City to pay Jordan Miles $125,000

The new settlement includes the $119,000 in damages awarded in a federal jury in 2014 plus attorneys’ fees. That jury made its award after finding the arresting officers had no probable cause to stop Miles in the first place, but—despite evidence including the widely publicized photos of Miles swollen face—it did not rule they used excessive force in subduing him.
An earlier trial ended in a hung jury.
Even though he won an award, Miles appealed the verdict, saying US District Judge David Cercone should have allowed additional witnesses—who surfaced after the trial had started—to testify. Almost immediately afterward, Allegheny County District Attorney said he would not pursue criminal charges against the officers.
Prior to that, U.S. Attorney David Hickton said the Department of Justice would not bring civil rights charges against the officers because it did not think the case was winnable.
Miles claimed the officers never identified themselves as police and savagely beat him as he was walking from work to his grandmother’s house. The officers said Miles’ injuries resulted from his violent attempts to escape. The settlement ends the appeal.
Even though the parties have agreed to settle, city council still had to approve the distribution. It was scheduled to vote on the settlement May 24.
 
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