A lawsuit has been initiated by the widow of a respected NYPD officer, late Brian Simpson, who tragically lost his life while intervening in a robbery case a little over half a decade ago. The lawsuit was filed against the two guilty parties implicated in her husband’s untimely demise, who had been previously rewarded with a total sum of $367,500. Leanne Simpson, the wife of the fallen officer, lodged this lawsuit under the provision of the Son of Sam law. The plaintiffs, Jagger Freeman from Queens and Christopher Ransom from Brooklyn, had received compensations amounting to $243,900 and $123,600 respectively.
Freeman and Ransom were plaintiffs in a class-action case involving over 4,000 pretrial prisoners who alleged that they were unduly isolated and kept confined in cramped cells for a maximum duration of 23 hours daily. This was said to have occurred between March 2018 and June 2022 at the Rikers Island prison facilities and the now defunct Manhattan Detention Complex. A settlement agreement was reached with the city in April 2023, in which the prisoners were awarded a sum exceeding $53 million. Compensation sums were contingent upon the duration the claimants endured in such isolation.
The involvement of Freeman and Ransom in this class-action suit was not previously disclosed to the public. Vocalizing her sentiments on Wednesday, Simpson delineated the settlement as a veiled affront to her family, and more importantly, to the legacy of her late husband. On learning about this settlement, Simpson stated she was flabbergasted and deeply troubled. In her own words, she considered this settlement a figurative ‘slap’ to the faces of all victims, noting the irony of their offenders gaining undeserved rewards.
Her sentiments were further echoed, ‘It is utterly shocking that the culprits responsible for the loss of our loved ones are in fact being compensated. I personally feel I’ve lost absolutely everything while, paradoxically, they are reaping rewards.’ The Son of Sam law has been progressively widened in recent times to encapsulate any revenue, either received directly or indirectly, ensuing from an inmate’s felonious acts.
The fears and concerns pervading through the society regarding these compensations were expressed by a certain James, ‘I find it completely absurd that these convicts are at the receiving end of such large sums.’ Brian Simpson, the six-year-late detective, lost his life performing his duty in Queens on February 12, 2019. Simpson, who was just 42 at the time, was fatally shot in the chest while responding off duty to an attempted burglary at a T-Mobile outlet in Richmond Hill, Queens on February 19, 2019.
During the confrontation, police officers fired a total of 42 shots within a span of 11 seconds. Simpson, who had dedicated nearly two decades of his life to the service of the NYPD, was instantly killed in the maelstrom. NYPD Sgt. Matthew Gorman of Seaford, who was Simpson’s superior, was also shot in the left leg during the exchange of fire but fortunately managed to recuperate from his injuries.
Ransom, who entered the store brandishing a toy gun that closely resembled an actual pistol at police officers, later admitted guilt to charges of second-degree aggravated manslaughter and first-degree robbery. He was subsequently sentenced to a heavy thirty-three years of incarceration. He is presently serving his sentence at the Green Haven Correctional Facility located in Stormville, New York.
Meanwhile Freeman, found guilty of second-degree murder and robbery charges for his role as a lookout during the T-Mobile heist, was also heavily sentenced. He was handed a rigorous prison term of 30 years to life for his involvement in the crime. Currently, Freeman is serving his term at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility situated in Wallkill, New York.
The lawsuit initiated by Leanne Simpson aims to recover all monies awarded to Freeman and Ransom following their court settlement. There could potentially be expanded provisions to encompass additional compensatory and punitive damages. However, for Simpson the lawsuit goes beyond the financial dimensions. As Simpson stated in relation to the lawsuit, ‘It’s really not about the money for myself.’
In her own words, her pursuit seemed anchored more towards defending a principle, ‘It’s more about just the principle of it all.’ Her defiance and quest for justice underline her attempts to rewrite the unjust narratives related to victims of criminal activities and their offenders. The unfolding story underscores the complexity of the justice system, providing a sobering reminder of the ambiguities and contradictions that can sometimes ensue.
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