Named in 15 known lawsuits, $3,108,000 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...
Gist, Domonique vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 521213/2019,
Supreme Court - Kings, October 15, 2019
Complaint
Description: The March 26, 2018, plaintiff was driving home with some friends in the car when he was pulled over by defendant NYPD officers outside of Sunset Park Recreation Center. The defendants immediately directed the plaintiff and his friends to step out of the vehicle. Shortly after, the defendants forcibly grabbed the plaintiff and removed him and applied tight handcuffs to his wrists. The plaintiff was then transported to the 72nd Precinct and searched but nothing was recovered.
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...
Gaffney, Gregory vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 517036/2016,
Supreme Court - Kings, October 3, 2016, ended April 3, 2018
$925,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Summons/Complaint
Description: On November 2, 2013, Lieutenant Thomas Passolo, along with Police Officers Francisco Delossantos, Jimmy Clerge, Vaughan Ettienne, and Ryan Galvin, conducted a search of premises in which the Plaintiff had an expectation of privacy, without a search warrant, consent, or legal justification. The Defendants alleged that they found an illegal firearm during the search, arrested the Plaintiff, and initiated a criminal proceeding against the Plaintiff. The Defendants did not have probable cause to believe that the Plaintiff had committed a crime or was about to commit a crime. In addition, the Defendants made false statements to the prosecution and withheld exculpatory evidence. All charges against the Plaintiff were...
Acosta, Magarita, et al. By Fng De Jesus Acosta Ii, Orlando vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 515325/2016,
Supreme Court - Kings, September 2, 2016, ended June 20, 2017
$50,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about September 4, 2015, Plaintiffs were imprisoned, maliciously and violently struck and verbally and physically abused and subject to excessive force. Plaintiffs were hospitalized as a result of the excessive force of the NYPD officers and suffered permanent and severe personal injuries. Plaintiffs were imprisoned by Detectives Cespedes, De Los Santos, and Meyers.
Dejesus, Steven, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 16CV03709,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, July 7, 2016, ended March 1, 2018
$31,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Plaintiffs were driving when a police car began following them. After dropping off a passenger at his home, Defendant officers pulled over the car, opened the doors, and yanked the driver and passengers out and threw them to the ground. Apparently the Defendants had stopped the vehicle thinking that it had been the escape vehicle for two perpetrators of a nearby stabbing even though it did not match the description and a witness said it was the wrong car. Nevertheless, Plaintiffs and the passenger they dropped off were arrested and taken to the 72nd Precinct. One Plaintiff was charged with gang assault in various degrees, assault in various degrees, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and harassment, whi...
Townsend, Ashley vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV05457,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 16, 2015, ended August 10, 2016
$7,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Complaint
Description: First incident: Plaintiff was falsely searched, arrested, and charged with 140.25 'Burglary in the second degree' by Officer De Los Santos. Charge later dismissed. On a separate occasion Officer Massa forcefully entered a residence where plaintiff was a guest, arrested Plaintiff, and charged her with 265.03(1)(b) 'Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree', which was later dismissed. On another occasion, Officer Saitta forcefully entered a residence where plaintiff was a guest, arrested Plaintiff, and charged her with unspecified charges.
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.
Rouse, Derrick, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV05984,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, November 1, 2013, ended August 5, 2014
$10,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Complaint
Description: On June 30, 2013, Derrick Rouse and Dominick Scott ("plaintiffs") were sitting in a legally parked car at the intersection of Pulaski and Stuyvesant Streets in Brooklyn, New York, when they were approached and questioned by NYPD Officers Francisco Delossantos, Mark Xylas, and Ryan Galvin, as well as other unnamed officers. The plaintiffs claim they were forcibly removed from the car, unlawfully searched, and arrested without probable cause. At the precinct, it is alleged that the officers falsely claimed to the Kings County District Attorney's Office that the plaintiffs were observed consuming alcohol publicly and resisting arrest. After about 24 hours in Brooklyn Central Booking, plaintiffs were released. They...
Holley, Anthony, et Al vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV02410,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 29, 2012, ended October 29, 2013
$51,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Stipulation
Walker, Gerald vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV03694,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 16, 2012, ended April 1, 2013
$20,000 Settlement
Boyce v. City of New York et al
Case # 11CV01734,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$40,000 Settlement
Second Amended Complaint
Calixto v. City of New York et al
Case # 15CV06676,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
Amended Complaint,
Complaint
Description: The plaintiff was outside her house when an officer approached her and punched her in the face, causing her to lose consciousness. She was taken to the 72nd Precinct and later released with a DAT. However, when she went to court she found out that the DA did not file charges against her.
Hayes v. New York City et al
Case # 10CV06103,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
$525,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Stipulation
