Named in 5 known lawsuits, $1,471,000 total settlements.
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...
Borbon, Jose vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 500072/2021,
Supreme Court - Kings, January 4, 2021, ended November 15, 2023
$22,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 29, 2019, Plaintiff, Mr. Jose Bourbon, a 26 year old Hispanic male, was in the vicinity of 521 48th Street, in Brooklyn New York when he working as an Amazon Delivery person delivering a package when he was approached and questioned by Defendants, ORTIZ, ROOME and JOHN OR JANE DOE 1-10, regarding illegal activity. Defendants accused the plaintiff of committing criminal acts including Robbery in the Second and Third Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, Assault in the Third Degree, Petit Larceny, Unauthorized Use of a
Vehicle in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, Menacing in the Third Degree, Harassment in the Second Degree, Unlicensed Operator, Aggravat...
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...
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.