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Shielded from Justice: Police Brutality and Accountability in the United States |
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Washington, D.C.:![]() Civil Lawsuits |
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According to the city's corporation counsel, "[T]here is no formalized notification procedure implemented by this office" to advise the police department about the filing of civil lawsuits against officers.58 Washington is self-insured by putting aside a set amount each year for anticipated claims against city employees. During a three-year period it spent $4 million in settlement or post-verdict payments in police misconduct suits by individuals claiming false arrest/assault ($1.29 million in fiscal year 1995, $1.5 million in FY94, and about $1.3 million in FY93).59 The data chart used by the corporation counsel provides a space for "descriptions" of cases, but few are provided, making the combined false arrest/assault section less than informative. The vast majority of suits do not go to trial but are settled out of court. ![]() 58 Letter to Human Rights Watch from Charles F.C. Ruff, Corporation Counsel, November 1, 1996. |
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![]() ![]() ![]() © June 1998 Human Rights Watch |