Page 12 - CLT072020

12 ¦ JULY 20, 2020 NEWS

George Floyd Estate Files Suit
Alleging Excessive Force

By Tom McParland

The estate of George Floyd,
whose death sparked nation-
al protests over racism and
police violence, on Wednesday
sued the city of Minneapolis and
the four police officers criminally
charged with his killing, alleging
civil rights violations and exces-
sive force.
The lawsuit, filed in Minne-
sota federal court, claimed that
the city’s police department ig-
nored warning signs and had long
trained its officers to use neck re-
straints as a form of authorized
“non-deadly force” when carrying Thousands march in Baltimore protesting police brutality and the killing of
out arrests. George Floyd in Minnesota at the hands of local police, on June 1, 2020.

The complaint was surfaced by Law.com’s Legal Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM
Radar. Chauvin has since been charged with manslaugh-
According to the complaint, Minneapolis knew ter and second- and third-degree murder, and three
by 2012 that the maneuver could lead to death, but other officers on the scene were charged with aiding
never warned officers about the dangers. Instead, and abetting Floyd’s death. All four have been fired
the lawsuit said, the city engaged in unconstitutional from the police force.
“patterns and practices” that placed citizens, partic- The three-count suit alleged that all four officers
ularly in Black and minority communities, at risk. violated Floyd’s Fourth and 14th Amendment rights
“By policy, the MPD permitted and condoned in carrying out the arrest and that Minneapolis had
the use of both conscious and unconscious neck re- fostered a culture of racism and impunity within
straints by its officers from at least April 15, 2012 its police department. It seeks a money judgment
until June 8, 2020,” the suit said. against the former officers, as well as special damag-
Floyd’s family is represented by civil rights attor- es against the city and the appointment of a receiver
ney Ben Crump, as well as lawyers from at least six to ensure that the city “properly trains and super-
other law firms in Minnesota and other states, ac- vises” its police.
cording to the complaint. Meanwhile, demonstrations against police vio-
Floyd died in police custody May 25, while hand- lence and racism continue across the country, now
cuffed and lying face down on a city street. Video in their seventh week.
of the incident showed former Minneapolis police ¦

officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on the back of the Tom McParland of New York Law Journal can be
man’s neck for nearly nine minutes while he cried contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on
out that he was unable to breathe. Twitter @TMcParlandALM.

CONNECTICUT
Law Tribune