Civil litigation • New York

Bell v. City of New York (Sean Bell)

Cause number 1:07-cv-02994
Court E.D.N.Y.
Filed July 24, 2007

Claims

Fiancee Nicole Paultre Bell and friends Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield allege NYPD Detectives Michael Oliver, Gescard Isnora, and Marc Cooper used excessive force by firing 50 shots at Sean Bell, 23, on November 25, 2006, the night before his wedding, outside a Queens nightclub. Bell was unarmed and killed; Guzman and Benefield were wounded. The three officers were acquitted of criminal charges in 2008. Claims of excessive force, unreasonable seizure, and civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

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