$1.1 Million Settlement Obtained Against NYPD in Wrongful Death Civil Rights Case

Shereese Francis was killed by police who used excessive force and a fatal restraint technique, suffocating her. Summoned to the victim’s home to assist in bringing her to the hospital, four police officers ignored NYPD rules and protocols by chasing the victim to her mother’s bed, beating her, and then suffocating her to death while handcuffing her. The Francis family chose Steve Vaccaro to represent them.  In a wrongful death case charging police with excessive force and disability discrimination, the Francis Family obtained a $1,100,003 settlement against the City of New York.

Further details concerning the incident are found in several media reports:

Testimony of Steve Vaccaro Regarding Death of Shereese Francis in Police Custody before the International Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence against People of African Descent in the United States

Village Voice: “The NYPD’s Poor Judgement With the Mentally Ill”

Village Voice: “Family Sues to Learn Why Shereese Francis was Suffocated in Her Home by Police”

Gothamist: “Did The NYPD Suffocate A Mentally Ill Woman To Death While Trying To Cuff Her?”

Daily News: “Study of Deaths in Police Custody Link Fatal Restrain Technique in Eric Garner and Shereese Francis Cases”