About Those Punitive Damages

As most readers know, punitive damages CANNOT be paid by the City - it's the Law. 

Hits like that come out of coppers' pockets. It has been common practice in the past that - after a verdict assessing such damages - Corp Counsel enters into negotiations pending an appeal whereby they'll try something like this:

• We're going to appeal this multi-million dollar verdict and tie it up in court for the next five years....but if you agree to drop the punitive damages against the Officers, we'll recommend to the City council that they approve this slightly smaller "settlement" and you'll get paid later this year. What you think?

And many times, the lawyers will tell their clients that a fast payout is the way to go.

This comment though....this would be bad news:

• From inside the 5th Floor, the Mayor is saying no deals. He feels it is time for the Police to feel the pain of paying their share of misconduct judgements. This will not be good for us. 

We've known a few Officers who ended up on the wrong end of these judgements and it's not a good feeling knowing that a portion - no matter how big or small - of all your earnings are going to someone who had a better lawyer than Corp Counsel.