Days before the first anniversary of Eric Garner’s death at the hands of an NYPD officer, New York City has reached a $5.9 million dollar settlement with Garner’s family. The settlement helped prevent a $75 million dollar wrongful death lawsuit the family planned on filing if the city couldn’t reach an agreement before July 17.
Jonathan C. Moore, the lawyer for Garner’s family, said:
New York City Comptroller, Scott M. Stringer released a statement regarding the settlement which reads:
Garner, whose death was ruled a homicide, was killed last year after he was put into an illegal chokehold by Daniel Pantaleo who tried to arrest him along with several other officers on the grounds of Garner allegedly selling “untaxed cigarettes.”
An investigation by the U.S. Justice Department into the case is ongoing.
[via NYT]