Clarification: Todd Maisel is the Vice President of the New York Press Photographers Association, which has no affiliation with the National Press Photographers Association. Maisel is also Director of the NPPA’s region 2, but he was not acting in any official capacity for the NPPA when he made the statement regarding Kerzic.
By Carlos Miller
After much speculation, especially by yours truly, the New York Press Photographers Association said that Duane Kerzic received a “five-figure settlement” from Amtrak as a result of his arrest for photographing trains in December.
The statement came from Todd Maisel, vice president of the NYPPA, who appeared on The Colbert Report with Kerzic earlier this month.
The quote appeared in Photo District News and the story was quickly picked up by War on Photography, who has a knack for getting these stories online as soon as they come out.
“The day after that segment aired, Duane Kerzic got a five-figure settlement,” Maisel says.
I called Kerzic Thursday afternoon for comment but he said, “no comment.”
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12 responses so far ↓
1 chris // Feb 19, 2009 at 3:12 PM
damn, sounds like i should quit my day job and just shoot penn station & subways until i get picked up for bogus charges!!
2 Maz // Feb 19, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Carlos,
Just a q, not sure if interested, but did you hear about the recent “Guilt Upon Accusation” protest against the New Zealand copyright law?
3 the bulldog // Feb 19, 2009 at 11:23 PM
i wish the cops had to pay him outta there pocket!
4 Carlos Miller // Feb 20, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Maz,
I had not heard about it until you mentioned it. It’s interesting.
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/090215-221046
5 Simon Jester // Feb 20, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Sheesh… Is Duane at least going to buy you a beer after all that?
6 Carlos Miller // Feb 20, 2009 at 2:19 PM
SJ,
Maybe one day.
7 gator // Mar 22, 2009 at 7:55 PM
your attidute determins your outcome, not your amendment rights
8 Joeseph Hopster // May 25, 2009 at 6:25 PM
I’ll drink to that.
Perhaps when the Amtrak bean counters get tired of paying out law suit settlements, they’ll get the message to the Amtrak police that it isn’t illegal to photograph trains.
9 DN // Jul 1, 2009 at 3:09 AM
Duane Kerzic is a putz even though he has a Right to take photos from a public location. He puts on this big ruckus about how his rights were violated, pushing the issue while on the street to the point that he was being arrogant. Yet won’t tell what his five figure award was? Your lame and someday, your going to push someones buttons a little to far and your luck is going to run out. Then, you can be a whole lot richer than five figures.
10 Charles // Jul 27, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Duane Kerzic should speak about his incident now that he won his award. I guess now that he got his little settlement he feels that he no longer feels the need to keep his one time supporters in the loop. Thanks Kerzic. The next time some selfish greedy loser like you screams abuse I will not be so quick to advocate for him/her. It was all about the money, huh? Douche Bag. I hope someone rips you off.
11 NYCPhotorights // Jul 27, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Charles: Should he speak about the incident EVEN IF the settlement has a nondisclosure clause in it?
I see nothing wrong with these settlements – in fact this case got Amtrak to clarify its photography rules. If every photographer filed a lawsuit each and every time he/she was detained even for a few minutes eventually the harassment would stop – five figures here – five figures there and it will eventually add up to real money for government agencies!
12 figMiNT // Jul 15, 2010 at 9:06 PM
Quite interesting.
Money talks, even in this case. I’m wondering if anyone else who is/was fighting for their First Amendment right can also be paid off.
The reason why I am supporting this fight for the right to photograph is because I hope that people are doing this for the right reason, and not just to get some hush money and retire early.
I’m surprised the Colbert Report segment isn’t even on Youtube.
Fight for what you believe in. But fight for the right reasons.
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