The settlement also has no bearing on the criminal case against the six Baltimore City police officers currently underway, city officials said. City attorney George Nilson, who was part of negotiations that began in June, said city officials were not concerned that the settlement could trigger a series of other payments. The Gray case was “unique,” he said, due to the number of officers involved and the use of a police car to transport a detainee. Councillor Carl Stokes said the city should have waited for more information before making a decision and should have been more transparent about the decision to reach an agreement. Former Mayor Sheila Dixon said the deal was a “smart decision” that would help Gray`s family “move forward with their lives so they can leave it behind.” City officials said the deal was the best solution for a city still working to recover from the unrest sparked by the 25-year-old`s death. Six police officers have been charged with Gray`s arrest and death and are awaiting trial. Some legal experts said that because of the attention the case received, they were not surprised that a deal was reached so quickly. New York officials also agreed on the Garner case before a complaint was filed. “This bylaw is only proposed because it is in the best interest of the city and avoids lengthy and costly litigation that would only make it harder for our city to heal and potentially cost taxpayers millions more in damages,” Rawlings-Blake said in a statement.
Former Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke said the deal, which is expected to be approved by the city`s spending committee on Wednesday, is a “very positive development for the city.” Few discussions are expected today in front of the five-member head of the family, which is controlled by the mayor. City Council Chair Bernard C. “Jack” Young and Auditor Joan M. Pratt – the two independent voices on the board – voted in support of the deal. The other members – George Nilson, the city`s attorney, and Rudy Chow, the city`s director of public works – are part of Rawlings-Blake`s administration. A $6.4 million settlement for Freddie Gray`s family was officially approved Wednesday by a finance committee in Baltimore, though the president of the police union complained the deal was “obscene.” Although the city does not admit responsibility, political and legal observers said the regulation could appease the anger of city dwellers if the criminal cases were taken to court. She said if she was Ryan, she would be grateful for the deal. She added that every official has the right to withdraw from the settlement and enjoy his or her chances in the civil court. A multi-million dollar comparison of illegal deaths is rare in Baltimore. Only six payments since 2011 have exceeded $200,000 in the more than 120 claims related to police brutality.
With all these payments, settlements came months or years after the dispute had been the subject of legal disputes. “This bylaw is only proposed because it is in the best interest of the city,” Rawlings-Blake said. The proposed settlement, including $2.8 million in the current fiscal year of the City of Baltimore and $3.6 million as of the 1st. Paid in July 2016, all civil actions relating to the City of Baltimore, the Baltimore Police Department, individual Baltimore police officers, and any other person or entity associated with the city that could be held responsible for Gray`s death would be resolved. “They tell us that this is in no way an admission of guilt on the part of the police,” Harris told the AP. “If I were an accused`s lawyer, I would now revise my (location) request to say that the settlement was reached to convince the jury that the officers did something wrong.” Billy Murphy, a lawyer for the Gray family, said the settlement “represents civil justice” and will have a calming effect on the city. He thanked on behalf of the family for the city`s efforts to equip all officers with body cameras. Rawlings-Blake said a pilot program will begin soon in the Gray neighborhood. While the amount is not unprecedented, the Gray settlement surpasses a $5.9 million illegal death that New York officials agreed to pay to the family of Eric Garner, who died last year after being strangled by Staten Island police. The amount proposed for Gray`s family is also higher than the $3.8 million payment to Los Angeles motorist Rodney King in 1994 — which would be about $6.2 million today. Richard Shipley, Gray`s father-in-law, said the family would not comment on the settlement. Young believes the settlement will prevent a lengthy court case and protect the city from a potential federal lawsuit where a payment would not be subject to a state cap, spokesman Lester Davis said.
Rawlings-Blake said Wednesday that the threat of a federal civil rights lawsuit prompted the city to contact lawyers for Gray`s family to begin settlement negotiations. Lawyers had said the family intended to file a complaint after the results of investigations by the Justice Department and others became known. “I understand that there are different views on the settlement, whether there should be an agreement and the amount of the agreement,” Pratt said in a statement. However, the mayor stressed that the by-law should not be considered an admission of guilt by city authorities. Six police officers involved in Gray`s arrest in April are being prosecuted for his death. An investigation by the Baltimore Sun last fall found that the city had spent $5.7 million on 102 court decisions and settlements over allegations of police misconduct since 2011; Since then, it has contributed more than $600,000. The investigation found that city dwellers – including a pregnant woman and an 87-year-old grandmother – were beaten, injured and injured in questionable arrests. The terms of the settlement between Freddie Gray`s family and the city reveal new details in the $6.4 million payment. But the Baltimore police union criticized the deal as “obscene,” saying there was no reason to reach an agreement before criminal cases were settled and before a civil case was filed. The city`s spending agency approved the bylaw Wednesday to avoid a civil lawsuit in federal court on the grounds that Gray`s constitutional rights were violated. “The purpose of the civilian colony is to bring an important measure of closure to the Gray family, the community and the city,” Rawlings-Blake said after the vote.
“And to avoid years of lengthy civil proceedings.” “The draft settlement agreement submitted to the Budget Estimates Committee should not be interpreted as a verdict on the guilt or innocence of the officials on trial,” the statement said. “This bylaw is only proposed because it is in the best interest of the city and avoids costly and protracted litigation that would only make it difficult for our city to heal and potentially cost several million additional damages. Pratt said the settlement would resolve the civil case and eliminate litigation costs for the city. “I want to express my sincere condolences to Freddie Gray`s family,” Rawlings-Blake said. “I hope this agreement between his family and friends will bring some degree of conclusion.” The settlement comes when Rawlings-Blake faces re-election from several well-known Democrats — a group that has also shown division in evaluating the settlement. “This agreement is in the best interest of protecting taxpayers,” Rawlings-Blake said after the agreement was signed by the Office of Budget Estimates, which oversees the city`s budget. Under the proposed bylaw, the city assumes full civil liability for the April arrest and death of Gray, 25, who suffered a spinal injury while in police custody. The city does not acknowledge any misconduct by police, according to a statement from Rawlings-Blake. Rawlings-Blake said in his statement that 2.8m of the settlement would be paid this year and $3.6 million in 2016. The payment is due to be formally approved on Wednesday by a panel of senior city officials who oversee public spending. Rawlings-Blake stressed that the settlement is in no way related to a criminal case involving the six police officers charged in connection with Gray`s death. The mayor`s office refused to answer questions about the bylaw, including why he was brought to the expenses commission before filing a civil lawsuit and how the payment amount was reached.
He said Gray`s family would not speak publicly about the settlement. “They just want to cry in peace,” he said. While the city admits no responsibility, political and legal observers said the settlement could appease residents` anger if criminal cases were brought to court. Nevertheless, not everyone was satisfied with the agreement. Baltimore police union leaders have criticized the city for reaching an agreement before the verdicts were rendered in criminal trials and before Gray`s family filed a lawsuit. .