Paterson paying out the settlement money

Paterson to pay $435K in lawsuit against three city police officers

PATERSON – A Passaic County resident who alleged that he was twice falsely arrested by Paterson police officers is getting a $435,000 settlement in a federal lawsuit he filed against the city.

The alleged victim, Tariq Alqanawi, claimed in the lawsuit that the police officer, Mahmoud Rabboh, was targeting him because he says he saw Rabboh assault someone.

Alqanawi said in the lawsuit that Rabboh arrested him in 2011 the day after the assault and planted contraband on him. He also alleged that Rabboh used excessive force against him by parking in a secluded area on the way to police headquarters and discharging pepper spray in the patrol car while he left Alqanawi inside with the windows shut.

Alqanawi said that after he was released, two other officers – Michael Johnson and Mohan Singh – conspired with Rabboh and arrested him the following day. A desk officer made a joke about his quick return to headquarters, Alqanawi asserted in the lawsuit.

Read more: http://www.northjersey.com/towns/paterson/paterson-to-pay-435k-in-lawsuit-against-three-city-police-officers-1.1660209

================================

Paterson DPW chief gets $150K in lawsuit over political retaliation

PATERSON – The municipal public works director is getting $150,000 to settle a federal lawsuit he filed against the city alleging that he suffered political retaliation by former mayor Jeffery Jones’ administration.

City officials have been wrestling with various settlement proposals in the case since the fall of 2014, when the council rejected the initial proposal of a $215,000 payout. After the council turned down a $175,000 deal earlier this year, the judge intervened and summoned some members to the federal courthouse in Newark to discuss the case.

Council President William McKoy said the judge’s input – including a warning that the costs to the city could be much higher if the case went to trial – convinced the governing body to approve the deal.

Manuel Ojeda had been public works director during Jose “Joey” Torres’ first stint as mayor but was demoted when Jones took office in July 2010.

Read more: http://www.northjersey.com/news/paterson-dpw-chief-gets-150k-in-lawsuit-over-political-retaliation-1.1660134