Plaintiff wins $1,000 judgment against Franklin cops in police abuse case. Lawyer seeks $199,737.50 in fees


In October 2011, Patricia Roccisano filed a lawsuit after Franklin Township (Somerset County) Police Officer Robert Nemes allegedly used excessive force during a domestic dispute call to her home.  In December 2014, after a three and a half day trial, a jury found that Nemes had violated Roccisano's constitutional rights and awarded her $1,000 in compensatory damages.

On December 23, 2014, Jae H. Cho, Roccisano's attorney, filed a motion seeking $199,737.50 in attorney fees and expenses of $19,851.41 for a total of $219,588.91.  Cho is with the Cho Legal Group of Paterson Street, New Brunswick.

The fee application has been contested by Franklin Township's law firm, Dvorak & Associates of George Street, New Brunswick.  The matter will be heard by Federal Magistrate Freda L. Wolfson in the coming weeks.

Case documents are on-line here.  The case is captioned Patricia Roccisano and Kristi Kizmann v. Officers Robert Nemes and Elliot Smith, Federal Case No. 3:11-cv-06558.