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So your probably sitting at home on Staten Island right now, still in shock from being arrested for absolutely nothing. Maybe the 120th Precinct in St. George grabbed you for “loitering” near the ferry terminal. Maybe the 121st Precinct in Willowbrook decided you didn’t belong in there neighborhood. Or maybe you got caught selling loose cigarettes like Eric Garner and ended up in cuffs – or worse. Look, we get it. Your FURIOUS about being treated like a criminal on the “forgotten borough.” And you know what? You should be! Because Staten Island is where Eric Garner died over false arrest for cigarettes, and the city paid $5.9 MILLION for that tragedy!
Staten Island might be the smallest borough, but false arrests here are a HUGE problem. Just look at Eric Garner – arrested over 30 times since 1980, mostly for selling loose cigarettes. The final arrest killed him. The city paid $5.9 million to his family, but that doesn’t bring him back.
The 120th Precinct alone had 23 substantiated complaints of misconduct in just five years! That’s just the ones they couldn’t cover up. Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who killed Eric Garner, had TWO civil rights lawsuits before that for false arrests where he made Black men strip naked on the street! He was still on the job!
Here’s the real scandal – $1.2 BILLION in NYPD settlements went unreported! Staten Island cases are buried in those numbers. The city paid $205 million in 2024 alone for police misconduct – the highest in years!
Staten Island cops think they can do whatever they want because there’s less media attention here. Your not in Manhattan where cameras are everywhere. Your on Staten Island where they think nobody’s watching. Well, we’re watching, and we’re fighting back!
Every Staten Island precinct has issues, but some are absolutely out of control:
The 120th Precinct covers the North Shore – St. George, Stapleton, Tompkinsville, where Eric Garner was killed. They patrol the ferry terminal like its a war zone. Anyone who looks “suspicious” (meaning Black or Latino) gets harassed. Lt. Christopher Bannon texted “not a big deal” when Eric Garner was dying! That’s who’s protecting you!
This precinct covers Castleton Corners, West Brighton, New Brighton, Clifton, Rosebank – working class neighborhoods where cops act like everyone’s a criminal. They target the housing projects – Richmond Terrace, Stapleton Houses, Mariner’s Harbor Houses – arresting residents for existing.
The 121st Precinct covers northwestern Staten Island – Willowbrook, Port Richmond, Mariner’s Harbor, Elm Park. More suburban but just as bad. They profile anyone who “doesn’t belong” – meaning minorities in white neighborhoods. Driving while Black through Westerleigh? Your getting pulled over.
The 122nd and 123rd Precincts in the South Shore might seem “safer” but they’re worse for profiling. Great Kills, New Dorp, Tottenville – if your not white and from the neighborhood, your suspicious. They protect there own and harass everyone else.
If your filing a lawsuit on Staten Island, you need to know exactly where to go. For state claims, its Richmond County Supreme Court at 18 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. Right in St. George, near where Eric Garner died. The irony isn’t lost on anyone.
For federal civil rights claims, Staten Island is part of the Eastern District of New York, so you file in Brooklyn at 225 Cadman Plaza East. That’s a nightmare commute – Verrazano Bridge tolls, traffic, parking. The system makes it hard on purpose.
But remember – BEFORE any lawsuit, you MUST file a Notice of Claim within 90 DAYS with NYC Comptroller at 1 Centre Street in Manhattan. That means taking the ferry, dealing with Manhattan, all within 90 days or your case dies forever.
Criminal court for false arrest charges is at 67 Targee Street, Staten Island. That’s where you fight the bogus charges while preparing your civil case. The Richmond County DA works hand-in-hand with NYPD, so expect no favors there.
Staten Island has unique problems that make false arrests especialy bad here. First, the political climate. Most conservative borough, most cops live here, everyone knows everyone. Judges, prosecutors, cops – they’re all neighbors. Good luck getting justice when the judge’s kid plays Little League with the cop’s kid.
Second, the isolation. One free bridge to Brooklyn, expensive tolls everywhere else, limited ferry service. Witnesses can’t easily get to court. Lawyers don’t want to travel here. You’re trapped fighting a system where everyone’s against you.
Third, the Eric Garner effect. You’d think after paying $5.9 million for killing someone over loose cigarettes, they’d change. NOPE! They doubled down. Now they’re MORE aggressive to prove they weren’t wrong. They target anyone who mentions Eric Garner’s name.
Fourth, Staten Island is NYPD hometown. More cops per capita live here than anywhere. Off-duty cops act like on-duty cops. Your neighbor could be the cop who arrests you tomorrow. The blue wall of silence is a blue fortress here.
Let me give you REAL numbers from Staten Island and similar cases:
The big one: $5.9 million for Eric Garner’s family. But he had to DIE for that. Officer Pantaleo’s previous false arrest victims? Settlements under $100,000 each, even though he made them strip naked on the street.
For regular false arrests on Staten Island: Few hours at the 120th Precinct? $5,000-10,000. Overnight at Staten Island courthouse holding? $10,000-20,000. Sent to Rikers because Staten Island has no real jail? $20,000-40,000. Add injuries from rough arrest? $30,000-75,000.
But Staten Island factors affect settlements: Conservative jury pool generally sides with cops. Less media attention means less pressure to settle. “Hometown” cops get more sympathy. But when you DO win, juries are disgusted by corruption and award more.
Location matters too. Arrested in St. George or Stapleton (minority areas)? Jury might understand profiling. Arrested in Tottenville or Great Kills? Harder sell unless your white and “respectable.” The racism in jury selection is real.
Every false arrest case on Staten Island happens in Eric Garner’s shadow. Cops are defensive, prosecutors are protective, judges don’t want another scandal. But this also gives us leverage – nobody wants another $5.9 million settlement or riot.
The 120th Precinct where Garner died is under extra scrutiny. But instead of reforming, they’ve gotten sneakier. Officer Justin Damico LIED on official reports about Garner. Lt. Bannon texted jokes while Garner died. These are who’s still patrolling your streets!
During the 2021 judicial inquiry, we learned Deputy Commissioner Reznick didn’t even investigate who leaked Garner’s sealed records. They protect each other more than ever. Four of five officers involved got IMMUNITY from criminal prosecution – for KILLING someone!
We use the Garner case strategicaly. Every false arrest could be “another Eric Garner situation.” Every excessive force case references his death. The city knows Staten Island is a powder keg. One more tragedy could explode everything.
Living on Staten Island, you’ve seen these false arrests happen constantly:
Ferry terminal “sweeps” where anyone hanging around gets arrested for “loitering” or “solicitation.” Commuters, tourists, residents – doesn’t matter. The 120th Precinct has quotas and the terminal is easy pickings.
“Driving while Black” arrests on Hylan Boulevard or Victory Boulevard. Cops claim “suspicious vehicle” or “matching description” to pull over any minority driving through white neighborhoods.
Shopping While Black arrests at Staten Island Mall. Security calls cops, cops arrest first and figure it out later. Even with receipts, your going through the system.
Richmond County Supreme Court is a nightmare for false arrest cases. The judges are either former Richmond County DAs or have deep NYPD ties. They golf with police brass. There kids go to school together. Getting a fair trial is nearly impossible.
The jury pool is the worst in NYC for civil rights cases. Conservative, pro-police, suspicious of lawsuits. Many jurors are cops, retired cops, or related to cops. Even voir dire (jury selection) can’t weed them all out.
Getting to court is a disaster. Limited public transportation, expensive parking, ferry schedules that don’t align with court times. Your witnesses won’t show up. Your lawyer might be late. Meanwhile, cops live five minutes away.
Even court officers are problems. Many are off-duty NYPD or friends with defendants. They intimidate plaintiffs, make comments, create hostile environment. We’ve had clients afraid to come to there own trials.
Staten Island cops literally think different rules apply here. It’s “there” borough. They live here, there families are here, they’re “protecting there community” from “outsiders.” That means anyone who doesn’t look like them.
The Staten Island PBA (Police Union) is the strongest in the city. Pat Lynch called Eric Garner’s $5.9 million settlement “obscene” – for the VICTIM’S family! They protect there own no matter what. Even murder on video isn’t enough for accountability.
Off-duty cops are everywhere and act like they’re still on duty. That road rage incident? Might be an off-duty cop who then calls his buddies. That bar fight? Cop who flashes his badge. They’re never really “off duty” here.
The “thin blue line” is thick as hell on Staten Island. Cops’ kids bully kids whose parents sue NYPD. Families get harassed. Businesses get targeted. The retaliation is real and constant.
Look, most Manhattan lawyers won’t even come to Staten Island. Too far, too inconvenient, too “different.” Brooklyn lawyers might take your case but won’t understand Staten Island dynamics. We’re different – we’ll fight for you HERE.
We know Staten Island’s unique problems. We know the 120th Precinct’s history. We know which Richmond County judges might actualy listen. We know how to pick juries that aren’t all cop families. This isn’t our first Staten Island case.
We use the Eric Garner case strategically. Every false arrest could become another tragedy. Every excessive force case could be another $5.9 million settlement. The city knows Staten Island is watching. We make them remember.
Most importantly, we’re not intimidated by Staten Island’s blue wall. They can live here, stick together, protect each other – we still beat them in court. We’ve taken on the 120th, 121st, all of them. They know we don’t back down.
Call us RIGHT NOW at 212-300-5196
Staten Island deserves justice too – Not more Eric Garners!
Don’t let them get away with violating your rights just because your from Staten Island! Every single day you wait makes your case harder. That ferry terminal security footage? Deleted after 30 days. That witness who saw everything? Moved to New Jersey. Your bruises? Healed and undocumented.
The NYPD thinks Staten Island residents won’t fight back. They think your too isolated, too conservative, too scared. They think you’ll accept false arrests because “cops protect us.” PROVE THEM WRONG! Eric Garner’s death wasn’t in vain – make them pay for continuing there brutal tactics!
Disclaimer: Settlement amounts vary based on specific facts. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes. We serve all Staten Island from St. George to Tottenville.
Very diligent, organized associates; got my case dismissed. Hard working attorneys who can put up with your anxiousness. I was accused of robbing a gemstone dealer. Definitely A law group that lays out all possible options and best alternative routes. Recommended for sure.
- ROBIN, GUN CHARGES ROBIN
NJ CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS