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PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Robert Pinter. rrappa55@aol.com 212-674-3495 / 917-309-8224
James I. Meyerson. jimeyerson@yahoo.com 212-344-7474 x.129
Jeffrey Rothman. rothman.jeffrey@gmail.com 212-227-2980


For immediate release: Friday May 2, 2014

Robert Pinter signs $450,000 settlement with the City of New York in a federal civil rights
lawsuit stemming from his October 10, 2008 false arrest for prostitution.
New York, NY -- Today, Robert Pinter signed a $450,000 settlement with the City of New York in a federal civil rights
lawsuit stemming from his October 10, 2008 false arrest for prostitution outside the Blue Door, an East Village adult
video store. In 2008, Pinter and at least forty other men, mostly men of color who were all perceived to be gay, were
arrested for prostitution by NYPD male undercover vice squad officers at six Manhattan adult video stores. The
arrests were used by the City in an attempt to close the stores down. There was widespread outrage in New York
City's LGBT community over the legitimacy of these "false arrests". In December 2008, Pinter and other activists
formed the Campaign to Stop the False Arrests" to protest and put an end to the NYPD operation.

On September 11, 2009, Pinter filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the matter. The Bloomberg administration's stance
in the case remained 'no-pay', meaning the city refused to settle, and fought Pinter for nearly five years. After Mayor
de Blasio signaled his desire to resolve other Bloomberg-era cases involving policing issues, community support for
settling the Pinter case grew and was expressed in two letters, the first on February 21, 2014, by community and
religious leaders, and another on March 13, 2014, from the LGBT Caucus of the New York City Council. After the
City's second attempt at appeal to the Second Circuit was denied on April 2, 2014, the City became receptive to
settlement. At a conference on April 10, US District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin scheduled a trial for July 7, and
referred the parties to a settlement conference with US Magistrate Judge James C. Francis. On Friday April 25,
Robert Pinter and the City of New York agreed to the settlement.

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"This significant settlement is a remarkable victory for me personally, and a historic victory for the lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender community and beyond, for communities of color, for our Muslim brothers and sisters, for
the homeless and for others who suffer from the injustice of police misconduct in the City of New York. My thoughts
today are especially with the other forty men jailed in the "false arrests" operation. To these men, I hope you are
listening: This victory is for you.
"No one's "quality of life" was enhanced by the covert Bloomberg policies that propelled these arrests by Ray Kelly's
NYPD, and trampled on the rights and freedoms of men profiled as gay. The strong body of evidence of abusive
policing we established in the case is now part of the public record. We hope this settlement signifies Mayor de
Blasio's repudiation of his predecessor's tainted legacy and we encourage the current administration to continue the
work in communities across the city to restore a proper balance between law enforcement and our constitutionally
guaranteed rights.

"Finally, I am grateful for the love and support of my family and friends, community leaders, activists, elected officials
and all others who have stood with me over the past six years. A special thank you to my attorneys, Jimmy Meyerson
and Jeffrey Rothman, whose intellect and dedicated work have made this day possible. I am profoundly grateful for
this victory and I will continue to stand up, speak out and contribute to this fight."
Robert Pinter


"Mr. Pinter and many other gay men were treated abysmally by the New York City Police Department. The significant
settlement achieved by Mr. Pinter, for himself and for the larger LGBT community, serves as yet another example of
the fact that the policing policies and practices of the City of New York, under the Bloomberg / Kelly administration,
were an affront to basic notions of fairness and justice and to the rights of various communities in the City of New
York, among them the LGBT community. It is our great hope that the resolution of this case by the City of New York
under the new de Blasio / Bratton administration, is a reflection that the City of New York, under
the new administration, has moved beyond the past policies to a better and brighter future for all of the diverse
communities in the City of New York.

"We would also be remiss if we did not further note that, while this litigation has finally settled, there was no reason
why the prior administration forced the issue for so long and imposed undue burden and pain on Mr. Pinter when
early on it was so obvious that redress was appropriate. Not to have resolved this matter long ago not only imposed
unnecessary pain on Mr. Pinter, it reflected manifestly irresponsible public and fiscal policy by the Bloomberg / Kelly
administration, an irresponsibility which from our perspective derived from factors other than the public interest.
Hopefully, the de Blasio / Bratton administration will make the public interest its highest priority which includes,
among other things, doing the right thing as early as possible to redress a wrong that has transpired."


James I. Meyerson and Jeffrey Rothman, Robert Pinter's attorneys

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"PROP extends major kudos for the smart, strategic way Robert Pinter has fought the good fight. His legal victory
strikes a blow against wasteful and abusive policing and represents a step forward for just and effective law
enforcement. All concerned New Yorkers owe him a great debt of gratitude."
Robert Gangi, Director, Police Reform Organizing Project

"Robert Pinter's bravery, determination and outrage has led him on a long journey to obtain justice not just for
himself, but for all those other men who were afraid to speak up. I admire Robert and congratulate him for his
strength in leading the struggle on behalf of our community that has resulted in today's settlement. Thank you
Robert." NYC Council Member Rosie Mendez, Chair of the NYC Council LGBT Caucus

Robert Pinter is finally getting some justice for having been falsely arrested. Robert was entrapped by the NYPD....
for nothing else other than being gay. The fact that this is still being done forty five years after Stonewall makes it
even worse. This type of treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people must end."
NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst)

"Robert Pinters refusal to be intimidated into silence and his courage to speak up inspired a grassroots Campaign to
Stop the False Arrests, and brought to an end this shameful police practice. As he sought justice for himself and
others, Robert gained the respect of New Yorkers committed to civil rights, even as the City pursued him with its
powerful legal might. The lawsuit has ended but Robert Pinters story of courage, endurance and solidarity endures."
Brendan Fay, Campaign to Stop the False Arrests

The New York City Anti-Violence Project is thrilled that a settlement has been reached in Robert Pinter vs. the City of
New York. In 2012, AVP documented 78 instances of police misconduct, up from 8 in 2011. We know that LGBTQ
New Yorkers experience profiling and misconduct at the hands of the NYPD on a regular basis and this is a move in
the right direction. Shelby Chestnut , New York City Anti-Violence Project

"The LGBT community, and the City at large, owe a debt of gratitude to Robert Pinter for insisting that justice prevail.
I can only hope that the decision of the City to settle with Robert, along with the recent decisions around racial
profiling, will lead to policing efforts aimed at protecting all, not targeting particular populations."
The Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Metropolitan Community Church

"Robert suffered terribly from the injustice of his arrest and his treatment afterwards by the NYPD. Although I have
seen him grow enormously ... the price was high for him and it was often a hard and lonely time.... he has stood up
against injustice and hopefully has helped to spare others of this kind of blatantly unjust treatment in the future. In
solidarity and with high regard and best wishes." Andrew Velez, ACT UP New York
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February 21, 2014 Letter from community and religious leaders:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/218502584/Community-Letter-Regarding-Pinter-v-NYC-2-21-14
March 13, 2014 Letter from LGBT Caucus of the New York City Council:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/218502194/Council-LGBT-Caucus-Letter-Re-Pinter-vs-NYC
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Robert Pinter and his attorneys outside the United States Courthouse at 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY.
(l. to r.) James I. Meyerson, Robert Pinter, Jeffrey Rothman. (Photo by Brendan Fay)