New York City Paid $117 Million to Settle Misconduct Lawsuits in 2025

The number of settlements reached a high since 2019, underscoring the need for greater accountability, according to a legal defense organization.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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New York City paid $117 million in 2025 to settle lawsuits involving accusations of police and prosecutorial misconduct, many for incidents that occurred decades ago, including a wrongful conviction in a 1987 murder. The amount was about half of the $206 million the city paid out in such settlements in 2024, but the number of settlements last year — 1,044 — was the most since 2019, when the city paid to settle 1,276 suits against the police and prosecutors.

Why it matters

The increase in the number of settlements last year underscores the need for greater accountability in matters that involve accusations of police and prosecutorial misconduct, especially as the city faces a budget gap that threatens Mayor Zohran Mamdani's goals. The Legal Aid Society, which conducts the analysis annually, says the Police Department should pay legal settlements from its operating budget to reduce costs.

The details

The two largest payouts last year went to settle the wrongful conviction of two men in the death of a French tourist on New Year's Day in 1987. Eric Smokes, 19, and his childhood friend David Warren, 16, were charged with killing the tourist, Jean Casse, but were cleared in 2024 after Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, agreed that the convictions should be overturned. The city agreed to pay Mr. Smokes $13 million and Mr. Warren $11.13 million. The third-largest payment, $5.75 million, went to settle a suit filed by Kenneth Bacote, who in June 2020 said he had been assaulted by police officers and accused them of blinding him in his left eye by striking him with a Taser.

  • The city paid $117 million in 2025 to settle lawsuits.
  • The city paid $206 million in 2024 to settle such lawsuits.
  • The city paid to settle 1,276 suits against the police and prosecutors in 2019.
  • The city has paid more than $796 million to resolve such suits since 2019.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City.

Jennvine Wong

A supervising attorney with the Legal Aid Society, which conducts the annual analysis.

Jessica Tisch

The commissioner of the New York Police Department.

Alvin Bragg

The Manhattan district attorney.

Eric Smokes

A man who was wrongfully convicted in the death of a French tourist in 1987 and was paid $13 million by the city to settle the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“The N.Y.P.D. is still the agency that costs the city the most in settlements.”

— Jennvine Wong, Supervising attorney, Legal Aid Society (New York Times)

“Something has to be done to increase the accountability so we can prevent misconduct from actually happening.”

— Jennvine Wong, Supervising attorney, Legal Aid Society (New York Times)

“While these cases are very important to address, they tell you nothing about the state of policing today.”

— New York Police Department (New York Times)

“Every dollar spent on misconduct settlements is a dollar that can't go to housing, education, parks, or the services that truly make New Yorkers safer.”

— Sam Raskin, Spokesman for Mayor Zohran Mamdani (New York Times)

What’s next

The Mamdani administration is reviewing pending cases across agencies to identify the policies and practices driving these costs.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing need for greater accountability and reform within the New York Police Department to address misconduct and reduce the financial burden on the city's budget, which could otherwise be directed towards important community services and programs.