Newark and NJ Transit Settle Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The city and transit agency agreed to pay $2.5 million for a 2020 death occurring in police custody.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Newark and NJ Transit Settle Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Newark and NJ Transit reached a $2.5 million settlement regarding the June 15, 2020, death of 73-year-old Juan Restrepo in police custody. The legal agreement follows a case where officers mistakenly suspected the man of drunken driving.

Why it matters

The settlement addresses claims arising after Restrepo died of a heart attack caused by dangerous blood sugar levels while officers believed he was intoxicated. Although a grand jury cleared officers of criminal wrongdoing in September 2022, the financial resolution concludes the civil litigation.

Newark agreed to pay $1.75 million and NJ Transit will pay $750,000 to resolve the claims. A grand jury previously reviewed the incident in September 2022 and found no criminal wrongdoing by the responding officers.

The players

Juan Restrepo

He was a 73-year-old man who served as a sexton at Christ Church in Summit for 20 years.

Newark

The city government acted as a primary defendant in the wrongful death litigation.

NJ Transit

The state-owned public transportation agency operated the police precinct at Newark Penn Station where the arrest occurred.

The details

Juan Restrepo was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, though medical analysis later confirmed he had no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of his death. Officers transported him to a Newark Penn Station precinct, carrying him through the concourse before he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Juan Restrepo was arrested and died in custody on June 15, 2020.
A grand jury cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing in September 2022.
The settlement was reached on the cusp of a trial in June 2026.
Legal filings disclosed the terms of the settlement in September 2026.

Legal Context

This settlement follows the precedent set by the 2022 grand jury decision clearing officers of criminal wrongdoing regarding the incident. It highlights the distinction between the outcome of criminal investigations and the resolution of civil liability claims in police custody cases.

The resolution of this case settles the civil litigation involving city and transit agency resources. Residents can monitor public disclosures of legal expenditures as the city processes these payment terms.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of medical screening during custodial arrests to prevent tragic outcomes linked to undiagnosed health conditions. The substantial financial settlement serves as a final legal resolution for the family of a long-time community member.