Justice has been served. NYC will shell out more than $7 million to settle the civil suit arising from the fatal police shooting of Sean Bell. A BK federal judge signed off on the deal yesterday, closing the book in the racially charged case that stunned and divided the city. But was it fair? See how the money was split and decide for yourself.
In case you somehow forgot, the story of Sean Bell was a racially electrifying tale of injustice and misunderstanding. It’s hard to believe but that case was way back in November of 2006. Bell and his two friends were celebrating his bachelor party at a Queens strip club when they were shot by plainclothes and uniformed cops in a firestorm of more than 50 bullets outside a club.
Now, those bullets cost the city just about $7 million to the victims and their families. This is how it was split up:
$3.25 million to the estate of Bell, represented by his kids, Jada, 7 and Jordyn, 4, and his fiancée, Nicole Paultre Bell.
$3 million to Joseph Guzman, a friend of Bell present at the shooting.
$900K to Trent Benefield, another friend who was shot and wounded.
Does it sound fair? Apparently, Nicole, his fiance thinks it is. According to the NY Post she says its “fair.”
However, she also added, “No amount of money will provide closure.”
Amazingly, there are people who think that the family don’t deserve one dime.
“There’s something wrong with that picture,” said Michael Palladino, president of the Detectives Endowment Association.
“The taxpayer is on the hook for $7 million and the lawyers walk away with $2 million and the one with the most culpability here is Sean Bell.”
(Source)
Yeah. If only Sean Bell could defend himself.
What’s your take on this story? Is the settlement fair? Speak on it.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
No amount of money will bring them back. All those police should be in jail that would satisfy me. A life in prison for all those police that shot a bullet at them. I don’t understand how 7 million is going to pacify the family unless they are shallow. The city of New York should be outraged. Just pay off the family and they will be happy. No………..Send those cops to the pen.