$45 Million Settlement Reached in Police Brutality Case Resulting in Paralysis

Richard Cox, a man who was paralyzed while being transported in the back of a police van, will receive a $45 million payout, ending a legal battle against the city of New Haven, Connecticut. The incident occurred on June 19, 2023, when Cox, who was handcuffed, smashed headfirst into the van’s inside wall. The case was settled two days after the city fired two police officers for their treatment of Cox, and all five officers involved, including those fired, also face criminal charges in the case. The settlement sends a message that police departments and their municipalities will be accountable for ensuring that police officers honor the lives of those they are sworn to serve and protect.