This week marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Eric Garner, the Staten Island man who died at the hands of New York City police officers for selling loose cigarettes. This episode, claimed to be race-fueled by many, sparked months of racially underscored anti-police protests across the nation. This incident was even more newsworthy due to the fact that this past year was filled with a number of racially-induced crimes and arguments. Almost one year to the day of the crime, the family of Eric Garner accepted a pretrial settlement from the city of New York on Monday.
Garner’s estate, which filed a claim against the city in October 2014 for damages related to his death, will be paid $5.9 million, according to a city official.
The Garner family sued on the basis of police mistreatment and police brutality. While Garner was engaging in illegal activity at the time of his death, and which was the reason for police interference, it did not warrant the brutality that the police officers treated him with or the harsh physical argument that followed the officer’s initial questioning.
The United States of America was founded upon great ethical principles that, throughout the years, were expanded to encompass all U.S. citizens regardless of race, gender or belief. Unfortunately, prejudice, law enforcement error, and wrongful arrests still occur regularly. When this happens, some of the core American principles and rights of citizens are neglected or directly violated.
If you, a family member or a loved one believe you were victimized through false arrest or police brutality, or if you have reasonable cause to suspect your civil rights were violated, The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny is prepared to take on your case and fight for your rights. We have over a century of experience dealing with these types of cases right here in New York City and have acquired over $250 million in settlements to prove our effectiveness. Contact the personal injury lawyers from our firm, The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny, for the help you deserve.
