LIVING IN TWO CITIES: TARIF AND EVELYN WARREN
May 22, 2012
by Susie Day, Monthly Review Zine,
On May 14, 2012, Evelyn Warren and Michael Tarif Warren, attorneys at law, held a press conference. They stood outside the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse and announced that their case, Warren v. City of New York, had been settled. They had dropped their lawsuit against the city and the NYPD officers who had beaten and arrested them five years ago.
New York City, while admitting no wrongdoing in the settlement, awarded Evelyn and Tarif $360,000. And so a traumatic event upending the Warrens' lives is resolved. Life for Evelyn and Tarif can return to normal. Right?
...Have I mentioned that the Warrens are African American? Did I need to? Do you need to ask the race of the youth whose beating they tried to stop? In New York, New York (they had to name it twice) there are also two cities. The point is, you usually don't realize which city you live in until something like this happens to you...
"What they want is to frighten people so no one stops and bears witness," Evelyn Warren adds. "If people have the courage to say, 'No, what you're doing is wrong and I'm not going to move on,' then maybe one day, something will change."
Then maybe one day, we will all live in the same city. Read entire article»
CITY SETTLES POLICE BRUTALITY CASE, PAYING $360,000 TO BROOKLYN COUPLE
May 14, 2012
By Justin Chan, Amsterdam News
A Brooklyn couple claimed a small victory earlier today when they settled a lawsuit claiming police brutality for $360,000, according to NY1.
As Amsterdam News reported last week, the noted Brooklyn civil rights attorneys Michael and Evelyn Warren were to appear at Brooklyn Federal Court this morning for a jury trial over their 2007 confrontation with several police officers. When they tried to intervene after seeing police beating a handcuffed suspect, the couple alleged, police turned on them, beating and then arresting them. Read entire article»
MICHAEL AND EVELYN WARREN BEGIN CIVIL CASE AGAINST THE NYPD, POLICE COMMISSIONER RAY KELLY AND NYC
May 10, 2012
By NAYABA ARINDE, Amsterdam News Editor
This week, the jury selection began in the civil rights trial that pits two noted civil rights attorneys, Michael and Evelyn Warren, against the NYPD, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and New York City.
The trial proper is set to begin next week on Monday, May 14 at Brooklyn Federal Court at 9.30 a.m.
"The city has decided to roll the dice and ignore the truth!" the Warrens' attorney, Jonathan Moore, told the Amsterdam News. Moore continued, "[The Warren's] have spent years trying to clear their name because of this outrageous police misconduct. They are going to court to vindicate the violation of their constitutional rights."
The five defendants are Steven Talvy, Joseph Tillotson, John Acconi, Mirabel Sarante and Anthony Carozza. The police officers claim they were justified in their actions, stating that the Warrens interfered with their arrest of the young man. Read entire article»
PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE THE FILING OF A CIVIL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NYC AND THE NYPD ON BEHALF OF ATTORNEYS MICHAEL AND EVELYN WARREN
Thursday, September 18, 2008
10am
City Hall, New York
Attorney Jonathan Moore, Elected Officials of New York, and other members of the legal community will hold a press conference to announce the filing of a Civil Lawsuit against the City of New York and the New York City Police Department on behalf of Attorneys Michael and Evelyn Warren.
On September 18, 2008, attorney Jonathan Moore will file a lawsuit on
behalf of attorneys Michael and Evelyn Warren against The City of New
York, the New York City Police Department, Sergeant Steven Talvy and
other officers for injuries arising out of an incident of police misconduct on June 21, 2007.
On June 21,2007, Sergeant Talvy of the NYPD SNEU beat and arrested
attorneys Michael and Evelyn Warren after they questioned why the police were viciously kicking a young man they had already taken to the ground and handcuffed. For stepping forward to inquire into the welfare of the young man, Michael Warren received several blows to the head and was charged with Obstructing Governmental Administration and Resisting Arrest; Evelyn was punched in the face and charged with Disorderly Conduct.
The Warrens were forced to appear in court on seven occasions over the course of a year to defend against the false charges. On July 2, 2008, all charges against them were dismissed, due to insufficient evidence.
On August 13, 2008, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) substantiated charges against Sergeant Steven Talvy for use of force against Michael Warren.
Warrens Vindicated! All Charges Dismissed!
Weds. July 2, 2008: In a courtroom filled with supporters, as has been the case since the Warrens were initially assaulted, arrested, and brought to court a year ago, the District Attorney found inadequate basis for proceeding with the case against Tarif and Evelyn Warren. All charges were thus dropped.
Cheers, hugs, kisses, and even some tears of joy followed as the courtroom emptied into the street for a brief rally. Both Tarif and Evelyn thanked everyone for being so steadfast in their support and, particularly expressed deep gratitude and love for their lawyers -- Soffiyah Elijah, Susan Tipograph, and Roger Wareham. A battle was won, was the consensus, but the war goes on! All power to the people!
Tune in to "Where We Live" on WBAI 99.5 FM tomorrow night, that's Thursday, at 8 PM. Tarif Warren will be on the show with young activists involved in Cop Watch.
Thank You for Visiting Our Site
We are two attorneys, who practice law in New York City. As attorneys, we have a general practice, but Tarif is known for handling high profile criminal cases, and cases of police brutality, including those of Michael Stewart, Yvonne Smallwood, and the five Black teenagers falsely convicted of raping the white bank executive "the Central Park Jogger." On Thursday, June 21, 2007 we became victims of police abuse in Brooklyn.
What Happened?
We were stopped at a traffic light in rush hour traffic, on our way to a legal meeting, when we saw members of the New York City Police Department apprehend, handcuff, and kick and stomp a young Black man. We asked the officers why they were doing this and ended up beaten and arrested, ourselves. Learn more.
What You Can Do
(1) GET EVERYONE to come out for the upcoming court dates
(2) SIGN UP for regular emails about updates, court dates and community support events (top of page). Sign up all your friends.
(3) WRITE the Mayor and Police Commissioner
Learn more.
Come back to this website and stay informed. Thank you.
