A woman’s videotaped arrest by members of the South Beloit Police Department, depicting her being tasered, held down and choked, prompted a personal injury lawsuit against the city. As read in the Beloit Daily News, an agreement has now been made and the city’s insurance firm will be paying a settlement to the victim.
Of the lawsuit, filed by V.M. as a result of the 2008 incident, Mayor Michael Duff said, “I had heard they have an agreement.”
Duff added that the city’s insurance firm, and the attorney that they hire, would be the entities responsible for the decision to settle. The city council, however, will only be informed on the progress of the legal action. The council is not expected to have any type of say in the settlement.
The amount of the settlement, per Duffy, would most likely not be made public.
V.M.’s attorney, Patrick Moore, said, “South Beloit has begun to move towards the future by taking steps to ensure that they will never again be the source of such a scandal. However, I do not believe anyone can move on until they have made amends for the harms they caused. I cannot comment on the specifics as nothing has been finalized, but the city has extended a proposal that will allow this matter to be put to rest.”
The attorney for the city of Beloit, Dominick Lanzito, did not immediately return a call for comment.
In a police video taken on May 8, 2008, V.M. is seen handcuffed while twice-tasered by then Police Sgt. B.M. Further in the video, V.M. is seen grabbed by her throat, held down and shaken by then Police Chief T.F.
V.M. was arrested and charged with endangering the life/health of a child, domestic battery and resisting an officer.
In April of 2011, V.M. filed her lawsuit naming the two officers, B.M. and T.F., as well as a third South Beloit Police Officer, S.M., as defendants.
By June several more names were added as defendants including South Beloit then Mayor R.K. and several former city council members: R.R., R.S., P.C. and R.G.
During this time, Officer V.M. threatened legal action against the city. Along with his attorney, Richard Blass, the two claimed that the city owed V.M. both overtime pay and back pay.
By April of 2011, charges relating to V.M.’s lawsuit were filed against former mayor R.K. and the two officers, V.M. and T.F., by the Winnebago County State’s attorney’s Office.
T.F. was charged with aggravated battery, armed violence, official misconduct and obstruction of justice; B.M. was charged with aggravated battery, armed violence, insurance fraud, official misconduct and obstruction of justice; and R.K. was charged with obstruction of justice and official misconduct.
All three men pleaded not guilty and are headed for trial.
If you have suffered an injury, whether by a member of a police force or a private entity, you have grounds for a lawsuit. Look over our directory and contact a personal injury lawyer today!