Sharpton, NYC Reach $200,000 Settlement

ajc.com ^ | December 8, 2003 | SARA KUGLER

[Bubba_Leroy]

NEW YORK (AP)--New York City has agreed to pay $200,000 in damages to Al Sharpton after he was stabbed nearly 13 years ago at a protest where he said police failed to protect him.

The settlement, which also covers the Democratic presidential candidate's $7,447.76 hospital bill, came as jury selection was to begin Monday in his decade-old civil case against the New York Police Department.

Sharpton claimed police were ``careless, negligent and reckless'' during the 1991 incident, said his lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein. Sharpton, a civil rights activist, was protesting what he considered lenient sentencing of white defendants in the 1989 killing of Yusuf Hawkins, a black teenager.

The city's law department on Monday defended the NYPD's actions, but said it agreed to the settlement because the city could not predict how a jury might rule.

Sharpton said he still fears large crowds as a result of the stabbing, and has a one-inch scar on his chest.

His attacker, Michael Riccardi, was convicted of first-degree assault and sentenced to the maximum of five to 15 years in prison.

[BrooklynGOP]

Sharpton said he still fears large crowds as a result of the stabbing

Hah!

[MEG33]

I hope the DA(?) that has never received a dime from the lawsuit he won against Sharpton sees a bit of this money.

[Argus]

Presumably Sharpton now has the cash to pay Steve Pagones.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Al Sharpton: "I think that we must do whatever we can to regulate how guns are used. I've been a victim of, of a stabbing." (3 May 2003, demoRAT debate)

[El Gato]

The city's law department on Monday defended the NYPD's actions, but said it agreed to the settlement because the city could not predict how a jury might rule.

I'm pretty sure that it's well established law, right up to the Suprme Court, that the police have no obligation to protect any individual.

I suppose there might have been some traction in a theory that if they tried to protect someone, and botched it, then they could be held liable. Alternately, and because of what Sharpton is this is IMHO more likely, he could allege dicrimination on the basis of race, argueing that they didn't protect him as well as they should have because he's black..he his you know. :)However that would then become a federal civil rights case, not an "ordinary" civil suit.

[Bubba_Leroy]

So I wonder how much of that Sharpton is going to pay to his victims at Freddy's Fashion Mart?

[Republicus2001]

didn't eight Americans die from his enticed riot?

[Republicus2001]

incited

[Rome2000]

I wonder how much the NYPD owes the 15,000 New Yorkers who have been murdered since 1991.

[Rome2000]

Not including the 3,000 on 9/11, of course.

Bill and Hillary should foot the bill for that one.

[CounterCounterCulture]

The Rev. Al Sharpton is seen in this January 1991 photo provided by Sharpton's attorney. The city has agreed to pay Sharpton $200,000 in damages Monday, Dec. 8, 2003, after he was stabbed nearly 13 years ago at a protest where he said police failed to protect him. (AP Photo/Attorney for Rev. Al Sharpton)

[philetus]

What a joke. Why isn't this posted to humor?

[BrookdalePark]

P.S. The day of the settlement, Dec. 8, is the eighth anniversary of the fatal fire at Freddy's store in Harlem. I will not repeat any of the dastardly claims that Mr. Sharpton's words may have inflamed the atmosphere and perhaps incited whoever set the fire.

[GrandMoM]

one-inch scar on his chest. ....what a wimp!

[arasina]

Whatcha wanna bet Sharpton got $200K for his Saturday Night Live appearance? :o)

[autoresponder]

Two words Al:

"Wonder Bra"

[CounterCounterCulture]

one-inch scar on his chest. ....what a wimp!

I think he had a punctured lung, if reports are true, so I wouldn't call him a wimp as much as I despise the man.

[yoe]

What was the bill to New York City for the Tawana Brawley debacle? Must have cost the city thousands of taxpayer dollars.....Al - you are a #1 jerk! Probably stabbed yourself..........

[CounterCounterCulture]

I'm wasn't going to remark on something as serious as a stabbing...

but...I will say this...

Al's gotta be thinking "Lordy, I sure hope the surgeon isn't an affirmative action doctor"