NYC Police Brutality & Civil Rights Lawyer — Section 1983 Lawsuits

The police are supposed to protect you. When they beat you, falsely arrest you, or violate your constitutional rights — the law gives you the right to fight back and recover significant monetary damages. That fight is brought under 42 U.S.C. §1983, and it is exactly what I do.

Time Limits You Cannot Ignore

Notice of Claim: To sue New York City, you must file a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the incident. Miss this deadline and you lose the right to name the City as a defendant in state court.

Federal §1983 claims: 3-year statute of limitations from the date your rights were violated.

The sooner you call, the more I can do.

What Cases I Handle

Excessive Force and Police Brutality — Police are permitted to use only the force that is reasonable and necessary. When they go beyond that — punching, kicking, tasers, chokeholds, weapons — they can be held personally liable and the City can be liable as well.

False Arrest and Wrongful Arrest — If an officer arrested you without probable cause, without a warrant, or fabricated the basis for the arrest, you may have a powerful Section 1983 claim. Dismissal of the criminal charges strengthens this case significantly.

Malicious Prosecution — If the police or prosecutors pursued charges against you knowing they lacked probable cause — or used the process to punish or intimidate you — that is malicious prosecution. It is actionable under both federal and state law.

Racial Profiling and Illegal Stop-and-Frisk — Being stopped, detained, or arrested because of how you look, not what you did, is a constitutional violation.

Prison and Detention Abuse — People in custody do not surrender their constitutional rights. If you or someone you love was physically abused, denied medical care, or subjected to inhumane conditions in a New York jail or prison, I can help.

The Insider Advantage

Most attorneys who bring civil rights cases against the City never stood in the room when law enforcement made its decisions. I did. I spent years at the Brooklyn DA's office. I know how the government evaluates these claims, how the City Law Department defends them, and where the weaknesses are.

When I sit across from the City's lawyers, I have already been on their side of the table.

What You Can Recover

A successful Section 1983 case can result in:

• Compensatory damages — for physical injuries, emotional distress, lost wages, and loss of liberty

• Punitive damages — against the individual officer personally, in cases of particularly egregious conduct

• Attorney's fees — the law allows recovery of legal fees in successful civil rights cases, meaning I may be able to represent you with no money out of pocket

New York City paid over $108 million in a single two-year period to settle excessive force and false arrest lawsuits. These cases have real value. Don't let yours expire.

Fill out the form below or call (646) 450-9354 for a free, confidential case evaluation. I will tell you honestly whether you have a case and what it may be worth. No pressure, no fees unless we win.