$10 Million Award in Excessive Force Lawsuit

Christopher Harris, 31, the young man that sustained irrecoverable brain damage after being hurled into a wall by a King County deputy sheriff on May 10, 2009, has been awarded $10 million in an excessive force lawsuit, as reported by the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

King County settled the case within one week at trial.  Harris' wife, Sarah, will use the settlement to pay for the 24-hour per day care he requires.

The officer accused in the mêlée was about to take the stand when the case was settled.

The injuries Harris sustained have left him comatose, bedridden and unable to speak.

Sarah Harris said in her statement, "My only objective in filing this suit is to make sure Chris has the best medical care possible, and I have the ability to stay with him and care for him at home.  I want to give my heartfelt thanks to all the witnesses who stood up and told the truth about what they saw that night.  I know it must have been difficult to contradict the sheriffs and the county."

After the settlement was agreed upon Sue Rahr, King County Sheriff, offered the family her "sincerest condolences and apologies."

The incident began on May 10, 2009 when Harris, walking in Belltown, was involved in a foot pursuit with two King County deputy sheriffs.  The sheriffs called out to him to stop but he continued to run.  Outside of the Cinerama cinema, Harris slowed down and a deputy knocked him - most notably his head - into a wall.

A theater surveillance camera taped the altercation. 

In the civil filing, it was alleged that on that morning deputies Matthew Paul and Joseph Eshom were on a foot patrol for Metro Transit.  From there they were called to a disturbance at a nearby convenience store. 

When they arrived, they checked an alley close by assuming those involved had gone the same way.

Harris, allegedly only a passer-by and not involved in the incident, was confronted by the two deputies in the alley.  Per his attorneys, Harris ran at first, and then decided to stop in front of the movie theater to surrender.

The surveillance camera shows Paul lowering his shoulder and then slamming his body into Harris'.  The wall met with Harris' head.  He was rendered unconscious.

Sim Osborn, the Harris family attorney, said of the settlement, "We have always been open to reaching a settlement that ensures Sarah has the financial ability to take care of Chris.  It is a shame it took 18 months -- and five days of trial -- until the county recognized its obligation. There are no winners here. Yes, Sarah now has the resources to care for Chris at home, but he will never walk or talk again, nor will the two be able to have the life together they hoped for when they married just a few years ago."

You may be due monetary compensation in the injury or loss of a loved one due to excessive force by an officer of the law.  Click here to contact a personal injury attorney from our directory for help with your case.