Initially filed on May 25, 2010, the NYPD class action lawsuit covered class members who received criminal court summonses from various NYPD precincts. As the case received media scrutiny the number of primary plaintiffs and class members increased significantly. The plaintiffs alleged that the New York Police Department unlawfully stopped and arrested individuals, without demonstrating probable cause. The illegal police actions also included illegally issued court summonses and the unlawful seizure of personal assets. Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit contended that the illegal behavior exhibited by law enforcement officials was caused by department arrest and summons quotas established by precinct leadership.
Court documents reveal language that identified the quotas. “To encourage and drive this unlawful pattern and practice, the NYPD consistently punishes officers who issue fewer summonses, and rewards police officers who issue more summonses, regardless of whether or not there is probable cause to issue such summonses,” class counsel for the NYPD class action lawsuit stated.
The NYPD agreed to a preliminary class action settlement potentially worth up to $75 million. However, the defense counsel aggressively fought the charges brought against the NYPD and the law enforcement agency continues to deny the class action lawsuit charges. The settlement avoids costly litigation and the uncertainty of a civil trial outcome.
What You Need To Know
Class members comprise individuals that received a criminal court summons that a court later dismissed because of the lack of probable cause. Class counsel emphasizes eligible class members must have received the illegal summonses between May 25, 2007 and January 25, 2017. In addition to cash compensation out of the $75 class action settlement fund, the NYPD also agreed to change the quota policy, as well as implement department wide training that instructs officers about the importance of following probable cause protocol.
The potential award is $150 per summons, with awards distributed on a prorate basis. Individual awards depend on the number of approved claims. The deadline for filing the class action settlement claim form is September 6, 2017. Stay on top of class action settlement changes by visiting the website www.NYPDsummons.com. The class action settlement case formally referred to as Stinson, et al. v. The City of New York, et al., Case No. 10-cv-4228 (RWS), in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York had a final hearing completed on May 24, 2017. Class counsel is represented by the law firms of Cohen & Fitch LLP, The Law Office of Jon L. Norinsberg, and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. Zachary W. Carter of Corporation Counsel of the City of New York is handling the defense for the NYPD.
