Family Settles Lawsuit After Police Dog Kills Man in Alabama

The family of Joseph Pettaway, who died after being bitten by a police dog in Montgomery, Alabama, has settled their federal lawsuit against the officer involved. However, their lawyers announced plans to appeal a ruling that absolved the city of responsibility.

The confidential settlement was finalised in July for the 2019 lawsuit against Officer Nicholas Barber. Barber was in charge of the K9 that fatally attacked Pettaway, then 50 years old, in 2018. Pettaway was working as a handyman and sleeping in a small house when officers responded to a call about an unknown person on the property.

Details of the Incident

Upon arrival, Barber released the dog into the house. The dog found Pettaway and bit his groin, severing his femoral artery, according to autopsy reports. Officers moved Pettaway outside where he bled out while waiting for paramedics, as stated in the family's lawsuit.

"I hope that the case for the family brings some closure for something that is a long time coming," said their attorney, Griffin Sikes.

Legal Proceedings and Appeals

The lawsuit also targeted the City of Montgomery and its then-police chief, Ernest Finley. It claimed officers were trained not to provide first aid. "The Supreme Court has decided that cities and counties are responsible for administering medical care when they arrest somebody," said Sikes. "We think they failed to do that in this case, and it is not a failure of the individual officers, but a failure of the city that says you're not to provide medical care."

The claims against the city and Finley were dismissed. Sikes mentioned that the Pettaway family intends to appeal this decision.

Body Camera Footage Controversy

Body camera recordings of the incident have never been made public. It took years of litigation for Pettaway's family and their lawyers to view them. The judge sided with the city’s argument that releasing them could lead to protests endangering law enforcement officers and public safety.

US Magistrate Judge Jerusha T. Adams suggested that the family was "attempting to try this case in the informal court of public opinion, rather than in the courtroom."

Nationwide Implications

The Associated Press has documented numerous cases across the US where non-lethal police tactics resulted in fatalities. Pettaway's case is included in this nationwide database.

Attorneys representing Barber, Finley, and the City of Montgomery did not respond to an emailed request for comment sent by The Associated Press on Friday morning.

This settlement marks a significant moment for Pettaway's family as they continue their legal battle for accountability from city officials.