The family of Justine Damond, who was shot dead by police in Minneapolis, could receive a record payout of more than US$10m if they sue the city’s authorities, according to lawyers.



Damond, a 40-year-old Australian life coach, was shot dead by a police officer, Mohamed Noor, in July last year in an alley behind her home.



Damond called police after hearing a woman’s screams and approached Noor’s police vehicle unarmed and in her pyjamas.



“The city is in a very weak position and has to entertain astronomical numbers because it’s too risky to go to trial,” Paul Applebaum, a veteran civil rights lawyer, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune newspaper on Tuesday.

Noor was charged by prosecutors last week with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.



Minnesota legal experts say regardless of whether he is found guilty in the criminal case, the city could still face a big payout after a Damond family civil lawsuit.



Another lawyer, Randy Hopper, said the city could agree to a settlement in excess of US$10m “because of the egregious conduct”. Such a payout would be worth around A$13m.



Joseph Daly, a Mitchell Hamline School of Law emeritus professor, also predicted US$10m or more. “It would surprise me if this case went for US$20m but it wouldn’t shock me,” Daly told the newspaper.

Damond’s family and fiance, Don Damond, have hired Robert Bennett, one of Minneapolis’ most successful lawyers in police misconduct lawsuits. A civil lawsuit has not yet been filed by the family.

The twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul have been rocked by police shootings, with race a central issue and protests involving Black Lives Matter and other groups.

