City to pay paralyzed motorist $5.5M in settlement

Police shot Leon Ford in 2012 traffic stop

The city of Pittsburgh will pay Leon Ford and his lawyers $5.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought over his shooting six years ago.

Mr. Ford was shot and paralyzed by Pittsburgh police Detective David Derbish in 2012 and sued in federal court the following year.

A lengthy trial last fall ended with the jury deadlocked on Detective Derbish’s liability. A second trial had been set for this month. The jury rejected Mr. Ford’s claim of assault and battery against another officer, Detective Andrew Miller.

In a statement, Monte Rabner, one of Mr. Ford’s lawyers, said: “We are very happy for Leon and his family to have closure so he can move forward and be the great and successful man he is destined to be.”

Mr. Rabner said the legal team and Mr. Ford would have no further comment Wednesday.

Mayor Bill Peduto announced that the city and Mr. Ford had reachedan “amicable resolution.”

“This settlement is in the best interest of Mr. Ford, Officer Derbish and the City of Pittsburgh, and will provide all involved the closure needed to move forward in a positive direction,” the mayor said in a joint statement from him and Mr. Ford.

Mr. Ford was shot after a traffic stop in Highland Park in 2012 and filed suit in 2013. The case went to trial on Mr. Ford’s claim against Detective Derbish of excessive SEE FORD, PAGE A-5