THE ALLEGATION THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEFENDANTS PRESENTED FALSE TESTIMONY DURING PLANTIFFS’ PROSECUTIONS STATED A VALID FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT DUE PROCESS VIOLATION CAUSE OF ACTION PURSUANT TO 42 USC 1983 (SECOND DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined plaintiffs’ cause of action alleging defendants violated 42 USC 1983 by presenting false testimony during the course of plaintiffs’ prosecution should not have been dismissed:

Supreme Court erred in granting that branch of the defendants’ motion which was for summary judgment dismissing so much of the cause of action alleging civil rights violations pursuant to 42 USC § 1983 as was predicated on a violation of the plaintiffs’ due process rights enumerated in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution insofar as asserted against the individual defendants. The plaintiffs’ allegations that, during the course of their prosecution, the individual defendants presented false testimony were governed by the Fourteenth Amendment … . Thus, contrary to the defendants’ contention, a due process analysis was appropriate … . Batista v City of Yonkers, 2025 NY Slip Op 06592, Second Dept 11-26-25

Practice Point: An allegation that law enforcement officers presented false testimony during plaintiffs’ prosecutions stated a 42 USC 1983 violation-of-due-process cause of action.