Photo: POLICE file
The families of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams each will receive more than $865,000 in settlements reached with Cleveland over their deaths following a chase and shootings in 2012, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Cuyahoga County Probate Judge Anthony Russo approved the awards in a hearing in which he spelled out where the money would be distributed. He called the settlement, as well as the distribution of fees, fair and equitable.
The city agreed to pay $1.5 million each to the families stemming from the settlement of a federal lawsuit. Attorneys will receive 40 percent of each family's settlement, or $600,000. In total, lawyers will take in $1.2 million of the $3 million Cleveland will pay out, Cleveland.com reports.
On Tuesday, Cleveland released a statement that said: "The city settled this case with (the families of Russell and Williams) to resolve the lawsuit and avoid drawn-out litigation. The settlement is not an acknowledgement of liability.''
The settlements arose from a Nov. 29, 2012, car chase in which Russell led 62 police cars through Cleveland and East Cleveland at speeds reaching 100 mph. Russell and Williams died after officers fired 137 shots at Russell's car. Officers, according to court records, said Russell tried to use the vehicle to strike patrolmen.
