Civil Rights Lawyers in New York

When a police officer arrests you without cause, beats you, or lies to put a case on you, that is not just unfair. It is a violation of your constitutional rights, and the law gives you a way to fight back. Civil rights work is what this firm does best. We have spent more than 30 years taking on the NYPD, county sheriffs, and the City of New York on behalf of people the system wronged.

Below is a plain look at what these cases involve, why the City fights so hard, and how we build them.

What a civil rights case covers

Most of the cases we handle fall into a handful of categories. They often overlap in a single incident.

• False arrest and wrongful imprisonment — being detained without probable cause or legal justification. Learn more about false arrest claims.
• Police brutality — officers using force that goes beyond anything the situation called for. See our police brutality page.
• Excessive force — force judged unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment, from a takedown to a weapon. Read about excessive force.
• Malicious prosecution — a criminal case started against you without probable cause that later ended in your favor.
• Other misconduct — illegal searches, fabricated evidence, and retaliation.

Two paths to hold them accountable: state and federal law

New York gives you a state-law claim, and federal law gives you another. They run on different tracks, and the smart move is usually to pursue both.

Section 1983 claims

Federal civil rights claims come from 42 U.S.C. §1983, which lets you sue government actors who violate your constitutional rights. Section 1983 has real teeth. It generally carries a three-year statute of limitations in New York, it is not subject to the state Notice of Claim rule, and it can allow recovery of attorney’s fees and punitive damages against individual officers.

State-law claims and the Notice of Claim

State claims against the City, the NYPD, or another municipality carry a strict early deadline. You must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the incident, then file suit within one year and 90 days. There is often a 50-h hearing first, an examination under oath about what happened. Miss the 90-day window and your state claim can be gone. Here is how the Notice of Claim process works.

Why the City fights these cases

Cities and police departments defend civil rights suits hard, and you should expect that going in. Admitting an officer violated your rights can open the door to more claims and can cost the officer personally. Their lawyers will test every element, question your account, and lean on qualified immunity. None of that means your case is weak. It means you need counsel who has been across the table from municipal defense lawyers and knows how to answer them.

What these cases can be worth

Damages depend on what was done to you: physical injury, time locked up, lost income, and the emotional harm of being brutalized or falsely accused. Punitive damages can also come into play against individual officers when the conduct is bad enough.

In one police brutality case, our firm secured a $900,000 verdict, including $500,000 in punitive damages. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case turns on its own facts, and we will give you a straight read on yours.

How we work with you

We are a partner-led firm with eight offices across New York. When you hire us, a partner is on your case. We pledge to represent you as one of our own. Cases are handled on a contingency fee, so you owe no fee unless we recover for you. The consultation is free and confidential, and we are available 24/7.

The deadlines here are short and unforgiving. If you think your rights were violated, contact us to talk it through, and take a look at our case results.