Baltimore County officials aren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet regarding the Korryn Gaines’ case. Lawyers are requesting a new trial and call the $37 million in damages awarded to her family excessive.
County attorneys claim the jury of six women reacted out of sympathy and mistakenly reprimanded the officer who shot the young woman with no evidence according to documents filed with the court. The lawyers filed post-trial motions on Tuesday, asking the judge to overturn the jury’s decision and reduce the payout amount.
“There’s nothing in there that’s remarkable or that brings us any serious concerns… There’s no amount of money, that, you know, can compensate this family for the life that was taken. This jury verdict is merely a step in the right direction,” the Gaines’ family lawyer J. Wyndal Gordon told Baltimore CBS.
In August of 2016, a live-stream video of Gaines with her 6-year-old son, Kodi, showed a standoff with officers in her Randallstown apartment with a loaded shotgun by her side. The victim was shot to death by Corporal Royce Ruby Jr.and Kodi was wounded during the impasse.
However, county lawyers argue in the court filings, “Kodi failed to present any evidence that the injuries he suffered had a value sufficient to support the jury’s award. The award is based on guesswork, speculation and sympathy.”
The Gaines’ family was awarded $38 million in damages including almost $33 million to Kodi, $4.5 million to daughter, Karsyn and $900,000 to the victim’s parents and estate.
Gordon would like for the county attorneys to “hammer things out.”
Baltimore County lawyers essentially seeking
do-over of Korryn Gaines civil case. Jury ruled against police officer who shot Gaines & wounded her son. County asking judge for new trial & reduction of damages. pic.twitter.com/BM0mrmU6WP— Jayne Miller (@jemillerbalt) March 13, 2018
