Eric Garner Settlement: Family Accepts $5.9 Million Offer By NYPD

Eric Garner’s family has accepted a $5.9 million settlement from the NYPD and the New York City. Garner’s widow, Esaw Garner, turned reportedly turned down a $5 million settlement offer earlier this week. Almost a year has passed since Garner’s death in NYC police custody, and the clock was running out on the family’s ability to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Garner family attorney, Jonathan Moore, reportedly urged Esaw Garner to take the $5 million settlement offered by the NYPD. Moore also allegedly told Eric Garner’s widow that the family could take the money offered by New York City and then file a separate lawsuit against the Richmond University Medical Center and EMTs who were called to the scene after Eric Garner yelled repeatedly, “I can’t breathe.”

“Following a judicious review of the claim and facts of this case, my office was able to reach a settlement with the estate of Eric Garner that is in the best interests of all parties,” New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer said in a statement. “I believe that we have reached an agreement that acknowledges the tragic nature of Mr. Garner’s death while balancing my office’s fiscal responsibility to the City.”

The Eric Garner family had asked for $75 million in their wrongful death claim. In December, a grand jury declined to indict the NYPD officer involved in the Eric Garner chokehold incident. The officer, Daniel Pantaleo, released a statement expressing remorse about the death of Garner.

“It is never my intention to harm anyone and I feel very bad about the death of Mr. Garner,” the NYPD officer said.

The Brooklyn U.S. Attorney is investigating NYPD officer Pantaleo’s role in Eric Garner’s death, and could file civil rights violations charges in the near future.

Eric Garner’s widow stated that she is disgusted by the U.S. justice system, according to a New York Daily News report.

“It seems like because they didn’t prosecute the officers on Staten Island, all the other officers were like, ‘H**l. We’ll get away with it. Let’s just do it again,’ ” Esaw Garner said.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Eric Garner, 43, was arrested for selling “loosies” — loose, untaxed cigarettes — outside of a Staten Island convenience store. According to previous statements by the Garner family attorney, Eric was a member of the “underground economy.”

What do you think about the Eric Garner $5.9 million wrongful death suit settlement offered by the NYPD?

[Image via PisaPhotography / Shutterstock]