NYC to enter 6-figure settlement in Mayor Eric Adams adviser Tim Pearson shelter brawl case

Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News on Mar 27, 2025

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NEW YORK — New York City is expected to issue a payout to settle a lawsuit brought by three security guards at a migrant shelter accusing Tim Pearson, a former top adviser to Mayor Eric Adams, of assaulting them during an infamous 2023 incident, the New York Daily News has learned.

It wasn’t immediately clear how large the taxpayer-funded settlement will be, but sources familiar with the matter said it’s in the six-figures. The sources said settlement paperwork is expected to be signed in coming days.

Spokespeople for the mayor’s office didn’t immediately return requests for comment. Attorneys for Pearson and the shelter guards didn’t immediately return requests for comment, either.

The three shelter guards, Terrence Rosenthal, Leesha Bell and Angelica Weldon, filed the suit in October against Pearson, Mayor Adams, the NYPD and two police officers, including Pearson’s assigned driver.

The suit alleged Pearson shoved several of the guards after they demanded he present identification upon showing up at a migrant shelter in Midtown Manhattan on Oct. 17, 2023 for a safety inspection. According to the suit, Pearson then directed the NYPD to have the guards unlawfully arrested and detained.

In a scathing report released last month, the city Department of Investigation found Pearson abused his authority and lied to police officers during and after the shelter scuffle.

Court records show that all the defendants in the case are being represented by the city Law Department — except for Pearson, who doesn’t have an attorney in that case yet.

The sources familiar with the settlement told The News that Pearson won’t actually be party to the settlement that the city and the guards are excepted to enter. That leaves the door open to the shelter guards continuing their case solely against Pearson, who resigned as Adams’ top public safety adviser last fall after being entangled in an unrelated federal corruption investigation.

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With Graham Rayman and Josephine Stratman