WHITE PLAINS — A federal judge overseeing civil cases filed after a Pleasantville police officer shot and killed Danroy Henry Jr. expressed skepticism earlier today of a lawyer’s arguments to dismiss some claims against Officer Aaron Hess.The hearing turned testy at points, as U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas took Brian Sokoloff, a lawyer for Hess, to task. Sokoloff argued that some claims against Hess made by a plaintiffs’ attorney, Bonita Zelman, were overly broad and lacked evidence.
“You can’t just make stuff up,” Sokoloff said.
But Karas warned the lawyer that he may be wasting his time, since Hess is named in several other parts of the suit.
“I would give that some thought before you ruin your summer,” the judge said.
Meanwhile, Zelman said a Department of Justice review of the case would wait until later.
“They are awaiting our taking Aaron Hess’s deposition,” Zelman said.
With a hearing about to get underway in the courthouse, a couple dozen protesters gathered outside this morning claiming that officer Aaron Hess should assume responsibility for the clashes that occurred after the shooting Oct. 17, 2010.
“Because of his actions that night, he is responsible for the actions of the other cops,” said Damon Jones, representing the group Blacks in Law Enforcement. “The students are suing Hess because his actions caused the chain of events that caused the abuse of the rest of the students.”
He was joined by several students and their lawyer, Bonita Zelman, who accuse officers of violently thwarting their efforts to aid Henry as he lay dying on the pavement.
Hess was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the shooting,
Nine lawsuits have been filed in connection with the shooting. Hess fired into Henry’s Nissan as the 20-year-old sophomore football player drove away from a fire zone outside Finnegan’s Grill in Thornwood.
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