Six will Occupy $ 332,500
Six Occupy Wall Street protesters will divide a cool $ 332,500 settlement with the city to end their police brutality lawsuit against the NYPD.
“We’re happy with the settlements,” said lawyer Mark Taylor, who represented Damien Crisp, Kelly Hanlin and Julie Lawler, each of whom will receive $ 52,500. “We think it’s an amount that reflects the city’s awareness that [ Deputy Inspector Anthony] Bologna acted improperly.”
Kaylee Dedrick — who met her nowhusband and the father of her 2yearold daughter when he rushed to her aid after she was peppersprayed by Bologna in 2011— settled for $ 55,000.
“She’s not even an Occubaby anymore; she’s an Occutoddler now!” Dedrick’s lawyer, Ron Kuby, said of Dedrick’s daughter.
Two other women, Chelsea Elliott and Jeanne Mansfield, each won $ 60,000.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs reached the settlements at negotiations with city lawyers and with a lawyer for Bologna, Taylor said.
“Settling was in the city’s best interest,” Law Department spokesman Nicholas Paolucci said.
Another woman, Rheannone Ball, 23, won a $ 45,000 settlement from the city in May after she filed a suit claiming Bologna grabbed her from behind and threw her to the ground.
Bologna was not charged with a crime, but he was docked 10 vacation days and transferred from Manhattan to Staten Island after the video went viral.
Louis La Pietra, Bologna’s lawyer, said, “Settling these cases was in the best interests of Inspector Bologna and the NYPD.”