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Lawsuits Against NYPD Cost Taxpayers $230 Million Last Year
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Apr 17, 2019
Modified Apr 17, 2019
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Mary Altaffer/AP/Shutterstock
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Apr 17, 2019
Modified Apr 17, 2019
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New York City taxpayers are stuck with a $230 million bill for the thousands of lawsuits against the NYPD that the city settled in the last fiscal year, according to a report released this week by Comptroller Scott Stringer.
The annual claims report found that the majority of suits against the department were related to improper police conduct, including excessive force and false arrests. While the number of claims against the NYPD has remained stable—there were 6,472 actions last year, compared to 6,546 in 2017—total payouts have decreased significantly from last year's high of $335.5 million.
The Comptroller's report noted that five wrongful conviction suits accounted for $33 million of this past year's payouts. Four out of five of those claims involved people who spent decades in prison before their sentences were vacated by the late Brooklyn D.A. Ken Thompson's Conviction Integrity Unit. Their settlements ranged from $1.5 million for Paul Gatling, who was exonerated at the age of 81, to $12.3 million for Andre Hatchett, who spent 25 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
In his report, Stringer said that the city is facing "a substantial number of pending wrongful conviction claims," which he warned could result in an uptick in future NYPD payouts.
The 2018 fiscal year also included a $25.4 million settlement in the federal class-action lawsuit, Stinson v. City of New York, related to the police department's illegal arrest quotas. Last year, Police Sergeant Edwin Raymond, who has an ongoing class action lawsuit against the NYPD, told Gothamist that "the quota system is absolutely [still] happening."
That New Yorkers were only on the hook for $230 million in police settlement cash this past year was hailed as a victory by the NYPD. In a statement, Sergeant Jessica McRorie, a police spokesperson, said the report "reflects the successful efforts to fight frivolous cases, and to provide our officers with the best training and guidance possible."
The statement continued: "These gains represent another example how the NYPD is building greater trust and respect with the community to collaboratively solve problems, drive down crime, and enhance public safety."
On the other hand, the NYPD has continued to employ officers whose dozens of misconduct allegations have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, while fighting tooth-and-nail to keep police disciplinary records secret.
Tagged
comptroller
nypd
nypd lawsuits
police misconduct
Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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