 2014, the case was dismissed on the motion of the New York County District's Attorney's Office due to lack of evidence. On September 21, 2014, Plaintiff was once again arrested for Robbery in the Second Degree (Penal Law Section 160.10) when he was not engaged in any illegal activity. At his arraignment, the New York County District Attorney's Off...
Lazar, Eric vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV05761,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, September 11, 2013, ended February 12, 2014
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 17, 2012, at approximately 11:45 p.m. plaintiff Erick Lazar was walking holding an open container of alcohol. Officers Ralph Martinez and Ralph Trice stopped Plaintiff and requested identification. Plaintiff, believing it to be correct to empty his cup poured out its contents. This conduct led defendant Trice to grab and slam Plaintiff onto the ground, kneeing Plaintiff in the head, handcuffing and imprisoning Plaintiff in a police vehicle. Defendant Trice then signed and swore to a criminal court complaint against Plaintiff containing manufactured false allegations that Plaintiff pulled the alcohol cup out of Officer Trice's hand, refused to cooperate, and kicked Defendant Trice.
Stepan v. The City of New York et al
Case # 11CV05140,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Stipulation
Description: Defendant Officers pulled Plaintiff over while he was driving his friend, who was intoxicated, home. Officers subjected Plaintiff to sobriety tests and when the passenger attempted to exit the vehicle and talk to Plaintiff, his car door was kicked shut and Plaintiff was arrested and taken to the 7th precinct. When Plaintiff denied to take an intoxilyzer test until he consulted with an attorney, he was charged with VTL 1192.3 and 1192.1. He was found not guilty on a bench trial.