Brooklyn Boro

SKETCHES OF COURT: Pro se litigant has his day in court​​

February 23, 2018 By Alba Acevedo Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Court sketch by Alba Acevedo
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In this courtroom sketch, Hon. Mark Partnow presides as a pro se plaintiff addresses the jury in the civil court trial Jonathan Ramos vs. City of New York. Ramos (standing) brought the eponymous lawsuit over an incident in which he alleges police brutality and excessive force. Ramos related to the jury that while he had recovered from any physical injuries, above all what he desired was for his story to be heard.

To the extent that the court is under no obligation to consider a pro se litigant any differently than it treats a lawyer, the process is seldom carried through to trial, according to the office of the County Clerk.

In June 2005 the police were in attendance at an annual outpouring of Latino community in Sunset Park, after the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan. Ramos had been called to the area by a local activist videographer friend, to also help record the street scene and in anticipation of documenting an oppressive police presence. Ramos alleges that during the course of the taping, he was thrown face to the ground, maced and falsely arrested though that was not specifically evidenced in the video.

The jury heard testimony from the deputy chief officer at the scene, and from the community activist videographer. The jury screened a 30-minute video compilation entered into evidence. In the video can be heard sounds of whistles, cowbells, an ambulance siren, interaction between crowds and police, orders to disperse and a cry for help, amid handheld camera crowd visuals inclusive of Ramos, cuffed, in a police van.

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The city was represented by Michael Dolgow (at right), of the New York City Law Department. Dolgow maintained that where Ramos alleged excessive force, Dolgow saw evidence of police restraint amid provocation. Absent any permit application to impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic, Dolgow claimed that the police acted reasonably to disperse the crowds, including Ramos. Dolgow supported his observation by noting that in the video the progress of an ambulance toward Lutheran Hospital, now NYU Langone, was impeded, and gave the police probable cause to remove individuals. Ramos was taken to the precinct and released without being charged.

In closing remarks, Ramos compared his trial to the tale of David and Goliath, as the story of an underdog against a great force, and reiterated that regardless of outcome, he was grateful to Partnow and opposing counsel and the court system for the opportunity to be heard. He asked the jury to award him a substantial sum as compensation for psychological trauma.  

The jury requested during their deliberations to review the video, specifically the segment around Ramos taken into the van. In a decision by 5 out of 6 jurors, the jury ultimately determined there was no false arrest or use of excessive force. Court reporter Jeanmarie Episcopia recorded the proceedings.


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