DAmato Complaint PDF
DAmato Complaint PDF
DAmato Complaint PDF
Defendants.
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Plaintiff, Katuria D' Amato, by her attorneys, the Law Offices of Thomas F. Liotti, LLC,
JURISDICTION
1. The jurisdiction of this action is based upon the United States Constitution and the
Civil Rights Law, 42 USc. §§1981, 1983, 1985(1)(2) and (3), 1988, the First, Second, Fourth,
Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and
those parts ofthe New York State Constitution which similarly apply with like language and
together with this Court's pendent jurisdiction over causes of action arising under N ew York
State laws, both common and statutory. Jurisdiction is founded upon 28 USc. §§1331 and
1341(3) and (4), 28 Us.c. §1343(a)(I)(2)(3) and (4) and the aforementioned Constitutional
provisions and 42 USc. ch. 126, §12101, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and 18
Us.c. §§1961 et. seq. (§1964) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Plaintiff further
invokes the supplemental jurisdiction of this Court to hear and decide claims arising out of state
law pursuant to 28 USc. §§1367(a) and 1376(a). It is alleged that these defendants have
conspired together under color of the aforementioned N ew York State and federal laws to deprive
this plaintiff of her civil and parental rights. The actions perpetrated by these defendants as
herein described have abridged the privileges and immunities of the plaintiff and her children and
have deprived her andthem oflife, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness without due
process of law; and have denied the plaintiff and her children the equal protection of the laws. It
is further alleged that the actions of these defendants have discriminated against the plaintiff due
to her gender and because she is a woman. See also, Young v. Suffolk County, et. al., 705
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F.Supp.2d 183 (E.D.N.Y. 2010) and Lefaro v. Cardiothoracic Group, 570 F.3d 478,475 1. The
plaintiff further alleges the jurisdiction of this Court pursuant to the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights as adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948 in
which the United States of America is a party and in particular all articles therein, including, but
Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should
act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any
discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to
equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this
Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
1 See also, Resnik v. Coulson, 17-cv-00676, see also Andrew Denney, Judge Sanctions
Heriress' Husband For Bugging Wife's Phone During Divorce, N.Y.L.J., January 8,2019 at 1
and 9.
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competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental
rights granted him by the Constitution or by law.
Article 16: 1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation
due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to
found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage,
during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full
consent of the intending spouses.
Article 17: 1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well
as in association with others.
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Article 22: Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to
social security and is entitled to a realization, through national
effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the
organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social
and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free
development of his personality.
2. This Court has federal question jurisdiction, pursuant to 28 u.s. C. §1331, over
claims arising under 42 u.s.c. §1983.
3. Supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiff s state law claims exists pursuant to 28
u.s.c. §1367(a).
4. Plaintiff has complied with the requirements of New York General Municipal
Law Section 50-1 by serving notices of claim on Nassau County, the Nassau County Police
Department, et. ai. on June 28,2018, July 24,2018 and September 11,2018 and on The County
of Suffolk, Suffolk County Police Department, et. ai. on July 30,2018 and October 29,2018,
within the time required by New York General Municipal Law Section 50-e. More than thirty
days have elapsed since the service of those notices, and no offer of settlement has been made.
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5. At the request of Nassau County, Mrs. D' Amato submitted to hearings pursuant to
New York General Municipal Law Section 50-h involving the events concerning September 30,
2017 - October 2,2017 as referred to hereinafter. No other hearings have been conducted.
VENUE
6. The allegations herein arose in Nassau County, New York and are therefore
within this jurisdictional district. Since the federal courthouse in Central Islip is named after the
defendant, former United States Senator Alfonse D' Amato, and, many of the judges in all of the
federal districts throughout New York State became Judges as a result of being nominated or
recommended for office by him, it is being filed in the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn, New York with the expectation that it may have to be
JURY DEMAND
request a jury trial on all issues and claims set forth in this Complaint.
PARTIES
8. Plaintiff is a United States citizen, and at all relevant times was, and still is, a
2 In Us. v. Brett Schrieber, Docket No. 07-CR-20-01 the case had to be transferred to
Vermont in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety as a result of Mr. D' Amato writing a
character letter on behalf of the defendant and having nominated many of the judges sitting in the
Eastern District ofN ew York, including, but not limited to, Judges Wexler, Hurley, Seybert and
Spatt, all sitting in Central Islip branch ofthe United States District Court at the time. The
Eastern District of New York in Central Islip acted sua sponte at the time to recuse itself. The
case was transferred to Judge Sessions in Vermont, the head of the United States Sentencing
Commission at the time. Mr. Schreiber received a sentence of straight probation.
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9. The Defendant, Alfonse D' Amato is a United States citizen, and at all relevant
times was, and still is, a resident of the County of Nassau, State of New York.
10. The Defendant, Park Strategies, LLC is a parent enterprise pursuant to 18 u.s.c.
§§1961 et. seq.
11. The law firm of Gassman, Baiamonte, Gruner, P.C. is a professional corporation
with offices located at 666 Old Country Road, Suite 800, Garden City, New York, in the County
12. Defendant, Stephen Gassman, Esq. is an attorney duly admitted to practice law
before the Courts of the State of New York with his principal place of business located at 666
Old Country Road, Suite 800, Garden City, New York, in the County of Nassau, State of New
York.
13. Defendant, Joshua Gruner, Esq. is an attorney duly admitted to practice law before
the Courts of the State of New York with his principal place of business located at 666 Old
Country Road, Suite 800, Garden City, New York, in the County of Nassau, State of New York.
14. The County of Nassau is a municipality, duly organized and existing under and by
virtue ofthe laws of the State of New York, was the employer ofthe individual police
defendants, and is and was at all times relevant to this Complaint responsible for the policies,
15. Defendant, Nassau County Police Department, was and is a departmental agency
16. At all relevant times, Defendant Vincent Adamo, was a duly appointed and acting
police officer of the NCPD, acting under color of law and in his individual capacity within the
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scope of employment pursuant to the statutes, ordinances, regulations, policies, customs, and
17. At all relevant times, Defendant Jimmy Lee was a duly appointed and acting
police officer of the NCPD, acting under color oflaw and in his individual capacity within the
scope of employment pursuant to the statutes, ordinances, regulations, policies, customs, and
18. At all relevant times, Defendant James Lorenzen was a duly appointed and acting
police officer of the NCPD with the rank of Sergeant, acting under color of law and in his
individual capacity within the scope of employment pursuant to the statutes, ordinances,
regulations, policies, customs, and usage of Nassau County and the State of New York.
19. At all relevant times, Defendant Frances Bein was a duly appointed and acting
police officer of the NCPD with the rank of Deputy Inspector, acting under color oflaw and in
her individual capacity within the scope of employment pursuant to the statutes, ordinances,
regulations, policies, customs, and usage of Nassau County and the State of New York.
20. At all relevant times, Jason Hernandez was a duly appointed and acting police
officer of the NCPD with the rank of Detective, acting under color oflaw and in his individual
capacity within the scope of employment pursuant to the statutes, ordinances, regulations,
policies, customs and usage of Nassau County and the State of New York.
21. At all relevant times, Defendant Namdi Odiah, M.D., is a medical doctor who,
upon information and belief, is licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York.
22. At all relevant times, Defendant Richard Murphy is the C.E.O. of South Nassau
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23. At all relevant times, Defendant, South Nassau Communities Hospital is a private
hospital located in Oceanside, Nassau County, State of New York. It is also the hospital where
co-defendants Odiah, Murphy, Kuglar and Reddy are employed and/or associated as of
24. At all relevant times, Defendant, Joshua Kuglar, M.D., is a medical doctor who,
upon information and belief, is licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York.
25. At all relevant times, Defendant, Stanley Reddy, M.D., is a medical doctor who,
upon information and belief, is licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York.
26. At all relevant times, Defendant, Mark Green, Esq., is an attorney duly admitted to
practice law before the Courts ofthe State of New York with a principal place of business
located at 990 Westbury Road, Suite 202, Westbury, County of Nassau, State of New York.
27. At all relevant times, Defendant, Patrick Ryder is the Nassau County Police
Commissioner.
28. At all relevant times, Defendant, David Mack is the Nassau County Deputy Police
Commissioner.
29. At all relevant times, the County of Suffolk is a municipality, duly organized and
existing under and by virtue of the laws ofthe State of New York.
30. At all relevant times, Defendant, James Cash, is a resident of the County of
Nassau, residing at 53 Buxton Street, Lido Beach, N ew York. He is married to the defendant
Catherine Cash and, upon information and belief, a retired New York City fireman.
31. At all relevant times, Defendant, Catherine Cash, is a resident of the County of
Nassau, residing at 53 Buxton Street, Lido Beach, New York. She is married to the defendant
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J ames Cash and a Suffolk County Police Officer.
32. At all relevant times, Defendant Honorable Joseph H. Lorintz is a Supreme Court
Justice in the County of Nassau and employed by the State of New York.
33. At all relevant times, Defendant, David Smith, is a resident of the County of
investigation firm located at 2901 Long Beach Road, Oceanside, New York 11572. Upon
information and belief, they are a private limited liability company authorized to do business in
35. At all relevant times, Defendant Daniel Ribacoff, is the founder and Chief
36. At all relevant times, upon information and belief, Defendant Lisa Ribacoffis an
employed as the Manager and Director ofInternational Investigation Group (IIG), Ltd. and the
37. At all relevant times Saul Roth was an employee of Defendant, International
38. At all relevant times, Hon. Madeline Singas was the District Attorney of Nassau
County.
39. At all relevant times Schlissel Ostrow Karabatos, PLLC, is a professional limited
liability company law firm located at 200 Garden City Plaza, Suite 301, Garden City, New York
11530, in Nassau County and authorized to do business in the State of New York.
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NOTICES OF CLAIM
40. That on or about January 30,2018 plaintiff caused a written Notice of Claim to be
served upon the County of Nassau and the Nassau County Police Department, which said Notice
of Claim set forth the name and post office address of plaintiff herein, the nature of the claim, the
time when, the place where and the manner in which the claim herein sued upon arose and the
item of damages or injuries claimed to have been sustained, so far as then practicable. The
plaintiff afforded the defendants a 50-h exam under the Municipal Law on November 19, 2018.
Additional notices of claim have been filed against Nassau County on June 28, 2018, July 18,
2018 and September 5,2018 and against the County of Suffolk on July 30,2018 and October 22,
2618.
41. That copies ofthe said Notices of Claim served as aforesaid are annexed hereto,
made a part hereof and incorporated by reference herein. (See Exhibit "A")
42. That at least thirty days have elapsed prior to the commencement of this action
since the service of the Notices of Claim as aforesaid, on the County of Nassau, Nassau County
Police Department and the County of Suffolk and payment thereof has been neglected andlor
43. While Notices of Claim have been filed against Nassau and Suffolk Counties,
they have not yet moved forward since Municipal Law hearings have not yet been held with
INTRODUCTION
44. Katuria D' Amato and Alfonse D' Amato have known each other since 1999. They
signed a pre-nuptial agreement in 2004 and were married soon thereafter. They have two
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children from that union, Alfonso, d/o!b: 2/5/08 and Luciana, d/o!b: 10116/09. This is Mrs.
D' Amato's first marriage and Mr. D' Amato's second. She has no other children. He has four
children from his first marriage and grandchildren. He is 81 years of age and Mrs. D' Amato is
53 years of age.
45. Mr. D'Amato is a former three term United States Senator from New York (18
years) having served from 1981-1998. Prior to that time he served as a Supervisor of the Town
of Hempstead located in the County of Nassau. Upon leaving the United States Senate in 1999
he established an international lobbying firm known as Park Strategies, LLC. with a principal
location as 101 Park Avenue, New York, New York. In addition, he has established other
corporate entities and acquired interests in still others operating at that location and elsewhere.
He is an attorney. Park Strategies, LLC is also the parent enterprise pursuant to 18 Us. C.
§§1961 et. seq.
46. Mrs. D' Amato is an attorney having previously served as a Law Clerk to two (2)
federal judges in the State of Washington and in the Southern District of New York. She is a
former Associate in the Proskauer, Rose Law Firm in Manhattan and has served as a member of
the Board of Zoning Appeals, Town of Hempstead for the past fifteen years. She has also served
as In House Counsel to a multi-million dollar national corporation. Prior to September 30, 2017
47. At the end of2012 Mrs. D' Amato was involved in a very serious car accident. As
a result she has undergone fourteen surgeries, the last of which occurred on September 19, 2017.
She has not fully recovered and never will. She suffers from chronic pain each day. More
surgeries are anticipated. This accident has resulted in a personal injury action pending in
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Nassau's Supreme Court. Mr. D' Amato is not a party in that action.
48. Mr. and Mrs. D'Amato have been estranged since the end of2013 and the
beginning of2014 after Mrs. D' Amato discovered that Mr. D' Amato had forged her name to a
bank account at H.S.B.C. in opening it and using it for ten (10) years without her knowledge for
campaign contributions and his personal expenses. Mr. D'Amato moved out of the former
marital home in January, 2014. He informed Mrs. D' Amato in writing in February, 2014 that he
intended to divorce her. Mr. D' Amato purchased his own home two blocks away from the
former marital home with both homes being located in Lido Beach, N ew York. See also 18
49. In May, 2016, Mrs. D' Amato commenced an action under the parties' prenuptial
agreement in New York County (Anonymous v. Anonymous, Index No. 350037/2016). That case
was settled in May, 2017 wherein Mr. D' Amato deeded over the former marital home to Mrs.
D' Amato and agreed to pay $5 million dollars to Mrs. D' Amato over the course of the next three
years. The action is currently the subject of an enforcement action before Justice Matthew
50. On September 30,2017 Mrs. D' Amato placed a 911 call to the Nassau County
Police Department operator. It was in the early morning hours at about 2 a.m. She called
because she believed that an intruder might be trying to gain entry into her home. She had been
speaking on the phone with her mother who suggested that she call 911. Mrs. D' Amato's arm
was in a sling as a result of her recent surgery. She was also wearing a cape where she was
hooked up to an ice machine in order to alleviate the pain from the accident. Mrs. D' Amato has
the medical condition known as ADHD. She is legally prescribed Ritalin for that condition. She
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does not take pain or other medication. Her husband and daughter were asleep in a downstairs
51. The 911 operator asked Mrs. D' Amato whether there were any weapons in the
home. She answered that there was a shotgun in the home which she had legally purchased three
(3) years earlier and which she had never fired or even touched since it was placed far into the
52. Mrs. D' Amato's voice is "raspy", of a low octave and breathy due to the surgeries
which she has had on her back, spine and throat as a result of the car accident. Her call with the
911 operator is barely audible. It lasted thirteen minutes. At the end of the call she stated several
times that police were not needed. Nonetheless, the 911 operator dispatched police vehicles to
her home on a "domestic incident" call. There was no indication of a domestic incident of any
53. When the police arrived they barged their way into the home and awakened Mr.
D' Amato who told them that his wife is "crazy", that she has a prior psychiatric history, that she
takes Lithium for a bi-polar disorder and that she believed that "green lasers" are being shot into
the home. As a result of these falsehoods, Mrs. D' Amato was taken to South Nassau
Communities Hospital against her will and where she remained from September 30 - October 2,
54. Mrs. D' Amato was discharged from the hospital on October 2,2017 as "not a
danger to herself or others." On October 3, 2017 she commenced a divorce action in N ew York
County against Mr. D' Amato (Anonymous v. Anonymous, Index 30960012017). He was served at
that time. One of his attorneys, Joshua Gruner, Esq. acknowledged the service on October 4,
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2017. Nonetheless, on October 5, 2017 Mr. D' Amato and his lawyers made an "emergency order
to show cause application" for ex parte protective orders. (Anonymous v. Anonymous, Index No.
202477/2017). Justice Joseph H. Lorintz, a newly elected Supreme Court Justice, signed the ex
parte orders which gave Mr. D' Amato temporary custody ofthe children. Justice Lorintz made
the Order to Show Cause returnable on October 11, 2017. On October 10,2017 the parties
appeared before Justice Matthew Cooper in New York County Supreme Court on Mrs.
D' Amato's divorce action. Justice Cooper transferred just the temporary custody part of Mrs.
D'Amato's action to Nassau County and Justice Lorintz. Mrs. D'Amato was a plaintiff in the
55. On October 11,2017 Mrs. D' Amato appeared again with her attorney, Joseph
DeSimone, in Nassau County. Justice Lorintz stated that he was not going to change the ex parte
orders of October 5, 2017 and if she wanted to see her children again she would have to agree to
supervised visitation three (3) days per week. Mrs. D' Amato entered into the Stipulation under
56. Hearings on temporary custody began in early December, 2017. As of this date
57. Mrs. D'Amato retained new counsel on December 11,2017, Steven Silpe, Esq.,
who remained in the case until approximately December 31, 2017. Mrs. D' Amato's current
counsel, Law Offices of Thomas F. Liotti, LLC entered the case on January 22,2018 and was
disqualified from representing Mrs. D' Amato in the matrimonial case on October 23, 2018 by the
defendant Lorintz.
58. Six (6) days of "disqualification hearings" were held throughout 2018. In
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addition, the proceedings were further delayed by the Attorney for the Children (hereinafter
"APC") and Mr. D' Amato's counsel asking the Court for a "gag order", seeking to suppress a
video of Mr. D' Amato berating his wife in a hospital room eighteen hours after she had neck and
spinal surgery.
59. In the early part of2018 Mr. Liotti moved for the recusal of Justice Lorintz and
the disqualification of the AFC. None of Mrs. D' Amato's applications have been granted. She
is now pro se in her matrimonial case as of December 3,2018. She is Of Counsel to Mr. Liotti's
law firm; the whole of which has been disqualified. There are approximately ten (10)
60. On or about June 5, 2018 Justice Matthew Cooper transferred the remainder of
Mrs. D'Amato's New York County action to Nassau on Mr. D'Amato's counsel's change of
venue motion. Since that time Justice Lorintz and Mr. D' Amato's counsel have taken little to no
action to have the New York County action/file transferred to Nassau3 • Since it was filed first,
the New York County action should have superseded and replaced the Nassau County action but
61. On June 25,2018 neighbors of Mrs. D'Amato, Mr. & Mrs. James Cash, initiated a
criminal charge against Mrs. D' Amato claiming that Mr. Cash was "chest bumped" by her. Mrs.
D' Amato filed a complaint against Mr. & Mrs. Cash with the Nassau District Attorney's Office
on the morning of June 26, 2018 alleging that Mr. & Mrs. Cash had filed a false police report
regarding the events of June 25, 2018. When Mrs. D' Amato was arraigned on July 16, 2018 on a
3 In a decision dated February 21,2019 the defendant Lorintz ordered the consolidation
of the two actions but improperly made the plaintiff a defendant in the Nassau divorce action.
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charge of harassment as a violation, the Court also entered a protective order against Mrs.
D' Amato to "refrain from harassment" of her neighbors, to wit: Mr. & Mrs. Cash and their son.
Mrs. D' Amato's counsel advised the arraigning judge that a protective order should not be issued
in that it was unnecessary and would be abused by Mr. & Mrs. Cash under Nassau's "zero
tolerance policy." Pursuant to that policy any allegations of a violation of a protective order will
62. Mrs. Cash is a Suffolk County Police Officer. Mr. & Mrs. Cash are friends of Mr.
D' Amato and reported to him concerning these events. Mrs. Cash operated under color oflaw in
causing the aforementioned charges to be lodged against Mrs. D' Amato. She and her husband, it
is alleged herein, colluded and conspired with Mr. D' Amato to bring about the arrest and charges
against Mrs. D' Amato. They used Mrs. Cash's and Mr. D' Amato's influence under color oflaw
to cause these charges to be made together with additional charges on July 31, 2018 wherein they
once again reported to Mr. D' Amato and summoned him to the scene.
63. On July 31,2018 Mrs. Cash reported a violation ofthe protective order in that she
claimed that she saw Mrs. D' Amato on her property (Mrs. D' Amato's) from Mrs. Cash's third
story home adjacent to Mrs. D' Amato's. While Mrs. Cash could not hear Mrs. D' Amato at that
distance, she nonetheless falsely claimed a violation of the protective order because she could see
Mrs. D' Amato looking at her, giving her "the finger" and mouthing obscenities at her.
64. Notices of Claim have been filed against Nassau County for the incidents of
September 30,2017 and June 25, 2018 and July 31,2018. Notices of Claim have also been filed
against Suffolk County for the June 25 and July 31,2018 incidents. More than 30 days have
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65. Mrs. D' Amato was arraigned on August 10, 2018 on a charge of Criminal
Contempt as a Class "A" misdemeanor regarding the July 31, 2018 incident. Mrs. D' Amato has
pled not guilty on both charges. Motions to dismiss are pending in the Nassau District Court.
Mrs. D' Amato has commenced a plenary action in New York State Supreme Court, Nassau
County against Mr. & Mrs. Cash for their unbridled conduct involving the events of June 25 and
66. The District Attorney, Hon. Madeline Singas, has abused her discretion by
prosecuting the plaintiff, Katuria D' Amato and in not prosecuting James and Catherine Cash for
the filing of a false police report on June 25,2018; for the wrongful prosecution of the plaintiff,
Katuria D' Amato on July 16, 2018 and on August 10, 2018 in violation of the plaintiff s
Constitutional and other rights and in failing to ask for the appointment of a Special Prosecutor
in light of the fact that the co-defendant, Alfonse D' Amato's grandson, Gregory Murphy, is an
67. Mrs. D' Amato has the condition known as ADHD with a very high I.Q. Her son
has also been diagnosed with ADHD4 with a very high IQ. Her daughter has been diagnosed
with dyslexia. Given her shortened visitation schedule as a result of the wrongfully issued orders
of October 5 and October 11, 2017, Mrs. D' Amato has not been able to adequately address these
issues through ample diagnostic testing and treatment as needed and as she had planned prior to
68. Mrs. D' Amato on behalf of herself and her children, jointly and severally, makes
claims herein against these defendants under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42
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US.c. ch. 126 §12101 et. seq. (hereinafter ADA) The defendants here have failed to
accommodate Mrs. D' Amato and her children for these disabilities and as explained more fully
herein, have retaliated against them for exercising their Constitutional rights and have
specifically exploited these disabilities to their advantage both through the legal process and
outside of it.
69. More specifically, these defendants have failed and neglected to comply with the
Mental Hygiene Law of the State of New York and Title II of the ADA. As a result, they have
wrongfully discriminated against the plaintiff and her children. The plaintiffs have been
irreparably damaged as a result ofthe actions ofthese defendants, jointly, severally and as co-
conspirators.
FACTS
September 30,2017; seized her personal property and removed her to a hospital against her will
on a "mentally aided call" where she was falsely detained for the next three (3) days until
71. The defendants, James and Catherine Cash, caused the plaintiff to be improperly
charged on June 25,2018 and to have a protective order illegally entered against her.
72. The defendant Catherine Cash, a Suffolk County Police Officer then fabricated a
claim on July 31,2018 that the plaintiff had violated the aforesaid protective order and should be
charged with Criminal Contempt, a class A misdemeanor, in violation of her (Mrs. D' Amato's)
Constitutional rights. The plaintiff was then falsely arrested, detained and prosecuted all in
violation of her Constitutional rights which Nassau County police were ignorant of or in which
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they conspired with their co-defendants, Mr. & Mrs. Cash and Alfonse D' Amato to violate those
rights.
Custom and Practice of a Failure to Properly Train Police Personnel On the Mental Hygiene
Law, Probable Cause, the Problems Associated With the Fabrication of Evidence in Violating
Constitutional Rights and Committing Perjury
73. As of September 30,2017 and before, the NCPD had a flawed custom, policy, or
and/or "mentally aided calls" whereby police officers would illegally enter homes or apartments,
without probable cause or search warrants and take people into custody or removing them to a
"testilying", withholding material exculpatory and impeachment evidence from prosecutors, and
suborning perjury of witnesses and police officers and in failing to properly respond to alleged
domestic incidents, and "mentally aided calls." In addition, the "zero tolerance" policy is being
illegally applied in the case of alleged violations of protective orders wrongfully issued in
violation cases, thereby causing the false arrests and imprisonment of defendants.
74. There are numerous other cases involving the NCPD failure to properly respond
a. NCPD police officers responded to the scene on September 30,2017 because they
believed, incorrectly, that this was Senator D' Amato's home and that there was at
the time a domestic incident requiring their intervention. Yet there was no
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b. NCPD police officers are inadequately trained on mental health issues and the
Constitutional rights of persons even those persons that they believe have mental
health issues because not everyone with mental health issues is a danger to
themselves or others and the police fail to recognize that or to comply with State
and Federal laws requiring such a nexus in order for them to deprive a person of .
c. The police officers in this case misconstrued the condition of the plaintiff who has
ADHD with some other condition possibly warranting hospitalization. This was
caused by their inadequate training and their incompetence in not protecting the
75. The NCPD had a custom, policy, or pattern and practice of failing to adequately
adequate methods for gaining entry into a home when domestic violence and/or a mental health
76. The NCPD presumably had written policies, procedures, or guidelines concerning
the execution of lawful investigations, Constitutionally adequate procedures for "mentally aided
calls" which were subpoenaed and also requested pursuant to New York's Freedom of
Information Law but not turned over or released to the plaintiff or her counsel. The Nassau
Police Department and Justice Lorintz both obstructed the disclosure of these documents.
77. Although Nassau County's final policymakers were aware of the outrageous and
pervasive misconduct involving police gaining entry to a home or in taking someone within their
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custody to a hospital on a mentally aided call, they failed to implement a corrective policy.
78. The only supervisor that the police had on September 30,2017 was Deputy
Inspector Bein who arrived after the initial encounter by the police with Mrs. D' Amato and who
ALLEGATIONS
79. The defendant, Alfonse D' Amato is my husband. We were married in 2004 and
have two children as a result of the union, Alfonso, age 11 and Luciana, age 9. Our children
reside in Nassau County and attend a private school there. My husband's primary business is an
intemationallobbying firm, Park Strategies, Inc., located at 101 Park Avenue, New York, New
York together with other businesses in which he has an ownership interest at that location and
elsewhere.
80. My husband and I are presently involved in two divorce actions pending in Nassau
County before co-defendant, Hon. Joseph H. Lorintz, a Justice of the State of New York
Supreme Court. The two actions are: (1) my action against my husband in New York County
commenced on October 3, 2017 (Anonymous v. Anonymous, Index No. 309600/2017) which was
transferred from New York County on June 5, 2018 to Nassau County. My husband's proposed
answer has not yet been accepted or even acknowledged by nisi prius in Nassau County. My
motion for a default judgment in New York County against him was never decided, and there is a
second divorce action which my husband commenced against me in Nassau County which is
known as Anonymous v. Anonymous, Index No. 202477/2017. I have never answered in that
action and my husband's lawyers have only recently moved to consolidate that action with the
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New York County action. They only did so after I moved to dismiss the Nassau County action.
81. Stephen Gassman and his law firm, Gassman, Baiamonte, Gruner, P .C. are my
husband's attorneys in both actions and has been his attorneys since January, 2014 as we
82. On September 30, 2017 Nassau County Police Officers came to my home after I
had called 911 because I believed that an intruder might be trying to break into my home. During
that same 911 call I had advised the dispatcher that police were no longer needed but
83. Upon arriving at my home in Lido Beach, Nassau County, in the early morning
hours of September 30, 2017 the police forced their way into my home; awakened my husband;
seized my property; and took me to the South Nassau Communities Hospital on a "mentally
aided call" in derogation of their own protocols, the New York State Mental Hygiene Law and in
84. On September 30, 2017 I was recovering from surgery I had eleven days earlier on
my shoulder as a result of a very serious car accident in which I had been involved in 2012. With
that surgery, I had fourteen surgeries in all relating to that accident. More surgery may be needed
in the future.
which I have taken for many years in accordance with medical advice and doctors' opinions 5•
86. On September 30, 2017 my husband lied to the police telling them that I have a
5 See also, Robert Brodsky, New ID Cards May Help Those With Disabilities,
Identification Could Inform Law Enforcement In Incidents, Newsday, March 10, 2018 at A20
andA21.
23
prior psychiatric history and that I take Lithium. Neither statement is true. I am an attorney with
no prior criminal record. I have clerked for two federal judges; been an Associate at a major
Manhattan law firm; been in-house counsel to a multi-million dollar a year corporation and I
have served on the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals for the past fifteen years.
87. My husband and I have been estranged since the end of 20 13 when I found a bank
account at HSBC in which he had forged my name in opening it and in using it for the previous
ten years for campaign contributions and his personal expenses unbeknownst to me. The account
88. Defendant, Alfonse D' Amato informed me in February, 2014 that he planned to
divorce me.
89. After the discovery of the aforementioned HSBC account in May, 2016, I
instituted aNew York County action to enforce the terms of the prenuptial agreement
(Anonymous v. Anonymous, Index No. 35003712016). That action was settled on May 30,2017
by Mr. D' Amato agreeing to pay me the sum of $5 million together with the deed to the former
marital residence located at 67 Buxton Street, Lido Beach, New York. An enforcement action is
still pending in New York County (Anonymous v. Anonymous, Index No. 35003712016)
regarding his alleged breach of that So Ordered Stipulation of Settlement. See also 18 u.s. C.
§§1961 et. seq.
DAMAGES
90. The actions of the defendants deprived plaintiffs oftheir civil rights under the
First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
24
91. The unlawful, intentional, willful, deliberately indifferent, reckless, and/or bad-
faith acts and omissions of the defendants caused Mrs. D' Amato to be falsely taken into custody
on a "mentally aided call" against her will; to have her property seized; her right of privacy
breached and to be wrongfully detained in a hospital for three (3) days also against her will and
92. The unlawful, intentional, willful, deliberately indifferent, reckless, and/or bad-
faith acts and omissions of the defendants caused Mrs. D'Amato and her children the following
injuries and damages, which continue to date and will continue into the future; personal injuries;
pain and suffering; severe mental anguish; emotional distress; loss of family relationships,
including the total loss of relationships with each other; severe psychological damage; damage to
reputation and property; loss of income; costs of defense and attorneys' fees; infliction of
degradation; permanent loss of natural psychological development; and restrictions on all forms
of personal freedom including but not limited to diet, sleep, personal contact, educational
family relations, reading, television, movies, travel, enjoyment and expression, for which they are
93. As a direct and proximate result of the acts of the defendants, and the resulting
unlawful incarceration of Mrs. D' Amato, plaintiffs Alfonso and Luciana D' Amato suffered
pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages in that they were deprived of those benefits one would
normally derive from the presence of their mother, Katuria D' Amato. As the result of their
mother's absence, they suffered loss of society, companionship, advice, moral support, family
25
services, attention, protection, parental care, financial support. They also suffered from mental
anguish, bereavement, and the stigma of being children of a woman who was taken to the
hospital on a "mentally aided call" and who was later arrested and charged with violations of the
Penal Law.
94. All the acts and omissions committed by the defendants described herein for
which liability is claimed were done intentionally, unlawfully, maliciously, wantonly, recklessly,
negligently and/or with bad faith, and said acts meet all ofthe standards for imposition of
punitive damages.
CAUSES OF ACTION
COUNT I
95. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all ofthe foregoing paragraphs and
96. Defendants, despite knowing that probable cause did not exist to enter Mrs.
D' Amato's home and seize her property or remove her therefrom against her will, the defendants,
with malice, acted individually and in concert to cause Mrs. D' Amato's rights to be violated
pursuant to the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments ofthe United States Constitution where she
6 See also Professor Emeritus, Martin A. Schwartz, Section 1983 Litigation, Second
Circuit on "Lanning" Clarifies Malicious Prosecution, N.Y.LJ., March 5, 2019 at 3 and Lanning
v. City of Glen Falls, 908 F.3d 19 (2 nd Cir. 2018).
26
September 30, 2017 relying upon the false statements of Mr. D' Amato that his wife is "crazy",
had a prior psychiatric history and takes Lithium. The defendant police officers and Nassau
County performed the above-described acts deliberately, with reckless disregard for the truth and
with malice.
98. In fact, Mrs. D' Amato should not have been taken to the hospital on September
30,2017 and detained there. She also should not have been prosecuted concerning events of
99. Defendants' actions to deprive Mrs. D' Amato of her liberty without probable
cause were in violation of clearly established constitutional law, including Franks v. Delaware,
438 U.S. 154 (1978), and no reasonable police officer in 2017 and 2018 would have believed that
the defendants' actions were lawful or that they complied with the Mental Hygiene Law and
100. Defendants, under color of law, federal and state, deprived plaintiff, Katuria
D' Amato of her Constitutional right to be free from false arrest, false imprisonment, abuse of
101. The defendants intended to confine the plaintiff in the hospital and jail; Mrs.
D' Amato was conscious of the confinement and did not consent to it, and the confinement was not
privileged. The police proceeded in the absence of a warrant or evidence of domestic violence of
any kind.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
27
($50,000,000.00) based on the gross negligence, failure to supervise and train police officers as a
pattern and due to deliberate and excessive acts of force and brutality toward the plaintiff. See,
Monell v. New York City Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 2037
(1978).
COUNT II
103. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
104. Defendants, Madeline Singas, et. aI., acting individually and in concert, withheld
material exculpatory and impeachment evidence from the defense, thereby depriving Mrs.
D' Amato of her clearly established constitutional rights, pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment.
The prosecution has withheld 911 calls and calls to and from Mr. D' Amato by Mr. & Mrs. Cash
on or about June 25 and July 31,2018. See, Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963); Kyles v.
Whitley, 514 U.S. 419 (1995) and People v. Rosario, 9 N.Y.2d 286 (1961).
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) based on the gross negligence, failure to supervise and train police officers as a
pattern and due to deliberate and excessive acts of force and brutality toward the plaintiff. See,
Monell v. New York City Department o/Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S. Ct. 2018,2037
(1978).
28
COUNT III
106 Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
107. The defendant police officers, in particular, Deputy Inspector Bein, attorneys
named herein, Justice Lorintz, and prosecutors have failed to correct their misstatements, perjury,
subornation of perjury and untruths. Inspector Bein failed to stop the removal of Mrs. D' Amato
108. Defendants, by their conduct under color of law, federal and state, had opportunities
to intercede on behalf of plaintiff, Katuria D' Amato to prevent the excessive use of force and
unreasonable, continued seizure but due to intentional and deliberate indifference declined or
refused to do so.
30,2017 was grossly negligent and later committed perjury in lying about the plaintiff's conduct on
September 30,2017 when she testified in December, 2017 during a temporary custody hearing.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) based on the gross negligence, failure to supervise and train police officers as a
pattern and due to deliberate and excessive acts of force and brutality toward the plaintiff. See,
Monell v. New York City Department ofSocial Services, 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S. Ct. 2018,2037
(1978).
29
COUNT IV
111. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
112. Defendants acting within the scope of their employment and under color oflaw,
agreed among themselves and with other individuals, to act in concert in order to deprive
plaintiffs, including Mrs. D' Amato, of her clearly established Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment
rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, abuse of process, false arrest, false
imprisonment, malicious, vindictive and selective prosecution, and deprivation ofliberty without
due process oflaw, and to due process in both the Supreme Court and District Court.
113. Defendants' conspired to deprive Mrs. D' Amato of her basic Constitutional rights.
a. Defendants Alfonse D' Amato and Nassau Police personnel responding to Mrs.
D' Amato's home on September 30, 2017 invaded her home, seized her property
b. Defendants Alfonse D' Amato, his lawyers, David Smith and his lawyers
conspired with the defendant IIG and Lisa Ribacoffto attempt to cause the arrest
of Mrs. D' Amato on April 2, 2018. They were not successful but a retainer
agreement with IIG dated March 27,2018 signed by Mr. D'Amato, his attorneys
30
c. The defendants Alfonse D'Amato, Mr. & Mrs. James Cash, the Nassau County
Police Department personnel and its District Attorney of Nassau County agreed to
false criminal charges and prosecution of Mrs. D' Amato regarding the events of
d. Defendants Alfonse D' Amato, Mark Green, Stephen Gassman, Joshua Gruner and.
Justice Lorintz have conspired together to deprive Mrs. D' Amato of a fair trial in
her matrimonial case by allowing for "gag order" applications, the disqualification
of Mrs. D' Amato's counsel, the suppression of evidence and expert testimony.
115. As a direct and proximate result of the defendants' conspiracy and actions in
furtherance of that conspiracy, Mrs. D' Amato was wrongly removed from her home and taken to
a "psych" ward of the defendant hospital where she was held against her will for three (3) days;
wrongfully prosecuted for the events of June 25 and July 31,2018, all in violation of her
116. Defendants, under color of federal and state law, conspired with one another to
deprive Plaintiff of her constitutional rights, including the rights to be free from intentional use of
unreasonable force; to associate and speak freely; to be protected while in custody; to not be
subjected to cruel and unusual punishment; to be free from false arrest, and malicious prosecution
and by fabricating and contriving purported misconduct by Plaintiff in order to attempt to justify
117. The defendants, jointly and severally under color of state law subjected and caused
the plaintiffs in this jurisdiction to be deprived rights, privileges and immunities secured by the
31
118. As part of the conspiracy, Defendants, through the actions of Defendant Police
the United States Constitution, under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and under the
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) based on the gross negligence, failure to supervise and train police officers as a
pattern and due to deliberate and excessive acts of force and brutality toward the plaintiff. See,
Monell v. New York City Department o/Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 2037
(1978).
COUNT V
120. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
121. The individual defendant police officers acted with impunity in an environment in
which they were not properly trained, supervised, or disciplined by the Nassau County Police
32
Department.
122. Nassau Police Department defendants were personally involved in the deprivation
of plaintiffs constitutional rights as they acted with gross negligence, recklessness, and/or
training, supervision, and discipline of the defendant police officers, and thereby caused the
individual defendant police officers to deprive Mrs. D' Amato of her clearly established
constitutional rights, including her rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures,
false arrest, false imprisonment, abuse of process, malicious vindictive and selective prosecution
and deprivation ofliberty without due process oflaw, and to fair hearings and trials despite
actual or constructive knowledge that such Constitutional violations were occurring or had
occurred. Had Nassau police defendants not provided grossly inadequate training, supervision,
and discipline of the defendant officers, defendants would not have invaded Mrs. D' Amato's
home; seized her property; taken her to the defendant hospital against her will or caused her to be
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) based on the gross negligence, failure to supervise and train police officers as a
pattern and due to deliberate and excessive acts of force and brutality toward the plaintiff. See,
Monell v. New York City Department ofSocial Services, 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 2037
(1978).
33
COUNT VI
124. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
125. Nassau County, by and through the deliberate indifference of its final
policymakers, maintained a custom, policy, or practice of not complying with the Mental
Hygiene Law ofthe State of New York on domestic violence and "mentally aided calls"; a failure
to exercise proper discretion by not prosecuting some cases while failing to prosecute others;
committing and suborning perjury with actual and constructive notice that these grievous
mechanisms for training, supervision, and discipline, the individual defendants in this case
caused Mrs. D'Amato to be deprived of her Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to be free
from unreasonable searches and seizures, false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution,
abuse of process, vindictive prosecution and deprivation of liberty without due process oflaw,
and to a fair hearing and trial, and directly and proximately caused the other grievous and
127. The issuance of protective orders in violation cases and a "zero tolerance policy"
where those orders may then be abused as they were in this case is a violation of both State and
34
128. The defendants by a pattern of neglect, malfeasance, and nonfeasance have illegally,
unnecessarily, wantonly and wilfully caused the Plaintiff to be wrongfully detained and through an
abuse of process; to be illegally touched, assaulted, battered and falsely imprisoned by violating her
civil rights and brutalizing them; by negligent hiring, training and supervision.
129. The defendants have shown a deliberate pattern of violating the rights of persons
130. In doing the above the defendants have violated their oaths of office and their
fiduciary duties.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT VII
42 u.s.e §1983 1st and 14th Amendment Loss of Familial Association Claim
132. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
133. Defendants, through their misconduct against Mrs. D' Amato, recklessly or
deliberately violated her and her children's First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to be free
from unwarranted government interference with their familial relationship without due process of
law.
134. These acts caused Mrs. D' Amato and her children to suffer the damages and
irreparable harm, both short and long term set forth herein.
35
135. Because of the foregoing, Plaintiffs have been damaged in an amount to be
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT VIII
136. Plaintiffs hereby incorporated by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
137. Defendants, despite knowing that probable cause did not exist to arrest, charge,
and prosecute Mrs. D' Amato on September 30,2017, June 25,2017 and July 31,2018
intentionally, recklessly and with malice caused Mrs. D' Amato to be arrested, charged and taken
to a "psych ward" on September 30,2017 and wrongfully charged on June 25 and July 31,2018.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT IX
139. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
140. In removing her from her home on September 30,2017 and bringing her to a
hospital, where she was lab tested, all against her will, and when she was charged and detained
36
with respect to the events of June 25 and July 31, 2019 the defendant police officers intentionally
141. As a direct and proximate result of this misconduct and unwarranted use of force,
Mrs. D' Amato sustained the injuries and damages set forth herein including fear, anxiety and
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT X
143. Plaintiffs hereby incorporated by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
risk of causing, the wrongful arrest, prosecution, and incarceration of Mrs. D' Amato was extreme
and outrageous, and directly and proximately caused the grievous and continuing injuries and
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
37
COUNT XI
146. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
147. The defendants negligently and with gross negligence, and in breach oftheir
duties owed to her to refrain from fabricating evidence, coercing witnesses, withholding material
exculpatory and impeachment evidence, and otherwise acting to deny her due process of law,
directly and proximately caused Mrs. D' Amato, an innocent woman, to be falsely arrested,
maliciously prosecuted, and wrongfully imprisoned for a total of three (3) hours on July 16, 2018
and four (4) hours on August 10,2018. Defendants' actions caused Mrs. D'Amato to suffer
physical harm, including physical ailments resulting from the circumstances and duration of her
wrongful incarceration, and to fear for her physical safety throughout the period and exacerbation
of her pre-existing injury stemming from her accident in 2012 and being taken from her ice
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XII
149. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
38
150. At all times relevant to this complaint the individual defendant police officers and
Detectives acted as agents of, and in the scope of their employment with Nassau County. The
conduct bywhich defendants committed the torts of false arrest, malicious prosecution, false
imprisonment, assault and battery, intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress, and
negligent infliction of emotional distress were undertaken while defendants were on duty,
carrying out their routine investigative functions as NCPD detectives or officers, and engaging in
such conduct as would have been reasonably expected by their employer. Indeed, the specific
conduct of defendants and their fellow officers was known by, should have been known by,
151. Nassau County is liable for its agents' state law torts of false arrest, malicious
prosecution, vindictive prosecution, abuse of process, false imprisonment, assault and battery,
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XIII
153. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
154. Defendant Patrick Ryder, Nassau County Police Department Commissioner, was
39
grossly negligent and negligent in the training, supervision, and discipline of defendants Nassau
County Police Department police officers and detectives particularly with respect to "mentally
155. Defendant Commissioner Patrick Ryder knew or, but for his grossly negligent and
negligent training, supervision, and discipline, should have known that defendants the Nassau
County Police Department officers and detectives herein named engaged in investigative
misconduct including fabricating evidence, and failing to document and disclose material
exculpatory and impeachment evidence, and that they thereby caused Mrs. D' Amato to be
maliciously prosecuted and falsely arrested and taken from her home.
156. As a proximate result of the gross negligence and negligence of defendant, Ryder,
NCPD defendants engaged in the previously set forth misconduct and caused the above-
described acts of false arrest, abuse of process, malicious prosecution, selective prosecution, false
imprisonment, assault and battery, intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress, and
negligent infliction of emotional distress inflicted on Mrs. D' Amato, which directly and
proximately caused her to sustain grievous and continuing injuries and damages set forth herein,
including, but not limited to, wrongfully charging the plaintiff for the events of June 25,2018
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
40
COUNT XIV
158. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
159. On September 30,2017 at approximately 2:00 a.m. the plaintiff believed that an
intruder might be trying to gain entrance to her home located at 67 Buxton Street, Lido Beach,
160. During that 911 call she was asked by the operator whether there were any guns in
the home. She answered truthfully that there was a shotgun in the home which she had legally
purchased three or four years earlier and which was still in the box in which she had purchased it
and noting that she had never fired it or had even taken it out of the box. The gun was key
locked. Ammunition and the key were located elsewhere in the home but were not near or with
the shotgun.
161. At the time of the call Mr. D' Amato and their daughter were asleep downstairs on
the second floor. The plaintiff was on the third floor. Since the home is located near the Atlantic
Ocean, it is elevated. The first floor consists of a garage, some utilities and storage space.
162. The 911 call lasted thirteen minutes and plaintiff repeatedly told the operator that
police were not needed but the operator dispatched the police there anyway. There was no
indication of any domestic dispute at the time of the call or when the police arrived at the home.
163. When the police arrived, the plaintiff again told them that their presence was not
needed.
164. Nonetheless, police barged into the house without a warrant or probable cause to
41
believe that a crime was being committed therein or that any Domestic Violence was occurring.
165. Officer Vincent Adamo, a defendant herein, took the lead, repeatedly and loudly
inquiring of the plaintiff: "Where's the Senator, where's AI?" The plaintiff pleaded with him to
keep his voice down as her daughter and husband were both asleep together in a second floor,
back bedroom. Nonetheless, Police Officer Adamo continued to walk about the second floor
bellowing his same inquiry and finally waking Mr. D' Amato, albeit not Luciana.
166. Mr. D' Amato then spoke to the police telling them that his wife is "crazy", that
she believes that "green lasers were being shot into the home;" "that listening devices were being
placed in the house by him"; "that she has a prior psychiatric history" and that "she takes Lithium
for a bipolar disorder." None of these statements by Mr. D' Amato were true but were relied
167. Mrs. D' Amato lead the police to the shotgun which as she had said to the operator
was still in a box in the back of a closet and key locked. It was taken and seized by the police
168. Mrs. D'Amato was then taken on September 30,2017, against her will, to the
169. In taking her to the hospital and seizing the shotgun the police failed to comply
with the Constitutions of New York State and the United States. In addition, they failed to
comply with New York State's Mental Hygiene Law and upon information and belief, with their
own protocols and guidelines which they have failed to disclose in violation of a court order and
170. The police searched her home in violation ofthe Fourth Amendment and the
42
United States Constitution and analogous provisions under the New York State Constitution and
seized personal property illegally, belonging to her without her consent and having no right to do
so. See, Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961). See also, New York State Civil Rights Law §8,
Bill of Rights.
171. The actions ofthe police under the aforementioned circumstances amounted to an
unlawful taking of personal property; an illegal search and seizure, which property has still not
been returned to the plaintiff and notwithstanding her legal ownership ofthat personal property,
to wit: a shotgun, a receipt for the gun was wrongfully given by the police to her husband as a
non-owner and who has still not returned the receipt to the plaintiff. The gun continues to be
172. The actions by the police under the circumstances amounted to an illegal arrest,
kidnaping, false imprisonment, larceny, assault, battery, negligence, defamation and burglary.
173. The police had a duty to follow the law including, but not limited to, the New
York State Mental Hygiene Law and both the New York State and federal Constitutions. They
had a duty not to invade the privacy of the plaintiff or to breach her quiet enjoyment. They had a
duty to protect and safeguard the plaintiffbut instead allowed Mr. D' Amato to manipulate them
placing undue credibility on him when in fact the plaintiff had not threatened anyone and was not
174. The plaintiffs' experts will attest to the fact that the police failed to comply with
the State's Mental Hygiene Law and their own protocols on September 30,2017.
175. The police breached their duty to the plaintiff, Mrs. D' Amato. As a result the
plaintiff was unwarrantedly taken from her home, held in a hospital for three (3) days against her.
43
will without due process oflaw and thereafter on October 5, 2017 lost temporary custody of her
children to the defendant, Alfonse D' Amato, and had other unwarranted protective orders entered
against her. The defendants breached their duties to these plaintiffs under color oflaw and
176. The plaintiff was not a danger to herself or others prior to September 30,2017, on
177. As a direct, proximate consequence of the police misconduct and negligence, the
plaintiff was severely damaged for which she is entitled to both compensatory and punitive
damages.
178. The plaintiff is a private person but her husband Alfonse D' Amato, is a public
figure who used his influence to have the plaintiff taken into police custody by telling the police
that she was "crazy"; that "she was taking pictures oflasers coming into the house on his phone".
179. Given the fact that the plaintiff was physically vulnerable and in extreme pain
from surgery that she had eleven days earlier, Mr. D' Amato fabricated the aforementioned lies in
preying upon the plaintiff, convincing the police that she was a danger to him and her children
because there was an unused shotgun in the house. He told these lies and others in order to gain
180. Mr. D' Amato is an attorney, a skilled political lobbyist who knows how to abuse
181. After stating these lies and others to the police, Mr. D' Amato then made a number
of false statements to the police such as "please don't take her" and "take me instead", knowing
that these statements would fool the police in furthering their misperception that he needed to be
44
protected from the plaintiff because if she was "crazy" as he had falsely represented to them, he
was underestimating the potential danger to himself. Mr. D' Amato knew exactly what he was
doing.
182. The police failed to realize that Mr. D' Amato, a highly skilled politician and
attorney, was manipulating them by showing offhis own alleged vulnerability and professed love
of his wife while in reality he planned to use this ruse against the plaintiff in the matrimonial and
custody proceedings which he planned to commence the following week in his favored venue of
Nassau County.
183. In essence, he tricked the police and they fell for it.
184. The police had a duty to protect this plaintiff from harm and to insure that her
civil rights were not violated but breached their duty to her and as a result proximately caused
severe damage to her and her children all under color oflaw.
185. The police failed to use ordinary care and were grossly negligent in their actions
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XV
Medical Malpractice
187. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
45
188. In taking the plaintiffto South Nassau Communities Hospital on a "mentally
aided call" the hospital had no records or information available to them but knew that under New
York's Mental Hygiene Law that they could keep the plaintiff for up to 48 hours for observation
purposes in order to avoid possible liability for themselves if she was in fact a danger to herself
or others. Specifically and among other things, they violated HIPP A laws and the ADA by not
inquiring of the police as to why Mrs. D' Amato was being brought to the hospital.
189. The defendant Joshua Kuglar, M.D. was the head of the Emergency Room at
South Nassau Communities Hospital who failed to make a proper assessment or evaluation of the
plaintiff pursuant to the Mental Hygiene Law prior to admitting her or holding her against her
190. The defendant hospital is responsible for the neglect and malpractice of its
physicians under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. The hospital is vicariously liable for
191. Stanley Reddy, M.D. was the head of the Psychiatric and Behavior Department at
South Nassau Communities Hospital. He neglected and failed to have any contact with plaintiff
during her entire stay there and, upon information and belief, together with other physicians and
hospital personnel contributed to the falsifying of medical records pertaining to the plaintiffs
192. The plaintiff and her counsel have consulted with a physician who has verified the
malpractice and neglect of the hospital and its physicians including, but not limited to, Namdi
Odiah, M.D. who failed to make a proper diagnosis or treat the plaintiff from September 30
46
193. The hospital and its physicians failed to immediately discharge the plaintiff on
September 30,2017 as not a danger to herself or others which is what they ultimately determined
on October 2,2017 after keeping her for more than two (2) days and 48 hours against her will.
194. Mr. D' Amato represents the hospital and met with its CEO, co-defendant Richard
Murphy, just prior to September 30,2017. On September 30, 2017 Mr. D' Amato called Mr.
Murphy. Upon information and belief, Mr. D' Amato asked Mr. Murphy to detain her in the
hospital until at least October 2, 2017 so that Mr. D' Amato could meet with his attorneys the
195. Upon information and belief, Defendant, Alfonse D' Amato discussed his wife's
medical condition with Mr. Murphy in violation of the HIPP A laws relative to confidentiality, yet
196. The hospital and its physicians made a gross misdiagnosis of Mrs. D' Amato in
that, among other things, they failed to recognize or even inquire about whether she had the
medical condition known as ADHD and accordingly also violated the ADA.
197. The actions ofthe hospital, Mr. Murphy and its physicians represented a departure
198. But for the negligence and medical malpractice of the hospital and its physicians,
the result would have been different in that they failed to appropriately and professionally interact
with the police as to why the plaintiff was even brought to the hospital in the first place and why
she should be admitted or detained in the hospital and not immediately discharged from it.
199. As a result ofthis alleged malpractice on the part of the hospital and its personnel
the Court on October 5, 2017 improperly entered ex parte protective orders against the plaintiff
47
and gave temporary custody to the defendant, Alfonse D' Amato, of the couple's two minor
children.
proper evaluation of the plaintiff, she and her children have been separated for the past seventeen
months as a result of the fraudulently prepared police reports and medical records which the Court
erroneously and in error relied upon on October 5, 2017; October 10,2017 and October 11,2017.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XVI
Defamation
202. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
203. The incorrect actions and perjurious statements by the police, Mr. D' Amato, the
hospital and its personnel, all contributed to the false impression that the plaintiff was
"psychotic" on September 30, 2017 and thereby defamed her both in Court and in media
accounts.
204. The incorrect actions and misstatements by these defendants defamed the plaintiff
per se in her trade and profession and deprived her of parental and civil rights.
205. On October 2, 2017 instead of following normal procedure for the obtaining of a
police report Mr. D' Amato was able to secure an uncertified copy of a report from his friend and
48
co-defendant, Deputy Police Commissioner David Mack.
206. Upon information and belief, Mr. D' Amato did not have to fill out an application,
wait for its receipt in the mail, or pay a customary fee that all others would have to do in
207. Upon information and belief, Mr.·D' Amato and David Mack conspired together in
compiling and issuing a false and defamatory police report which was then used by Mr.
D' Amato's attorneys to secure temporary custody for him by offering it in Court as evidence of
Mrs. D' Amato's non-existent psychosis and that she was taking "Lithium" and "Oxycodone"
which they knew to be false and which would then be reported in the media, further leading to
the misimpression of Mrs. D' Amato throughout her divorce and custody case, defaming her and
208. The police report, unsigned and not certified provided for the following erroneous
and defamatory account of September 30, 2017 allegedly being written by Police Officer Adamo:
49
and Patrol Supervisor Lorenzen were both present at scene.
209. The report falsely stated that there was a possible "domestic incident". There was
none. The remainder of the false information contained in the report was given to the police by
Mr. D' Amato and not the plaintiff. Among other things, the plaintiff has never been prescribed
Lithium, has no "psyche history" and had not taken oxycodone. Lab reports from the hospital at
that time substantiated these facts. The shotgun was legally purchased and had not been touched
or used since then. It was key locked and the ammunition was in a separate location also with a
key which was in yet another location. Mr. D' Amato did not own the gun or the home at 67
Buxton Street, Lido Beach, New York. He was not entitled to receive the receipt and the police
failed to inquire as to whether this was a marital home and Mr. D' Amato's status in it. The
police failed to inquire of Mr. or Mrs. D' Amato as to whether there was any "domestic incident"
occurring at the scene on September 30,2017 which might warrant further action by them but
instead they found Mr. D' Amato and their daughter sound asleep at the time with no evidence of
a "domestic incident."
210. Mr. D' Amato improperly used his influence to create a misimpression of the
plaintiff by a poorly trained and unqualified Police Officer Adamo who failed to see through Mr.
D' Amato's ulterior motives in wanting to use this false information against his wife in his
matrimonial action in Nassau County. Once determining that there was no evidence of a
"domestic incident" after awakening Mr. D' Amato, the police had a further duty to leave the
premises.
211. Nassau County, its Police Department, Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and
Deputy Police Commissioner David Mack are all jointly and severally responsible for the actions
50
of the police on September 30, 2017 and for the issuance of a false police report based upon the
212. Nassau County and the police defendants named herein furthered their
misconduct, negligence, defamation and false reporting when they testified falsely in Court in
early December, 2017 at the behest of Mr. D' Amato and his attorneys wherein they amplified
those same erroneous facts, including, but not limited to, the following in hac verba statements
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XVII
214. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
215. On October 2,2017 the plaintiff was discharged from the hospital as "not a danger
to herself or others."
216. On October 3, 2017 the plaintiff commenced a divorce action against Mr.
D' Amato in New York County under Index No. 309600/2017. Mr. D' Amato was then served.
51
Baiamonte, Gruner, P.C., filed a divorce action in Nassau County under Index No. 202477/2017
together with an ex parte Order to Show Cause requesting temporary custody in Mr. D' Amato
and a Temporary Restraining, Protective Order against Mrs. D' Amato barring her from having
any contact with her children and Mr. D' Amato, the school which the children attend; requiring
218. The defendant law firm, Gassman, Baiamonte, Gruner, P.C. and its principals, the
defendants, Gassman and Gruner, prepared the divorce action and ex parte papers stating that no
other divorce actions were pending and had their client, an attorney, also verify the truth of those
matters stated therein, all knowing full well that aNew York County divorce action had already
been commenced two (2) days earlier by the plaintiff. The preparation of those papers and Mr.
D' Amato swearing under oath to their truthfulness was perjury and subornation of perjury.
219. The perjury and subornation of it did not, however, end there because in making
their oral arguments before the defendant, Hon. Joseph H. Lorintz on October 5, 2017, the
defendants once again misrepresented material facts in open Court. They included, but were not
a. "That they did not know the whereabouts of the shotgun although they
knew it was still in police custody and that Mr. D' Amato had the receipt
b. "That Mrs. D' Amato had a prior psychiatric history and that she was
taking lithium," knowing both statements to be false and also knowing that
Justice Lorintz would rely upon them and that they would be reported in
52
the media7 , portraying Mrs. D' Amato in a bad light and taint the remainder
c. "That they could not notify Mrs. D' Amato or her attorney of their ex parte
applications because they were unaware of her psychological state and that
she might become violent toward Mr. D' Amato and her children if she
learned of the ex parte applications" all the while knowing that Mrs.
D' Amato had never threatened anyone; also knowing that she had been
or others; and also knowing that she had the wherewithal to see an attorney
d. "Falsely told the Court that the plaintiff was caught by the police loading
the shotgun", knowing that the statement was patently false and not even
included in the police report or anything told to Mr. D' Amato by the
police or that he had witnessed, and also knowing that Mrs. D' Amato was
and the fact that one of her arm was in a sling on September 30,2017."
a. "I soon learned that the defendant took other medication that I had never
7 The courtroom is open to the public and the media has closely followed the case.
53
for an ex parte order dated October 4,2017.
b. "Even more shocking, the officers advised that upon their arrival, the
defendant had been attempting to load her shotgun." See par. 11, supra.
c. "[Defendant] does have a previous psych history ... ". Statement made by
defendant, D' Amato to police and incorporated into their report. Par. 13
supra.
d. "That Mrs. D' Amato was taking lithium and oxycodone." Statement made
by defendant D' Amato to the police and incorporated into their report.
Par. 13 supra.
owned a pump shotgun which she kept in our home nor was I aware of the
psychotic episode." Par. 14 supra. The defendant deeded over the home
a. " ... the safety ofthe parties children will be placed at risk ifthey remain
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b. "The defendant possessed a pump shotgun in the marital residence for an
Upon information and belief, she attempted to load said weapon in the
middle ofthe night while the plaintiff and the parties' daughter slept. She
coming into the house. According to the Nassau Police Department, the
c. "Being given notice that the plaintiff intended to have the children
removed from her home will most certainly cause the defendant to become
upset, angry and desperate. Neither the plaintiff nor the parties' children
d. "The defendant has only been one day removed from being released from
e. "Financially, the defendant has the ability to abscond with the children in
order to take the children away from the plaintiff and outside the
55
jurisdiction of this Court."
f. "Considering the safety and welfare of the parties' interest is at stake, the
request that the within motion be submitted without notice is fair and
g. "The case before this Court involved an incident described by the plaintiff,
suffered by the defendant in the middle of the night. Clearly, the fact that
h. "All relief sought herein relates to the physical safety and well-being of
two young children and the parties. There is no financial incentive for
a. "Okay, Judge. First - - the first - - to your first question. This past
weekend, as you may have seen from the application, the anonymous, my
client's wife, anonymous two, contacted the police. Only after the police
discover that his wife had in her possession a shotgun which, as the police
were entering the home, she was attempting to load. My client did not
even know and the police report bears that out that the shotgun was in the
house."
56
"Second, we learned - - my client learned for the first time that his wife
was taking Lithium. That was not a factor where he was aware of. And
psychotic episode in the home while he and the children slept. She was
taken by the police to the hospital and upon information and belief
released on late Monday afternoon." Mr. Gruner failed to advise the Court
that his client lied to the police and that he, Police Officer Adamo and
"We are unaware of her current mental condition. We only know that she
has had access to at least one rifle or weapon that we were not aware of,
and it's very possible there are more. She also has available to her
sufficient funds where she could either abscond by herself or with the
parties' children."
"We feel that if she had been given notice, we don't know what that would
have done to her mental state, A, and B, what steps she might have taken
either with another weapon or with the money or some other danger to - -
children. "
"Which I think also answers the second question, which our concern is
that we don't - - we are unaware of her current mental state, and we know
that she had access to the weapon. We do not know if the police
57
department returned the weapon to her or if she has other weapons at her
"Obviously, Judge, the use by the police officer of the term psychotic
episode is very disturbing and concerning. The fact that she called the
police because she saw green lasers around the house caused the officers,
while my client was sleeping in fact, to contact an ambulance and have her
taken to the hospital for a psych evaluation." His client did not call the
220. The defendants knew that these statements were false; that they would be reported
in the media; that the Judge hearing their legal arguments was newly elected; that he could rely
upon them and due to his inexperience not make a probing inquiry as to their veracity and as a
result Mrs. D' Amato has been separated from her children and their activities and embroiled in
protracted legal proceedings in State court which would have been unnecessary but for the
improper conduct of these defendants. In addition, the defendants' Cash falsely stated that Mrs.
D' Amato "chest bumped" Mr. Cash on June 25, 2018 and that she violated a protective order on
July 31, 2018 knowing that these false reports would be made to the media and further embarrass
and defame Mrs. D' Amato which then occurred in various news accounts.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
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COUNT XVIII
222. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
223. Justice Lorintz's actions in this case were ultra vires because he acted without
jurisdiction in that a divorce action had already been commenced in New York County and
because Mrs. D' Amato and her attorneys had not been served with legal papers; they never
consented to the jurisdiction of the Nassau Court and the plaintiff has still not "answered". Issue
224. Due to his judicial inexperience, Justice Lorintz has improperly arrogated power
225. Far worse than that, however, is the fact that Mr. D' Amato's attorneys, the AFC,
Mark Green, Esq.; the forensic psychologist, both appointed by the Court, all financially
contributed to the Justice's 2016 campaign for the position which he now holds and Mr.
D' Amato played an active role in engineering his cross-endorsement so that voters had no choice
and had to elect him. Justice Lorintz had run unsuccessfully three times before 2016 without
cross-endorsements.
226. Lorintz's actions were a per se violation ofthe Canons of Judicial Ethics and
created a gross appearance of impropriety yet he refused to recuse himself and to disqualify the
227. Justice Lorintz improperly and illegally issued ex parte orders on the basis of false
information provided to him by Mr. D' Amato and his lawyers; obstructed justice; improperly
59
suppressed evidence and conspired with these defendants to deprive Mrs. D' Amato of her
228. Neither Mr. D' Amato's lawyers nor Justice Lorintz have attempted to correct the
229. Since his first involvement in this case on October 5, 2017, Justice Lorintz has
acted with unwarranted bias and prejudice toward the plaintiff all because of the untoward
230. The plaintiff has tried, without success, to move the Nassau matrimonial case to
another County and Justice. Notwithstanding glaring conflicts of interest Justice Lorintz has
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XIX
232. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
233. Since his appointment in the matrimonial case in or about October 5,2017 Mr.
234. Mr. Green also contributed to the Justice's campaign in 2016; has failed to
comply with the Standards for AFCs in New York State; has applied for "gag orders" against the
60
plaintiff; has moved for disqualification of the plaintiff s counsel in the matrimonial proceeding;
and has opposed the testimony and reports of two of this plaintiffs experts in the underlying
matrimonial case. None of Mr. Green's actions were in the best interests of Mrs. D' Amato's
children.
235. Mr. Green's fees and those ofthe forensic psychologist are being paid by Mr.
D' Amato. This creates a proprietary conflict on his part which has caused him to agree with
every legal argument offered by Mr. D' Amato's counsel. Not once has he presented a legal
236. The plaintiff has moved for his disqualification in the Nassau County matrimonial
case which has also been denied by Justice Lorintz. This decision and many others are the
subject of interlocutory appeals pending in the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department.
These appeals do not address the plaintiffs' claims here of a denial or violations of their civil
rights.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XX
238. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
239. Defendants, by the conduct of Police officers, under color of law, federal and state,
61
deprived Katuria D' Amato of her Constitutional right to be free from excessive and unreasonable
force.
240. The conduct of the Defendants toward Katuria D' Amato constituted assault and
battery upon the person of Katuria D' Amato by Defendant Police officers.
241. This conduct was intentionally, recklessly and negligently directed at the plaintiff
by Defendants, through the illegal actions of Police officers, acting individually and within the
scope of their employment, performed while Police officers were on duty under color of state and
federal law. The police defendants under color oflaw intentionally and negligently invaded the
plaintiffs privacy and interfered with her person and property. In addition, they falsely prosecuted
the plaintiff, Katuria D' Amato regarding the events of June 25,2018 and July 31,2018.
242. Katuria D' Amato has been damaged and suffered severe bodily injury, necessitating
immediate and ongoing medical treatment, emotional distress, humiliation and conscious pain and
243. The aforementioned occurrence was caused by the wrongful, careless, reckless,
negligent and intentional acts of the Defendants. Such conduct violated Katuria D' Amato's rights,
privileges and immunities as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, Amendments One, Two, Four,
Five, Six, Eight and Fourteen, under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and under the laws and Constitution of the
Additionally, plaintiff seeks punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
62
COUNT XXI
245. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
246. Defendants, by their conduct under color of law, federal and state, acting with
malicious and/or deliberate indifference in failing to recognize that the plaintiff had recently
undergone surgery and that her arm was in a sling because of it and that she was using an ice
machine to alleviate her pain. By taking her to the defendant hospital on September 30,2017 on a
mentally aided call and in falsely charging her on June 25 and July 31,2018 they deprived her of
her Constitutional rights and perpetuated and exacerbated her physical and mental pain and
suffering.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXII
248. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
249. By their conduct and under color of law, federal and state, Defendants deprived
Plaintiff of her Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to be free from cruel and unusual
punishment with respect to September 30 - October 2,2017 and July 16, 2018 (arraignment date
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for the June 25,2018 incident) and August 10,2018 (arraignment date for July 31,2018 incident)
250. The Defendants engaged in a cover-up in order to conceal the wrongdoing and
unlawful conduct taken against Plaintiff, and the Defendants' efforts to conceal the occurrence
continues to the detriment of Plaintiff and her children, forcing her into protracted, expensive
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXIII
252. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
253. Defendants, The Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Police Officer
Vincent Adamo; Nassau County Police Officer Jimmy Lee; Nassau County Police Sgt. James
Lorenzen; Nassau County Police Deputy Inspector Frances Bein; Patrick Ryder, Nassau County
Police Commissioner; Detective Jason Hernandez and David Mack, Nassau County Deputy Police
Commissioner, were grossly negligent in the conduct of their obligations to safeguard plaintiff and
Police officers were negligent, grossly negligent and egregious in their individual and official
capacities as members of the NCPD while Plaintiff was in their custody and in failing to take steps
that an ordinary, reasonable and prudent person andlor officer would have pursued to care for and
64
protect Plaintiff.
254. The Defendants engaged in a cover-up in order to conceal the wrongdoing and
unlawful conduct taken against Plaintiff, and the Defendants' efforts to conceal the occurrence
continues to the detriment of Plaintiff. The cover-up included, but is not limited to, the filing of
false police report; testifying falsely against the plaintiff in December, 2017 and in failing to
comply with "FOIL" and So Ordered Subpoenas for their records relative to the incidents of
September 30,2017 and CPL §240.20 Demands regarding the incidents of June 25, 2018 and July
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXIV
256. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
257. At all relevant times, Defendants/police officers, Detectives and Inspectors were
acting for, upon and in furtherance of the business of their employer and within the scope of their
employment.
258. Consequently, Defendant, Nassau County and its Police Department are liable
under the doctrine of respondeat superior for the tortuous actions of Defendant Police officers and
65
259. Because of the foregoing, Plaintiffs have been damaged in an amount to be
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXV
260. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
261. By their actions, all Defendants, by Police officers, committed acts of assault and
battery upon plaintiff, Katuria D' Amato, which included fear that if she resisted being taken to the
hospital that she would be physically forced to go there against her will, handcuffed and restrained
and fear of it while in custody of the Defendants, which physical force was unnecessary and
exceSSIve.
262. The Defendants engaged in a cover-up in order to conceal the wrongdoing and
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXVI
264. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
66
further allege as follows:
265. By their actions, as set forth above, Police officers and personnel, inflicted harm on
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXVII
267. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all ofthe foregoing paragraphs and
268. At the time of the incidents described herein, the Defendant Police officers and
personnel were in the employ of and acting as agents for Defendants County of Nassau and/or
269. Defendant Police officers had been hired and trained by Defendants Nassau County
and/or Nassau County Police Department for the position of Police Officer.
270. As employees and agents for Defendant, Nassau County and/or Nassau County
Police Department, Defendant Police officers were at all times under the supervision of
271. Upon information and belief, Defendants Nassau County and/or Nassau County
Police Department hired and trained Defendant Police officers with disregard for propensities for
violent and abusive activity toward and disregard of civil rights of individuals, as evidenced by the
67
actions set forth herein.
272. Upon information and belief, Police officers had propensities for violent and
abusive activity toward and disregard of civil rights of individuals, as evidenced by the wrongful
taking of the plaintiff to the defendant hospital, their failure to comply with the State Mental
273. Upon information and belief, Nassau County and/or Nassau County Police
Department employees, including, but not limited to Police officers, had propensities for failing to
protect and defend the Constitutional rights and civil liberties of the plaintiff, as evidenced by other
incidents known to Defendants Nassau County and/or Nassau County Police Department.
274. Defendants Nassau County and/or Nassau County Police Department breached their
duty to the public and the Plaintiffs specifically by either intentionally or negligently hiring Police
officers possessed of such propensities for illegal activity, violence, abuse and disregard of civil
rights.
275. Defendants Nassau County and/or Nassau County Police Department breached their
duty to the public and the Plaintiffs specifically by deploying Police officers without first properly
276. Defendants Nassau County and/or Nassau Police Department breached their duty to
the public and the Plaintiffs specifically by failing to properly supervise Defendant Police officers
not to commit acts of abuse and violence toward, and disregard for, civil rights of the public and
277. Defendants Nassau County and/or Nassau County Police Department breached their
duty to the public and the Plaintiffs specifically by failing to properly supervise, and in retaining
employees despite knowledge of and exhibition of abusive and violent propensities and disregard
68
for civil rights of the public and individuals in their custody or under their control.
278. Plaintiff, Katuria D' Amato, has been damaged and suffered severe bodily injury and
the plaintiff has and continues to have emotional distress and conscious pain and suffering in
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXVIII
280. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
281. The attorney defendants herein named are Alfonse D'Amato; Madeline Singas;
Mark Green; Stephen Gassman; Joshua Gruner; the Law Firm of Gassman, Baiamonte and Gruner,
P.C.; Schlissel, Ostrow & Karabatos and Joseph H. Lorintz, an attorney and Supreme Court
Justice.
282. In taking their oaths as attorneys these defendants as specified herein have sworn to
uphold, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and to comply with the New York
Code of Professional Responsibility but have failed in their obligations to do so. See also, Anita
Bernstein and John Crain, Here's a Good Judiciary Law §487 Question for the Second Circuit to
Certify in Beunkhoun, N.Y.LJ., December 3,2018 and Particularity Pleading for Judiciary Law
§487 Complaints that Allege Attorney Deceit, N.Y.L.J., January 31,2019 at 4 and 8.
69
283. The deceit herein alleged in both material and relied upon by the co-defendants,
including the police officers, hospital as well as its physicians and personnel and Justice Lorintz as
herein named. ACA Financial Guaranty v. Goldman Sachs & Co., 25 N.y'3d 1043 1044 (2015)
284. The misrepresentation, fraud, deceit, breach of trust, violations of Plaintiffs HIPPA
protections and undue influence included lies as told to the police by defendant Alfonse D' Amato
on September 30,2017, namely that the plaintiff had a prior psychiatric history; that she was taking
Lithium for a bipolar disorder; that she is "crazy" and that she believed that green lasers were being
shot into the house at 67 Buxton Street, Lido Beach, New York. At the time these and other
statements were made by Mr. D' Amato he knew that they were untrue and that the police, hospital
and its personnel would rely upon them. These misstatements of material facts were fraudulent and
deceitful. They and other falsehoods were restated to the Supreme court on October 5,2017 and
October 11,2017 including, but not limited to, that the plaintiff was loading a shotgun when police
arrived at the home on September 30,2017; that no other legal actions were pending; that they did
not know of the whereabouts or status of the shotgun; that they were unaware of the plaintiff s
mental state and that the plaintiff might become violent if she or her attorneys were notified of the
ex parte applications for protective orders that they were making on October 5, 2017. CPLR
§3016(b) and Weinstein, Korn and Miller CPLR Manual 19.09(b). See also, Pludeman v.
Northern Leasing Sys., 10 N.y'3d 486 (2008); Sargiss v. Magarelli, 909 N.E.2d 573 (2009) and
285. As a result of these misstatements, falsehoods, deceit and fraudulent conduct on the
part of these defendants, the plaintiff was caused to be taken from her home against her will and
thereafter wrongfully detained in the defendant hospital from September 30,2017 to October 2,
70
2017; exacerbating her pre-existing personal injuries, causing extreme pain, suffering, intentional
286. In addition to these ongoing and recurring injuries the plaintiff has been subjected
to the enforcement of illegally entered ex parte orders of October 5, 2017 and a So Ordered
Stipulation of October 11, 2017 which she was coerced into signing due to Justice Lorintz stating
that he did not intend to vacate, modify or dismiss the ex parte orders of October 5, 2017 and that
the plaintiff would be precluded from seeing her children unless she agreed to the So Ordered
287. These actions by these defendants have caused a violation of the plaintiffs civil and
parental rights and have also caused irreparable and permanent injuries, both physically and
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXIX
289. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
290. Upon information and belief, James and Catherine Cash, husband and wife,
conspired with Alfonse D' Amato and the defendants, Nassau County, the Nassau County Police
Department and its members, police officers and Detectives caused Mrs. D' Amato to be falsely
71
charged with respect to events occurring on June 25 and July 31,2018. Mrs. & Mrs. James Cash
acted under color of law in that she is a Suffolk County Police Officer and used her status as such
to cause criminal charges to be made against Mrs. D' Amato on June 25 and July 31,2018. As a
result of the false and fabricated charges a protective order (do not harass order) was entered
against Mrs. D' Amato on July 16, 2018 which was then abused by the defendants to cause the
unlawful arrest and prosecution of Mrs. D' Amato on July 31 - August 10, 2018 through the
present.
291. While Mrs. D' Amato filed a complaint against Mr. & Mrs. Cash with the Nassau
District Attorney's Office on June 26,2018 alleging that the defendants had filed a false and bogus
police report on June 25, 2018, a Class A misdemeanor, the District Attorney's office failed to
prosecute Mr. & Mrs. Cash but instead persisted in their prosecution of Mrs. D' Amato causing her
to be publicly ridiculed, embarrassed, defamed and having to incur legal fees with other costs and
expenses.
292. Mrs. Cash used her status as a Suffolk County Police Officer and Mr. D' Amato
acting separately and in concert with each other used influence and titles to secure the wrongful
charging, arrest and prosecution of Mrs. D'Amato on June 25,2018 and July 31,2018, with
293. Suffolk County and its Police Department are named herein because they have
allowed and permitted Catherine Cash to use and abuse her title as a police officer and thereby
caused bogus, fabricated and totally fraudulent criminal charges to be made against Mrs. D' Amato
without any repercussions to her and in violation of Mrs. D' Amato's Constiutitonal rights.
294. Madeline Singas, the Nassau County District Attorney has been named as a
defendant pursuant to the legal doctrine of respondeat superior and vicarious liability for her
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negligence in that she allowed her staff to abuse their discretion in prosecuting Mrs. D' Amato and
not acting on her complaint against Mrs. & Mrs. Cash, contrary to the law, facts and in violation of
295. Upon information and belief, Madeline Singas, with knowledge of these underlying
facts approved of the ongoing, illegal prosecution of Mrs. D' Amato. In doing so, she acted
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXX
297. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
298. David Smith is the husband of Susanne Gold Smith, a former matrimonial client of
the Law Offices of Thomas F. Liotti, LLC. It is alleged herein that Mr. Smith conspired with the
defendant Alfonse D' Amato and the International Investigation Group, Inc., its principals, Daniel
Ribacoff and Lisa Ribacoff to surveil, harass, stalk and promote the arrest of the plaintiff, Katuria
D' Amato on or about March 27 - April 2, 2018 as, well as before and after those dates. It is further
alleged that the co-defendants, David Smith and Alfonse D' Amato sought to and did in fact
alienate and tortiously interfere with the retainer and contracts for legal services between Susanne
Gold Smith and the Law Offices of Thomas F. Liotti, LLC and further tampered with her (Ms.
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Gold) as a witness for the plaintiff, Katuria D' Amato, in her temporary custody hearings and
offered Mrs. Gold Smith emoluments and other consideration if she would approach Mrs.
D' Amato to suggest that she terminate the services of Mr. Liotti in October, 2018. Mrs. Gold
Smith carried that message forward to Mrs. D' Amato before and while she was in the hospital then
stating to Mrs. D' Amato, "what would it take for you to fire Tom Liotti," which words and
substance were suggested to Mrs. Gold Smith both indirectly by Mr. Smith using Mr. D' Amato as
his messenger who was involved in extensive conversations with Mr. Smith, his attorneys
concerning these efforts by him. Mr. D' Amato is an attorney and his communications with a
represented party, namely Susanne Gold Smith and his abuse of her in this manner is, at the very
least, a violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility, Rule 4.2 if not an egregious violation
299. It is further alleged that Daniel and Lisa Ribacoffwere owners, principals and/or
employees of the defendant, International Investigation Group, Inc. (IIG) and acted in concert with
300. It is further alleged that Saul Roth was employed by IIG on April 2, 2018 at which
time he surveiled Mrs. D' Amato and tried to have her arrested on that date and at other times.
301. Mr. D' Amato's attorneys, the co-defendants herein, Gassman, Baiamonte, Gruner,
P.C. were aware of these and other actions bylIG, Mr. Smith and Mr. D'Amato and were
conspiring with Mr. Smith's attorneys, Schlisse1, Ostrow and Karabatos, Esqs. to cause these
events to occur.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
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($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
COUNT XXXI
303. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference all of the foregoing paragraphs and
304. These defendants as alleged herein have engaged in an ongoing and malicious
campaign of harassment of the plaintiff and her children in violation of their Constitutional and
305. The defendant Alfonse D' Amato, individually and by and through his corporate
entities, including but not limited to, Park Strategies, LLC, an enterprise as noted herein and a
lobbying firm which he has used as one of his conduits for campaign contributions to elected
officials and judicial candidates and which he uses as a vehicle wherein he asserts his power and
influence as a former United States Senator to engineer the endorsements of judicial candidates and
306. The defendant, Alfonse D' Amato, has a long history of extensive and ongoing ties
with organized crime figures and racketeers. See, Pathway to Power: How LI's Cozy Political
System Propelled Gary Melius From Street Tough to Wheeler-Dealer, Newsday, February 25,
2018 and Newsday Editorial, August 21,2015, A Disturbing Expose of Patronage Politics.
307. The predicate acts as engaged in, include but are not limited to, Park Strategies,
LLC, the enterprise as referred to herein and its employees, as directed by its founder and owner,
Alfonse D' Amato, fraudulently opening and operating the aforementioned HSBC account and
forging Mrs. D' Amato's name to it, without her knowledge or consent. The account had $39
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million dollars in it which Mr. D' Amato used for personal expenses and campaign contributions.
Mr. D' Amato's actions were in the nature of crimes and therefore predicate acts as provided for
308. Additional predicate acts include, but are not limited to, Mr. D' Amato lying to the
police defendants herein named and intentionally making misrepresentations of material facts as
suborned by his attorneys on October 5,2017 (see, supra, Anonymous v. Anonymous, Nassau
County Supreme Court Index No. 20247712017); October 10,2017 (see, supra, Anonymous v.
Anonymous, Nassau County Supreme Court Index No. 20247712017) and October 11,2017 (see,
supra, Anonymous v. Anonymous, Nassau County Supreme Court Index No. 202477/2017) which
have deprived Mrs. D' Amato and her children of their Constitutional and parental rights.
309. These misrepresentations by Mr. D' Amato and his attorneys were relied upon by
the police defendants herein named, by the defendant Justice Lorintz in Nassau County, Justice
Matthew Cooper in New York County and the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department.
310. Upon information and belief, Mr. D' Amato has used the aforementioned HSBC
account and other accounts to launder money from some of his clients; to conceal their identities,
the purposes for which he is retained and the quid pro quos that he seeks in return for the
311. Additional predicate acts by Mr. D' Amato, include but are not limited to, he and
Mr. David Smith conspiring together to tamper with Mrs. D' Amato's witnesses, including Mrs.
Gold Smith, as herein alleged. As previously alleged, upon information and belief, this
conspiracy was also joined by the Gassman, Baiamonte and Gruner, P .C. law firm and the law
firm of Schlissel, Ostrow and Karabatos, PLLC. The conspiracy included the thwarted plan,
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joined in by IIG to have Mrs. D' Amato arrested on April 2, 2018.
312. As a direct result of these and other actions by the defendants and in particular,
Alfonse D'Amato, the plaintiffs are entitled to trebl~ damages and Mr. D'Amato should be
required to divest himself of any interest, direct or indirect, in Park Strategies, LLC and related
entities with the same or similar purposes and otherwise used for the illegal purpose herein
described; and further Mr. D' Amato should be required to cease and desist from forging Mrs.
D' Amato's name to anything including bank accounts or using her name without her consent;
and he should be required and prohibited from engaging in the same or similar enterprise which
has as its purpose the legal bribery of public officials and members of the judiciary by the use of
campaign contributions in return for access, favorable rulings or legislation and his quid pro quo.
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek punitive damages in the amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
($50,000,000.00) plus pre and post judgment interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request the following relief jointly and severally as against all of
the Defendants and with respect to each count jointly and severally:
1. That the Court award compensatory damages to them and against defendants,
jointly and severally, in the amount to be determined at trial but in the approximate amount of
2. That the Court award punitive damages to them, and against all individual
defendants, in the amount to be determined at trial, that will deter such conduct by defendants in
the future but in the approximate amount of FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($50,000,000.00) to be
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requested plus treble damages;
4. For pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and recovery of their costs, including
reasonableattomeys' fees pursuant to 42 usc. §1988 fora1142 usc. §§1981, 1983 and
1985(1)(2) and (3) claims; and
5. For such other and further relief as the court deems just and proper.
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