Lewis v. Caputo

OPINION OF THE COURT

Renwick, J.

Defendant Caputo, an investigator for the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), appeals from a jury verdict in favor of plaintiff in an action for false arrest. The jury found defendant liable for an unlawful arrest stemming from plaintiffs possession of a stolen laptop computer. Defendant arrested plaintiff despite plaintiffs denial that he knew that the laptop he had bought from his coemployee — who turned out to be the computer thief — was stolen, and the inability of the thief — who was also plaintiffs accuser — to remember whether he had informed…