Police Officer From NY Beaten by Other Officers Settles for $5M

Almost eight years ago in 2010, Larry Jackson, an off-duty New York City police officer residing in Queens, New York, settled with the city for $5M after being beaten by other police officers.

According to court papers, Jackson was hosting a birthday party for his daughter. A man outside his house had a gun and his wife called 911 for help.

Police officers responded to the call. Jackson identified himself as a police officer. Despite that fact, the responding police officer stated that Jackson was the one causing the issues.  They hit him repeatedly with their batons.   As he was hurt on the ground, officers pepper-sprayed him.  He was then brought to the police station.

Jackson claimed he was racially profiled and targeted because he is African American. The lawyer who represented the city argued during the trial that Jackson punched one of the first police officers, and therefore police were acting in self-defense.

In 2016, a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, awarded Jackson $15 million which broke down to punitive damages of $2.6 million and $12.5 million in compensatory damages because the police choked and battered him while responding to a 911 call he placed at the birthday party for his daughter.

In August 2018, Judge Pamela Chen from the Brooklyn Federal Court lowered the amount owed Police Officer Jackson to $5.4 million after there were protests from the police department. They claimed that the amount they had to pay was too much.

The judge sided with the police department and lowered the amount to $5.4 million. She recommended that the damages for the compensatory part be lowered to $2.7 million.   That is more than the standard amount given for cases which were similar in nature. The punitive damages amount did not change.

Jackson’s lawyer, Eric Sanders told the New York Post that vindication of Jackson’s ordeal was more important than the money he was granted and that the judge’s proposition was fine. He also said that the judge confirmed the jury’s findings and that the assault Larry Jackson received by the hands of the other police officers was covered up by the Police Department.

Jackson was hosting his daughter’s birthday bash at his Queens home Aug. 21, 2010 when his wife called 911 to report a man outside the house who appeared to have a gun, according to court papers.

When the officers arrived, Jackson says, he repeatedly told them that he’s a cop, but they, nevertheless, blamed him for the trouble, bashing him with batons while he lay on the ground and pepper-spraying his face before hauling him off to a police station.

During the trial, Jackson stated that he may have to retire from his job due to his injuries. However, he did not have to retire and he continues to work.

Written By Barbara Sobel

Sources:

New York Post: Beaten up cop awarded $15M after being mistaken for criminal
New York Post: NYPD cop beaten by other officers settles with the city for $5M
New York Post: NYPD cop beaten by other officers could still get $5.4M

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