Houston v. Cotter
CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – After an eight-day trial before Judge Joseph F. Bianco, a federal jury found that Suffolk County prison officials and guards used excessive force against inmate Robert Houston, in violation of his eighth amendment rights. The jury found that the defendant, Thomas Cotter, confined Mr. Houston to suicide watch as a form of humiliation and punishment, thus depriving him due process of law. Mr. Houston was awarded both compensatory and punitive damages.
Partner Victor L. Hou and associates Diarra M. Guthrie, Sarah E. Edwards, and Christopher P. DeNicola (Cleary Gottlieb) represented Mr. Houston at trial. The Impact Trial team consisted of Clinton Lam, Justin Chauncey, Mimi Le, Alison Von Dollen and Mallory Sherman who provided trial technology support and litigation graphics.
The case is Robert Houston v. Thomas Cotter, John Weiss, and the County of Suffolk, case number 2:07-cv-03256, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.