Source: NewsOne composite / NewsOne composite
A federal jury awarded his family Botham Jean nearly $100 million for his wrongful death at the hands of a former Dallas police officer Amber Geiger.
On Wednesday (November 20), a federal A grand jury in Dallas, Texas found that former police officer Amber Guyger used excessive force in the 2018 death of Botham Jean, violating his constitutional rights in the process. The jury awarded Jean's family a $98.65 million verdict. “Today is a day that I feel a little comfort,” Bertrum Jean, Botham's father, told the press. after. “I'm still devastated over the loss of my son … but today I think justice has been served and we're very grateful and we pray that it's a lesson learned.”
Jean, an accountant, was a native of St. Lucia and lived in the same building as Geiger. On the evening of September 6, 2018, the 26-year-old was eating ice cream on his couch (something his family said he had enjoyed since childhood) when Geiger allegedly mistook his apartment for hers and opened fire on him, mistaking him for it. be a burglar. Geiger would be fired from the Dallas Police Department and found guilty of murder in a criminal trial where she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was eligible for parole earlier in the fall, which he denied.
The monetary verdict analysis included $60 million in punitive damages, awarded based on the jury's finding of malice or heightened disregard for the rights of others. Geiger waived her right to participate in the trial, which Jean's family said demonstrates her lack of acceptance of responsibility for her actions. That was underscored by testimony that showed Geiger did not render medical aid despite having that training and a recording of the 911 call where she expressed concern about losing her job. The city of Dallas also successfully filed a motion to dismiss the ruling.
Jean's family did not hesitate to express their disappointment in the city's handling of the incident, but also expressed their appreciation for those in Dallas who supported them through their ordeal. “I've been feeling the support of the Dallas community since the day I flew out on September 7th, there were already protests, vigils, all kinds of things,” said Alison Jean, Botham's mother. “I feel the warmth of the city, the community, but the institutions in this city that are supposed to be doing better, they haven't.”
