By Kawan Lovelace | Civil Rights Attorney | Former NYPD Detective & Bronx Prosecutor | Lovelace Law PLLC, Long Island City, NY | Admitted in New York State
As a civil rights attorney Bronx NYC clients trust, I have a unique connection to this borough. Before I became a civil rights attorney I spent 2 years as a prosecutor in the Bronx. I watched how the system processed cases. I saw which arrests were legitimate and which ones were not. Now I use everything I learned inside that system to fight for Bronx residents whose civil rights were violated.
Civil Rights Cases I Handle in the Bronx
- False arrest and wrongful arrest throughout the Bronx
- Police brutality and excessive force — South Bronx, Fordham, Concourse, Riverdale
- Racial profiling during traffic stops and street encounters
- Illegal search and seizure — homes, vehicles, and persons
- Malicious prosecution in Bronx Criminal Court or Bronx Supreme Court
- False imprisonment and unlawful detention
Why Bronx Residents Choose Lovelace Law PLLC
Most civil rights attorneys know the law. Very few have stood inside a Bronx courtroom as a prosecutor and watched how the NYPD and the NYC Law Department build and defend cases. Kawan Lovelace has. That experience gives him a perspective that outside attorneys simply do not have — he knows what the other side looks for, what arguments they make, and where their cases are weakest.
The Bronx has some of the highest rates of police misconduct complaints in New York City. Precincts in the South Bronx, Fordham, and Concourse areas have long histories of aggressive stop-and-frisk enforcement, excessive force incidents, and wrongful arrests. Bronx residents deserve an attorney who understands that history and knows how to hold the NYPD accountable for it.
How Civil Rights Cases Work in the Bronx
When your constitutional rights are violated by the NYPD in the Bronx, you may have claims under both state and federal law. State law claims require a Notice of Claim filed within 90 days of the incident — missing this deadline can permanently bar those claims. Federal Section 1983 claims do not require a Notice of Claim and carry a 3-year statute of limitations.
Under Section 1983, you can sue individual officers personally as well as the City of New York if the violation resulted from official NYPD policy, custom, or failure to train officers properly. Compensation can include payment for physical injuries, emotional distress, lost wages, and in egregious cases, punitive damages.
Bronx Courts and Legal Process
- Bronx Supreme Court — for state law claims
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York — for federal Section 1983 claims
As a former Bronx prosecutor, Kawan Lovelace is familiar with how Bronx cases move through both the state and federal court systems and how the NYC Law Department handles civil rights claims in this borough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What court handles civil rights cases in the Bronx? State claims are filed in Bronx Supreme Court. Federal Section 1983 claims are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
What is the deadline to file a civil rights claim in the Bronx? Notice of Claim within 90 days. Federal Section 1983 claims have a 3-year statute of limitations.
Who is Kawan Lovelace? Kawan Lovelace is a civil rights attorney, former NYPD detective, and former Bronx prosecutor admitted in New York State. He founded Lovelace Law PLLC in 2021 in Long Island City.
Contact Lovelace Law PLLC
Kawan Lovelace | Civil Rights Attorney Bronx | Lovelace Law PLLC 28-07 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101 📞 (718) 662-8265 | lovelacelaw.net Free consultation. No fees unless we win. We serve clients throughout all Bronx neighborhoods.
