Decade-Long Legal Battle Ends: Hackensack Reaches $1.3M Settlement with Ex-Police Chief
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, The City of Hackensack has officially resolved a decade-long legal battle, agreeing to pay $1.3 million to former Police Chief Charles “Ken” Zisa to settle a high-stakes $30 million civil rights lawsuit.
The settlement puts an end to federal claims filed by Zisa in July 2017, in which he alleged that law enforcement officers and county officials conspired to ruin his reputation through fabricated evidence and false testimony.
Key Takeaways of the Settlement
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Total Settlement Amount: $1.3 Million
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Hackensack’s Share: $450,000 paid directly by the city
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Insurance Coverage: Selective Insurance Company of America pays $850,000 following mediation
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Original Claim: $29+ million civil rights lawsuit filed in federal court (July 2017)
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Background: Zisa was suspended in 2010 after a 34-year career; all criminal convictions were later overturned on appeal.
The Background: From 2008 Car Crash Accusations to Exoneration
Ken Zisa’s legal saga began in 2010 when he was suspended following accusations of misconduct related to a 2008 car accident involving his then-girlfriend. Prosecutors alleged Zisa removed her from the scene prior to a sobriety check and directed officers to falsify police reports.
Although Zisa was convicted in 2012 on five counts and placed on house arrest, all convictions were ultimately overturned on appeal, with the final criminal charge dismissed in August 2016. Following his full exoneration, Zisa received $2.8 million in back pay and legal fees before launching his federal civil rights lawsuit in 2017.
Zisa’s federal suit alleged that members of local law enforcement fabricated evidence surrounding both the 2008 accident and a separate 2004 incident involving his former girlfriend’s son.
City Leadership Speaks On Removing Financial Risk
The resolution lifts a severe financial liability off Hackensack taxpayers. Mayor Caseen Gaines criticized the previous municipal administration’s handling of the lawsuit, describing their refusal to settle earlier as risky political theater:
“For nearly a decade, the previous administration spared no expense to keep a $29 million lawsuit on the books because, for them, it was political theater, all while hiding the fact that their inaction left taxpayers holding 100% of the financial risk. They played a high-stakes poker game with our money, knowing that the facts of the case left the city holding a handful of bad cards with almost zero chance of winning in court.”
— Hackensack Mayor Caseen Gaines
How the $1.3 Million Settlement Is Funded
To cover the cost, Hackensack took legal action in April against its insurer, Selective Insurance Company of America, after the company initially refused to cover defense costs. Following court-mandated mediation, the insurance provider agreed to pay $850,000, leaving the city responsible for the remaining $450,000.
The Hackensack City Council officially approved the resolution on July 14.
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Hackensack NJ,Bergen County News,Police Lawsuit,Ken Zisa,Mayor Caseen Gaines,NJ Legal News,Civil Rights Lawsuit,Local Government
