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Wheelchair-bound Brooklyn man received tens of thousands in settlements through alleged ‘shakedown’ lawsuits over access
NY Post ^ | 04/16/2025 | Isabel Vincent

Posted on 04/17/2025 12:25:30 PM PDT by DFG

A paraplegic man formerly living in NYCHA housing now has a swanky apartment and allegedly bought a Mercedes thanks to cash from settlements in lawsuits that defendants claim amount to a citywide “shakedown.”

Wheelchair-bound Jocelyn Pierre has filed 113 federal lawsuits against restaurants, pharmacies, clothing stores and even a charity in Brooklyn and Manhattan since 2018 for their alleged failures to provide handicap access to their establishments.

In each case, he cites the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), according to the filings reviewed by The Post. Once the lawsuits are filed, his lawyers move in and offer to settle if the businesses pay thousands of dollars, according to those who have received them.

All of Pierre’s lawsuits have been brought by Manhattan-based attorneys Bradly and Darren Marks and have targeted everyone from high-end clothing store Paul Stuart on Madison Avenue and a Duane Reade to Electric Lotus Tattoo, a tattoo studio in Fort Greene.

Lucali, the famed pizza restaurant in Carroll Gardens that is a favorite of celebrities including Taylor Swift, David Beckham and Beyonce and Jay-Z, was also sued.

The pizza joint is one of the few to fight back through the courts — most cases are settled and 35 are ongoing, according to court records.

Lucali has filed a lawsuit in response to the federal case against Pierre and his lawyers, who are brothers, in which it blasted the “malicious prosecution” and “fraudulent action” against the buzzy pizza parlor.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


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To: DFG
T H E M


21 posted on 04/17/2025 5:44:11 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endureth forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: DFG

The person bringing the law suit should only get court costs and the city medal of freedom for bringing attention to safety or regulation deficiencies. It should be a non-profit lawsuit if their is no injury involved.


22 posted on 04/17/2025 5:56:53 PM PDT by Jumper
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To: Myrddin

The people at Walmart who park in handicapped spaces and then spend two hours walking around the store in a complete circle from front to back twice....


23 posted on 04/17/2025 5:59:39 PM PDT by Jumper
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To: T. Rustin Noone

The true villain is the judiciary.


24 posted on 04/17/2025 6:03:01 PM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: T. Rustin Noone

Wow! $10.8 million

What a disgusting scumbag shyster conman. I HATE people like that.

We have a very nice parent supported preschool in our town. It’s in an old house from around 1920 with a big wraparound front porch. About 35 years ago when our kids were there, a husband and wife with a handicapped daughter made us install a wheelchair ramp for her. They got the ramp, but they never enrolled their daughter in our school. The ramp is still there.


25 posted on 04/17/2025 6:12:35 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (All we want is the same deportation policy that Martha's Vineyard has. That's it.)
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To: Albion Wilde
Glad you’re better, Myrddin!

Thanks. Last year was fairly unpleasant. I'm thankful to be back to working full time. Perhaps this Summer will be better.

26 posted on 04/17/2025 7:57:05 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Jumper
The people at Walmart who park in handicapped spaces and then spend two hours walking around the store in a complete circle from front to back twice....

Oddly, I didn't enter Walmart once in 2024. I'm finally able to complete a full circuit around Fred Meyer. It's bigger than Walmart. The cold Winter and hot Summer make Walmart and Fred Meyer attractive places to walk circuits comfortably. Our indoor mall has been purchased by Simon Properties. The new owner has a California style outdoor mall frame of mind. Our mall will be demolished. Penneys is leaving. Most of the local merchants will not survive. Instead, a Target will be built. It will be a large outdoor strip mall. There won't be much casual shopping store to store in comfort. It will be a dash from your car to the store and dash back to your car with purchases in whatever weather is present.

27 posted on 04/17/2025 8:07:45 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin

I’ve had several setbacks leg, arm, hernias. But everytime I get the temporary tag I was reminded. If I can drive and if I’m going to the store then saving 50 feet of walking is not needed.

I watch the placard people fight for the best handicapped spots to them walk into the store and walkabout.

Seriously folks, save the spots for the profoundly handicapped and not your inconvenient condition.


28 posted on 04/17/2025 9:05:42 PM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
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To: FreedomNotSafety
Seriously folks, save the spots for the profoundly handicapped and not your inconvenient condition.

When I first started using the walker, I was severely winded just pushing it 15 feet from my bed to the toilet. Getting out of the truck required an extra step stool. Pushing the walker 100 ft from truck to inside the bank was exhausting. I needed the placard then. As soon as I ditched the walker, I ditched the placard. Thankful to leave that behind.

I have a stretch goal in the next few weeks. Parking in front of the General Store at Old Faithful and walking to Morning Glory Pool and back. I've done it many times before when I was in good shape. It's a familiar path. I'm not sure I have the strength to scale the hill at the Artist Paint Pots. That is a worthwhile trip if you're strong and stable.

29 posted on 04/17/2025 9:32:40 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin

I know what you mean about walking the stores. When my back is hurting, I grab a cart and push it around which helps:)


30 posted on 04/18/2025 8:22:57 AM PDT by Jumper
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