Adam TatumThe city of Chattanooga has settled a federal lawsuit brought by a man who was beaten by two police officers for $125,000.
After a nine-hour mediation session Monday the agreement was reached, ending Adam Tatum's lawsuit against the city of Chattanooga, said his attorney Robin Flores.
Flores said that the city will pay $112,500 of the amount, Erlanger Hospital will pay $2,500 and the remaining $10,000 is coming from an undisclosed source.
Chattanooga police Chief Bobby Dodd fired officers Sean Emmer and Adam Cooley for using excessive force after seeing video footage of the 800 McCallie Ave. Salvation Army beating.
The officers' lawyers argued that the pair followed proper procedure and showed that Tatum was on cocaine at the time, armed with a knife and threatening other halfway house residents.
There have been no federal charges filed against the officers, a Hamilton County Grand Jury declined to indict the policemen and an administrative law judge ordered that they be re-instated to their job after a three-day hearing.
Tatum originally sued the city in federal court for $20 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages.
Flores said his client wanted to end the ordeal and he commended city officials for being willing to resolve it without a trial.
For more see tomorrow's Times Free Press