Oakland City Councilwoman Desley Brooks’ knockdown assault on former Black Panther leader Elaine Brown at a barbecue restaurant in Jack London Square could wind up costing the city’s taxpayers a whopping $3 million — plus attorney’s fees.

At issue is the city’s portion of the $3.77 million verdict handed down by an Alameda County jury Dec. 21 against the East Oakland councilwoman for knocking Brown to the ground during a heated 2015 exchange. The fight was over city funding for a Brown-linked nonprofit’s housing and commercial development.

Brooks had pledged to kill the funding, reportedly telling Brown the project was “of no benefit to black people.”

The war of words ended when Brooks shoved the then-72-year-old Brown over a set of fixed chairs at Everett and Jones Barbeque, the jury found. Brown hit her head on a table and landed on the floor on her back.

She suffered bruises and a torn rotator cuff that required surgery. Brown filed a police report, but no criminal charges were brought against Brooks.

The jury in Brown’s civil case concluded that Brooks had been acting within her capacity as an Oakland official when she shoved the ex-Panther, and nailed the city for $2.4 million for Brown’s past pain and suffering and $1.375 million for future suffering.

That’s an armored carload more than the $25,000 that Brown’s attorney, Charles Bonner, says the city had put on the table in hopes of settling the case ahead of trial.

The judge could knock back the verdict as excessive, but Bonner doesn’t expect it.

“Their (the city’s) own doctor told them all the injuries came from this assault, and (Brown) has permanent injuries,” Bonner said. “She will be in pain for the rest of her life.”

He added, “The award is not out of proportion with the damages. Elaine’s life has been totally altered.”

If the judgment stands, Oakland will have to dig into its general fund to pay more than $3 million to Brown. Only $750,000 would be covered by its liability insurance.

And because the jury found that the assault was a case of elder abuse, the city may be on the hook for Brown’s attorney’s fees as well. Bonner wouldn’t say how much he’ll be seeking, but experts speculated that the figure could run north of $375,000.

For a city that’s always scraping to pay its bills, it’s more than painful. The $3 million price tag, for example, is equal to all the extra funding Oakland plans to spend over the next two years to deal with its growing homeless camps.

“Any verdict against a public servant is a tremendous waste of taxpayer money,” said Justin Berton, spokesman for Mayor Libby Schaaf. “Oaklanders would rather spend their money on affordable housing, libraries and paved roads than one individual’s bad behavior.”

For the city, at least, this is about as bad as this case will get. But it’s just starting for Brooks.

Jurors are scheduled to reconvene Monday to consider punitive damages against the 56-year-old councilwoman, who has represented East Oakland at City Hall since 2002. Those damages would come directly out of her pocket.

Alex Katz, chief of staff for City Attorney Barbara Parker, said his office would have no comment while the case is pending. But the city is likely to appeal.

In a statement after the jury returned its verdict, Brooks said, “While I’m disappointed in the decision, I respect the jury and the process. I assume the city will appeal the decision and I will respect that process.” Neither she nor her attorney responded to our request for comment.

The Brown judgment is the latest in a series of big civil payouts for Oakland in recent years. In 2014, Scott Olsen, an Iraq War veteran whose skull was fractured by a police beanbag during an Occupy Oakland protest, settled with the city for $4.5 million. But in that case, the city was required to shell out only $1.8 million, with insurance picking up the rest.

The same year, a cyclist who suffered severe injuries in a crash on pothole-laden Mountain Boulevard agreed to a $3.25 million settlement. As in the Brown case, the city was on the hook for $3 million.

Although she’s not responding to our questions, Brooks did send an email greeting to East Oakland residents on New Year’s Day. She said she looked forward to working with her constituents “to build a better Oakland and a better community in 2018.”

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross