The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A judge ordered the city to quickly pay $275,000 to settle dozens of police abuse lawsuits.
The city and lawyers for about 40 plaintiffs settled the claims this summer, but city attorneys balked at paying because some defendants owe back taxes to the city. City officials say state law prohibits the city from paying until the tax liens are satisfied.
In his ruling Friday, U.S. District Judge Robert Cindrich ordered the city to pay the court by Sept. 7 anyway, and determine in the meantime which plaintiffs have tax liens. He said he’ll decide later what to do with settlement money for those who owe back taxes.
Cindrich also scheduled a Sept. 13 hearing to determine whether to end a consent decree, prompted by the lawsuits, that called for federal oversight of the police department.
The city and Justice Department filed a joint petition Thursday to release the police department from the decree because both sides agree the city has enacted reforms to curb excessive force and other abuses.
The petition proposed to continue federal oversight of the city’s Office of Municipal Investigations, the department responsible for investigating civilian complaints of police misconduct, which remains backlogged and understaffed. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, over 200 cases in the OMI are more than three years old.