The family of slain Maryland woman Korryn Gaines has won a civil lawsuit and was awarded $37.4 million.
Jurors ruled that Baltimore County police Officer Royce Ruby, who did not have criminal charges pressed against him, did not act reasonably in shooting and killing the 23-year-old and the shooting of her son, now-6-year-old Kodi, in August 2016, WBLATV reported.
The breakdown of the reward, which was announced to hugs and tears from Gaines’ family in the courtroom, includes $32 million to Kodi, $300,000 to each to Gaines’ mother and father, a third $300,000 sum to Korryn Gaines’ estate, and $4.5 million to Karsyn Courtney, Korryn Gaines’ daughter.
The Gaines family’s legal team initially sought $42 million in damages according to The Baltimore Sun.
“I don’t know how anyone can just extinguish a life, then hide behind a badge,” Korryn Gaines’ mother, Rhanda Dormeus, said after the verdict Friday, Feb. 16. “I can’t even get out of bed to do my activities of daily life. I was a registered nurse, a psychiatric nurse. This has ripped me apart. I am not mad with Officer Ruby. I don’t have any space to be mad because my heart is too broken.”
Baltimore Co Police Off Royce Ruby, found in violation of rights of Korryn Gaines & son Kodi by civil jury was cleared of criminal wrongdoing & promoted after he fatally shot Gaines. Gaines mother: "I don't have any space to be mad because my heart is too broken" pic.twitter.com/WZxwgjNu4w
— Jayne Miller (@jemillerbalt) February 16, 2018
Gaines’ father noted the verdict “means a lot” for Kodi and that he will now “be able to get the help he needs.”
“This is a great day,” said Ken Ravenel, Kodi’s attorney. “This is a great statement on behalf of many who have been victimized by police officers — too many in our community. This is a great day.”
Added Gaines family attorney J. Wyndal Gordon, “Korryn is smiling today. She got her day in court.”
Gaines was engaged in a standoff with police at her apartment complex in 2016 as officers attempted to serve her with a warrant. She was fatally shot while her son was shot in an extremity resulting in non-life threatening injuries.
Reports said Gaines may have suffered from long-term mental and behavioral effects of lead poisoning.
