In a lawsuit filed on December 12, 2013 in the Southern District of New York, Zayas v. City of New York et al. (SDNY 13-cv-8808), plaintiff – photojournalist Angel Zayas – alleges that he was “forced out of the subway for trying to photograph police performing a stop-and-frisk and was then arrested for complaining about his treatment.”
He also alleges that the City of New York and the NYPD “have a policy, practice or custom of seizing, arresting or otherwise harassing photographers, both amateur and professional, who photograph police activities taking place in public view.”
Plaintiff asserts claims under 42 U.S.C. section 1983 (for violations of the First and Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution), the New York State Constitution, and New York common law (false arrest, assault, and battery).