I was not surprised that the jury returned a verdict in favor of the police in the tasing case tried this week in Division 6.
The jury found for defendant Officer Wilson and, while finding Officer Ogunjobi liable for an assault on Ms. Hendrix, only returned a verdict for $3,500 against Ogunjobi. No punitive damages were awarded.
Before the trial began, I thought Ms. Hendrix’s case had all the elements necessary for a potential significant plaintiff’s verdict: here is the case of an Afro-American, well-educated women, an elected University City School Board member, peacefully protesting in an effort to bring community awareness to the problem of police brutality when she becomes the victim of that brutality. And it’s all caught on video!
As I watched parts of the trial (opening statements, the plaintiff’s testimony, Officer Ogunjobi’s testimony, etc.), I found the presentation by the plaintiff’s lawyers from the ArchCity Defenders to be — and this is to put it as kindly as I can — underwhelming. The City’s lawyers, led by Erin McGowan, did a much better job.
Ms. Hendrix brought her lawsuit out of principle, in her continuing fight against police brutality, and not for the money. Unfortunately, it is the monetary amount of the verdict that sends a message. Her case needed a very good plaintiff’s lawyer handling it to send the message she wanted. The ArchCity Defenders let her down. They would have served her and her message much better by not handling the case but referring it to a good plaintiff’s trial attorney.