A woman who suffered facial injuries from a rubber bullet fired by a Fort Lauderdale police officer during a demonstration in 2020 has settled her federal civil-rights lawsuit against the city for nearly $2 million.
Attorneys for LaToya Ratlieff, who also was tear-gassed during the protest against the treatment of George Floyd in Minnesota, announced the $1.97 million settlement earlier this month over what the lawyers said was “unconscionable police brutality and excessive force directed against peaceful demonstrators.”
The Fort Lauderdale City Council voted in favor of the settlement on Dec. 3 following mediation between the parties that took place on Oct. 28. The initial lawsuit against the city was filed in 2022.
“Staff and defense counsels’ evaluation of the potential financial exposure to the city determined that a settlement would provide the most cost-effective outcome,” the city’s acting city manager, Susan Grant, said in a recommendation to the City Council.
One of Ratlieff’s attorneys, Benedict Kuehne, said a goal of the litigation was to end the Police Department’s “reckless and dangerous” treatment of citizens.
“Not only must the city pay $1.97 million to LaToya for the senseless police shooting that nearly blinded her and caused life-impacting injuries, but the Fort Lauderdale Police Department must implement progressive tactical and training policies that will protect the community,” Kuehne said in a statement emailed to the Florida Record.
The settlement agreement in the case, which was filed in the Southern District of Florida, indicates that the city will be required to put in place special weapons and tactics (SWAT) as well as training policies relating to crowd control and crowd management that are followed by the National Tactical Officers Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit said her main focus has been to require the Police Department to take corrective actions to ensure the safety of peaceful demonstrators in the future.
“For 4 1/2 years, I’ve made clear that changes must be made within the Fort Lauderdale Police Department,” Ratlieff said in a prepared statement. “As part of this federal settlement, FLPD finally agreed to adopt new and stringent policies that will ensure no other innocent, peaceful, and law-abiding citizen goes through what I went through.”
Since being injured during the George Floyd demonstration, she has faced ongoing trauma stemming from her injuries, which included serious and permanent eye damage, neurological injuries and other emotional and physical problems, according to the lawsuit filed two years ago.
“Throughout this process, there were moments when, both mentally and physically, I was ready to give up,” Ratlieff said. “But I tried to focus on the fact that this was important, not just for me, but for everyone who seeks to use their voice to create meaningful change.”
The settlement comes amid ongoing proceedings in a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of others who were injured during protests involving the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, according to the plaintiff’s attorneys.
The $1.97 million settlement, which was expected to be tendered this week, includes pay for attorneys, expert witnesses and other costs. The parties have agreed to pay their own attorney’s fees and costs, according to the settlement terms.