Baltimore Reaches $6.4M Wrongful Death Settlement With Freddie Gray’s

However, cases that involve grave injury or death – and the possibility of civil rights violations – frequently wind up in federal court, where the cap does not apply.

The mayor insisted that the move is actually one that will protect the officers charged in the case. “This is because of the totally unique circumstances surrounding and following the death of Mr. Gray”.

For more on Freddie Gray’s family’s settlement, head on over to Vice.

A multimillion-dollar wrongful death settlement is rare in Baltimore. One settlement is going to cost the city more than all other combined police misconduct settlements together.

Billy Murphy, a lawyer for the Gray family, said at a news conference that he had been approached by the city about the deal.

“The defense is worried-not unreasonably-that a Baltimore City jury would either be inclined to find guilt or would be scared of the result if they voted not guilty”, said Andrew Levy.

The union’s president went on to say that the decision will further strain the already rocky relation between police officers and lawmakers in the city.

“To suggest that there is any reason to settle prior to the adjudication of the pending criminal cases is obscene”, Ryan said.

“The settlement has nothing whatsoever to do with the criminal proceedings now underway”, it read.

“What this does is to ensure that at the end of the criminal trial, it is the end for those officers”.

An autopsy report revealed Gray died of a “high-energy injury” that likely happened when the police van suddenly slowed down.

Hours after Gray’s funeral on April 27, riots broke out and the National Guard had to be called in to help restore order.

City officials said in a statement that the latest settlement neither resolves any factual disputes nor constitutes an admission of liability on local authorities, calling it “an important measure of closure to the family, the community, and the city”.

If approved, $2.8 million would be paid during current fiscal year and the remaining $3.6 million would be paid during the 2016 fiscal year, according to a release from the mayor’s office. His estate had sought $10 million in his death.

City leaders said they wanted to emphasize to citizens and business owners that regardless of the outcome, the city is prepared.

Gray, arrested after being pursued on foot, was handcuffed and restrained inside a police vehicle. Murphy believes it may begin next month.

He wouldn’t reveal the city’s starting offer, but said Baltimore agreed to pay $6.4 million after reviewing settlements in similar cases here and elsewhere.

This past July, New York City settled with the family of Eric Garner for $5.9 million.

City Solicitor George Nilson said the settlement “spares us from having the scab of April of this year being picked over and over and over for five or six years to come”.

University of Pittsburgh law professor David Harris, who specializes in police misconduct cases, talked about the settlement on Maryland’s News Now.