Settlement Near in NYC Police Brutality Case
July 13, 2001
Despite earlier rumors that a $9 million settlement had been reached in the Abner Louima police abuse incident, the final word on the case has not yet been spoken. In 1998, Louima sued New York City for $155 million after he was arrested and tortured by Brooklyn police officers. The lawsuit stemmed from a 1997 street brawl outside a Brooklyn nightclub. Louima was arrested, handcuffed, and taken to the precinct. After mistakenly believing that Louima had hit him, officer Justin Volpe sodomized Louima with a broken broomstick in the men's bathroom. Volpe threatened to kill Louima if he told anyone.
Volpe has since pled guilty to the incident and is currently serving 30 years. Another officer, Charles Schwarz, was found guilty of holding Louima down during the assault, and four other officers were convicted of lying to authorities about the situation.
It has been rumored that a $9 million settlement has been reached. An earlier settlement agreement was abandoned when Louima realized that he would have to drop his demand for reforms of the New York City Police Department.
At the present time, a gag order has been placed on all parties involved, and no one is talking about the newly proposed settlement. If all parties approve, the proposed settlement will be the largest ever given for a single police brutality claim in New York City history.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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