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File #: 0317-2016    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 1/28/2016 In control: Judiciary And Court Administration Committee
On agenda: 2/22/2016 Final action: 2/26/2016
Title: To authorize and direct the City Attorney to settle the lawsuit of Jordan Helman v. Officer Anthony Pray, et al., pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division; to authorize the expenditure of the sum of eighty-five thousand dollars in settlement of this lawsuit;and to declare an emergency. ($85,000.00)
Attachments: 1. 85Kattorney

Explanation
This Ordinance is submitted to settle the lawsuit known as Jordan Helman v. Anthony Pray, et al., Case No. 2:15-cv-398 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, in the amount of eighty-five thousand Dollars ($85,000.00). On February 1, 2014, Officer Pray, who was working special duty at BBR, used force against Mr. Helman, who sustained injury. In his lawsuit, Mr. Helman claimed the use of force was in violation of the Fourth Amendment and further constituted battery and infliction of emotional distress in violation of Ohio law.

Funds have not been specifically budgeted for this settlement but are available in the appropriate amount.

Title
To authorize and direct the City Attorney to settle the lawsuit of Jordan Helman v. Officer Anthony Pray, et al., pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division; to authorize the expenditure of the sum of eighty-five thousand dollars in settlement of this lawsuit;and to declare an emergency. ($85,000.00)

Body
WHEREAS, on January 28, 2015, Mr. Helman filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Case No. 2:15-cv-398, against Officer Anthony Pray, the City of Columbus, and PNCJ, Inc. d/b/a BBR and/or Peerless Culinary and Nightlife Management Group in which he claimed he was subjected to an unreasonable use of force by Officer Pray in violation of the Fourth Amendment and Ohio law; and

WHEREAS, In connection with the settlement of claims against Officer Pray and the City of Columbus, the amount of eighty-five thousand dollars ($85,000.00) to be paid by the City was deemed acceptable by the City of Columbus, along with dismissal of the case with prejudice and a release of the City of Columbus and its employees from any further liability; and

WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Polic...

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