Father Sues in NYC Subway Chokehold Case

The father of Jordan Neely has filed a lawsuit against Daniel Penny as a jury deliberates in the high-profile New York City subway chokehold trial. Andre Zachary accuses Penny of negligence, assault, and battery, claiming these actions led to the death of his 30-year-old son on May 1, 2023. Zachary's lawsuit, filed in the state's Supreme Court, seeks damages exceeding the jurisdictional limits of lower courts. Penny, a Marine veteran, placed Neely in a chokehold after Neely, who was homeless, started shouting on a subway train. Penny's attorney, Steven Raiser, described the lawsuit as a distraction, emphasizing the potential consequences of the ongoing criminal trial.

Jurors in the trial have been reviewing extensive evidence, including testimony from Dr. Cynthia Harris, a city medical examiner. Penny pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. His defense challenges the medical examiner's conclusion that the chokehold killed Neely, introducing testimony from a pathologist who suggested Neely's death resulted from synthetic marijuana use and other factors. The trial's outcome could have broader implications, as the case highlights ongoing debates over race, public safety, and mental health. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)