Representative Cases

 

• $28.75 million settlement on April 5, 2024, in Feliciano v. The City of New York et al., 20-cv-10033 (SDNY). Mr. Feliciano suffered brain damage due to guards waiting nearly eight minutes to cut him down. This settlement is believed to be the largest single plaintiff pre-trial civil rights settlement in New York State history, and among the top five nationally.

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• $13.73 million settlement in Sow v. The City of New York, 21-cv-533 (SDNY). This class action, filed on behalf of approximately 1,380 protesters arrested during the George Floyd protests in New York City in 2020, is believed to be the largest settlement for a protest-related case in the nation's history.

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• $9.25 million jury verdict on November 15, 2023, in Cooper v. Clancy, 19-cv-00362 (NDNY). Mr. Cooper was beaten on the head and back, causing a fatal asthma attack. This is believed to be the largest civil rights verdict in the Northern District of New York's history.

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• $3.65 million settlement on October 9, 2018, in Z. v. The City of New York (Kings Co. Sup. Ct.). Mr. Z. was assaulted by members of the NYPD, resulting in a post-traumatic seizure disorder.

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• $2.5 million jury verdict on February 17, 2013, in Alla v. The City of New York, 11-cv-00892 (EDNY). Mr. Gad Alla was punched in the head by a police officer, causing a mild traumatic brain injury.

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• $2.25 million jury verdict in Emamian v. Rockefeller University, 07-cv-3919 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 28, 2018), remitted verdict affirmed, Nos. 19-127, 19-168, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 26261, at *26 (2d Cir. Aug. 19, 2020). The verdict found Rockefeller University discriminated against Iranian scientist Dr. Effat Emamian based on her race and national origin.

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• $1.5 million settlement for the family of Richard Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez died at Rikers Island Jail due to the NYC Department of Correction's failure to properly respond to a medical emergency. Carlson v. The City of New York, 17-cv-00172 (SDNY).

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• $1.5 million settlement for the family of Carlos Mercado. Mr. Mercado died at Rikers Island Jail after the NYC Department of Correction denied him insulin. Mercado v. The City of New York, 14-cv-06775 (SDNY).

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• $1.4 million settlement for the family of Christian Haley. Mr. Haley died while in the custody of the Department of Correction due to a sudden cardiac event. Fernandez v. The City of New York, 17-cv-02431 (SDNY).

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• $965,000 settlement on behalf of 81 Critical Mass cyclists arrested over several months. Sheila Callaghan, et al. v. The City of New York, 07-cv-9611 (SDNY).

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• Obtained the partial unsealing of a search warrant and supporting documents related to a federal inquiry into emails belonging to Huma Abedin, a top aide to Hillary Clinton. This order from Judge Castel was related to the computer of Anthony Weiner. In Re: Search Warrant issued on October 30, 2016, 16-mc-00464-PKC.

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• Obtained court-ordered re-training of Rikers Island Corrections Officers on how to relate to LGBTQ individuals. Hamm v. City of New York, 15-cv-06238 (S.D.N.Y.).

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• Obtained court ordered re-training of the NYPD Midtown North Precinct on how New York City’s disorderly conduct statute does not allow officers to arrest homeless persons for simply being present in midtown Manhattan.

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• Mr. Rankin represents Reclaim the Records, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of historians, genealogists, journalists, and teachers, one of the largest open records activist groups in the United States. He has served as lead counsel on multiple Freedom of Information actions against the New York City Municipal Archives (DORIS), the New York City Clerk's Office, the New York State Department of Health, and many other agencies. As a result of this work, more than 60 million archival records from around the state have been made available online for free public use.

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