Pittsburgh to settle police claims with 11 G-20 protesters

Pittsburgh has agreed to pay $88,000 to 11 protesters who claim police roughed them up when they were arrested while they were demonstrating in Oakland during the G-20 Summit in September 2009.

The American Civil Liberties Union this morning announced that 11 of 24 plaintiffs who filed suit against the city have agreed to settle for $8,000 each. The settlement will cover damages and attorney's fees and requires the plaintiffs to withdraw claims against individual police officers named in the lawsuit.

Thirteen others, including some who claim they suffered physical injuries such as being shot with pepper spray, will continue their case.

"The city's settlement offer allows them to move on with their lives but will not impact the claims of the other plaintiffs," ACLU attorney Sara Rose said.

The arrests occurred Sept. 25, 2009, when officers made arrests after a crowd gathered in Schenley Plaza to protest the G-20 Summit. The lawsuit claims police unnecessarily used pepper spray, rubber bullets and tear gas on the crowd.

Ms. Rose said those who agreed to the settlement did not suffer lasting physical injuries but "there were certainly instances of excessive force and being roughed up."

City Solicitor Dan Regan said the city expressly admitted no liability and did not acknowledge that the plaintiffs suffered any damages.

"I think it's important to note that the city did not admit to any wrongdoing" in settling the cases, he said.

Mr. Regan said the city offered the settlements to all 24 because "it was a good decision to resolve these cases in this manner."

He said the city would vigorously defend the remaining cases.

First published on January 10, 2012 at 1:24 pm