Plaintiffs Melody Ann Benitez (“Ms. Benitez”) and Angel Antonio Castro (“Mr. Castro”) filed a lawsuit seeking damages for personal injuries and civil rights violations allegedly sustained during an incident on September 29, 2016. They claim that events that unfolded that evening, including encounters with the police and hospital security, resulted in false arrest, excessive force, and malicious prosecution.
Background Facts
On the evening of September 29, 2016, Plaintiffs attended a scholarship dinner hosted by the Puerto Rican Bar Association, where they consumed alcoholic drinks. After the dinner, they were walking in New York City to hail a taxi when police officers approached them in response to a call regarding a possible domestic assault. Ms. Benitez and Mr. Castro were both interviewed separately by the officers.