Baltimore to pay Freddie Gray’s family $6.4 million to settle civil claims – Baltimore Sun
Unbelievable! In the wrongful death civil suit in Maryland, Baltimore has settled with the Freddie Gray family for $6.4 million. Some have called extortion to prevent further rioting.
Put aside the fact that civil suits are generally handled after the criminal suit and that those six Baltimore police officers yet to go on trial are now practically found guilty by the payoff.
Freddie Gray’s mother, Gloria Darden, a heroin addict who cannot read, will receive $5.36 in a settlement over the loss of her son. (nbcnews.com)
Put aside the fact that when it comes to wrongful death decisions in Maryland, the payout to the Gray family is simply ridiculous. Since 2011, the city has settled more than 120 cases of alleged police brutality with just six exceeding $200,000, and none close to the Gray settlement. Even settlements in Maryland traffic deaths average just $500,000.
When I think about wrongful death, I am reminded of the settlements awarded to the families who lost loved ones killed or injured in the World Trade Center attack.
I recently read the book, What Is Life Worth, an account of Kenneth Feinberg’s handling of the $7 billion 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, where the focus was on the lost income to those families.
Kenneth Feinberg described his thought process in determining the awarding of funds to victims of the 9/11 attack. (umass.edu)
The family of a breadwinner, with an annual salary of $4 million or more, was awarded $6 million on average. About $1 million was awarded on average on behalf of each of the roughly 160 victims who earned $25,000.
Although some argue that the government had no obligation to fund these payouts, it did, and it was done on an above board basis.
Now, think about the man, Freddie Gray, and his family. Gray had a record of 18 arrests, mostly on drug charges, and no work record.
Gray’s mother, a heroin addict who cannot read, will receive $5.36 million; his father, who has been generally described as absent during most of Freddie’s life, will receive $640,000; and the Freddie Gray estate, whatever that is, will receive $400,000. No word as to what the Gray attorney’s will receive.
Think about this “injustice” when the six Baltimore officers seek justice on criminal charges brought against them.
