Bucks' player Sterling Brown sends letter to city with counter settlement offer
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown's legal battle with the City of Milwaukee continues. On Tuesday, Oct. 8 Brown's attorney denied the city's $400,000 settlement offer and explained why on Thursday, Oct. 10.
"These are very troubling issues," said Mark Thompson, Brown's attorney.
Mark Thompson, Brown's attorney, explained why they turned down the city's settlement offer.
"In the offer of judgement it says we are never going to admit any responsibility," Thompson said. "I think that's against public policy. I don't think it's good for our city."
Brown was arrested and tased by Milwaukee police officers on Jan. 26, 2018 for parking across two handicap spots in a Walgreens parking lot.
Brown sued the city for violating his constitutional rights and using excessive force. Brown's attorney said, until the city admits fault there will be no deal.
"The starting point of any resolution is an admission that Mr. Brown's constitutional rights were violated," Thompson said.
Tuesday, Brown and his attorney sent a confidential counter settlement over to the city.
"I haven't heard anything back," Thompson said.
Milwaukee's attorney's office released the following statement after hearing the Brown would not be accepting their deal:
Today’s filing by Mr. Brown’s lawyer misses the mark in two significant ways.
The offer of judgment was served upon Mr. Brown’s lawyer and was not filed in court by the defendants. There is nothing filed by the defendants for the court to strike.
Just as significantly, the filing by Mr. Brown’s lawyer ignores the sincere efforts to bring this dispute to a reasonable and just end. Mr. Brown and his lawyer were presented with a choice—accept the reasonable offer to resolve this case or reject it. Just rehashing any error by the officers on the night of the incident does nothing to improve the police department or the city it serves.
The city, its police department, and its officers have made tremendous efforts to improve police-community relations. We continue to believe that the offer of judgment made by the defendants is a just and reasonable resolution of the only claim raised by Mr. Brown’s lawsuit—compensation for any injury he may have suffered.
"Obviously the city felt it was a just offer and I think when they look it over time they will realize it's a just offer," said Thompson.
Brown's attorney did not give a dollar amount that they would accept. He said they will now continue interviewing people involved and preparing for a trial.