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Thursday, July 24, 2008

City Loses Appeal, Must Pay $268,000 to Settle Police Misconduct Suit

posted by on July 24 at 13:36 PM

A federal judge has denied the city’s request to retry a suit filed by a 22-year-old Seattle man, who was awarded $268,000 by a jury in May.

In 2006, Romelle Bradford was arrested outside of the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club—where he worked—when police were called to the facility after a dance. As Bradford—wearing a staff shirt and badge—approached police outside the Boys and Girls Club, one officer ordered him to halt. Bradford didn’t and was arrested for obstruction and thrown in jail overnight

Bradford sued SPD, the jury awarded him a cool quarter-million and the city asked for a do-over, citing improper jury instructions. But last week, a judge ruled that the case will not be retried and the jury award stands. In addition to the $268,000 settlement, the city must also pay Bradford’s attorney $147,000 in legal fees and another $138,000 to the Stafford Frey Cooper law firm, which handled the case for the city. That’s more than half a million dollars.

I’ve got a call in to the City Attorney’s office for comment.


RSS icon Comments

1

Just another case that shows the glaring incompetence of Tom Carr the City Attorney, how the Police abuse their power, and how The Mayor and Council fail to do their jobs in providing leadership to make sure this shit stops happening.

At some point people just need to fight back. Props to Bradford for doing so in court. The award should come directly out of Carr, Kerlikowske and Nickel's pockets.

Posted by Frank | July 24, 2008 1:46 PM
2

Cops learn they're not gods, round 4,762.

Posted by Greg | July 24, 2008 1:54 PM
3

Will the guilty cops be fired? Or even reprimanded? Doubtful.

Posted by DOUG. | July 24, 2008 2:09 PM
4

no big deal -- money runs like a river thru the city council

is it just my mind aflame with anger about how many homeless youth could be helped with a $500,00 budget boost?

our council needs to yell to the cops -- this is out of control, cut the crap, this is taxpayer money that could be put to better use

but they won't

the weakest council in the history of Seattle

Posted by Adam | July 24, 2008 2:49 PM
5

Hell yeah, Bradford! Meanwhile the police guild worked out a deal to give themselves huge raises. Ridiculous.

Posted by Anon | July 24, 2008 2:54 PM
6

@4,

Or at least since 1996.

Posted by Mr. X | July 24, 2008 3:19 PM
7

It always makes me happy to see Stafford Frey Cooper be in the news for losing, as they were the worst employer I've ever had.

Posted by Ex-SFC Worker | July 24, 2008 3:23 PM
8

#7 EX-SFC, just out of curiosity, what made SFC such a lousy place to work?

Posted by curious | July 24, 2008 3:41 PM
9

@7 The louses that run the joint.

Posted by Ex-SFC Worker | July 24, 2008 3:58 PM

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