NYPD Paid $102 Million in Lawsuits Last Year, Huge Increase

Percent of total claims filed, broken down by city agency for Fiscal Year 2008

Payouts from the NYPD in settlements and judgments soared during the last fiscal year, according to a report from Comptroller William Thompson detailing the city's payouts. Overall, the city paid $567.9 million as a result of lawsuits, an increase of about 2% over the previous time period. But the NYPD's payouts increased 11% percent, to $102.8 during fiscal year 2008, which ended September 30th. Of that amount, $35.2 million was paid in settlements over charges of improper police action, up 40% over the previous year.

Thompson's report also shows that the number of claims filed against the NYPD has climbed 22% since 1999 (the year of Amadou Diallo's death), hitting an all-time high of 6,274 last year. Donna Lieberman of the NYCLU tells the Daily News, "These are remarkable increases. They raise serious questions as to whether the NYPD is out of control." She says the NYPD's aggressive stop-and-frisk practices—associated with racial profiling—are to blame. But an NYPD source counters that many claims are just over property damages, like when a squad car damages another vehicle.

In a statement, Thompson suggested that future settlement money should be deducted from each city agency's budget: "I have long advocated that agencies be held fiscally accountable for their own claims. Tying claims to an agency’s budget would go a long way to mitigating claims settlement and judgment costs." And the News also notes that the largest NYPD settlement from last year was $1.25 million for the false rape arrest of Marshall Nuñez. (DNA proved the learning-disabled man was innocent.) His lawyer tells the News, "I only wish it was bigger. I think there are a lot more innocent people in jail than we think and a lot more confessions that are not as willful as we think."

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By John Del Signore in News on March 12, 2009 11:19 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

The Corrections and Sanitation Departments had the same percentage of lawsuit payouts? More reason for combining those two.

peanuthead

the City (note cap "C") has no one to blame but itself for all the cash payouts in regard to NYPD misconduct! stripe is absolutely right in regard to having the resources to hire/work with lawyers to pursue cases in the labyrinthine court system.

any and all challengers to bloomie's third term had BETTER bring this issue up come election time and everyone wonders why the city does not have enough money to pay for many very important programs, etc. citizens' are already wondering, where are their hard earned tax dollars going?

stripe

The main cash drain is that most of the many many civil liberties claims, such as those related to the RNC and Critical Mass, are quietly settled without going to trial. That's because the NYPD doesn't want their practices to go in front of the media and public on trial. And those suits are only by people who have the wherewithal to get a lawyer and sue. There are many more people who's rights have been trampled on by the NYPD!

Spirit of 76

Thompson suggested that future settlement money should be deducted from each city agency's budget

Better idea: settlement money should be deducted from each officer's salary. They wouldn't act like such pricks if they knew they'd be personally liable when the city loses a case brought on by their actions. Patrick Pogan and his dad would lose their house.

handsomedevil

It's clear that Bloomberg and Kelly often do not give a shit when the NYPD screws up. Certainly we have the perception that these incidents are on the rise or caught more easily. The lawsuit money is a stat that could back that up AND a good reason that Bloomy should act like he cares. Money is, after all, a language he understands.

drewo

It takes spine to stand up to the rank and file. That's something lacking in both Bloomberg and Kelly.

Alex

When a guy gets locked up for 28 hours for using an emergency exit at a subway station, it's no wonder they're getting sued.

longacre

They raise serious questions as to whether the NYPD is out of control.

Or maybe whether lawyers are out of control.

drewo

Actions by the NYPD continually puts the department in these liable positions. It's not so much the NYPD is out of control, as it lacks any kind of leadership.

Papercutninja

+1

Felix Hoenikker

+10

If these fucking parasites want the system fixed so badly, go do some real 'lawyering' and change the laws.

Smitty025

"Real 'lawyering'" does not involve changing laws. That would be legislating, which the lawyers have no power to do.

Outter Burrougher

i'm fairly certain that if the police actually act properly and apply the laws properly, that there tends not to be a basis for a lawsuit.

yes, many of these lawsuits are trivial or overzealous, but the problem isn't one sided