In deciding damages in the case, the jury awarded Bryant $1 for funeral expenses, and $1 for each child's "loss of parental companionship, instruction, and guidance and ... mental pain and suffering," verdict forms show. Hill's children are 7, 10 and 13.
Because the jury found that Mascara was only 1% responsible, the verdict was reduced to 4 cents, and then, because the jury found that Hill was drunk at the time, the final payout was nothing.
Attorney John Phillips, who represents Hill's family, called the ruling "perplexing" and questioned why the jury would award $1 for $11,000 in funeral expenses and another dollar for each child's suffering when it could have simply awarded no damages.
The case isn't straightforward, but I'd be surprised if the police didn't get the benefit of the doubt - perhaps I'm too cynical. The unnecessarily insulting award amount might be a lone juror trying to draw attention to the case.
The case isn't straightforward, but I'd be surprised if the police didn't get the benefit of the doubt - perhaps I'm too cynical. The unnecessarily insulting award amount might be a lone juror trying to draw attention to the case.
The police always get the benefit of the doubt. In many cases they should. I'm sure Hill was being an asshat, playing obscene music at loud levels and it stated he was drunk. Still, America citizens are supposed to have certain protections in their homes.
The police always get the benefit of the doubt. In many cases they should. I'm sure Hill was being an asshat, playing obscene music at loud levels and it stated he was drunk. Still, America citizens are supposed to have certain protections in their homes.
They found the unloaded gun in his back pocket.
The police escalated this unnecessarily. It's his house, if he wants to be in it, with a gun in his pocket, that's his right. He didn't threaten the police with the gun, he closed the door.