LLG’s Civil Rights Practice concerns all manner of civil rights violations by law enforcement officers and state actors. We can help you decide whether to file a complaint with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (the “CCRB”), and represent you both in those proceedings and in any conversations you may be having with the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau. We routinely handle a variety of federal civil rights actions, including:
The Lumer Law Group also offers trial and appellate representation in state and federal courts in the areas of:
Civil Rights Practice
The lawyers at the Lumer Law Group have recovered millions of dollars for their clients in compensation for police misconduct. We offer free consultations for people who believe they have been subjected to excessive force or police brutality, falsely arrested, prosecuted unfairly, or otherwise mistreated by the NYPD, other members of law enforcement, or the government. If you believe your rights have been violated, or if you are pursuing a complaint through the Civilian Complaint Review Board (“CCRB”) or have filed a complaint with the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, the Lumer Law Group can advise you with respect to that complaint and help you enforce your rights in court.
There are several types of civil rights claims you may have.
If you have been arrested:
- If you have been seized or arrested by the police (even if you were released without being charged) without probable cause, you may have a claim for false arrest. That is because a police officer must have a legally sufficient reason to detain you, and must have probable cause to arrest you.
- If you are arrested and then released without charges, or the charges are later dismissed, you should contact the Lumer Law Group to discuss whether you have a claim for money damages.
- You must act quickly to preserve your rights under state law when you have been wrongly seized or arrested. If you believe you have been arrested without probable cause or otherwise seized or imprisoned unlawfully, contact our firm today.
If the police used excessive force against you during or after your arrest:
- If the police used force against you during or after your arrest, or if you were physically injured while you were in police custody, at Central Booking, or at a jail facility, you may have a claim for excessive force (commonly known as police brutality).
- Even if you plead guilty or were convicted at trial, you may still have a claim for your injuries. However, it is important that you receive medical treatment promptly and properly document the injuries that you suffered.
- It is also important to remember that your time to file certain claims against the City of New York, and other state and local authorities, begins to run from the date the force was used against you, even if you are still being prosecuted.
- If police, law enforcement, or other state agents use force against you and cause you injury, you must speak with experienced, skilled counsel as soon as possible to protect your rights, identify your claims, and ensure that you are making a proper record of your injuries.
If you were wrongly prosecuted:
- You may also have a claim if you were wrongly prosecuted. This is different than false arrest. If you have been wrongly prosecuted, you be able to sue for “malicious prosecution” or the “denial of a fair trial.” These claims are similar to those for false arrest (and less experienced attorneys may confuse them), but they are definitely different and need to be handled properly.If you are prosecuted because police officers lie about the facts surrounding your arrest, or if these officers withhold important information from the prosecutor, or otherwise make up evidence, or help bring about your prosecution by misleading the prosecutor’s office, you might have claims for malicious prosecution and the denial of a fair trial.
- These claims can be tricky, you need to consult with sophisticated counsel early in the prosecution to ensure that you fully understand the possible claims available, and use the criminal prosecution to help develop the factual record you might later use for your civil claims.
- Contact us today for a free consultation. You can call us during regular business hours at (212) 566-5060, email our firm directly at info@lumerlaw.com, or submit this form at any time.
If you believe you were jailed beyond your release date or without a lawful order:
- Oftentimes, the loss of your liberty is not a separate claim. Ordinarily, it is simply another way of explaining why you are entitled to money damages for being falsely arrested or jailed during a prosecution.
- But unlawful imprisonment (also called “false imprisonment”) can also be a separate claim. You have a right not to be imprisoned against your will without a lawful order. This cause of action most often arises in over-detention cases. These situations occur far too frequently. Sometimes, Parole or Probation, or the Department of Corrections, fails to release you by the date on which your sentence expires, meaning your “max” date. On occasion, your sentence may be miscalculated, or a person may not be promptly released after a grand jury refuses to indict or a court has ordered the person to be released. In these situations, a claim for wrongful imprisonment may be appropriate.
- If you believe you were jailed beyond your release date or without a lawful order, you should immediately contact a qualified civil rights attorney to discuss whether you have an over-detention claim.
Criminal defense
If you have been arrested or are facing the threat of arrest, you need skilled, aggressive, and committed legal representation. The attorneys at the Lumer Law Group have many years of experience successfully defending clients in federal and state courts against a wide variety of criminal charges ranging from narcotics and weapons crimes, to homicide, white collar and RICO offenses.
We provide thorough and high-quality advocacy at both the trial and appellate levels, and are available to help the wrongly convicted investigate and challenge their prosecution and sentencing.
Regardless of the type of charge you are facing, we can provide you with the dedicated and experienced representation you need and deserve. Lumer Law Group attorneys are dynamic advocates dedicated to achieving the best possible results for their clients by providing tough, personalized, and high-quality representation to all our clients.
If you are facing actual or possible criminal charges, or are looking to challenge your sentence or conviction, you need an experienced and committed criminal lawyer on your side. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Personal injury
If you have been injured through the carelessness or negligence of others, the financial and emotional consequences can be devastating.
The cost of medical care, lost wages, the strain and anxiety brought about by your injuries, can often be life-changing.
If you have been hurt or lost a loved one due to a motor vehicle accident, medical malpractice, an accident in the workplace, a defective product (also known as product liability), or through any other sort of negligence by others, you should contact us for a free consultation. We can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Commercial and general litigation
Michael Lumer is an experienced and aggressive litigator who has handled a wide range of civil litigation matters, including business disputes and commercial litigation in both state and federal courts.
Because we are a small boutique firm, without unnecessary overhead, we can offer you a full and complete range of personalized, tenacious, and skilled litigation services at a far more reasonable price than larger firms.
If you are facing or preparing for possible litigation, do not hesitate to call or email us today.