Jury Awards Family Of Suffolk Man $35M In Wrongful Death Suit

BAY SHORE, NY — A federal jury awarded $35 million on Thursday to the family of a Bay Shore man who died after he was beaten by Suffolk police following a 2008 traffic stop, an attorney confirmed with Patch.

The family of Kenny Lazo, 24, of Bay Shore, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Suffolk County and its police department in 2009, arguing the police failed to seek medical treatment for Lazo after he was beaten.

After a three-week trial in Central Islip, the received $13.5 million in compensatory damages and $21.5 million in punitive damages, said Frederick K. Brewington, the family's attorney said

At the verdict, the jury provided the following statement.

"Upon review of the evidence, we, the jury, feel strongly that the policies and practices of the Suffolk County Police Dept. should be better enforced to protect and serve the community," the statement read.

It continued to say:

"The failure to properly train, retrain and/or discipline officers directly led to this unfortunate situation. Our hope is that actionable change comes from this verdict."

Lazo's family waited 15 years to hear that statement and receive justice, Brewington said.

"This is a victory, but it is a bittersweet victory because it was occasioned by the loss of a loved one this should never have had to happen," he said.

On April 12, 2008, Lazo was arrested by police following a traffic stop near Southern State Parkway in Bay Shore, and had been under surveillance in his blue Cadillac because of suspected drug dealing.

After police pulled him over, Lazo elbowed one officer, reached for an officer’s gun, and tried to flee as they tackled him, Newsday reported.

The scuffle was so intense, one officer bit Lazo in the buttocks to try to subdue him, Lindemann said. They had to double handcuff him. Police found 40 grams of cocaine and $2,000 on Lazo, Lindemann said.

The lawyer also claimed that Lazo, who was 5-foot-6 and weighed 250 pounds, suffered a heart attack after he resisted police attempts to subdue him.

But Frederick Brewington, who represents Lazo's family, claims he died due to police brutality, Lazo and was allegedly, “beaten to death” with heavy flashlights.

"Suffolk County's got to change," Brewington said. "Police accountability, after we've seen the likes of George Floyd and all those that preceded those that have followed — accountability and policing is not a bad word, it's a good word."

Lazo's family originally sought $55 million in damages and $100 million in punitive damages in the lawsuit.

Brewington emphasized to Patch that the family's case was not anti-police, but pro-community.

"This family was steadfast and they persevered, and have at least seen a quantum of justice," he said.

Suffolk County intends to appeal the case, a representative for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone confirmed with Patch.

But the county "misses the point" if it does appeal, Brewington said.

"Their response should be: 'We're going to look at this very carefully to see what changes need to be made, so that they are no more Kenny Lazos'," he said. "Instead, they fight against the need for responsibility for what happened and the need for change."

He also went onto to say that communities of color in Suffolk County, especially, are most affected by a lack of police accountability.

"The Black and brown communities of Long Island deserve better," Brewington said. "People in the communities deserve better, rather than just simply saying we're going to fight against you. They should be upholding civil rights, not disputing."