A basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks, Sefolosha, received a multimillion dollar settlement related to his alleged police brutality case. The $4 million settlement came as a result of the athlete’s accusations that five police officers used excessive force while falsely arresting him. The arrest in question happened outside a nightclub in New York City in 2015.
Officers made the arrest while managing a crime scene where another professional basketball player was stabbed. That player, Chris Copeland, had been involved in a completely unrelated incident. Officers claimed that both Sefolosha and Pero Antic failed to follow their orders to vacate the crime scene.
Police claimed that the Sefolosha charged at one of them. Police broke the basketball player’s fibula while they knocked him over onto the ground. The player’s broken leg resulted in his inability to participate in the 2015 playoffs.
Sefolosha was charged with obstruction, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. During his criminal proceedings, prosecutors tried to offer him a plea deal. However, he chose to fight the charges and the jury acquitted him of everything.
After his successful criminal defense, the Sefolosha filed a personal injury lawsuit against the city. The seriousness of his injuries and the impact it had on his basketball career allowed him to negotiate the multimillion dollar settlement in his favor.
New York police can get rough and abusive when carrying out their duties. When police use an unnecessary level of force, and it results in serious injuries to the people involved, those individuals may have viable claims to seek financial restitution and justice.
Source: Newsome.com, “Basketball Player Thabo Sefolosha Gets $4 Million Settlement In New York City Police Brutality Case,” Nigel Roberts, April 07, 2017