Named in 10 known lawsuits, $185,000 total settlements.
Alicea, Lizzie vs Detective Spinelli, Steve, et al.
Case # 153005/2018,
Supreme Court - Richmond, March 4, 2019, ended August 4, 2023
Administrative Closing
Harris, Reginald vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 17CV05934,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 27, 2017, ended August 20, 2018
$2,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was driving his car when Defendant officers stopped plaintiff without justification or provocation and ordered plaintiff to get out. Defendants forcibly grabbed plaintiff and searched plaintiff's person, grabbed plaintiff's penis, and used vial and offensive language against plaintiff while touching his penis. Thereafter, defendants handcuffed plaintiff, ordered plaintiff onto his knees on the road behind his car and forced him to kneel on the pavement for approximately one hour. Defendants removed the memory card from plaintiff's cell phone and stole it from him. The defendants then un-cuffed plaintiff and left the scene.
Smith, Kenneth, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV05030,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, June 30, 2015, ended June 1, 2016
$2,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On January 23, 2015, Plaintiffs Kenneth Smith and Rylawn Walker, African American men, were behaving lawfully and not acting in a suspicious manner when they were approached, accosted, falsely arrested, and falsely imprisoned by the Defendant NYPD Officers. Each Plaintiff was imprisoned approximately 24 hours after his unlawful arrest and compelled to make numerous court appearances until June 11, 2015, when the criminal charges were dismissed. While the Plaintiffs were being held, Defendant NYPD Officer Robert Woodhouse, with the acquiescence of the other defendants, misrepresented facts in the police reports and other documents to falsely state the Plaintiffs had committed offenses including possessing mari...
Prekas, Marko vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05744,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 14, 2014, ended October 30, 2015
$75,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Second Amended Complaint
Description: On March 13, 2012, ten NYPD officers executed a search warrant at 311 Gordon Street, Staten Island, but unlawfully entered and searched Marko Prekas' separate basement apartment, not covered by the warrant. Michael Driscoll And Robert Patelli, entered Prekas’ apartment with firearms. Prekas was awakened by an officer pointing guns at him. When PREKAS stood up out of his bed, a defendant officer pressed his firearm against Prekas’ chest and a defendant officer, believed to be Robert Patelli, handcuffed Prekas without cause. Defendants Matthew Edelman, Donald Stewart, Luis Torino, William Russo, Kevin Sills, Matthew Bilotti, Michael Zak, and Dennis Maira, entered the location and searched both the first floor and...
Leitoe, Jefferson vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05865,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 7, 2014, ended February 2, 2015
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: At approximately 4:00 p.m. on February 1, 2014, plaintiff Jefferson Leitoe was lawfully in front of his home, with his younger brother, at 15 Van Buren Street in Staten Island, New York. The defendant NYPD officers involved in this case were, Detective Michael Zak, Detective Robert Woodhouse and Officer John and Jane Doe 1 through 10. Plain clothed officers approached Mr. Leitoe and his brother. One of the defendant officers grabbed plaintiff’s younger brother and began to search him. From a lawful distance, Mr. Leitoe calmly asked the defendant officer for his name and shield number, to which the defendant officer responded, in sum, “shut the fuck up.” The plain clothed officer then directed additional defend...
Patterson, Christian vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV05330,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 4, 2014, ended March 9, 2016
Settlement
Complaint,
Third Amended Complaint
Description: On June 12, 2014, between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., plaintiff was at his home in Staten Island. During that time, the defendant NYPD officers, including Detective John Fahim and Captain William Russo, forcibly entered without a warrant. They broke down plaintiff's door, threw him violently to the floor, and handcuffed him. When plaintiff asked to see a search warrant, one of the officers placed his knee on plaintiff's handcuffed hand, causing severe injuries.
King, Gina, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 504037/2013,
Supreme Court - Kings, August 2, 2013
Brown et al v. City of New York et al
Case # 10CV00634,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$35,000 Settlement
Stipulation,
Amended Complaint
Grigger v. City of New York et al
Case # 12CV01708,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$50,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Stipulation
Smith et al v. The City Of New York , et al
Case # 16CV00845,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
Amended Complaint,
Original Complaint
Description: Plaintiffs were approached and arrested by defendant officers, taken into custody, and charged with 220.03 and 221.05. Charges were later dismissed.