New Haven Sues EastCoastin For 'Illegal' Sept. 2021 Biker Rally

NEW HAVEN, CT — The city of New Haven is suing Eastcoastin and its agents Gabriel Canestri, Jr. and Sal Fusco for what it says was an "illegal" September 2021 motorcycle rally. EastCoastin did not have city permits to hold the event, which drew thousands to the Annex.

The city seeks to recoup its costs for the event as part of its suit filed last month.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, Assistant Corporation Counsel Blake Sullivan, police Chief Karl Jacobson, Ward 17 Alder Sal Punzo made the announcement Tuesday at City Hall.

"Despite repeated warnings by the City that the event would not be allowed, the Eastcoastin defendants spent months planning and promoting the rally, ultimately drawing more than 5,000 people from all over the country to what was widely known to be an illegal event," a news release from Elicker reads.

Elicker and city officials said at a Tuesday news briefing that, "Providing the necessary police protection and coordination to keep the gathering under control and maintain public safety cost the City over $90,000."

With this lawsuit, the City is seeking to recoup those costs and to ensure that the defendants are held accountable for their actions and not allowed to profit from an illegal event at the expense of city taxpayers and public safety.

“When you put New Haven residents’ public safety at risk through flagrant, reckless, and unlawful acts like Eastcoastin did with their illegal motorcycle rally," Elicker said, "The City of New Haven will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

Here's the full Superior Court complaint:

City of New Haven vs. Canes... by Ellyn Santiago

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Providing the necessary police protection and coordination to keep the rally under control and maintain public safety cost the city tens of thousands of dollars," he said. The lawsuit hopes to "recoup those costs."

Specifically, the lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees from the defendants pursuant to their violation of two state statutes and related city ordinances. The first, known as the Public Amusements statute, enables municipalities to charge for costs incurred for crowd control and police protection to ensure public safety for both the event attendees and the greater public at public events. The New Haven Police Department incurred over $80,000 in costs for personnel, Elicker said.

The second, known as the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, provides municipalities with the ability to seek additional damages arising from the defendants’ illegal business practices.

The city seeks punitive damages, attorney fees, and compensation for costs incurred by other city departments, including over $12,000 to the Department of Parks & Public Works, the Department of Traffic, Transportation & Parking, and other city departments to provide for crowd control and public safety.

On the day of the rally, Canestri was arrested by the New Haven Police Department, prosecuted by the State’s Attorney’s office, and was found guilty of reckless endangerment by a Superior Court judge.

His sentence "did not include restitution for the significant costs incurred by the City and the NHPD, the suit reads.

"This new lawsuit seeks to ensure that Mr. Canestri, along with the other defendants named in the lawsuit, are held accountable for their actions, and that they are not allowed to profit from an illegal rally held at the tremendous expense of city taxpayers and public safety," Elicker was quoted as saying.

Read more here >>>

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