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Washington Woman Receives $79,000 Settlement in Unlawful Arrest, Excessive Force Case
On March 25, 2008, Melissa Scott accepted a $79,000 as settlement for her §1983 claims of unlawful arrest and excessive force against the City of Bremerton and Bremerton police officer William Cook.
Plaintiff's attorneys, Andrew Williams and Steve Franklin of J. Michael Koch & Associates in Silverdale, filed the suit in connection with Scott's March 2003 arrest for littering and disorderly conduct. Scott claimed that after she refused to pick up a bag of trash, Officer Cook arrested her and placed her in his patrol car with the handcuffs so tight as to cause injury to her wrists. Scott also contended she was denied her inhaler, precipitating an asthmatic attack. During transport to the jail, Officer Cook repeatedly slammed on the brakes, "forcing (Scott) into the back of the driver's seat." Lastly, Officer Cook pulled her hair to remove her from the car, injuring her neck. Scott was never charged with a crime.
Orthopedic expert, Larry Iverson of Bremerton, and Police Practices expert, Frank Connelly of Carlsbad, New Mexico testified in the Plaintiff's behalf during the four-day trial. The $79,000 settlement includes $49,900 in attorney's fees and costs. Source: Northwest Personal Injury Litigation Reports. See: Scott v. Bremer¬ton, Kitsap Co. Super. Ct., No. 05-2-00531-1.
Plaintiff's attorneys, Andrew Williams and Steve Franklin of J. Michael Koch & Associates in Silverdale, filed the suit in connection with Scott's March 2003 arrest for littering and disorderly conduct. Scott claimed that after she refused to pick up a bag of trash, Officer Cook arrested her and placed her in his patrol car with the handcuffs so tight as to cause injury to her wrists. Scott also contended she was denied her inhaler, precipitating an asthmatic attack. During transport to the jail, Officer Cook repeatedly slammed on the brakes, "forcing (Scott) into the back of the driver's seat." Lastly, Officer Cook pulled her hair to remove her from the car, injuring her neck. Scott was never charged with a crime.
Orthopedic expert, Larry Iverson of Bremerton, and Police Practices expert, Frank Connelly of Carlsbad, New Mexico testified in the Plaintiff's behalf during the four-day trial. The $79,000 settlement includes $49,900 in attorney's fees and costs. Source: Northwest Personal Injury Litigation Reports. See: Scott v. Bremer¬ton, Kitsap Co. Super. Ct., No. 05-2-00531-1.
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Related legal case
Scott v. Bremer¬ton
| Year | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Kitsap Co. Super. Ct., No. 05-2-00531-1 |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Attorney Fees | 49,900 |
| Damages | 29,100 |
No other information is currently available.