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Alton Sterling's family files lawsuit against city for wrongful death

The wrongful death lawsuit seeks unspecified damages

Alton Sterling's family files lawsuit against city for wrongful death

The wrongful death lawsuit seeks unspecified damages

WEBVTT >> IN THIS SITUATION, YOU'RETALKING ABOUT A MATTER OFSECONDS.AFTER GETTING TO THE SCENE ITGOT HEATED, AND HE WAS DEAD.JULIANA: AND NOW THE FAMILY OF37-YEAR-OLD ALTON STERLING HASFILED A CIVIL LAWSUIT AGAINSTTHE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, ITSPOLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE TWOOFFICERS INVOLVED IN HIS DEATH.>> THE CIVIL SUIT IS FOR THECHILDREN, AND A FURTHERCOMMUNITY IN BATON ROUGE. JULIANA: STERLING, A FATHER OFFIVE, WAS SHOT SIX TIMES ANDKILLED BY BATON ROUGE POLICELAST SUMMER, AFTER AN ENCOUNTEROUTSIDE A CONVIENENCE STORE.>> THE EVIDENCE WILL SHOW THAT'STHERE BEEN A LONG PRACTICE OFABUSE OF RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY FORAFRICAN AMERICANS DOWN HERE BYTHE BRPD. JULIANA: JASON WILLIAMS IS ONEOF SEVERAL LAWYERS REPRESENTINGTHE FAMILY.SUING FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDINGPAIN AND SUFFERING AND MENTALANGUISH.>> AS THEY DESCRIBED IT TO ME,IT'S LIKE RELIVING IT EVERY TIMEONE OF THESE MAJOR ISSUES COMESUP.I MEAN IT'S A NECESSARY STEP,, BUT IT'S STILL LIKE RELIVINGIT. >> GIVE US THE JUSTICE WEDESERVE.JULIANA: THE FAMILY IS STILLCOMING TO TERMS WITH LASTMONTH'S ANNOUNCEMENT, WHEN THEJUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WOULDNOT FILE CRIMINAL CHARGESAGAINST THE TWO OFFICERSINVOLVED.>> IF THEY HAD BEEN FOUND GUILTYOF ANY OF THE CHARGES, THEY WERELOOKING AT BEING IN PRISON ORJAIL.ON THIS SIDE OF IT, THE CIVILSUIT, THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPENIS A MONETARY JUDGEMENT. JULIANA: THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEFAMILY IS SEEKING IS PRIVATEINFORMATION, BUT IF THERE ISN'TA SETTLEMENT, IT COULD TAKEYEARS FOR A DECISION TO BEREACHED IN COURT.>> NO AMOUNT OF MONEY IS GOINGTO BRING A FATHER BACK.IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TOTALK TO SOMEONE WHO'S LOST ALOVED ONE TRAGICALLY, THERE'S NODOLLAR FIGURE THAT'S GOING TOMAKE IT RIGHT. JULIANA: IN REGARDS TO THECRIMINAL CASE, THE U.S. ATTORNEYSAID OFFICERS TOLD STERLING TOPUT HIS HANDS ON THE HOOD OF ACAR AND STRUGGLED WITH HIM WHENHE DIDN'T COMPLY.THE GOVERNMENT DETERMINED THEREWAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVETHAT THE OFFICERS ACTEDUNREASONABLY, WHEN THEYRESPONDED TO A REPORT OF A MANWITH A GUN.THE LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERALHAS OPENED ITS OWN REVIEW OF THECASE.
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Alton Sterling's family files lawsuit against city for wrongful death

The wrongful death lawsuit seeks unspecified damages

The children of Alton Sterling, a man fatally shot by a police officer during a struggle outside a convenience store, have filed a lawsuit against the city of Baton Rouge.The wrongful death lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and said Sterling's shooting happened because of poor police training and inadequate procedures.Officer Blane Salamoni shot Sterling six times July 5, 2016, outside a store where the 37-year-old Sterling was selling homemade CDs. The officer said Sterling was reaching for a gun in his pocket when he shot him.The U.S. Department of Justice decided against filing charges because investigators could not prove that the officers acted unreasonable and willfully. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced his office opened a separate investigation.Several cities have agreed to million-dollar payouts in recent years in cases of killings by police. The Minneapolis suburb of St. Anthony agreed to a nearly $3 million settlement with the mother of Philando Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker shot five times by Officer Jeronimo Yanez during a July 6 traffic stop after Castile informed him that he was carrying a gun.

The children of Alton Sterling, a man fatally shot by a police officer during a struggle outside a convenience store, have filed a lawsuit against the city of Baton Rouge.

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The wrongful death lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and said Sterling's shooting happened because of poor police training and inadequate procedures.

Officer Blane Salamoni shot Sterling six times July 5, 2016, outside a store where the 37-year-old Sterling was selling homemade CDs. The officer said Sterling was reaching for a gun in his pocket when he shot him.

The U.S. Department of Justice decided against filing charges because investigators could not prove that the officers acted unreasonable and willfully. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced his office opened a separate investigation.

Several cities have agreed to million-dollar payouts in recent years in cases of killings by police. The Minneapolis suburb of St. Anthony agreed to a nearly $3 million settlement with the mother of Philando Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker shot five times by Officer Jeronimo Yanez during a July 6 traffic stop after Castile informed him that he was carrying a gun.