PHILADELPHIA -- A man is suing the City of Philadelphia and Police Officer Michael Kuzianik, alleging unlawful assault, battery and excessive use of force.
Santiago Galeano filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania May 4 against the defendants, alleging they violated his civil and constitutional rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on May 4, 2014 he was inside the Sheraton Hotel in Philadelphia when a disturbance occurred. Police arrived and ordered him to come outside of a cafe and, suddenly and without warning, Kuzianik threw him to the ground, beat him and then began punching him relentlessly, the suit claims.
Galeano was then arrested and ultimately charged with various crimes, he alleges. Upon his release, he received medical treatment for head injuries, cervical injuries, lumbar injuries, and contusions and lacerations to his arms, legs, body, head and face, he claims.
The plaintiff holds the City of Philadelphia and Kuzianik responsible because the defendants allegedly conspired to inflict harm on him and deprive him of his constitutional rights, concealed their unlawful and unconstitutional conduct in an attempt to deny him access to the courts and to due process, and subjected him to excessive use of force.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks a declaratory judgment that the practices and policies complained of are unconstitutional, compensation for damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees and costs and for other reasonable and just relief.
He is represented by Joseph P. Capone of Capone Lawyers in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-02144