Pizza Deliveryman Settles Pennsylvania Federal Civil Rights Action For $ 4.4 Million After Philadelphia Police Fired Gunshots Into His Vehicle
The largest reported police shooting settlement in Philadelphia history was recently obtained in this week's non-peer-submitted case. On April 22, 2014, plaintiff Philippe Holland was delivering pizzas in Philadelphia, PA. While he was making a delivery to 5109 Willows Avenue, City of Philadelphia police officers Mitchell Farrell and Kevin Hanvey were on duty dressed in "plain-clothes" and operating an unmarked vehicle. The officers proceeded to a report of gunshots, and approached plaintiff's vehicle. Plaintiff, believing he was about to be robbed, placed his car in reverse and attempted to drive away. Officers Farrell and Hanvey fired 14 total rounds into plaintiff's moving vehicle. Plaintiff was struck in the head, face and leg and lost control of the car, crashing into a fence on the northeast side of Willows Avenue. Plaintiff's injuries included a right superficial femoral artery injury; right leg compartment syndrome; bilateral subdural hematomas; bilateral sinus fractures; complex nasal fractures; projection of bony fragments into orbitofrontal region; hypoxemia; acute respiratory failure; acute pain; acute blood loss; weakness; numbness; impaired balance, strength and coordination; loss or impairment of vision; photophobia; seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder.
On April 21, 2016, plaintiff filed a civil rights action against Officers Farrell and Hanvey and the City of Philadelphia in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The action was assigned to Judge Juan R. Sanchez. According to an Associated Press article, the parties reached a settlement of $4,400,000 on Jan. 5, 2017.
Plaintiff was represented by Thomas Kline, Dominic Guerrini, and Tracie Palmer of Kline & Specter. The officers were represented by Joseph Santarone and Kevin Hextsall of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman, and Goggin. The City was represented by John J. Coyle of the City of Philadelphia Law Department.
Lexis Advance subscribers may view the complete summary here: Philippe Holland v. Mitchell Farrell, Kevin Hanvey, and City of Philadelphia; 2017 Jury Verdicts LEXIS 5
For all your jury verdict and settlement needs, please visit the LexisNexis Jury Verdicts and Settlements on Lexis Advance® and LexisNexis® Verdict & Settlement Analyzer.
For more information about LexisNexis products and solutions connect with us through our corporate site.