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CNMI govt settles police brutality lawsuit for $45K
The CNMI government has settled for $45,000 a police brutality lawsuit filed against two former police officers by a motorist who, after the incident, reportedly became paralyzed from the neck down.
Following the settlement, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona yesterday dismissed with prejudice Alejandro L. Norita’s lawsuit against former police officers Regino Celis and Jerome Reyes.
Attorney David G. Banes, counsel for Norita, and assistant attorneys general Charles Brasington and Ghassan Harb, counsels for Celis and Reyes, asked the court on Wednesday to dismiss the case.
Under the agreement, the Commonwealth shall pay on behalf of Celis and Reyes $45,000 to the trust account of the O’Connor Berman Dotts and Banes law firm no later than 90 days from the signing of the settlement.
Norita filed the lawsuit in 2012, seeking at least $100,000 in damages.
Banes alleged that then-police officers Reyes and Celis used excessive force in arresting Norita after his car crashed on the fence of Oleai Elementary School in June 2010 during a pursuit.
The Office of the Attorney General then asserted that it is clear from the facts alleged and from the police report that Reyes and Celis not only had probable cause to arrest Norita but were authorized to remove him from his vehicle.
