Corp. Counsel Unit Defending Cops Wins 85% of Cases Going to Trial

For years, police brass as well as cops were perturbed by the willingness of the city Corporation Counsel to settle civil lawsuits brought against the NYPD rather than take them to trial. The city’s lawyers countered that settling cases for their “nuisance value” saved taxpayers tens of millions in potential litigation costs without the city having to admit any wrongdoing.

But back in 2011, near the end of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's tenure, when payouts over allegations of police misconduct hit the billion-dollar mark, the city started to shift its approach. It hired additional staff so it could take the civil cases to trial when there was a principle at stake and it believed the actions taken by police were justifiable and that a jury was likely to agree. Since 2014, with former U.S. Attorney Zachary Carter serving as Corporation Counsel, that strategy has been enhanced.