An appeals court has thrown out a verdict that awarded $5 million to a former New York City police officer who accidentally shot himself in the knee.

Anderson Alexander had sued the city, claiming he accidentally shot himself in 2002 while leaning back in a faulty chair in Brooklyn's 73rd Precinct. He retired from the force after undergoing several surgeries.

A jury in 2008 awarded him $5 million in damages. It found the city was negligent despite testimony that nothing broke on the chair.

A Supreme Court justice declined to throw out the verdict. But last week, the Appellate Division overruled the judge, saying there was no evidence to show the city knew the chair was defective.

Alexander's lawyer, Matthew Naparty, said his client is evaluating his options.