New York City Violation of Civil Rights & Police Brutality Lawyer

You have certain rights that cannot be infringed. Just because someone is a police officer or represents the state doesn’t mean that your rights don’t matter.

When the police cross a line, they must be held accountable. If your civil rights have been violated or if you’ve been the victim of police brutality in New York City, you might be entitled to compensation. 

The experienced NYC civil rights and police brutality lawyers at Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. will help you fight to hold the city accountable. In the process, we will demand that you are paid a substantial monetary award for your injuries and suffering. With more than 200 combined years of experience and $1 Billion recovered, you know that we mean business and will work hard to get the job done.

You probably have a lot of questions. That’s why our NYC law firm offers a free consultation. Give us a call to schedule yours today. When you sit down with our compassionate team, we can review your case and provide some preliminary legal advice to help you decide what’s next.

Why Will a Personal Injury Lawyer Help If My Civil Rights Have Been Violated?

The police can’t just do anything they want because they wear a shield. In fact, law enforcement officers have to adhere to very specific rules and regulations when enforcing the law. Officers can and do cross the line. We read about it in the news far too often. When officers engage in misconduct, the city doesn’t always take responsibility.

Quite simply, that’s unacceptable. If you’ve been hurt, our NYC personal injury attorneys won’t let that stand. When you’ve been injured because of your interactions with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), our law firm will spare no expense in holding reckless officers and the police department accountable. As a client, you’re like family to us, and we will not rest until we’ve done everything we can to help you secure a substantial monetary settlement or award.

When you hire our legal team, you can expect us to:

  • Launch a thorough investigation into the violation of your civil rights and gather evidence to support a demand for compensation;
  • Interview witnesses and review the offending officer’s record to see if they have a history of misconduct and/or pushing the limits;
  • Bring in experts to help us break down the circumstances surrounding your case and understand exactly how and why the officer’s actions were unreasonable;
  • Consult professionals who can provide insight about aspects of your case that might be difficult to value in terms of dollars and cents, such as your pain and suffering and the emotional trauma you’ve endured; and
  • Stand up to the NYPD and their attorneys when they inevitably make it as difficult as possible for you to get the money you deserve.

If the city won’t accept responsibility or offer a fair settlement, our accomplished and award-winning NYC trial lawyers will take your case to a jury. We’ll exhaust every option in our pursuit of compensation for you. 

If you or a loved one is struggling because your rights were violated by the NYPD, Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. is here to help. We represent clients throughout the New York City area, including the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and Westchester County. Give us a call today to learn more about filing a civil rights or police brutality lawsuit.

NYC Pays Out Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Civil Rights and Police Brutality Cases Every Year

Civil rights violations and police brutality lawsuits aren’t uncommon in New York City. Every year, thousands of people sue the city after unpleasant and downright violent interactions with the police. And, every year, the city pays handsome sums of money to settle those cases before they can get to a jury.

Just how much does the city of New York pay? Between July 2017 and July 2018, NYC spent $230 Million to settle these lawsuits. The year before, settlements topped $353 Million. Reports indicate that the figure was much higher because five wrongful conviction cases worth $33 million were settled that year.

Payments For Excessive Force, False Arrests On the Rise

There are many different grounds on which civil rights violations and police brutality lawsuits can be based. Many focus on allegations of excessive force and false arrests. Not only are the number of lawsuits alleging these types of police misconduct on the rise, but so are the payouts. Years ago, the city paid $48 million to settle these claims. That figure has more than doubled in the decade since. Between 2017 and 2018, NYC allocated $108 million to settle excessive force and false arrest lawsuits.

Do I Have a Civil Rights or Police Brutality Lawsuit?

If you had an interaction with the police or a government official and think they crossed a line, you might have a legitimate claim for damages. That’s thanks to something called a Section 1983 lawsuit.

Under 42 U.S.C. §1983, individuals acting under “color of state law” can be held accountable for civil rights violations. The government explains that under color of law includes “acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official’s lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties.” 

In other words, this basically means that you can sue a police officer or other government agent if, while acting under actual or suggested state authority, they violate your rights in some way.

What do you have to prove if you want to file a Section 1983 lawsuit? First, you’ll have to establish that the police officer (or another defendant) deprived you of a right secured by the Constitution or state law. Next, you’ll have to prove that this happened by a person acting under color of law.

Representing All Victims of Civil Rights Violations and Police Brutality in NYC

At Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., we know that any violation of your civil rights can have dire consequences for years to come. Our NYC police misconduct lawyers will work tirelessly to hold the city, police department, correctional officers, and any other liable parties responsible for the harm you’ve endured. We represent clients in all civil rights violations and police brutality cases, including:

  • False arrests
  • Excessive force
  • Intimidation
  • Sexual assault
  • Assault
  • Racial profiling
  • Illegal searches and seizures
  • Killing dogs without justification
  • Wrongful death, and more.

Our law firm knows that this is probably a very difficult time for you. We want to make things as easy as we can. That’s why we’ll handle the details of your case from start to finish. We’ll investigate, interview, research, examine, consult, communicate, and negotiate. If necessary, we’ll litigate. That way, you can focus on recovering from the incredibly traumatic experience you’ve just had. Give us a call today to schedule a free case assessment and learn more.

Damages May Be Available For Victims of Police Brutality in NYC

Whether you’ve been physically assaulted by a cop or unlawfully arrested because you were racially profiled, the trauma of that can affect you for the rest of your life. New York City must be held fully accountable for the unlawful and harmful actions of those who represent it. You can accomplish this by filing a personal injury lawsuit and demanding an award of monetary damages.

Compensation could include money for:

  • Medical bills and expenses
  • Rehabilitation and therapy
  • Lost wages and income
  • Disability and/or reduced earning capacity
  • Emotional distress, including PTSD and depression
  • Disfigurement and scarring
  • Loss of enjoyment of life, and more.

If a loved one was killed because of an act of police brutality, you may also be entitled to a financial award. Our NYC police brutality attorneys can help you file a wrongful death claim against the city and fight to maximize your recovery. 

Statute of Limitations for Civil Rights and Police Brutality Injury Lawsuits in New York

You will have a limited period of time to assert your rights and file a lawsuit against the city after you’ve been harmed. The statute of limitations will depend on the specifics of your case.

If you file a police brutality lawsuit alleging that you’ve been assaulted, you’ll have one year from the date of the attack to file a claim. If your lawsuit is based on another deprivation of your civil rights, you will have up to three years from the date the violation occurs to act.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our NYC Civil Rights and Police Brutality Lawyers

Have you been harmed in some way because of police misconduct in New York City? Contact Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. to discuss your legal options. You could have the right to pursue compensation from the city, and our experienced police misconduct attorneys will work tirelessly to maximize your recovery. Your initial case assessment is free, so don’t hesitate to call our team to schedule yours today.