The Washington Post says the D.C. Government paid more than two million for lawyers representing D.C. police in a lawsuit going back to 2002.
In September of that year, about 400 protestors and bystanders were arrested in Pershing Park in northwest. Heated demonstrations against the World Band and International Monetary Fund sparked the sweep-up of demonstrators and some people who just happened to be there at the time.
The latest accounting of money paid came last Thursday by lawyers who represent four bystanders who were arrested. “The District continues to seek to drive up costs and prolong litigation in this case,” wrote lawyers Daniel Schwartz and Jonathan Turley, reported the Washington Post. Adding the city has “spared no expense” in defending former Chief Charles Ramsey and other police officials.
The government has already settled a class-action suit brought by about 400 protestors who were allegedly denied constitutional rights after being arrested. The whopping amount of this settlement was 8.25 million. It was just one of several high dollar settlements reached by the District in the botched arrests.
But the suit continues with the four bystanders. The fight has morphed into an investigation by U.S. Magsitrate John F. Facciola as to what happened to evidence in the case. Was it lost by police? Destroyed? Or changed? We are talking about radio recordings, command logs and videotape.
When the Washington Post called the Attorney General’s office seeking comment, the call was not returned. Yet.
