New York, NY — A federal judge ruled that a lawsuit accusing a Port Authority police officer of using excessive force during the arrest of a man riding an electric unicycle through the Holland Tunnel can move forward, while dismissing other claims against the Port Authority.
In a detailed opinion issued in the Southern District of New York, U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon partially granted and partially denied a summary judgment motion filed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Port Authority Police Officer Anthony Camacho.
The lawsuit stems from a December 2, 2023 confrontation involving plaintiff Peter Piatetsky, who rode an electric unicycle into the New Jersey-bound Holland Tunnel despite tunnel rules prohibiting unregistered vehicles.
According to court records, Camacho attempted to stop Piatetsky near the tunnel entrance before the rider continued into the tunnel, later turned around, and headed back toward Manhattan in the wrong direction inside the westbound tunnel tube.
Tunnel Encounter Ended With Collision and Arrest
The opinion describes conflicting accounts about exactly how the confrontation unfolded when Piatetsky exited the tunnel near the Manhattan entrance.
Piatetsky claimed he never heard police commands and said an officer suddenly rushed toward him and pushed him off the unicycle. Camacho argued he attempted to stop the rider after believing Piatetsky was trying to evade arrest.
Video evidence reviewed by the court confirmed several undisputed facts, including that:
- Piatetsky entered the Holland Tunnel on the electric unicycle
- Officers attempted to stop him
- He later rode back toward New York against traffic
- Camacho grabbed or made contact with him near the tunnel exit
- Piatetsky struck a concrete barrier and fell during the encounter
The plaintiff later pleaded guilty to a non-criminal disorderly conduct violation, while more serious charges including resisting arrest and attempted assault were dropped.
Key Points
• A federal judge allowed an excessive force claim against a Port Authority officer to continue
• The lawsuit stems from a 2023 Holland Tunnel arrest involving an electric unicycle rider
• The court dismissed municipal liability claims against the Port Authority
Piatetsky alleged he suffered injuries including ankle damage, migraines, neurological symptoms, and a traumatic brain injury after hitting his head during the takedown.
Medical evaluations cited in the opinion referenced complaints of headaches, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, and cognitive difficulties following the incident.
Judge Rejects Officer’s Main Defense Argument
Judge McMahon ruled that a reasonable jury could conclude the level of force used by Camacho was excessive under the circumstances.
The court rejected the officer’s argument that the injuries were too minor to support an excessive force claim, noting that the legal analysis focuses primarily on whether the force itself was objectively reasonable.
However, the judge also determined Camacho was entitled to qualified immunity, meaning the officer cannot ultimately be held personally liable under the federal excessive force claim despite factual disputes over the incident.
The opinion sharply criticized aspects of the defense briefing, at one point referencing “careless lawyering” and suggesting an argument in the filing resembled a “ChatGPT error” because it incorrectly framed the case as involving false arrest instead of excessive force.
Port Authority Avoids Municipal Liability
The judge dismissed claims accusing the Port Authority of failing to properly train officers, finding insufficient evidence that agency policies or training deficiencies caused the incident.
Court records indicated Camacho received training on tunnel traffic enforcement and the reasonable use of force, including instruction specific to Holland Tunnel assignments.
The ruling leaves only limited portions of the lawsuit alive as the case moves forward.
Current Status
The federal court denied summary judgment on the core excessive force allegations but granted qualified immunity to Officer Anthony Camacho and dismissed municipal liability claims against the Port Authority. Additional proceedings remain pending in the Southern District of New York.