A woman recently received a $750,000 settlement after bringing a civil rights lawsuit in New York City. The woman (22-years-old at the time of the incident in 2018) filed the lawsuit after being shackled to a hospital bed with handcuffs around her wrists and ankles while she was giving birth in a NYC hospital.
Details of the lawsuit show that the woman went into labor while in police custody after being arrested on what was considered a “minor” charge. She was handcuffed to a gurney while being transported to a delivery room and once there was shackled to the bed by the wrists and ankles. This treatment endured for the entire 36-hour birthing process and beyond. The lawsuit also alleged that she was handcuffed after giving birth and had to struggle to feed her newborn baby with her one arm chained to the bed. When the baby was transferred to another unit within the hospital, the woman was brought to visit the baby with her ankles still shackled.
According to NYPD and correctional system policies, restraints should only be used when an individual is a potential threat to other individuals or themselves. Multiple medical and correctional experts were retained who all agreed that a pregnant woman is not a risk to anyone and never should have been shackled during childbirth.
While the circumstances in this case are is shocking, it mirrors many other civil rights cases. Many such civil rights lawsuits in New York City are brought and settled because in the end, the settlement allows the victim to receive compensation without a lengthy trial (or the risk of losing a trial) and at the same time allows the City to acknowledge the incident without accepting blame for it.
If you have had your rights violated and feel you’re entitled to compensation, you need an expert civil rights attorney in New York City on your side. Contact the dedicated team of legal professionals at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel today. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation.