St. Paul, MN — A federal jury in St. Paul has awarded $3.25 million to the family of Cordale Handy, who was fatally shot by local police in 2017. The decision, reached after a summer 2023 trial, concluded that one of the two officers involved used excessive force in the incident that ended Handy’s life at the age of 29.
The lawsuit, initiated by Handy’s mother, Kimberly Handy-Jones, contested the actions of the officers and sought justice for her son’s death. After the initial trial, the city faced a punitive damages charge of $1.5 million and compensatory damages tagged at $10 million. However, these compensatory damages were later challenged by the city and deemed “patently excessive” by U.S. District Judge David Doty, leading to a subsequent trial to reassess the amount.
This recent jury verdict, reached after over three hours of deliberation spanning from Friday to Monday morning, includes $1 million for damages incurred from the time of Handy’s death until the trial, and $2.25 million for projected future damages. The city had previously seen a maximum settlement of $2 million before this case, related to a 2017 incident where a man was severely injured by police.
Handy’s fatal encounter with St. Paul Police Officers Nathaniel Younce and Mikko Norman occurred in the early hours on March 15, 2017, following a 911 call about disturbances at Handy’s residence. According to trial testimony, Handy, possibly under the influence of a substance and distressed, was holding a firearm when confronted by the officers. The officers claimed Handy had raised his gun towards them, prompting them to shoot. However, Handy’s girlfriend and a neighbor alleged he did not point the gun at the officers.
The forensic analysis presented during the trial indicated Handy was likely kneeling when shot, evidenced by the trajectory and locations of the bullet wounds. This critical insight helped support the jury’s decision on the use of excessive force.
Both officers involved in the shooting have since left the department, and while they were cleared of criminal charges, the civil trial sustained the claim of constitutional rights violations, holding Officer Younce accountable. St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry, in a memo to his staff, acknowledged the jury’s decision but expressed concerns over the implications of the verdict regarding police conduct assessments during critical incidents.
As the city processes this significant jury decision, Kevin O’Connor, attorney for Handy-Jones, indicated plans to appeal, pushing for higher compensatory figures due to the emotional and communal loss suffered by Handy’s family.
Throughout the litigation, the defense painted Handy in a negative light, attempting to link him to gang activities based on previous federal press releases. This strategic move was pointed out by O’Connor as an attempt to skew jury perceptions. Handy, remembered by those close to him for his occasional gifts and companionship, was also noted for his work at the Salvation Army, although financially he did not greatly support his family.
Judge John Tunheim, presiding over the recent proceedings, instructed jurors to consider Handy’s life contributions and expected future support to his family while disregarding any intent to financially punish the officers or the city.
While the city did not adjust the punitive damages, the recent decision underscores a continued tension between public trust in law enforcement and the pursuit of justice through legal challenges in cases of alleged excessive force.
This article was created by Open AI. Accuracy of the facts and circumstances described may vary, and readers seeking corrections or retractions can direct their requests to [email protected].