False Arrest/Imprisonment

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In Denis v. Home Depot, U.S.A., the Eastern District of New York recently permitted plaintiff to amend his complaint to add a claim for punitive damages. Plaintiff alleged that he sustained personal injuries resulting from a false arrest at a Nanuet, NY Home Depot store for attempted shoplifting. Here are the pertinent facts, as summarized…

Read More Plaintiff May Amend Complaint to Add Claim for Punitive Damages in False Arrest Lawsuit Against Home Depot
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In Rivera v. Balter Sales Co. (decided 12/1/14), the Southern District of New York held that plaintiff sufficiently alleged claims for aiding and abetting discriminatory conduct (under the New York State Human Rights Law) and false arrest. What is interesting about this case is that plaintiff sued not only her former employer, but also the…

Read More Fired Plaintiff Sufficiently Alleges “Aiding and Abetting” Claim Arising From Retaliatory Arrest
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As illustrated by a recent federal court decision, a plaintiff may be able to assert false arrest claims against a private individual who makes a false report to the police, resulting in plaintiff’s arrest. In Sanders-Peay v. NYC Dept. of Educ., decided Nov. 18, 2014, the Eastern District of New York held that plaintiff, a Department…

Read More False Arrest Claims, Based on False Statements to Police, Sufficiently Pled
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In Pittman v. Incorporated Village of Hempstead, the Eastern District of New York held that plaintiff’s excessive force claim survived summary judgment. The “Fourth Amendment protects individuals from the government’s use of excessive force when detaining or arresting individuals. … A police officer’s use of force is excessive in violation of the Fourth Amendment[] if it…

Read More Injury to Arrestee’s Head and Ear Results in Denial of Summary Judgment to Officer on Excessive Force Claim
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Here is the complaint filed on July 30th in Bronx Supreme Court by alleged “rape cop” Kenneth Moreno against various parties, including the woman he was accused (but acquitted) of raping, the City of New York, and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance. According to a Reuters article on the suit, plaintiff “claims that city prosecutors ignored credibility…

Read More Alleged “Rape Cop” Kenneth Moreno’s $175 Million Lawsuit Against Accuser and Others
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In Martin v. J.C. Penney, decided by the Eastern District of New York on June 10, 2014, Judge Weinstein denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s claims under 42 USC 1981 and the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. Plaintiffs, “dark-skinned females who dress in stereotypically male attire”, sued after being detained for…

Read More Alleged Shoplifters’ Race and “Perceived Sex” Discrimination Claims Continue Against J.C. Penney
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In Schwartz v. Marcantonatos et al. (Summary Order decided May 20, 2014), the Second Circuit affirmed the denial of summary judgment to defendants on the ground of qualified immunity. This false arrest case arises out of the NYPD’s botched attempt to arrest the plaintiff as part of its “lucky bag” program. Ironically, the arresting (plainclothes) officer’s own illegal…

Read More “Lucky Bag” Operation Backfires; False Arrest Lawsuit Continues
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In Betts v. Shearman et al, decided May 2, 2014, the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims for false arrest and malicious prosecution arising from his wife’s an encounter in which, he claims, his wife falsely accused him of assaulting her. Plaintiff alleged the following: On January 20, 2011 at approximately 11:30 p.m., while…

Read More Complaining Victim’s Allegedly False Accusation of Assault Insufficient to Establish False Arrest Claim
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Here’s a little Mother’s Day-themed law for you. In Pierre v. City of New York, the Southern District of New York recommended the dismissal of various claims asserted by plaintiff against the City of New York, including for false arrest, excessive force, deprivation of property, violation of First Amendment rights, under federal law (through 42 USC…

Read More Mother’s Day Cards Are Not Exempt From General Vendor’s License Requirement
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