Man Files Lawsuit After Assault At Prison
Mr. Mario Mujica was sentenced to jail time by the Nassau County District Court after a plea agreement on drug charges. He served his sentence at the Nassau County Correctional Facility, which is run by the Nassau County Sheriff's Department. After being released, Mr. Mujica discovered through his defense attorney that, due to a mistake by the correction facility, he had been let out five days early. To address this, on October 28, 2013, he voluntarily returned to court and was sent back to the facility to finish his remaining time. During the intake process back at the facility, Mr. Mujica was fingerprinted and told to change into a prison jumpsuit. While going through this process, a group of correction officers allegedly used force against him, pepper-sprayed his face, and handcuffed him. The officers later claimed they used force against him because he was argumentative and aggressive, though Mr. Mujica denied this. He instead claimed that he only responded to an officer’s insult and insulted him back, after which the other officers assaulted him. As a result of this assault, Mr. Mujica had one broken rib, allergies in his eyes, and other minor bruises. Mr. Mujica filed a lawsuit against the Nassau County Correction Facility, Nassau County Sheriff's Department, and the Nassau County.
The Lawsuit
On July 14, 2015, Mr. Mujica filed a lawsuit against the Defendants. During the lawsuit, Mr. Mujica filed charges for unlawful application of force or physical contact (battery) against the Defendants. Mr. Mujica testified himself and stated that one of the correction officers commented on his appearance in a derogatory way to which he responded back. A group of correction officers retaliated against him, sprayed his face with pepper spray, and handcuffed him. He further testified that as soon as he was handcuffed, these officers started physically assaulting him, during which one of the officers kicked him in the ribs, breaking one of his ribs. He provided X-rays and a doctor’s prescription, which clearly showed a broken rib. He also provided images from the date of incident showing bruises, swellings, and cuts on his face. Three Correction Officers testified on behalf of the Defendant and provided a consistent account of the events. All three officers testified that Mr. Mujica was verbally abusive, argued, and tried to hit one of the correction officers. However, none of them provided any reason why Mr. Mujica was abusive. No medical evidence of any injury was provided by the Defendants. Based on the aforesaid, on March 4, 2020, the jury entered a judgment in Mr. Mujica’s favor and awarded him damages in the sums of $150,000 for past pain and suffering and $160,000 for future pain and suffering. Defendants appealed on the ground the liability verdict was incorrect and the damages awarded to Mr. Mujica were excessive.
The Appeal
In Mujica v Nassau County Corr. Facility, the Defendants appealed jury’s decision dated March 4, 2020 on ground that jury verdict was "incomprehensible" because the correction officers each documented the altercation contemporaneously and provided consistent accounts, whereas Mr. Mujica’s case was based primarily on his own testimony. Defendants testified that three Correctional Officers testifying consistently should not be considered incorrect against one Plaintiff who is solely testifying for himself. The Appellate Court rejected the Defendants' argument, noting that neither party provided evidence of the other party being wrong and each party’s narration of events is a contradiction of the other. Defendants failed to provide convincing evidence that Mr. Mujica's behavior was disorderly and that their actions were simply retaliatory. Mr. Mujica failed to provide any evidence that Defendants’ Correctional Officers were verbally abusive to him. However, Defendants’ collective attack on Mr. Mujica was disproportionate and caused him severe injuries. The Appellate Court further held that Defendants did not present any medical or other documentary evidence, however Mr. Mujica’s testimony was consistent with his medical records. He stated that a correction officer kicked him in the ribs, and medical evidence confirmed a rib fracture. Therefore, the jury’s decision in Mr. Mujica’s favor was not based solely on his testimony but also on the supporting evidence he presented. The Appellate Court also reviewed similar cases and held that the damages awarded to Mr. Mujica were appropriate. On these grounds, the jury’s decision was upheld by the Appellate Court on October 23, 2024.
Sternberg Injury Law Firm
Established in 2016, Sternberg Injury Law Firm is experienced in handling personal injury claims, including cases involving physical assault or violence. We serve clients throughout the New York State, including locations such as Long Beach, Rockville Centre, and Hewlett. We offer free consultations for those impacted by such incidents. Our experienced lawyers will meticulously evaluate your case to identify the best way forward. With a commitment to securing the highest possible compensation, our goal is to allow you to prioritize your recovery if you choose us as your attorneys. To get started, contact us via our website, email, or phone today.