Ferguson protesters won a settlement this week that will award each protester $2,500 each from three separate police agencies for using tear gas during the protests last fall.
Each of the protesters to get a settlement of $2,500 from each of the 3 agencies involved. No proof that each of the demonstrators were gassed by each of the agencies paying them. At least $7,500 per member involved in the lawsuit!
Police fire tear gas at Ferguson protesters during riots after Michael Brown was shot by police.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported:
Three police agencies have agreed as part of a federal lawsuit settlement with Ferguson protesters to restrict use of tear gas and other chemical agents on crowds.
U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson, who issued a temporary restraining order on police after a hearing here Dec. 11, was expected to dismiss the lawsuit Thursday while keeping supervision of compliance through Jan. 1, 2018. The restraining order had told police to provide “reasonable” warning before using gas on a crowd.
Lawyers for St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar and Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ronald S. Johnson signed off on settlement terms that require officers to:
** Provide “clear and unambiguous warnings” before gas use.
** Allow “sufficient opportunity” for people in the area to leave first.
** Attempt to minimize the impact on people complying with lawful demands.
** Ensure there is a safe escape path.Police also agreed not to use gas to frighten or punish people lawfully exercising their constitutional rights.
Each police agency agreed to pay $2,500 in legal costs. In exchange, plaintiffs Alexis Templeton, Maureen Costello, Brittany Ferrell, Steve Hoffman, Nile McClain and Kira Hudson agreed to dismiss their claim.
They were represented by Thomas Harvey of ArchCity defenders and Denise Lieberman of the Advancement Project.
