Sabir v. Jowett

214 F. Supp. 2d 226 (2002)

Hassan SABIR, Plaintiff,
v.
Det. James C. JOWETT, Det. Dennis Lisee, and Sgt. Lewis Fusaro, Defendants.

No. CIV.A.3:97-CV-02249(CFD).

United States District Court, D. Connecticut.

July 10, 2002.

Jeffrey M. Sklarz, Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C., Bridgeport, CT, Ann Walsh Henderson, West Hartford, CT, Michael Joseph Walsh, Moukawsher & Walsh, Hartford, CT, for Plaintiff.

Robert Bishop Fiske, III, Attorney General's Office, Public Safety & Special Revenue, Terrance M. O'Neill, Attorney General's Office, Hartford, CT, for Defendants.

RULING ON POST-JUDGMENT MOTIONS

DRONEY, District Judge.

I. Introduction

The plaintiff, Hassan Sabir ("Sabir"), brought this action against Connecticut State Troopers James Jowett, Dennis Lisee, and Louis Fusaro seeking redress for various civil rights violations that occurred on February 15, 1996.^[1] A jury trial commenced on September 4, 2001, and the jury returned a verdict in Sabir's favor on September 14, 2001. The jury awarded compensatory damages in the amount of $75,001 and punitive damages in the amount of $125,000. The Court entered judgment for Sabir on September 28, 2001.

Currently pending are the following post-judgment motions: Defendants' Motion for New Trial and/or Remittitur [Doc. ## 176-1, 176-2]; Defendants' Motion for Judgment After Trial [Doc. # 178]; Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys' Fees [Doc. # 170]; Plaintiff's Supplemental Motion for Attorneys' Fees [Doc. # 193]; and Plaintiff's Second Supplemental Motion for Attorneys' Fees [Doc. # 200].

II. Background

On the morning of February 15, 1996, Hassan Sabir traveled by bus from his home in Middletown, Connecticut, to the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut ("the casino"), to play Keno. Upon his arrival, he learned that the Keno machine was not functioning. He waited for several hours for the Keno machine to be fixed. During this time he read and played some of the slot machines. Shortly before 4:00 p.m., when his bus was scheduled to leave the casino to return to Middletown, Sabir went to the casino credit office to request reimbursement of his bus fare because he had been unable to play Keno all day. He had done this on a previous occasion when the machine was not operable.

While he was in the casino credit office, Sabir discussed his request for reimbursement with a casino host, Susan Valenti ("Valenti"). Sabir testified that he was not angry when he was speaking with Valenti and did not use profanity. Valenti testified, however, that Sabir was speaking in a very loud voice and using profanity during this discussion, as well as when he was speaking with another casino host, Stuart Eckard. Valenti refused Sabir's request for reimbursement and Sabir testified that he asked to see her supervisor or a manager. Valenti testified that she signaled to a casino security guard to call for security and that two security guards eventually arrived and began speaking with Sabir.

Connecticut State Trooper Detective James Jowett arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, followed by Trooper Dennis Lisee. Detective Jowett testified that he first spoke with Valenti about the facts of the incident,^[2] and then discussed the request for reimbursement with Sabir for a short period of time. Sabir testified that because Detective Jowett and Trooper Lisee were working undercover, he did not know at the time that they were state police officers. He then indicated to Detective Jowett and Trooper Lisee that he would like to lodge a complaint rather than pursue the reimbursement. As he began to leave, he took two steps away from defendants Jowett and Lisee. Immediately upon taking these steps, Detective Jowett and Trooper Lissee put their hands on Sabir and propelled him against a wall. Detective Jowett testified that he told Sabir that he was under arrest at this time, in part because he interpreted these two steps as a movement towards a nearby casino host. He testified that he did not base his decision to arrest Sabir on Valenti's complaint. A physical altercation ensued.

Within a few minutes, Sabir was surrounded by a group of men that included other law enforcement officials and casino security workers. Sabir was pushed down to the floor and handcuffed. During this period of time, there was evidence of a casino security officer twisting Sabir's ankles. A wheelchair eventually was called for him. Sabir testified that one of the "officers" choked him while being placed in the wheelchair.

After being wheeled through the casino, Sabir was placed in the front seat of a unmarked state police vehicle. Sabir testified that he lost consciousness after someone in the back seat choked him. He recalls waking up in the police cell at the Montville Police Barracks. His initial requests for medical treatment were denied, but he later was taken by ambulance to the William Backus Hospital in Norwich, Connecticut.

Upon admission, a hospital security guard strapped him to a gurney in the emergency room using soft restraints fastened with velcro. Defendant Connecticut State Trooper Louis Fusaro arrived at some point while Sabir was at the hospital. A physician treated Sabir and ordered x-rays, which eventually were taken. Sabir testified that he was unable to bear weight on the ankle, and a hospital employee gave him a plastic brace to wear.

After receiving the brace, Sabir was told to get dressed. He testified that could not put his pants back on, however, because he was unable to stand on his ankle, he was sore, and his pants would not fit over the ankle brace. Trooper Fusaro, hospital security guards and a Norwich police officer were present in the room at this time. Sabir testified that they "snatched" him off the gurney, causing him to fall on the floor. Another physical altercation ensued during which a hospital security guard sprayed Sabir in the eyes with cap stun, or pepper spray. Trooper Fusaro, the hospital security workers and the Norwich police officer left the room after the cap stun was used, while the plaintiff remained in the room. Sabir testified that he was left on the floor of the hospital room in a fetal position and that he was handcuffed at this time.

After a couple of minutes, Trooper Fusaro and others returned to the room. Sabir testified that Trooper Fusaro carried him out of the hospital by his neck while he was dressed only in his socks and underwear, even though the temperature outside was roughly between 10 and 20 degrees. He was returned to a cell at the police barracks and was clothed only in his underwear for the remainder of the night. Sabir further testified that he remained in handcuffs in the cell.

The next morning Sabir was brought to court. He was released on a promise to appear and thereafter retained counsel. Sabir was charged with the following offenses arising from the incident at the casino: Breach of Peace under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-181; Failure to Submit Fingerprints under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 29-12; and Interfering with an Officer under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-167a (collectively, the "casino charges"). He was charged with the following offenses arising from the incident at the hospital: Breach of Peace under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-181; Criminal Attempt to Escape from Custody under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-49 and § 53a-171; Interfering with an Officer under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-167a; and Failure to Submit Fingerprints under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 29-12 (collectively, the "hospital charges").

On May 5, 1997, Sabir entered a plea of nolo contendere with respect to the breach of peace charge arising from the events at the hospital and was sentenced to a conditional discharge with a six months suspended sentence on this charge. The criminal escape and interfering charges related to the hospital incident were nolled at this time.

Based on these facts, the jury found pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 that Detective Jowett unlawfully arrested Sabir and that Detective Jowett and Trooper Lisee conspired to unlawfully arrest him. The jury also found pursuant to § 1983 that Detective Jowett, Trooper Lisee, and Trooper Fusaro used excessive force against him, but that Detective Jowett was entitled to qualified immunity for his use of force. Finally, the jury found under Connecticut state common law that Trooper Fusaro intentionally inflicted emotional distress on Sabir.

III. Defendants' Motion for Judgment After Trial [Doc. # 178]

The defendants make two principal arguments in support of their motion for judgment as a matter of law under Rule 50(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. First, they contend that the jury's finding that Detective Jowett unlawfully arrested Sabir lacks a sufficient evidentiary basis because the arrest was supported by probable cause and because the charges were not resolved in the plaintiff's favor. Second, they maintain that the jury's finding of intentional infliction of emotional distress against Trooper Fusaro also was not supported by sufficient evidence. The defendants do not challenge the jury's finding with respect to excessive use of force or conspiracy by Detective Jowett and Trooper Lisee to unlawfully arrest Sabir.

A. Standard

"Because a judgment as a matter of law intrudes upon the rightful province of the jury, it is highly disfavored." Prestige Imports, Inc. v. Malick No. 5:91-CV-00450(EBB), 2001 WL 286846, *1 (D.Conn. March 13, 2001). Under Rule 50, judgment as a matter of law is only appropriate where "there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to find for [a] party on [an] issue." Fed.R.Civ.P. 50(a); Merrill Lynch Interfunding, Inc. v. Argenti, 155 F.3d 113, 120 (2d Cir.1998). "[A] court may properly grant judgment as a matter of law where viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, the evidence is such that, without weighing the credibility of the witnesses or otherwise considering the weight of the evidence, there can be but one conclusion as to the verdict that reasonable men could have reached." Merrill Lynch Interfunding, Inc., 155 F.3d at 120 (quoting Samuels v. Air Transport Local 504, 992 F.2d 12, 14 (2d Cir.1993) (internal quotations omitted)). More specifically, judgment as a matter of law is granted when:

(1) there is such a complete absence of evidence supporting the verdict that the jury's findings could only have been the result of sheer surmise and conjecture, or

(2) there is such an overwhelming amount of evidence in favor of the movant that reasonable and fair minded persons could not arrive at a verdict against [it].

Galdieri-Ambrosini v. National Realty & Dev. Corp., 136 F.3d 276, 289 (2d Cir.1998) (quoting Cruz v. Local Union No. 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 34 F.3d 1148, 1154 (2d Cir.1994)) (internal quotation marks omitted). "In ruling on a motion for judgment as a matter of law, the court may not itself weigh credibility or otherwise consider the weight of the evidence; rather, it must defer to the credibility assessments that may have been made by the jury and the reasonable factual inferences that may have been drawn by the jury." Williams v. County of Westchester, 171 F.3d 98, 101 (2d Cir.1999). "Moreover, ``weakness of the evidence does not justify judgment as a matter of law; as in the case of a grant of summary judgment, the evidence must be such that a reasonable juror would have been compelled to accept the view of the moving party.'" Blackledge v. Carlone, 126 F. Supp. 2d 224, 226 (D.Conn.2001) (quoting This Is Me, Inc. v. Taylor, 157 F.3d 139, 142 (2d Cir.1998) (citation omitted)).^[3]

B. Discussion

1. Unlawful Arrest

The defendants argue that the following evidence produced at trial indicates that Detective Jowett had probable cause to arrest Sabir: (1) Valenti's report to Detective Jowett of her conversation with Sabir, (2) Sabir's conduct prior to when he stepped away from the state troopers, including his alleged failure to leave the casino, and (3) the two steps which Detective Jowett testified he interpreted as movement toward a casino host.

"There can be no federal civil rights claim for false arrest where the arresting officer had probable cause." Singer v. Fulton County Sheriff, 63 F.3d 110, 118 (2d Cir.1995). "There is probable cause when the arresting officer has knowledge or reasonably trustworthy information sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution in the belief that an offense has been committed by the person to be arrested." O'Neill v. Town of Babylon, 986 F.2d 646, 650 (2d Cir.1993) (quoting Calamia v. City of New York, 879 F.2d 1025, 1032 (2d Cir.1989)). "The quantum of evidence required to establish probable cause to arrest need not reach the level of evidence necessary to support a conviction." United States v. Fisher, 702 F.2d 372, 375 (2d Cir.1983).

Based on his conduct at the casino, Sabir was charged with Breach of the Peace under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-181 and Interfering with an Officer under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-167a.^[4] Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-181 provides:

(a) A person is guilty of breach of the peace in the second degree when, with intent to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person: (1) Engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior in a public place; or (2) assaults or strikes another; or (3) threatens to commit any crime against another person or such other person's property; or (4) publicly exhibits, distributes, posts up or advertises any offensive, indecent or abusive matter concerning any person; or (5) in a public place, uses abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture; or (6) creates a public and hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act which such person is not licensed or privileged to do. For purposes of this section, "public place" means any area that is used or held out for use by the public whether owned or operated by public or private interests.

Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-181. Under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-167a, "[a] person is guilty of interfering with an officer when such person obstructs, resists, hinders or endangers any peace officer or firefighter in the performance of such peace officer's or firefighter's duties." The plaintiff presented sufficient evidence at trial to support the jury's conclusion that Detective Jowett lacked probable cause for Sabir's arrest for these charges.

As an initial matter, the plaintiff argues that the fact that Detective Jowett testified that he did not base his arrest of Sabir on Valenti's report and that he based his finding of probable cause on Sabir's "two steps" indicates that Valenti's report should not be considered by the court in assessing probable cause. However, the Supreme Court has stated that "[w]hether a Fourth Amendment violation has occurred turns on an objective assessment of the officer's actions in light of the facts and circumstances confronting him at the time ... and not on the officer's actual state of mind at the time the challenged action was taken." Maryland v. Macon, 472 U.S. 463, 470-71, 105 S. Ct. 2778, 86 L. Ed. 2d 370 (1985) (internal quotations and citations omitted). Further, "[a]n arresting officer advised of a crime by a person who claims to be the victim, and who has signed a complaint or information charging someone with the crime, has probable cause to effect an arrest absent circumstances that raise doubts as to the victim's veracity." Singer, 63 F.3d at 118. Thus, the fact that Detective Jowett testified that he did not base his decision to arrest Sabir on Valenti's report does not necessarily require the court to disregard the report when determining whether the arrest was based on probable cause.

However, although Detective Jowett later obtained a written statement from Valenti, he had no signed criminal complaint at the time of the arrest, and the circumstances of Valenti's report also raise some doubt as to its accuracy and as to whether it can support a finding of probable cause. Detective Jowett testified that he had a conversation with Valenti about her interaction with Sabir prior to his own discussion with him. Valenti, on the other hand, could not recall whether such a conversation occurred at all. Further, while Detective Jowett stated that he was unable to remember the specifics of his conversation with Valenti, he later recounted specific information that Valenti had told him about Sabir, including the fact that he was making threatening gestures. Sabir, on the other hand, testified that he did not use profanity when discussing the reimbursement with Valenti and that he spoke in the same tone of voice that he was using on the witness stand. Moreover, even if the conversation between Valenti and Jowett is assumed to have occurred and Valenti related the incidents in a manner consistent with Detective Jowett's recollection, there was no indication that Sabir was acting in a belligerent manner when Detective Jowett first approached him. This conclusion is supported by the videotape that was introduced into evidence, as it did not show Sabir gesturing in a way indicating that he was agitated at that time. Thus, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude that Valenti's complaint was not a sufficient basis for a finding of probable cause for the charged offenses.

The jury's conclusion that Sabir's conduct prior to stepping away from the troopers was not probable cause for the arrest also is supported by the evidence. As to the breach of peace charge, Sabir testified that he did not use profanity when talking with Detective Jowett and he characterized his tone of voice as "very basic."^[5] Detective Jowett also testified that Sabir's demeanor was calm when he began speaking with him and again, the videotape supports this observation. While Jowett also stated that Sabir eventually became loud and belligerent, this contrary evidence is not so overwhelming that reasonable and fair minded persons could not have concluded that Detective Jowett lacked probable cause for arresting Sabir for breach of peace.

The same is true with respect to the charge of interfering with an officer, which could have arisen from Sabir's alleged refusal to leave the casino host area. Sabir testified that he told the state troopers that he had to leave the casino to catch a four o'clock bus, and that he was never informed that he could not do so. Detective Jowett, on the other hand, testified that Sabir refused to leave after being ordered to do so, and Detective Lisee similarly testified that Sabir stated that he would not leave until he was reimbursed for the bus fare. Again, Sabir's testimony is sufficient to support the jury's conclusion that Detective Jowett lacked probable cause for an arrest for interfering with an officer, as the jury could have credited Sabir's testimony rather than that of Detective Jowett or Trooper Lisee.

Further, as to the "two steps," Sabir testified that when he stepped away from the troopers, he was walking towards the casino host office to lodge a complaint, and he also testified that Detective Jowett never told him he was under arrest or that he was not free to leave the casino. In contrast, Detective Jowett testified that this action was a threatening movement and that he told Sabir that he was under arrest after he took those steps. Trooper Lisee stated that Sabir was attempting to leave the casino host area when he took the two steps, but that he did not recall when Sabir was actually placed under arrest.^[6] Thus, the significance of the two steps is somewhat unclear from the conflicting testimony. It appears that the steps could have been the basis for a charge of breach of the peace as they could have been interpreted as threatening behavior. Assuming that Sabir took the steps after Detective Jowett placed him under arrest, the steps also might have been the basis for the interfering with an officer charge. Nevertheless, in light of the evidence presented at trial, it was reasonable for the jury to have concluded based on Sabir's statements that Detective Jowett lacked probable cause for the arrest based on the two steps away from the troopers in the preceding counts.

Detective Jowett also testified that he could have arrested Sabir for Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Trespass in the First Degree, and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. These related offenses also are relevant when assessing whether a police officer had probable cause for an arrest. See Avery v. King, 110 F.3d 12, 14 (6th Cir.1997).

A person is guilty of Disorderly Conduct:

[W]hen, with intent to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person: (1) Engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior; or (2) by offensive or disorderly conduct, annoys or interferes with another person; or (3) makes unreasonable noise; or (4) without lawful authority, disturbs any lawful assembly or meeting of persons; or (5) obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic ....

Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-182. For many of the same reasons explained above, when the facts are viewed in the light most favorable to the non-movant, there was sufficient evidence for a jury to conclude that Detective Jowett lacked probable cause to arrest Sabir for disorderly conduct.

A person is guilty of criminal trespass in the first degree when "knowing that such person is not licensed or privileged to do so, such person enters or remains in a building or any other premises after an order to leave or not to enter personally communicated to such person by the owner of the premises or other authorized person." Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-107(a)(1). "A person is guilty of criminal trespass in the second degree when, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he enters or remains in a building." Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-108. Again, there is sufficient evidence to support a finding that Sabir was not told to leave the casino, and that he did not remain in the casino host area after having been told to leave or knowing that he was not permitted to do so.

The defendants also maintain that even if there was not probable cause for the arrest, Detective Jowett is entitled to qualified immunity for the unlawful arrest. "[G]overnment officials performing discretionary functions generally are shielded from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known." Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S. Ct. 2727, 73 L. Ed. 2d 396 (1982). "In general, public officials are entitled to qualified immunity if (1) their conduct does not violate clearly established constitutional rights, or (2) it was objectively reasonable for them to believe their acts did not violate those rights." Weyant v. Okst, 101 F.3d 845, 857 (2d Cir.1996). The burden of raising and establishing the affirmative defense of qualified immunity, either in a motion for summary judgment or at trial, rests on the defendants. Lee v. Sandberg, 136 F.3d 94, 101 (2d Cir.1997). "The right not to be arrested or prosecuted without probable cause has, or course, long been a clearly established constitutional right." Golino v. City of New Haven, 950 F.2d 864, 869 (2d Cir.1991); see also Lee, 136 F.3d at 102. The plaintiff has alleged a violation of such a right.

As to the second prong of the qualified immunity standard, "[a] police officer is entitled to qualified immunity shielding him or her from a claim for damages for false arrest where (1) it was objectively reasonable for the officer to believe there was probable cause to make the arrest, or (2) reasonably competent police officers could disagree as to whether there was probable cause to arrest." Ricciuti v. N.Y.C. Transit Authority, 124 F.3d 123, 128 (2d Cir.1997). An officer has probable cause to arrest when he or she is in possession of facts sufficient to warrant a person to believe that the suspect had committed or was committing an offense, and courts are to consider the facts available to the officer at the time of the arrest. Id. "An officer's actions are objectively unreasonable when no officer of reasonable competence could have made the same choice in similar circumstances." Lennon v. Miller, 66 F.3d 416, 420-21 (2d Cir. 1995).

Considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, a reasonable jury could have found that Detective Jowett was not entitled to qualified immunity for arresting Sabir. There is sufficient evidence to conclude that it was not objectively reasonable for him to have arrested Sabir for the charged or related offenses.

The defendants also maintain that there was insufficient evidence to support the finding of unlawful arrest against Detective Jowett because there was no indication that the casino charges were disposed of in Sabir's favor. A conviction is conclusive proof of probable cause for an arrest. See Horton v. Town of Brookfield, No. Civ. A. 3:98CV1834, 2001 WL 263299, at *3 (D.Conn. Mar. 15, 2001) (Ruling on Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion to Dismiss). Thus, generally, "[a] person who thinks there is not even probable cause to believe that he committed the crime with which he is charged must pursue the case to an acquittal or unqualified dismissal." Id. (quoting Roesch v. Otarola, 980 F.2d 850, 853 (2d Cir.1992)). "A nolle is, except when limited by statute or rule of practice; see, e.g., General Statutes § 54-56b and Practice Book § 726; a unilateral act by a prosecutor, which ends the ``pending proceedings without an acquittal and without placing the defendant in jeopardy.'" Cislo v. City of Shelton, 240 Conn. 590, 692 A.2d 1255, 1260 n. 9 (1997) (quoting State v. Lloyd, 185 Conn. 199, 440 A.2d 867, 868 (1981)). However, there is some authority that a nolle can be a sufficient basis on which probable cause may be challenged. In See v. Gosselin, the Connecticut Supreme Court held with respect to a malicious prosecution claim, "It is not necessary that the accused should have been acquitted. It is sufficient if he was discharged without a trial under circumstances amounting to an abandonment of the prosecution without request or arrangement with him." 133 Conn. 158, 48 A.2d 560, 561 (1946).

The Court finds that sufficient evidence was presented by the plaintiff on this issue. The plaintiff offered the testimony of Sabir and his counsel, Attorney Joseph Elder. Sabir testified that it was his understanding that all charges relating to the casino incident had been dismissed. Attorney Elder testified that no plea of guilty was ever entered with respect to any of the casino charges and that the plea of nolo contendere pertained only to the incident that occurred at the hospital. In addition, the plaintiff offered the complete state criminal file as obtained from the criminal record center in Enfield, Connecticut. These records suggest that there was no evidence of a plea bargain pertaining to the casino charges. Although the record is silent as to the exact resolution of the charges, there is no indication in the file that the resolution of the casino charges were also part of the disposition of the charges arising from the hospital incident. There was no dispute that there were no other criminal proceedings arising from the subject incidents. Thus, a reasonable jury could have believed that the casino charges were resolved favorably to the plaintiff.

The defendants argue that the state criminal file indicates that the casino charges were part of the plea bargain concerning the hospital events because some of the documents contained in the criminal file include a docket number different than that found on the record of the nolo plea and judgment. The defendants contend that these documents relate to the casino charges and demonstrate that the casino charges were in fact part of the plea bargain. Still, while one document in the criminal file-a re-arrest warrant arising from Mr. Elder's failure to appear at a hearing-does contain a different docket number, the significance of the number is by no means clear. Moreover, the fact that the casino charges are not listed on the disposition sheet contained on the front page of the criminal file, yet other charges that were nolled are so listed, suggests that the casino charges were treated differently, and perhaps dismissed, and erased, much earlier than the other charges. This finding would be consistent with the plaintiff's evidence. Thus, although the docket number issue supports the defendants' position, there is not such an overwhelming amount of evidence in favor of the defendants that reasonable and fair minded persons could not arrive at a verdict against Detective Jowett. Accordingly, the Court concludes that there is sufficient evidence to support the plaintiff's argument that the casino charges were resolved in the plaintiff's favor.

For all of these reasons, the defendants' motion for judgment as a matter of law on the unlawful arrest count against Detective Jowett is DENIED.

2. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

Trooper Fusaro contends that there was insufficient evidence to support a cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress under state law, and that there was insufficient evidence of an injury suffered as a result of his actions.

There are four elements to a state law claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress: (1) that defendant Fusaro intended to inflict emotional distress, or that he knew or should have known that emotional distress was the likely result of his conduct, (2) that Fusaro's conduct was extreme and outrageous, (3) that Fusaro's conduct was the cause of the emotional distress, and (4) that the emotional distress suffered by the plaintiff was severe. Petyan v. Ellis, 200 Conn. 243, 510 A.2d 1337, 1342 (1986). The evidence offered at trial was sufficient for a reasonable jury to find that the actions of Officer Fusaro were extreme and outrageous. In particular, the jury could have found that Trooper Fusaro permitted the hospital security officer to pepper spray Sabir while he was in handcuffs, that he transported Sabir outside on a cold winter night wearing only socks and underwear, and that he left him in a cold cell in that condition for several hours. Even if there was no direct evidence of intent to cause emotional distress, it would be reasonable for a jury to draw an inference that Trooper Fusaro should have known that emotional distress would result from his actions. See Doe v. Hartnett, No. CV960134840, 2002 WL 1293354, *2 (Conn.Super.Ct. May 8, 2002) (unpublished opinion) ("that [the defendant police officer] knew or should have known that emotional distress was the likely result of his conduct ... is largely a matter of inference" in the context of a motion for summary judgment where the defendant told the plaintiff that he had heard that she had lied about being sexually assaulted).

Moreover, the testimony of the plaintiff sufficiently establishes that the plaintiff did in fact suffer emotional distress as a result of Officer's Fusaro's actions. Sabir testified that the events of February 15, 1996 had a long term psychological and emotional impact on him, and that he was still experiencing that effect at the time of trial. He explained:

When something like this happens to you the first thing you do mentally and physically, you're numb. I mean, I laid in my bed for weeks. And then when that passes and maybe you can move a little more, you become a little angry about the situation. But in the meantime, you're having nightmares. You're still terrorized. At this point right now in my life I only sleep like two and a half hours at a time. Like I said, you become angry. You're fighting a system that is bigger than you and it's continual. When this happened to me, every week or every other week I had to travel down to New London to meet with my attorney and to go to court. Sometimes nothing would happen. You walk around all the time with an emptiness inside of you.

Emotional distress is severe when "it reaches a level which ``no reasonable person could be expected to endure.'" Almonte v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of N.Y., Inc., 959 F. Supp. 569, 575 (D.Conn.1997) (quoting Mellaly v. Eastman Kodak, 42 Conn.Supp. 17, 597 A.2d 846, 848 (1991)). "[I]f the enormity of the outrage itself carries conviction that there has in fact been severe and serious mental distress, which is neither feigned nor trivial, bodily harm is not required." Whelan v. Whelan, 41 Conn.Supp. 519, 588 A.2d 251, 252 (1991) (quoting W. Prosser & W. Keeton, Torts (5th Ed.1984) § 12, p. 64). Here, there is sufficient evidence that the plaintiff's emotional distress was severe and that he "suffered these symptoms to an extraordinary degree." Almonte, 959 F.Supp. at 576 (explaining that evidence that the plaintiff had experienced some sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression as a result of having been fired from his job is not sufficient to survive a motion for summary judgment). In particular, he testified that he experienced terror as a result of the incidents at issue. Further, there also was testimony that he suffered physical harm and sought medical treatment for injuries which the jury could have attributed to Trooper Fusaro's conduct. In addition to the treatment received at William Backus Hospital on the evening of February 15, 1996, Sabir sought further medical treatment at the Community Health Center. His total medical bills were in excess of a thousand dollars. Finally, Sabir also testified that he sought counseling for his emotional distress from spiritual healers.

Accordingly, the defendants' motion for judgment as a matter of law on the state law count is DENIED.

IV. Defendants' Motion for New Trial and/or Remittitur [Doc. ## 176-1, 176-2]

A. Background

The Court next turns to the defendants' motion for remittitur, or in the alternative, a new trial under Fed.R.Civ.P. 59.

The jury in this case awarded compensatory damages of $25,000 against Detective Jowett for false arrest, $25,000 against Troopers Lisee and Fusaro for excessive force, and $25,000 against Trooper Fusaro for intentional infliction of emotional distress. In addition, it awarded $1 in nominal damages against Detective Jowett and Trooper Lisee for conspiracy to unlawfully arrest Sabir. Finally, the jury found punitive damages against Detective Jowett and Trooper Fusaro for the federal civil rights violations in the amount of $50,000 each and against Trooper Lisee in the amount of $25,000, and determined that punitive damages also should be awarded for the state law violation, though, as instructed by the Court, the jury did not indicate a particular amount of state law punitive damages.

The defendants contend that the jury's compensatory damage awards of $25,000 against Trooper Jowett for false arrest and $50,000 against Trooper Fusaro for excessive force and intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as the federal punitive damage awards against each defendant, are excessive and unsupported by the evidence presented at trial.^[7]

B. Standard

Rule 59(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides: "A new trial may be granted ... for any of the reasons for which new trials have heretofore been granted in actions at law in the courts of the United States." Fed. R.Civ.P. 59(a). Generally, a motion for a new trial should be granted when the trial court concludes that "the jury has reached a seriously erroneous result or that the verdict is a miscarriage of justice." De Falco v. Bernas, 244 F.3d 286, 305 (2d Cir.2001) (quoting Lightfoot v. Union Carbide Corp., 110 F.3d 898, 911 (2d Cir. 1997)). "A new trial may be granted, therefore, when the jury's verdict is against the weight of the evidence." DLC Mgmt. Corp. v. Town of Hyde Park, 163 F.3d 124, 133 (2d Cir.1998)

The standards governing a district court's consideration of a Rule 59 motion for a new trial on the grounds that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence differs in two significant ways from the standards governing a Rule 50 motion for judgment as a matter of law. Unlike judgment as a matter of law, a new trial may be granted even if there is substantial evidence supporting the jury's verdict. Moreover, a trial judge is free to weigh the evidence himself, and need not view it in the light most favorable to the verdict winner.... A court considering a Rule 59 motion for a new trial must bear in mind, however, that the court should only grant such a motion when the jury's verdict is "egregious." ... Accordingly, a court should rarely disturb a jury's evaluation of a witness's credibility.

Id. at 133-34 (internal citations omitted).

When a defendant's Rule 59 motion contests the size of a damage award, a court must decide whether or not the verdict is excessive. Stern v. Michelangelo Apartments, Inc., No. 97-CV-9532 GAY, 2000 WL 33766107, *6 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 24, 2000). "If a district court finds that a verdict is excessive, it may order a new trial, a new trial limited to damages, or, under the practice of remittitur, may condition a denial of a motion for a new trial on the plaintiff's accepting damages in a reduced amount." Tingley Sys., Inc. v. Norse Sys., Inc., 49 F.3d 93, 96 (2d Cir. 1995). It may not, however, reduce the damages without offering the prevailing party the option of a new trial. Lightfoot, 110 F.3d at 914-915.

C. Discussion

1. Damages for federal civil rights violations

A jury's damage award is excessive when "the award is so high as to shock the judicial conscience and constitute a denial of justice." O'Neill v. Krzeminski, 839 F.2d 9, 13 (2d Cir.1988) (quoting Zarcone v. Perry, 572 F.2d 52, 56 (2d Cir.1978)). Further, "[a] damage award is excessive if it is the result of a miscarriage of justice and represents a windfall to the plaintiff without regard to [his] injury." Oliver v. Cole Gift Ctr., Inc., 85 F. Supp. 2d 109, 114 (D.Conn.2000).

The defendants also argue that the evidence offered by the plaintiff cannot support the jury's award of compensatory damages for the federal civil rights violations. However, a review of the evidence offered at trial demonstrates that the compensatory damage award is adequately supported in the record. The plaintiff introduced evidence that he sustained physical injuries as a result of the defendants' unlawful actions. His evidence showed that he was forced to seek medical treatment for the injuries he sustained. The plaintiff also introduced evidence that he had to hire, and pay for, an attorney as a result of the defendants' actions. Finally, the plaintiff presented evidence that he suffered physical pain as a result of the physical injuries the defendants inflicted on him and that he suffered, and continues to suffer, emotional distress as a result of the incidents.

The defendants argue that the plaintiff did not offer any corroborating evidence as to the emotional distress he suffered as a result of the defendants' conspiracy to violate his rights and the excessive force they used while falsely arresting him. Contrary to defendants' arguments, expert witness evidence is not required to sustain an award of emotional distress damages in § 1983 cases. See, e.g., Bolden v. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transp. Auth., 21 F.3d 29, 34 (3d Cir.1994) (stating that all the courts of appeals that have expressly considered this issue have held that it is not required). In addition, the videotape offered by the plaintiff evidences an altercation from which it would have been reasonable for the jury to infer that Sabir was injured. Furthermore, in this case, there is undisputed evidence that the plaintiff suffered a physical injury that required medical attention, thus eliminating the difficulty of proving mental distress that exists in many cases where the plaintiffs do not suffer physical injuries as a result of the deprivations of their constitutional rights.

The jury's award of compensatory damages for the federal civil rights violations is also within the reasonable range based on awards in other cases of a similar nature. See, e.g., Bender v. City of New York, 78 F.3d 787, 792, 794 (2d Cir.1996) (reversing a judgment of $300,700 in compensatory damages and ordering a new trial unless the plaintiff agreed to remit $150,000 in a case arising out of a false arrest and malicious prosecution, where plaintiff's injuries consisted essentially of a minor blow to the mouth resulting in no bruise or cut, 24 hours confinement, the pendency of criminal charges for six months prior to their dismissal, and some "nightmares and occasional loss of sleep"); Gardner v. Federated Dep't Stores, 907 F.2d 1348, 1354 (2d Cir.1990) (ordering a new trial in diversity case under New York law unless the plaintiff agrees to remit the portion of a damages award over $50,000 for deprivation of liberty, and finding that an award of $150,000 for past pain and suffering where plaintiff was falsely arrested and held in custody for approximately eight hours, sustaining an injury to the jaw and emotional distress); O'Neill v. Krzeminski, 839 F.2d at 13 (upholding a compensatory award of $80,000 in civil rights action for use of excessive force based on lost wages and certain injuries even though there was no permanent damage); Sulkowska v. City of New York, 129 F. Supp. 2d 274, 308-09 (S.D.N.Y.2001) (concluding that a § 1983 plaintiff who was humiliated during a false arrest and subsequent detention and suffered from post-traumatic distress disorder with accompanying symptoms of depression, fear and disturbed sleep was entitled to $275,000 for her emotional injuries, including past and future pain and suffering).

The jury also awarded a total of $125,000 in punitive damages under § 1983. Punitive damages may be awarded under § 1983 to deter or punish constitutional violations. Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S. 247, 257 n. 11, 98 S. Ct. 1042, 55 L. Ed. 2d 252 (1978) (citing cases). Neither remittitur nor a new trial is appropriate for this award here also. To determine whether a jury award of punitive damages is excessive and whether it shocks the judicial conscience, courts consider several factors, including the degree of reprehensibility of the defendants' misconduct, the disparity between the plaintiff's compensatory damages and his punitive damages award, and the difference between this remedy and the civil penalties authorized or imposed in comparable cases. BMW of N. Am., Inc. v. Gore, 517 U.S. 559, 574-75, 116 S. Ct. 1589, 134 L. Ed. 2d 809 (1996); Oliver, 85 F.Supp.2d at 115. Courts should not, however, "balance the number of high and low awards and reject the verdict in the instant case if the number of the lower awards is greater. Rather, [courts] inquire whether the ... verdict is within reasonable range." Ismail v. Cohen, 899 F.2d 183, 188 (2d Cir.1990).

In this case, there was sufficient evidence indicating that the defendants' conduct justified the amount of punitive damages awarded, particularly in light of the video introduced at trial that corroborated some of the plaintiff's testimony regarding the events at the casino. In addition, the ratio between the punitive damages and the compensatory damages awarded is reasonable. "In most cases, the ratio will be within a constitutionally acceptable range, and remittitur will not be justified on this basis." Gore, 517 U.S. at 583, 116 S. Ct. 1589. The ratio in this case — 1.66 to 1 — is within an acceptable range. See, e.g., Blackledge v. Carlone, 126 F. Supp. 2d 224, 229 (D.Conn.2001) (holding that a 40 to 1 ratio in an excessive use of force case did not justify remittitur). Further, the punitive damages award is not so high as to be markedly different from penalties imposed in comparable cases. The need for this analysis arises from the concern that when penalties for comparable misconduct are much lighter than a punitive damages award, the tortfeasor may have lacked fair notice that the wrongful conduct could entail such a substantial award. Blackledge, 126 F.Supp.2d at 230. The defendants' training gave them notice as to the gravity of misconduct under color of their official authority as well as notice that such misconduct could hinder their careers, see id., and thus they had fair notice of the penalties involved. The award of punitive damages in this case, therefore, satisfies the three prongs required by the Supreme Court to support a substantial punitive damages award.

The Second Circuit also has identified several "aggravating factors" from the Supreme Court's decision in Gore, "that are ``associated with particularly reprehensible conduct' and contribute to the sense that ``some wrongs are more blameworthy than others.'" Lee v. Edwards, 101 F.3d 805, 809 (2d Cir.1996) (quoting Gore, 517 U.S. at 575, 116 S. Ct. 1589). These aggravating factors include whether a defendant's conduct was violent or presented a threat of violence. Id. In this case, there is no dispute that the defendants used violence to subdue Sabir.

In addition, compared to awards approved in similar cases, the award here is not so high as to "shock the judicial conscience." Many § 1983 cases in this Circuit have resulted in punitive damages awards in excess of the amount at issue here. See, e.g., Ismail, 899 F.2d at 187 (reinstating a jury award of $150,000 in punitive damages in § 1983 case against a police officer alleging battery, false arrest, malicious prosecution and abuse of process claims); Hughes v. Patrolmen's Benevolent Ass'n, 850 F.2d 876, 880-81 (2d Cir. 1988) (holding that in a section 1983 case a punitive damage award of $350,000 was merited for intentional infliction of emotional distress); O'Neill, 839 F.2d at 13 (holding that a $185,000 punitive damage assessment against two police officers was not excessive even though the plaintiff suffered no permanent physical disability in light of the beating that two of the officers gave plaintiff about the face when he was handcuffed and unable to defend himself while a third officer watched).

The defendants also argue that the punitive damages award is even "[m]ore egregious" as to Lisee, because he is no longer employed in law enforcement and, therefore, the award will have no deterrent effect. The jury, however, may have partly intended to punish Lisee for violating Mr. Sabir's rights to deter others in law enforcement from similar conduct. See Lee v. Edwards, 101 F.3d at 809; see also Zarcone, 572 F.2d at 56 (rejecting similar argument where a judge against whom various civil rights violations were charged under § 1983 had been removed from office because "punitive damages are meant to deter others as well as the particular defendant").

Defendants also argue that punitive damages awards against public employees are normally much lower due to the well-known fact that public salaries are low. A review of the caselaw indicates that this is not the case. See, e.g., Hughes, 850 F.2d at 880-81 (upholding a punitive damage award of $175,000 against a police officer); O'Neill, 839 F.2d at 13 (2d Cir. 1988) (upholding a $185,000 punitive damage assessment against two police officers). Relatedly, the defendants also argue that an award should not be so high as to result in financial ruin of a defendant. The defendants also mention that the State has not made a commitment to indemnify the defendants.^[8] The defendants have not provided any evidence of their financial resources, and under these circumstances they cannot make their financial situation a part of this motion. See, e.g., Zarcone, 572 F.2d at 56 (stating that "the decided cases and sound principle require that a defendant carry the burden of showing his modest means facts peculiarly within his power if he wants this considered in mitigation of damages").^[9]

2. Damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress

Connecticut law governs when assessing the evidence of emotional distress to determine whether it is adequate to support the verdict. Gagne v. Town of Enfield, 734 F.2d 902, 905 (2d Cir.1984) (applying Connecticut law to a punitive damages award on a state law claim). Under Connecticut law, "a court may grant remittitur only when the jury verdict is excessive as a ``matter of law.'" Imbrogno v. Chamberlin, 89 F.3d 87, 90 (2d Cir.1996) (citing Peck v. Jacquemin, 196 Conn. 53, 491 A.2d 1043, 1052 (1985) and Mauro v. Yale-New Haven Hosp., 31 Conn.App. 584, 627 A.2d 443, 446 (1993)). "The size of the verdict alone does not determine whether it is excessive. The only practical test to apply ... is whether the award falls somewhere within the necessarily uncertain limits of just damages or whether the size of the verdict so shocks the sense of justice as to compel the conclusion that the jury was influenced by partiality, prejudice, mistake or corruption." Schanzer v. United Technologies Corp., 120 F. Supp. 2d 200, 217 (D.Conn.2000) (quoting Gaudio v. Griffin Health Services Corp., 249 Conn. 523, 733 A.2d 197 (1999) (internal citations omitted)). Further, "the Court is required to view plaintiff's evidence in support of his claim for compensatory damages due to emotional distress in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, in determining whether the verdict returned was reasonably supported thereby." Id. (citing Oakes v. New England Dairies, 219 Conn. 1, 591 A.2d 1261 (1991)).

The compensatory damages award against Trooper Fusaro for intentional infliction of emotional distress also is neither excessive nor unsupported by the evidence. Sabir testified as to the emotional injuries he endured as a result of Trooper Fusaro's actions, including the recurring fear he suffers. He testified that, since the incident, every time he sees a police officer he is affected. He also testified that he suffers from horrible, recurring nightmares and sleeplessness as a result of this incident. Because there was more than sufficient evidence that the mental distress damages awarded by the jury were supported by the evidence and not excessive, the defendants' arguments to the contrary fail.

The defendants also maintain that the compensatory damage awards are duplicative. However, "a jury's award is not duplicative simply because it allocates damages under two distinct causes of action." Indu Craft, Inc. v. Bank of Baroda, 47 F.3d 490, 497 (2d Cir.1995). Moreover, the Second Circuit has noted that, "the tort of inflicting emotional distress in the context of a false arrest or a malicious prosecution possibly involves some component of damages over and above the damages that may be awarded for these police misconduct torts." Bender v. City of New York, 78 F.3d 787 (2d Cir.1996). The jury also was clearly instructed that a plaintiff may not recover twice for the same injury and "any damage award for the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim must be limited to the component of injury you find sustained for this claim, if any, over and above whatever emotional distress you have already compensated for in your awards for other claims."

For these reasons, the punitive damages awarded by the jury were fully supported by the evidence and are reasonable, and thus the defendants' motion for a new trial or for remittitur is DENIED.

V. Plaintiffs' Motions for Attorneys' Fees [Docs. ## 170, 193, 200]

The plaintiff in this case, as the prevailing party, has requested attorneys' fees in the amount of $313,637.50 and costs in the amount of $8,016.25. Although the defendants do not appear to contest that Sabir is a prevailing party, they argue that the amounts of attorneys' fees and costs that he requests are based on excessive hours billed and hourly rates that do not reflect the prevailing rates for attorneys in this judicial district.

Courts may award attorney's fees to prevailing parties in actions brought under § 1983. 42 U.S.C. § 1988; see also Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 433, 103 S. Ct. 1933, 76 L. Ed. 2d 40 (1983) (holding that the time "reasonably expended on the litigation" is compensable under section 1988). "The most useful starting point for determining the amount of a reasonable fee is the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate," or the lodestar figure. Id. at 433, 103 S. Ct. 1933; see also Weyant v. Okst, 198 F.3d 311, 316 (2d Cir.1999). Where a particular case involves several legal theories relating to a common core of underlying facts, a court need not analyze fees on a claim-by-claim basis, but instead "should focus on the significance of the overall relief obtained by the plaintiff in relation to the hours reasonably expended on the litigation." Hensley, 461 U.S. at 435, 103 S. Ct. 1933. When a plaintiff obtains "excellent results" his attorney should recover a fully compensatory fee and "the fee award should not be reduced simply because the plaintiff failed to prevail on every contention raised in the lawsuit." Id. Where a plaintiff has achieved only limited success, however, reliance upon the lodestar calculation without some sort of reduction based on the degree of success achieved may result in an excessive fee award. Id. at 436, 103 S. Ct. 1933.

"[T]he extent of a plaintiff's success is a crucial factor in determining the amount of an award of attorney's fees under 42 U.S.C. Section 1988." Id. at 433, 103 S. Ct. 1933; see also Farrar v. Hobby, 506 U.S. 103, 114, 113 S. Ct. 566, 121 L. Ed. 2d 494 (1992); LeBlanc-Sternberg v. Fletcher, 143 F.3d 748, 760 (2d Cir.1998). Nevertheless, "[w]hile the degree of success is the most critical factor in determining the reasonableness of a fee award, ... [the Second Circuit] consistently [has] resisted a strict proportionality requirement in civil rights cases." Lunday v. City of Albany, 42 F.3d 131, 134-35 (2d Cir.1994) (per curiam) (citations and internal quotations omitted). In addition, "[w]here the documentation of hours is inadequate, the district court may reduce the award accordingly." Hensley, 461 U.S. at 433, 103 S. Ct. 1933. The following factors set forth in Hensley also may be considered:

(1) the time and labor required; (2) the novelty and difficulty of the questions; (3) the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly; (4) the preclusion of employment by the attorney due to acceptance of the case; (5) the customary fee; (6) whether the fee is fixed or contingent; (7) time limitations imposed by the client or the circumstances; (8) the amount involved and the results obtained; (9) the experience, reputation, and ability of the attorneys; (10) the "undesirability" of the case; (11) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; and (12) awards in similar cases.

Orchano v. Advanced Recovery, Inc., 107 F.3d 94, 97, 98 (2d Cir.1997) (citation omitted).

The defendants make several arguments as to why the plaintiff did not obtain "excellent results" and thus why he should not recover a fee award in the amount claimed. First, they contend that 8.85 hours billed by Attorney Walsh should not be compensated because they are attributable to legal work related to the plaintiff's complaint to the Connecticut Claims Commission. "[S]ome of the services performed before a lawsuit is formally commenced by the filing of a complaint are performed ``on the litigation'" and thus are compensable. Webb v. Board of Education, 471 U.S. 234, 243, 105 S. Ct. 1923, 85 L. Ed. 2d 233 (1985) (quoting Hensley, 461 U.S. at 433, 103 S. Ct. 1933) (referring to "obvious examples" such as "drafting initial pleadings and the work associated with the development of the theory of the case"). However, given that § 1983 does not require plaintiffs to exhaust administrative remedies, time spent in pre-litigation administrative hearings is not compensable because such hearings cannot be considered an "action or proceeding" to enforce § 1983. Id. at 241, 105 S. Ct. 1923. Therefore, these hours are not compensable.^[10]

Second, the defendants maintain that the plaintiff may not recover for 26 hours of work performed by Attorney Walsh and 3.75 hours of work performed by Attorney Henderson on claims involving former casino co-defendants, and 30 hours of work performed by Attorney Walsh and 6.75 hours of work pertaining to hospital co-defendants. In addition to the three state troopers, the original complaint in this case sought damages against Armondo Sebastian, Raymond Brown, Robert Mertz and Michael Carlini of the Foxwoods Resort and Casino, as well as Foxwoods itself; Officer Warren Knight and the City of Norwich; Tammy Gromko and Lee Rummel of the William Backus Hospital, as well as the hospital itself; the State of Connecticut; and Commissioner of Public Safety Kenneth Kirschner. It included allegations under the Fourth, Fifth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, including excessive force, false arrest, malicious prosecution, breach of contract, conspiracy, equal protection and negligent, as well as state law claims of false arrest, false imprisonment, assault, battery, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and gross negligence. The plaintiff explains that he has not requested compensation for any of the hours expended on claims involving defendants who have been dismissed from the case.

The time records indicate that the plaintiff generally has not included hours spent on the claims against the dismissed defendants. He contends, however, that depositions of several of those individuals such as Armondo Sebastian and Tammy Gromko were necessary to gather information regarding the state trooper defendants and thus he has included certain hours expended on such items. The Court concludes that these depositions, as well as other related time entries, were reasonably related to the claims against the state troopers. Accordingly, the fee award will not be reduced on this basis.

Third, the defendants argue that Attorneys Walsh and Henderson billed excessively and duplicatively 86.25 hours for researching and writing their opposition to the state police defendants' motion to dismiss, 14 hours for researching the indemnification issue, 39 hours for researching and writing the opposition for judgment as a matter of law, 57.5 hours for opposing the motion for a new trial or remittitur, and 41.50 hours for drafting a motion in support the plaintiff's request for attorneys' fees; and that Attorney Walsh billed excessively for the 31 hours spent preparing for oral arguments on the post-trial motions and writing his proposed opinion requested by the Court. The defendants suggest that the fee award for these hours should be reduced by 50 percent as a result of their excessive nature. Where there is evidence that counsel is seeking compensation for excessive hours, "the court has the discretion to simply deduct a reasonable percentage of the number of hours claimed ``as a practical means of trimming fat from a fee application.'" Kirsch v. Fleet Street, Ltd., 148 F.3d 149, 173 (2d Cir.1998) (citing New York Ass'n of Retarded Children v. Carey, 711 F.2d 1136, 1146 (2d Cir.1983)). The Court concludes that the overall hours billed by plaintiff's counsel are excessive and it is appropriate to reduce the total fee award by 10 percent.^[11]

Fourth, the defendants maintain that the hourly rates set forth by the plaintiff are excessive. An attorney's hourly rate under § 1988 should be calculated according to those prevailing in the community for similar services by attorneys of reasonably comparable skill, experience and reputation. See Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 895 & n. 11, 104 S. Ct. 1541, 79 L. Ed. 2d 891 (1984); Cruz v. Local Union No. 3, 34 F.3d at 1159. The Court finds that the hourly rates charged by Sabir's counsel are excessive in comparison to rates charged for similar services of attorneys of reasonably comparable skill, experience, and reputation in Connecticut. The Court concludes that a rate of $275 an hour is reasonable for Attorney Walsh's work on this case. In reaching this conclusion, the Court has considered the affidavits submitted by Attorney Walsh, the number of years he has been in practice, as well as the fact that his firm does not specialize in the field of civil rights litigation. As to Attorney Henderson, the Court finds that an hourly rate of $250 is reasonable, taking into account the same factors listed above. Finally, the Court concludes that an hourly rate of $200 is reasonable for Attorney Sklarz's work on this case, again considering the foregoing factors, as well as the fact that he has practiced law for no more than three years.^[12]

Finally, the defendants also maintain that the plaintiff's attorneys are seeking a double recovery by pursuing attorneys' fees and costs under § 1988 because they are entitled to roughly $60,000 as a result of their contingency fee arrangement with the plaintiff. It is clear that "[s]hould a fee agreement provide less than a reasonable fee calculated in this manner, the defendant should nevertheless be required to pay the higher amount" and that "[t]he attorney's fee provided for in a contingent-fee agreement is not a ceiling upon the fees recoverable under § 1988." Blanchard v. Bergeron, 489 U.S. 87, 93, 96, 109 S. Ct. 939, 103 L. Ed. 2d 67 (1989). Accordingly, this Court rejects defendants' contention that Sabir cannot recover attorneys' fees because his attorneys will be compensated pursuant to a contingent fee arrangement. Moreover, the plaintiffs attorneys have represented that should the Court award fees in excess of one-third of the plaintiff's damages, they will accept the court-awarded fees rather than take anything from the plaintiff's damages award. Thus, the Court may award attorneys' fees in this case, regardless of the private fee arrangement between Sabir and his attorneys, though the existence of a contingent fee arrangement is one factor that it may consider when fashioning a fee award. See Orchano, 107 F.3d at 97.^[13]

Considering all of the relevant factors set forth above, the Court awards attorney's fees in the amount of $217,002.37 and costs in the amount of $8016.25.^[14]

VI. Conclusion

Based on the foregoing, Defendants' Motion for New Trial and/or Remittitur [Doc. ## 176-1, 176-2] is DENIED; Defendants' Motion for Judgment After Trial [Doc. # 178] is DENIED; Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys' Fees [Doc. # 170] is GRANTED, AS MODIFIED; Plaintiff's Supplemental Motion for Attorneys' Fees [Doc. # 193] is GRANTED, AS MODIFIED; and Plaintiff's Second Supplemental Motion for Attorneys' Fees [Doc. # 200] is GRANTED, AS MODIFIED.

NOTES

[1] Sabir originally brought the action against several other defendants discussed later in this opinion, but at the time of trial, these defendants were no longer part of the case as a result of the Court's rulings on several motions to dismiss, as well as certain settlement agreements.

[2] Valenti stated that she did not recall whether such a conversation took place.

[3] The defendants renewed their Rule 50(a) motion at the close of the evidence, thereby entitling them to pursue this motion. See Pahuta v. Massey-Ferguson, Inc., 170 F.3d 125, 129 (2d Cir.1999).

[4] Sabir also was charged with Failure to Submit Fingerprints as a result of the incidents related to the events at the casino, but given the grounds on which the defendants have moved for judgment as a matter of law, it does not appear that this charge is at issue in their motion.

[5] The videotape introduced at trial, which was taken from a fixed location inside the casino and recorded the events discussed here, did not contain an audio portion, and it was not possible to see Sabir's facial expressions.

[6] Again, given the lack of an audio portion on the videotape, it is not possible to hear when Detective Jowett stated that Sabir was under arrest, if at all.

[7] The defendants do not appear to contest the jury's decision to award punitive damages on the state law count.

[8] In the pre-trial conference, counsel for the defendants indicated that historically the State has indemnified police officers for 1983 damage awards. Counsel further indicated that the State would indemnify the officers in this case, unless something "untoward" happened at trial, such as the officers lying under oath.

[9] Defendants also make the argument that the punitive damages award in this case "undermines Connecticut's prohibition of resistance to arrests as provided for in C.G.S. section 53a-23" because it "would encourage citizens to resist an otherwise lawful arrest." The jury determined, however, that the defendants falsely arrested Mr. Sabir and used excessive force against him. Thus, the punitive damages award does not encourage citizens to resist a lawful arrest. Nor does it, as defendants contend, "deter police officers from making necessary and appropriate decisions in the public interest."

[10] The Court also notes that plaintiffs need not seek permission from the Claims Commissioner to bring a claim alleging an intentional tort. See Cates v. State of Connecticut Dep't of Corrections, No. 3:98CV2232(SRU), 2000 WL 502622, * 14 (D.Conn. Apr. 13, 2000).

[11] The defendants also argue that the plaintiff is not entitled to attorneys' fees for work relating to the state law claims, but has not provided any indication that the plaintiff has included in his billing records any entries that can solely be attributed to the state law claims against the state troopers. Accordingly, the Court will not reduce the fee award on this basis.

[12] The defendants do not contest the $75 hourly rate charged for legal assistant Cindy Gamarra, and the Court concludes that this rate is reasonable.

[13] The Court notes that the plaintiff also is entitled to attorneys' fees and costs as a result of the jury's decision to award punitive damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress. The defendants have not contested this issue.

[14] The defendants did not dispute the costs calculated by the plaintiff.