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tinybear · Jan 20, 2005, 01:29 am

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/sto...1.htm&sc=rontz

So cops beat up a teenager and the city pays them. There must be something wrong somewhere. Just how does our legal system operate? Any views on this folks?

The Dunedan · Jan 20, 2005, 02:08 am

My thoughts on this depend upon the circumstances of the case. If the cop in question acted legitimately in order to prevent assault on himself, or to prevent a potentially violent suspect from escaping, then I applaud this award. If the officer in question acted legitimately, the city did in fact overreact, and he deserves to be compensated for his loss.

However, as seems much more likely, the cop acted wrongly: beat the kid up for no good reason, or for mouthing off to him, or etc; then he should have been hung. Brutal cops deserve nothing better than the buisiness-end of a noose.

Spartacus · Jan 20, 2005, 03:14 am

It's called due process of law. When you do not follow the right procedures to punish someone adminstratively and instead let your heart rule your head, expect to get sued and expect to lose.

The cops beat up the teenager but the black cop who was there got a five day suspension and did not sue the city. The Asian cop got a ten day suspension, sued the city and won over $800,000. The white cop got fired, sued the city and won more than 1.5 million. The city was in a no win situation but if the city appeals the verdict, and I'm sure they will, the amounts will be lowered and the whole thing will go away.

tinybear · Jan 20, 2005, 03:19 am

It seems that the disparity of treatment of the 3 officers involved was due their respective roles in the beating. Morse obviously took the dominant part and the other two was just guilty of letting it happen. Darvish got suspended for 5 more days probably because he was more senior than the third cop. It doesn't say so in the report, but one can guess that that's probably what happened.

**Pooeypants** · Jan 20, 2005, 06:06 am

I am so glad the suing culture over here isn't as big as in the US...

tinybear · Jan 20, 2005, 09:57 am

In Britain, this case would have been tried by a judge without a jury and there's no way the awards would be this high, right?

**Matt W** · Jan 20, 2005, 10:39 am

We can but hope.

**Pooeypants** · Jan 20, 2005, 11:11 am

Quote:

Quote by: tinybear

In Britain, this case would have been tried by a judge without a jury and there's no way the awards would be this high, right?

Well, I wouldn't know too much about that, however, people here are less likely to resolve things by suing. Having said that, it is becoming a popular act.

Jan 20, 2005, 01:29 am	#1 (permalink) (top)
tinybear Volcanic Erupter Location: Hong Kong (for now) Posts: 7,017	Cops Awarded $2.4 Million http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/sto...1.htm&sc=rontz So cops beat up a teenager and the city pays them. There must be something wrong somewhere. Just how does our legal system operate? Any views on this folks?

Jan 20, 2005, 06:06 am	#5 (permalink) (top)
Pooeypants Neo Moderator Location: England Posts: 5,602	I am so glad the suing culture over here isn't as big as in the US... War is Peace Freedom is Slavery Ignorance is strength Harness the power of Ingsoc, then you can capture someone killed the year before

Jan 20, 2005, 02:08 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
The Dunedan Hot Lava Posts: 925	My thoughts on this depend upon the circumstances of the case. If the cop in question acted legitimately in order to prevent assault on himself, or to prevent a potentially violent suspect from escaping, then I applaud this award. If the officer in question acted legitimately, the city did in fact overreact, and he deserves to be compensated for his loss. However, as seems much more likely, the cop acted wrongly: beat the kid up for no good reason, or for mouthing off to him, or etc; then he should have been hung. Brutal cops deserve nothing better than the buisiness-end of a noose.

Jan 20, 2005, 03:14 am	#3 (permalink) (top)
Spartacus voyager Location: where I am free Posts: 111	It's called due process of law. When you do not follow the right procedures to punish someone adminstratively and instead let your heart rule your head, expect to get sued and expect to lose. The cops beat up the teenager but the black cop who was there got a five day suspension and did not sue the city. The Asian cop got a ten day suspension, sued the city and won over $800,000. The white cop got fired, sued the city and won more than 1.5 million. The city was in a no win situation but if the city appeals the verdict, and I'm sure they will, the amounts will be lowered and the whole thing will go away.

Jan 20, 2005, 03:19 am	#4 (permalink) (top)
tinybear Volcanic Erupter Location: Hong Kong (for now) Posts: 7,017	It seems that the disparity of treatment of the 3 officers involved was due their respective roles in the beating. Morse obviously took the dominant part and the other two was just guilty of letting it happen. Darvish got suspended for 5 more days probably because he was more senior than the third cop. It doesn't say so in the report, but one can guess that that's probably what happened.

Jan 20, 2005, 09:57 am	#6 (permalink) (top)
tinybear Volcanic Erupter Location: Hong Kong (for now) Posts: 7,017	In Britain, this case would have been tried by a judge without a jury and there's no way the awards would be this high, right?

Jan 20, 2005, 10:39 am	#7 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 6,439	We can but hope.