The taxpayer-funded settlement received’t be divided evenly between the three guards, Terrence Rosenthal, Leesha Bell and Angelica Weldon.
Reasonably, Rosenthal — who was allegedly assaulted by Pearson after which held in custody at an NYPD precinct for practically 24 hours after the Oct. 17, 2023 scuffle on the Midtown shelter — will get $150,000, whereas Weldon is receiving $125,000 and Bell $75,000, the paperwork dated March 26 confirms.
The trio’s lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court docket, named Adams, the NYPD and two cops as defendants, along with Pearson.
Tim Pearson (yellow circle), a high public security adviser to Mayor Adams, seen in safety cam footage after the scuffle. A safety guard (crimson circle) is pictured being arrested on the scene.
Notably, Pearson — who resigned as Adams’ public security adviser final fall after he got here below scrutiny in an unrelated federal corruption investigation — isn’t get together to the settlement, which means the guards might proceed their case solely towards him in his private capability. All the opposite defendants are get together to the settlement, together with the mayor, which means they’re dismissed from the case with out admitting wrongdoing, the paperwork says.
Pearson has not been charged within the unrelated corruption probe.
Jason Steinberger, an legal professional representing Rosenthal, Bell and Weldon, declined to remark Tuesday when requested if his purchasers will proceed their case towards Pearson.
Hugh Mo, Pearson’s private legal professional representing him within the federal probe, didn’t return a request for remark.
“It was in the city’s best interest to settle this case,” stated Nick Paolucci, a spokesman for Adams’ Legislation Division, which represented all defendants however Pearson towards the shelter scuffle lawsuit.
Arturo Holmes/Getty Photographs
Timothy Pearson with Mayor Adams at his Jan. 1, 2022 inauguration in Occasions Sq.. (Picture by Arturo Holmes/Getty Photographs)
Like Rosenthal, Weldon and Bell additionally allege they have been assaulted by Pearson.
Bell, based on the lawsuit, was subjected to an particularly disturbing episode wherein Pearson wrapped his palms round her neck after which shoved her with such pressure that she fell backwards onto a counter, inflicting her eyeglasses to fly off her face.
The melee erupted when the guards denied Pearson entry to the shelter as a result of he refused to point out identification. He confirmed up on the shelter to carry out a shock security inspection.
The settlement comes after town Division of Investigation launched a scathing report concluding that Pearson abused his authority and lied to responding NYPD officers in reference to the incident.
The report, citing physique cam footage and eyewitness testimony, alleged Pearson cursed on the guards and threatened to get them fired in the event that they didn’t let him in, whilst they repeatedly advised him they by protocol needed to see his ID in an effort to present him entry.
Oct. 1, 2024: Pearson out
New York Every day Information
Entrance web page of the Every day Information for Oct. 1, 2024.
Apart from the shelter scuffle swimsuit, Pearson faces 4 lawsuits filed by present and former members of the NYPD alleging that he subjected them to sexual harassment {and professional} retaliation. In these 4 lawsuits, the Legislation Division is offering Pearson, a former NYPD inspector who has been an in depth good friend to the mayor for many years, with taxpayer-funded authorized illustration.
Adams, whose personal federal corruption indictment was dismissed in a extremely controversial approach by President Trump’s administration this month, has solely defended Pearson, even since his resignation.
“I know Tim to be an optimal professional,” Adams stated in February after the discharge of the DOI report.
Initially Revealed: April 8, 2025 at 11:26 AM EDT
