Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Jersey City cop in off-duty Bayonne crash

Published: Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 3:37 PM
Updated: Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 3:54 PM

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal

It may take more than a year to resolve a wrongful death lawsuit, filed against Jersey City Police Officer Rick Garrison, seeking damages related to a seven-vehicle crash in Bayonne that claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman.

Garrison was off-duty on Feb. 20, 2011 when his vehicle struck a number of parked and moving vehicles over the course of several blocks before slamming into the rear of the SUV in which Helen Antczak was a passenger and her daughter, Joanne Antczak, was behind the wheel.

Five people, including Garrison, were taken to Bayonne Medical Center for treatment after the crashes on Avenue E. Garrison fractured several vertebrae. Helen Antczak died.

In November, a grand jury returned a "no-bill" decision, meaning that criminal charges would not be filed against Garrison, a Jamesburg resident. Following that decision, Garrison's lawyer at the time, John Young, said "What occurred was due to a medical condition that was unknown prior to that time."

He would not go into further detail.

Full JJ piece?.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... eath_lawsuit_filed_a.html

I guess his "medical condition" didn't interfere with his ability to steer his car? I guess the legs and head stopped working but the arms were fine? Get used to ramen noodle officer garrison.

I saw this coming?.looks like WE the taxpayers will get screwed again. I am still trying to figure out how WE the taxpayers had to pay out $175K to a Hudson County Sheriffs officer for a beating he got from a few off duty JC police officers that included Garrison. The cops were off duty!!

Jersey City cop Garrison faces lawsuit from family of victim in fatal Bayonne crash, lawyer says

Published: Friday, November 25, 2011, 2:06 PM Updated: Friday, November 25, 2011, 4:49 PM
By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal

A multi-million dollar civil suit is expected to be filed against Jersey City Police Officer Rick Garrison, who crashed his vehicle into six others in an accident in Bayonne that claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman on Feb. 20.

"There absolutely will be a lawsuit field, I'm just not sure who the defendants will be, if it will just be Mr. Garrison or others," said attorney John Molinari, who is representing the estate of Helen Antczak.

Molinari said the notice of tort he filed with Jersey City alleges the police department "knew or should have known of the medical history of this police officer."

full JJ piece..

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... y_cop_garrison_faces.html


Buy the JJ..good for you and good for me.

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Either the Fire Department or another municipality they have an "arrangement" with.

Quote: Love the pic. Kudos Br6dR

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Objectively the cop has:
1. Been officially disciplined this January for hiding cars keys outside a Healy fundraiser. Not a major thing but does show lack of judgement IMO.
2. Been a Patron of now-deceased physician Joseph Colao. This doctor frequently faked diagnoses and prescribed drugs that were filled by a Brooklyn Pharmacy. The pharmacy's records show officer Garrison recieved prescriptions for testosterone and HCG, a testosterone-boosting hormone.
3. Among off-duty officers sued in connection with an alleged assault on a Hudson County Sheriff's Officer outside a bar near Lincoln Park. Jersey City paid out $175,000 to settle the lawsuit.

Frank_M, you are an optimist.
Being pessimistic on these issues, I think the only information we will get in the next couple of months is that Officer Garrison will retire with a fat pension. I further predict he will show up somewhere else in the region and be a future proud double dipper. I hope (and think) he will be a bit too toxic for Hudson County.

1. he shouldnt have been a cop based on whatever this mysterious medical condition is that causes him to black out and drive at twice the legal speed limit

2. he shouldn't have been a cop based on the fact that he was taking testosterone and human growth hormone

3. he shouldnt have been a cop because the pharmacy in brooklyn where all the JC cops got their illegal steroids was run by the mafia.

4. Hudson County should not have had anything to do with the case and should have referred it to another county

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If I buy that medical problem explanation then, as others have stated here, the guy should not be a cop.

The whole thing seems really weird to me, which tells me I don?t know enough, but there was always a possibility that no criminal act was committed. Important details of the accident are completely unknown to us, and unlike the other two law officers in recent JC history who killed people with their vehicles, Kevin Freibott and Martin Abreu (who owe their victims a pair of suicides), Garrison wasn?t intoxicated. The defense indicated ?extensive medical records? which may indeed provide a rational explanation. However, if they do, it would raise the question why he was permitted to hold a driving license with that knowledge.

In all likelihood more information will eventually become known to us, so hey, let?s be objective out there.

The jury no doubt got the message that if they didn't vote the right way this cop and his roid buddies would come after them.

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My understanding is that grand juries almost always return what the prosecutor wants, giving the system the benefit of the doubt. They were probably told that if he's convicted he'd lose his benefits and pension. They got the message.

Watch this guy go on disability like our wonderful new Council person at large Viola Richardson. Then they'll find a county job for him.

Simply shocking and disgusting. I guess the secrecy of the proceedings helps protect the prosecutor from having to explain himself? Shame on you DeFaZio.

In Jersey City/Hudson County cops get away with anything and everything including murder. They need a special Federal prosecutor to look at the nexus of politicians-prosecutors-police and law breaking.

Jersey City politicians and the Hudson County prosecutors office have been silent if not enablers based on their comments to the press regarding the number of JCPD using human growth hormone and steroids. Hopefully the Feds who are looking in to the steroid scandal will also turn up other interesting evidence that will lead to the uncovering of things like.....prosecutors purposely losing grand jury hearings for JCPD involved in highly public scandals.

That really sucks. I hope that the family goes for a civil suit and wins tons of cash.

Now we know why they beat innocent people up. Above the law. Best job in the world for a saddist.

Well I'm glad this is all behind him, now we can get on with our lives.

He will not be prosecuted.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... ty_cop_garrison_wont.html

Grand jury vote on whether to indict Jersey City cop being kept secret

Published: Wednesday, November 02, 2011, 10:10 AM Updated: Wednesday, November 02, 2011, 10:10 AM

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal


Prosecutors Tuesday completed their grand jury presentation in the case of off-duty Jersey City Police Officer Rick Garrison, who was in a seven-vehicle crash in Bayonne that claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman in February.

Grand jury proceedings are secret and the result of Tuesday's grand jury vote has not yet been made public.

Hudson County prosecutor Edward DeFazio said Tuesday that Garrison and his attorney will be officially informed of the outcome, and ?in the interest of fairness the public will also be informed.?

After the Feb. 20 crash on Avenue E that claimed the life of Helen Antczak, Garrison was issued nine tickets for offenses including reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, failing to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, and failing to observe a traffic signal, officials said.

No criminal charges had been filed against Garrison prior to the grand jury presentation. The grand jury had the opportunity to indict him on any of a range of criminal offenses. The grand jury also had the option of filing no charges at all.

In August, Garrison?s attorney, John Young, said he had turned over Garrison?s extensive medical records to prosecutors. Young would not characterize the records, but indicated they would play a role in Garrison?s defense if he were indicted.

On the day of the crash, Garrison was traveling south on Avenue E at about 12:30 p.m. when his vehicle struck a number of parked and moving vehicles over the course of several blocks before slamming into the rear of the SUV in which Antczak was a passenger, at 36th Street.

A total of five people, including Garrison, were taken to Bayonne Medical Center for treatment of injuries suffered in the collisions, officials said. Young said Garrison fractured several vertebrae in the crash.

Garrison has been on sick leave since the crash.

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index ... y_police_officer_tur.html

Jersey City police officer turns over medical records in investigation of fatal seven-vehicle crash

Published: Friday, August 05, 2011, 3:01 AM

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal


The attorney for the off-duty Jersey City police officer involved in a seven-vehicle crash in Bayonne that claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman said yesterday that he has turned over extensive medical records to prosecutors.

After the Feb. 20 crash on Avenue E that claimed the life of Helen Antczak of Bayonne, officer Rick Garrison was issued nine tickets for offenses including reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, failing to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, and failing to observe a traffic signal, officials said.

?A day doesn?t go by that he doesn?t think of what happened that day and the tragedy that resulted,? Garrison?s attorney, John Young of Jersey City, said yesterday.

?He is someone that has spent his career trying to protect people and to be in involved in this tragedy is absolutely devastating,? Young added about his client, who is also a Bayonne resident. ?In no way whatsoever does he minimize in any way this tragedy.?

Young said turning over Garrison?s medical records has been an ongoing process and the documents have been provided voluntarily at the request of prosecutors.

He would not characterize what the medical records suggest, but said he expects the facts of the case will be presented to a grand jury in the next few months.

On the day of the crash, Garrison was traveling south on Avenue E at about 12:30 p.m. when his vehicle struck a number of parked and moving vehicles before slamming into the rear of the SUV in which Antczak was a passenger and her daughter was behind the wheel, officials said. Antczak died of trauma suffered in the collision at 36th Street.

A total of five people, including Garrison, were taken to Bayonne Medical Center for treatment of injuries suffered in the collisions that spanned several blocks, officials said. Antczak was pronounced dead at the hospital.

No criminal charges have been filed against Garrison, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D?Andrea said yesterday.

?The grand jury can either decline to take any action, or they can consider any number of criminal charges,? D?Andrea said. ?The investigation has been proceeding, and when the state has marshaled all of the evidence it feels it can muster, we will present the matter to a grand jury.?

Young said Garrison fractured several vertebrae in the crash and he has been on paid medical leave since then.

Any recent news on this?

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I knew Domenick from Hamilton Park. Very nice guy and I doubt he would ever behave like Garrison did.



http://jclist.com/modules/newbb/viewt ... e=&topic_id=5582&forum=10

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Speaking of cover-up what ever happened to the 2 guys that beat up that cop to death on the 4th of July 10 years ago ? The cop and his family were having a 4th of July BBQ in the Greenville section and his neighbors were having a loud party so the cop went over to say something to them and got hit over the head with a lead pipe.

Dragging their feet or cover up in the works?

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... eckless_driving_tick.html

2 more tickets, a grand jury investigation and he conveniently can't remember a single detail.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index ... e_full_of_innuendoes.html


A medical condition? And yet he waltzed out of the hospital 48 hours later? Shouldn't he be hospitalized for observation if they suspect seizures or something similar? Or is Decicco simply reaching?

This is not a dead issue. Demonstration in the planning stages. Stay tuned.

I love his convenient case of amnesia. If there was an underlying mysterious medical condition then why was he allowed to stroll out of the hospital in 2 days? No doubt this guy was hopped up on something and now they're desperately trying to protect his pension. I guess this Rainman is not "an excellent driver".

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most likely, no. Cops pay into a fund or pool that gets tapped if they need representation. Not sure if it's thorugh union or PBA.