Settlements

On November 15, 2021, twenty-four-year-old Carter and her mother, Kimberly Jones-Mbuyi, called the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) after Carter’s ex-husband, James Leggett, allegedly violated an order of protection by texting Carter and appearing outside her relative’s apartment with a gun. According to the lawsuit, officers told Carter and her mother that they could not arrest Leggett. Instead, Officer Jason Hees and another officer escorted the women back to Carter’s home, conducted a perimeter sweep, and then left. Leggett arrived within minutes and shot Carter, who later died from her injuries. An internal investigation conducted by the MNPD’s Office of Professional Accountability concluded that the officers should have performed a lethality assessment and verbally offered shelter and counseling to Carter. Hees was suspended for two days, but the second officer involved, who was in training, was not disciplined. In addition to the monetary settlement, the MNPD finalized two policy changes: requiring officers to activate their body-worn cameras when providing information about shelter and counseling to domestic violence victims, and requiring officers to issue a “be on the lookout” alert for individuals suspected of violating an order of protection.

Fifty protesters and journalists filed a lawsuit against the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Department for excessive force during BLM protests in summer 2020, and the King County Superior Court of Washington approved a $10 million monetary payment to the plaintiffs. The protesters represented in this case experienced a range of debilitating injuries, including cardiac arrest, a seizure and coma, a partially blown-off finger, permanent hearing loss, broken bones, concussions, and wounds. The plaintiffs also asked the City for non-monetary provisions, such as ordering the City to make a full accounting of the changes that have occurred because of the protests. In a related development, the Seattle Office of Inspector General’s final report on the summer 2020 protests put forth twenty-two recommendations for the Seattle Police Department to improve communication with media and legal observers, improve crowd management, increase police accountability, and more. 

The lawsuit stemmed from an incident where Strong was later convicted of assaulting a police officer.

On February 9, 2019, the assistant manager of a Taco Bell called the police to report a Mercedes stopped in the drive-thru. The responding officers reported that McCoy had a gun on his lap in his car. They tried to retrieve the gun “without disturbing him” but learned that the car door was locked. The officers then parked cars in front and behind the Mercedes to pin McCoy in. McCoy woke up when the second car pulled up, and the police asked him to put his hands up. The police reported that McCoy reached for his gun, and six officers fired fifty-five rounds of bullets at McCoy in 3.5 seconds. Thirty-eight shots hit McCoy, and one-third of them were fatal chest wounds.

The lawsuit, filed in 2021, accused a Providence Police Department officer of pursuing Gonsalves by car and ordering others to “box [Gonsalves] in.” The lawsuit asserted that police “used excessive and unsafe force” to stop Gonsalves, which resulted in the crash that left Gonsalves with a traumatic brain injury and unable to walk.

Feldmann was not participating in the protest and was walking back to his car after meeting with a friend when an officer in a passing truck shot him with the pepper ball, according to a lawsuit filed in January 2022. Doctors determined in 2020 that his eye was damaged beyond repair and would eventually need to be removed, according to the lawsuit. Feldmann’s attorney identified Denver Police Officer Diego Archuleta as the officer who shot Feldmann, although a Denver Police Department investigation into who among the officers in the truck fired the pepper ball was inconclusive. Archuleta was disciplined for other actions taken during the 2020 protests and resigned in 2022 after pleading guilty to a felony charge of attempted strangulation.

Maynard, a twenty-four-year-old off-duty detention officer, was killed when a carjacker fleeing from police struck her vehicle during a high-speed chase. Maynard’s estate sued the City, alleging gross negligence for continuing the pursuit despite the risks to the public. The chase involved officers following an armed suspect, who ran fourteen red lights and numerous stop signs while driving at high speeds through downtown Durham. Attorneys for the estate argued that police showed reckless disregard for public safety, citing a recording where one officer expressed hope that the suspect would crash. The City initially moved for summary judgment, asserting governmental immunity, but a judge denied the motion. The parties settled the case shortly after Court of Appeals mediation, with the City admitting no liability. The primary beneficiary of the settlement is Maynard’s young daughter.

In September 2022, an unmarked police vehicle followed Jackson as he drove home, and officers confronted him in his driveway over an expired vehicle registration. Jackson informed the officers that he had just undergone prostate surgery and presented a doctor’s note, but the officers forcefully detained him. The lawsuit claimed that officers kneed him in the groin multiple times, twisted his arm, and left him with bruised wrists from tight handcuffs. Jackson later required emergency medical treatment after urinating blood for two days. While the City did not admit liability, Jackson’s attorney said the payment represented acknowledgment of the harm done and urged reform to prevent such mistreatment by the police.

Police took James, who reportedly had “an altered mental status,” into custody twice in one day before Officer Robert Sasek allegedly drove her to the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility around midnight and left her there without shoes, water, or a phone. While walking along the road in the dark, she was struck by a passing vehicle and suffered life-threatening internal injuries. The civil rights lawsuit accused the City and officers of a “state-created danger” and deliberate indifference. James spent over a month in the hospital, underwent multiple surgeries, and will likely require lifelong medical care, including the use of a colostomy bag. The suit described the officer’s decision to abandon James as a “heartless” act that “would warrant criminal charges if they had abandoned a dog or cat.”

In February 2019, officers found Wells naked in the street. Officers tased and apprehended Wells, and he later died. His family sued the Police Department for wrongful death and excessive force.

On October 4, 2021, Craig called 911 for help, stating his wife was threatening him with a knife. When officers entered the home, Craig’s son told them that his mother had the knife. Although Officer Alberto Covarrubias and his partner had allegedly been informed at least four times that Craig was the victim of domestic violence, Covarrubias shot Craig twice and did not attempt to subdue the wife.

In November 2023, a judge approved a $5 million settlement against Funderburg and the City of Detroit, paid to Woodards’ daughter, Melissa Connelly. Prior to the incident, Funderburg had a poor driving record: she had lost her license twice and also hit someone else when she ran a red light. 

The officers, represented by Lawyers for Civil Rights and WilmerHale, alleged that the test was unreliable and disproportionately impacted Black individuals due to their hair texture and grooming products, which can cause false positives. The lawsuit, filed nearly two decades before the settlement, challenged the City’s continued use of the test even after being informed of a less-discriminatory alternative. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit twice ruled in favor of the officers on key issues, leading to a six-day trial before a District Court judge and eventual mediation. The settlement marked the end of what lawyers called “a long, ugly chapter in Boston’s history.”

As Maier waited at a red light near Fayette and Caroline streets, a bullet fired by police entered her car’s windshield. Shrapnel, glass, and other debris struck Maier. Police had been pursuing Tyrone Banks, a man suspected of a prior attack on officers, when they fired dozens of shots at his vehicle and ultimately killed him. Maier suffered injuries to her neck, chest, and hand, including shattered nerves in her index finger. In 2022, she filed a gross negligence lawsuit against Sgt. Paul Sinchak and twelve other officers. Citing the risks of ongoing litigation, City officials recommended the settlement.

In 2019, Stapleton allegedly tackled Morrow to the ground without warning and arrested her during an incident related to her nephew. In return, Morrow filed a federal lawsuit against the officers involved. As part of the settlement, Morrow agreed to not make “disparaging or degrading remarks” about the City or Stapleton to the media or on the internet.

Police arrested Durand-McDonnell in July 2022 on a disorderly conduct charge amid protests over Leo’s role in efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade. The Hancock County district attorney later dismissed the charge, citing the need for caution when political speech is involved. Durand-McDonnell subsequently filed a federal lawsuit against Officer Kevin Edgecomb and Officer Nathan Formby, alleging false arrest and violation of his free speech rights. Details of the settlement were not publicly available as of early November 2023.

Along with the monetary settlement, the Council voted to adopt new policies addressing police use of force, deescalation, harassment, and discrimination. On April 1, 2019, Patrolman Dakota Dunklin stopped twenty-four-year-old Edwards for a traffic violation. According to police, Edwards was “non-compliant” during the encounter, and Dunklin shot him. Edwards was transported to a hospital in critical condition and was ultimately left paralyzed. Gunfire also entered a nearby home, injuring a resident who was taken to a hospital and later released by a doctor.

First, Michael McCormack filed suit against the Denver Police following an injury during an arrest in 2018. McCormack and his girlfriend were biking and decided to explore an area near where a homeless camp had been. Police said they were trespassing and told them to “relax” before Officer Vincent Talty wrenched and twisted McCormack’s arm, breaking his right wrist and tearing a ligament. Second, Darkina Taylor sued the Denver Police after Officer Jeffrey Teti allegedly drove a Police Department SUV in the wrong lane of traffic and hit her car as she attempted to swerve out of the way in 2022. 

In 2019, Officer Jamie Taft was texting and driving when she struck Eric Szakmary as he was crossing the street. Szakmary suffered serious injuries, including fractures to his vertebrae, and required several surgeries. Of the $557,000 total settlement, $387,000 was meant to settle Szakmary’s negligence claims, while the rest went to his wife, Kimberly, for her loss of companionship and household services from her husband related to his injuries.

According to attorneys for the family, officers handcuffed Dorado and left him face-down on the concrete for more than fifteen minutes as they applied pressure to his back. The Fulton County medical examiner ruled Dorado’s death a homicide, caused by prone restraint cardiac arrest, and also noted the presence of methamphetamine in his system. Although no lawsuit was formally filed, the City agreed to the settlement after receiving a legal notice from the family’s attorneys of their intent to sue. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation completed a review of the incident and submitted its findings to the Fulton County district attorney, while an internal Atlanta Police Department investigation remained ongoing as of October 2023. Three officers were placed on administrative duty pending the outcomes of the investigations.

The City agreed to pay $287,500 each to Lee Dotson and Charles Kuniken, both bystanders who were wrongfully arrested during separate incidents in 2019. Newberg arrested Dotson after falsely claiming that Dotson was interfering with another arrest. However, body camera footage contradicted Newberg’s account and showed Dotson calmly leaving the scene before Newberg pursued and grabbed him. This incident prompted a broader investigation into Newberg’s pattern of misconduct. Also in 2019, Kuniken asked officers whether a man they were arresting needed medical attention, which led Newberg to order his arrest. Newberg, who was initially indicted on thirty-two counts including assault and false imprisonment, resigned after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

In November 2019, Officer James Armstrong pursued a bank robbery suspect into a Chicago music school where Wilder was interning. Armstrong fired an AR-15 rifle and struck Wilder in the arm and abdomen. Wilder, who underwent eighteen surgeries and years of physical therapy, may never regain full use of his injured arm. Wilder’s lawsuit alleged that Armstrong acted recklessly. The City did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement, and Armstrong remained employed as of October 2023. Wilder, who continued to pursue a music career despite his injuries, expressed hope for broader police training reforms to prevent similar tragedies. In addition to the City’s settlement, Wilder also secured a $20 million settlement with one of the robbery suspects, though collection is unlikely.

During a 2020 protest following the murder of George Floyd, Denver Police Officer Adam Bolton fired a “kinetic impact projectile” at Strong and hit him. As a result, Strong lost his eye. The settlement raised Denver’s total payouts from lawsuits related to police to nearly $10 million in 2023.

The state attorney general began investigating Windsor after two police officers pepper-sprayed Caron Nazario, an Army lieutenant who is Black and Latino, during a traffic stop in December 2020. Nazario was awarded $3,685 in his own case.

Hood and Washington sued the City in 2016, alleging that Chicago Police detectives fabricated evidence and coerced testimony. Under the settlement, Hood, who spent twenty-two years in prison, received $17.5 million, while Washington, who served twelve years, received $7.5 million. The City’s insurance covered $5 million of the settlement amount. The large settlement came amid ongoing tensions about the financial and social costs of police-related lawsuits in Chicago, where the City approved $220 million in police settlements between January 2021 and September 2023. Mayor Brandon Johnson acknowledged the cost but emphasized the importance of constitutional policing and correcting past injustices.