A Staten Island judge has approved a $4 million payout to the family of Eric Gardner. The original settlement request was for $5.9 million according to the lawyers involved in the case. However, the judge is still debating how much to award for legal fees.
“The big issues is what the attorney's fees are,” Attorney Lorraine Coyle, who represents Garner’s 3-year-old daughter, Legacy Jayleen Garner-Miller, explained. Lawyers are typically paid one-third of settlements, but Coyle noted that there was little legal work done as the city settled before Garner’s family even filed a lawsuit.
According to the New York Post, The largest shares of the money will go to his widow, Esaw Snipes, and to his three-year-old daughter, the youngest of his children. Snipes is set to receive $1.4 million, while Miller is set to receive $1.3 million. The original amount that Miller was set to receive was under $1 million.
Garner’s other daughters, Erica and Emerald Snipes, are set to receive $163,600. Their older brother Eric will get $204,00 and their younger brother Emery, who is a minor, will receive $482,000. Garner mother, Gwen Carr, is set to receive $82,000. Carr is also over Garner's estate.
The money will be paid out over the next 90 days in the form of annuities or annual installments. So far, the family has also collected a $1 million settlement from Richmond University Medical Center.
The death of Eric Garner was three years ago, and we still remember the tragedy that was his death. His homicide helped to fuel a revolution against police brutality and the unjust killings of our people. While his life was priceless, we're thankful that his family is getting something.
What do y'all think? Should the city shell out more, or is this a win? Let us know in the comments below.
