Atlanta Hawks star Thabo Sefolosha is suing the City of NY and the five officers who subdued and arrested him back in April 2015. Sefolosha says the officers used unnecessary force and he suffered a broken leg and ligament damage; he is suing for $50 million. The NYPD officers involved say they were completely justified in their action.
Sefolosha got into it with NYPD officers outside of 1OAK nightclub minutes after fellow NBA player Chris Copeland and his lady friend were stabbed nearby.
Sefolosha was arrested for obstructing justice and disorderly conduct. He maintained that he was innocent and took the case to trial where he was eventually exonerated.
He claimed the officers used excessive force, striking him with a baton, forcing him to the ground and handcuffing him, causing the injuries. Sefolosha subsequently missed the Hawks playoff run.
In court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, the City states, “Any force was reasonable and justified.”
As for the alleged injuries, the City blames Thabo saying, “Any injury alleged to have been sustained resulted from [Sefolosha’s] own culpable or negligent conduct or the culpable or negligent conduct of others.”
The City wants the judge to throw out the case.
