NewsVine_Mariyam
Platinum Member
One of the things that stood out to me while this story was being aired on TV was that the city settled with "no admission of wrong doing". While this is pretty much boiler-plate language of a settlement agreement, as well as standard practice, this did not sit well with the plaintiffs' attorney who also ensured that it was understood that the plaintiffs were engaged in their 1st Amendment right to protest which is protected by the United States Constitution. This is a concept that is often misunderstood or intentionally disregarded at times, when the activities of protestors is compared to the activities of others who are considered engaged in behavior that may appear to be similar, but is not the same and as such is not protected. The storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th 2021 is just one example:
SEATTLE — The city of Seattle announced Wednesday a $10 million settlement was reached with dozens of protesters who filed a lawsuit against the city and the Seattle Police Department (SPD) for injuries they claimed happened as a result of police tactics during the 2020 protests following George Floyd's murder.
The lawsuit was filed by 50 people who were protesting in Seattle in the wake of George Floyd's murder and other Black Lives Matter rallies around the country. The plaintiffs were represented by the law firm Stritmatter Kessler Koehler Moore.
In a statement Wednesday, the law firm said in part, "Among the 50 Peaceful Protesters was Aubreanna Inda who was standing still peacefully when a blast ball was launched directly at her chest, striking her and causing her to go into cardiac arrest.
"Kel Murphy who was piled on by a group of officers for putting a sticker (which fell off) on a concrete barricade, resulting in seizure and coma. A teenager whose finger was partially blown off. A disabled vet with a cane who was gassed and tackled because he didn’t retreat fast enough. A reporter who was sitting down resting when a blast ball was tossed at her. And dozens of others who suffered permanent hearing loss, broken bones, concussions, wounds, bruising, and emotional damage including PTSD."
The attorneys and plaintiffs involved in a lawsuit against the city of Seattle and the police department hold a press conference following the $10 million settlement agreement on Jan. 24, 2024. (KOMO)
"All of the Protesters were engaged in First Amendment speech and activity against the very police brutality which they were met with," the law firm's statement added.
On Tuesday, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison agreed to settle the case with the protesters for $10 million.
“This decision was the best financial decision for the City considering risk, cost, and insurance,” Davison said in an emailed statement. “The case has been a significant drain on the time and resources of the City and would have continued to be so through an estimated three-month trial that was scheduled to begin in May.”
Seattle settles lawsuit filed by 2020 protesters against city, police for $10 million
