NYC reaches $5.9 million settlement with Eric Garner’s family, officials say
New York City officials Monday announced a $5.9 million settlement with the family of Eric Garner, the Staten Island man whose death while being restrained during an NYPD arrest set off waves of national protest over police brutality in the treatment of unarmed black men.
City Comptroller Scott Stringer announced last evening that his office reached the agreement between the 43-year-old man’s family and the NYPD after the family filed a notice of claim over Garner’s death nearly a year ago.
“While we cannot discuss the details of this settlement, and the city has not admitted liability, I believe that we have reached an agreement that acknowledges the tragic nature of Mr. Garner’s death while balancing my office’s fiscal responsibility to the city,” Stringer said in a statement.
The arrest was captured on video in which Garner is heard saying “I can’t breathe” 11 times before passing out — words that became a touchstone for protesters who chanted it during marches. The city medical examiner’s office ruled his death a homicide.
Garner died weeks before Michael Brown was shot during a confrontation with an officer in Ferguson, Missouri, fueling nationwide anger over the fatalities of unarmed black men in encounters with police.
Garner’s family filed a notice of claim against the city in October, saying they intended to file a suit seeking $75 million in damages. They had up to Friday to file the suit.On Dec. 3, a Staten Island grand jury declined to indict Pantaleo, sparking days of protests throughout the city, and later other cities. Pantaleo has since been on desk duty.
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association didn’t return calls.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said despite the settlement, the tragedy would not be forgotten, saying, “No sum of money can make this family whole, but hopefully the Garner family can find some peace and finality from today’s settlement.”
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said the settlement was “one step of many that our city must take to ensure that no more families need suffer this pain,” and called for more reforms.
A source familiar with the settlement said the Garner family also reached a settlement with the Richmond Hill Medical Center, which sent the medical personnel to July 17 scene.