A Garden City resident has filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court alleging violations of his constitutional rights stemming from a traffic stop and subsequent legal proceedings.
The lawsuit filed by plaintiff Eric Owens names several individuals as defendants, including Justice Allen Mathers, Prosecutor C. Gomoka, and Greg Cutrone, and alleges that their actions collectively resulted in civil rights violations under federal and state law. He also references an encounter with Officer John Russell of the Garden City Police Department, whom he alleges followed him for over six miles before initiating a traffic stop on January 7, 2023.
The complaint alleges that the traffic stop led to citations Owens contends were fabricated. He further claims that subsequent interactions with court officials resulted in delays, denial of due process, and lack of access to discovery materials related to his case. Owens states that he filed motions for dismissal and a speedy trial, but alleges that his requests were not adequately addressed.
Owens seeks a total of $310 million in damages, broken down as $10 million from Cutrone, $150 million from Mathers, and $150 million from Gomoka. He also seeks attorney fees and other relief as the court sees fit. According to the complaint, Owens alleges emotional distress and financial harm arising from the legal process.
Owens is representing himself in this matter. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under case number 2:25-cv-02399-GRB-ST and is heard by U.S. District Judge Gary R. Brown and Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione.