Seattle: Woodcarver's family to get $1.5 million from city

[n2doc]

BY CASEY MCNERTHNEY, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
Updated 04:04 p.m., Friday, April 29, 2011

The city of Seattle will pay $1.5 million to settle claims brought by the family of John T. Williams, the woodcarver shot to death by police Officer Ian Birk Aug. 30, 2010.
The settlement was reached after a mediation involving representatives of the Williams estate, Williams' mother and the city. The payment will go to Williams' estate and his mother, according to the City Attorney's Office.

Under the terms of the agreement, the city will pay part of the money in trust for Williams' mother and part of the money into the registry of the court, which will hold the money in escrow while distribution issues are resolved.

The court will approve the appropriate distribution of the money and a special representative will be appointed to represent any other potential heirs, although none has been found or come forward, the City Attorney's Office said in a statement.


Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Woodcarvers-family-to-get-1-5-million-from-city-1359018.php

[AnneD]

1. It won't make the family whole....

It won't bring him back, but it is a start. I am glad to hear this.

[Catherine Vincent]

2. That's what I call Justice!

It's unfortunate the guy was gunned down though.

[tech9413]

3. I'm sorry Seattle has to face that burden

I only hope it causes a restructuring of the PD policies to assure it doesn't happen again. Back when the G20 was in Seattle the PD wasn't exactly "under control". You would think in the years since they would have improved, but evidence doesn't support that happening.
Perhaps the monetary pain will do what bad publicity couldn't.

[izquierdista]

4. I wouldn't be so sure

The economic pain will never find its way down to the trigger happy cop.

[Missy Vixen]

5. It's unfortunate there were no firings

It's going to happen again. After all, $1.5 million is a drop in the bucket.

The SPD is now being investigated by the Department of Justice. I wait to hear the outcome of this.

[n2doc]

6. The killer cop resigned

I think he would have been fired had he stayed. But his superiors need to be punished as well since they didn't rein him in earlier.

[Missy Vixen]

9. Not good enough

I'm willing to bet he had another job before the week was out. He shouldn't work in law enforcement again.

The superiors will claim "justice is done"; I'm sure there will be calls next week to "put this behind us" and "move forward".

C'mon, Department of Justice investigators, please do your job. Something is wrong in the SPD.

[L0oniX]

7. Well at least that is something. Murdering bastards!

[provis99]

8. since the city didn't punish the cop, why are they paying the family off?

Smells like coverup all around.

[Lucian]

10. Is it an Asian woodcarver?

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