A civil rights lawsuit has been filed against several law enforcement entities and officials, alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, and other violations of constitutional rights. Adnan Sheikh initiated the complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on September 9, 2024, targeting the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, among others.
The case stems from an incident on November 1, 2021, when Sheikh was arrested at JFK Airport after his wife Sadia accused him of assaulting her. According to the complaint, Sadia followed Sheikh to the airport and falsely claimed he had punched her in the abdomen and slapped her. Despite video surveillance allegedly proving his innocence, Sheikh was arrested by Port Authority Police Officer Konrad Kulec and other unidentified officers from both the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) and New York City Police Department (NYPD). Sheikh was charged with third-degree assault, menacing, and second-degree harassment.
Sheikh contends that these charges were based on perjurious testimony and fabricated evidence. He claims that despite having reviewed surveillance footage showing no wrongdoing on his part, the officers proceeded with his arrest. The criminal proceedings against him continued until February 15, 2022, when all charges were dismissed. Throughout this period, Sheikh asserts he suffered degrading treatment, unlawful detention, disruption of familial relations, and violation of his due process rights.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages amounting to at least $1 million for each count alleged in the complaint. These counts include false arrest under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; malicious prosecution; failure to intervene; abuse of process; fabrication of evidence; Brady violations for withholding exculpatory evidence; and Monell claims against municipal defendants for failing to supervise or train their employees adequately.
Sheikh's legal representation is provided by Horn Wright LLP with Pablo A. Fernandez as lead attorney. Case ID: 2:24-cv-06309.