Council Bluffs settles suit with Omaha men wrongfully imprisoned for 25 years

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The city of Council Bluffs has settled a lawsuit with two Omaha men who sought millions of dollars after the courts concluded they were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for 25 years.

The lawsuit filed by Terry Harrington and Curtis McGhee was scheduled for retrial Tuesday before a federal jury in Des Moines. The first trial ended in mistrial last year after jurors disagreed on the verdict.

The two men seek compensation from the city and two former police detectives for years in prison after their conviction for the 1977 shooting death of a retired police captain. Harrington and McGhee were released in 2003 after the Iowa Supreme Court found prosecutors committed misconduct by hiding evidence.

Federal court documents show a judge has ordered details of the city settlement sealed.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20131014/NEWS/131019331/1685#council-bluffs-settles-suit-with-omaha-men-wrongfully-imprisoned-for-25-years

[gopiscrap]

1. that's such bullshit sealing that

it just provides cover for fucking cops and prosecutors to continue their misconduct

[Omaha Steve]

2. Council Bluffs to pay $6 million to settle lawsuit with wrongfully convicted Omaha men

http://www.omaha.com/article/20131015/NEWS/131019172/1707#council-bluffs-to-pay-6-million-to-settle-lawsuit-with-wrongfully-convicted-omaha-men

DES MOINES (AP) — The City of Council Bluffs will pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit with two Omaha men who sued after the courts concluded they were wrongfully convicted of the shooting death of a retired police captain and imprisoned for 25 years.

Terry Harrington and Curtis McGhee will be paid $2.3 million immediately and the remainder in six annual payments of more than $528,500. A final payment of just over $728,500 will be made in July 2020.

The agreement splits the money evenly between the two men in exchange for dismissal of the lawsuit.

The agreement specifies no admission of fault or liability by any party or implies wrongdoing.

FULL story at link.

[freshwest]

4. So they get to split $1.3M now, and get an IOU. Not good enough for 25 years.

Then they'll try to reneg on the rest, no doubt, as it took them 35 years to half ass right this wrong. And who did kill the LEO?

[Sunlei]

3. not enough Justice. What about other people officers Larsen and Brown framed during their careers?

Larsen and Brown should spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

Even that Judge, U.S. Senior District Judge Robert Pratt almost didn't declare a mistrial. Almost found in favor of the police. Those 3 jury persons were very brave to say no, they did not agree with the Judge.
"He threw out all other allegations, including racial discrimination."

[1000words]

5. Jesus ... 25 years.

They'll live comfortably for the duration, but that's an epic price to pay.