After enduring three years of the distressing legal motions that have come with their pursuit of justice in his name, the family of Michael Brown has likely seen their last day in court concerning his 2014 killing. It was reported on Tuesday, June 20 that the family had settled their lawsuit against the city of Ferguson and Officer Darren Wilson.
While the amount federal Judge E. Richard Webber accepted went undisclosed due to his decision to seal the terms of the agreement, Webber called the payout "fair and reasonable." What is known is that in the original suit Brown's family filed they were requesting more than $75,000 in damages. Ferguson's insurance allows up to $3 million be granted in such suits, but according to sources in contact with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the family will receive less than the maximum allowed. "Disclosure of the terms of the settlement agreement could jeopardize the safety of individuals involved in this matter, whether as witnesses, parties, or investigators. The public policy to consider records open is outweighed by the adverse impact to Plaintiffs," the judge said.
Brown's family filed the suit in 2015. In it, they name Ferguson, Wilson and the police chief overseeing the city's force at the time, Thomas Jackson, whom they charge with wrongful death, excessive force, evidence tampering, and excessive stops and use of force against Black citizens.
Source: nydailynews.com
