Newark, NJ — A federal judge ruled that portions of a civil rights lawsuit accusing Paterson police officers of excessive force, unlawful arrest, and sexual misconduct during a 2022 street stop can proceed against the City of Paterson and multiple officers.
In a May 18 opinion, U.S. District Judge Michael E. Semper granted part of the city’s motion to dismiss while allowing several claims filed by plaintiff Benjamin Jackson to continue in federal court.
The lawsuit stems from a November 6, 2022 encounter near Broadway and East 18th Streets in Paterson involving Jackson, who described himself in court filings as an African American man stopped by plainclothes officers while walking with a fanny pack.
According to the complaint, officers became suspicious after Jackson appeared startled by an unmarked police vehicle and attempted to search him despite his objections. Jackson alleged he repeatedly asked officers to explain the stop and requested a supervisor before police detained him for a frisk.
Lawsuit Alleges Violent Arrest and Sexual Assault
Jackson claims officers escalated the encounter even while he complied with commands by placing his hands against a glass surface during the stop.
The complaint alleges officers violently threw him to the ground, kicked and punched him, and slammed his head into the pavement despite his warnings that he recently underwent brain surgery and suffered from seizures.
Court filings further allege that while Jackson was handcuffed, one officer grabbed his scrotum and made a mocking remark while other officers laughed and failed to intervene.
Key Points
• A federal judge allowed portions of a police brutality lawsuit against Paterson officers to proceed
• The plaintiff alleges officers beat him during a 2022 stop and one officer grabbed his genitals
• The City of Paterson won dismissal of some claims but remains part of the lawsuit
The lawsuit also claims officers ignored Jackson’s medical complaints after placing him in a patrol car, where he allegedly suffered a seizure while handcuffed in the back seat.
According to the complaint, officers initially refused requests for medical help before eventually calling an ambulance after a delay. Additional responding officers allegedly stood nearby while Jackson remained injured on the ground, according to the filing.
Court Partially Sides With City
Judge Semper’s opinion denied portions of Paterson’s motion seeking complete dismissal of the second amended complaint while granting dismissal on other unspecified claims.
The ruling means several allegations tied to the stop, arrest, and alleged use of force will continue through litigation and possible discovery.
Federal courts reviewing motions to dismiss must generally accept factual allegations in complaints as true for purposes of determining whether claims are legally plausible, though the court emphasized that conclusory allegations are not automatically accepted.
The opinion did not determine whether the officers actually committed the alleged misconduct but instead addressed whether Jackson’s claims were sufficiently supported to continue in court.
Current Status
The lawsuit filed by Benjamin Jackson against the Paterson Police Department, the City of Paterson, and multiple officers will proceed in part following the federal court’s mixed ruling on the city’s dismissal request. Additional proceedings are expected as the case moves forward in U.S. District Court in New Jersey.
Paterson Police Department, police brutality lawsuit, New Jersey federal court, civil rights litigation
