Paralyzed man’s family seeks $100M in New Haven lawsuit
NEW HAVEN — A man left paralyzed from the neck down after he was injured in police custody filed a $100 million lawsuit against the city of New Haven, the man’s attorney announced Tuesday.
Richard “Randy” Cox, 36, suffered the injuries while handcuffed and unsecured in the back of a police transport van in June. The officer driving the van, Oscar Diaz, abruptly stopped to allegedly avoid a crash, causing Cox to be “violently thrown inside of the transport van,” according to the 29-page complaint.
After Cox told Diaz he couldn’t move, the officer continued driving to the detention center on Union Avenue where other officers, who were also cited in the complaint, tried to move the injured man to be processed, the documents stated.
Despite Cox’s pleas, the officers “dragged him to a cell by his shoulder while still in handcuffs,” the complaint said.
Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Cox and his family, gathered with a team of attorneys and Cox’s family at New Haven City Hall Tuesday to announce the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court against the city of New Haven as well as Officers Diaz, Ronald Pressley, Jocelyn Lavandier and Luis Rivera and Sgt. Betsy Segui, according to court records.
“What happened to Randy Cox never should have happened,” Crump told reporters in a news conference. “This isn’t something that’s just going to go away next week, next month when the cameras go away. Now Randy Cox, this 36year-old Black man, is going to have to endure this every day of his life.”
R.J. Weber, of Weber & Rubano, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday. The lawsuit claims the city was negligent and reckless for not properly equipping restraints in the police van. The complaint also alleges Diaz and the other officers used excessive force, assaulted, denied medical treatment and intentionally inflicted emotional distress on Cox.
The five officers were placed on administrative leave after the incident.
As of Tuesday, the State’s Attorney is still reviewing the case and may decide by mid-October whether to prosecute, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said. Once the State’s Attorney completes its investigation, the city will start its internal affairs probe, which will determine whether the officers involved will face discipline.
“We are all committed to justice,” Elicker said. “We are all here making a goodfaith effort to make the right decision.”
But he did acknowledge that “no amount of money is going to be able to make Randy walk again.”
Police officers arrested Cox on June 19 for illegal possession of a firearm during a block party in the city’s Newhallville neighborhood. Handcuffed, Cox was placed in the back of a police van without a seatbelt, or other restraints, to be taken to the detention center on Union Avenue. Diaz was allegedly speeding and driving the van recklessly when he suddenly slammed on the brakes to avoid a crash, according to the complaint.