MOBILE, Alabama -- Fairhope’s insurance carrier agreed last week to pay $50,000 to settle a police brutality lawsuit filed by an 85-year-old man who claimed an officer assaulted him in 2009.
Andy Rutens, an attorney hired by Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp., said part of the settlement will reimburse Medicare and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for treatment that plaintiff Dorsey Henderson received after the incident.
Rutens said Fairhope officials did not admit wrongdoing and, in fact, believe Officer Trent Scott acted appropriately. He noted that Henderson withdrew his claim against the officer earlier this year.
"An internal affairs investigation found no wrongdoing," he said. "Officer Scott used proper techniques and immediately provided proper care as soon as (Henderson) hurt his arm and shoulder."
Keith Landers, an attorney for Henderson, said his client is very elderly.
"In the end," he said, "I think the integrity and respect he wanted was restored."
The lawsuit contended that Scott told Henderson that there was "no such thing as a citizen’s arrest in Alabama," and said, "Get out of the way, old man," after Henderson subdued a driver who had attempted to run away from a wreck across from Henderson’s home on Thompson Hall Road in May 2009.
Henderson’s wife, Dorris Henderson, watched from her wheelchair on her front porch as Scott wrenched her husband’s right arm, slammed him face-first into their gravel driveway, then struck his head, back and neck, the lawsuit said.
It also contended that Scott waived off an ambulance as Henderson sat handcuffed with a broken nose following the altercation. A superior officer called for the ambulance to return, and paramedics took Henderson to the hospital.
City officials maintained that Dorsey Henderson, a retired Army intelligence officer and veteran of 3 wars, failed to obey a lawful command by the officer.
2514-Fairhope,Alabama settles police brutality lawsuit for an easy $50,000
Fairhope, Alabama could consider itself one of the luckiest cities in America this week after a potential multi-million dollar lawsuit netted the plantiff a mere $50,000. In 2009 following a car wreck in which the driver attempted to flee, 85 year old Dorey Henderson placed a citizen's arrest on the driver. Henderson saw the wreck, across the street from his house. Police officer Trent Scott arrived and informed Mr. Henderson there was no such thing as citizen's arrest in Alabama "old man." Actually, there is, if you believe a felony has been committed - in all states except North Carolina. Then, as Mr. Henderson's wife, in wheelchair, watched, police officer Trent Scott, in plain English, roughed up an 85 year old man. The city of Fairhope settled the lawsuit with the understanding of no admittance of guilt. We nominate The city government of Fairhope, Alabama as one of the luckiest 10 small cities in America along with a blue ribbon for all the old geezers in the city.
No comments:
Post a Comment