CENTRAL ISLIP, NEW YORK — On January 22, 2025, at about 5:00, a jury of five men and two women, after three weeks of trial, rendered a finding in favor of Barbara Russo against her prior employer Tuttnauer, USA (an Israeli-based corporation with operations in Hauppauge, New York) in the sex discrimination case, finding that she was subjected to a hostile work environment and awarding her $2,500,000.00 in compensatory damages and $5,000,000.00 in punitive damages.

The jury determined that Tuttnauer, its then-CFO Kevin Connors and then-Senior Vice President Robert Basile contributed to and fostered a hostile work environment. The case was conducted in the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Central Islip and the presiding judge was the Hon. Joan Azrack.

Ms. Russo, who served that company for some 26 years, was subjected to a toxic work environment that allowed sexist and other inappropriate emails to be sent on a regular basis and did nothing to stop this behavior. Ms. Russo was subjected to comments, abusive sexual language, unwelcome touching and sexual assault by a supervisor.

Witnesses for the Plaintiff included a former Vice President, the former secretary of Defendant Basile, workers who experienced and witnessed the wrongful treatment of Ms. Russo and other women, as well as her son and husband. The expert witness psychologist was Dr. Darlene Powell Garlington, who explained the serious damage done to Ms. Russo, including confirming the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.   

For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.

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About The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington

The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a well-respected litigation firm with an office in Hempstead, Long Island. Our focus is primarily in the area of civil rights, voting rights, employment discrimination, police misconduct, personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death and criminal law. However, the Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a full-service law firm handling matters in numerous areas of law and providing a wide range of services from contract formation to litigation and trial practice. It is the largest African-American-owned law firm on Long Island and has been designated by the New York Law Journal as one of the top minority-owned firms in the state of New York. For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.

Donna Cipley of Levittown, who was falsely arrested on March 12, 2019 by Nassau County Police and charged with Felony Assault on a police officer and resisting arrest, had those charges dismissed.

She sued the officers responsible for her false arrest and, on December 6, 2024, a Federal Jury of seven men and one woman awarded Ms. Cipley $2 million for false arrest and punitive damages against two Nassau County Detectives.

“This is a long-awaited vindication of this grandmother’s rights. Finally, after attacking her in her own home, parading her before cameras in handcuffs and charging her with crimes she did not commit, she has seen just a small bit of justice,” said Frederick K. Brewington, her attorney.

The trial lasted one week and was tried in the Federal District Court in Central Islip by Mr. Brewington and Albert D. Manuel, Esq., before the Hon. Joan Azrack.

For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.

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 About The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington

The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a well-respected litigation firm with an office in Hempstead, Long Island. Our focus is primarily in the area of civil rights, voting rights, employment discrimination, police misconduct, personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death and criminal law. However, the Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a full-service law firm handling matters in numerous areas of law and providing a wide range of services from contract formation to litigation and trial practice. It is the largest African-American-owned law firm on Long Island and has been designated by the New York Law Journal as one of the top minority-owned firms in the state of New York. For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.

Jurors Said Robert Besedin Was Subjected to Excessive Force, Battery, Malicious Prosecution and Abuse of Process

A federal jury awarded $2.36 million to a 79-year-old Baldwin resident and Air Force veteran who was physically abused by two Nassau County police officers on February 7, 2017 at his home.

On February 7, 2017 at approximately 7:10 p.m., Robert Besedin was peacefully and lawfully standing on the porch of his Baldwin home speaking with officers. While they spoke, the officers then attacked Mr. Besedin, rushed him, grabbed him by his neck, hurled him down four steps and body slammed him to the ground. POLICE OFFICER STEPHEN BECKWITH AND POLICE OFFICER DOMINICK MANTOVANI then further abused Mr. Besedin and wrongfully and abusively cuffed him, and then slammed him down on his back and buttock on the concrete steps of his own home. Although Mr. Besedin complied with the officers’ request(s), the officers continued to abuse Mr. Besedin.

To add insult to the real injuries suffered, POLICE OFFICER STEPHEN BECKWITH AND POLICE OFFICER DOMINICK MANTOVANI wrote and gave false statements and testimony and subjected Mr. Besedin to a malicious abuse of the criminal process, which took nearly a year. On January 29, 2018, the felony charge of assault on a police officer and the other charges were dismissed. What is clear is that the police lied and provided false information in furtherance of an official investigation into the incident.

Mr. Besedin sustained multiple injuries including, but not limited to, being subjected to the criminal justice system, hitting his head, being knocked unconscious, traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, lacerations and cuts, injury to his left elbow and arms, injury to his wrists, injury to his shoulders, injury to his back and being manhandled during his unlawful abuse. He also suffered scarring, loss of blood, physical pain, embarrassment, mental pain and suffering, incarceration, property damage, damage to name and reputation, court fees, legal fees and costs, and medical costs/fees.

On February 7, 2018, Mr. Besedin filed a federal lawsuit against the County of Nassau, Nassau County Police Department and OFFICERS STEPHEN BECKWITH AND DOMINICK MANTOVANI.

On October 30, 2024, a jury found that OFFICER DOMINICK MANTOVANI engaged in excessive force, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process and OFFICER STEPHEN BECKWITH engaged in excessive force and malicious prosecution. They also awarded Mr. Besedin $1.6 million in punitive damages and an additional $760,000 in compensatory damages.

“This is a vindication for Mr. Besedin who did not deserve to be abused by people who should have wanted to protect him,” said Frederick K. Brewington of The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington. “Nassau County failed to discipline or investigate the actions of these officers and, therefore, there was no accountability for the violence that mr. Besedin was subjected to.”

For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.

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About The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington

The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a well-respected litigation firm with an office in Hempstead, Long Island. Our focus is primarily in the area of civil rights, voting rights, employment discrimination, police misconduct, personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death and criminal law. However, the Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a full-service law firm handling matters in numerous areas of law and providing a wide range of services from contract formation to litigation and trial practice. It is the largest African-American-owned law firm on Long Island and has been designated by the New York Law Journal as one of the top minority-owned firms in the state of New York. For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.