False Arrest Attorney NYC

Being arrested when you’ve done nothing wrong is more than frustrating. It’s a violation of your constitutional rights. I help New Yorkers fight back against unlawful arrests and get the justice they deserve.

Real Results for Real People

The Shock of Being Arrested for No Reason

One minute you’re going about your day. The next, you’re in handcuffs.

It doesn’t make sense. You weren’t doing anything wrong. But the officers don’t care what you say. They push you into the back of a police car while your neighbors watch. Your mind is racing, trying to understand what just happened.

That confusion turns into something else pretty quickly. Fear. Anger. A sick feeling in your stomach because you realize how powerless you are in that moment. Even though you know you’re innocent, you’re being treated like a criminal.

Here’s what makes it worse:

You miss work and have to explain why you weren’t there
Your family sees you get arrested and panics
People in your neighborhood start talking
You have to hire a lawyer to defend charges that shouldn’t exist
Your name shows up in background checks with an arrest record

Maybe the charges got dropped eventually. Maybe you were acquitted. That doesn’t undo what happened. The damage was already done the moment those cuffs went on.

Police need probable cause to arrest you. That means they need a reasonable belief that you committed a crime, based on specific facts they can point to. “Feeling suspicious” about someone isn’t enough. Neither is “fitting a description” or being in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time.

What Happens After a False Arrest

The arrest itself is just the beginning. What comes after can turn your entire life upside down.

You lose wages because you’re sitting in a cell or showing up to court dates. Your employer starts asking questions. If you’re hourly, you’re just not getting paid. If you’re salaried, you’re burning through vacation days or sick leave trying to deal with this mess.

Then there’s the record. Even when charges get dismissed, that arrest follows you. It shows up on background checks. Employers see it and suddenly stop calling back. Landlords deny your application. Professional licenses get held up or denied completely.

The emotional damage runs deeper than most people realize:

You can’t sleep because you keep reliving the moment you were arrested
You feel anxious every time you see a police car
You don’t trust law enforcement anymore, even when you need help
You feel violated and powerless
Your relationships suffer because of the stress and trauma

People in your community start looking at you differently. They heard you got arrested, and they make assumptions. It doesn’t matter that the charges disappeared. The damage to your reputation is real.

Here’s what I want you to understand: even if you did something minor, that doesn’t justify an arrest without probable cause. And arrests based on mistaken identity, fabricated evidence, or retaliation are never acceptable. What happened to you was wrong.

The Law Protects You from Unlawful Arrest

The Fourth Amendment exists specifically to protect you from this. It says the government can’t just grab you and lock you up without a valid reason.

Police need probable cause to arrest you. That’s not complicated legal language. It means they need specific facts that would make a reasonable person believe you committed a crime. Not hunches. Not suspicions. Facts.

Let me be clear about what doesn’t count as probable cause:

Being in a “high crime” neighborhood
Matching a vague description
Looking nervous around police
The officer’s “gut feeling” about you
Anonymous tips without corroboration
Being somewhere at the “wrong time”

If police have a warrant, it needs to be specific. It needs to name you specifically and describe the crime you allegedly committed. A warrant for someone else doesn’t give them the right to arrest you.

Even if you were doing something wrong, the arrest still has to be justified under the law. The ends don’t justify the means. Your rights don’t disappear because an officer decides they don’t like you.

You have the right to challenge an unlawful arrest and hold the officers accountable. Section 1983 is a federal law that lets you sue when government officials violate your civil rights. New York State law gives you additional ways to seek justice. These laws exist because your freedom matters.

Were You Arrested Without Cause?

You shouldn’t have to carry the burden of an unlawful arrest alone. Whether charges were dropped, you were acquitted, or you’re still fighting, you have rights. I’ll investigate what happened, gather evidence, and fight to clear your name and get you compensated.

Fighting Back Requires Legal Experience No Reason

Police and prosecutors will defend the arrest. That’s what they do. They’ll protect each other and make excuses. You need someone on your side who knows how this system actually works.

I investigate whether probable cause existed in the first place. I don’t just take the police report at face value. I dig deeper because I know what to look for.

Evidence I gather includes:

Body camera footage that shows what really happened
Witness statements from people who saw the arrest
Dispatch records and radio communications
Officer disciplinary records and history of complaints
Surveillance video from nearby businesses or buildings
Inconsistencies in police paperwork

There’s a huge difference between a lawful arrest and an unlawful one. Most people don’t know where that line is. I do, because I spent 8 years as an NYPD detective. I know how officers justify questionable arrests. I know what probable cause actually looks like versus what they claim it looks like.

You also need to understand the deadlines. The Notice of Claim requirement against NYC is strict. You have 90 days from the arrest to file it. Miss that deadline, and your case is over before it starts. Courts almost never grant extensions.

I handle the paperwork while you focus on getting your life back. I negotiate with the NYC Law Department because I know how they operate. And if they’re not willing to offer fair compensation, I’m ready to take your case to trial.

What You Can Recover

This isn’t just about money, but financial accountability matters. The city needs to pay for what they did to you.

Economic Damages:

Wages you lost while sitting in jail or going to court
Job opportunities that disappeared because of your arrest record
Money you paid for bail and criminal defense attorneys
Professional certifications or licenses you couldn’t get

Non-Economic Damages:

Emotional distress and psychological harm
Anxiety, depression, and PTSD from the trauma
Damage to your reputation in your community
Loss of dignity and sense of safety

In cases where officers acted with malicious intent or showed deliberate indifference to your rights, you may also recover punitive damages. These are meant to punish the wrongdoing and deter it from happening again.

How much your case is worth depends on several factors: how long you were held, the conditions you endured, the harm you suffered, and the strength of the evidence. I can give you a realistic assessment after reviewing the specifics of your situation.

Time Is Not on Your Side

You need to act fast.

If you’re filing a claim against New York City, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of your arrest. Not from when charges were dropped. Not from when you got out of jail. From the actual date of arrest.

This is the strictest deadline in your case. Miss it, and you lose your right to sue. Period. Courts rarely grant extensions, even if you have a good reason for being late.

The clock starts ticking the moment you’re arrested. Most people don’t know about this requirement until it’s too late. By the time they realize they might have a case, months have passed and the deadline is gone.

Beyond the Notice of Claim, evidence disappears:

I handle all the paperwork and make sure every deadline is met. You’ve been through enough. Let me worry about the legal requirements while you focus on healing.

How I Fight for You

I start investigating immediately because evidence doesn’t wait around. The sooner I get involved, the stronger your case becomes.

My Investigation Process

01 .

File FOIL requests for police reports, body camera videos, and internal communications

02 .

Interview witnesses who saw what actually happened

03 .

Obtain all arrest paperwork and booking records

04 .

Review dispatch calls and radio communications

05 .

Consult with experts on proper police procedures

06 .

Analyze whether the officers followed the law

I challenge officer credibility by exposing inconsistencies in their story. I’ve been on the other side of these cases. I know how officers write reports to justify questionable arrests. I know what to look for.

When it comes to depositions, I ask the questions that matter. I push officers to explain their justification. I make them account for every decision they made. And when their answers don’t add up, I use that at trial.

I have extensive experience in federal courts (Southern District and Eastern District of New York) and state courts across all five boroughs. I’ve held NYPD accountable before, and I’ll do it again for you.

Serving 3 Boroughs

Queens

Serving all neighborhoods throughout Queens County with dedicated civil rights representation

Including: Astoria, Flushing, Jamaica, Long Island City, and all surrounding areas

Bronx

Comprehensive legal services for civil rights cases throughout the Bronx

Including: South Bronx, Fordham, Riverdale, Concourse, and all surrounding areas

Brooklyn

Expert civil rights advocacy for clients throughout Brooklyn and surrounding communities.

Including: Park Slope, Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Bay Ridge, and all surrounding areas

Questions About False Arrest in NYC

What's the difference between false arrest and false imprisonment?

False arrest happens when police arrest you without probable cause. False imprisonment is when you’re detained unlawfully, which doesn’t require a formal arrest. You could be held in a room, a vehicle, or any confined space against your will. Both violate your Fourth Amendment rights.

Can I sue if I was arrested but charges were dismissed?

Yes. A dismissal often suggests there wasn’t enough evidence to support the arrest in the first place, which means probable cause didn’t exist. Even if you were acquitted at trial, you may still have a false arrest claim if the arrest itself was unlawful.

What if the officer said they "smelled marijuana"?

Officers frequently use this as a pretext for searches and arrests. The smell claim needs to be corroborated by other evidence. I can challenge the credibility of this justification, especially if no marijuana was found or if body camera footage contradicts the officer’s story.

How long do I have to file a false arrest claim in NYC?

You must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of your arrest if you’re suing NYC. For federal civil rights claims, you generally have three years. For state law claims, the timeframe varies. Don’t wait to contact an attorney.

Will I have to testify against police officers?

Most likely, yes. You’ll give a deposition where the city’s lawyers ask you questions under oath. If the case goes to trial, you’ll testify in court. I’ll prepare you thoroughly for both. Your testimony is powerful evidence, and I’ll make sure you’re ready.

What if I have a criminal record?

A past criminal record doesn’t justify a false arrest. Everyone has constitutional rights regardless of their history. Police still need probable cause for every arrest. Your record may come up during the case, but it doesn’t eliminate your right to sue for an unlawful arrest.

Let Me Fight for Your Rights

False arrest is a serious civil rights violation. You deserve to have your story heard and believed. I offer free consultations to evaluate your case. No upfront costs. You pay only if I win.