DENVER IS CONSIDERING A RECORD PAYOUT TO SETTLE LAWSUIT WITH 2020 PROTESTORS

Denver's City Council is on the brink of greenlighting a substantial $4.7 million payout on Monday, in a move to rectify the controversial handling of civil unrest by the Denver Police Department during the 2020 summer season.

The proposed sum came about as a result of a class-action lawsuit filed in response to the detainment of participants in the rallies, primarily for violating imposed curfews. If approved, this settlement will mark the highest of its kind to date concerning law enforcement's conduct in Denver during demonstrations triggered by the tragic incident involving George Floyd and Minneapolis police officers.

The class-action lawsuit is part of a larger series of cases that previously saw a federal jury awarding $14 million to a group of 12 demonstrators last year. The jury ruled that law enforcement had overstepped their bounds, concluding that their use of pepper balls and lead-filled bags was a breach of the demonstrators' civil rights.

Several aspects of that case, which features State Rep. Elisabeth Epps as one of the plaintiffs, are currently being contested by the city.

This upcoming settlement aims to compensate the so-called "arrest class" segment of the plaintiffs involved in these cases, as per the council's documents.

According to a 2021 U.S. District Court judgment, the "arrest class" could potentially include nearly 300 individuals who were apprehended solely for not adhering to an emergency curfew or for non-compliance with a lawful order, with their charges subsequently dismissed.