$75 million suit over NYC chokehold death planned


Esaw Garner, center, wife of Eric Garner, breaks down in the arms of Rev. Herbert Daughtry and Rev. Al Sharpton, right, during a rally at the National Action Network headquarters for Eric Garner in New York. The city medical examiner ruled that Garner died as a result of a police chokehold during an attempted arrest. Garner's family has filed a notice of claim to sue New York City, the Police Department and six individual police officers for $75 million on Monday, Oct. 6. The notice is the first step toward suing the city over Garner's death on Staten Island in July. A spokesman for city Comptroller Scott Stringer said Tuesday, Oct. 7 the claim is under review.

The family of a man who died after being placed in a police chokehold has filed a notice of claim to sue the city, its police department and six officers for $75 million.

Eric Garner's family filed the notice, the first legal step toward suing over the 43-year-old's death, on Monday. A spokesman for city Comptroller Scott Stringer said Tuesday that the claim is under review. The city's Law Department said it will review the claim thoroughly. The New York Police Department did not immediately comment on the notice of claim.

Garner, who was unarmed, was stopped by police on Staten Island on July 17 on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. A video shot by an onlooker shows Garner telling the officers to leave him alone and refusing to be handcuffed.

An officer responded by putting Garner in a chokehold, which is banned under police policy. Garner, who had asthma, is heard gasping, "I can't breathe." He was pronounced dead later at a hospital. The city medical examiner found that the police chokehold contributed to Garner's death. A grand jury will determine whether criminal charges are filed.

Garner's death has sparked protests including an Aug. 23 march on Staten Island that drew thousands of people demanding justice. The notice of claim was filed by the law firm of Sanford Rubenstein, who is being investigated by detectives after a woman accused him of rape.

The accuser said the attack happened when she went back to Rubenstein's Manhattan apartment following a 60th birthday party last week for the Rev. Al Sharpton. Rubenstein, through his lawyer, has denied any criminal conduct.

Sharpton, who has championed the Garner family's pleas for justice, said Tuesday that the fact Rubenstein's name is on the notice of claim does not necessarily mean that Rubenstein will be the family's attorney going forward.

Sharpton said in a statement that the notice of claim filing was planned to protect the family's right to file a lawsuit before the deadline to file expires. He said the family would make an announcement about its legal representation during Saturday's weekly rally at his Harlem headquarters.

This woman has really suffered and Sharpton is so kind to help her in her time of need.

yes , it is kind

regarging the claim, I fear this will be a problem
'An officer responded by putting Garner in a chokehold, which is banned under police policy'


the officer acted AGAINST STATED POLICY, which should exclude the DEPARTMENT from culpability in the death and place it squarely on the shoulders of the officer accused if found guilty,,,,

I am from that area, it was terrible what the cops did to this guy. He was just selling loose cigs for Christ sakes!!

She will be getting a bill from Sharpton for this " support" once she gets the money.

Al Sharpton was also the spokesperson for LoanMax, a auto Title loan company. He did a few commercials. Their loan APR was the equivalent of 300% and targeted lower income families. People who were desperate

If I am not mistaken, the loan sharks in NYC charge about 200%..tops

That didn't seem to bother Sharpton. $$$$

actually it did , since he called for his ad to stop running shortly after it aired,,,,,having been doing it as reference from a friend and not having known their rates


you would be surprised how many people ACT in commercials for products they haven't done a full research on,,,,

I understand that, but a leader of people still should have done due diligence.. or had his camp do it before he agreed to talk on behalf of such a company.
If the post made mention of other people who fell into that category then I would be making the same statement against them.

even leaders over pledge sometimes

his 'due dilligence' was trust in the person who referred him,, which Im sure he has learned from since,,,

It look like Sharkton got a choke hold on her and her pocket book too. She not cryin yet til she see her money gone.

HE isn't acting in the capacity of a lawyer or a speaker,, there is no fees involved when he goes to these incidents

contrary to popular urban legend

IT IS about time that someone held the police accountable for thier actions. Who DO you call when the cops are the bad guys? in my case, being white, the answer is no one. I have a multimillion dollar suit against the michigan state police, but try to find someone to help... if i were black it would be different. thats what the last attorney told me.

well we are going to agree to disagree on this.

I have yet to see Al Sharpton on anything other then a high profile case where a white or the Government is accused of violence or rights violations against a black. And I am not saying that does not happen..it does. And it should and needs to be brought to the publics eye and the guilty punished according to the law. But He is where the camera is brightest. There have been countless black on black and black on white crimes. including hate crimes that I know of or have been in the press just in my general area. and I have yet to see Sharpton form any march in defense of the none black victim. In Newark N.J There are 3 murders per night ( on average).. no Sharpton.. why???.Because it is mainly black on black. when a group of blacks attacks whites or any none black ethnic group.. where is the Al Sharpton lead march???

crime is crime. regardless of the color. If you are going to be a crusader to stop violence.. then crusade for all..

just for the record.. I throw Donald Trump and other ( White) into that same boat. publicity hounds.. I call it the way I see it.. regardless of the color

Devildog

there are people to help, they are called ATTORNEYS,,lol
sounds like yours is lazy and making excuses,,, but good luck anyway

you are mistaken about how press works

first a story makes LOCAL news,, which is usually predominately viewed only LOCALLY

and then the MAINSTREAM and national networks decide which LOCAL stories to take to press

it would be impossible to highlight or even report on ALL Crimes EVERYWHERE , EVERY MOMENT in the USA,, so they pick and choose

'crusaders' do a lot of things that MEDIA doesn't find newsworthy,,, in that they are no different than regular citizens,,, some will be more highly represented,,, like white girls who are abducted or black people who are potential civil rights victims


but that is the choice of the media and the public who watches it,, not of the people being reported on,,,

no to mention 'black on black' crime (ie,, crime) is not all injustice

it BECOMES perceived injustice, not due to the elements of the crime, but due to the elements of HOW THE CRIME IS HANDLED AND PROSECUTED,,, and the HISTORY of LEGALLY ACCEPTED Injustice against blacks has just made it more of a hot button topic and has created a handful of WELL KNOWN Activists who step out when it happens,,,

75'000'000$?
May I see an itemized Bill?
How did those Lawyer-Leeches arrive at a Sum of Seventy-Five Million?
And guess who will be called on to pay!

its called negotiation, you always ask for MORE than you expect to receive

the amt, when the charge is against an agency, profitable business or institution, is a PUNITIVE amt ,,, not an itemized amt,, so as to DETER the institution from repeating the behavior in the future

people will be 'paying'; including potentially other officers in the public eye,,,,the 'taxpayers' not all who will agree(As ALWAYS) , but many who are glad to pay towards a goal of just treatment by police


,,,,that's just a GENERAL response to the questions,, I personally do not think this particular case will have merit, especially because the officer clearly went AGAINST policy and was therefore in no way encouraged or supported by his employers for his action


I personally believe the action consequence should lie directly on the officer,,,,perhaps a murder charge instead, like if anyone else on the street had done this to another,,,,

Guess it must be the Law-Offices of Dewey,Shaftem&Howe!

I respect your point of view MSHarmony as that's what forums are all about (and free speech)
We could debate this till doomsday. But my view of Al Sharpton is based on what I feel to be true. based on what I have seen over many years, based on my own judgment of the man and his actions. And based on what I feel to be fact.

That is how a judge any person's character.

So I stand by my comment.

on this one, we will have to agree to disagree

every day all day,,,,,

Ditto :)

LOL Sharpton is just soooo kind. He heard $75 Million and he was right there. That incident the photo is all staged. It's nothing more then them attempting to sway potential jurors.

I agree the police used excessive force, I have had to take down violent people by myself and get them in handcuffs and never had to use a choke hold. Hell in most states they are illegal.

Sharpton is a POS. The only thing he is out for is himself.