Atlanta Hawks swingman Thabo Sefolosha and former Hawks center Pero Antic are both filing lawsuits against the New York Police Department for a number of claims. Antic has filed his suit and Sefolosha is said to be following this week. Both players were arrested outside of a New York nightclub last April. Their lawsuits pertain to the incident.
From ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz:
False arrest, unlawful imprisonment, assault, battery, negligence, civil rights violations and malicious prosecution were listed as the claims in Antic’s complaint. Under Antic’s notice of claim, filed last year, $25 million was set as the maximum Antic can recover.
“The NYPD has all but conceded that they falsely and improperly arrested Pero Antic,” Alex Spiro, Antic’s attorney, said. “They will now be held responsible.”
Sefolosha’s suit, which will name the NYPD and other city agencies, will likely include charges of unlawful force, unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution, the source said. Sefolosha’s notice of claim, also filed last year, set $50 million as the ceiling he can be compensated for damages.
Antic, who has been spending this season playing for Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul, had his charges dropped in September. Sefolosha was found not guilty on all charges the following month and was unable to play with the Hawks in the playoffs last season after being injured in the incident.
