Kerrick vs. Ferrell – Case Settlement | Charlotte Personal Injury
Jonathan Ferrell Lawsuit Recovery
$2.25 million, that’s how much the city will pay, to settle a lawsuit from the family of Jonathan Ferrell. CMPD Officer Randall Kerrick shot and killed Ferrell in 2013. Kerrick is set to go on trial in July on a charge of voluntary manslaughter.
Does This Settlement Affect the Criminal Trial
We don’t know and the mayor would not speculate at this point, but what happened here today closes at least one legal chapter. Out of court settlements in many instances are kept quiet – very quiet. However, in the case of Jonathan Ferrell, city officials pulled no punches in announcing the final figures in the wrongful death civil suit. I can confirm that the city of Charlotte and the Ferrell family have agreed to settle the civil lawsuit for $2.25 million.
CMPD officer Randall Kerrick is charged with voluntary manslaughter in Ferrell’s death. He was fatally shot in the Reedy Creek neighborhood during September of 2013. The case against Kerrick heads to trial this summer, but the mayor isn’t sure of the impact that the settlement in the civil case will have on the upcoming legal proceedings.
We really aren’t able to talk at all about the criminal trial, and I don’t really know what – if any – impact at all this could, or could not, have on the criminal trial.
Implications of Successful Litigation
Community organizations have been keeping an eye on the case, and the head of one group says, “Today’s announcement continues the ongoing process of finding closure.” The bittersweet comes in where we’ve been waiting so long, so we pleased at the outcome on today, but it’s been two years. Before leaving the podium, Mayor Clodfelter shared the thoughts and emotions of Jonathan Ferrell’s family who wants to assist with healing in our city.
The Ferrell family has expressed a strong interest in the ongoing work of the city on these issues, and is committed to working with the city to see that out of this family tragedy can come healing. And after that news conference here at the Government Center Ferrell’s mother issues a statement. We want to share part of it with you, the words coming from Georgia Ferrell – his mother – it says, “We are grateful that this case has been resolved, but it is devastating to know that nothing we do will ever bring Jonathan back. Our faith in God and the power of prayer are the only things that have gotten us through this tragic situation.” Again, Kerrick goes to trial in July. For now we’re at the Government Center, Steve Crump WBTV On Your Side.
Kerrick Case Arguments
Steve, let’s give folks the other side of this coin. Tonight Kerrick’s attorneys are blasting the settlement. They say city officials behind closed doors decided to spend precious taxpayer dollars despite not having seen any of the evidence in this case, and despite Officer Kerrick not have been found guilty or at all liable in the civil suit. Stay with WBTV for continuing coverage of this story. We’ll follow any new developments leading up to the trial on WBTV, and WBTV.com.