PITTSBURGH (AP) - Three white officers accused in a federal civil rights lawsuit of beating a black art student falsely arrested him but didnt use excessive force, a jury found Monday, awarding him $119,000 in damages. The all-white jury of four men and four women reached a split verdict in 22-year-old Jordan Miles lawsuit against officers David Sisak, Michael Saldutte and Richard Ewing. They found the officers liable for falsely arresting Miles but found them not liable for using excessive force to beat him. The jurors awarded Miles $101,000 in compensatory damages and $6,000 from each officer for punitive damages for acting maliciously and wantonly. Miles attorney, Joel Sansone, said he was gratified but confused by the verdict because he didnt understand how the jurors came to a decision on the damages or concluded that the officers were wrong to arrest Jordan but not wrong to beat him. In closing arguments, Sansone didnt ask for a specific amount in damages but hinted to the jury that millions of dollars may be appropriate.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:53:27 +0000
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