$1.8 Million Settlement Against New York City For First Amendment Violations

May 12, 2023

 J. Pace Law, PLLC is proud to announce that New York City has paid $1.8 million to settle a Section 1983 lawsuit brought by Best Payphones, Inc.  Best Payphones was shut out of the payphone market and driven into bankruptcy after it refused to sign a City-imposed Franchise Agreement that required franchisees to forfeit their right to challenge the City’s payphone regulations in court. The lawsuit alleged that the waiver was an unconstitutional condition and that the City retaliated against Best Payphones for refusing to sign the waiver, in violation of its First Amendment rights.