Freddy Gray’s Family Settles In Lawsuit, One Detail Should ENRAGE Taxpayers

Sean Brown

Following his death while riding in a Baltimore Police van, Freddy Gray’s family decided to file a lawsuit against the city, alleging that police were at fault for his early demise. A settlement has finally been reached in the ordeal, despite the fact that the criminal case against the six officers involved isn’t complete, and it truly is absolutely enraging.

The Baltimore Sun reported that the family was suing the city of Baltimore for the wrongful death of Gray after he suffered fatal injuries while riding in the back of a police van in April. The incident sparked widespread outrage as people from the #BlackLivesMatter movement accused police of intentionally killing Gray. Meanwhile, others insisted that the case against the officers was purely political.

All of the facts of what happened to Gray have yet to be released, but that hasn’t stopped the city from reaching a settlement in the lawsuit. How much did the family get? Apparently, the total will be $6.4 million, which is expected to be easily approved on Wednesday by the city’s spending panel.

If that number sounds excessive, that’s because it is. The Sun also reported that the single payout in this case is more than all 120 other brutality cases since 2011 combined, and it far exceeds the $400,000 limit imposed by the state on police brutality claims.

Making the settlement even more questionable is the fact that Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake refused to answer any questions about it, as did anybody from her administration. State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby also declined comments on the record-setting settlement, seemingly reached in record time.

More from the Sun:

The mayor’s office declined to answer questions about the settlement, including why it was brought to the spending panel before any lawsuit was filed. [emphasis mine]

Under the proposed settlement, the city would pay $2.8 million during the current fiscal year and $3.6 million in next year, the city said.

By entering into a settlement, the city would avoid a public lawsuit that could have played out in court. In such city settlements, a clause has stated that both sides cannot talk publicly about the case.

….

A multimillion-dollar wrongful death settlement is rare in Baltimore. Only six payouts since 2011 exceeded $200,000 in the more than 120 police brutality-related claims. In all of those payouts, settlements came months or years after legal wrangling in court battles.

For example, the city paid $175,000 in mid-April to the estate of a man who was shot and killed by police. Michael Omar Wudtee, a 38-year-old Randallstown man, died in 2012 after being shot by police. His estate had sought $10 million in his death.

Isn’t that lovely? Personally, I chalk this up to more politically motivated decision-making within the city’s ranks, and it’s not exactly the first time it’s happened. State’s Attorney Mosby was caught withholding evidence in the case against the six officers, and she also gave a politically charged speech following the news of Gray’s death.

The city has repeatedly caved to demands from protesters, looters, and rioters, and not once has it worked out in their favor. I’ll tell you one thing, if I was a resident there, I would be enraged that this agreement was reached, and I would be at every city council meeting protesting until the decision was reversed.