rockin'robin
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A former Grasmere resident, who is deaf, has settled her lawsuit for $750,000 against the city in which she alleged cops falsely arrested her, demeaned her and refused her requests for a sign-language interpreter, according to court papers.
Diana Williams sued the city three years ago in Manhattan federal court over her Sept. 11, 2011, arrest at a residential building she and her husband owned on Hillbrook Drive, her civil complaint said.
Williams, 48, alleged a tenant, whom she had evicted for non-payment of rent, falsely had her arrested in retaliation, said her civil complaint.
Williams, who primarily communicates through sign language, contends she repeatedly asked for a sign-language interpreter to speak with cops, but was rebuffed.
She then tried to communicate by wiping dirt off a police car to form a message as officers handcuffed her, but was mocked, alleges her civil complaint.
Distraught, Williams contends she suffered two panic attacks, which resulted in hospital visits, while being held in custody overnight.
The next day, police released her and dropped all charges with no explanation, said her complaint. She never appeared before a judge and was never provided a sign-language interpreter, the complaint said.
In her lawsuit, Williams, who now lives in Maryland, alleged false arrest, denial of constitutional rights and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
She maintained she was traumatized by the events, and her life was "drastically and forever changed for the worse" due to the incident.
While the city agreed to pay Williams three-quarters of a million dollars, the settlement does not constitute an admission of violating her rights, according to the terms of the pact.
In a statement, Williams' lawyers Eric Baum, Andrew Rozynski and Sheryl Eisenberg-Michalowski of the Manhattan-based Eisenberg and Baum Law Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing said: "Deaf individuals have rights, and they do not have to tolerate discrimination and injustices of any kind. It is a sad reality that deaf individuals continue to experience blatant discrimination on a routine basis.
"Ms. Williams hopes that the settlement will send a message to all law enforcement agencies across the country that they should adopt proper policies and procedures to ensure full communication access for deaf individuals."
Said a City Law Department spokesman: "It was in the city's best interest to resolve this litigation."
http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.ssf/2015/10/city_settles_lawsuit_for_750k.html
Diana Williams sued the city three years ago in Manhattan federal court over her Sept. 11, 2011, arrest at a residential building she and her husband owned on Hillbrook Drive, her civil complaint said.
Williams, 48, alleged a tenant, whom she had evicted for non-payment of rent, falsely had her arrested in retaliation, said her civil complaint.
Williams, who primarily communicates through sign language, contends she repeatedly asked for a sign-language interpreter to speak with cops, but was rebuffed.
She then tried to communicate by wiping dirt off a police car to form a message as officers handcuffed her, but was mocked, alleges her civil complaint.
Distraught, Williams contends she suffered two panic attacks, which resulted in hospital visits, while being held in custody overnight.
The next day, police released her and dropped all charges with no explanation, said her complaint. She never appeared before a judge and was never provided a sign-language interpreter, the complaint said.
In her lawsuit, Williams, who now lives in Maryland, alleged false arrest, denial of constitutional rights and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
She maintained she was traumatized by the events, and her life was "drastically and forever changed for the worse" due to the incident.
While the city agreed to pay Williams three-quarters of a million dollars, the settlement does not constitute an admission of violating her rights, according to the terms of the pact.
In a statement, Williams' lawyers Eric Baum, Andrew Rozynski and Sheryl Eisenberg-Michalowski of the Manhattan-based Eisenberg and Baum Law Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing said: "Deaf individuals have rights, and they do not have to tolerate discrimination and injustices of any kind. It is a sad reality that deaf individuals continue to experience blatant discrimination on a routine basis.
"Ms. Williams hopes that the settlement will send a message to all law enforcement agencies across the country that they should adopt proper policies and procedures to ensure full communication access for deaf individuals."
Said a City Law Department spokesman: "It was in the city's best interest to resolve this litigation."
http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.ssf/2015/10/city_settles_lawsuit_for_750k.html
