A business owner claims his Civil Rights were violated when the NYPD arrested him after he attempted to help an intoxicated patron at his restaurant. The alleged wrongful arrest in New York City occurred in 2017. Clyde Pemberton, owner of MIST Harlem who also happens to be black, claims he attempted to assist an unconscious woman whom two other women were lugging out of the bathroom at his establishment. One of the women began hitting him and screaming. The police were called. NYPD officers arrested Mr. Pemberton for unlawful imprisonment.
In a new Civil rights lawsuit in New York City court, Mr. Pemberton claims the NYPD discriminated against him because he was black. Indeed, in his claim, Mr. Pemberton says the NYPD supervisor who arrived on scene didn’t even talk to him, relying solely on the statement of one of the women.
Records show that the charges against him (and those against two of his employees) were later dropped, but Mr. Pemberton says the irreparable harm this incident has caused him was completely unnecessary.
The New York City Law Department (which reviews all such claims) said it would look into Mr. Pemberton’s allegations. Similar cases of wrongful arrest in New York City have resulted in settlements out of court for victims. Indeed, the City of New York sometimes prefers to settle cases of alleged Civil Rights violations out of court because:
1) It’s less costly for the city
2) The process is often shorter for all parties involved
And while settlements in Civil Rights lawsuits in New York are better for the city, they can often be better for the victims as well.
If you’ve been the victim of a Civil Rights violation, you need an experienced wrongful arrest lawyer in New York City on your side. Having an expert to help you understand all the legal options available to you is the best way to get the most from any proceedings in a timely fashion.
Contact The Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for your free consultation today. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 right now.