A New London man who was shot after crashing a stolen ice truck in 2011 recently won a $2 million settlement for his injuries.
Curtis Cunningham, 32, filed a lawsuit against the City of New London and New London Police Officer Thomas Northup, who shot Cunningham in 2011. After a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, City Council unanimously consented to the proposed settlement.
In 2011, Cunningham, who was later determined to be high on PCP, stole an ice truck and led police on a pursuit through the city that ended in Cunningham flipping his vehicle.
The stunned suspect climbed on top of the overturned ice truck and Officer Northup ordered him to drop his weapon. It was later determined Cunningham was not in possession of a weapon, but that his shirt gave the illusion he was.
Officer Northup shot Cunningham four times. One of the rounds lodged into Cunningham’s spine and he is now paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.
Cunningham later hired attorney Joel Faxon and filed a lawsuit for excessive force, which he recently settled.
“He is ready to move forward with his life… which is one reason he agreed to a settlement,” said Faxon. “He’s disabled but hopeful to make the most of what he has to build a business.”
(This article was submitted by freelance writer Brent Rogers)
As part of every stupid settlement, the judge and jury should be herded to the back of the courthouse and have the livin shit beat out of them with used wheelchairs for gross misconduct. Those who agree, please donate an old wheelchair to your nearest local judicial system.
UNBELIEVABLE – the cop should be fired for his poor marksmanship. Where do I sign up for the GHETTO Lottery?
Oh thats right you have to be a CRIMINAL to win….Guess were on the wrong side…
Can’t wait to see his “Business Venture”..selling “Sherm’ and crack and smack and smoke to the rest of the hood now…I guess it basically an SBA grant now days. F#%K ME!
What in the hell is this world coming too ? A criminal gets paid these days for commiting crime . This guy should be in jail for what he did. The people that allowed this injustice of a trial to even happen should be punished too . You know this country is going downhill when criminals are getting millions of dollars for bullshit !!!
Start his “new business” ?? Why isn’t he in prison for sealing that truck ? Is he going to pay for all of the damage he caused ? Take that out of his settlement . I guess if the police officer or another motorist would’ve been injured by his reckless criminal actions, we could sue his drug tainted dumb ass ? Ask his lawyer about that .. Steal my truck and see what happens . But at least now with his new settlement he will hopefully overdose on all the drugs he can now afford and drop dead . 😂💊⚰
he had the illusion of holding a handgun? thats plenty enough reason to shoot his punk ass. im sure the officer should have
paused and asked him politely if he had a genuine weapon or did his shirt create an illusion. yeah, thats what he should have done. ya cant fix stupid but you can let him sue and then honor his stupidity with a huge settlement. yeah, now whos the stupid one?????
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER WINNER OF THE GHETTO LOTTERY !!!!!!!!
I hope the officer aims better next time, it would save the city 2 million.
Hmm…..the guy illegally using illegal substance commits illegal act and endangers public safety and damages property while resisting arrest….and wins a law suit/receives a settlement(whatever you want to call it) for excessive use of force……???? How wrong is that….???!!! You can’t make up idiots like that.
Settlements are a method of risk management. When you understand how great the potential liability of the city would have been had it lost ($20 million or so plus attorneys fees), the amount it agreed to pay is a pittance. Section 1983 cases present substantial exposure to public entities, often for no other reason than the exposure to the Plaintiff’s attorney’s fees if the plaintiff wins. In one case, the City refused to settle a case for $50,000 and went to trial. The verdict was for $50,000; but the attorneys fees awarded were another $200,000.
Can we not just rewrite the law to say any injuries you get while committing a crime are part of the risk YOU assume and you are responsible for them ?? Next why is there No mention of jail time for his grand theft auto ?