2017

70 y.o.man died of heart attack during aggressive traffic stop, where officer ignored decedent’s pleas of illness; officer later convicted of aggravated assault; bench trial.

Police shooting of 25 y.o.mentally ill man during physical altercation with police, after family made 5150 call; survived by parents.

26 y.o. suicidal woman shot to death by officers while holding gun to her own head; officers said she refused to drop gun, and angrily took four quick steps toward them while pointing gun at her own head; survived by father. Verdict includes $1.5M punitives each against two shooting officers.

Jail medical company failed to provide adequate care to drug-addicted Iraq War veteran with PTSD, who hanged himself in the Nassau County Jail. Survived by mother and brother. Jury assessed $890,000 compensatory damages and $7M punitives against medical provider; civil rights attorneys fees not included in verdict and awarded after trial.

Police officer crashed patrol car into plaintiffs’ car during high-speed pursuit of someone else; plaintiffs were a 46 y.o. Af-Am male janitor (with alcohol in his system) and 50 y.o. Af-Am female, unemployed. Both sustained multiple fractures and injuries requiring surgery. Alleged cover-up. Verdict includes $1,000,000 punitives against officer.

37 y.o man who mysteriously broke neck in jail, not treated for 51 hours, while he largely laid on the floor until he died.

30 y.o. emotionally disturbed man killed by SWAT sniper on his front porch, while grasping his 7 y.o. son. Decedent’s mother had called police after they argued and he had slapped a cell phone out of her hand. SWAT arrived with Bearcat; 4 hour standoff ensued; Decedent was drunk and belligerent inside the home with his son. Decedent finally agreed to give up son on front porch. Swat team exploded a flash bang in the home, and when Decedent grabbed for his son, sniper shot him. Survived by son and Decedent’s parents.