$18,000 Settlement in New York Jail Excessive Force Suit
$18,000 Settlement in New York Jail Excessive Force Suit
On November 12, 2013, a lawsuit was settled where a New York jail prisoner claimed he was beaten by guards in a display of unconstitutionally excessive force. The defendants paid $18,000 to settle the claim.
William Elting, 31, was a prisoner at the Albany County Correctional Facility being prepared for transportation to another facility when he had an altercation with several deputies. According to Elting, he cursed at the guards and they responded by taking him to a location out of view of the jail's surveillance cameras and violently forcing him to the floor where he was handcuffed, kicked, punched and sprayed with a chemical agent. They then allegedly took him to a shower area for prisoners, claiming they would allow him to rinse out his eyes, but instead set upon him again, flooring and punching him.
Aided by Delmar attorney Lee Greenstein, Elting filed suit in the Supreme Court of Albany County, alleging Deputies Michael Beliveau, Anthony Coppola, David Devoe, Adam Molesky, Edward O'Brien and Mark Sole used excessive force in violation of his civil rights and Sheriff James Campbell was vicariously liable for their actions. The defendants alleged that Elting was not kicked or punched, that he was sprayed with a chemical agent because he pushed a deputy, and that he fell and suffered injuries on a shower fixture in the shower room.
During the week prior to the scheduled trial, the parties came to a negotiated settlement whereby the defendants paid Elting a total of $18,000. See: Elting v. Campbell, Supreme Ct., Albany County, Case no. 6104/11.
Additional source: VerdictSearch.com/state/ny
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Related legal case
Elting v. Campbell
| Year | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Supreme Ct., Albany County, Case no. 6104/11 |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 18,000 |