Published: Friday, February 10, 2012
Spokane agrees to settle police beating lawsuit
SPOKANE -- Spokane Mayor David Condon said the city has agreed to mediation to try and settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a man beaten to death by police.
Condon said an out-of-court settlement is in the best interest of the city.
"It's time to move this long-standing case toward resolution, and mediation provides a tremendous opportunity to resolve this case outside of court," Condon said in a news release Thursday.
The lawsuit was filed two years ago by the family of Otto Zehm, 36, and seeks $2.9 million in damages.
Zehm was a mentally disabled man who worked as a janitor. In 2006, he was beaten by police who suspected him of stealing money at a convenience store ATM. He died two days later.
Last year, Officer Karl F. Thompson was convicted of violating Zehm's civil rights by using excessive force and then lying about it to investigators.
Attorney Breean Beggs, who represents Zehm's mother and estate, said he has agreed to the format, in which a mediator helps negotiate a settlement.
"The Zehm family believes that mediation is the most constructive way to move forward towards resolving this dispute," Beggs said in the release.
The agreement called for both sides to keep future negotiations secret.
U.S. District Court Judge Lonny Suko in 2010 put the civil case on hold after Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Durkin alleged in court records that Assistant City Attorney Rocky Treppiedi was taking information gleaned from the civil case to help defend Thompson against criminal charges.
Surveillance video from the convenience story showed that Thompson immediately engaged Zehm, who was retreating and had not committed a crime. Thompson beat Zehm with a baton and shocked him with a Taser.
Despite his conviction, Thompson has yet to be sentenced. U.S. District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle postponed the sentencing after an expert witness claimed that federal prosecutors incorrectly summarized his expected testimony.
Condon said an out-of-court settlement is in the best interest of the city.
"It's time to move this long-standing case toward resolution, and mediation provides a tremendous opportunity to resolve this case outside of court," Condon said in a news release Thursday.
The lawsuit was filed two years ago by the family of Otto Zehm, 36, and seeks $2.9 million in damages.
Zehm was a mentally disabled man who worked as a janitor. In 2006, he was beaten by police who suspected him of stealing money at a convenience store ATM. He died two days later.
Last year, Officer Karl F. Thompson was convicted of violating Zehm's civil rights by using excessive force and then lying about it to investigators.
Attorney Breean Beggs, who represents Zehm's mother and estate, said he has agreed to the format, in which a mediator helps negotiate a settlement.
"The Zehm family believes that mediation is the most constructive way to move forward towards resolving this dispute," Beggs said in the release.
The agreement called for both sides to keep future negotiations secret.
U.S. District Court Judge Lonny Suko in 2010 put the civil case on hold after Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Durkin alleged in court records that Assistant City Attorney Rocky Treppiedi was taking information gleaned from the civil case to help defend Thompson against criminal charges.
Surveillance video from the convenience story showed that Thompson immediately engaged Zehm, who was retreating and had not committed a crime. Thompson beat Zehm with a baton and shocked him with a Taser.
Despite his conviction, Thompson has yet to be sentenced. U.S. District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle postponed the sentencing after an expert witness claimed that federal prosecutors incorrectly summarized his expected testimony.
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