NY Post: Gerstman Schwartz Malito Beats Client Criminal Charges, Wins Police Brutality Suit

Leading both criminal defense and civil law teams, David Schwartz and the attorneys at Gerstman Schwartz Malito successfully defended a man improperly charged with felony assault and won his federal civil right suit against the city of  New York.  Lead attorney David Schwartz says,

  “We are ecstatic that the jury ruled in our favor and the jury truly did its job in deciphering which narrative was truthful. Our case was all about justice for an innocent motorist who had his civil rights abused on that July day. When one of our citizens rights are violated by a brutal attack by the police, then all of us are violated. The only way to gain justice is through the civil court system and we must bring more of these cases as a system of checks and balances”.

The story is covered here by The New York Post:

A Queens construction worker scored $15,000 from the city because a pointed a gun at him during a routine traffic stop — and holstered it only when the worker’s pal pulled out a cellphone.

Mark Fullerton, 47, claimed in a Brooklyn federal lawsuit that NYPD Officer Michael Fitzgibbon approached him in Queens in July 2013 as he adjusted materials in the back of his truck on the side of the road.

Fullerton claims the cop ordered him into his car, then bashed him in the face and pointed a pistol at him and his co-worker, Michael Webber.

According to Fullerton’s lawsuit, Webber pulled out a cellphone and Fitzgibbon retreated as they hit the gas and fled to a station house.

“Mark had a gun pointed at his head,” said Fullerton’s attorney, David Schwartz. “He was afraid for his life.”

But Fullerton ended up in cuffs, with Fitzgibbon alleged the driver closed the door on him during the confrontation and dragged him across several lanes of traffic.

A Queens grand jury didn’t buy the officer’s story and refused to charge Fullerton with felony assault on a police officer.

Last week, a jury awarded the dad of three $15,000.

Read more at TheNew York Post

Bratton Gets Standing Ovation from NYC Power Brokers

From New York Post Page Six

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] room of top New York business power brokers and businesspeople made their feelings known about NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio’s relationship with the cops at the Police Athletic League luncheon.

While the mayor, who was speaking at last Monday’s event, was greeted with warm applause, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton was met with a thunderous standing ovation.

One attendee told us, “While everyone in the room was polite to de Blasio, it was very telling that the reception he got was markedly different from that received by Bratton. It was a clear message to the mayor about what the New York power brokers think.”

Those in the room at Mutual of America for the event, hosted by John Catsimatidis and emceed by Mark Simone, included former mayor David Dinkins, New York County DA Cy Vance and former Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau, who warmly introduced de Blasio.

Also there were top broker Dolly Lenz, Newsmax’s Ken Chandler, political power broker Robert Zimmerman, BBDO New York and PAL president John Osborn, Gotham Government Relations’ Brad Gerstman and David Schwartz, reputation expert Richard Torrenzano, and Martin Hassner of the Liberal Party of New York.

And on Tuesday night, after a decidedly difficult week, NYC top cop Bratton made his way home to Boston with wife and CBS legal eagle Rikki Klieman.

Joined by his father, Bill Bratton Sr. and his longtime friend p.r. guru George Regan, he was seen at Back Bay hot spot Davio’s for a hearty Italian meal.

Read more from New York Post Page Six