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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The city council in Minneapolis has decided to settle a lawsuit involving a woman who accused former officer Derek Chauvin of using excessive force during an incident in January 2020. The settlement amounts to $600,000 and stems from claims that Chauvin forcibly removed her from her vehicle and restrained her in a manner reminiscent of his actions leading to the death of George Floyd just a few months later.
Patty Day, who had been working with the Public Works Department, filed her lawsuit last May, asserting that Chauvin’s actions resulted in a wrongful arrest and inflicted serious harm. Day admitted to being intoxicated and experiencing emotional distress due to personal issues, which ultimately led to her car getting stuck in the snow for an extended period on January 17, 2020.
Upon arrival at the scene, Chauvin and Officer Ellen Jensen allegedly “violently yanked” Day from her vehicle, subsequently causing her to sustain injuries from being thrown onto the ground.
The lawsuit outlined that Chauvin then placed his knee on Day’s back, similar to the tactic he would later infamously employ against Floyd. This incident persisted even after Day had been secured in handcuffs. Following the encounter, a judge dismissed the drunk driving charge against her, determining that the officers lacked sufficient grounds for arrest and barred the use of blood alcohol test results from the proceedings.
On Thursday, the Minneapolis City Council approved the settlement, allocating $175,000 to Day and $425,000 to her legal representation. This brings the total compensation paid by the city for police misconduct cases involving Chauvin to over $36 million, which includes significant settlements such as the $27 million paid to the family of George Floyd.
In a statement regarding the settlement, Day’s attorney, Katie Bennett, emphasized that while no financial resolution could erase the trauma Day experienced, the agreement serves as a measure of accountability for the officers involved. She highlighted the ongoing need for systemic changes in law enforcement practices.
Derek Chauvin, who is currently serving time in a federal facility in Texas due to his convictions for murdering Floyd and federal civil rights violations, has become a focal point in discussions surrounding police reform and racial justice in America. The tragic circumstances of Floyd’s death ignited widespread protests and called for significant changes in policing strategies and accountability across the nation.
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