A New York woman has filed a lawsuit against the city and several of its police officers, alleging civil rights violations. The lawsuit filed by plaintiff Sonia Perry names officers Robert McLoughlin, Benjamin Gelber, Dennis Cobic, and Annie Cosgrave as defendants.
The case arises from an incident on March 27, 2024, when Perry was arrested by New York City police officers. According to the complaint, Perry was walking her dog in Queens when she noticed a defective handicap parking plaque and reported it to two nearby officers. She alleges that this led to a confrontation involving multiple officers. Lieutenant Benjamin Gelber allegedly ordered her arrest based on an open NYPD Investigation Card identifying her as a suspect in an earlier incident. That designation stemmed from an accusation by Nejat Sadaat, who claimed Perry had assaulted him earlier that month—an allegation she denies.
Perry asserts claims of false arrest, malicious prosecution, excessive force, and failure to intervene, citing both federal and state law. She alleges that during the arrest, she was subjected to handcuffs that were excessively tight, despite informing officers of a pre-existing back injury. She claims this caused a herniated disc that required medical treatment. While detained at the precinct, Perry contends that officers failed to investigate Sadaat’s claims and did not provide adequate care, which contributed to her emotional distress. She maintains that the allegations were motivated by a personal dispute and ongoing civil litigation involving property matters.
The complaint further alleges that the NYPD engaged in a pattern of making arrests based solely on civilian accusations without conducting sufficient investigation. Perry claims that despite submitting evidence disputing Sadaat’s statements and identifying his alleged motives, Detective McLoughlin proceeded with filing charges against her.
Perry seeks compensatory and punitive damages for alleged violations of her constitutional rights under Section 1983 and corresponding state laws. She also requests injunctive relief related to the NYPD’s arrest procedures.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Cyrus Joubin. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.