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Oakland Settles Excessive Force Claims

By TChris, Section Misconduct
Posted on Thu Feb 09, 2006 at 02:02:56 PM EST
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by TChris

Bringing to a conclusion lawsuits filed by anti-war protestors who contended that the police used excessive force against them, the City of Oakland agreed to settle the suits for $393,000. Combined with earlier payments made to resolve related lawsuits, the City coughed up a total of $1.3 million to settle the claims of injured protesters.

Protesters said police fired wood bullets and bean-bag rounds at them without provocation and failed to allow them to disperse during the 2003 rally at the Port of Oakland. They said they were protesting the war in Iraq and targeted the port because at least one company there was handling war supplies.

Oakland also "agreed to stop the indiscriminate use of such tactics."

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    • Oakland Settles Excessive Force Claims | 3 comments (3 topical)
    Re: Oakland Settles Excessive Force Claims (none / 0) (#1)
    by Patrick on Thu Feb 09, 2006 at 02:09:22 PM EST
    The city did not admit any wrongdoing in the latest settlements.
    You left that part off when you used the following quote.
    Oakland police earlier agreed to stop the indiscriminate use of such tactics.
    Re: Oakland Settles Excessive Force Claims (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 09, 2006 at 02:46:25 PM EST
    The city did not admit any wrongdoing in the latest settlements.
    Patrick, And that is supposed to mean what? I really don't like to assume but I will in this case since I have been involved in similar situations.
    Solicitor : We should attempt to settle these lawsuits out of court and avoid a trial. Mayor/City Council : So what you are saying is throw some money at the problem and it will go away. Solicitor : Exactly. This way we don't have to admit to any wrongdoing which could potentially expose us to additional risk and liability.
    Actions, in this case the city settling out of court, avoiding a trial, and not admitting to any wrongdoing, speak louder than words. It is not that difficult to read between the lines.

    Re: Oakland Settles Excessive Force Claims (none / 0) (#3)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Feb 10, 2006 at 07:33:04 AM EST
    I saw the photos from that demo. One gal had a swollen area the size of a grapefruit on the side of her face. All part of the job. I'm kinda curious who it was the authorities were protecting by shooting that woman in the head? Themselves? The community? Maybe the police were salivating just at the thought of field testing their toys. Bush pawns. How proud they must be that they protected the port of Oakland from these terrorists. If ever there was a group that needed to be disarmed...

    Oakland Settles Excessive Force Claims | 3 comments (3 topical)