Friday, November 19, 2010
LGBT / Courts / Cops Is the city preparing to settle in Eagle Raid case?
Posted by Gwynedd Stuart @gwynnstu on Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 3:26 PM
Matthew Cardinale of Atlanta Progressive News announced earlier today that — according to anonymous sources — the City of Atlanta sent letters to several plaintiffs in the Eagle Raid case, proposing settlements for each. The GA Voice, however, subsequently reported that other sources close to the case clarified that the letters in question weren't actually correspondences from the city. The letters were apparently private communications between the plaintiffs — who are suing the city for violations of their rights during a controversial 2009 APD raid of the Atlanta Eagle — and their attorneys.
Cardinale wrote:
According to the sources, the letters proposed various monetary settlements to each Plaintiff based on the circumstances of each individual case; and in each case, a range of dollar figures was proposed. Variables included whether the individuals were wrongfully handcuffed, whether they had guns stuck in their face, whether they were verbally or physically abused, and other factors.
Amounts ranged from about $8,000 to almost $20,000 per person.
Other conditions of the settlement include that the Atlanta Police Department would have to change its policies and procedures regarding raids going forward to preclude such an incident from happening anywhere again in the City of Atlanta [especially, arresting an entire bar of 62 patrons despite lack of probable cause, instead of targeting the arrests to those suspected of wrongdoing, if any]; and the City would have to issue multiple apologies.
CL contacted Dan Grossman, one of several attorneys representing the plaintiffs, but he declined to comment, saying he wanted to respect the judge’s order not to talk with the press.
In an update to his original post, Cardinale said he "may have incorrectly reported that the letters were from the City," but that "APN's sources stated that the actual monetary offers were made by the City."
So, is the city preparing to settle? Both sides are scheduled to meet on Monday, Nov. 22 in a court ordered mediation session. Until that mediation has taken place, it's doubtful — pursuant to a judge's order — that any concrete information will be released.
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