In a November 8, 2023 decision, United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman of the Southern District of New York rejected a motion for summary judgment filed by NYPD Officers Jillian Suarez and Bryan Rozanski, who sought to avoid a federal civil rights trial stemming from their shooting of ECBAWM client Peyman Bahadoran.

In June 2020, Officers Suarez and Rozanski shot Mr. Bahadoran in the back and arm while he was in front of a Manhattan deli, permanently paralyzing him. Mr. Bahadoran was unarmed and experiencing a mental health emergency at the time. Citing the evidence gathered during discovery, including security camera footage, police bodycam recordings, and police officers’ own testimony, the Court concluded that Mr. Bahadoran’s case must continue to a trial, where a jury will determine whether Officers Suarez and Rozanski acted unreasonably and used excessive force when they shot Mr. Bahadoran.

ECBAWM attorney Nick Bourland said: “Mr. Bahadoran was experiencing a mental health crisis and needed help. Instead, Defendants shot, paralyzed, and nearly killed Mr. Bahadoran, changing the course of his life in the blink of an eye. The Court’s recent ruling guarantees that Mr. Bahadoran will be able to present this tragic case to a jury and hold these officers responsible for their actions.”

Mr. Bahadoran is represented by ECBAWM attorneys Jonathan Abady, Earl Ward, and Nick Bourland.