The University of California will pay approximately $1 million to settle the pepper spray lawsuit, according to the settlement that was submitted yesterday for court approval.
Plaintiffs of the case will be paid $630,000 ($30,000 each) and $250,000 will be paid to attorney and legal fees. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will be paid $20,000 for the organization’s future work with the University to promote freedom of speech and expression. UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi will also issue a formal apology to each plaintiff who was pepper sprayed or arrested, according to a press release by ACLU.
$100,000 will be awarded to non-plaintiffs who were pepper sprayed or arrested Nov. 18, as the case was just developed as a class-action lawsuit.
The terms of the settlement were agreed upon in a closed session by the UC Board of Regents at a UC Regents meeting Sept. 13 at the UCSF Mission Bay campus.
“I want the University and the police to understand what they did wrong. Police should be accountable to students … I felt like the University silenced me,” said sophomore Ian Lee in the press release.
Before the settlement is finalized, it will be reviewed by a federal court judge for possible approval.
— Muna Sadek
