After 1 week of trial in U.S. District Court located in Syracuse, NY, Stephen Rehfuss was able to obtain a verdict in favor of his clients, two members of the Albany Police Department. The officers had been accused of beating a suspect following a foot chase in the West Hill neighborhood after witnessing a hand-to-hand drug transaction. The plaintiff claimed to have suffered a fractured orbital bone, which required reconstructive surgery. Testimony at the trial proved that as the officers approached, the plaintiff ran off. As the officer was about to apprehend him, the officer and the plaintiff slipped on the icy sidewalk causing both to fall into the side of a parked car. The defendants were able to show, through their testimony and by production of the vidoetape from Central Booking, that the plaintiff never requested medical treatment, was released on an appearance ticket and left the station. Finally, 14 hours later, the plaintiff sought medical treatment. After a week long trial, the jury deliberated for approximately 1.5 hours and returned a verdict in favor of the police officers.
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